Disclaimer: All BtVS characters belong to Joss Whedon and Co. The original ones are mine.
Thank you, thank you, thank you for the feedback. Does a writer good.
For those wanting to know about special powers and relationships, you will just have to read on. All will be revealed. Bit by bit.
Morning arrived clear and bright. Buffy sat in the kitchen trying to block out the noise. Her house had simply not been designed to hold so many people. It was bursting at the seams and the overcrowding was causing crabbiness and flaring tempers. And now she was going to have to explain Faith.
Everyone was gathered in the living room when Buffy went in. Faith stood apart from the rest, arms crossed.
"Good morning. I guess by now you've all met Faith. I wanted to tell you about her myself. Seven years ago I died, just for a few minutes. Xander brought me back with CPR. Even though I wasn't dead very long, it was long enough for a new Slayer to be activated. Her name was Kendra. She...she didn't survive very long, not even a year. Once she died Faith was chosen." Buffy paused, still unsure how much to tell.
Faith made the choice for her. "I didn't do too great," she said. "In fact I did lousy. Joined up with the dark side. Eventually I ended up in jail. I'm not sure where I stand now. But I've decided to give it another shot. The Slayer thing I mean. And I hear you've got some trouble. I never turn down a good fight."
The room was silent for a minute. Then Kennedy walked over to Faith and extended her hand. "Welcome to the party."
Faith took the offered hand and smiled.
In the next moment everyone was up and talking. Buffy let out the breath she'd been holding and went back into the kitchen. Xander and Willow followed her.
"You think she'll be okay? Can I really trust her?" Buffy asked Willow.
"I think you really can. She's been through a lot. It's changed her, for the better. She made the difference in L.A.."
Xander hopped up onto the counter. "Now we've got two Slayers. That's gotta help the cause. More strength good." He looked around and said, "Where's Spike? I haven't seen him since yesterday. Skulking in the basement?"
Buffy and Willow exchanged a look. Buffy said, "I don't know. Willow tried to locate him but something's blocking her."
"Great," exclaimed Xander. "So maybe the First is pulling his strings again.
"We don't know that," objected Willow. "I don't think it's the First that's blocking me."
"Right, some other really powerful being. Sure. So what, now we just wait for him to show up and kill one of us?"
"No," answered Buffy. "He won't be killing anyone. If The First has taken control we'll deal with it. Any way we have to."
The kitchen was suddenly full as the Potentials filed out into the back yard for their morning training. Faith was the last one through. She paused for a moment and said, "Don't worry B. We'll get em ready to kick some demon ass." Then she was gone out the door.
Short I know, but I wanted to put the break here so...
More to come.