Chapter 4: Meeting again

BUFFY'S POV

I open my eyes and stare out the window as the plane stops at the gate. I'm beat and by the time we get home it'll be after midnight. I've just spent the last 4 days with a mildly psychotic, 15 year old Slayer and her parents. Now I just have the mildly psychotic 15 year old Slayer and the last 22 straight hours of travel time has been a blast. Ok, I know it's unfair to call her psychotic, once the drugs wear off and she begins to feel her power, she'll be able to start healing herself. I'll have to talk to Will, I'm sure she can help with that.

I wait for the plane to empty, letting Emma sleep a little while longer. Kennedy is going to have a field-day with this one. I think to myself then shake my head. Who would have thought Ken would become my right hand after the way we started out years ago? I could barely stand her, really only putting up with her because she was with Willow. I guess it was because she had been so much like Faith: cocky and obstinate to a fault but at the same time strong and caring. Now look at her: taking on most of the girl's training herself, completely organizing the school and freeing me up to bring in these lost ones. The girls worship her and I'm sure Emma, no doubt, will follow suit.

Emma had been confined to a mental institution for the last 5 years. Her parents didn't know how to handle her sudden strength and lack of ability to control it, so they brought her to the doctor. Then Emma promptly slipped through the cracks. After numerous physical and psychological tests coming back normal, the doctors resorted to sedation to keep her parents placated and the staff in one piece. Five years of heavy duty anti-psychotics starting out at 10? Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy.

She is still asleep when the last of the other passengers deplane. Her mop of light brown hair rests on my shoulder, her hand holding my arm. Knowing she's still very skittish, I gently call her name as I put my hand over hers.

"Is it time for my pill?" Emma asks sleepily.

My heart is breaking for this poor kid. "No honey, remember I told you, no more pills." I collect our belongings and head for the Taxi stand.

As we drive, I realize I probably need to start her working with Willow first for some basic academics before she starts with Slayer training. 10 years old what's that 4th 5th grade tops? She'll probably get frustrated trying to express herself once the drugs wear off completely. Better to get her started on school work, it will help her focus on something non-threatening now that she is thrown into this new environment. She can always just sit in on the Slayer classes.

"So there are lots of girls just like me there?"

"Yes Emma, lots and lots."

"And we are going to live together in a big house and go to school?" Her eyes were big as saucers.

"Yes, and everyone is really nice and the teachers are going to help you understand who you are."

"Wow."

I chuckle as I pay the driver and make my way to the house. Looking up, I stop as I feel a powerful presence. It's not Willow; it feels completely different than anyone I've ever sensed before. But at the same time, it's familiar in a way, only I can't connect a face with it. It must be one of the witches from Devon, I think to myself. I usher Emma inside, close the door and drop our bags. Hearing voices in the living room, I cock my head at her, "Want to meet some of your teachers now?"

Emma has a very wide smile on her face and nods. "Do you think they'll like me?"

"I'm sure they will. Come on."

I walk in talking with Emma trailing behind me, "Hey guys, I'd like you all to meet Emma." I stop dead in my tracks and Emma slams up against my back. Faith is leaning against the arm of the couch looking right at me; slowly I drink in the sight of her. She stands, plain white T-shirt, faded blue jeans, black motorcycle boots and absolutely gorgeous.

"Sorry Ms. Summers" Emma pokes her head out from behind me and sees the looks flying around the room, "I thought you said everyone was nice."

My heart is pounding and I know I'm visibly shaken. Slowly, I take a breath to calm myself. I will not lose control in front of this girl. "Please, Emma, call me Buffy. And they are very nice, we just got home a day early and they weren't expecting us."

"Oh," she looks around the room again, then back to me, "are you sure?"

"Of course I am."

That spurs Dawn into action jumping out of her chair and swooping me up in a big hug. I stagger back a couple of steps. "Buffy! I would have picked you up. Why didn't you call? Faith's here, isn't it great?"

After walking back to Emma I turn to look Faith, "Yes I can see, we'll have to talk later, ok?" I'm so smooth. Then I turn to my sister, "It was no big Dawn, we took a cab." I put my arm around Emma's shoulders. "Emma, this is my sister Dawn, and that's Willow, Kennedy and Andrew, they are all teachers here. This is Faith, I'm not sure why she's here, but I'm sure I will soon. Everybody, this is Emma."

"Hi" Emma says weakly seeing everyone's attention is on her. Remembering her manners, she smiles and walks over to them; "Pleased to meet you." she shakes hands with Dawn, Andrew then Kennedy. She slows as she makes her way to Willow and Faith, then stops completely.

I notice her wariness and start to walk over to her, "Are you ok, Em?" I look at Willow worried.

She backs away from them, pulling up to my side. "They have a lot of power," she whispers to me incredulously.

Now my senses are tingling like never before and I know it's coming from Faith. Needing to reassure Emma quickly I answer, "Yes they do. They use it to help people so you have nothing to worry about, ok? Dawn is going to show you to your room and get you settled. It's really late and you need to get some sleep."

