Wishing on a Star

Posted: January 30, 2004

For disclaimer, look at Bio, or previous stories.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Faith was enjoying herself at the party, when suddenly, her chest began to vibrate. She was perplexed, before remembering she had turned her phone back on after the ceremony. She turned away from the majority of the guests and pulled out her phone, hitting the green button.

"Hey." She said, softly. Her whole demeanor changed.

"Hey yourself. Is it over yet?"

"Yeah, the receptions going on now. And having such a blast."

"Sorry I couldn't be there, but this had to come first. Does Angel and Buffy understand?"

"I'm sure they do. They're as big a part of this school as you are. If one of them had to go, instead of you, they would have, and postponed the wedding. So, did you find her?"

"Her's name's Quing Quing Shway, and she lives with her family near the northern border."

"Are you in China?"

"Yup."

"Cool. Even if I wish you were here."

"Me to. But I should be back within the next three weeks. But I'm not sure. Her parents are taking the news pretty well, but I'm not sure if they'll let her come back with me."

"Yay. Well, I should really go be mingly. Most people live here, but some don't. And some people, like Cordelia and Wesley know me from before. And, besides, being a bride's maid, it's kinda my job."

"Must be killing you." He teased.

"I owe it to B." She sighed.

"Sorry I couldn't be there. I bet you look gorgeous in that dress."

"Yeah, and nobody's here to help me out of it. I guess I can always find someone else." She faked a sigh.

"I'll be there in spirit. Save me a dance, k?"

"Sure."

"Hug hug."

"kiss, kiss."

"Bye, Faith."

"I love you." She said, for the first time outside of the night.

"I love you too, Faith. Bye."

"Bye." She hung up, smiling. Buffy and Angel danced by.

"Told you." Buffy said to the other woman. Faith smiled and waved. She tucked her phone away, and then sidled over to them.

"May I cut in?" she asked Angel. Buffy smiled, and stepped away from Angel. He pretended to pout, but but went to sit with Giles.

"Who's the guy here?" Buffy asked, laughing.

"Me. You're the bride. I'll dance with Angel later, though, If you don't mind."

"You have Robin, and we're married now. Nobody can steal him away, not even you, with your cell phone in your bodice." She smiled.

"I'm your friend, why would I try to steal him away?"

"So, what did Robin have to say?"

"He's found her, by the northern border in China. Quing Quing something or other. He hopes to be home in three weeks, and he's sorry he couldn't be here."

"Work comes first, in this line of work. If we save that girl's life, then it's ok. I understand." Faith nodded, and waved the Wesley and Cordelia. They waved back. The were dancing together, but seemed to be talking about a case.

"This guy's good." Faith said, looking at the green demon, who was the 'wedding singer'. He was stationed at the end of the patio, by the dance floor.

"Yeah. He reads auras, or something like that. But you have to sing for him. He's a friend of Angel's."

"He is a demon, right?"

"Yeah." She laughed. Soon the song ended, and Faith hugged the older woman.

"Congrats, B."

"Thanks, F." But there was no hostility in her voice. Faith went over to ask Angel to dance, as Xander came to claim Buffy.

"I'm proud of you, Buff. You're the first one of us to get married."

"yeah. Xander, I'm sorry you and Anya didn't work out."

"I'm over it. I loved her, and I always will, but she's gone."

"yeah." They danced in comfortable silence. And then she danced with Giles. By this time, even her slayer endurance was flagging.

"Tired?"

"Mm-hm." She hesitated, then rested her head on his chest. He patted her back in a father like manner. "With the nerves and anxiety and stress, I dind't get a lot of sleep this past week."

"You'll sleep well tonight then." She just looked at him. "Ah, yes. You're wedding night." He removed a hand form her waist, but before he got far, she grabbed his wrist.

"Those glasses are staying right where they are, Mister. I'm 26, and newly married. You have to get over it."

