The Path To Redemption
Chapter 9
Author: twin who likes to travel
Rating: R
Summary: The gang celebrates Dawn's birthday and finds out the current status of some relationships.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Reviews: I would like them.
Author's note: Satsu makes her brief appearance in this and the following chapter. She isn't exactly secretive about her feelings to a certain blonde. Ltlconf, thanks for another quick review. Even though it was unsigned, it's clear that it's from you. Most of your questions regarding the future couple will be answered within this and the next few chapters.
Around 9:00 AM; Cleveland, Ohio; United States
As the gang in Scotland was passing time until it was late enough to contact the team in Cleveland. Faith and Robin were fighting over the status of their relationship.
"What else can I say other than it's over, Robin?" Faith asked as she stormed into the kitchen.
"You can tell me why. I thought things were going great between us."
"They were. I mean we had a lot of fun getting to know each other, slaying vampires and other demons together, not to mention the post slayin' sex. But you just HAD to say those words. I mean really, who tells someone that after only a month?" Faith said and turned her head to look at Rona after hearing a groan, "Don't you start, Rona. I've seen the guys you've hooked up with and even heard you a few times."
"I thought he was showing you how not all guys are bad?" Rona questioned before scooping up another spoonful of cereal.
The other slayers decided to keep their mouths shut on the argument and kept eating their breakfast.
"He was."
"Then what's the problem?"
"He told me he loved me or was at least starting to when he woke up this morning."
"I agree that it's too early to hear that. But I think he means it. I mean the only times I hear it is when the guy wants sex."
"See, that's why my motto 'Get some, get gone.' still works."
"I'm sorry I said it so soon. Can't we just forget I said it and stay the way we are?"
"NO! You just can't say something like that and quickly take it back. And you can't expect the other person to just forget it. What did you want me to say? That I love you too. That someday we'll start makin' plans to get married, for me pop out a kid or two, and become a soccer mom while you continue following in your mom's footsteps?" Faith inquired sarcastically.
When Robin didn't say a word, Faith continued her rant.
"You were. Sorry to disappoint ya; but I ain't the motherin' type, not now…probably never."
"I would never ask you to give up slaying if you didn't want to, but someday I can see myself married to you. Just because you had a bad mother, it doesn't mean you will be one."
Robin realized instantly that he shouldn't have said that, which was obvious to everyone in the room due to the gasps from the other girls.
"DON'T YOU EVER SAY THAT AGAIN! I TOLD YOU TO NEVER MENTION HER!" Faith yelled after slapping him hard on his left cheek.
Another round of gasps was heard from the girls, including Faith. Everyone gawked at him as the slap was hard enough to turn his head to the right. For a few seconds, the girls weren't sure what he was going to do next. When he could only stare in shock, Faith quickly left the room and headed for the basement. She managed to hear part of what was said before closing the door.
"You should know better than that. I don't see Faith as the type to fall in love," Rona announced with a small smile.
"Are you joking?"
"Maybe a little," the slayer revealed with a small laugh.
"I think you're wrong. She can. She just needs to find the right guy," Robin argued.
"Maybe it's too early, or maybe you're not the right guy. Or possibly it's not a guy she'll end up with," the newbie slayer, Rebecca, claimed between bites of cereal.
"What are you saying; you think she's gay?" Robin challenged as they heard the door to the basement almost slam shut.
"Not gay, more like bisexual. I just got this feeling that she plays for both teams," Rebecca explained a few seconds later.
"I don't think you know what you're talking about," Robin insisted.
"What, you have gaydar detection in your blood or something?" Rona chuckled.
"Not really, I know from experience."
"You mean you're…"
"Bisexual?"
"Yeah."
"I am, and she didn't get mad when she caught me checking her out while she was training us."
Robin, Rona, and the other slayer, Christy, gaped at the confession.
"What? The girl has a cute face and a hot body. I'd love to see what sex would be like with her since you wouldn't tell me the first time I asked and she might brag a little."
While Faith attacked the punching bag downstairs, the girl with hair dyed pink and known as Christy, got up, put her bowl and silverware in the dishwasher, and walked to the bathroom. Robin went into the family room and turned on the TV. As Rona and Rebecca got up to do the same as Christy, they heard the phone ring.
