Author: Dingoes Groupie
Pairings: Unknown, but requests welcome.
Summary: What if Faith had a loving mother, a sibling who adored her and a best friend who will stand by her? Would her life have been any different? Well definatly not easier.
Timeline: Set at the start of season 3.
Disclaimer: Whatever you recognize from Buffy the Vampire Slayer does not belong to me. Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy take credit for them; I'm just borrowing them for awhile.
Feedback: Yes Please!
A/N: This story will follow Faith to Sunnydale, only her reason for running will be different from the show so expect it to be AU from here on. Everything before the start of season 2 is as it was on the show.
Chapter 1.
Faith stared at the caricature of a vampire she had drawn on the corner of her page as she waited for the school bell to ring signaling the end of fourth period. Looking up at the clock she sighed when she realized she still had two hours left before the end of school, before she could get back to mother.
The hospital visits weren't good by any stretch of the imagination but when she had left her this morning she knew that her mother was in worse health than ever before. And if the damn woman wasn't so stubborn and demand she stay in school Faith would be sitting at her bedside right now, not sitting here learning useless information about a war that was fought 60 years ago. Rationally she knew wars that were won or lost were important, what you learn from them can be the difference between life and death in ones to come, but she didn't see the need for her to learn about humanities wars when she fought the forces of darkness on a nightly basis. Learning about past Slayers? Yes, it applied to her, but this? She sighed heavily again and began to draw a stake being plunged into her stick figure vamp when she heard her name being called.
"Miss Lehane?"
"Yeah" She sat up and looked blankly at the teacher.
"Did you hear the question or weren't you listening again?"
"I was listening" She replied automatically. When the teacher looked at her expectantly she looked around the room quickly as if the answer would be written on one of her friends faces. She felt a small pang in her heart when she realized she didn't have any friends left in her school, the one she did have had graduated last year. Luckily the teacher's attention was diverted by a knock on the door. When it opened the receptionist from the front office was there.
"Uhh we need Miss Lehane in the principle's office immediately."
Letting out a sigh of relief Faith stood up and collected her things shoving them in her bag. Giving the teacher a quick smirk she sauntered out the door not even questioning why she was being called to the principles office just happy she was out of class and wouldn't receive yet another detention for not paying attention.
The walk was silent and as they made their way through the door the principle stood up and greeted her.
"So" She said sitting in the chair in front of his desk. "What have I done this time?"
Alan Harding shook his head sadly at the rebellious young woman in front of him. He hated to be the bearer of bad news. "I'm sorry miss Lehane, I've received a call from the hospital you mother is in and it seems she's taken a turn for the worse."
Faith instantly sat up. "What do you mean?" She asked warily.
"The nurse on duty has asked that you be brought there immediately; they believe she won't make it through the day. I would like to offer my appoli-" Before he could finish Faith was out of her seat and out the door, her bag forgotten on the ground. "Miss Lehane" He called chasing after her. By the time he'd reached the hallway leading to his office all he saw was swinging doors that lead outside indicating she was gone.
Faith ran. Calling on all the speed her Slayer powers allowed her, she ran the 6 miles that seperated the hospital and the school, cursing the entire world as she ran. When she saw the building come into sight she put on a burst of speed and yanked the front doors open. Ignoring the tears streaming down her face she went straight past the lift and into the stairwell climbing the six floors in record speed before chasing down the hallways and into her mother's room where she came to an abrupt halt.
Her strong, vibrant mother looked so deathly pale and still in her bed. The color that indicated life wasn't visible in her cheeks and it was only the ragged breath's she took that Faith knew she was still alive. Walking slowly over to the bed she pulled the chair close before sitting down and grabbing her mother's hand. "Mom?"
Had it been any other time she would have been ashamed at how weak and small her voice sounded but at the moment she couldn't have cared less.
"Mom?"
When her mother opened her eyes Faith felt a small surge of relief go through her when she met her mother's brown eyes so like her own.
"Fire Cracker?"
Standing up so her mother could see her better Faith stood and gently wiped her hand across her mother's cheek. "I'm here mom."
Delilah smiled. "I can see you; I wanted to see you one last time." She whispered.
Faith's protest was cut off by a pair of small feet running into the room. "Mommy!"
"Lee-Lee" Her mother cried trying to sit up to see her youngest child.
Faith couldn't help but smile when she saw her little brother try and scramble onto the bed. Giving him a helping hand she placed him up beside her mother. "You gotta be gentle remember?"
He gave her a serious nod that looked utterly adorable on his small features. "I remember Fai."
Giving him another smile she ruffled his hair gently and ignored his squealing protests.
"So how was school little man?"
Liam grinned up at her. "I didn't have to finish mommy, Miss Lewis at the office told me I could have the rest of the day off and come visit you, how cool is that?"
Grinning back down at him Delilah closed her eyes as the pain overwhelmed her once more.
"Mommy?"
Hearing the concern in her son's voice she pushed it back and opened her eyes. "I'm ok sweetie."
"Are you sure?"
She smiled down at him. "I am. How about you go sit outside for a minute so mommy can talk to Fai?"
Shrugging he sat up and wrapped his arms around her, being gentle just like his big sister told him too. "I love you mommy, to the moon and back." He whispered before sliding out of the bed and walking to the door.
"Liam?"
When he turned to face her Delilah gave him the brightest smile she could. "I love you to baby."
She waited till he left before falling tiredly back on the bed.
When she could open her eyes without overwhelming pain she turned to face her first born child.