Kate and Faith enter the house and a resounding, "Welcome home!" Is shouted from a dozen or so people in the living room of Faith's home.
Faith's jaw drops as she looks from person to person. "Hey," she quietly replies after a brief moment of mental lapse. Before they can help themselves, four people in particular rush over and envelop Faith in a bear hug. "Breathing becoming an issue," she gasps after a moment.
"Yeah, sorry about that," a brunette woman apologizes as she blushes and tries to regain her composure.
"Speak for yourself," a dark haired male smirks.
"Alex," the redhead next to him admonishes as she gives Faith a shy smile. Faith smiles back softly as she watches Cordelia, Xander-Alex-and Willow interact while Oz steps back and watches them as well.
Faith sits back, amazed at how everything meshed itself into this existence. She smiles at some of her friends from Boston and the Sunnydale crew talk and joke like old friends, which they actually are.
"How are you holding up?" An unexpected voice asks the thoughtful brunette.
Faith is startled at the intrusion and further startled by the person it is coming from. "I'm doing okay I guess Cordy," she shrugs in response.
"I was just curious because I know how you were always one to try and be up in the middle of everything," she smiles fondly at Faith. "But then again, I suppose two years of being in some bizarro comaland can make a girl feel a little less social," she shrugs.
Faith smirks. "You must be some kind of expert," she replies in her 'smart ass' voice.
"Yeah, well…" Cordy trails off with a modest shrug and a grin. "But really, how are you?" She asks more seriously.
"I'm just trying to adapt. This is all so new to me and I don't really know how to cope with all of theses changes," Faith explains with a sigh.
"Was it better?" Cordy asks and Faith gives her a blank expression. "Your life in Sunnydale, was it better than this one seems to be? I heard you were some kind of superhero or something," she elaborates.
Faith releases a small chuckle and shakes her head. "Not at all. Sunnydale wasn't all that great. I think that's why it's hard to believe it wasn't real because I don't understand why I would create some shitty existence for myself," she explains.
"Maybe that doctor was right, maybe you created it over guilt," Cordelia shrugs. "All I know is that it's good to have you back," she smiles warmly.
"Thanks," Faith replies sincerely.
"What are you two doing? Come on, get up and stop being so antisocial," Alex grins as he approaches the two brunettes. Cordy stands up and offers her hand to help Faith up, who accepts the invitation.
"Hey Faith," JT, one of her friends from Boston, greets the brunette. "It's great to have ya back kid," he grins at the girl.
"Yeah, how goes it? You feelin' better?" Kyle asks casually.
"You know me, five-by-five," Faith shrugs, trying, and failing, to suppress a grin and everyone can't help but laugh.
"See guys, that's what I missed," Kyle announces. "That right there, that is pure Faith man. Don't nobody can pull off obscure slang like Shorty here," he informs the whole room, pointing at a smirking Faith.
"So Porter, you up for parting yet or are you supposed to be keeping straight or what?" Jessie asks with exaggerated innocence.
"I dunno," Faith shrugs mischievously. "Doc says that I should keep myself rested after having just woken up a couple days ago," she sighs dramatically.
"Well, if it's doctor's orders, we would be doing you a great disservice by taking you out to celebrate," JT states with a shrug and mock concern.
"But since when have I ever let anyone, let alone a doctor, give me orders?" Faith smirks, easily falling back into old habits from before she was 'called'. No, never a Slayer, never called. Current habits, not old. She tells herself.
"Faith, are you sure that that would be a good idea?" Willow asks timidly, speaking for the first time since Faith joined the conversation.
Faith turns and looks at the redhead. "Not at all, but I won't know until I try," she replies and Willow just nods, her concern not at all alleviated. Suddenly Faith finds herself in a flashback.
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Faith is walking with Willow and Buffy down a hall at Hemory High School. Buffy and Willow are talking about the lab assignment from their last class. Faith just walks along with her arm over her girlfriend's shoulder and Buffy's arm around Faith's waist.
Suddenly, JT and Kyle fling themselves at Faith, catching the brunette off guard and almost toppling her and Buffy over. "What up kid?" JT asks as he puts his arm over his friend's shoulder as Buffy just looks at them and rolls her eyes.
