Summary: Tensions rise.
Note: 5th in the "Cold Summer Series"
*~*~*
Olivia had decided to move Chandra to a different motel room for the time being and when dusk fell, Angel arose to an empty room. He'd slept through the day? He scanned the room and noted that all of Chandra's belongings were gone.
"Shit. I knew I shouldn't have touched her." He stood and grabbed his pants.
"Oh but now it's fun, mate."
Angel growled. "What are you doing here, Spike?"
Spike lit his cigarette and kicked back in the chair. "Came to give ya a bit of cheery news. You're new slay girl hasn't flown the coop. Her watcher moved her to another room."
"So she knows. About Chandra and I..."
"Shagging up a storm? You bet." The younger vampire smiled. "Really, Angelus. I thought you might have gotten over your little slayer phase."
"Shut up, William." The hint of his accent returned as he finished dressing.
"Ah, so now we're resorting to threatening?"
"Is there some reason you're here? Besides to volunteer as a punching bag?"
"To tell you that you're gonna be a poppa."
Angel did a double-take. "That's a sick joke."
Spike snuffed out his cigarette on the end table. "Come now, Peaches. You know I was much fonder of the sick truth."
The elder vampire snarled and grabbed Spike by the throat. "What are you saying?"
Spike chuckled. "That the Slayer's baring your child."
*~*~*
Willow tucked the covers around Chandra as she slept and hung the small bag of herbs above her. "This should help her sleep," she told Olivia.
The watcher nodded. "Thank you."
"Do you think this will all be okay?"
"Five by five."
They turned to the door of the motel room where Faith stood. "You!" Willow gasped.
Faith held up her hands. "It's okay, Will. I'm on the up and up. Parole. Good behavior."
Olivia swallowed. "This must be Faith then."
She nodded. "How's it going?"
Willow looked to Chandra. "Not the greatest."
"Well, where's B? I mean, if danger's a brewing, she's always here, right?"
Olivia stepped back. "Buffy Summers died two weeks ago."
Faith's face dropped. "What?"
Willow nodded. "She died saving the world."
Faith put up a strong front. "Like she was destined to, huh?" She swallowed. "I can patrol tonight if you need help."
"That would be great. Chandra needs to sleep for the night." Olivia looked to her charge.
Faith did as well. "New slayer?"
"And a lot more."
*~*~*
Xander looked at the ring on his left hand. No one had noticed it. He and Anya had decided to keep it a secret for a while. He didn't know why he had told Cordelia. Maybe it was to flaunt it to her. Maybe it was to prove to her that he was over her.
"Maybe because Angel isn't exactly dead..." Anya began.
"Right, An, he's not dead, he's electroencephalographically challenged."
She looked down for a moment. "Well it was only a suggestion."
He sighed and held her hand as they patrolled. "I'm sorry. I know you're only trying to help. I just... I just need.... Faith!" His eyes went wide.
"Well we should all have faith."
"No. Look!" He pointed to the rogue slayer sitting on a stone holding a stake.
Faith looked in their direction, her eyes widening as she hopped down off the stone. "Xander..." She swallows and slowly approached them. "How's it hangin'?"
He held up his hand. "Stop right there."
"Look, I'm on the good again. I've been serving time. I got the whole 'good behavior' bit." She held up the stake. "Just patrolling."
Anya looked her over. "We are patrolling as well."
Faith nodded a little. "Anya, right?"
"Yes. I am with Xander." She narrowed her eyes.
Xander eyed Faith. "Why are you back?"
She sighed. "Look, I got paroled. Then I went to Angel's but he was gone so I came here. Ran into Will and told her I would help out how I could. So I'm patrolling." She looked into his disapproving face. "Fine. Go to Hell. Oh! I forgot! You're already hear and your other slayer is down for the count right now." She glared. "Grow up Xander, I've changed. I have a job to do. Now if you'll excuse me." She turned.
Xander grabbed her shoulder, turned her around and slugged her.
