Song Credits :
Chapter Two - The Unforgiven by Metallica
Chapter Three - The Dogs of War by Pink Floyd
Chapter Four - With or Without You by U2
Chapter Five - The Dogs of War by Pink Floyd
A/N: As usual, thanks for the reviews. Love them. Moving on to the contents of this chapter. This chapter basically ties in everything that was previously mentioned.
More cryptic goodness but more explanations also.
Another fair warning. Cordelia is one of my favorite characters but she is going to be the voice of opposition here. Maybe only until Buffy makes her appearance. So, major bitchiness on Cordy's part. Any any bashing by said character might do to another is not my opinion. I'm just taking Cordeli'a meanness up a notch. Meaning she'll be more like her high school self.
Also, before things get better, they have to be broken.
Enjoy.
Steps have been taken
A silent uproar has unleashed the dogs of war
"Stop being a sissy!"
Angel glowered at Faith and folded his arms. "I am not being a sissy." He argued.
They stood in the middle of the hotel's basement, illuminated by the dim yellow light of the tiny bulb above them. Faith was impatiently insisting that Angel strike her while the vampire insolently refused to do her any sort of physical harm. The slayer was in search for some alone time, not wanting to endure another tedious game of give us the play by play with the gang and she knew that weapons would soothe the tension off her nerves. She wanted to rethink the night before. Faith couldn't put her finger on it but she knew that something else had gone wrong.
Unfortunately, Angel decided to crash her one woman party.
Faith scoffed huffily, rolling dark brown eyes at Angel. "You have to attack me like you actually mean it, Angel." She insisted, getting slightly annoyed.
"I can't. I don't want to do this." Angel mulishly announced.
"Well, I'm not going to let you do the creepy stalker thing and watch me from the shadowy parts of the room." Faith insisted just as stubbornly. "Hey, you insisted on joining me and I want to play. Now, be a good little vampire and try to hurt me." When Angel refused to budge, Faith growled in frustration. "I'm doing this for your son, Fang."
Angel shot her a disbelieving look. "You think that beating you up is good for my son? I think we're going to need to have a talk, Faith."
"I need to know how to fight in this…condition." Faith clarified. "I haven't been on the job for two years. The only action I got in prison were the occasional fights in the yard."
"Faith, the Powers entrusted you with my son because they know you'll be able to protect it." Angel declared. "You don't need to prove yourself."
Don't I? Faith was tempted to ask.
"Okay then." She said, throwing away the sword she was holding. Faith calmly and coolly strode towards Angel and punched him as hard as she could. Angel's head whipped back as he flew across the room and crashed against a stack of boxes. "Now, don't hold back or I'll be disappointed."
"What was that?" Fred asked as she heard a loud crash coming from the basement.
Wesley briefly paused, knitted his forehead and returned to his reading. The crashing and clattering from below intensified and everyone looked to Wes and Cordelia for an explanation.
"Those are violent noises, peeps." Lorne spoke up from behind the magazine that he found on Cordelia's desk. "I know that fighting is in the job description but is fighting each other a standard thing around here?"
"There's no yelling. They're probably just training." Wesley stated dismissively. As far as he could remember, Faith is rather talkative when she's on a murderous streak.
"I must have missed the giant, flashy neon sign saying, welcome to the fight club, on my way in." Lorne quipped, returning to the magazine article.
Fred frowned. "Are they always like this?"
"No matter how many times Faith and Angel have come close to killing each other, they always wind up making up." Wesley explained. "I don't quite understand it either."
"So, they're not angry with each other?" Fred continued.
Wesley shook his head. "No."
"You can guarantee that Faith won't dust Angel? Weren't you two the ones insisting that she's beyond crazy and evil?" Gunn pointed out.
Wesley pressed his lips together and nodded. "Yes, but Angel's the only one who hasn't given up on her and she's aware of that."
"Maybe it's foreplay. Their kinks to our vanilla." Gunn offered and Cordelia threw an eraser at him, hitting him right smack in the eye. "Oww, Cordy! What was that for?"
