Author's Note: Here it is, the much needed update to this story. This chapter takes place at points during Dirty Girls and Empty Places. Some dialogue in the first scene is taken right from Dirty Girls. There will be two more chapters after this, I am probably going to write the next one right away because I am psyched to write it. Then I will do another part of BBF before writing the final chapter. Then we will move on to part 3 of our trilogy! Enjoy, and as always, please R&R.
Chapter 7: Faith's Philosophy
Dawn and Connor looked up from where they were sitting at the table with Giles when they heard voices. It was Buffy and a dark haired girl that Connor didn't recognize. He glanced at Dawn, and noted the expression of shock on her face. Guess she's not an old friend, Connor thought with a frown.
"Buffy?" Dawn asked.
"We have a new house guest," Buffy replied.
"Hey, got a spare bed for a wanted fugitive?" the girl asked jokingly.
Connor gave her the once over. Fugitive? Might explain Dawn's icy reaction. As for the bed part, he seriously doubted it. The Summers home was bursting at the seams with potentials.
He snapped out of his thoughts as Giles greeted the girl. Faith. I've heard that name. Then it hit him. He had heard about her from the Angel Investigations crew, slayer gone bad that had been in prison.
"Does she have to stay here? Because there's some nice hotels that welcome tried-to-kill-your-sister types."
Yikes, Connor thought. But hey, if Dawn didn't like Faith then he didn't either. He was sure his girlfriend had her reasons.
"Check it out. Brat's all woman sized," Faith replied with a smile.
"Don't call her that," Connor snapped.
Faith appeared to notice Connor for the first time, and glanced him up and down. "Don't tell me. Little sis got herself a boy toy."
"He's not my boy toy. His name is Connor. He's Angel's son," Dawn added, feeling very defensive all of a sudden.
Faith looked surprised. "I'm guessing that's a long story."
"Very," Connor added enthusiastically.
Faith nodded and looked at Connor, with a new sort of respect in her eyes. She liked Angel, he had been good to her and helped her out a lot. But she wondered how Buffy was dealing with it. She glanced at her but didn't see a reaction.
Buffy and the others exchanged a few words about the girl who had been attacked, and Giles went off to attempt to find Faith a place to sleep. Dawn and Connor went outside on the porch. Dawn no longer had any privacy in her own home.
"So that's Faith. I heard about her," Connor said.
Dawn sighed. "It just makes me upset, that Buffy would welcome her to our home after what she did to her. To all of us."
Connor hesitated. "Well you know that if she's making you uncomfortable you can always come over to my place."
Dawn bit her lip. She had to admit, it was tempting to move out completely, away from Faith and potentials and go stay with Connor. But she didn't think she could handle that. Things had been more...tense between them lately, sexually speaking. Living with him would just bring up a lot of things that she wasn't sure she was ready for.
"I know," she replied. She moved closer and he kissed her softly.
A few days later, Connor exited his apartment. Things had been really crazy lately. First what had happened to Xander during the big fight, something that had really affected and shaken everyone, himself included. Then the people of Sunnydale had seemed to decide to get up and run all at once. The city was crazed right now, and he was on the way to Dawn's to see what he could do to help.
He was halfway down the steps when he heard a door open. "Connor!" called Mrs. Brady. He turned around to see her and her husband leaving the house, suitcases in hand.
"You too, huh," he said, feeling saddened.
"Things are not safe around here. We are leaving today. You should come with us," the older woman urged.
Connor shook his head. "Sorry, I've got responsibilities here."
Mr. Brady shook his head. "Well if you're smart, you'll leave soon."
Mrs. Brady handed him a set of keys. "Well, if you insist on staying, here are all the keys. The house is yours. I doubt we'll be coming back. We're going to stay with my sister in Fresno. Here's her number." She handed him a slip of paper. "It's been a pleasure knowing you Connor."
Connor nodded. "Thank you for everything. Good luck."
They nodded. Mrs. Brady stared at the house sadly, then started down the steps. Mr. Brady looked at Connor.
"Son, if I were you, I'd go be with your girlfriend. Bad times are ahead." He hesitated then followed his wife.
Connor stood there and watched as they loaded up the car and drove away. He looked down at the keys in his hands and thought about what Mr. Brady had said.
It was true, the coming battle did make him think about Dawn a lot. Things were also a lot more intense between them lately. Sometimes it took all his strength not to just take her and...he forced the thought away. But he could tell that things were changing between them, and he just hoped it would be for the better.
"So this is the Bronze. Possibly the only remotely cool location in Sunnydale," Dawn said, as they sat at a table and drank some soda while Faith and the potentials partied.
Connor nodded. "And the only remotely populated one."
Dawn shrugged. "Well we have the big nasties to deal with, so we deserve a chance to party."
He smiled. "Want me to get you another soda?"
Dawn smiled. "Yes please." He started to walk away, but she reached out and grabbed his shirt, pulling him in for a kiss. She instantly felt the new intensity and passion between them.
"I'll be right back," Connor whispered. He kissed her once more then forced himself to move away towards the bar.
Faith sauntered up and sat down in the seat that Connor had vacated. "So Dawnie, going for Angel's son. I must say, not very original, considering the family history," she said bluntly.
Dawn blushed. "Connor's very good to me. And I love him." She was shocked to hear herself say that out loud, to someone else, especially Faith of all people.
Faith raised her eyebrows. "Woah. How's B taking it?"
"She was a little lukewarm towards Connor at first. But it was just weirding her out, having Angel's son around. But she got past it, and she totally supports us."
Faith nodded. "So have you guys...ya know." She raised an eyebrow.
Dawn blushed even harder. "No. Not yet."
"But...you've thought about it," Faith said, reading the younger girl's expression.
Dawn looked at her guiltily. "Yeah. Especially lately."
Faith leaned back in her chair. "Well Dawn, here's how I see it. Big fight's coming up, and most likely you and Angel Junior will be right in the middle of it. And if I've learned one thing from being a slayer, it's that you've got to live for now. Because hey, tomorrow you could be dead."
Dawn let that sink in. "So you think I should...ya know...with Connor? Before it's too late?"
Faith shrugged. "That depends on if you're ready. But he's a pretty nice package, sure you'd be in for a good time."
"What's a good time?" Connor asked, suddenly reappearing.
Dawn nearly jumped out of her skin. "Oh! There you are. Um, just tonight. You know, letting loose at the Bronze," she said quickly. The band started playing a new, slower paced song. She glanced at Faith, and then smiled at Connor. "Do you want to dance?"
"Sure," Connor said. He took her hand and helped her off her chair. Dawn turned to Faith.
"Thanks," she said, giving her a meaningful look. Faith just smiled and nodded.
They walked out to the dance floor, Connor wondering what the two girls had been talking about. "What was that about? I thought you hated Faith."
Dawn smiled slightly. "No, she's actually okay." She wrapped her arms around his neck and they began to move slowly back and forth.
Connor closed his eyes, just enjoying the closeness. She felt so good in his arms.
Dawn was deep in thought. Faith did have a good point. There was the inevitable big to-the-death battle coming, and in case anything happened to her or Connor, she didn't want to have any regrets. The mere thought frightened her beyond belief: she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, and have many happy years. Children, pets, possibly a mini van, the whole white picket fence deal. But then she remembered what had happened to Xander. Things could change so quickly. Dawn sighed and relaxed into her boyfriend's arms. She knew that there would be some life changing choices ahead, and Faith had given her plenty of food for thought.
