Act 2: Healer of the Broken Heart

© 2003 by Chris Regan

FAITH'S JOURNAL

With a smile, Faith sat on the arm of a big chair she slides down onto the seat "It was five years ago in my kitchen I sat at the table writing these entries.

"I'm not sure why I am starting a journal it maybe so someone will know what happened, if something happened to us. I hope that some day young slayers will read and learn from my adventures. It started on September 20, 2003; the first was gone so was Anya and Spike.

On the way down to LA, we stopped in Lone Tree Buffy and Robin needed stitched and bandaged up. I felt lost and without purpose now that the excitement is over. What is to come of me Robin will need me for a while but after that. I guess I become head Slayer for the USA.

Angel and his gang are working at Wolfram and Hart, Giles and the Scooby's don't trust Angel but Buffy goes to him for help.

None of Angel's gang remembers Connor.

"Willow and I do."

Buffy and the other girls went to Europe she left me with five slayers in my charge I'm to keep and eye on Angel it's my call if I think he needs help or if he needs to be killed.

It was September 2, 2003, Robin got his degrees replaced and will be working in the fall at Glendale High School as its Principal.

I did have to put my foot down at first when we first got here he wanted to go out slaying vampires with me and the girls but I wasn't going to take the chance that he would rip the stitches out even if he is a fast healer."

Robin walked in, "What are you reading?"

Faith leaned forward with her arms across the journal.

"My old journal from when we first got down here."

"Oh."

"Faith where is my blue tie?"

"On the dresser were I threw it last night before you ravished me."

"Thanks Faith."

"Sure Robin."

"Are you working late to night?"

"Yea, I have a meeting with Clem."

"Oh I'll be late too! I have a ton of paper work to do."

"Oh, see you when you get home then."

"Yes I'll see you then."

It was later that day I met Clem behind the Bucket of Bloody we had been talking when we saw two familiar faces. Darkness had fallen when we saw Angel going into the bar, with a person in a ratty shawl and long tore dress; Faith wrapped her arm around the person and pulling the person behind the building.

"What are you doing Harmony?"

"Tailing Angel"

"That much I know Harmony but you're a vampire, so what's up?"

Why are you tailing him?"

As she looks around, "He has been acting strange the bosses want me to keep and eye on him.

"The company wants him tailed and gave me the job."

"Okay"

Being nervous Harmony Rattled off "Faith I'm doing real good I've been going to the BAA meeting every month and I've been off human blood for the last six months.

"That's great to hear but why are you tailing Angel?"

"The partners don't trust him."

"OH"

"Harmony something you should know Spike is dead."

"Yea I know his ghost has been haunting Wolfram and Hart."

"That is interesting. Why is he haunting there?"

"It's got something to do with that necklace thingy that Angel gave Buffy."

"Oh, yea well want to spy for me?"

"What do I have to do?"

"What your already doing, keep your eyes open and report anything that is out of place, doesn't make sense, if they act different than normal."

"How much?"

"Five Hundred per month also place this some were in Angel's office?"

"Okay what does it do?"

"It listens to anything that happens in Angel's Office."

"Okay it's a deal."

On September 2, 2003, I just heard from the judge because of my help during the time the city was in eternal night, I'm free!

I can't believe it!

I don't know what strings Angel pulled but I don't have to go back to the big house.

I do have to stay in LA County for the next two years, but hell that beats being in the big house any time.

November 10, 2003, something is coming, the demon and anthropomorphic communities is restless Clem and Whistler has noted it too.

I need to report that to Giles, he and the Scooby's has been keeping everything going, Buffy is depressed and had been sick since Spike's death. I feel sorry for her, she gave everything to save the world again, you would think the powers that be would have left her with at least Spike, I know he is no great prize but he is a good guy at heart and she did love him, it was obvious that he loved her too."

Robin is home, I hear him in the garage, I stopped reading sat the book down and stood up and stretched, he came up behind me and starts kissing my neck.