Cordy arched a razor sharp eyebrow and gave Gunn her trademark icy Queen C glare. "First of all, eew!" She drawled dramatically, shooting Gunn another accusing look. "Secondly, Angel and Faith aren't like that. They communicate better with their fists, that's all." She paused for a moment, narrowing her eyes. "You don't sense any lusty vibes, do you, Lorne?"
The Host scoffed. "Who do I look like? Miss Cleo?" He retorted.
"Who's Miss Cleo?" Fred wondered out loud. Gunn shrugged.
"Well, do you?"
"I don't have long range aura-reading radar." Lorne replied. "But I don't sense any murderous feelings."
"Should we check? Just in case." Fred asked.
Cordelia nodded. "Okay, you go."
"Me?" Fred squeaked. "Why me?"
"Because Angel loves you and you're less likely to get in trouble than the rest of us. He will never get mad at you even if you interrupt while he and Ms. Homicidal-lunatic are trying to de-stress." Cordy explained as if it was common sense. "Now, go take a peek."
Their dance of fists and kicks and blows ended with Faith on top of Angel, panting breathlessly. Sweat glistened on her skin and dark strands of hair clung to her face and neck.
"I win." She gasped, moving the knife away from Angel's neck. Her lips stretched into a satisfied smile as she rolled off him and collapsed on the floor.
Almost like old times. Faith thought with a smirk. But less killing.
Her skin hummed and warning bells were practically ringing in Faith's ears for having a vampire too close. The familiar ache in her bones and muscles reminded her of the fights during patrol and Faith almost felt invincible again. Ever since she was let out of prison by the Powers, this was the only time that she felt powerful and in control.
And Faith relished the feeling.
"Actually, you lose." Angel corrected as he sat up. "You can slit my throat with that knife, you can even stab me but it's not going to do much. Vampire, remember?"
"I didn't forget. Did you actually want me to demonstrate the decapitation?" Faith asked as she followed his move and tucked her legs under her. "And your son agrees." She added.
What was that? Faith inwardly snapped at herself. The baby agrees? You're not telepathically linked to his child. Stupid move.
Angel's patented scowl disappeared and a small smile graced his lips. "Does he?" Faith merely nodded, exhaling when the baby shifted. "Are you…you're not fading again, are you?"
"He just kicked." Faith reassured him. "Your boy's a kicker."
"Is he still kicking?" Angel looked a cross between incredibly interested and mildly uncomfortable, as if he was about to say something rather inappropriate or awkward. Faith silently watched and waited as emotions played on the vampire's face.
Oh, God. He's going to ask if he can feel it kick. Damn bastard Powers that Be for putting me in this situation. Okay, this is not about you. She quickly reprimanded herself. This is about Angel and his baby with Darla.
Faith nodded, her calm demeanor slightly faltering. "He can't seem to stop. It must be a baby thing." She replied, swallowing. Here goes nothing. "Do you want to feel it kick?"
Angel was practically beaming. "Really?" He asked, clearing his throat. "It's okay with you?" Faith looked somewhat surprised.
"It's your baby. You're entitled." Faith justified although saying it did not make the bitterness that was rising in her throat fade away. "Just don't try to cop a feel anywhere else, okay?" She added good-naturedly. He shot her a reproving look. When Angel tentatively moved his hand, Faith took it and placed it on the spot where the baby was kicking the most. "Here."
They waited silently. Faith sighed.
"He kicked!" Angel declared proudly, breaking the silence. "It was a good, strong kick. Very good kick, don't you think?"
"Yeah."
"Should we do this? Angel's going to be pissed." Gunn asked as they crowded around the basement door. "Fred, you see anything?"
Wesley looked thoroughly disturbed by what they were doing. "This is a very serious case of voyeurism."
Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Shame on us." She muttered sarcastically.
"We should be ashamed. Look at us."
"I don't see you walking away, English." Gunn pointed out and Wesley frowned in response. "Fred, what do you see?"
Fred pressed her face against the small crevice of the doorway, trying to see with one eye. "They're still alive. That's good, right? Oh."
"Oh?" Gunn echoed. "Why the oh?"
"There's straddling!" She whispered, stunned. "Okay, I'm done."
Cordy and Wesley gasped. "I suppose straddling might be involved when trying to pin down an opponent." Wesley tried to rationalize.
