Disclaimer: See first chapter!

A/N: This is the first of the Epilogues, dunno how many I'll have before I start a new story :)

Title: Matthew Sweet's 'Farther Down'


Farther down, I desperate for you,

Where you never have to know,

Farther down, I'm still without a clue,

But something, something takes my pain away...


Late-October

Boarding the flight from Boston to Dublin was a bit of a hassle. First was the long term storage for the car, which wasn't too bad. Then was the security. Thank god she didn't try and take any of her 'tools'.

But the fat guy sitting next to her, that just pissed her off. He was ugly, smelled bad, and hit on her three seconds after she sat down. And her glare didn't make him back off either.

Sighing to herself, she put her headphones on and popped one of the tapes she had made during her trip across the country. Maybe listening to her own voice would help her keep her sanity, even if only a little.

Glaring once more at the fatso, Faith tried to make herself comfortable for the long flight.


"The heights of Colorado in September can be absolutely breath-taking, and I'm not talking about the encroaching winter. The western side of the city, right at sunset, is quite a view. I never really took the time to see what the country had to offer by way of sights, but now I'm glad I'm taking the time. After all, you only live once."

"I don't cry for you as much, now. The pain grows less with each passing day, although the memories of our time together remains sharp and clear. It's funny sometimes, how we can heal but still hold on to those bittersweet memories."

"I guess I really should get back on the road, though. I've got quite a distance left on this self-imposed journey. Hell, I've got over a week of driving, if I push myself. I'm shooting for three."

"I really wish you were here with me, but in a way, you are. It's like you're just out of my sight, sitting with that small grin of yours, just watching me. Sometimes, when I'm tired or I've just woken up, I think that I can turn my head fast enough and see you. I never do, and I always feel like crying again. If anyone asked, I'd blame it on the roller coaster I'm on called pregnancy, but we both know the truth. I miss you."

"In a few minutes, I'll drive again. Find a hotel or something, get some sleep. But right now, I'll wait for you, see if you show up."


"God, I hate these states. Flat and boring. I mean, give me something to look at! I can't wait until I get to an interesting state. "

"At least I haven't been pulled over at all. Been keeping it close to the speed limit, thank you very much. The last thing I need is some inbred cop giving me a hard time...

"Thank you, by the way, for what you did. Leaving everything you had to me in the event of your death. I didn't realize it then, but now I know why you always took care of those little details. Always checking on the little things does make life a little smoother."

"I miss you, still. And I think our little one does too."


"For the love of... people in Virginia cannot fucking drive. It's got to be all these military people, from all over the country, screwing this up. Then again, if the state had a highway system that made sense..."

"It's nice to see the coast, the east one anyways. I never really knew how much I missed it. I guess dealing with all these insane drivers is worth it."

"I'm getting kinda wigged about seeing my mom and pop. I'm still not sure if the guy's really my dad, but he's the closest I had when I was little. At least until I met Giles, he was a dad. Now I know how they're supposed to be."

"It's getting late, so I'd better get ready to pull over. Talk to you tomorrow."


"I forgot how bad traffic can be, going from DC to Boston. The Jersey Turnpike and the drive through New York City, especially since I managed to hit it during fucking rush hour."

"I'm just a few minutes away from the Mass border now. I'll get a room soon, and go looking for my mom tomorrow, I guess. Now that I'm here, I'm not sure how I'm gonna find them. Stop by the old neighborhood, see if they're still at that shitty apartment. I'm just a bit worried about bringing the car there. It's not the safest place for a good car."

"Yay! The state line. Now for a fucking hotel..."


"That was easier, and harder than I thought. My mother is still at the same place, with that same loser. They were surprised, and angry, when they answered the door to find me. They yelled, screamed, and threatened me. Except for her husband, my 'dad'. Never again will I think of him as that. And I doubt he'll ever try and grab me, or hit my mother, again. Not that I really give a damn about her anymore."

"So I guess that's one less demon in my past. Don't need to go see a shrink to shift through the mess that was my past. I have family, now. I called last night, just to see how they're doing."

"Giles, he's the closest thing I've ever had to a father, and I'm realizing he's a damn good one. I hope he and Jenny can work through their issues, and figure out what the hell they want. They're good for each other, now that Jenny's recovering and adjusting to the land of the living again."

"Xander's still working construction, and still collecting guns. He's got an offer to the Sunnydale PD now, and I think he's gonna take it. It's pretty good pay, and he say's the Lieutenant that's trying to hire him actually does know what's going on in good ole Sunny-hell. Maybe he'll be able to make a difference."