"Hello?"
"Rona, It's Buffy. Are you all coming over for Dawn's birthday party? Will's going to teleport the gang with the help of a coven in Devon, England."
"I don't know about all of us. I think some are going to stay here."
"Oh," Buffy sighed.
"It's nothing personal, Buffy. It's just because Rebecca, Christy, and a few other slayers you've sent here thought that a few should be guarding the hellmouth. Plus, they really don't know Dawn that well."
"Well, that's what parties are for, right?"
"Yeah, but I think they're pretty sure they don't want to come. Maybe another time."
"What about you, Robin, and Faith? Dawn really wants you three over here. I think she misses you already."
"I will," Rona agreed with a smile, "But I'm not sure about Robin and Faith after what happened."
"Why, what's wrong?"
"Uh, I shouldn't have said anything. I'll let them explain when we get there. How soon do you want us there?"
"Well, it's about five hours earlier there, so be ready around 1:00 PM your time."
Downstairs in the basement, Faith was thinking to herself.
What the hell is wrong with me? For the first time, somebody probably means it when they tell me they love me, and I end it. Am I really incapable of falling in love?
This made her think back to the first time she arrived in Sunnydale many years ago. Buffy had stirred up feelings in her that no one else had been able to do. At least until she got tired of the superiority kick the short blonde seemed to be constantly on.
Four hours later, the Watcher's Council headquarters and slayer training school in Scotland.
Rona, Faith, and Robin arrived outside the castle and stood in awe at what they saw. After a door opened, they smirked at the sight of the entire Scooby gang, Giles, Vi, and some girls they hadn't met yet standing in the doorway or coming outside to get a better view of their visitors. After the trio hadn't made a move yet, Dawn came forward and stopped almost right in front of them. The anxious teenager said hi to each one of them before capturing them in a hug.
"Pretty cool, huh?" Dawn stated after stepping back a little.
"WOW!" Rona and Robin exclaimed.
"Definitely cool, but I was kinda expectin' a drawbridge and a moat," Faith announced and smirked at Dawn, "Oh, happy birthday, D."
"Thanks."
"Yeah, happy birthday," Robin and Rona chimed in.
The trio followed while the younger Summers made her way back inside. Faith hid that she felt Dawn had somehow gotten even hotter within a month. As Giles, the Scooby gang, and Vi either hugged or shook hands with them, they could sense the tension between the older two. This could mean only one thing in their minds. The two were no longer a couple. It made them sad that yet another relationship in their group couldn't survive. They chose not to say anything about it as they made the introductions.
"Faith, Robin, and Rona, we'd like to introduce you to a few new slayers. This is Kiera, Phoebe, Dianna, and Satsu. The rest are around here somewhere."
Faith smirked at how the new girls observed her with a combination of fear and awe.
"How many have you got here right now?" Rona quizzed
Buffy was trying to think of the right amount when Dawn answered, "Forty."
"Damn, B, that's more than back in Sunnydale. Where do you keep them all? I didn't think that many could fit in here even though it is kinda big."
"Well, we get a steady flow of girls in here. It seems like every week more come while others leave for other hotspots or home. They stay just long to learn how to control their powers. Then they go home. In fact, some are leaving tomorrow."
"They must be running you ragged," Robin guessed.
"Well, Vi has been helping me train them. And Kennedy had while her and Willow were living here," Buffy confirmed before appearing regretful that she brought up the brunette's name in front of her best friend.
"Where's Kennedy? I assumed she'd be attached at the hip with Red by now."
"Not here," the redhead snapped loud enough for them to hear before she stalked off.
"Whoa, trouble in lesbian paradise?"
"Not now, Faith," Buffy ordered sharply.
"Why, what happened?"
"They've been fighting off and on since leaving the United States," Dawn declared without a trace of sorrow, "In fact, they were fighting earlier today; that's why Kennedy's back in Brazil."
"I bet Red will find someone else soon," Faith assumed in what she hoped sounded sincere enough.
"So how about a tour?" Dawn offered casually.
"Cool," the three stated at the same time.
