Disclaimer: I own nothing save characters not appearing in King Arthur, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. This story is not meant to insult, impugn the dignity of, or otherwise cause difficulty for the reader. Flames will be used to heat my house, constructive comments will be welcomed and used to improve the story.

Author's Note: Thank you for continuing to give this a chance. It's a bit of an oddity, but then again most of my stuff seems a bit odd. Please, review. I really do live for reviews and they also let me know if I'm heading the right direction. Oh, and if you do not agree with something I'm writing, let me know. I'm not out there to squick my readers. Thank you. Now, on to the show.

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Anywhere's Better Than Cleveland

Chapter Three: Wake-Up Call

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Vanora groaned and handed Eleven to his father. "Hold him. I have to go get the new girl."

Lancelot, who had been listening, grinned. "Ah, a new girl?"

Vanora nodded, though she looked less than happy that Lancelot had taken an interest in the conversation. "Yes, Lancelot. She's taken Irena's old room and she's been asleep for most of the afternoon. I was just about to wake her to begin working."

Gawain leaned forward. "Really? Where does she come from?"

Vanora shook her head. "She did not say. And I did not ask," she added.

Lancelot had risen from his seat and grinned at the tavern owner. "Not a worry, Vanora, I'll wake her."

Vanora began to protest but Lancelot had already left the main room and was headed down the hall. "Hope she knows how to defend herself," muttered Vanora as she took Eleven back from his father.

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Lancelot tapped on the door for a moment before pushing it open. There was little light in the room since no candle had been lit and the only light coming from the last rays of the sun. There was a shape on the narrow cot and Lancelot grinned. He'd had fun with Irena before the blonde had married the baker and he certainly hoped that Vanora's new wench would be amenable to the same arrangement.

He could hear her breathing, the sound soft and even. Walking towards the bed, he took in the shape. She was lying on her side with her back to him, wearing a gown that Lancelot thought had once belonged to Vanora. He seated himself on the bed and trailed his fingers from shoulder to hip, tracing the curves of this woman.

"What are you doing?" growled the slayer, coming abruptly awake at the touch of the knight.

Lancelot chuckled and leaned forward, placing a kiss on her exposed neck. "Waking you."

Faith suddenly rolled towards him, throwing Lancelot off the mattress and to the floor as she slammed into him. She threw her legs over the side of the bed and stood, towering over the now-prone knight. "Thank you," she growled, running a hand through her slightly frizzy curls. That was what she got for going back to bed after washing the grime off her skin in the river. "I'll thank you not to wake me again."

Lancelot grinned up at the dark-eyed girl. She was perhaps a little shorter than Vanora but had the curves that he liked. "Your pleasure is my pleasure," he purred, slowly getting to his feet.

Faith arched an eyebrow and shook her head. "Sure." She straightened the gown and stepped through the open door. "Nice meeting you."

Lancelot followed the new serving girl, watching the sway of her hips beneath the gown. He grinned, already plotting his seduction. Stepping into the tavern room, he headed back to the table where his fellow knights were sitting. Already the knights were watching the new serving girl.

"So, what's her name?" asked Galahad, nudging Lancelot in the ribs with his elbow.

Lancelot frowned. He hadn't thought to ask for a name.

"Her name is Faith," grumbled Vanora, once again handing the baby to Bors. "Now none of you is to interfere with her, is that understood? She's here to work, not warm your beds." With that, Vanora flounced off towards her newest employee.

Gawain stroked his chin, watching as Vanora started giving instructions to the dark-haired young woman. "I think that she'll be coming back to my rooms, boys," he announced softly.

Bors glanced at the tawny-maned knight. "If you wish to earn Van's wrath, be my guest. She likes the girl for some reason." The broad-chested knight cradled his son.

Lancelot glared at Gawain. "She'll be coming home with me."

Suddenly a tankard was slammed onto the table, a few drops of ale spattering Lancelot's face. "I'm not coming home with any of you," growled Faith as she began to lay out the cups of ale. "Now, order up."

Galahad blinked. "Excuse me?"

Faith sighed. "What would you like to drink?"

The men quickly gave their orders and Faith headed back towards Vanora, shaking her head. She'd gotten the impression that waiting on the knights was a big honor, if the glares being shot her way by the other serving girls was any indication. She had to wonder why she'd been so honored.

Vanora quickly set drinks on Faith's tray. "You're doing fine."

Faith sighed. "Yeah, five by five."

Vanora blinked. This girl had an odd way of speech but she seemed like a genuine girl and one without the goal of seducing one of the knights. "Five by five?"

Faith smiled. "Yeah, good to go? Happy as a clam? Um, just fine, thank you."

Vanora chuckled. "I like your speech. But how can you be happy as a clam?"

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Buffy groaned and laid back on the bed. It had not been a good day. Giles had been on the phone for the last three hours with anyone he could think of. Willow, her now-white hair in braids, had been scrying for any sign of Faith in vain. And Lorne had been tapping into his network of demons, spirits, faeries and other supernatural creatures for a sign of the former rogue slayer.

Nothing. Not a hint of Faith Lehane. It was as if she had never existed.

For a moment Buffy wondered if Giles's concerns about changing history were valid. But nothing had changed. She still remembered the hard-headed slayer. Still remembered Faith holding the line after one of the Turok-Han had stabbed Buffy. So the past hadn't changed.

But how were they going to get her back? Buffy may not always like or agree with Faith, but the slayer had trod the path less traveled by Buffy and had come back to fight for the forces of good. Together they were the two oldest slayers alive. Two girls who had cheated death so many times that there were demon odds makers who ran odds on their survivals in every engagement. Needless to say it was lucrative for those demons since someone was always ready to bet on their deaths.

A tap on the door and Buffy opened her eyes.

"Giles."

Rupert Giles stood in the doorway, looking concerned. He'd abandoned his glasses hours ago since talking on the phone did not require being able to see. "Buffy, it's not your fault."

Buffy sat up, shoulders slumped. "Sure, Giles. I convinced Faith to come to Cleveland. She didn't want to come but she did because I asked. And then I decide to crash a vampire club and she gets cursed into an alternate dimension." She looked up, blue eyes hard with anger. "So it's so obvious that it's not my fault."

Giles felt his jaw tense. This was one thing about his slayer that still bothered him after all their years together--her tendency for self-flagellation. "Would you have done anything different?"

Buffy glared. "That's not the point."

Giles shook his head. "That's exactly the point, Buffy. Faith stopped the demon from casting it on all of you. The spell requires being able to see the target. Would you rather have had the new slayers cast into the alternate dimension?"

Buffy shook her head.

Giles crossed to the bed and sat down next to the slayer. "Buffy, how many times have you died saving the world?"

Buffy sighed.

"She's not dead, Buffy. Just somewhere else. And we will find her and make sure that she is safe."

Buffy looked up at the Englishman. "Promise."

Giles nodded. "Promise.

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TBC...

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To My Wonderful Reviewer:

BleedingTwilight: So glad that you're still enjoying. Yup, laid back is the best way to deal with weird stuff. And I'm glad you like the way the Scoobies are pulling together. I think you might be right though about Faith not wanting to go back. Ah, thank you. I thought it might be a little weird for Tristan to be eating an apple from Lamorak but I'm so glad you liked that. Thank you. I kind of think that with all that Faith has been through, she's probably the most likely of any of the Scoobies to thankful for small blessings. Here's more and more is coming.

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