"That feels good baby."

"How was your day?"

"Quiet."

"Want to go out to eat."

"I thought you were."

"Just having a nibble!"

As they walk toward the hall.

It was late the next day before getting back to my book.

The last two weeks have been quiet Harmony called to report that "Spike is Corporal now and is doing his best to bug Angel" which I think is funny Buffy has no idea how much thoughts two love her."

"I should let Giles know that he is back."

"Robin do you still have ill feeling toward Spike?"

"Yes, in away, he was the one that killed my mom but..."

"But..."

"But when he had the chance to kill me he didn't and I haven't figured that one out."

"Maybe I can shed some light. He loves Buffy."

"So..."

"So he wouldn't do anything that would warrant her disapproval."

"She isn't here what is to stop him?"

She looks at the ceiling "Men! She has him by the short and curls. Man he is so in love with her if she would say jump he wouldn't ask how high."

"Come on Faith this sounds weird."

"You were there when he and Andrew got back from there road trip to the monastery he was real angry at us for letting her go. He and I had words and beat each other up but I've never seen a vamp have so much controlled over his anger he could easily bit me if he had wanted."

"Well maybe he did change from the old days I mean the Spike I knew would not have controlled his rage he would have been like a bull in a China shop."

"Yea, B has changed too, before she wouldn't have trusted me to keep an eye on what Angel was doing."

"From what Giles told me she had a thing going with Angel till he turned evil."

"Yea, she also had a thing with Spike. Love makes you do strange things."

"Yes it does. Maybe they have both grown over the last few years; God knows they have been thought enough."

"She is morning his passing, I didn't think she would take it so hard. She seamed sad that he was gone, I was surprised she didn't turn to Angel for comfort."

"Faith, I think Buffy really was in love with Spike."

"Yea I think your right she was in love with Spike."

"Faith if I didn't know better I would think that she was Pregnant.

"Why do you think that?"

"Have you watched her she gets sick at around the same time every day? Nurse March gives her something and she calms down. I didn't like Spike in fact I hated him for killing my mom but…"

"But Buffy saw something in him."

"Maybe it's what I see in you big boy."

Robin smiles at Faith as they get up and head toward the bedroom.

It is the next day Faith is sitting with a pile of schoolbooks on the coffee table but she is reading her diary.

November 1, 2003, Harmony reported that Cordella was awake.

November 9, 2003, Harmony reported that Angel told them that he got a call from the hospital that Cordella die without regaining consciousness. When he told them that, she thought he looked like he was going to fall apart.

"January 9, 2003, Things are starting to move faster Harmony has told me about what happened to Fred being turning into the goddess Illyria and the effect it had on all of the guys. Angel has been getting reckless as if he has nothing to stay un-dead for the last two months.

I called Giles "I think Angel is going to take down Wolfram and Hart from the in side of the corporation."

Giles asked, "Why do you think that?"

"Giles if I had nothing to lose or nothing to live for and I was him I would risk everything to take the bad guys out. Lets face it Giles Buffy doesn't want him, Cordella is dead, Fred has been changed there is just the guys left."

"Yes I see your point Faith, have any ideas as to what he is up too?"

"No not really I do know he sent the Werewolf Chic and her family to Europe that means what ever happens it will be messy."

"Yes it will I will have Oz picked up the werewolf and her family. As he scratched his head I will send over slayers to back you up."

"How is our insane slayer doing?"

"Better she has stopped trying to attacking Uilliam and has started talking to Drew about what happened to her family."

"I thought I had it bad growing up but that kid…"

"Yes she got a bad lot poor kid."

"Giles how is Buffy doing?"

"Buffy has started to come out of her depression. Who knows what will send her back into it. She was seeing some guy in Italy for a while then she started getting sick again. From what Andrew said, "The guy must have tried everything he could think of to shake Spike's hold on her but she is still deeply in love with Spike."

