Keeping Up With the Scoobies Chapter 2: A New Beginning, a buffy: the vampire slayer fanfic

BtVS || Spuffy || BtVS || Spuffy || Keeping Up With the Scoobies || Spuffy || BtVS || Spuffy || BtVS

Title: Keeping Up With the Scoobies – The Long Way Home

Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Tags: m/f, f/f, hurt/comfort, survivor's guilt, fluff, found family

Main Pairing: Spike/Buffy

Side Pairings: Tara/Willow, Xander/Renee, Robin/Faith, Connor/Dawn, Dowling/Dylan, Angel/Cordelia, Oz/Bay, Buffy/Satsu (briefly), Willow/Kennedy (briefly)

Buffy Characters: William 'Spike' Pratt, Buffy Summers, Dawn Summers, Rupert Giles, Willow Rosenberg, Alexander 'Xander' Harris, Andrew Wells, Tara Maclay, Renee, Faith Lehane, Robin Wood, Robert Dowling, Dylan Turner, Satsu, Kennedy, Daniel 'Oz' Osbourne, Bayarmaa 'Bay'

Angel Characters: Angel, Cordelia Chase, Connor Angel, Harmony Kendall, Winifred 'Fred' Burkle, Wesley Wyndam-Pryce, Charles Gunn

Summary: Buffy shared her powers with all potential Slayers. But that was only the beginning. Now, she has to deal with all the new Slayers, with the aftermath of LA going to hell – and coming back. The world knows about the supernatural, there's no going back. And then there are her own feelings, because Spike is back too. Buffy changed the world forever, what will she make of it?

Keeping Up With the Scoobies

The Long Way Home

2. A New Beginning

Faith carefully squirmed her way out of bed. Principal was surprisingly clingy. Cuddly. Didn't look like it, but sure was. And Faith needed to get out of here. Not just for the cuddly. She was getting attached. That wasn't something she did. His injuries were basically all healed up now. She reached below the bed and got out the already packed bag. Out of the bag, she pulled a quickly scribbled note. With a faint smile, she pressed a lipstick mark against the paper and put it down on the now empty pillow next to Wood. She was quiet as a mouse as she snuck out the room and down the hall. Opening the large window at the end of the hall, she was already halfway through as someone behind her cleared their throat. She could make a dash, but at this point it'd be kind of pathetic.

"You think you can just sneak out without anyone noticing?"

A lopsided grin on her lips, she turned her head, though didn't move away from the window. "What can I say, B. I never stay long in one place. I'm not... house-trained like you lot."

Buffy stood there, arms crossed, shaking her head. Perfect golden hair falling in her face as she looked at Faith with all that judgment. That was the hardest part about Sunnydale. Or. Well. Now here. Little Miss Unobtainable. The perfect Slayer, adored by everyone. Faith knew she was a mess, but whenever she was in close quarters with Buffy Summers, she felt even more messed up.

"You don't have to leave, Faith," Buffy's voice was a whisper, barely to hear. "There's room for you here. With us. You helped save the world. Whatever... You've done your part."

"Thanks for the absolution, B. But I wasn't asking for it," Faith huffed, one leg out the window now, straddling the windowsill and looking straight-on at Buffy. "I'm not like you. Any of you. I don't fit in with you goody-two-shoes. We saved the world. Because I happen to live in it. I stayed longer than I planned to. Now it's time I hit the road again. Leave you to play house with the kids."

Buffy actually took a step toward her. "Faith-"

"Stop it, Summers," Faith's voice was much firmer. "I came to help. I helped. I can't deal with this. All of this. This happy family, group therapy mourning, all for one act. I'm a one woman show."

She climbed back in after all, took another step toward Buffy and grasped her face. Pulled her in to press a kiss to Buffy's forehead. The blonde looked startled when Faith pulled back, but Faith just offered her the same cheeky, cocky grin she always had to offer.

"Take care, B. And if the next apocalypse comes, give me a call and I'll come save your ass."

