Disclaimer: Since my name is not Joss Whedon, 'Buffy: The Vampire Slayer', 'Angel' and the characters associated with the show belong to someone who in't me. I also do not own the storyline, that is taken from gidgetgirl's 'The Lost Child Challenge' (details below) posted at the Chocolate Covered Strawberries Archive.

The Lost Child Challenge

When Faith was fourteen, she was raped by her mother's boyfriend. After that, she left home on her own, pregnant with the rapist's child. When she was found by the Council, her first Watcher took the baby, assuring Faith that it would be taken care of... the Watcher then was killed by Kakistos before she could give Faith more information. Now, years later, the child has come back into Faith's life.

Requirements:

Faith dealing with mixed feelings about the child: a mother's love and the memory of the rape.
The child having a Faith-esque attitude problem
The council having had some hand in the child's conception
The child having an amazing destiny
Faith wanting to save her daughter from her own mistakes

Author's Note I: Were any of you wondering why I kept mentioning Rachel Knight?

Author's Note II: To Imzadi - Yes, subliminal suggestions can be quite effective. I'm sending everyone's favorite mini-cop and little lawyers on a shopping trip in the very near future.

Author's Note III: Tochattypandagurl – As much as I'd love to write that, I'm afraid that Travers is dead.

Author's Note IV: This chapter is mostly diary entries (initalics)and a flashback. I apologize in advance for excessive use of the number seven.

Chapter 7

7th September 1850

At the Academy we were told that this would happen, whether sooner or later, we were warned not to allow ourselves to become emotionally involved, that the relationship between a Watcher and his Slayer inevitably ends in loss but how can I be expected to remain unmoved by the amazing woman who was a part of my life for more than nine years?

Doubtless my superiors will remind me that we had longer together than most Watchers and Slayers do, that I am fortunate that they did not forcibly separate us the instant they learned of our marriage, as I am certain they would have done had not my beloved faced them down like a lioness, swearing that if they attempted it she would never again stir a muscle to fight a demon, that she would do everything in her power to ensure that she lived a long life, during which they would be without a Slayer.

I can picture her now.

I have failed in my duty to her, failed to protect her. If I had been a better trainer, would she have been able to stop that blow before it fell. I will never be able to answer that question and, in a way, it doesn't matter, for an answer will change nothing.

My Rachel is gone.

Willow's eyes were filled with tears as she read the pages, liberally besprinkled with tears a century and a half old, of the journal of Reginald Humphries, Watcher to the late Rachel Knight, detailing her eight year career as the Chosen One, ending in an account of her final battle against the demon cult, the Y'sept'ac.

The words of the dead Watcher drew her into the story, making her almost a spectator to events that had taken place long before she had been born.

Boston, 1850

Reginald had argued with her, pleaded with her to stop, insisting that she had fought long and hard enough, that they deserved a life of their own but not even the thought of her fourteen-month-old daughter could persuade her to lay down her arms.

How could she, as a mother, refuse to do her duty to ensure that the world was safe for other people's children?

Even now, face to face with the High Priest of the Y'sept'ac, his eyes alight with rage at her insolence in interrupting this sacred ritual, she had no regrets about her decision.

The chanting of the seven robed, lizard-like demons faded into the background as she circled their High Priest, striking out against him with every ounce of strength and skill she possessed, distracted more by the knowledge that two of the demons were converging on Reginald than by the seven narrow slits of light, tears in the veil that shielded this world from a thousand demon worlds, gradually widening in response to the chants.

An image of her little daughter, fast asleep in her cradle, leapt to mind and she stumbled, slightly dazed, not even seeing the High Priest's long, razor-like claw before it plunged into her back and out through her heart.

Blood spurted from the young woman's body, liberally showering the Boston ground, droplets flying in all directions, spraying the budding gateways, freezing them as they were, despite the frenzied chanting of the robed priests.

Howling in horror and rage, the High Priest dropped the young woman's limp body, neither noticing or caring as her husband flew to her side, cradling her gently in his arms, pleading with her no to leave him, trying to staunch the flow of blood, which had already slowed to a dark, sluggish trickle.

As he fell to his knees, all three of his yellow eyes burned with fury, knowing that he was thwarted.

His despair, which threatened to overwhelm him, lifted slightly in response to a thought he picked up from the distraught man.

Perhaps all was not lost.

"Stop!" He raised a clawed hand to halt his followers before they could tear the human to shreds. "Leave him!"

He smiled grimly. He was not defeated, merely delayed.

"Seven score and seven years. The seventh generation."

London, Watcher's Council Headquarters, 2003.

12th September 1850

They tell me that Rachel did not die in vain, that her blood sealed the gateways before they could grow large enough for the demons to spill through to destroy everything that is good and beautiful about this world. Perhaps I am selfish, but this is a cold comfort when Elizabeth cries for her mother and I ache more than I ever thought possible with every breath I take.

The demons let me go unharmed, they allowed me to take Rachel away, to give her a proper burial. It was the only thing that I could do for her.

The Council have told me of the reasons for the Y'sept'ac's clemency, that as Rachel's blood froze the gateways, only a descendant of hers will be able to control them. The demons wished to ensure that her child would grow to womanhood.

Rachel would laugh if she could see how the senior members of the Inner Council, after their horror and anger when they learned that she was with child, are now so relieved that Elizabeth exists, for they believe that it will be her great-great-great-great-grandchild, a seventh generation descendant of Rachel, who will be able to close the gateways of the Seven Hells.

I leave them to their schemes. I will never serve as Watcher again, I could not bear to do so. Of Elizabeth's future I cannot be certain. She is a Potential, as her mother was when we first met, but I can only pray that she will never be called as a Slayer.

I lost Rachel. I cannot lose our child.

"Kennedy?" Willow was surprised by how level her voice was as she called her girlfriend's name.

"What's the matter?" The young Slayer's dark eyes were concerned.

"Could you pass me Faith's file, please?"

Spreading the family tree out in front of her, Willow traced a finger through the names, doing some quick calculating regarding the date of little Eleanor's conception.

"Willow?" Kennedy sounded worried. "Is something wrong?"

"You could say that." The Wicca sighed. "I know why Travers wanted Faith's baby."

TBC.

Author's Note: That's all for now. There'll be more interaction between Faith and Nell next chapter, but in the meantime, please review.