Faith Stopped and reaches out to the end table and picks up her coffee cup and takes a sip sits back and watches the cats that have jumped up on the window seat and are cleaning themselves she turns her attention back to the Diary.

"January 15, 2003, I've had to beat Clem, at his request of course, so none of the other demons will know that he has talked to me of his own free will. I really didn't want to because he is very sweet but I saw his point. If he didn't have real bruised ribs and a black eye the other demons would think he squealed I hope he heals quick he said he had connections and would see what he could do to set up a meeting in case my hunch was right about Angel."

"January 25, 2003, Clem called with the place and time we're to meet them.

Faith with a thoughtful look on her face picks up her coffee cup and takes another sip.

I was on the roof keeping watch when I saw two large black cars drives up and park outside the warehouse. I had seen Faith the Slayer before, Faith and her slayers got out of the cars and went into large warehouse as I used the walkie-talkie "Your majesty the slayers have arrived.

"Okay come down and join us Sona.

"Okay"

It made my slayer sense tingle, as I opened the door it was dark inside except for and orange glow from across the room the air felt warm but the air was scented with lavender.

When we got close to the other wall it felt warmer down what looked like a make sift hall I fallowed it around a corner. What I saw was unbelievable in the warehouse were four fires with large eggs that where three foot tall.

Come in my dear bring your friends too."

"I saw a large white dragon sitting with two smaller ones then a group of demons. There looked to be a group of humans but they didn't smell right it wasn't a vampire type of smell but not exactly human either."

Clem stepped out from the group of demons while other demons in the group went to the eggs and turned them.

"Faith we know that something is going down that is why we all agreed to meet with you and the slayers."

"Clem who are these…"

"We are members of the league, the white dragon is Queen Diamanta, the other two are her sons; the blue dragon is Prince Garroway and the green dragon is Prince Malin, the eggs are also hers. Her husband has been acting strange, like many of the demon's mates."

"Strange in what way Clem?"

"Secretive, distant, getting drunk way more than in the past. So far, the only ones that aren't affected are the Cat's Eye members of the League.

"Who or What is the Cats Eye League?"

Stepping forward a regal woman said, "We are the Cats Eye an ancient Clan of creatures that were born into this world with special powers or were changed by evil sorcery over the centuries we have found and united most of the demon world" said Gwen.

"We have worked together so that we would all have a safe haven to go to in times of need; we have joined together for the good o

"What do you think Angel is up too dear?"

"No one knows what Angel is up too, my sources heard of a group called the Circle of the Black Thorn, which manipulates the demon world to do there bidding. My guess is Angel thinks they are the senior partners and he is trying to take them out."

Gwen looked down then said, "There are things that have been done we are a shamed of such as Wolfram & Hart it has made us money but the blood that stains it…"

"You're the senior partner of Wolfram & Hart?

Gwen looked at her then around the group before answering, "Yes Faith but you need to understand when Wolfram & Hart started we were young, stupid and full of our own power. By the time we saw what they were doing we had no control over that business venture."

"So you have been getting blood money all this time?"

"Yes"

The Queen could see Faith was in raged and she tried to redirect her "Calm down Faith" she looked at the queen she as she transformed in front of her looking like a pale willowy woman with golden red locks; her clothing shimmered into pair of pants and a top.

"You just changed your appearance that is cool wish I could do that."

"I thought you would be more comfortable with this form of me."

"Yea I am thanks."

"I'm sorry you learned this ugly piece of our history this way we have no time to be delicate about whom we are or were in the past."

"Yea well we all have a black side to deal with."

"Yes I suppose we each do at that!"

"Getting back to Angel dear?"

"Angel is playing his cards close we should be watching the main players in case he needs help."

"What does human card games have to do with our mates?"

"Mamie it is an expression, it has nothing to do with card games! She does not no his plans. But that she thinks he maybe trying to take down the Black Thorn, we should be watching the main players and be ready if anything changes."