She was, once again, halfway out the window, when Buffy called out again. "Faith!"

Despite herself, Faith paused, though this time she didn't turn back to face the blonde. "Same goes for you. If your one-woman show needs backup, you call, okay? We got your back."

A small, nearly sentimental smile found its way onto Faith's lips now and she was glad she hadn't turned back toward Buffy. Instead, she leaped out of the window without another word.

/break\

The grown-ups were gathered in the kitchen. Robin had been the second one to come downstairs, Giles was always the first one awake. They had a routine by now, a coffee was already waiting for Robin and he nodded his head briefly at the Englishman. When it was just the two of them, there was a nice, serene quiet. There was a strange sense of understanding between the two men. Perhaps because Robin had been raised by a watcher. Perhaps because they were both the most grown-up people around here. The third one to come in was usually Willow, who made breakfast. Xander and Buffy followed at some point after, usually coming in from the backyard. From the graveyard.

Robin didn't pretend he understood. He couldn't. She chose the vampire. Not just over him, he wasn't petty or hung-up on her. That wasn't what it was about. She was a Slayer, he was a vampire – a vampire who had killed two Slayers. There was... no way Robin could understand, not him, of all people, not after Spike had been the one to kill his mother. And still, it did hurt Robin to see her hurting. She missed him, mourned him, cried for him. He had saved the world. Another thing Robin didn't think he could ever truly understand.

"Faith left," announced Robin once they were all gathered.

No need to inform the kids. Suddenly, the peaceful atmosphere broke and everyone was screaming and arguing and complaining and about to run out to hunt her down or something.

"Enough now!" Giles called out loudly. "You're not children anymore. Please. Some order."

Silence befell them once more, until Xander spoke up. "I just... She just left. Not a word?"

"What were you expecting, Xander," Willow heaved a sigh. "It's Faith. You really thought there would be, what, hugs and tearful goodbyes and pinkie-promises to stay in touch?"

"Well, no," Xander grumbled under his breath. "But still... after everything..."

Robin stirred his coffee. He'd be the one who should say that. Not that he had been under any illusions that Faith would dote on him until he was fully back on his feet, they would... play footsies under the table and go on dates and greet each other with 'honey, I'm home'. They had fucked when they thought the world was going to end and then they had survived the apocalypse and been awkwardly stuck in the same room. Doing... some other stuff aside from sleeping too. But that didn't make them a couple or anything. Didn't make it sting less though.

"Faith had the right idea," stated Buffy after a beat.

"What? You wanna leave England? Where to?" asked Xander startled.

"No. Not about leaving. For now, I guess, this is... the right place for us. But about moving on. The world was saved. We've been sitting around long enough," elaborated Buffy. "It's time we get active again. There are Slayers being called all over the world. Lost, without us. We created this new world order, it's time we take charge of it."

Once more, silence. The others exchanged looks. Robin didn't know if he even had any say here. Did he get a vote? Had he a place in this? Or was it his cue to leave too? He reached for his aching ribs. Sure, he was healing, but it had only been two weeks and humans healed slower than Slayers. Physically, at least. Emotionally, all the Slayers were still coping with the loss too.

"What, ah, what do you propose, Buffy?" asked Giles, eyebrows raised.

Diverting responsibility for an answer away from himself. Something Robin had watched over the past months was that Buffy – and the others just as much – tended to turn to Giles for answers. He was their... father-figure, that much was clear. He had guided them when they were children. Sometimes, they forgot that they were adults now and still hoped he'd take charge.

"I want you to get in touch with every watcher still around. I know... many died. But, there are a lot of Slayers now and you can't be everybody's watcher and I can't teach each of them myself either," offered Buffy, biting her lip. "We have to organize this... somehow. And we'll need help with it. This is bigger than us and bigger than we can handle on our own. But I... need you guys. All of you."

