Summary: This is a sequel to my story A Creature I Don't Know which can be found here: s/8467907/1/A-Creature-I-Dont-Know

A/N: I strongly recommend a good understanding of season 5 to follow this: Body especially for this update.

Disclaimer:Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, 20th Century Fox, UPN and WB Television Networks own the television shows, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel". Dark Horse and IDW own the Comics. No copyright infringement is intended, no money is being earned by myself. The title of each chapter, and the story as a whole, come from K's Choice songs/Album titles. (Given that I had soundtrack for the first I thought I should have one for the second).

Thank you all for your kind words and support for my last story. I hope you enjoy my continuation of it. I would love to hear your thoughts on my thoughts. Many thanks.

12. Old Woman

"So what did you do with the robot?" Faith asked as they walked up the path to Buffy's house.

"I don't know what do you do with a robot?"

Buffy had met Faith after school and filled her in on everything she'd missed due to a mix of detentions, a rush of assignments and Giles' request that she start adhering to his curfew again. Faith had complained loudly and often but Giles simply reminded her that he was investing a lot of money in her education the least she could do was give a little bit of time to it.

"You trashed it didn't you?" Faith laughed as she waited for Buffy to open her front door.

"Yeah," she conceded, "but in a respectful way."

"Trashed is trashed!" Faith reminded her as she walked into the hallway. "Oh flowers!" She pointed at the fresh bouquet on the side before rummaging through the foliage for the card.

"Oh yeah," Buffy said absentmindedly as she dropped her bag, "Mom's dating again."

"'Thank you for a lovely evening. See you soon' question mark!" Faith smiled showing her the card. "'Brian'"

"You're loving this, aren't you?" Buffy sighed replacing the card in the arrangement. "I note that I'm yet to get flowers."

"No," Faith nodded. "But you get sugar."

Buffy smiled as Faith leaned in for a kiss. "Can I at least check the house is empty before you attack me in the hallway."

"Who said anything about attack?"

"Hey Flower-Getting Lady!" Buffy called out. "Mom?"

"Mrs S?" Faith waited for a moment but heard no reply. "Must be out picking up Dawn from school."

"Mom?" Buffy called once more, "Mom?" she peered round the door to the living room and found her laying uncomfortably on the sofa. "Mom? What are you doing?"

"B, I think-"

"Mom?" Buffy continued forward and took her mother in her arms, "Mom? Mommy?"

Silence.

Nobody said a word. There was just the empty air.

Even the clock seemed to have stopped ticking out of respect.

There was just silence.

After the house Giles driven the girls to Dawn's school. He didn't even question why Faith was already there. They simply sat, silently, in the car as they waited for Buffy to come back with Dawn.

The other's joined them in the waiting room.

Brief words were exchanged before silence fell once more.

The doctor explained what had happened. Explained what would happen. It didn't matter though she was still dead. No amount of details, excuses or paperwork could take that away.

She was dead.

Giles followed him out and took as much from Buffy's shoulders as he could.

Willow and Xander looked for food with Anya in tow.

Dawn went to the toilet, Faith following discretely.

"I'm sorry you have to go through this." Buffy eventually managed to say.

"You don't have to worry about me." Tara reassured her.

"Everyone wants to help… I don't even know… if I'm here… I don't know what's going on. I've never done this-" she cut herself off with a shake of her head. "Well that's just an amazingly dumb thing to say, obviously I've never done this before."

Silence. Silence fell between them once more.

"I have." Tara let out quietly. "My mother died when I was seventeen."

"I didn't know that. I'm sorry-"

"No, no." she said quickly. "I didn't mean to… I'm only telling you because, its not m-my place, but… there's things…." Each word was barely above a whisper. Each word was a struggle to overcome. It was as if Tara was learning to speak again and each word was a battle to fight the silence. "…thoughts and reactions I had, that I couldn't… understand, or even try to explain to anyone else. Thoughts that made me feel like I was losing it, or like I was just a h-horrible person…" she regretted stopping, worried that she wouldn't be able to continue again. "Its different. Its always different, but… if you ever need…"

"Was it sudden?"

"What?"

"Your mom. She'd dead." Dawn said quietly from behind the safety of the stall.

"Yeah. She's dead." Faith said, sitting down on the toilet next to Dawn's realising that she hadn't been following the girl as subtlety as she'd intended.

"Was it quick?"

"Mom?" Faith waited for a response but none was forthcoming. "I always knew she was going to die. It question was when or how or what drug…" She trailed off as she saw Dawn's foot move from the other side of the divide. "It was alcohol poisoning."

"What's that?"

"When you drink to much, normally you'll get drunk but sometimes… sometimes your body simply can't take it. It will give up, give out."

"How old were you?"

"I was too young." Faith said simply. "But you'll always be too young when your mom dies."

Silence fell between them, punctuated only but Dawn's quiet steps and the unlocking of her stall door. She peered round the edge of Faith's and looked down at her.

"Does it get…"

"Better?" Dawn simply nodded. "No. It doesn't get better. It can't get better. Your mom's dead." Faith told her candidly. "It gets easier. Doesn't get better." She stood up and pulled Dawn into her arms. "…and my mom was a whore." She said silently.

Faith waited with Buffy besides the grave. Slowly the group of mourners had got smaller and smaller. Dawn going back with Willow and Tara, Xander taking Anya home. Even Giles eventually left. Until it was just the two of them.

They stood silently. There were no words. No platitudes. No sentiments. Nothing could be said.

They simply stood silently.

The hair on the back of Faith's neck rose. She knew that Buffy felt it too. As the sky darkened, she cursed the night that a vampire had the audacity to strike now. Tonight.

She let Buffy remain and spun round to find her facing a vampire she knew.

"I'm sorry I couldn't come sooner." Angel said.

It took all of Faith's might to simply walk away. When she reached the edge of the cemetery she swallowed all her bile, all of her hatred and turned back to look at them. She found her hand in his.

It took all of her might to simply walk away.

Thank you, Circus