Detroit.

How in the hell did she end up in Detroit?  Would you like to come back to Italy with us?  B had asked.  That’s what Faith had agreed to.  Villas and sunshine and men and wine and pasta…

Somewhere between the cheap hotel and the pasta, the plan had changed.  In the time it took Faith to pack up all six possessions and meet the gang out front, the trip to Italy had turned into a flight to Detroit.

“Um, Giles called,” Buffy had said.  “There’s been a small change in plans.”

“What kind of change?” Faith had asked.

“In location.”

“You know what they say,” Xander said, while loading their bags into the car.  “Location.  Location.  Location.”

“It won’t be that bad,” Willow added.

“Would someone mind telling me what the hell you three are talking about?” Faith demanded.

Buffy wound up being that someone.  “We’re not going to Italy.  We’re going to Detroit.”

“Detroit?  What the hell is in Detroit?”

“Another hellmouth.”

“There’s a hellmouth in Cleveland and Detroit?” Faith asked, confused.

“No. There isn’t a hellmouth in Cleveland.  It’s in Detroit.”

“Giles said it was in Cleveland.”

“He wasn’t serious,” Buffy said, laughing nervously, “he was actually joking with us.”

And here we are, Faith thought as they landed at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport.  “Fucking Detroit.”

“You say something?” Xander asked.

Faith turned and looked at him, shaking her head.  “I didn’t say nothing.”

“That’s funny, because I thought I heard you say ‘Fucking Detroit’.”

Faith smiled.  “You’re a shithead.”

“Not the best thing I’ve been called, but hey, not the worst either,” he said, smiling.  “Is that snow?” Xander asked, pointing out the window. 

Faith sighed.  “I hate snow.”

“Contain yourself,” Xander said.  “All your enthusiasm is contagious.”

“Just you wait,” she said, standing.  “Ten minutes in this shit and you’re going to be crying like a baby cause your ass is frozen.”

Xander stood, reaching into the overhead compartment.  “I’ve seen snow before…from a sleeping bag in my backyard and it was Christmas, so it wasn’t all bad,” he said, handing Faith her bag.

"Winter sucks.  Going days on end without sunlight and on the days when the sun actually shines, it's too fucking cold to even go outside.  Not being able to get warm, wet and soggy feet…  If your favorite color is gray, then this is the place for you,” Faith said, working her way into the aisle. 

“Sounds like a vampire’s playground,” he said, catching up to her.

“And another hellmouth,” Faith said, trying to edge her way by a couple who had stopped to argue over carry-on luggage.  “Could you move your asses, please?” she said as she pushed her way by them.

“Someone’s cranky,” Buffy said as she and Willow caught up.

“Faith doesn’t like snow,” Xander informed her.

“Can’t say I blame her,” Willow agreed.  “I think I’m already cold and all I did was look at it.”

“Ahh, come on guys.  Try to think positive,” Xander said.

Faith finally made her way to the gangway, the rest following closely behind her.

“Okay, B.  What’s positive about being in Detroit in the winter?”

“Well there’s Motown,” she said too brightly.

“That’ll be interesting for about a minute and a half,” Faith shot back.

“I heard they have markets, like outside,” Willow added.

“Markets in the dead of winter?  Oooh, look at me getting all excited,” Faith said.

“What is your problem?” Buffy asked.  “What’s with all the cranky?”

Faith sighed, for what felt like the thousandth time since leaving California.  Stopping, she turned and looked at her.  “Sorry, B.  Just… I don’t know.  Too far east or somethin’.”

“It’s not Boston, Faith” Buffy said.  “It’s Detroit.  It’s another hellmouth.  It’s where we need to be right now.  And you’re not alone.”

Faith smiled.  “Look at you being all cheerleady.  Thought you were ready to give that shit up.”

“Not give it up.  I’m sharing.  Remember the sharing?” she added, smiling.

“I’m just glad we don’t have to go get our luggage,” Willow said.  “That conveyer belt scares me.  All those identical suitcases going around and around, just begging me to grab the wrong one.  And just think about what would happen if someone accidentally got my newt feet!”

“Someone would have some ‘splaining to do,” Xander said, smirking.

“And I’d have guilt.  And no newt’s feet!” she added, frowning.

As Faith watched, Buffy stopped up short, scanning the airport.  Willow and Xander were so immersed in their newt’s feet conversation, they both almost walked into her.

