Chapter Thirty Six

Author's note: First off, I would like to thank Brianna, vampiric.princess, Tiney1981, Melanie (by the way what is a beta? Is that like a proof reader?) and kargrif for their reviews. Thank you. I'm sorry this chapter is once again late. I'm not going into reasons, but things have been crazy around my home lately with illnesses and things like that, which I have no control over. I really try to make time to write but sometimes it just doesn't happen. On that note, thanks for everyone for hanging in there and sticking with me. Now, enough talk from me and on with the chapter! I hope everyone enjoys this! LA

The ride back to Sunnydale was beginning very quietly. Buffy didn't know how Faith was feeling. Buffy wanted to say something but what could she say? It was only a few days ago when Faith called Buffy and told her that she was ready. She was ready to get some answers from the only one who could give them to her, Hank. Buffy just couldn't tell how the visit went and how Faith was feeling.

Finally, after about ten minutes into their trip home Faith spoke up. "I'm glad I went."

With a sigh of relief, Buffy smiled. "You are?"

Shaking her head, Faith continued. "Yes, I am; and, don't let this get to your head or anything, but you were right."

"About what?"

"About Tommy and Madeleine. How cute are they? Madeleine does look a lot like Dawn. I think they look the most alike out of all of us, even more so than you and Dawn."

Buffy nodded. "You know, I think you're right. It's just strange."

"What is?"

"That we are related. I mean, I knew Hank had other children, but to think that I met you after you hired me to do a job. The next thing I know boom, my boss who turned into my friend is really my sister? It's just strange."

"Well, it's at least nice to know that all those years looking for my father, well, our father as it turns out, that I was on the right track. I am glad I didn't just uproot Conor for no reason." Stillness filled the car until Faith started to smile. "Tommy is an awesome soccer player for someone so young. If he sticks with it he could really go places."

"I'm glad that you came with me. I promised that I was going to come back for one of his games." Buffy added. "But just wait, it won't be too long before we are coming here to see Madeleine in a play or something theatrical. She will be big too if we just give her some time."

Faith chuckled. "You're right. Was Dawn like that too?"

"Dawn was artistic and dramatic. She just chose to act on the artistic side of things. I think she is looking into schools for art. She is so creative."

"You know, I think that Michele is pretty nice. I never thought she was going to stop feeding us. She just kept bringing food out."

"That's how she was when Dawn and I went there last time. She is really nice though."

"I wanted to hate her, really I did," Faith began. "I wanted to point my finger at her and just blame her for everything, but after meeting her and spending time with her, it really isn't her fault, is it?"

"Well, she did have the affair with Hank." Buffy answered.

"Right, but I really liked her, is that so bad?"

"No, things happen because they are meant to be that way. She looked really stressed out though, didn't she."

"She did. Hank looked really bad. Do you think it will happen soon?" Faith bluntly asked.

"I don't know."

Faith continued, "I think he thinks he can die peacefully now because we have connected with him. I can't forgive him for what he did and he will never be my father but I am glad I met him before he died. I mean, I have sisters and a brother I would have never known about it."

"That is very true. I think he was disappointed that you didn't let Conor come with us."

Faith shook her head. "I'm not getting him confused in all of this. I don't want him to get attached to someone who is going to die before he can build a relationship with him. Plus, he will ask way too many questions that I don't think I am ready to answer."

Buffy nodded. She didn't really agree with Faith but it wasn't her place to say anything to her about it.

"Oh yeah, I wanted to ask you something. Amy got that promotion at work."

"She did! That's great!"

"I know, she is very excited about it. I wanted to take her away for the weekend so I was wondering if you could make time to baby sit Conor."

"The whole weekend with him? I would love that! Where are you whisking her off to?"

"Napa Valley. I was going to pack her stuff and just get her in the car then take off so it really is a huge surprise."

"Faith! I didn't know you were such a romantic!" Buffy teased.

"Well, once and a while I get a brilliant idea. So that's cool? You'll watch him?"

"Of course! I'd love to! When are you going away?"

"In a few weeks, maybe in a month. I have to see when she has a completely free weekend. Don't worry, it won't be this weekend. I know you are taking off. Are you ready for your big trip out east?"

"More than you know," Buffy answered with a sigh.

Buffy walked off the plane and looked around. She was trying to find the correct luggage claim. After asking someone where she should go, she quickly found her luggage. A very handsome young man helped her. They didn't talk, at first. They just smiled at each other. "Here you go." He said.

"Thank you," Buffy said beaming. She was interrupted before their conversation could continue.

"Buffy! You're here!" a familiar voice excitedly yelled from behind her.

She turned to see the person with how the voice belonged to. "Will! I'm so happy to see you! How are you?" Buffy said as she hugged her friend.

"I'm good! Did you have a good flight?" Willow asked helping her with her luggage. She was overly giddy that Buffy was spending her whole spring break with her in Boston. When Buffy returned home the following weekend, Willow was going home with Buffy for her spring break.

"It was good. I slept a lot. They showed bad movies and served mediocre food. So this is Boston?"

"Yes it is! I can't wait to show you around. We'll have to do all of the touristy things. This city rocks! It's way better than LA. I was also thinking maybe you'd like to go to New York City before you go back home."

"Wow! One thing at a time!"