As the sisters led the tour with Satsu trailing beside them, the slayers caught how much attention was being paid toward their leader. Satsu would glance at her when she knew the blonde wasn't noticing. Since the last one had been at Buffy's butt, both Faith and Rona smirked. Dawn peeked over her shoulder at that very moment and caught Satsu ogling her sister. She sighed and looked further back at the other two girls. The trio shared an expression of comprehension at what was going on with the newbie. When the tour was over, they gathered in a room that was occupied by most of the newbies, the rest of the Scooby gang, and Giles. They saw multiple cakes and pizzas on the tables and a few large coolers filled with ice and various drinks, and a small stack of presents against a wall. Faith placed one down beside them and mentioned that it was from the three of them. Dawn smiled as she was directed to the table where the cake with lit candles sat. They sang to the happy teenager before Dawn did a search of the room that ended with her eyes briefly on Faith. She smiled at the brunette before blowing out her candles. The smile had caused every Scooby and Faith to arch an eyebrow at her.
After everyone had filled their stomachs on pizza and cake, they dumped all of the trash into three big trash cans. They watched as the birthday girl eagerly opened each present, saving the present Faith had set down for last. She smiled as it turned out to be a leather jacket similar to the one Faith had worn a few times. Dawn thanked everyone. A lot of the slayers left to go back to their rooms or to the training rooms after being introduced as well. The gang got caught up on what had been happening in their lives. They all learned that Willow and Kennedy were on the verge of breaking up, that Robin and Faith had, where the sisters were going on vacation before Dawn finished her education, and that Dawn was contemplating on what to do after that. She had thought about becoming a Watcher or more into actually fighting demons from the training she had gotten from Buffy and a few other slayers. However, the details of Willow's eventual breakup were more shared than Faith and Robin's. As they were trying to think of another topic, Willow received a phone call from her girlfriend.
"What do you want, Kennedy? I thought we decided to take a break from fighting and us for one night? YOU DID WHAT? How could you? I don't care about either of that. We take a break from fighting and each other for a night and you do that? No, I never thought about that. You know what? It's over. We're through. I expect you gone when I get back. GOODBYE, BITCH!"
Everyone around Willow gasped loudly. They had never heard the redhead shout that loud or heard her use that word that often.
"What happened, Will?" Buffy asked carefully since she saw how angry her best friend was.
"Kennedy got drunk and cheated on me with some slut."
"Damn, Red, you really have bad luck in the love department, don't ya?" Faith sort of chuckled, "Maybe you should try my motto for awhile."
"SHUT UP, FAITH! YOU'LL NEVER FALL IN LOVE, SO YOU'LL NEVER UNDERSTAND HOW I FEEL RIGHT NOW!"
"I was just kiddin'. I thought it might help to calm ya down."
"How's making a joke about my love life supposed to calm me down? From now on, keep your mouth shut about stuff like this."
"No problem," Faith assured as Dawn briefly arched her eyebrow while the rest didn't do anything or just sighed.
They all watched as the redhead marched away from them and out of the room, with Buffy glaring at Faith before chasing after her best friend. Faith then decided to kick the party up a notch by turning on some music and dancing. She had only danced for about two or three minutes when Buffy and Willow returned. They all noticed that in the extremely short period of time, the redhead's attitude had done an almost one eighty. When a second song began to play, the rest of them almost immediately joined in. With help from Willow, Buffy held back at seeing Faith and Dawn dancing together almost as provocatively as she had done with her former enemy. It got more interesting as Satsu asked Buffy to dance with her and Buffy agreed. The two danced almost as close as Faith and Dawn had. When they discovered how late it was, they ended the party. They offered to let the three crash there instead of being teleported back to Cleveland. Faith had an idea of her own though. She was able to convince Buffy to send a different slayer back with Rona and Robin. She'd stay in Scotland and help train the other slayers while Buffy went on her vacation. It had originally shocked the Scoobies that Faith gave up the job of guarding a hellmouth. But after seeing the slightly cool interaction between the former couple that night, they went along with the decision. The yawn Dawn had let out encouraged Faith to offer to help her to bed. Dawn accepted quickly, but not without a warning from Buffy.