Mamie burst out with "Dam them Black Thorns I want to kill every black hearted one of them."

"I expect them to want something in blood, has he betrayed any of his people?

"Perhaps Fred was taken out by the coffin of Illyria about a month ago."

Gwen stood there with her fingers laced together "That wouldn't be enough for them they would want his total corruption before they let him in.

Luna said, "Faith I have been watching them; Angel's gang has been meeting at Spike's place, I saw them take a guy in knight's garb to his place; later a suit came and got him."

"Yea I remember, a friend from the precinct called and wanted me to check out a guy with bit marks. I went down to the morgue he was dead and not turned into a vampire I could tell it was a male vampire by the size of the fang marks. It looked like a mercy killing the guy had been beaten it was bad man it gives me chills to remember it."

"Why is it strange vampire bit humans all the time?"

"Yes but usually they go after the opposite sex unless something is wrong with them. By the sent on the body, there was more than one person with him.

"If Angel has turned we should kill him!"

"No, I'm sure Angel did a mercy killing," said Prince Malin.

They turned and saw a young man in green clothing standing there. "It was a trial of some type to see if they could corrupt him. I know this mans name it was Grogan Battle Bran he was the keeper of the well were the old ones were kept."

Silent was thick for a few minute as they absorbed the information.

"If Angel would arrange for Fred to be turned into the old one Illyria and attack him that would get him on there radar," said, Gwen.

Harmony said, "He had a fight in his office with his staff which lasted six minutes."

"Can you trust what she says?"

"Yes in this I do, I don't total trust her but I do trust the fact that she likes money and pretty cloths, which gets me information."

Throwing her arms in the air "What have the males got them selves into now" said Mamie.

"Don't know but I do know Angel sent the Wolf girl and her family to Europe a few days ago. So what ever it is it will be hard, fast and messy."

Giles called "He with a group of slayers picked the Wolf girl and her family up at the airport."

"I see why you wanted help; do we all agree to back the slayers up?"

It was quiet for a few moments as the groups talked among themselves then the war cry from the demons went up breaking the silent, then we heard Gwen say, "Yes, we will join you." Then this loud yes from the three dragons and all the eggs started to rock and you could see the floor wave as if it where an earthquake.

Then small cracks start to form on the eggs and they got bigger until you could see pieces of thick shell pop off and fly into the air then small dragon claws break the membrane and noses peek out as they pushed against the shell causing more cracks and more pieces to pop off.

"Oh my God the Prophesy it is coming true, dragonets are hatching, Mamie and Gwen get towels you and your friends so the dragonets can be cleaned."

"Yes your majesty" as both female ran to the closets with their people fallowing them.

"Clem you and the slayers to the meat locker!"

"Come on Faith, girls we are going to need all the help we can get to feed the babies."

Faith felt a little helpless and scared until Clem opened this large door and inside was wall to wall sides of meat hanging from hooks

"Faith, you and the girls take a side of beef each, don't take it off the hook the tracks were designed to roll out of here and into the other room just roll it out and put it over the eggs starting with the farthest fire."

By the time the meat was out the first eggs had little dragonet heads sticking out of them we roll the meat into place then jumped back as they stared to hungrily eat. Once all the meat was in place we got a break, while we watched them eat and Diamanta cooed to her children.

"Yes my sweets eat up."

As we sat, we watch the caretakers wipe the dragonets dry after they came out of the shells.

"Come on girls we need to clean up the shells so they can be ground into powder."

"Clem you have to be kidding."

"No the shells are very valuable to the right people, so are shed scales, nails, bones."

"Okay Clem we get your point let gets to work girls."

"Clem what is this prophesy?"

The next king for the league was said to come the same year twenty dragons where born, this is the largest cultch on record."

"How many times has it happened?"

"Don't know myself, Gwen come over here please."