"Willow's still living with Xander, but in a strictly friends type thing. They like each other, but they say it ends at that. I kinda feel sorry for them, but they're fine. Willow's got this younger girlfriend, some girl named Kennedy. I've gotta meet this chic, Willow says she's got an attitude to match mine. And Giles says she's got the potential to be a Slayer, but since Buffy and I are still alive an' kicking, she'll never have to find out."

"Dawn's Dawn, I guess. I never really understood her, but she says she's doing fine. And has a boyfriend. He'd better not try anything, with Buffy and Spike watching out for her."

"Buffy and Spike. Still together, and still at it. They fight every day, Dawn told me, but never go to bed angry at each other. It's sweet, in a Slayer and ex-Vampire way. I hope one doesn't have a heart attack or stroke, considering the pains in the ass I know they both are."

"Well, I've gotta go if I want to catch my flight. I'll talk to you later."


The light bump of the wheels finding the runway woke Faith from her semi-sleep. The fat guy had been moved by one of the airline attendants after she slugged him for grabbing her leg. After that, the flight had been quiet, but long.

Now she was in Dublin, Ireland. So far, the airport looked like any other. But then again, she really didn't pay attention to most of the details. There were two men in suits standing by the departure gate with her name on a large placard. Both were older men, and watched her closely as she walked towards them.

Fuck it, she thought, they already know who I am. Might as well get this over with.

"I'm Faith," I said, standing just out of the taller man's arm reach. I was confident, not stupid.

"Yes, we know," the shorter man said. "Can we talk over some food? There are some things we wish to discuss with you. To determine the... future interactions... that you may have with our associates"

"Nothing funny," I answered after a moment. My left and gently rubbed the slight swell of my belly. "I'm eating for two here."

Both men looked a bit shocked, but nodded slightly. They even let her pick whatever restaurant she wanted. It just happened to be a small pub just outside the airport grounds. Apparently they were used to American tourists, because they at least had an explanation for they food she didn't recognize.

The three of them ate in silence for a few moments. Well, Faith ate anyways. She almost finished her plate before the shorter of the two men decided to speak.

"Faith," he began slowly, "I understand your caution when dealing with the Council, and I agree with you to a point."

"So this isn't another ploy to get me 'under control'?"

"No," the same man replied. "There has been some... reorganization... throughout the Council, and when we found you were going to be coming to Ireland, we decided to tell you face to face. We've spoken with Mr. Giles, and decided that honesty was most likely our best route in this matter."

"You know I'll be calling him to check that," she said around another mouthful of food.

"Of course," the second man said. "We'd expect no less, actually."

"But on to the business at hand," the first man said, nodding slightly at his companion. "The previous head of the Council has been removed, and a new leadership is now in place."

"Really?" she asked, skepticism clear in her voice.

"Really. Mr. Giles and four other field-experienced men and women no head the Council in all matters. The thing is, only one of them resides here, so the leadership is more conscious about world events. Those of us who appointed these people to the Council Seats feel that this is a much better way to do business. I was hoping you would agree with that, at least."

Faith nodded slightly, carefully memorizing the features of both men. When she finished her meal, she left some money to cover her portion of the tab and rose.

"It was good talking to you, but I need some sleep."

"Of course," the first man said. He slid a business card across the table with a small smile. "Give us a call tomorrow, after you've spoken to Mr. Giles. We'll provide a driver for the duration of your stay, if you require it."

She shook both of their hands before walking out of the pub and down the street to the hotel where she had booked a room. Within moments of stepping inside, she was asleep on the bed.


Giles had been brief, for a change, when Faith called him later that day. He confirmed who both men where, Mr. Christopher Harold and Mr. Jonathon King. He seemed excited about the new turn of events, and Faith felt happy for him. At least his actions while Buffy's Watcher were bearing fruit.

Next Faith called the number on the business card, getting a secretary after the second ring. She merely asked what hotel she was at, and when she wanted a driver. After giving the information, Faith decided to take a shower before going out.

The warm water eased some of the sore muscles that she still had from the trans-continental flight. Her hands softly traced the swell of her stomach, a small smile gracing her lips as she did so.

After drying off, she wore baggy jeans again, as well as another one of his sweatshirts. With one last look around, she grabbed her backpack and headed downstairs to meet the driver.


It was a two hour drive to the address she had, going well past the city limits and into the country. It was beautiful, the rolling green hills and small stone cottages that dotted the landscape. A content sigh escaped her lips, bringing a quick glance from the driver. He remained quiet, however, and just drove.

The small house she found herself in front of was well kept. She walked to the door slowly, slightly fearful for the first time on this trip as she knocked lightly on the front door.

A moment later, a thin woman with auburn hair answered the door. At first glance, she looked no older than Faith herself, but the small streaks of gray in her hair and the slight hint of wrinkles around the eyes quickly dismissed that. She carried herself well, and the dark hazel eyes seemed so familiar.

