Blood Tears 3 - Parenting
Faith gazed fondly at the sleeping boy. It was when he was asleep that he most reminded her of Bucky. Awake, he was too sharp-witted to be her little brother although he shared his sweetness and gentleness.
The vampiress tensed as the scent of another human reached her nostrils only to relax when she recognised the scent. Hurrying down the stairs, she nodded politely at him, smiling slightly at his crimsoning cheeks as he took in the flimsiness of her dressing robe. "Mr. Giles."
"Good morning Faith," the Watcher coughed nervously. "I trust you don't dress like that around Xander?"
Her eyes sparkled with mischievous mirth. "Around a hormone-driven teenager? If I did, not even a Master vampire like myself would be able to fight him off." She glanced at the folder in the Watcher's hands. "Are those the papers you mentioned?"
"They are."
"Well, if you give me a moment I'll get dressed. The kitchen's through there if you want a cup of tea."
"You have tea?"
She winked at the Watcher. "I was turned in Boston remember? They have parties there over the stuff."
"Ha, ha, ha. Yes and given your love of mischief making I'm sure you were at the original one."
* * *
"So how did it go last night?"
The vampiress stared at the Watcher for a moment before answering. During the few days that had spanned Xander's hospital stay, she'd spent some time with Xander's friends. She'd found the Slayer and the Wicca to be over- protective and overly convinced that everything in the world could be categorised as either black or white. The Watcher though was a man of intellect and understood that the world had shades of grey. She liked him. "Five by five. Mr. Harris made a few threatening growls but I allowed my eyes to turn golden and that was enough to send him scurrying off into the garage."
The Watcher chuckled before opening the file on his lap and passing the vampiress a sheet of papers.
Faith stared at the papers blankly. Her backwoods upbringing meant that she had only the most rudimentary of schooling. Angelus, wishing for her to fit in to respectable society, had taught her to read and write, but she was at a loss with modern society having spent much of the past century on her back. "What is this?"
"They're papers giving you custody of Xander until his 18th birthday under the name of Faith Anderson."
With an effort Faith fought down a wave of panic. Custody? What sort of a parent could a 300 year old vampire make? She took a sip of her cup of blood, allowing its coppery taste to calm her. "Faith Anderson? Why the name change?"
"I had to go through Council channels to get those papers," Giles explained. "I thought the name 'Faith Adams' might set off alarm bells, so I took the liberty of changing it. If that's alright?"
The vampiress nodded slowly. "Adams is a name associated with depravity and butchery. Maybe I can use the name Anderson for nobler purposes."
"Good, in that case." The Watcher dropped some other papers on the coffee table between them. "Those are a driver's licence, a birth certificate and a social security id made out in your new name."
The vampiress glanced casually at the documents, after a moment her mouth dropped open. "You've made me 21! I was only 18 when I was turned!"
The Watcher laughed at her outrage. "It's reassuring to see that even 300 year old vampiress are sensitive about their age. I only made you 21 because it made your adoption of Xander slightly less suspicious."
"Five by five." The vampiress nodded, the humour in her eyes dying. "We haven't had any time to talk in private since I arrived in town. And I suppose you have questions."
"Only about a million."
Faith chuckled dryly. "Only one of us is immortal. Perhaps you better limit your questions to three or four."
"How were you turned?"
The vampiress grimaced, her stomach contracting in pain at the memory. "It was 1709 and I'd run away from home 3 years earlier to get away from my father's fists. I was working in a Boston brothel when this handsome Irishman turned up one night. Vampires can hypnotise mortals but Angelus never needed it. In three hundred years, he's the best looking man I've ever seen - like a young Elvis with a better body. I actually thought I was lucky when he chose me," she laughed bitterly. "The door to my room was still closing when we began tearing each other's clothes off. I screamed in pain when his ice cold hands touched my flesh for the first time. That only made him laugh and increase his efforts," she shuddered. "I've never been so brutalised. When he'd finished he morphed into a vampire and tore into me with his fangs. The next thing I remembered was feeding off the whorehouse madam." A long silence followed her sober recounting. Finally the Watcher spoke, his tone gentle. "And how did you get your soul returned?"