He sighed. "I will always see you as that 16 year old girl I was put in charge of, ten years ago. The sweet, innocent, and totally tiresome teenager you were." She elbowed him.

The song ended, and he bowed to her, before leading her to Angel. She smiled at his antics. Angel took her hand, and silently asked her what she wanted to do, before leading her back onto the dance floor. She snuggled into his warm embrace.

Before they knew it, the sun had set, and the moon rose, and the stars were just coming out.

"First star. Make a wish." Angel murmured to her. She looked up at it, and then at him.

"I'm fine." She smiled, "Hey, Faith!" She called the yougner woman over. "First star. Make a wish."

"I'm to old to wish on stars, B." Buffy glared at her, and she sighed. "Fine."

Star light, star bright

First star I see tonight

I wish I may, I wish I might

Have the wish I wish tonight.

She thought about it a moment, before deciding. I wish I could tell Robin how much I love him, without freaking.

"There," she said, turning back to the couple.

"What'd you wish for?"

"I can't tell!" Buffy pretended to pout.

"Hey, no pouting. This is our special day." Angel pulled her closer to hi.

"What are you going to do about it?" she taunted. He responded with a slow, tantalizing kiss. She smiled up at him.

Faith left them to it. The night was cooling off quickly, and she really didn't have anyone to keep her here. She started to slip towards the doors, but Dawn was waiting for her.

"It's pretty, isn't it?" she asked Faith.

"Yeah, pretty cold." Dawn elbowed her.

She then looked out over the random splattering of couples, before speaking.

"Sorta depressing." She looked at Faith. "We both have people we could be sharing this night with, and yet they're not here. We're the only ones who seem to feel the cold; between guys and friends, the cold is kept at bay."

"And the darkness." She sighed. "We'd better stay out here. I'm sure vamps know about this place, but if you get a big enough gang together, who wouldn't try to take on the school?"

"We?"

"Oh, yeah. Nobody knows. Not even Buffy. Yeah, remember, girls between like 10 to 18 were chosen, and lucky for me, I was in the middle. I took classes here for the first two years, and the fighting classes because Buffy thought I needed them, but not because I was a slayer. And that's because I hid it. Being made from the slayer was a good enough excuse for why I didn't bruise as easy, or I sometimes showed flashes of strength, if I got really pissed.

"It comes in handy, though. I keep the vamp population on campus down. Dave doesn't know yet. But soon, I'm thinking about telling him. I really, really like him, Faith."

"What about you being the Key? I knew about that much. Are you going to tell him about that?"

"I don't know. I'm the first Key, so we don't know how that'll play out. I guess it depends on how he takes my being a slayer thing. If he can accept that, then maybe someday, I'll tell him."

"So, he's a normal, regular guy?"

"As far as I know. He's so smart, and funny, and he tends to know just what to say, to make even the most confusing lesson make sense." She smiled. "And yeah, we have nothing in common, really, to base a relationship on, but he's given me a life outside of slaying. He knows just what movies I'll like, and . . . .he knows how to make a girl feel special."

"You sure you're not sleeping with him?" Faith teased. Dawn just gave her a Summer's Glare. "So, how long do we gotta stay out here? I wanna get some patrolling done."

"I think we're set. 30+ slayers, one bad ass witch, two watchers, one demon, one partially demon, Xander, Gunn. The others will just be casualties." Dawn joked.

"Good. See ya, twerp."

"Slut." Dawn said, good naturedly.

"At least I get some." Faith threw back at her, then she went up to change.

~ * ~

Faith let herself into her room, trying to be as quiet as possible. Once again, Giles and Robin had pulled more strings, and here she was. She made sure the door was closed, then pulled the shirt from her weapons bag. If anyone found out, especially Buffy or Robin, she'd never hear the end of it.

She set the shirt on the bed, then stripped. She then pulled the shirt over her head, slowly inhaling. Who knew she'd miss him this much? So much, in fact, that she'd sneak into his room and steal one of his shirts? Certainly not she. She'd like to think that she was young, carefree and unattached to anything or anyone.

