CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN:

Second Chances…

Sunnydale, California – November 17, 1999 – 0130 PST

Faith was pacing as she found her patience and nerves wearing thin. It had been nearly six months since the battle against the Mayor and the destruction of Sunnydale high school.

After the school had been blown up and the fires subsided, Faith and the others had walked through the ruins and debris, making sure that the Mayor was indeed dead and for the more upsetting task of looking for Michael's remains.

From the evidence, they pieced together that somehow Michael had used the staff to impale the Mayor's demon form to the ground to make sure that he wouldn't escape before the explosives went off.

Faith and the others looked for any sign of what had happened to Michael, but all they found was a burnt and damaged assault rifle and his combat knife. The consensus was that Michael was dead, but it wasn't voiced around Faith as she was still upset and refused to admit that he was dead without seeing a body.

Faith spent the next several days hold up at Buffy's—she had nowhere else to go. She spent that time crying and mourning for Michael. Buffy had been a pillar of strength and support, providing Faith a place to stay and a shoulder to cry on.

Faith was at a loss of what to do, she knew that she'd had something special and now it was cruelly taken away for her. It was at this lowest ebb in her life, when Willow received the voice recording, in her email, that Michael had left for her.

Faith listened to Michael's voice and his words over and over again. She heard him tell her how much he loved her, but that her place—her future was to be with the Michael that would arrive. She heard him provide the detailed instructions about where she could find the dimensional portal device, that he'd hidden and when and where his younger self would arrive in Sunnydale.

She cried, laughed and smiled while she listened to Michael's message, especially when he asked her to take it easy and be patient with his younger self as that person wasn't up to speed on relationships—especially the sex part.

Michael ended off his message by saying that in his universe, Spartans were never declared dead… They were always declared "Missing In Action". The saying went "Spartans never die…".

His message gave her a lot to think about and consider. She'd been given a second chance with her life and an opportunity. She now had to decide what she was going to do with that chance.

oOoOo

Using Michael's directions, Faith quickly located the dimensional portal controller and used it to go see Virgil. It had been a bittersweet reunion as Faith recalled the time that her and Michael had spent there. She could even tell that Virgil was upset about Michael, but he informed her that his sensors had detected some sort of activity or transport had occurred at the same time as the battle with the Mayor. From the sensor readings, it appeared that something or someone had gone through the hole in the temporal barrier—which was now sealed separating the two temporal universes. Virgil told her that there was no way to absolutely confirm that Michael had made it back, but Faith knew and believed deep in her soul that he had made it home and was alive.

After returning to Sunnydale, Faith had a lot of decisions to make about her life and what she was going to do. Buffy and Willow were enrolled to go to college in the fall and Faith realized that she just couldn't sit around doing nothing. She had to make amends for everything she'd done and going to clubs and partying didn't hold the same thrills as it once did—plus all the men she met were shallow and pale imitations when compared to Michael. She knew she had to get serious about her life and get back on the right track—her first decision was to ask Giles for help. She wanted to continue her Slayer training and wanted his help to work on becoming a better person.

Giles was at first hesitant, but he saw the desire in her eyes and he agreed to help on several conditions. First—she was to move in with him, so he could keep an eye on her and keep her out of trouble. The second condition was that Faith try and finish her education.

Somewhat wary and with some hesitation, Faith found herself trying to complete her GED under Giles's supervision and direction—with assistance from Willow and sometimes Buffy. It was hard and frustrating some days and she would question why she was putting herself through this. It was on those bad days she would replay Michael's message, especially the last part of his message…

"Enjoy your life Faith and live up to your potential… I always believed in you and will love you forever… Be happy."

Besides these new challenges, the Hellmouth was still around and there were the continual problems and threats of vampires and demons in Sunnydale. Faith worked with Buffy, Giles and the rest of the Scoobies to thwart and defeat those threats. Faith knew that there would be always newer and tougher enemies to face, but she had more confidence in facing down these threats and she knew that she wouldn't have to face them alone anymore.

oOoOo

These thoughts and many others flowed through Faith's mind and by reflex she reached for and patted the Spartan combat knife she carried with her now. It was her good luck charm now and Michael had owed her for breaking her knife.

It was getting late and her nervousness and worries only increased. She wasn't worried about any vampire or demon threat—this was more important.

He should be here soon…

For a moment she feared and doubted that maybe Michael had been wrong or that he had changed the time line. She also was worried about whether this Michael would be the same and if she could love him the same as his other self. That thought had haunted her these past months as she kept fidgeting and pacing. Faith took a deep breath to try and relax as she couldn't recall ever being this nervous.

Michael never lied to me… Whatever happens will happen, she thought trying to calm and reassure herself.

Any further thoughts were suddenly interrupted as a bright spherical light began to form off to her side. Her eyes widened in shock, surprise and in anticipation. The light got more intense and brighter, forcing her to look away and shield her eyes. Then suddenly as the light appeared, it faded and then was gone leaving only the darkness and the sounds of the night forest.

Faith turned back towards the direction of where the light had been. She had to blink and let her eyes get readjusted back to the darkness. It didn't take long for her to make out a figure standing where the light had been. She could only stare, feeling some disbelief, at the Spartan standing there—it was the exact image of Michael.

For a moment Faith found herself hesitant and even afraid—she thought that this was a dream. It took a moment for the reality to sink in as she realized the rare and precious gift she'd been given—a second chance.

Faith made a move towards the Spartan—this Michael. She was prepared, so she wasn't surprised as the Spartan turned in a flash towards her with his assault rifle up and pointing towards her. She wasn't worried as she saw the Spartan lower the weapon and look at her, tilting his head as if studying her and trying to recall where he'd seen her before.

She knew from the other Michael that he'd had dreams of her before he arrived here. She also knew that the other Michael had left a message for this Michael. She looked at him as he studied her. It was at that moment a little voice in the back of her mind told her that everything would work out as it was meant to be.

Faith was going to break the ice, but at that moment she found she didn't know what to say. There was a brief moment of panic, but then the memories of the past and the thoughts of what could and would be, came to her. She smiled at this Spartan—this Michael—as the words suddenly came easily to her.

"Hi… My name is Faith… I'm here to help you… I've been waiting for you…"