"Sure Clem.

"The prophesy how many time has come true?"

"This is the thirteenth time Clem."

"What does it have to do with us?" said, Kennedy.

Gwen smiled at the slayers "You are the lost members of the league. You see long ago there were members that evolved into human like creatures they had the super gene if you want to call it that but past for human.

It lay dormant for many generations until after we in our arrogant backed the Circle of the Thorn in there venture. Evil grew and as they grew in power, what are now called slayer started to emerge. However, we found that there were others watching for them.

"The Watcher!"

"Yes Faith the Watchers."

"Over the centuries we found that some of them were more than watcher they became warriors."

"Giles and Wesley."

"Yes, their families knew of us."

Many slayers where lost to the watchers but we gained allies in there rakes too, Angel's ancestor was one as was Spike's."

"Shit! Know wonder Spike couldn't stay bad it isn't in his nature."

"Both are born heroes from a very long line of Pirates that use to smuggle for us. Others we found and along the way, we took this opportunity to make connection in both the human and demon world."

We had a lot to think about, it was one PM before we were done, and we were a mess looking like we had been thought an all night battle. All we wanted was a hot shower and bed, at that point and burning our clothing wasn't a bad idea either.

Clem picking up a stack of towels as he walked to where we were finishing cleaning the last few shells, "Faith you and the slayers have bridged a gap between the races today that hasn't been bridged for a century. Here are some towels you and the girls go home get cleaned up and get some rest."

He didn't have to tell us twice we walked out of the building, wiping ourselves as best we could and got into the cars and drove off. We didn't see Clem and Mamie standing on the roof as we left.

"Clem they are the real thing."

"Yes Mamie they are!"

"They're good folk too?"

"How are the Babies doing?"

"They are fine and will be ready for the battle if they are needed."

"Good, let's hope we don't need them."

We were so tired we didn't have the energy to talk on the ride home, when we opened the electric gate and drove up the hill to the mansion that Angel had rented for us, Robin and Conner came running out leaving the door of the main house open.

Robin was yelling at me as I got out of one of the cars "Faith where in hell have you been I've been worried sick. With a look of repulsion "What in gods name have you been into?"

"We're OK Robin, we're tired, need a shower but other than that we're Ok. As to what we were doing, bringing new life into the world…"

Connor said, "Luna what about you?"

With a smile, Luna says. "Yes I'm okay Connor like Faith said where tired and need a shower."

With sly look "Want to help?"

He gave her a grin and a look of mischief. The girls turned and slowly trudged up pass the pool to the guesthouse with Connor fallowing then.

Faith turned and started walking toward the main house; knowing Robin was grinning and shaking his head "Just like his old man"

She stopped looked over her shoulder. "You coming or do I get all the fun of pealing these yucky cloths off all by myself."

"Sure I'll help."

"Okay then let's gets moving I'm ready to fall over were I stand."

They walk into the house and toward the bedroom with Faith peeled off the clothing with Robins help as they go. He started the shower as she takes off the last few things and gets in.

"I'll take these to the wash room."

"Thanks, I'll be waiting" as he hears the water wash over her.

As he picked up the cloths and walked into the washroom and dumped then in the washer and started it "God these things are nasty I wonder what she and the girls really got into".

Faith stood with the hot water engulfing her then heard the shower door move and a moment later felt Robin's strong soapy hands washing her back.

"What got your clothing so messed up?"

"After the meeting we ended up helping them birth twenty baby dragons."

"Come on Faith, dragons haven't been around for centuries."

"You, be the one to tell that to their mother, I'm sure she will find that of great interest."

January 26, 2003

I called Giles, "Giles we have new allies".

"Who are they?"

"A group known as the League"

"So they contacted us?"

"You might say that."

"They are a good group to have in your corner if things are bad."

"Yea I figured that much out, you knew about them didn't you?"

"Yes but I took and oath of silent."

"I understand Giles."

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