"They better not be getting fleshy down there." Cordelia murmured as she craned her neck over Wesley's shoulder. "We don't need another psychotic super-bitch running around."
"Oh, my God, they're coming!" There was suddenly a series of oh lord, what and holy crap. Fred ran away as quickly and as noiselessly as possible. "I meant they're coming up the stairs! Run!"
Everyone scattered, returning to their respective places, trying to look inconspicuous. Angel and Faith appeared and no one bothered to look up at them. Faith shrugged indifferently while Angel narrowed his eyes, sensing that something was off.
"Hey, Tinkle-bird!" Lorne said, beaming at Faith.
What the hell's a tinkle-bird? Faith wondered. "Hey."
"Did we miss something?" Angel asked.
Faith stole a quick glance at Angel and then at the group.
"No." Everyone replied in unison. Fred ducked her head shyly.
"Nothing exciting here, Angeltoes." Lorne replied with more zest than usual. "Muffin?" He asked, offering them the box of muffins Gunn had brought to the hotel.
Faith walked over to him and randomly picked one. "Thanks, fighting makes me hungry." She said and Lorne gave her another one of his looks. Faith shrugged it off and took a bite. "Well, as exciting as this is, I'm going to hit the shower." She declared, heading towards the second floor, not wanting to be in their presence longer than necessary. Faith walked straight to the bathroom, discarding her clothes along the way.
That moment with Angel had bothered her and as much as Faith tried to stay detached to what was happening she couldn't. It wasn't about her and Faith was well aware of that. She was simply a means to an end.
She was suddenly assaulted by an onslaught of memories she thought laid dormant inside her and Faith groaned as the familiar frustration continued to build inside before finally settling in the pit of her stomach.
You're my girl, Faith, no matter what your Mama says. Someday, you'll understand that genetics isn't what makes families. It's something deep inside. You're my mine, blood or not.
"That's a crock." Faith hissed as she stepped under the stream of hot water, trying to wash her father's words away.
I don't love you any less for that. And I hope that when you're all grown up you'll understand what it's like to love a child, wholly and unconditional. You're not going to be like your Mama. I'm sure of it.
When Faith returned to the lobby, lunch had been ordered and Cordelia was silently assaulting her salad with a plastic fork while Fred was hungrily devouring her second taco.
"Oh, good, you're here." Wesley spoke, noticing Faith first. She remained silent, not quite sure if that comment was negative.
"English here finally had his eureka moment." Gunn said.
Faith arched an eyebrow. "Huh?"
"He found something world changing and now, he's as giddy as a schoolgirl." Gunn explained and Wesley scowled at him but refrained from retorting. The Englishman didn't look anywhere close to being giddy.
"I didn't know what you wanted so I got you one of each." Angel said regarding the assortment of food on the curved front desk. Faith was clearly grateful but she just casually shrugged and mumbled an aloof, thanks.
Wesley finished his sandwich and cleared his throat. "Alright, I've compiled a list of several prophecies and references that could possibly be related to the three of you."
"Three of us?" Faith asked.
"You, Angel and the baby." Wesley clarified. "I found some passages, all of them written in…never mind. I believe they are the Eyes of Eve."
"The Eyes of Eve?" Gunn asked. "As in Adam's Eve? From the Bible?"
Wesley shook his head. "No, not the biblical character."
"Goody." Faith muttered.
Wesley ignored the comment and carried on. "She was a precognitive blind woman who was thought of being inhabited by the devil because she took on different personalities. Three of them to be exact."
"In modern scientific terms, Eve suffered from multiple personality disorder." Fred stated softly.
"But in actuality, the old woman didn't suffer from anything. She was linked to great mystical powers. She was a prophetess."
Angel frowned. "Like Dru."
"Who's Dru?" Fred asked.
"Another crazy vampire girlfriend." Cordy replied.
Fred frowned. "I need a chart for these things."
"Moving on." Wes said. "The personalities that she took on are the Eyes. First, second and third. With each personality, she wrote thousands of prophecies. All of them are related in some form or another."
"If she was blind, how was she able to write?" Gunn asked, getting slightly sidetracked.