"One of Angelus' favourite pastimes was watching from the shadows as I forced myself on other women who'd caught his eye. One night he saw a young Apache girl he liked the look of. We stole onto the reservation, Angelus, Spike and I. After I'd taken her, we all fed from her, before killing her. Then we were attacked by the tribe's young bucks, some thirty of them, we escaped but," Faith took an unneeded breath. "A tomahawk with my blood on it was cursed, giving me my soul back. Together with a shitload of guilt."
"And when did this happen?"
"1897."
"And what have you done in the past one hundred years or so?"
"I'd rather not talk about it." Tell a man you've been a whore and he might get ideas.
The Watcher stared searchingly at her for a few moments before nodding. "As you wish. So why have you decided to help us now?"
Faith glanced upwards in the direction of Xander's bedroom. "You've heard of my massacre of my family? At the Watcher's silent nod, she continued. "My parents weren't any prize, to be honest I regret killing them but it is not one of the acts that plagues me the most. But my little brother," her voice began to shake. "Little Bucky, he was the only person I ever loved. Loved his smile and laughter. Loved telling sitting him with him and telling him fairy tales and bedtime stories. The night I returned home, he was so pleased to see his big sis." The vampiress closed her eyes against the pain. "Sometimes I still hear his screams as we tortured him."
"Good lord."
"Xander, Xander looks so much like Bucky would have at the same age if I hadn't," Faith's voice grew husky. "If he hadn't died, that it hurts sometimes. But with him I get a second chance and I won't fail him like I failed my brother."
"And are you ready to be there for him? Not just as a protector but as a parent too?"
The vampiress' face twisted in indecision. "I don't know. I've spent nearly two hundred years massacring and butchering families and entire villages, but I haven't got a clue about being a parent. I just know I won't let anybody hurt him and that I can't do a worse job than his father."
Giles nodded and stood. "Truth be told I've often wondered who's the worst - a human fully aware and able to make their own decisions about what's right and wrong or a vampire controlled by a demon and unable to control their urges. I had my suspicions about Xander's father but whenever I approached the boy about them he would just clam up." The Watcher looked the vampiress in the eye "Xander seems to respond well to you, I believe that's half the battle of being a parent. You have my number. If you need any help with Xander, anything at all, call me at any time. Even if it's just someone to talk to."
Faith nodded gratefully. "Thank you."
Faith gazed fondly at the sleeping boy. It was when he was asleep that he most reminded her of Bucky. Awake, he was too sharp-witted to be her little brother although he shared his sweetness and gentleness.
The vampiress tensed as the scent of another human reached her nostrils only to relax when she recognised the scent. Hurrying down the stairs, she nodded politely at him, smiling slightly at his crimsoning cheeks as he took in the flimsiness of her dressing robe. "Mr. Giles."
"Good morning Faith," the Watcher coughed nervously. "I trust you don't dress like that around Xander?"
Her eyes sparkled with mischievous mirth. "Around a hormone-driven teenager? If I did, not even a Master vampire like myself would be able to fight him off." She glanced at the folder in the Watcher's hands. "Are those the papers you mentioned?"
"They are."
"Well, if you give me a moment I'll get dressed. The kitchen's through there if you want a cup of tea."
"You have tea?"
She winked at the Watcher. "I was turned in Boston remember? They have parties there over the stuff."
"Ha, ha, ha. Yes and given your love of mischief making I'm sure you were at the original one."
* * *
"So how did it go last night?"
The vampiress stared at the Watcher for a moment before answering. During the few days that had spanned Xander's hospital stay, she'd spent some time with Xander's friends. She'd found the Slayer and the Wicca to be over- protective and overly convinced that everything in the world could be categorised as either black or white. The Watcher though was a man of intellect and understood that the world had shades of grey. She liked him. "Five by five. Mr. Harris made a few threatening growls but I allowed my eyes to turn golden and that was enough to send him scurrying off into the garage."
The Watcher chuckled before opening the file on his lap and passing the vampiress a sheet of papers.
Faith stared at the papers blankly. Her backwoods upbringing meant that she had only the most rudimentary of schooling. Angelus, wishing for her to fit in to respectable society, had taught her to read and write, but she was at a loss with modern society having spent much of the past century on her back. "What is this?"
"They're papers giving you custody of Xander until his 18th birthday under the name of Faith Anderson."
With an effort Faith fought down a wave of panic. Custody? What sort of a parent could a 300 year old vampire make? She took a sip of her cup of blood, allowing its coppery taste to calm her. "Faith Anderson? Why the name change?"
