Disclaimer: To be honest I've run out of amusing disclaimer notes so I'll
just say that I don't own anything and that I probably don't really need to
put a disclaimer at the beginning of each chapter so this will be the last.
Enjoy the story.
Those staying in the Summers house, Willow, Tara, Dawn, Faith and Angel were all awoken at the crack of dawn by a yell from a slightly smoldered Spike in the living room. Which was a good thing because Xander and Anya had an early flight and they needed to be up early to see them off. Once they realized what the time was there was an immediate race for the bathroom, won surprisingly by Angel who took in a large bottle of gel and a comb. While they all hung about the bathroom waiting for their chance to get in, the Scoobs had a nice civilized conversation.
"So where are you guys gonna be staying from now on? Asked Faith
"Well, Tara and I are moving back into halls at Sunnydale U, we were only staying here to look after Dawnie."
"W-what about you Faith, where are you going to stay in Sunnydale?"
"Well, umm" Faith started sounding a bit embarrassed "Angel's letting me stay at The Mansion, that's where Wesley and Gunn were last night, setting the place up for me."
"Its not like I need it anymore, and you'll probably need the space to train." Angel yelled from behind the door.
"Ooh, Faith the back area of The Magic Box is set up for Slayer training, you can use that."
"Thanks Red, but I." Faith would never get to finish that sentence as right then Spike came storming upstairs staring daggers at Faith.
"Oi, Slayer what's with leaving me in the sun, I could have been dust."
"Like I care either way."
Spike looked slightly surprised at the casual dismissal, grumbled some more and then muttered something about breakfast and went back downstairs.
Once Angel had finally finished in the bathroom, the girls finally got a chance to get washed and dressed and then Dawn, Tara and Willow raced downstairs to get a ride with Giles, who had arrived while the girls had been getting ready. Dawn and Tara were already in the car when Willow noticed who was not with them; she turned back to the house to find Faith and Angel talking in the kitchen.
"Hey aren't you guys coming?"
"Uh Red, we're not exactly Xander's favorite people, it's probably for the best if we don't go. Plus you know, airport, pretty much full of windows that could cause Angel to get a deep and crispy tan."
Willow considered that for a moment and while there was nothing she could do about Angel she could still take Faith. While Xander was hostile towards her he would have to accept her eventually and Faith would have to get over her own discomfort around the Scoobies if they were to work as a team against Sunnydale's demonic population. Just as she was about to use her 'resolve face' Faith gave her a smile and said "Don't worry about it Red, it'll just take time, and I got plenty of that."
"Ok" Willow replied slightly hesitant, after all there were probably better times to sort this stuff out than the beginning Xander and Anya's honeymoon. Then she had a sudden thought "What happened to Spike?"
"He left a note here addressed to you and Tara, we didn't read it." Angel said
Willow picked up the note from the counter and read it. "It says that he went back to his crypt, he reckoned he probably wouldn't be welcome at the airport, plus there's the issue of the whole open spaces with lots of windows."
Faith felt that Spike at least knew where he stood with Xander, from what she had seen Xander may have tolerated Spike but they were far from being on friendly terms. Her relationship with Xander was a lot less clearly defined, she'd popped his cherry but she had also tried to kill him and most of those he held dear.
"Ok, well I'll see you guys when we get back alright?"
"Ok Willow" Angel replied
Willow turned round and left for the airport, leaving Faith and Angel alone in what was soon to be the ex-Summers house.
"Well boss whatcha wanna do?" Faith asked
"Maybe we should go check on Wesley and Gunn, see how The Mansion is coming along."
"Cool idea, I got tons of nervous energy just waiting to be released."
Those staying in the Summers house, Willow, Tara, Dawn, Faith and Angel were all awoken at the crack of dawn by a yell from a slightly smoldered Spike in the living room. Which was a good thing because Xander and Anya had an early flight and they needed to be up early to see them off. Once they realized what the time was there was an immediate race for the bathroom, won surprisingly by Angel who took in a large bottle of gel and a comb. While they all hung about the bathroom waiting for their chance to get in, the Scoobs had a nice civilized conversation.
"So where are you guys gonna be staying from now on? Asked Faith
"Well, Tara and I are moving back into halls at Sunnydale U, we were only staying here to look after Dawnie."
"W-what about you Faith, where are you going to stay in Sunnydale?"
"Well, umm" Faith started sounding a bit embarrassed "Angel's letting me stay at The Mansion, that's where Wesley and Gunn were last night, setting the place up for me."
"Its not like I need it anymore, and you'll probably need the space to train." Angel yelled from behind the door.
"Ooh, Faith the back area of The Magic Box is set up for Slayer training, you can use that."
"Thanks Red, but I." Faith would never get to finish that sentence as right then Spike came storming upstairs staring daggers at Faith.
"Oi, Slayer what's with leaving me in the sun, I could have been dust."
"Like I care either way."
Spike looked slightly surprised at the casual dismissal, grumbled some more and then muttered something about breakfast and went back downstairs.
Once Angel had finally finished in the bathroom, the girls finally got a chance to get washed and dressed and then Dawn, Tara and Willow raced downstairs to get a ride with Giles, who had arrived while the girls had been getting ready. Dawn and Tara were already in the car when Willow noticed who was not with them; she turned back to the house to find Faith and Angel talking in the kitchen.
"Hey aren't you guys coming?"
"Uh Red, we're not exactly Xander's favorite people, it's probably for the best if we don't go. Plus you know, airport, pretty much full of windows that could cause Angel to get a deep and crispy tan."
Willow considered that for a moment and while there was nothing she could do about Angel she could still take Faith. While Xander was hostile towards her he would have to accept her eventually and Faith would have to get over her own discomfort around the Scoobies if they were to work as a team against Sunnydale's demonic population. Just as she was about to use her 'resolve face' Faith gave her a smile and said "Don't worry about it Red, it'll just take time, and I got plenty of that."
"Ok" Willow replied slightly hesitant, after all there were probably better times to sort this stuff out than the beginning Xander and Anya's honeymoon. Then she had a sudden thought "What happened to Spike?"
"He left a note here addressed to you and Tara, we didn't read it." Angel said
Willow picked up the note from the counter and read it. "It says that he went back to his crypt, he reckoned he probably wouldn't be welcome at the airport, plus there's the issue of the whole open spaces with lots of windows."
Faith felt that Spike at least knew where he stood with Xander, from what she had seen Xander may have tolerated Spike but they were far from being on friendly terms. Her relationship with Xander was a lot less clearly defined, she'd popped his cherry but she had also tried to kill him and most of those he held dear.
"Ok, well I'll see you guys when we get back alright?"
"Ok Willow" Angel replied
Willow turned round and left for the airport, leaving Faith and Angel alone in what was soon to be the ex-Summers house.
"Well boss whatcha wanna do?" Faith asked
"Maybe we should go check on Wesley and Gunn, see how The Mansion is coming along."
"Cool idea, I got tons of nervous energy just waiting to be released."