Having her own room had its perks, even if it was part of her probation. Since she had killed a lot oof guys, and that attack on Xander, how they found out, was anybody's guess, but they had made it mandatory that she did not share a room with anyone. But the nights got so lonely; Robin would generally come and keep her company every so often. Like every night.

He had also wanted her to have her own room. He had said he didn't want to rush into anything, and she should have a safe haven. It was more like her cave. She liked it dark. And comfortable. Maybe cave wasn't the right word.

She climbed into the bed, the shirt surrounding her with his distinct scent; after shave, and soap, and she drifted off.

She was awakened by her cell phone the next morning.

"Hello?"

"Hello, sleepyhead. It's...9:30 there, you know that, right? What are you still doing in bed?"

"I didn't get in until 2." She told him, stretching.

"Patrolling, I hope?" She liked to let him sweat.

"Yes." She said after a moment. "So, how are negotiations?

"It's like 10 pm here, but things are good. Her parents, through a translater, understand her destiny and calling. Now I just have to convince them that the best thing for their only daughter is to travel halfway across the world."

"Bummer."

"yeah., but things are looking up. The translator, a retired watcher, who missed the massacre because he hasn't been in charge of a slayer in forty years is being a big help. He understands the urgency of it all."

"Good. So, you're in capable hands."

"Yep. How are things there?"

"Buffy and Angel are headed to Ireland, of all places. I would think it would bring up bad memories, but Buffy wants to see parts of Angel's past, and he seems to think it will be good for him as well. Just what he needs to put it all behind him, I guess. I'm gonna take over B's classes, like we discussed. I-I'm still not sure this is such a good idea, though." She sighed. Being in a long term relationship forced her to be more open. "The fifth years are studying various knives and-"

"Faith." He interrupted, before she really got started. "I trust you. Giles trusts you. Angel and Buffy trust you. Even Wesley trusts you, and you tortured him."

"But I don't trust myself! You just don't-" she took a deep breath. He meant too much for her to push him away. "Robin." She forced herself to be calm. "This isn't some disease, a virus that I can get over. It's like . . . . . cancer." Her dad had had cancer. "It's always there, inside me, and there's no telling if it will come back. I-If I could relapse. Buffy warned that-that the knife Wilkins gave me is part of the school's collection."

"Faith, I wish I could be there, to help you through this, and to convince you that you'll be fine,, but I can't. And I won't always be there, when you have to face something new. Willow will be there, though."

"Like she stopped me the last time."

"She is one powerful witch. You'd be surprised at what she could do now."

"I wouldn't be here if she wasn't. And if it wasn't for you and Angel, and Giles. Have I thanked you for that?"

"Yeah, but you can always thank me more, once I get back."

"Good. Well, my first class starts at 10:30. I should go get ready."

"Don't scare the pants off them, ok?"

"Take away all my fun." She pouted.

"Yes, well, you go start your day, while I get ready to end mine. Bye, Faith."

"Bye."

"I love you."

"Me too." She chickened out at the last moment. "Bye." She hung up. She sighed and went to take a shower.

The class was noisy filing into the gym. 36 fifteen year old slayers. She caught wisps of conversation; from guys to the wedding to hott guys to the best music to hott guys to a debate about crossbows and stakes, to a debate about who was hotter, Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom.

She waited for them to all get there, leaning on the desk. One by one they took their seats. None were afraid of her: there had been rumors, but she had had little contact with them thus far, besides the past week where she had helped B, but mostly she had sat in the back, watching, learning how to teach. Now she was the one up front, while Willow sat in the back of the class. Strangely, no one noticed the red head.

The bell rang, and she waited. They knew they were supposed to quiet down, but only a few did, for only a few seconds. So she sat there, waiting. A selections of knives were on the desk, where Willow had placed them. Faith now turned to them and began picking through them. She found the one she was looking for, and turned back to the class, full attention on the knife. She didn't look up at the girls, didn't pay them no attention, she just let her gaze waver over the blade, almost caressing it with her gaze, staring at it almost lovingly, while her body radiated an aura of disgust.