"I had to go through Council channels to get those papers," Giles explained. "I thought the name 'Faith Adams' might set off alarm bells, so I took the liberty of changing it. If that's alright?"
The vampiress nodded slowly. "Adams is a name associated with depravity and butchery. Maybe I can use the name Anderson for nobler purposes."
"Good, in that case." The Watcher dropped some other papers on the coffee table between them. "Those are a driver's licence, a birth certificate and a social security id made out in your new name."
The vampiress glanced casually at the documents, after a moment her mouth dropped open. "You've made me 21! I was only 18 when I was turned!"
The Watcher laughed at her outrage. "It's reassuring to see that even 300 year old vampiress are sensitive about their age. I only made you 21 because it made your adoption of Xander slightly less suspicious."
"Five by five." The vampiress nodded, the humour in her eyes dying. "We haven't had any time to talk in private since I arrived in town. And I suppose you have questions."
"Only about a million."
Faith chuckled dryly. "Only one of us is immortal. Perhaps you better limit your questions to three or four."
"How were you turned?"
The vampiress grimaced, her stomach contracting in pain at the memory. "It was 1709 and I'd run away from home 3 years earlier to get away from my father's fists. I was working in a Boston brothel when this handsome Irishman turned up one night. Vampires can hypnotise mortals but Angelus never needed it. In three hundred years, he's the best looking man I've ever seen - like a young Elvis with a better body. I actually thought I was lucky when he chose me," she laughed bitterly. "The door to my room was still closing when we began tearing each other's clothes off. I screamed in pain when his ice cold hands touched my flesh for the first time. That only made him laugh and increase his efforts," she shuddered. "I've never been so brutalised. When he'd finished he morphed into a vampire and tore into me with his fangs. The next thing I remembered was feeding off the whorehouse madam." A long silence followed her sober recounting. Finally the Watcher spoke, his tone gentle. "And how did you get your soul returned?"
"One of Angelus' favourite pastimes was watching from the shadows as I forced myself on other women who'd caught his eye. One night he saw a young Apache girl he liked the look of. We stole onto the reservation, Angelus, Spike and I. After I'd taken her, we all fed from her, before killing her. Then we were attacked by the tribe's young bucks, some thirty of them, we escaped but," Faith took an unneeded breath. "A tomahawk with my blood on it was cursed, giving me my soul back. Together with a shitload of guilt."
"And when did this happen?"
"1897."
"And what have you done in the past one hundred years or so?"
"I'd rather not talk about it." Tell a man you've been a whore and he might get ideas.
The Watcher stared searchingly at her for a few moments before nodding. "As you wish. So why have you decided to help us now?"
Faith glanced upwards in the direction of Xander's bedroom. "You've heard of my massacre of my family? At the Watcher's silent nod, she continued. "My parents weren't any prize, to be honest I regret killing them but it is not one of the acts that plagues me the most. But my little brother," her voice began to shake. "Little Bucky, he was the only person I ever loved. Loved his smile and laughter. Loved telling sitting him with him and telling him fairy tales and bedtime stories. The night I returned home, he was so pleased to see his big sis." The vampiress closed her eyes against the pain. "Sometimes I still hear his screams as we tortured him."
"Good lord."
"Xander, Xander looks so much like Bucky would have at the same age if I hadn't," Faith's voice grew husky. "If he hadn't died, that it hurts sometimes. But with him I get a second chance and I won't fail him like I failed my brother."
"And are you ready to be there for him? Not just as a protector but as a parent too?"
The vampiress' face twisted in indecision. "I don't know. I've spent nearly two hundred years massacring and butchering families and entire villages, but I haven't got a clue about being a parent. I just know I won't let anybody hurt him and that I can't do a worse job than his father."
Giles nodded and stood. "Truth be told I've often wondered who's the worst - a human fully aware and able to make their own decisions about what's right and wrong or a vampire controlled by a demon and unable to control their urges. I had my suspicions about Xander's father but whenever I approached the boy about them he would just clam up." The Watcher looked the vampiress in the eye "Xander seems to respond well to you, I believe that's half the battle of being a parent. You have my number. If you need any help with Xander, anything at all, call me at any time. Even if it's just someone to talk to."
Faith nodded gratefully. "Thank you."