Happy Sunday, my friends! Sorry this one is coming so late in the evening, but I kinda had a busy day!
AN: Yes, I did mean to end the chapter there. :) It's a short chapter, but I hope you all like it. Thank you all so much for all of your feedback and your support during this story. If you haven't already subscribed, visit my page and go follow my tumblr so you can know when I update! Or just subscribe here; whichever works for you :)
Hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday. Until next Sunday folks!
"Cordelia, how are you?" Angel asks his voice friendly. He hears rustling on the other end and finally Cordelia speaks.
"Oh, you know me," Cordelia starts, her voice light. "I'm hanging in here." She says. "Though, I'm not really helping the helpless anymore, it feels kind of weird." She says as an afterthought.
"Weird?" he asks curiously. He can imagine her thoughtful eyes flittering off to the side while she tries to figure out a way to word what she's going to say next.
"Yes." She confirms. "We've spent so much time helping those in need, I feel like I'm on vacation." She says. "Even if Faith is trying to work us into the ground." She grumbles a little. Angel can't help but chuckle.
"She just wants to make sure everyone is on equal grounds." He says. He can picture the eye roll happening; he isn't wrong.
"Well does she have to make sure of it so early in the mornings?" she almost whines. Angel laughs again; he misses Cordelia more than he thought he would.
"Kid!" Faith finally snaps after watching Amanda pace and go on for almost half an hour. It mostly amuses her, the scenarios that Amanda is coming up with but it was a little tiring.
"What?" Amanda asks her voice still high in her panic. Faith smirks a little.
"You're not gonna hurt anybody." She assures her.
"How do you know?" Amanda asks worriedly. Faith smiles, a soft smile this time.
"We've got what, four, five weeks before school even starts?" she asks. Amanda nods in confirmation, "I'm gonna help you hone in on those skills and teach you a few meditation techniques that'll keep you calm." She says.
"What does that have to do with me shaking the principal's hand and like, breaking his entire arm?" Amanda asks pointedly. Faith chuckles; the kid had an imagination that was for sure.
"The calmer you are the better chance you have at controlling yourself." She explains. "Take right now, for instance," she began. "If Andy were to walk up behind ya, you'd probably turn around and knock his skull into the next apartment." She says. Amanda looks horrified while Andrew winces.
"I don't… I don't see how this is helpful." Andrew mutters.
"But any other day, when you're calm," Faith emphasizes the word. "You're good to go." She says. Amanda looks doubtful. Faith shakes her head, "Just trust me, yeah?" she asks. Amanda doesn't hesitate.
"Okay." She says. Faith feels something in her gut pull at the blind trust the kid has in her. It feels something like pride.
"Giles." Angel answers his phone several hours later. Gunn fixes him with an amused look,
"Busy man." He says to himself as he leaves the office. Angel smiles and focuses back on what the former watcher is saying.
"We've decided we're going to rebuild the council, as you may have assumed." Giles began. "Our intentions are to run it completely different this time around; we want to help the Slayers, not control them." He says. Angel furrows his brow; what does this have to do with this phone call.
"Alright." He says slowly. Giles clears his throat.
"Right," he continues awkwardly. "Since I have no way of contacting her and I remember her taking in a Slayer on her own accord," he continues lightly. "I was wondering if you would extend an offer to Faith?" he asks. Angel sits back and frowns.
"What's the offer, Giles?" he asks his voice low.
"Well, we would like her to become one of our official watchers." He says awkwardly. Angel shakes his head even though Giles can't see it.
"I don't think she'd agree to that; you know her history with the council." He says softly.
"Quite right," Giles agrees. "I was…we all were actually, just hoping to have her alliance really."
"You can have that without making her a watcher." He argues.
"True," Giles doesn't even refute the point. "I merely wanted to extend the offer. If she continues to train Amanda, that's what she'll be essentially." He continues on. Angel scratches his cheek.
"Amanda!" Faith barks through the apartment. Amanda looks up from her bed and cringes; she felt like she was in trouble. She stands and peeks out of her door.
"Yes?" she calls hesitantly. Faith is pacing the living room.
"C'mere." She says. Amanda frowns in confusion but goes anyway.
Faith wasn't sure how she was feeling about the phone call with Angel. It seems like a good offer, but was it for her. She shakes her head when Amanda comes into the living room and points to the sofa.
"Have a seat kid, I wanna talk to ya about somethin'." She says. Amanda sits down and Faith relaxes. "Stop lookin' so afraid, you're not in any trouble." She says. Amanda blows out a breath and Faith feels something like amusement.
"Oh good." She says. Faith shakes her head and gets back to the task at hand.
"Anyway," she starts. "I just got a phone call from Fang. Had an interesting offer that affects both of us really." She says. Amanda perks up, interested.
"Well, what is it? Is he offering to take us to Disney world? Oh my god, he is, isn't he! That would be so cool!" she squeals. Faith blinks; where the hell did that come from?
"Um, no." she says quietly. Amanda deflates and pouts but Faith trucks on. "He said that Giles got in touch with him and pretty much offered me a job." Amanda pulls a face.
"What kind of job?" she asks. Faith notes a hint of bitterness but doesn't call her on it.
"A job as your official watcher." She says sitting across from her. Amanda blinks once, then twice and clears her throat.
"Aren't you…already?" she asks hesitantly. Faith nods. "So…what's the big deal?"
"I've got bad blood with the council, no hiding that." Faith says. "But it would be a good idea for you to have an actual watcher, kiddo." She reasons. Amanda frowns.
"Is there really a better watcher than someone who used to be a slayer?" she asks quietly. She notices Faith flinch when she says 'used to be' but Faith doesn't get angry. She just knew she didn't want anyone else trying to train her. Faith sucks in a breath and puffs her cheeks out, studying Amanda closely.