She stumbled back a step out of shock and stretched her jaw. "So that's how it's gonna be." She nodded. "Fine. I'm out." She threw her stake down and left the cemetery.
*~*~*
Wesley yawned and fluffed the pillow on the couch. "It's very kind of you to let us stay here, Rupert."
Gunn unrolled a sleeping bag on the floor. "Yeah, thanks G."
Giles nodded and turned for his room. "Help yourselves to anything in the kitchen if you need it." The phone rang, prolonging his sleep. Grumbling, he answered. "Yes? ... What was that? ... No, keep her there. Yes, I'll talk to Xander about that. Goodnight, Olivia." His hand lingered on the phone after he hung it up, he couldn't look at Wesley. "Faith is here."
The younger Englishman shuddered and looked up. "What?"
"She's staying with Olivia and Chandra. She's out on good behavior."
Gunn looked at the other two men. "Faith?"
Giles nodded. "A slayer gone rogue. She was spending time in an LA prison for murder and assault."
"Woah, hold up. Angel told me about this chic. She's here?"
*~*~*
Cordelia paced franticly. "This is bad. This is very bad. First Angel decides to get all groiny and it yet again brings about the end of the world and now Faith is here."
Tara was still staying back from everyone. She busied herself with a book.
Willow sighed. "Maybe Faith really has changed."
"Into different clothes maybe!" she stopped pacing with a sigh. "I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe."
"Just think," Willow said softly as she sat by her. "What else could go wrong?"
*~*~*
Their heads were bowed. A few were chanting while the others lit candles and burned some sacred herbs. Darla stood a few feet back and smiled. "Never thought coming back to the Hellmouth was going to be this eventful."
Drusilla giggled. "When the chips are down... the buffalo is empty!"
The elder vampire furrowed her brow. "Right."
*~*~*
Chandra sat up and screamed. Oliva sat by her and held out a glass of water. "Here. Drink some water."
Faith sat up from her bed on the floor. "She okay?"
Chandra looked to her. "Faith?"
She nodded. "Yeah, how did you..."
"I saw you, in my dream. You and Angel. I saw it! I saw it!"
"Calm down now, little one." Olivia smoothed the covers down. "You're fine."
She swallowed. "This shit is driving me nuts!"
"I know, and it will get better, I promise. But just for now..."
"For now? You mean for the next nine months? Then it'll all be better. My kid will bring the end of the world. That's no biggy." She closed her eyes and struggled to regain her breath. "Faith, you have to watch out for the blue Devil. Please. Don't follow anyone to the blue Devil."
Faith swallowed. "What blue Devil?"
"I'm not sure. I just know though. Please?"
"You got it."
Chandra turned to her Watcher. "I'd like to see Angel. Where is he?"
Olivia scowled. "I don't think it would be wise."
"I'm already knocked up. Now I want to see him!" she snapped.
"Right here." Angel poked his head in the door. "I was guarding outside." He glanced at the second slayer. "Faith?"
She smiled and went over to hug him. "Hey there."
He smiled and hugged her back. "What are you doing here?"
"Good behavior." She chuckled. "I've been saying that a lot tonight. It still feels funny."
Chandra cleared her throat. "Angel?"
He looked to her and immediately went to her side. He looked guilty more than anything else. "Yeah?"
She took his hand. "Did they tell you?"
"That you're pregnant? Yes."
"How about what the child would do?"
"What?"
*~*~*
Darla circled her, studying the handiwork. Drusilla was off to the side talking to Miss Edith. Sighing, Darla ran her hand through the blonde hair of the girl in front of her. Well, if it really was even a girl anymore. The blonde had no real reaction, just acknowledged the touch and stood perfectly still. This was too perfect.
"Dru, honey?" Darla cooed.
Dru immediately came over. "Yes, Grandmother?"
"What do you think of her?" Darla motioned to the blonde.
Dru ran her finger over the curves of the blonde's face then tasted the moisture from her finger. "All vanilla." She smiled.
"I'll take that as good." Darla smiled and looked right at the blonde. "Welcome back, Buffy."
