Faith

I kept to myself for weeks. I stopped drinking at the Bronze so I rarely saw Spike anymore. Mostly I just stayed inside. I eventually started going stir crazy and decided to get a hobby.

I was walking past a preschool when one of the kids dropped a ball he was playing with. I watched as it rolled into the street and I just knew the kid was going to chase it. I looked down the road and sure enough there was a car coming. I took off running and snatched the kid up a few seconds before the car sped by. The fuckers didn't even slow down.

The teacher came running over and took the boy out of my arms as he started to cry. She thanked me and as she returned to her class. The boy said something in her ear and she set him down. He came running over to me and hugged my legs. "Thank you."

"You're welcome Buddy," I replied, ruffling his hair. Yeah, I have a soft spot for kids.

"My names Seth, not Buddy."

I laugh and crouch down on one knee. "You're welcome Seth."

He smiles and turns, running back with the class. I stand up and watch the kids playing until they go back inside. This turns into my routine for the next few days.

On the third day the teacher stood by me and we talked while watching the kids. "Why do you keep coming back?"

I shrug, wondering the same thing myself. "Nothing else to do and I like kids. It's relaxing watching them play."

"Seth is calling you his bodyguard. The other kids are getting jealous," she says with a smile.

I laugh a little, "Sorry."

"Its okay Faith," Alice says. She's pretty cool, for a middle aged woman. "You can go play with the kids if you want."

"Really?" I'm surprised they'd let me actually interact with the kids. They know nothing about me. Oh well. She nods and soon I'm 'it' and chasing around a bunch of 4 year olds.

The next day Seth's mom comes to visit at recess. Seems she has heard nothing but stories of her son's new bodyguard and was curious. She walks over and introduces herself. "I'm Jade, Seth's mom."

I shake her hand, looking her over quickly. She's a little shorter than me but with an athletic build. Her black hair streaked with red. She's wearing a waitress outfit. Must be her lunch break. "I'm Faith."

We step away from the kids so we can talk. I position myself so I can keep an eye on them while looking at her. "Seth can't stop talking about you."

"He's a great kid," I say, smiling.

"Yeah," she happily sighs, looking over at him playing frozen tag. "He really is."

We start talking and soon are laughing like a couple of friends. She invites me over for dinner and we exchange phone numbers. The next night the three of us eat a good dinner and play a few games before its time for Seth to go to bed.

When Jade comes back downstairs she cracks open a bottle of wine and we sit down on the couch. We spend the next few hours talking and sipping the bottle down to nothing. We have the same tastes in music, movies and tv. I learn she's a single mom, her ex leaving her almost a year ago. We get along so well that she asks me if I'd mind babysitting Seth after school. Seems she always has to leave work early to pick him up and it'd help out if she could work those extra hours.

Me, a babysitter. Somehow that didn't sound right. But what the hell, it's still shocking, just in a different sort of way. I'll still have edge right?

I agreed. And now five days a week I babysit the cutest 4 year old that ever lived. After me. Jade and I have become great friends. It's nice to have a friend again. I usually have dinner with them when she gets home. Sometimes her mom will watch Seth so we can go out. She can almost keep up with me at the club.

I just settle into this happy little world. That is until I have an unexpected visitor. Red shows up one night and I know this can't be good. I've avoided them just like she asked so it can't be something I did. I silently let her in and she just stands there. Finally she sighs and looks at me, "I need help."

Red's asking me for help. Will wonders ever cease. "What's up?"

"Well," she begins to fill me in. Buffy's having a little trouble readjusting. She's trying but she's been hit with a lot all at once. And now it seems something is stalking her. Something about a black van and wonky time.

I let her babble on for a bit but it gets to be too much, "So you want me to what? Take them out?"

Her eyes widen and I can't help but laugh. She quickly says, "Just keep an eye out. I know you're slaying. You might catch onto something that we don't."

I study her as she talks. She doesn't think Buffy is up to finding them. At least not anytime soon. I shrug, it'll give me something else to do. "Alright, I'll see what I can find out."

She looks relieved and walks to the door. "Thanks Faith."

"Nothing to it Red."

But before I could start the whole town was filled with the sound of music. There was no way I was subjecting myself to that. I stayed holed up at my apartment and played playstation until it was over. I did not sing. Nope, not one note. You have no proof!

Crisis averted and its business as usual. I leave Jade's after dinner and am walking through her neighborhood, on my way to patrol, when I'm suddenly face first in the dirt. "Motherfu..."

Buffy jumps up to her feet, looking to see if I'm okay. She looks behind her, "Sorry!" she yells as she takes off running.

"B!" I say, more to myself than her since she's out of sight now. I just get back on my feet when I'm knocked over a second time. I look up to see a familiar peroxide blond running in B's direction. He acts like he doesn't even know me. And what's with that suit?

That was weird. Red didn't mention telling her I was back in town. She looked at me as if she didn't know me. And Spike's running by without a glance was odd too. Something must be up so I head over to the Summer's house. I approach slowly, seeing three figures lurking in her bushes. I quietly walk up and lean against the tree, listening in.

"Put the gnome over there! Make sure the camera faces the porch," Warren tells Andrew.

I didn't wait to hear any more. Camera's spying on a slayer couldn't be good. As the apparent leader walked past the tree I jumped out and grabbed him from behind, my fingers around his neck, "Whatcha boys up to?"

Warren gasped as my grip grew tighter. Andrew and Jonathan stood up quickly, getting scared. They weren't much muscle wise and this they could tell I was strong. Jonathan finally finds his voice, "Who are you?"

"You don't get to ask the questions," I tighten my grip on Warren again, who is turning a darker shade of red as he tries to breathe. "Whatcha doing spying on Buffy?"

Andrew and Jonathan look at each other and back at Warren, who passes out in my arms. I toss him to the side and step towards them. Andrew starts to panic, "We... we're studying her. Trying to find weaknesses."

Faith stops and starts to laugh. "You three are trying to take on a slayer?"

Andrew pouts and Jonathan just shrugs, "Well, yeah actually."

I pace in front of them, shaking my head. "Guess you didn't know there are two now, huh?"

Jonathan's eyes grow wide with realization but Andrew just gets confused. "Nuh uh. There's just the chosen one. It's like a legacy."

"Buffy died," Jonathan said. He vaguely remembered hearing that story from Willow once. "So that must have called the next slayer."

I grin and Andrew finally catches on. "You're a slayer too."

"Yeah, which is why I'm letting you three go." I smirk as they sigh in relief. "But..." I grab them by their shirts, lifting them off the ground with one hand on each. "If I see you snooping around Buffy again, you won't be so lucky."

They both nod and I let them go. They collect their friend as he starts to come to and help him back into their van. I memorize the license plate and grab the gnome, smashing it in the street. A quick survey of the house reveals two more camera's outside. I'll have to tell Willow to look around and make sure they didn't get any inside.

I check my watch. It's still early but for once I don't feel like staying out. I back track out of their neighborhood and head for my apartment. A nice quiet evening is just what I need. I have a feeling all hell is about to break loose now that B knows I'm back. Besides, I've got Seth all weekend. Jade's going out of town with her new beau. I'm picking him up at 9 tomorrow morning and I know he'll keep me running most of the day.

As I pass the Bronze I see a line of people waiting to get in. Must be something good going on. Ah, what the hell. I slip the bouncer a twenty and he lets me in. I look up at the stage. Michelle Branch. Cool, I like her stuff, when I'm in a softer kind of mood.