"Nothin' much, just trying to walk down the hall without some slob tacklin' me," Faith states nonchalantly as she nudges the taller boy in the side.
"What he meant to say was, are you coming to the party tonight at Jessie's place?" Kyle asks to make up for JT's tactlessness.
"I 'spose," Faith shrugs. "How about you B, care to join in some adolescent shenanigans?" She asks the blonde.
"I can't and neither can you because tomorrow is Wednesday, not Saturday," Buffy says in a mild warning tone.
"We have school five days a week. Jess only has a party, like, once a month and it's always totally kick ass. I'm sure the world of academia could survive without you for just one day," Faith reasons.
Buffy rolls her eyes again. "I just worry about your C- average…and your liver," she replies while shaking her head.
"Grades are overrated…especially for me as I yearn to be a professional burger flipper. Besides, if you're worried about my liver, I can always get a transplant when it's about to fail," she shrugs with a smirk.
Buffy shakes her head. "Count me out, we have a chemistry test tomorrow anyways and Will and I are actually going to study for. Besides, I have cheerleading practice after class tomorrow too," she finishes.
"Chemistry test? Red, do we really have a chemistry test or is she shirking her duties as a high school student?" Faith asks Willow.
Willow quirks a smile at the brunette. "Sorry Faith, but she shirks you not," she replies with amusement.
Faith chuckles at the redhead's reply. "Ah well, I'll just have to tell you all about it tomorrow night. Maybe I'll take pictures too, that way it'll be like you're really there," she smirks at Buffy.
"No thanks baby, I really don't want to see another picture of Mark's hairy ass mooning the camera, but it was a nice gesture," Buffy replies good-naturedly.
"They say it's the thought that counts," Faith shrugs modestly and Buffy smiles before glancing at a clock on the wall and sighing.
"I have to get to my next class to ask Mr. Peterson about our project. See you later sweetie," Buffy smiles as she gives her girlfriend a quick kiss on the lips.
"Are you sure that was a good idea?" Willow asks Faith.
"What deciding not to take pictures?" Faith asks in confusion.
"No, blowing off your girlfriend, studying and a big chemistry test for some party?" She asks more clearly.
"It's not just 'some party'," JT cuts in. "Jessie only has a party whenever her parents are out of the country," he adds.
"Which is every three weeks," Willow rolls her eyes.
"I won't know if it was a good idea until tonight now will I?" Faith smiles and winks at her redheaded friend before deciding to skip out on the rest of the day with her friends.
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"Hey, you alright kid?" JT asks his friend with concern.
"Yeah, great. Guess I just zoned out there for a second," Faith replies with a grin, happy that she's at least remembering things, so she knows this must be real.
"We thought we were losing you again there for a second Shorty," Kyle smiles softly.
"No, I'm just excited to be back," Faith tells everyone with a smile.
"Cool," Jessie smiles. "Hey, I gotta get goin', but you'll be there tonight right Porter?" She asks with a broad grin.
"I wouldn't miss it," Faith responds as Jessie leaves. "What about you Red, are you willing to join in the festivities tonight?" She asks the other girl.
"Uh, no. Alex and I have finals to study for," Willow replies, trying not to show her discomfort.
Faith quirks her brow. "What about you Cordy?" She asks the brunette beside Willow.
After a moment of deliberation, Cordelia comes to a verdict. "Sure," she replies simply.
"Sweet. So I'll see you tonight then," Faith says with a smile which Cordy returns.
"We do have to go now though. Especially if I have a party to get ready for," Cordelia states dramatically, referring to her, Willow and Alex.
"See you tonight C and I'll see you guys later," she waves the others. Soon after, everyone else filters themselves out of the house, waving their 'goodbyes' and 'see you laters' to Faith.
"See," Kate says as she reenters the living room.
"See what?" Faith asks in confusion as to what her sister-Watcher?-was talking about.
"I told you it wouldn't take long to get reacquainted with everyone," Kate smiles as she leans over and gives her little sister a hug.
"Okay, I guess you were right," the younger girl acquiesces with a smirk.
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Okay, this was not a very long chapter and it did take me a while to get it out. I had trouble with how I wanted to structure this chapter. Also I had to deal with the stresses of the end of my school year (which is over now--YAY) and procrastination in general.
If you like this chapter let me know, if you don't, let me know anyways.