"Alright, goodnight, it was nice to meet you all" She turns to follow Dawn upstairs, then comes back and gives me a hug. "Thank you for bringing me here. It feels" she looks around the room... right."

Returning the hug, I smile "You are very welcome. Now get some sleep, we'll talk some more in the morning."

The room gets very quiet very quickly when Dawn and Emma leave. No one moves as Faith and I just look at each other.

"Look at the time, wow it's late, got an early class in the morning, goodnight everyone." Andrew slinks out as quickly as he can.

Willow opens her mouth to speak but I raise my hand, "Will, please, don't. Let me talk to Faith, ok?" Willow bows her head.

Kennedy takes her hand and leads her out, "Goodnight, guys. Buff, I'll take your stuff up to your room."

"Ok, thanks Ken."

I turn to Faith and sigh. "I don't know about you, but I could use a drink." I walk into the kitchen. Seeing Faith has come in after me, I look up, "Any requests?"

"What ever you're having is fine by me." Faith says lightly.

I open a bottle of Chardonnay from the fridge; grab a couple of glasses and pour two healthy portions. Tilting my head back to the living room, "Come on, it's more comfortable inside."

Handing Faith her glass I sink into the couch, putting my feet on the coffee table. Faith mirrors my actions but on the other couch so we are facing each other. We just sit for a while sipping our drinks. Not talking, just feeling each others company, it wasn't uncomfortable. I finally break the silence.

"Why couldn't I sense you? I sensed something, something powerful like Emma said, but not you. Well, not the you I used to know."

"It's a long story and, honestly, you look kinda beat."

I nod, "Yeah, three continents in two days, traveling really kicks my ass.'' I look up at her, "So, you're back and actually showing yourself to me, I have to assume the PtB let you go?"

She was shocked, "How did you..."

"Cordy, she told me before she died." I raise my glass then lean across the coffee table to touch it to Faith's, "To old friends" then take a long pull.

"So, you didn't tell the others." She sips hers while leaning back into the couch.

"No, she asked me not to – she said that you would be back when the Powers deemed it so." I look up at her, "Funny, even though she told me you would find your way here; I thought I'd never see you again. You know, the years start passing by, getting the school up and running took a while, finishing our degrees was huge." I start to think of all that has passed and get a little spacey, "seeing Dawn become a watcher of watchers – God I'm so proud of her, and Willow getting her magic not only under control but really letting it guide her in a GOOD way, Ken helped her so much. Then traveling everywhere with Jessie and bringing in troubled Slayers together, that was incredible until I had to watch..." That snaps me out of my reverie. I wave my hand, nervously putting it through my hair, "Sorry, tired, babbling..." Shit, I didn't mean for all that to come out. I think my brain is going into serious meltdown here. "Anyway, Cordy came to me in a Slayer dream and told me about your agreement with the Powers... why you made it and that you'd be back." I finally stop the babble-fest, get up and walk over to the window, "I felt you here when Angel and the others died." I put my glass on the ledge and wrap my arms around myself as I stare into the darkness of the backyard.

Faith puts her glass down, "I wanted to make sure you were alright."

"I wasn't."

"Sure you were." She rises; stepping in behind me she lays her hands tentatively on my shoulders. "You've always been stronger than you thought."

Shaking my head, "I needed you." Suddenly all the pain of these last years is back and falling on me like dead weight. I lean back into her and close my eyes. I can't help the tears from coming and I'm too tired to care. Then, I feel Faith's hands slowly slide down my arms and surround my waist, drawing me nearer.

"I knew I couldn't stay and didn't want to make things worse."

I could feel as well as hear Faith's heart beating rapidly. It was clamoring as fast as mine. I let out the breath I had been holding, "You still feel it too." It wasn't a question.

"Never stopped," She whispers in my ear.

"But you wanted me to think you didn't care."

"It was the only way I could find the strength to leave you. I had some serious issues I needed to work out."

Thinking about it for a minute, I wipe my eyes and try to keep my voice even. "Did you get it worked out, Faith?"

It takes Faith a moment to answer then she rests her chin on my shoulder, "Yeah."

I slide my arms over hers, holding them in place, "Then I guess it was worth it."

We stay like that, her body encircling mine, looking out into the night that was soon becoming day. The exhaustion finally takes me and I sway, Faith tightens her grip, holding me up. "You ok?"

"Yeah, just, no sleep in two days."

"Why don't you get to bed and I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Ok, I should be done by 3:00 – 4:00." Making no move to leave the warm, safe circle of Faith's arms I realize I wouldn't be in her arms right now if I wasn't exhausted and my guard down, but I'm happy I am. I know it's crazy and I should be angry or at the very least aloof, but I'm not, can't help it. I'm such a freak.

"Take as long as you need, I'll wait." She means it in more ways than one and I nod to let her know I understand both meanings. Faith hesitates, then kisses the back of my head and turns to leave, "Goodnight B."

I can't help the words as they tumble from of my mouth, "Are you really going to stick around this time?"

Faith stops short as if the blow was physical. "As long as you let me." She calls back before she lets herself out.