The Dawning of Faith

Chapter 13

"The Dawn", thought Faith. "Let's go home," she said briskly, "Buff will want to hear how you did. Faith threw her arm around Dawn's shoulders and the pair stepped happily between the tombstones, for the moment, they were content.

"How was the club?" Dawn asked Buffy when she entered the kitchen with Faith.

"Nice, but crowded. I think I'll go back on Wednesday, should be less people, and it's open mike night. Willow and I are going to make Giles go, let's try and get as many of the girls there as we can, but don't tip them off, okay?"

"Works for me," agreed Faith, "Wednesday is gonna be a night to remember."

"You two been out?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah, Dawn and I dealt with the new arrival at Shady Rest, or Dawn did. Little sister has a gift, Buff," Faith told her.

"I already knew that, details?"

"Great technique, great discipline, damn near Slayer speed. She handles that thing like she was born with it in her hand."

"Fair enough," Buffy granted, "but was there anything surprising?" Buffy smiled proudly at Dawn, and Dawn felt a glow in her chest.

"Only that her scythe is even better than we'd hoped. It's straight-up the shit for vampires. Nothing bigger showed up though. And to give her credit, Dawn is better than a lot of the girls. She's quicker, and she uses her head," Faith told her.

"That's my girl," Buffy said proudly.

"My girl," thought Faith, "your sister. Or that's how it would be if I had the guts. Damn."

"Ice Cream?" asked Buffy. "I got Chunky Monkey."

"Works for me," Faith answered.

"Me too," agreed Dawn…

"Death's a bitch, then you're dust?" howled Buffy as tears streamed down her face. "Oh, God I wish I'd been there."

"I swear, the dude really felt mistreated," Faith reported as she too wiped her eyes. "I haven't had that much fun in a graveyard in a long time."

"I think I'll brew up some more Elixir of Fire, just in case," Dawn said as she rose from the table. "I'll get the dishes, you two kick back."

Dawn cleared the table and went to get potion ingredients.

"She's all grown up now," Buffy said wistfully, "doing the dishes without being told to. Making hangover remedy for the girls, training hard with you… Dawnie's turning out okay, isn't she?"

"She's more than okay, Buff. Dawn's pretty special, even in this crowd."

"Yeah, she is. This is great, Faith," Buffy said seriously. The three of us hanging out together, it should have always been like this. We're like three sisters."

"Not even close," thought Faith.

"It is great," Faith said aloud. "Meet anybody interesting at the club?"

"Nah, well, the waitress we had was cute," Buffy admitted.

"Chick name of Chastity?" asked Faith.

"Yeah, nice girl. Fun."

"You thinking of trying out for "Team Willow" Buff?" Faith asked with a grin.

"Why the hell not?" Buffy asked. "I never saw another couple as beautiful as Tara and Willow. I swear, if Willow hadn't immolated that Warren creep I'd dig him up and kill him again. Sorry-ass misogynist motherfucker…"

"All right B! To be fair though, there are some good guys out there. Robin was okay," Faith conceded.

"What went wrong there, anyway?" Buffy asked.

"Nothing really, we just weren't right for each other long-term. It was fun, more than fun, it was sweet. But in the end it wasn't enough for either of us, just another case of battle-passion, really. It wasn't like Willow and Tara. Or you and Angel…" Faith said softly.

"Angel … don't I just have the luck? God, he was beautiful."

"Sure was," agreed Faith, "hell of a man. He might come back, he's done it before."

"I don't think he will. I think he's earned his rest. Spike too, he came through when it counted. Actually, I've been pretty lucky in love, except for that prick, Parker. He was an asshat. Things just don't always work out like you want."

"Seems like," Faith agreed.

"Promise me something, Faith," Buffy said seriously.

"What?"

"If you ever think you've found it, I mean a love that could last, don't screw around. Grab it. I don't regret an instant of my time with Angel, no matter how bad it still hurts. Grab it. Grab it and don't let go, okay?" Buffy looked at Faith with eyes that were brimming with tears.

"I promise to try," Faith told her, "but love scares me, B. I never even believed in it until ... ."

"It scares all of us. But it's worth it," Buffy said as her eyes focused on infinity, "it's worth it."