Her eyes found Robin at that, for a moment, then Giles, even Andrew, who was kind of making himself small in the corner, eating his cereals and hoping he didn't get noticed. Andrew perked up at being addressed like that. Willow and Xander were a done deal, of course. Giles had left before. Andrew and Robin were... still new. Not part of it, not really? It was nice to know he would have a place here, though he didn't quite know what he had to expect.

"We have to find them, let them know how to find us and then... train them. Organize them."

"Sounds like a good plan, Buff," offered Willow with a smile. "I can feel them, I should be able to track them down so we can send watchers – or, uh, whoever – to them."

"Good. We get this show on the road. If you guys are all in?" Buffy looked at them expectantly.

Sounds of agreement went through the room. Affirmation. Support. Robin liked that, he thought that, at least for a while, it might be nice to be a part of this. Help out, however he could.

/break\

Xander had lost Anya. And he was trying to cope. Which was made harder with the guilt going on. Buffy was right, What Ifs didn't change the past. He would never be able to. That didn't make the survivor's guilt go away though. He knew he wasn't the only one suffering from it. That also didn't help. He drank more. Buffy had noticed. She didn't speak up, not yet, but she noticed. Maybe this new mission would help. A job to do. He did better with something to do. He'd spent all afternoon today debating with Giles, Andrew and Wood about the watchers' council – and their places in it – he hadn't had a chance to drink. Or drown in self-hatred. A watcher. Somewhere in the back of his mind, he had considered this before. And the council was diminished, they needed the backup too. In Wood, Andrew and Xander, they had normal people but with experience with Slayers.

"I wish you were still alive," Buffy's voice was soft and sounded tearful. "I love you. I miss you."

Slightly surprising words to hear. When going to the graveyard, Xander had heard her talk to Spike before. Never had she said the L-word though. He slowed down, unsure if he was interrupting.

"You were the only one who understood," Buffy hiccuped and Xander frowned; really, she really thought Spike was the only one to understand her. "You were the first one to know. The first one I told about him. About us. And you didn't... you didn't judge. You were the only one to never judge me. I know Xan tries. I know Will tries too. I even think they might... understand it more, after the past year. But you never... needed to understand. You just accepted. And I wish you were here, because you'd know what to say to me. I don't know what to do. You'd know. And I miss you."

Finally, Xander fully approached. As he stood behind Buffy, he came to see that she was kneeling in front of... Tara's gravestone... with her forehead resting against it. Oh. He swallowed, though his throat felt tight and dry. Right. He missed her too. He might not have been the closest to her, but she'd been a sweet dork, she'd made Willow light up like the sun, she was loyal and kind.

"Doubt Tara's gonna answer," offered Xander, voice breaking a little. "Maybe... I can... help?"

Buffy turned around, surprised, rubbing her eyes. "I... I just... It's my... You don't..."

"You let me rant about Anya all the time. I may not be president of the Spike fan-club, but I am co-president of the Buffy fan-club, so whatever problems Buffy has, she can share with Xander!"

He tried to sound light-hearted as he sat down opposite her, looking at her. He knew he'd been vocal about his dislike of both Angel and Spike, and he still thought he had valid points. But if Buffy was wishing Tara was alive again because she didn't feel like her living friends would understand...?

"He's alive, Xander," Buffy's voice was wobbly at best. "I mean. Not really. Not entirely. He's a ghost now. Cordelia called me. Said I might want to know. Said he doesn't want to see me yet. Said he's being 'a total idiot'. Because of how we parted. Because he's not... corporeal."

Well, what was he supposed to say to that? For a few moments, Xander simply blinked at her.

"Ghost boyfriend is new," offered Xander weakly. "So... you wanna... fly down?"

"He doesn't wanna see me yet. I'm not... I can't go to LA if he doesn't even wanna see me."

"Buff... again, not fan-club president, but the one thing I gotta give the guy credit for is that he loved you. Loves you. If he doesn't want to see you right now, that's not because of you. It's because of him. Think about it. He died. You... know what that's like. Maybe he just needs some time."

