Disclaimer: Buffy belongs to Mr. Whedon.

A/N:hey, i hope you're enjoying this as much as i do. please don't hesitate to review. thanks for the inspirations. it means a lot.

Library

Buffy and Willow entered the room and everyone laid their eyes on them except for Xander.

"Hey,yep! You heard it right, they are on their way. They as in Faith and Wesley."

"Uh, Faith? But why? Is she hurt coz.." before she could finished her sentence the girl of the hour appeared in front of them together with the former watcher and Tomy.

Smirking, she said "O-K, is this our welcome wagon? Coz I should say I'm impressed, all the scoobies are here. Wait, are we interrupting something coz Red, you're saying something right?"

Dawn couldn't stop herself so she rushed to Faith and hugged her. "Hey, squirt. This is my half of a bodyguard." Tomy's hiding behind Faith coz everyone's unfamiliar to him except for Kennedy.

"Hey there." She smiled at the kid but still a little surprised to see him instead of a full grown man. "but I thought.."

Smiling, "You must be Dawn." He looked for Kennedy and when she gave him the cue, he hugged her "And here I thought you'll never grow up."

Tomy just shrugged her off " it's coz you've never attended my 12th birthday meaning you owe me a gift. You promised." He smirked at her while everyone in the room witnessed how the boy lifted the tension in the room with his cheerful disposition.

"Guilty as it is.. Oh, this is Dawn and the scoobies." Gesturing to everyone " and guys, this is Tomy."

"Hey." He said shyly and smiled.

When everyone was introduced and their welcome was said to each other except for the two slayers, Dawn decided to save the kid some major bore time. "Tomy, wanna tour the castle?"

He looks at Faith "yeah, just don't go Dennis the menace on her." As she winked at the kid.

Buffy could see the similarities between the two. If she didn't know any better, she might think that they're related and part of her felt relieved to know that Tomy is just a kid.

Wesley spoke first "We came here to ask for assistance, there are people who hate witches and they've been looking for him ever since he was born. He was the last in his line of 'Naturals' as they are called. They are doing everything in their power to trace the kid and use him for dark magic. Angel saved him when he was still a baby and ever since he has been protecting him from them. We think they are stronger now because someone is helping them, we couldn't risk everything so we came here to ask for protection."

Everyone in the room just nodded except for Xander, "is the kid a god or something?"

No one answered. Willow just looked at her girlfriend. She's wondering how Ken could keep something from her this long because by the looks of it, she has known the kid pretty well. And being a witch herself, she knew about these things and yet she thought it's all just a myth. But seeing all these are true, she needs to talk with Kennedy and she has already made up her mind to help the kid with all her power.

Buffy on the other hand was too caught up by Faith's presence. There have been a lot of things going on with them ever since they first met but seeing her again after she beat het to death for all the wrong reasons, she felt guilty. The hurt and pain the other slayer had caused her is all coming back now, and strange as it is there is a sudden relief in her to know that Faith is ok. Not knowing that she's unconsciously staring at her fellow slayer, Faith snapped at her. "Not gonna kill me to death with just staring, B."

"Faith, are you ok?" she felt the need to ask her

"Geez, Wes, just fill them in will ya?" ignoring Buffy's question, Wesley started to explain them in details how Tomy's parents were killed, how Ethos wants him and about the 'Naturals', the scoobies agreed to help them protect Tomy.

"Xander, show them their rooms if you may." Giles asks politely.

Ken and Willow have a silent understanding that they need to talk and the two slayers are obviously trying to avoid each other or in this case, Faith is trying to avoid Buffy.

On their way to Faith's room

They have been walking in silence and after leading Wesley to his room, Xander ask Faith "We're ok right? I mean you don't hate me and I don't hate you?" Faith just laugh at him

"Chill Xanman, not here to kill anyone and yes we're cool and if you're wondering, I'm here to ask for help. Don't worry, I'll play nice."

"I didn't mean that, sorry. It's just that you've changed since the last time I saw you."

"yeah, yeah. People change X, got a brat of a responsibility now, thanks to A. not that I'm complaining."

"I'm… sorry…. for everything." Xander couldn't get himself to look at her.

"Don't. I'm the one who should be; let's just leave it in the past, yeah? Are you sure we're not lost? How far is my room anyways?"

"It's the second door to the left."

When they got in, Faith's amazed at the view and the queen sized bed that seems to be attracting her to lie down and make use of it already.

"You like it? Dawn said you live in a mansion so.."

"Way better" she went to the window and breathes some fresh air "ain't got a view like this, thanks X."

"I'll see you at dinner, 6 sharp" he winks at her " I know your appetite pretty well by now.haha"

"yeah, contol guy and chef in one huh? You rock X!" they both laugh comfortably for a few minutes when Xander starts to head to the door..

"Xander, I never hate you. I'm sorry for everything; I wish I could make up for it. And thanks, really for the warm welcome and all."

He can't hide the smile on his face, before he opened the door "I prefer X, or Xan-man. Way cooler."

Just as she found her side of the bed, there's a knock at the door. With her slayer senses firing up, she already knows who the person behind the door is.

"What?"

"Can I come in?"

"5 minutes, gotta sleep you know."

"What happened? I felt it too so don't deny it." Buffy wanted to know

"Gutted. Bleed. Healed; All taken cared of, now if you don't mind?" Faith gestures her to leave.

"Faith, I just…"

"No Buffy, you can't just. Thanks for helping though." Buffy left the room against her will. She couldn't bring herself to speak anymore because she knows that everything involving them will just end up badly and right now, they both don't need that.