Willow smiled. "I'm sorry I am just so excited you are here to visit me! How were your classes going before spring break?"

"They were all right. Do you know where we are going?"

"Of course I do. I have been living here for two years, haven't I?"

The two girls chatted while boarding a shuttle bus that lead to the subway.

Willow was beginning to tell Buffy all about the history of the city. She began with the subways, which was called the "T". Buffy really wasn't up to hear the entire history of Boston in one setting but she smiled. She knew Willow was just being herself. Buffy was glad to be in the company of one of her best friends.

By mid-week Buffy felt that she knew Boston pretty well. She grabbed lunch at the historical land marks Quincy Market and Fanuil Hall Market Place while Willow sat in class. Willow was going to meet her after her classes got out. Since it was a beautiful spring afternoon, they were then going to walk over to the Back Bay area to do a little shopping before dinner.

Buffy was sitting on a bench in front of Quincy Market waiting for Willow. She was running late. She couldn't help but feel as if someone was watching her. When she turned her head, she noticed a slightly familiar young man looking back at her. He smiled as he walked closer to her.

"I didn't think I would run into you again," the dark haired boy told her as he grinned.

Buffy smiled. She knew the boy looked familiar but didn't know where she knew him from. Most of all, she was in an unfamiliar city and couldn't think of who she would know. "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

"I helped you at the airport. I was about to introduce myself when your friend came and whisked you away. I'm Mitch."

Buffy grinned. She had remembered the young man. "It's all coming back to me now! It's nice to meet you Mitch, I'm Buffy."

"Nice to meet you. What brings you to this lovely city?"

"I'm on spring break. I am visiting one of my best friends. She goes to Emerson College. What do you do here?"

"No way! I'm a senior at Emerson. What year is your friend in?"

"She is in her sophomore year. I forget the name of her dorm. She lives in the apartments on Boylston Street, I think."

"Boylston Street? The one above the Dunkin Donuts?"

"Yes! That's it! Do you know it?"

"Yeah. I lived there a few years ago. I have an off campus apartment now. It's in Brookline."

Buffy nodded like she knew what she was talking about. It was quiet for a split second before she began to talk again. "What were you doing at the airport on Sunday?"

"My roommate's sister was just arriving too. I saw you struggling to get your luggage so I thought I'd help." He paused for a minute before continuing with the conversation. "You said you were on spring break. What school do you go to?"

"I go to a little state school in California."

Buffy saw Willow across the busy intersection. Traffic flew by her.

"Listen, this maybe a little forward but, would you like to go out tomorrow night?"

"My friend and her friends and I were going to go to the area by the baseball park. What was the name of it? Fenwall? Fen-"

"Fenway Park?"

"I don't know, it's a baseball field or something."

Mitch chuckled. "Fenway is one of the oldest ball parks in the whole country. Let me guess you're not a sports girl?"

"Well, I like figure skating, but no, sports aren't really my thing. Anyway, we were going to go to I think Jillian's. I don't think she would mind if you met us there?" Buffy smiled. "Maybe we could talk?"

Mitch nodded and smiled back. "I know Jillian's. It is a fun place. Sure, I'd met you there."

"Hey Buffy, sorry I'm late." Willow apologized. She ran across the street and was out of breath.

"No problem. Will, this is Mitch. He also goes to Emerson. Mitch, this Willow, one of my best friends."

The two exchanged small talk. They exchanged comments about their school as well as other small talk.

"Willow, Mitch is going to join us tomorrow night at Jillian's. Is that all right?"

Willow smiled. "Of course! The more the merrier!"

"I still can't believe that you have a date!" Willow said as they were getting ready to go out. She was trying different things with her hair. She tried putting it up and then down and then thought about curling it. She just couldn't make up her mind.

"It's not a real date. He seems really nice, and he's cute too! Did you see those eyes? He has dreamy eyes! And those arms! His arms are huge!" Buffy smiled as she put foundation on her face. She then searched through her make-up bag for her eyelash curler.

Willow laughed again as she stopped playing with her hair. "Buffy Summers! You are on vacation in a place where you have never been and you manage to get a date!"

"I told you it isn't a date," Buffy tried to explain as she found her curler.

"Then what is it?" Willow asked as she began to get her won make up out.

"It's a," Buffy was interrupted as her cell phone rang. "hold that thought," she said as she put her eye lash curler down and answered her phone. The number was from her house. "Hello?"

"Buffy, I'm glad I got you," it was her father.

"Dad, what's wrong? Is everything all right?"

Rupert took a deep breath. "Sweetie, Hank is in the final stages of dying. He wants you to be with him when he goes. He is in and out of consciousness right now. He requested you by name earlier today. Listen to me, if you want come home, come home. I have already booked you flight that leaves tonight at twelve thirty, but sweetheart, don't feel pressured to come home if you don't want to. If you want to stay until Sunday and come back with Willow then do that. I just need to know what you want to do so I can confirm with the airline. They have to know as soon as possible.

Buffy took a deep breath. She wanted to stay and have fun. She wanted to go out and see what would happen with Mitch. After all, he was a very attractive boy. Her mind was telling to stay and have some fun, but her heart said something else and she knew what she had to do. She swallowed. "Can I have the flight information? I'm coming home tonight."