Wow, that felt weird to say. All of that. But the hopeful look that Buffy offered him after was worth it. He loved her, he loved Buffy Summers so much – not romantically, not in a long time now – but she and Willow and Dawn and Giles, they were his family. He wanted them to be happy. If bleached blonde made Buffy happy, then... he would have to learn to suck it up. She had sucked it up when Xander had started dating her high school rival and again when he had started dating a demon.

"Thanks for saying that, Xan," Buffy's voice was muffled as she hugged him tightly.

"Of course, but ouch, Buffster, super-strength, mere mortal here, o—ouch."

/break\

They spent weeks traveling around, contacting and seeking out young Slayers. It kept their minds and bodies busy. Many nights, they were so exhausted, they just collapsed into their beds without a word. Willow enjoyed that. Enjoyed feeling so drained, she didn't have to think. They all did, she suspected. The plan was shaping up more. They'd formed some hot-spots to gather Slayers of a region – and bring others from slightly farther there for training.

"I hate this. I don't want to leave you, Willow," Kennedy sounded pouting.

She was cute when she pouted. Willow bit her lips slowly, sitting up on the bed and watching her girlfriend angrily throw clothes into a bag. The aforementioned hot-spots needed trainers. They had about ten watchers who were loyal to them and backed them up. But they didn't entirely trust those watchers, not after everything the council had done in the past. So the team had decided to send one of their own along. Each watcher was expected to take care of around fifty Slayers so far. They'd need the back-up. One person alone couldn't train that many. Buffy wanted someone there to teach them the right way, not the council way. Someone who'd been trained by them. Violet and Rona had already left England. Kennedy was protesting so far. But they were the right choice. The lieutenants under Buffy, leading in her name, where she couldn't be.

"Ken-doll," started Willow softly. "You know the plan is good. These are kids, most of them. Inexperienced and frightened and confused. More so than you all were when you came to Sunnydale. They need guidance. You... You're at a point where you could be that guidance now."

She got up and walked over to Kennedy, slowly pulling her into a kiss. Soothing that pout away.

"I know. I just... What about us? If I leave for the states, what about you and me?"

Willow rubbed her lips together thoughtfully, trying to choose her words wisely. What they had was still very new and very fragile and she understood where Kennedy's worries came from. On the one hand, Willow wanted to give this a serious try and worried too, but on the other hand, this was important, more important than their still fragile relationship.

"Kennedy," Willow's voice was soft. "We... This is more important than us. And it's not like we'd be out of each other's lives? We have phones, the internet, I'm a witch I can fly. Ken-doll, there aren't many of us and we are spreading ourselves thin. Nearly all other Slayers have already left. Principal Wood – Robin – left already, Andrew is going to Italy soon. I'm going to leave too."

"I know, I know. It's time I do my part too," Kennedy groaned. "I just... wish I could take you."

"Buffy needs me," argued Willow, her lower lip caught between her teeth.

Kennedy averted her eyes. Ah. That one might present a problem on the long run. Willow would always be there for Buffy, she was her best friend, there was no choice there. Willow was staying with Xander, Buffy and Giles for now, though she also had her own assignment.

"I have to organize a coven for us, a network of witches to connect us all," Willow continued. "We will get more chances to be together, but I think that even if I came with you, the both of us would be too busy with our own jobs to spend much time together."

"Right," Kennedy sighed and leaned in, kissing the corner of Willow's lips. "Right."

Willow's stomach was all queasy at the thought of what laid ahead. Watchers and Slayers were spread throughout the world, on all continents, a total of fifteen locations at this point. They needed a safe way to stay in touch. And they needed more magic. Willow managed to be the go-to witch when it was just the Scoobies, but each squad needed their own witches. And Willow had the questionable honor of hand-picking and training them. She... didn't have time for a relationship, not with all of that responsibility. Though she had to wonder whether or not they could work through it all and after it all. Or what even laid ahead of them. She leaned in to kiss Kennedy softly.