Note: 5th in the "Cold Summer Series"
*~*~*
Olivia had decided to move Chandra to a different motel room for the time being and when dusk fell, Angel arose to an empty room. He'd slept through the day? He scanned the room and noted that all of Chandra's belongings were gone.
"Shit. I knew I shouldn't have touched her." He stood and grabbed his pants.
"Oh but now it's fun, mate."
Angel growled. "What are you doing here, Spike?"
Spike lit his cigarette and kicked back in the chair. "Came to give ya a bit of cheery news. You're new slay girl hasn't flown the coop. Her watcher moved her to another room."
"So she knows. About Chandra and I..."
"Shagging up a storm? You bet." The younger vampire smiled. "Really, Angelus. I thought you might have gotten over your little slayer phase."
"Shut up, William." The hint of his accent returned as he finished dressing.
"Ah, so now we're resorting to threatening?"
"Is there some reason you're here? Besides to volunteer as a punching bag?"
"To tell you that you're gonna be a poppa."
Angel did a double-take. "That's a sick joke."
Spike snuffed out his cigarette on the end table. "Come now, Peaches. You know I was much fonder of the sick truth."
The elder vampire snarled and grabbed Spike by the throat. "What are you saying?"
Spike chuckled. "That the Slayer's baring your child."
*~*~*
Willow tucked the covers around Chandra as she slept and hung the small bag of herbs above her. "This should help her sleep," she told Olivia.
The watcher nodded. "Thank you."
"Do you think this will all be okay?"
"Five by five."
They turned to the door of the motel room where Faith stood. "You!" Willow gasped.
Faith held up her hands. "It's okay, Will. I'm on the up and up. Parole. Good behavior."
Olivia swallowed. "This must be Faith then."
She nodded. "How's it going?"
Willow looked to Chandra. "Not the greatest."
"Well, where's B? I mean, if danger's a brewing, she's always here, right?"
Olivia stepped back. "Buffy Summers died two weeks ago."
Faith's face dropped. "What?"
Willow nodded. "She died saving the world."
Faith put up a strong front. "Like she was destined to, huh?" She swallowed. "I can patrol tonight if you need help."
"That would be great. Chandra needs to sleep for the night." Olivia looked to her charge.
Faith did as well. "New slayer?"
"And a lot more."
*~*~*
Xander looked at the ring on his left hand. No one had noticed it. He and Anya had decided to keep it a secret for a while. He didn't know why he had told Cordelia. Maybe it was to flaunt it to her. Maybe it was to prove to her that he was over her.
"Maybe because Angel isn't exactly dead..." Anya began.
"Right, An, he's not dead, he's electroencephalographically challenged."
She looked down for a moment. "Well it was only a suggestion."
He sighed and held her hand as they patrolled. "I'm sorry. I know you're only trying to help. I just... I just need.... Faith!" His eyes went wide.
"Well we should all have faith."
"No. Look!" He pointed to the rogue slayer sitting on a stone holding a stake.
Faith looked in their direction, her eyes widening as she hopped down off the stone. "Xander..." She swallows and slowly approached them. "How's it hangin'?"
He held up his hand. "Stop right there."
"Look, I'm on the good again. I've been serving time. I got the whole 'good behavior' bit." She held up the stake. "Just patrolling."
Anya looked her over. "We are patrolling as well."
Faith nodded a little. "Anya, right?"
"Yes. I am with Xander." She narrowed her eyes.
Xander eyed Faith. "Why are you back?"
She sighed. "Look, I got paroled. Then I went to Angel's but he was gone so I came here. Ran into Will and told her I would help out how I could. So I'm patrolling." She looked into his disapproving face. "Fine. Go to Hell. Oh! I forgot! You're already hear and your other slayer is down for the count right now." She glared. "Grow up Xander, I've changed. I have a job to do. Now if you'll excuse me." She turned.
Xander grabbed her shoulder, turned her around and slugged her.