She bent and grabbed an apple from her bag, and began to peel it.

Slowly, the girls around her began to quiet. She supposed she was scaring them, she was very good at carving, at peeling the flesh and muscle from the bone. Once the entire room was focused on her, the exquisite knife, the apple, and her peeling skills, she spoke.

"Name's Faith. No Professor, no teacher, no Miss. Just Faith. I'm from the south side of Boston, but I've spent the last six years in California. One in Sunnydale, and Five just outside of L.A.

"And I just want to get one thing straight: I'm not here for you guys. I'm not here to coddle you, hold your hand, no way. You're either on my good list, or you can head my bad list. Bad place to be, the bad list. Only one person's ever survived that, but she's pretty special.

"No. I'm here as a favor for a friend. When times were bad, and everyone else had rather seen me in jail or dead, he believed in me, even after I tried to murder him oh. . . . . twice. No, three times. . .

"But he wouldn't give up on me. He knew that I was strong, and I could overcome it all. So, this was the least I could do for him. Not even so much as for B. She's always hated me. But he never gave up. No, I'm not here for you.

"B said I could teach anything I wanted, whatever I felt comfortable teaching. And she said that you guys were starting on knives. So that's what we're gonna do." She held up the knife and looked at it, almost thoughtfully. Those close enough might have seen the evil glint in her eyes.

Before she knew it, the bell was ringing, and the girls were packing up. Willow came down from the back of the class.

"Great class, Faith. You're pretty much a natural. Now thatthey know who's in charge, they won'tgive you any problems, well, they shouldn't. But you have to start over with the other grades.

"I'm sorry about the beginning of class, putting you through that, but I wanted to make sure you could cope. They didn't even know I was there. Not an invisibility spell, but unless they were looking specificly for me, Willow Rosenburg, their eyes slid right over me." Faith nodded. She had thought as much.

"You were great, Faith. Now, I have to go teach my own class, but Wes is gonna come in, k? Just because 6th years are the hardest."

"Like Wes could help if things got wacky."

"Faith-"

"I'm joking, Red. Wes is an alright guy."

Willow left, and Faith sighed, ready to begin again. All in all, her day wasn't too bad.

~ * ~

Wood came back the second week in June, one week before classes ended, and everyone who was leaving went home. Quing Quing did not come with him, he was going to go get her in August. He and Giles were not pleased, but the retired watcher had given his word that he would take care of her and teach her the basics.

Faith was ecstatic to see him, after over a month. Of course, she was the very essence of cool, on the outside. Inside, she was almost quivering with excitement.

"Hey." He set down him bags and hugged her. She kissed him quickly in response.

"Hey." She smiled. Then she grabbed his bags and ran off.

"Hey!" he cried, laughing, and following her.

~ * ~

She sighed, snuggling into him.

(A/n: Come on! We're talking about Faith! I know you were all thinking it, but come on! She might be dating a respectable guy, but still FAITH! Even I can't change her character that much, it just wouldn't be right!)

"I missed you." She murmured. She'd never been the type to snuggle afterwards; it had been just skin. It had meant nothing to her, just a way to pass the lonely nights. But with Robin. . . . .

"I noticed." He laughed softly. She pulled away from him, pretending to sulk. He grabbed her waist and she let him pull her back to him. "I missed you too." She smiled at him, and ran her fingers down his chest sexily. He grabbed her hand and kissed her fingers.

"I. . . . .I love you, Robin Wood." And she meant it.

"I love you, too, Faith Maxell." And she knew he did.

A/N: Ok, no clue where the last name came from. I've had this chapter for awhile now, and just getting to posting it.and well, no clue. Sorry. Not even an inkling. But then we never knew her last name, so it's all good.