“What?” Xander asked, stopping suddenly.

“What is it, B?

“Giles said someone would be here to meet us.  Said I would know when I saw them.  I’m not seeing anyone I know.”

“Are we in the right spot?” Willow asked.

“Yep.  Said to wait at the rent-a-car place just outside the gate,” Buffy replied.

“Maybe someone has one of those signs.  One like I made for Willow, you know the yellow crayon one,” Xander suggested.

“And what would it say?” Faith asked.  “Detroit’s Hellmouth - Slayers Over Here, and not like you could read it if it’s in yellow crayon.  How dumb is that?”

“Okay, signs, bad idea.”

Faith glanced around quickly, seeing if she could spot whoever was picking them up.  She shifted her bag on her arm, pissed off because it kept sliding down her shoulder.  Once she had it secured, she looked up and began scanning the crowd again.  Realization dawned as her eyes focused on someone familiar.  “No way,” she said.

“What?” Buffy asked following Faith’s gaze.

“Giles!” Buffy exclaimed, running to him and giving him a big hug.  “I didn’t know it was going to be you.  I was expecting…  Actually, I don’t know what I was expecting.”

“Buffy,” Giles said as he hugged her back.  “I decided it was the least I could do, considering your little detour and all.”

“Giles!” Willow said, rushing and joining in on the hug, dropping her bag in the process.

“Oh, my” Giles said.  “Yes, hello, Willow.”

Faith knew Xander was looking at her.  “What?” she asked, giving him a sideways glance.

“Not joining in?”

“Nope.  Part of the deal.”

“What deal?” Xander asked.

“The coming with deal.  No hugging,” Faith said matter-of-factly, letting her bag fall to the floor and crossing her arms in front of her.  “Nothing’s stopping you, though.”  She nodded towards Giles, Buffy, and Willow.

Xander glanced at the others.  “Nah, I’ll let the girls have their Giles moment.”

“You are all looking remarkably well,” Giles said as both Buffy and Willow finally let him go.  “Especially considering the ordeal you have been through.”

“Gotta love the slayer healing,” Faith said, as Giles, Buffy, and Willow joined her and Xander.

“We most definitely do,” Giles said, smiling.

“And being locked in a cave during the big fight thing,” Xander added.  “That helps a lot too.”

Giles shook his head, obviously enjoying every moment with them.  “So the hellmouth is closed and The Master is gone once and for all?”

“Pretty much how we left it,” Buffy said.  “Now if it actually stays that way…”

“You should be asking Willow about that one,” Faith added.

“I closed it back up,” Willow said, proudly.  “Didn’t have much to work with, but I think we won’t need to worry about Sunnydale anymore.”

“Buffy told me what you did.  Exemplary work.  You should be proud,” Giles said.

Faith watched as Willow turned all different shades of red.  “We’re all proud of her,” Faith said.  “Willow being 'Da Witch' and all.”

“Yep, our little Willow is all grown up,” Xander added, wiping an imaginary tear away from his good eye.

“And Spike?” Giles asked cautiously.  “No word on why he came back?”

Faith wasn’t about to answer; she frankly wasn’t in the mood to get into the whole thing again.  Thankfully, Buffy began to speak. 

“Nope.  Talked to him a little bit about it and they’re at a loss.  Like everything else, I’m sure they’ll find out one day.  But I guess they have their own thing going on, so finding out why he’s back isn’t on top of Angel’s To Do list, or Spike’s for that matter.”

“Very good then.  And your trip here was uneventful?” he asked.

“Does Faith bitching the entire way constitute being uneventful?” Xander asked.

“Back off, Sinbad,” Faith snapped.

“Sinbad?  Sinbad wasn’t even a pirate and he didn’t wear a patch,” Xander replied.

“You still got the point, didn’t you?” Faith asked, slinging her bag over her shoulder.  “We gonna stand here all day or can we leave?”

Faith expected Giles to give the nod; instead, he took off his glasses, as if inspecting them for a smudge.  Xander voiced her very thoughts.

“That can’t be good.”

“What is it, Giles?” Buffy asked, her excitement turning to concern.

“Detour might not be the accurate term.”

“And the accurate term would be…?” Xander prodded.

Giles smiled, anxiously.  “Welcome home.”

“Home?” they all said in unison.

