Title: Family Matters
Author: Sweetdoggie (stirling_summer@yahoo.com)
Disclaimer: No permission has been granted to use the characters. They are owned by their creator, Joss Whedon, Twentieth Century Fox, UPN, WB, and Mutant Enemy. This story is non-profit and is intended solely as entertainment. No copyright infringement is intended.
The ride to LA was done in silence. Nobody exactly knew what they were going to say to the dark Slayer. When Buffy brought the baby along, Dawn insisted that she wanted to come too. Maybe it would do Faith good to see a couple of the reasons Buffy was quitting the Slaying game.
They pulled into the prison parking lot and went through a tight set of security procedures. Since it was common knowledge that Faith would be released soon, the prison authority had authorized the group to be in actual physical contact with her instead of the regular visit behind security glass.
They sat around in a small, heavily monitored room and waited while the guards brought Faith in. They all looked up when the door opened and the other Slayer walked in. Her hands and feet were shackled, but she had adequate freedom of movement if she moved slowly.
“Wow. I wasn't really expecting to see, well, everybody.”
Buffy stepped forward. “I wanted to see you before we left. I got your letter and, well, I just wanted to see you.”
Faith shuffled forward and collapsed into a chair. “I know I don't have the right to ask for another chance from any of you so I won't. I just want you to know that I'm sorry. I was sort of crazed and I know that's not much of an excuse, but I'm sorry.”
Buffy reached out and took her hand, pulling up a chair next to the other girl. “I want to believe that, Faith. Life has played some real tricks on all of us here. You heard about my mom and dad dying? You know I'm raising Dawn and James. I'd like you to look at them really closely and remember that is what we are fighting for. It's a chance for our kids and well, everybody's kids to live in a better world.”
Dawn came forward and hugged the stunned prisoner. She kissed her on the cheek. “I forgive you, Faith. I want you to do better. I know you can.” She stepped back again.
Willow stepped forward. “I've been thinking about this all night, Faith. I was bone jealous of you when you first came to town. I could have been friendlier and that's my fault. I can't give it to you now, but I've left a protection amulet with Wesley for you for when you get out. It should keep you safe from bad magics. I, its the least I can do.”
“Thanks, Willow.” Faith wiped her eyes on her shirt sleeve. “I wasn't expecting anything like that. I'll treasure it.”
Xander's turn was next. He shuffled forward awkwardly. “I want you to be well, Faith. I want you to be happy. I guess, in the immortal words of Mr. Spock. 'Live long and prosper.' Take care of yourself.”
“Thanks, Xander. I will try.”
He patted her on the shoulder and stepped back. Giles was next. He held the baby in his arms. “This is James, our son.”
Faith looked at the baby curiously. “He's pretty small, isn't he?”
“He's not very old,” Giles explained gently. “Faith, I want to tell you that I'm sorry too. I should have taken more time with you, but I was angry that the Council had fired me, angry that they had tried to separate me from Buffy. I should have thought of you and actually been a better Watcher for you. Can you forgive me for being so afraid that I couldn't be there for you?”
Faith was stunned. Giles had apologized to her and she couldn't believe it. She had always felt so jealous that he was Buffy's, first, last and always. It wasn't that she wanted that sort of a relationship with him herself, just that she was sick with envy that Buffy, the beautiful, good, beloved Slayer had everything and that she Faith, had always taken a back seat. “You have nothing to feel sorry for, Giles. You tried to help me out. I always understood that Buffy was your first priority. It was my own insecurities that made things fall apart, not anything you did or failed to do.”
“I understand that, Faith. But some of those insecurities might not have been so strong had I been able to overlook my personal grievances with the Council. You came to us a child,” he held his hand up to stop her automatic protest. “You were a child, hurt and tough, but still so very young. I've been in that place, Faith. I should have remembered how it felt.” He handed the baby to Dawn and knelt down to take Faith's hand. “I forgive you for your mistakes, Faith. I have the utmost confidence that you shall not repeat them. I want you to know that I, or any of us, for that matter, are only a phone call away. If you need help, please do not hesitate to call on us. I've left a phone number with Wesley where we can be reached in England. I suppose I just want to say good luck. Take care and please write us.” He leaned forward and dropped a kiss on her forehead.
Faith was stunned. Of all the things she had thought might come from her letter, this had never been one of them. She expected hatred and cold silence, and instead, she had received this outpouring of warmth. It was something that she would carry with her to her grave. She suddenly threw herself forward and Giles held her, stroking her back comfortingly while she wept.
“I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I won't mess up again, I promise. I promise.”
He tipped her chin up. “We know you won't, dear.”
They would have stayed and talked with her, but the guard came in telling them that their time was up. Faith stood and hugged Buffy, kissed the baby, and waved at the rest of them. “Thanks, you guys. You're the best family a girl could have.”
They filed out of the prison as tired as if they had been up for three days fighting vampires. They knew they had one more stop to make in LA and Giles drove them to the Hyperion Hotel. Wesley let them in. He looked at the baby. “A fine boy, Rupert.”
Giles nodded. The two Watchers went off to a back room to chat. Angel came forward almost reluctantly. “He is a fine boy, Buffy. I'm sorry about your dad.”
She nodded. “I'm sorry about Cordelia.”
They sat and looked at each other while Xander nudged Willow. “Nothing at all awkward about this, is there?” Dawn rolled her eyes and pulled a paperback out of her pack. If she was going to have to sit around, she didn't need to be bored too.
“How do you like being married to Giles?” Angel asked finally.
“It's great. He's a very good man,” Buffy answered.
“That's good.” The vampire studied the floor for a while. “How was Faith?”
“Better, I think. I hope she can handle it.”
“I'll keep an eye on her. Been thinking about leaving LA, anyhow.”
“That's good. I mean, that you'll keep an eye on her, not that you're going to leave LA.” Buffy babbled.
The vampire smiled. “I want you to be well and happy. I'm so glad you're leaving the Hellmouth.”
She smiled. “Yeah, me too. Who'd have thought it, after all these years?”
Xander stepped forward. “Is there someplace close by where we can get some food?”
Angel looked up. “Um, yeah. There's a Chinese place just down the street. Cordelia used to eat there a lot.”
Xander nodded, collected Willow and Dawn and left the two former lovers alone.
“I've missed you.”
“Angel...”
“I'm not expecting you to reciprocate, Buffy. You've built a new life and that's how it should be. It's just, well, I've missed you.”
She smiled softly. “I've missed you too, Angel. What we shared was precious and I won't forget it. Not ever.”
“You love Giles now. “I do. It doesn't mean I don't love you, too. I'm just...not in love with you anymore.”
“I know. It's all right.”
Buffy sighed. She didn't want to hurt him but that's what happened when they were alone. They spent their time hurting each other, not on purpose, but because the universe was geared that way. “Tell me about Cordelia.”
They spoke for half-an-hour till the others got back with food. Giles and Wesley came out of the office and joined them for the meal. They stayed for another hour before Giles finally said that they needed to be on their way.
Angel could only walk with them as far as the lobby because of the sun and he watched Buffy walk out of his life from the gloom of an interior door frame.
Everybody piled into the car with relief. “I'm glad that's over,” Xander remarked.
Not surprisingly, they all agreed with him. “It's been a rough day,” Dawn said with a yawn. “Faith, then Angel; two downers in a row.”
Giles cast a glance over at Buffy. “It went better than I was expecting. Angel wishes us well.”
“There's a lot of water under that bridge, Giles. He'll always have a place in my heart, but he isn't the man I love anymore.”
“I can live with that,” he told her with a smile.
END