"That's completely beside the point, Gunn." Wesley admonished. "The point is Angel, Faith and the baby are mentioned."
Faith folded her arms. "So, what's the deal? What do the prophecies say exactly?"
"Forged in light but tainted by the hand of darkness, the dark girl in the form of the vessel will be called forth and through her the first will be born." Wesley recited. "This is the only existing prophecy that mentions the Vessel. Obviously, this speaks of Faith and the child."
"Well, that's vague." Faith drawled. "What did you mean by first? First what, exactly?"
"It doesn't specify but there were several allusions to great evil, savior and warrior."
Faith blinked. "What?"
"The baby you're carrying might be evil, Faith." Wesley clarified, looking at Angel apologetically. Angel's jaw tightened as his expression darkened.
"But the baby is human." Angel insisted. "It has a soul."
Wesley nodded somberly. "It clearly states that-"
"I heard what you said, Wes." Angel argued. "There has to be some sort of mistake. My son is not evil."
Wesley shook his head. "I checked and rechecked Angel."
Angel refused to believe it. "Not everything prophesized actually happens."
But it will. Faith thought. She was going to give birth soon. She could feel it. "The baby can't be evil. The Powers want it to be born."
"Unless you've been duped." Gunn stated. "Unless whoever you were talking to was actually evil."
Faith glared, not at Gunn but at the thought that this child inside her was evil. "No." Faith argued. It doesn't feel evil. This is a mistake. The boy promised me that the baby isn't evil.
"Did you know about this?" Cordelia asked her accusingly.
"Oh, you're looking at me to blame?" Bitch.
"Well, usually it is your fault." Cordy retorted bitterly. "And you're the only one who's had contact with the being who you claim to be part of the Powers."
Faith scoffed. "Cut the Joan Collins attitude, Cordelia. Do you honestly think that I would willingly carry some demon's spawn just so it can grow up and destroy us all?"
"I wouldn't put anything past you."
"Stop!" Angel growled. "Enough. Wes, is there anything else?"
Wesley nodded. "It goes on about a slayer raising a champion."
"Then it's settled. My son will grow up to be a champion with Faith's help. It's not evil. These prophecies are trying to throw us off." Angel declared dismissively.
"Champion of what though? Good or evil?"
Wesley shrugged. "It does not say. It only says that a choice will be made, a life forfeited to save another. And the slayer will raise a champion."
"Is there a possibility that what you're carrying isn't actually Angel's baby?" Fred timidly asked. "Not that I doubt your word or anything, Faith."
Faith paled and Wesley practically collapsed in his chair. "Oh, God." He murmured in utter shock. "How could I not see this?"
"See what?" Angel barked.
"The prophecies did not indicate that the Vessel and the mortal woman chosen to carry your child are one and the same. But the prophecies of the third eye are missing. If we had it maybe…"
Angel stiffened as he looked at Faith, searching for some answer. She gritted her teeth and refused to say anything. This is a trick. This is a trick. She insisted silently. The baby can't be bad. You know they're wrong. Don't listen.
"Oh my God, Buffy!" Cordelia screeched.
"Where?"
"She's not here, obviously." Cordelia said without missing a beat. She strode over to Wesley and snatched the sheets of paper from his hand. "Let's go with this theory, okay? The prophecies; one says a mortal woman will give birth to Angel's son and another says that the dark girl in the form of the Vessel will give birth to something possibly evil. You and Buffy, Faith, you've never found common ground. You're at opposite ends of the spectrum."
Faith folded her arms defensively. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
"Well, you chose the dark side over slayer-hood while Buffy stayed on the straight and narrow. These prophecies never specified that you're going to carry Angel's son. Let's think about it, people. Buffy is as mortal as the rest of us are excluding Angel of course." Cordelia declared. "And now, it says a slayer will raise a champion. Uh, hello, Buffy's the slayer and I'm pretty sure that whatever she happens to raise will turn out to be some champion of the light although they might be borderline geekazoid."
"Meaning?"
"Meaning, why hasn't anybody checked on Buffy?"