She stumbled back a step out of shock and stretched her jaw. "So that's how it's gonna be." She nodded. "Fine. I'm out." She threw her stake down and left the cemetery.
*~*~*
Wesley yawned and fluffed the pillow on the couch. "It's very kind of you to let us stay here, Rupert."
Gunn unrolled a sleeping bag on the floor. "Yeah, thanks G."
Giles nodded and turned for his room. "Help yourselves to anything in the kitchen if you need it." The phone rang, prolonging his sleep. Grumbling, he answered. "Yes? ... What was that? ... No, keep her there. Yes, I'll talk to Xander about that. Goodnight, Olivia." His hand lingered on the phone after he hung it up, he couldn't look at Wesley. "Faith is here."
The younger Englishman shuddered and looked up. "What?"
"She's staying with Olivia and Chandra. She's out on good behavior."
Gunn looked at the other two men. "Faith?"
Giles nodded. "A slayer gone rogue. She was spending time in an LA prison for murder and assault."
"Woah, hold up. Angel told me about this chic. She's here?"
*~*~*
Cordelia paced franticly. "This is bad. This is very bad. First Angel decides to get all groiny and it yet again brings about the end of the world and now Faith is here."
Tara was still staying back from everyone. She busied herself with a book.
Willow sighed. "Maybe Faith really has changed."
"Into different clothes maybe!" she stopped pacing with a sigh. "I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe."
"Just think," Willow said softly as she sat by her. "What else could go wrong?"
*~*~*
Their heads were bowed. A few were chanting while the others lit candles and burned some sacred herbs. Darla stood a few feet back and smiled. "Never thought coming back to the Hellmouth was going to be this eventful."
Drusilla giggled. "When the chips are down... the buffalo is empty!"
The elder vampire furrowed her brow. "Right."
*~*~*
Chandra sat up and screamed. Oliva sat by her and held out a glass of water. "Here. Drink some water."
Faith sat up from her bed on the floor. "She okay?"
Chandra looked to her. "Faith?"
She nodded. "Yeah, how did you..."
"I saw you, in my dream. You and Angel. I saw it! I saw it!"
"Calm down now, little one." Olivia smoothed the covers down. "You're fine."
She swallowed. "This shit is driving me nuts!"
"I know, and it will get better, I promise. But just for now..."
"For now? You mean for the next nine months? Then it'll all be better. My kid will bring the end of the world. That's no biggy." She closed her eyes and struggled to regain her breath. "Faith, you have to watch out for the blue Devil. Please. Don't follow anyone to the blue Devil."
Faith swallowed. "What blue Devil?"
"I'm not sure. I just know though. Please?"
"You got it."
Chandra turned to her Watcher. "I'd like to see Angel. Where is he?"
Olivia scowled. "I don't think it would be wise."
"I'm already knocked up. Now I want to see him!" she snapped.
"Right here." Angel poked his head in the door. "I was guarding outside." He glanced at the second slayer. "Faith?"
She smiled and went over to hug him. "Hey there."
He smiled and hugged her back. "What are you doing here?"
"Good behavior." She chuckled. "I've been saying that a lot tonight. It still feels funny."
Chandra cleared her throat. "Angel?"
He looked to her and immediately went to her side. He looked guilty more than anything else. "Yeah?"
She took his hand. "Did they tell you?"
"That you're pregnant? Yes."
"How about what the child would do?"
"What?"
*~*~*
Darla circled her, studying the handiwork. Drusilla was off to the side talking to Miss Edith. Sighing, Darla ran her hand through the blonde hair of the girl in front of her. Well, if it really was even a girl anymore. The blonde had no real reaction, just acknowledged the touch and stood perfectly still. This was too perfect.
"Dru, honey?" Darla cooed.
Dru immediately came over. "Yes, Grandmother?"
"What do you think of her?" Darla motioned to the blonde.
Dru ran her finger over the curves of the blonde's face then tasted the moisture from her finger. "All vanilla." She smiled.
"I'll take that as good." Darla smiled and looked right at the blonde. "Welcome back, Buffy."