Well folks here is chapter 2. Once agian, I'm sorry it's so short. Enjoy.
Please read & review.
I hadn't counted on Red or Xan. They actually welcomed me back which is more than I can say for Dawn and B. Red said something about Kennedy keeping her updated on me. Always like those two; it's too bad they couldn't make it. Xander even offered to show me to one of the abandoned houses in town. They're actually kinda swanky. I think the only reason Aaron didn't get staked was their support.
"So wait, you don't have a soul, or a chip, yet you're not evil." Xander paused with that curious look in his eye that both made you want to laugh and cry. "Huh?"
"Long story short? Monks."
"Ok….so that was a bit too short. Again with the huh?"
"It's a long story Xan. to which you'll never get the whole thing." Even I don't know the whole story yet. I guess some things best left inside the tortured vampire. Who am I kidding? Aaron's no more tortured than Angelus was before he got the soul, the first time.
Getting caught up with the Scoobies wasn't as painful as it could have been. Seems Xander now owns his own construction company, got a nice payout from the government. I guess something about losing his eye to a deranged murderer who dressed like a priest who had escaped custody. Just another thing to thank Angel for, the police department who lost Caleb heard the law firm name Wolfram & Hart and handed Xander a check and a written apology without a second though.
The magic box was open again; Giles and Anya had reopened it a few months ago. Business was better then ever, and they put Dawn to work after school a few days a week to keep her out of trouble. Willow was renting the back room (for 1 cent a year) and ran a discreet agency out of it that searched for magic users who might be misusing their powers. Her agency helped reform them, or if they were past the point of help 'sent' them to the coven in England.
Joyce had her Art gallery back open again; it had burned down with the rest of that side of town, so she got a nice settlement from the state which allowed her to reopen. Now it was bigger, nicer, and had clientele from all over the world coming in now.
"So, where's Robin?" I cringed at the question. I knew someone would ask but just to hear it brought back painful memories. I stood from my chair and turned to look out the window memorizing the glistening streets instead of answer the question. After a few empty moments, I spoke.
"He's gone. Oh and he wasn't Nikki Wood's kid either. He was sent by an organization to weaken us, tear us apart and to make us choose sides. He almost had me too. But then I met Nikki's boy in Vegas. He's a damn vice cop out there. Found out our Robin was a special forces trained imposter. Seems that whoever sent him sent a bot version of Wesley's father to L.A. to try and recruit Wes."
I was pretty good at not telling them that I almost quit that night. Would have walked away for good had it not been for Aaron. He convinced me to keep being the scary thing that mother demons tell the little demons about to scare them at night. It's increasingly difficult to find a master vampire you could hate. Guess that's why so many Slayers would bite it when they ran into Masters over the years. Of course no Watcher could blame their Slayer from getting their ass handed to them by Spike or Angelus. I feel lucky everyday that Aaron isn't into hunting Slayers or humans anymore, I'm not sure if I could beat him anymore then I could Angelus or Spike, and I don't want to find out.
They didn't take the whole fake Wood thing too well but it seemed that Giles had already been informed of that sect of former watchers who had turned against us after the battle with the First.
"Wow. Ok, see, I told you I never liked him. Something was always weird about him. Can we please avoid all principals in the future?" Dawn suddenly injected behind me.
"Graduate and we'll talk." Buffy smiled in a way I never saw before. It was as pain free and genuine of a smile as I had ever seen from someone on the hell mouth. I won't say it to her face, cause that would break some sort of code or something, but it looked good on her. "So Faith, you here for good this time?"
"Well that depends. Could you use an extra Slayer around here? Cause if not, I can always find some other place to haunt, but I've kinda come to think of Sunnyhell as home you know?"
"Yeah I know. And I could always use some help around here. Alternate nights patrolling the cemeteries. Maybe go clubbing with some one who's not gay or male, no offence to my best buds or anything." Buffy teased as she looked back to the others. They smiled in return. I think they wanted us to kiss and make up after our years of fighting or something. I know Xander wanted the kiss at least. We shook hands. Sister slayers we may be kissing cousins, no way.
"So we're five by five?"
"Yeah, welcome back Faith."
I saw Joyce stand up form the corner of my eye and turned to look at her as she moved to stand next to me. "If you need a place to stay your welcome to stay here until Xander can get one of the abandoned houses' fixed up for you." She glanced at Aaron who was leaning against the front door, not having entered any further into the house. "Faith may trust you, but I don't know you yet, or I would offer you the basement."
Aaron nodded with a smile; it wasn't the cold smile I knew so well, he forced some life and warmth into it so it didn't scare Joyce or the Scoobies. "I understand ma'am, I'll just pick one of the abandoned houses, stay in its basement until it is fixed up enough for Faith to move in."
Home Sweet Hell Mouth.
Expect Chapter 3 later today, or tomarrow.