/break\

"Welcome back, esteemed viewer, this will be the last time I will come to you from the Giles Estate," Andrew smiled pleasantly into the camera. "Over the past weeks, this has been a good home for us all, bringing us closer together in the aftermath of the nearly-apocalypse."

Andrew grabbed the camera and walked out, filming the new Slayers who now ran through the halls and were moving in, getting settled. Late to class with Giles. It all started to feel different now.

"Most have already left the nest. Only the OG Scoobies remain here in England. I too will leave. Italy! Pizza, pasta, art, history. Many a great adventures await me, dear viewer."

The smile on his lips was only half-forced. He was excited for this and he also felt proud that they entrusted him with a squad too, to shape young Slayers in the image of the great Buffy Summers. He had also hoped he'd get a shot to become one of the Scoobies, fully. More bonding time.

"No one has heard from Faith since she left. Seems she has no interest in leading her own squad. Always the lone wolf Slayer. Not wolf Slayer, of course. Wolves can be our friends. But then so can vampires..." Andrew frowned thoughtfully. "Oh, the vampires who are our friends however, well, no one has heard from them in weeks either. Surely you are as eager as me to see how the years-long will they won't they between Buffy the vampire Slayer and Spike the vampire with a soul would end. Yet here we are, at a stalemate." Andrew heaved a dramatic sigh, zooming in on his face. "Personally, I suspect that Spike has some deep issues he has to deal with before facing Buffy again. The last time they saw each other, they confessed their love as the world nearly ended and Spike made the ultimate sacrifice. Buffy has mourned him, just to learn that he is back as a ghost. And now he is back with a physical body, but he has not yet sought Buffy out. I do hope I won't miss the grand reunion by being in Italy, but I now have a calling of my own."

He puffed out his chest a little. And nearly got run over by Willow, who didn't even seem to see him. Blinking, he turned to watch her go, before he continued on into the kitchen.

"That was our head witch. She has been so very busy training the new coven... She's a little distracted these days. Her lover being across the ocean surely isn't helping with that. Ah. Here we have our younger Summers. Dawn, who has enrolled at school here and is settling in nicely, on her way to graduation. And with her, one of our newest Slayers – Satsu. Welcome."

Satsu looked at him startled, her dark-blue hair put up in two buns, spoon of cereals an inch from her lips as she had a camera pointed at her face. Poor young Slayers, so much to adjust to.

"Don't mind him," Dawn sighed. "He likes to document everything for the future."

"Well, we are founding a whole Slayer organization. I do think that it'd be helpful if we have material to show the new kids so we don't have to repeat ourselves hundreds of times."

"...Okay you may have a point there," admitted Dawn after a moment and then grinned into the camera, waving a little. "Hello, there, future Slayers. Dawn Summers here, sister of the OG. Just you wait, once I graduate high school, I'll become a watcher and squad leader too."

"Ambitious, young padawan!" Andrew laughed delighted.

"I wanted to be useful now, but Buffy and Giles are 'in agreement' that my education comes first."

Dawn rolled her eyes, looking super annoyed. It made Andrew grin just a little bit. He was younger than the OG Scoobies, but Dawnie was younger than him too. And he thought that Buffy did a good job raising the girl. A hard hand she had been dealt, being the Slayer, losing her mother and having to raise a teenage girl. Truly, Buffy Summers was like a real-life version of the heroes Andrew had admired in his comic books. And he? He got to be a side-kick, or sorts!

"You'll come back though, right?" asked Dawn softly when Andrew put his camera down. "I mean, I know Xander, Willow and Buffy plan on leaving too, after I graduate. We... just gotta train the first batch and then they can train others and we can all be... together again, right? Family?"

Andrew pressed his lips together and nodded stiffly. Oh, he sure hoped so.

Author's note: No worries, this is not going to be the last we see of Faith. Or the others who are leaving for now. Next chapter, we're going to dive heavily into Buffy's feelings and issues