"Can I help you, miss?"

"Maybe," Faith said quickly. "I was hoping... do you have a son named Michael? Tall, dark hair, same eyes as you..."

A small chuckle escaped the woman's lips. "Yes, Michael is my son. Why don't you come inside." She lead Faith into the living room, and excused herself for a moment as she walked to the kitchen to fetch the tea she had on.

Faith looked around the room, taking in the tasteful and homey feel. Pictures of the family were above the mantle, and Faith found herself rising from the chair to look at them. And there she found her answer.

In one, where he looked barely sixteen, he was poised next to his mother in front of the house. Even this young, his eyes conveyed a seriousness and purpose. In another, taken years before, he was with his father, a tall, handsome man with black hair and green eyes. In another...

"I take it that's the Michael you were talking about?" the woman asked, breaking her from her thoughts. At Faith's slight nod, the woman lead her back to the chair and handed her a cup of tea. Faith tasted it, even though she didn't feel like tea.

"What's wrong?" the woman asked. "I'm Lisa, by the way. You are?"

"Faith," she answered slowly. "And I'm afraid I have some bad news for you..." Here Faith paused, trying to gather her thoughts. When she heard a footstep behind her, she stiffened.

"Mother? We have company?" That voice was so familiar, so achingly familiar. She didn't want to turn to face the speaker, fearing it was just another phantom in her mind. Against her will, she looked at him.

He was just as he remembered, save for the slightly older clothing that didn't fit very well. His hair was a bit longer, and his face seemed a bit harder, but she could have sworn it was him. He never told her that he had a brother.

"He doesn't," Lisa answered her spoken query. "There are things you don't understand at work her, Faith."

"I saw him die," she said softly, rising on unsteady legs and walking to him. He looked at her in confusion, then glanced at his mother.

"He almost did. But he was taken to his father's homeland, and healed. His memories have been slow in returning, but they will eventually. It'll take time, perhaps, but he'll remember."

Ignoring her words, Faith ran to him, wrapping her arms around him and crying into his chest. Slowly, and unsurely, he wrapped his arms around her.

He's got to remember me, Faith thought as she cried. Please, God... let him remember.

"Faith..." he said softly, his voice unsure and filled with questions. Then, as if a floodgate had been released, he began to rattle off more names. "Sunnydale, Giles, Xander, Buffy, Spike, Dawn, Willow... Faith..."

When he lifted her and kissed her, she felt like she was home again. Nothing else mattered. He was alive. The tenderness of his lips, the strength in his arms... he was alive.


I can never fully explain what happened to me. I thought I had died, but someone my grandfather knew saved me, healed me. But my memories... they were covered in gray haze. I remembered nothing of who or what I was.

My mother was the first person I saw when I awoke, and the bond an child shares with his mother helped me through those first days, as the haze in my mind slowly dissipated. Memories of my youth came back slowly, as if my mind was being careful of remembering too much...

When she walked into the living room that day, my heart began to beat faster, my breath come slightly faster. Even if my mind couldn't remember her, my heart did. I had avoided seeing anybody other than my mother since my 'return', but I felt drawn to this woman.

When she held herself against me, her tears wetting the front of my shirt, it was like the hazy was being burnt away by the sun. I remembered months of my life in an instant, and with those memories came the feelings I had for this woman and her friends back in Sunnydale.

It was then I knew what I had been missing, what I had hungered for since I returned. Without a thought I kissed her, and I knew I had reclaimed a bit of myself that had been lost.


Three weeks later, on a flight back to Boston, the same fat man sat a few rows in front of Faith. When she walked past him to the bathroom, he slid a hand out and gently touched her ass as she walked by. When she only glanced over her shoulder at him, he smiled slightly. I knew she wants me...

All of a sudden, all amorous thoughts were driven from his head by the tight grip around his throat. Choking quietly, the man pissed his pants in fear. The cold voice that whispered into his ear caused him to pass out, but not before hearing every word.

"Touch my fiancé again, and I'll rip your fucking head off."

When Faith made her way back to the seat, she could help but chuckle as she saw the fat man. Punching Michael lightly on the arm, she sat down and snuggled against him.

"Possessive much?"


A/N: You all knew I couldn't let him be gone forever, right? I was thinking about a more dramatic way for him to return, but this seemed to work out better in my mind.

The next Epilogue (and last) is gonna focus on Spike/Buffy, Giles/Jenny, and Willow/Kennedy. Will someone let me know what the girl looks like, at least? I've never seen the last season, and would like to be partially accurate....

Thank you to my readers, especially those who left reviews. They've helped quite a bit. And I figured out what the next TWO stories I'll be writing. One centered on Xander (one of my favorite characters, BTW) and the other focusing on Faith and Michael.