"Buffy can't have my son." Angel insisted. "She just died. The Powers wouldn't burden-"
Cordelia nodded. "She made another sacrifice for the world. Don't you think the Powers would choose-?"
"No!" Faith practically yelled. "Buffy has nothing to do with this. This thing inside me is Angel's son. I told you-"
"Well, your word doesn't stand for much around here."
"Cordelia, don't." Angel stepped in.
Cordelia's jaw dropped and betrayal, hurt and anger flashed before her eyes. "I'm thinking about your ungrateful undead ass here and you take her side? She's probably plotting our demise and enjoying this! I can't believe you!"
"I am not taking anyone's side, Cordelia." Angel uttered firmly. "But let's not jump to conclusions here. Lorne read Faith. She's here to help us."
Lorne nodded and since his name was suddenly brought up, he decided to step in. "Let's all take a breather, alright, before we pull out the big guns. Let's have a few drinks…or a lot, depending on our rage."
"I am not enraged." Cordy hissed.
"Your aura begs to differ, princess." He gave her a sympathetic smile. "Faith's clean as a whistle. She's not plotting anyone's demise." Lorne reassured her.
"But Cordelia does bring up a very valid point. Perhaps we should check, Angel." Wesley spoke up.
"Check?"
"Faith should have an ultrasound." He suggested. "And perhaps we should call Sunnydale."
Faith watched as Angel hesitated. Like parasites, Cordelia's words were already creeping in the back of his mind, planting seeds of doubts. He turned to Faith, torn and confused and feeling somewhat betrayed. "Faith, we should-"
"Whatever." She interrupted, a small bitter laugh escaping her lips. "It's not like I have a choice anyway. You all decided already."
"Faith."
"Let's just get this over with!" She snapped, walking away from him. Angel stepped back, looking somewhat defeated and guilty.
"We'll take my car." Wesley offered. He was partially relieved that Faith gave in without a fight. "Angel?"
The vampire looked up. "I'll take the sewers. Take care of her, Wes."
"I will." Wes nodded as he caught up with the rest of the group.
"And I'll be here." Lorne said as he watched all of them leave.
"Lorne, are you sure that you read Faith clearly?" Angel asked before he made his way to leave.
The Host nodded. "I read her. She wasn't lying but there's a possibility that what I saw could have been fabricated by something evil. I didn't want to say it in front of the poor girl. She's already scared and confused enough."
"Scared?"
"Wouldn't you be? She believes that she's carrying your child." Lorne sighed. "And Angel, you're the only one she trusts out of-"
"I know."
"So, don't-"
"I know, Lorne."
Lorne nodded. "Angel?"
"What is it?"
"There's trouble a-brewing, Angel-wings, and you're girl is riding front and center." He gravely told Angel. "And if we're right about the baby and it turns out as some demon, Faith won't kill. She's already part…she loves that being inside her even if she hasn't acknowledged it yet." Angel silently absorbed the information, nodded and walked away. "Oh, boy." Lorne murmured as he walked behind the front desk and poured himself a drink. "This is not going to end well."
Lilah smirked as she watched the monitor.
"Look at them; they're falling apart at the seams, like little rats trying to escape their prison." She said to no one in particular. "It's almost like watching reality TV. Time to make Faith an offer she can't refuse."
A/N: I know, I know, Cordelia was crazily bitchy but hey, I like her this way. Only goes to show she's loyal to Angel, right?
Faith wasn't very introspective but you'll get to see what she really thinks in the next chapter.
A big woohoo to those asking for a pairing. This is going to be F/A, either friendship or romance. No poetic outbursts and mushy praises or adoration jsut yet, if ever. I know that Faith and Angel's scene was somewhat awkward but they have to start somewhere and I highly doubt that liplocking would be their first move. You know what they say, friendship often ends in love. Blah, blah and all that.
I'm aware that a character named Eve already exists in the AtS universe but what the hell, I like the name and it sounded nice with the word eyes.Keep a lookout for the third eye.
So, now that Buffy is about to thrown into the mix, I'm anticipating that some of you are not going to be pleased and want her gone as quickly as possible. She'll serve her purpose to Angel and Faith, which I refuse to reveal right now and she'll be off to Sunnydale.
Any thoughts?