FLASHBACK

Faith was supposed to be helping them, not being on the other side of the earth having fun. Faith was supposed to call her and ask for back up. They could have done something to save Angel, Spike and Cordelia. But it was all too late because Faith didn't play her part well again. All she could do is blame her for everything. For not telling her that Spike is alive. For not telling her everything, for not trusting her.

When she saw Faith, the first thing she did was beat the crap out of her. That is the only way she knows how. Faith, didn't even tried to dodge her punches. She took them well. She didn't even fight back.

"it's all you fault, Faith." There, she said it. "They gave you another chance and you just disappointed them, us. How could you do it?!" I never stopped hitting her. Until someone tried to stop me, but I just threw him off.

"Back off Xander! This is not you're fucking business." I picked her up again and threw her to the wall.

"How could they say you've changed when you're still the same fucked up slayer who hurt everyone I love. I hate you!!" she's choking in her own blood now but I couldn't get myself to stop beating her.



"BUFFY! Stop it!" Willow cast a spell on me so I couldn't move. "I'm sorry Buffy, I have to do this."

I saw them helped Faith up and they took her away. They should, because I would've killed her if they didn't stop me. But Faith muttered something to them and they let her come to me. "You're right about everything except that it hurts me as much or more than you could possibly imagine." With that, I knew that I made the biggest mistake of my life.

END OF FLASHBACK

JOEY's POV

I remembered crying my lungs out just so someone would hear me. I was 6 or 7 then, too young and too naïve of the things around me. I was aware that there's blood and fire. I felt it and I could smell it. I screamed like it's the last thing I've ever learned to do. They didn't even seem to notice or maybe they never cared. But somehow, I know something they don't maybe that's why they took me. Took me from where? I didn't really know at that time. But I sense power, it's overflowing and at that time being a little girl and all it's enough for me not to be scared.

I remembered hungry monsters, greens and browns of all kinds. I'm anything but afraid because for some reasons, I felt protected.

Tomy's Visions

Fire, a rusty scent and demons all over. Tomy could feel the dampness on his skin.

Hooded figures, vampires preparing for a ritual.

Then he saw the girl. She felt her pain just like when his parents we're killed in front of him.

But he saw that the girl's not afraid. She stared at him and whispered " Help me."

The next thing he sees are white lights. Ken's pacing and Dawn's worried beside him.

"Where's Faith?" he asks; the girls hugged him excitedly.

"Tomy, what happened? Are you ok?" Ken and Dawn are worried.

"Spaced out. Uh, can I see Faith now?"

"Willow already went to her room to get her."

"Here, drink this. You'll feel better."

Faith and Willow both entered at the same time while Wesley's following behind.

"Hey kid, you kay? Faith doesn't seem to be worried at all.

"Not exactly 5x5, I've got the same visions again. And I'm hungry."

"What visions?" Buffy entered with Giles, they both looked at Faith.

"We should probably discuss this after dinner if it's quite alright Mr. Giles, Buffy?" Wesley said.

"Well, yes. Let's head to the hall now can we?"

All of them followed the two watchers except for Willow. "Faith, I need to talk to you."

"Save it Red. The kid's somethin'. He's the one who blocks all your spells. He's stronger than what you think."

"But you're afraid to lose him to the dark side, that's why you brought him here."

"Yeah, that. And he's just a kid. You could still teach him stuffs here, good stuffs."

"The vision?"

"I got it. Tell them I'm not hungry. " that said, Faith left the castle.

Willow didn't know how to tell them that Faith took off already.

"FAITH'S FINE. SHE SAID SHE'LL LET US KNOW IF SOMETHING COMES UP." did the kid just communicate with her without even speaking? Tomy smiled at her. "YEAH, I'M A NATURAL."

Willow nodded and returned the smile, "WELL, HERE GOES NOTHING."

"Where's Faith?" Dawn was the first to notice.

"uh… she said she's not hungry?"

"You're not sure?" Xander asks

"ok, she left. She said she'll let us know if something comes up." she sighed after finally telling the truth.

Buffy stood up to follow Faith but Wesley stopped her. "She knows what she's doing Buffy. I'll tell you at the meeting."

Buffy stayed against her will. She wanted to help Faith, to make up for everything she'd done to her. She knows she can't just stay here and do nothing again. She can't lose her. She won't.

Tomy watch while Buffy's pacing outside the hall. He heard a lot about Buffy Summers. The Golden Girl; the Slayer; Twinkie, Blondie, Princess as Faith puts it, but by just looking at her, he can tell that she's so much more.

"37. That's how many times you've been pacing."

"oh, hi. Tomy right? We're never officially introduced. I'm Buffy."

"Yep. So I've told. You're worried about her huh?" Tomy asks with a mischievous smile on his face.

"What's with the smile? I am worried yes but only because I agreed to help her."

"Yeah right. Try pacing 25 more so you can't deny it already."

"Are you sure you're 12?"

"Yes. But are you sure you're not worried about Faith?"

"Ok, I am.it's just that."

"I know. I have a secret. Promise me you won't tell anyone?"

"ok. Promise."

"Pinky swear?" then they did the deed and Tomy sealed it.

He gestures Buffy to kneel so that he could whisper it to her."Faith's in love with you.."

But before she could even react, Tomy orbed to where Dawn and the rest of the crowd are. Now she's smiling like there's no tomorrow.

TBC