“Yes.  I’m afraid so.”

“What’s going on?” Xander asked.

Giles glanced around quickly, as if suddenly noticing all the people milling about.  “I'll explain further when we have a little more privacy.  Shall we?”

“Finally!” Faith exclaimed.

They made their way through the airport in silence, emerging in the parking garage where Giles had left the van.  Buffy jumped in the front seat, Willow and Xander sat behind them, and Faith climbed into the back by herself.

Once Giles maneuvered his way out of the airport traffic, he began.  “Detroit, as you now know, is on a hellmouth.  Ever since the Sunnydale Hellmouth was closed last summer, the Detroit Hellmouth has steadily grown more active.  In addition, there is a potential, or more accurately, a new slayer here.  She’s been fending for herself since she was activated.  If the truth were to be told, she is somewhat shy, tends toward the meek side, and needs training.  Frankly, I’m surprised she has lasted this long.  So instead of removing her from the hellmouth and bringing her to Italy, I thought it would be a better idea to bring Italy to her.”

“So welcome home,” Faith mumbled from the back of the van, staring out the window and watching the snow blur into shades of gray that went speeding by.  “I hate snow.”

“What was that, Faith?” Giles asked, glancing in the rearview mirror.

“Faith’s not happy,” Xander said.  “She hates snow and cold and Detroit, for that matter.”

“I can talk for myself,” Faith interjected.  “I hate snow and the cold and Detroit, for that matter.”

“They sat together on the plane,” Willow said.  “I think they may have bonded.”

“We’ve bonded before,” Faith said wryly.  “And that ain’t it.”

Giles cleared his throat.  “If I may return to the topic, I have rented a flat for us.  Emma will be joining us there.”

“Emma?” Buffy asked.  “Is that the slayer you were talking about?”

“Yes, she is.  She’s expecting us.  Not tonight, due to the time, but she will come over in the early afternoon.  I wanted to take the jet lag into consideration,” he said.

“Oh yeah, jet lag.  Forgot about that useful bit of information.”  Faith snorted.  “On California time.  Might as well get some slaying in when we get home,” she said.  “I’ve been on my ass long enough for one day.”

“I would probably hold off on that,” Buffy said.  “We don’t know the area all that well.  We should wait for Emma.  Right Giles?  She’s patrolled before.  She’ll be able to help?”

“Yes, Buffy.  I would assume so.  Emma is ready to give us an overview, including where she’s found the most demon activity.  The downtown area seems to be very popular among them from what she’s told me.”  He turned down a residential street, pulling into a driveway.  “Here we are.”

Faith looked out the window and took in her surroundings.  The house Giles had rented didn’t look like all that much from the outside; two-story colonial, dark colors from what she could tell, porch, tall wooden gate separating the front of the house from the backyard.  She wondered briefly if there was a pool.  Where did that come from?  Oh yeah, she hated winter, that’s where it had come from.

She glanced up and down the street as she made her way from the van, not surprised that it looked like any number of streets that she had been on in her short life.  There was a big maple tree just off the curb; shady in the summer, looking dead and abandoned in the winter.  Faith pulled her jacket tighter around her neck.

Yep, winter and she didn’t miss it.  Not one bit.

XXXXX

Giles gave them a tour of the house.  When he pointed out her room, Faith took the opportunity and ditched the others.  She tossed her bag on the bed and her jacket on a chair.  She wandered over to the window and looked out, not seeing much of anything.

She knew she had been in a snippy mood since finding out about the change in plans.  She just couldn’t help it.  Her life had changed so much in such a short period of time; sometimes she feared she didn’t know which way was up anymore.  Add being closer to Boston then she had been in awhile…well, it felt a little too much like going back home.  And that didn’t sit well with her at all.

Faith turned from the window and scanned the room; there wasn’t much to it, a bed with a nightstand next to it, a dresser, and a chair.  So much for watching TV to help her sleep.  There was a clock radio on the nightstand.  Music would work, and then she noticed the time.  Midnight.  Nine o’clock in her old life.  She briefly wondered what Spike was doing. 

Faith rushed to her bag, tossing clothes out of the way and found it.  The cell phone.  She hadn’t lost it; she still had a tie to them, to him, if she needed it.  If the cold got to her and she needed to leave.  Or if Detroit began feeling a little too much like home, and not in a good way.

But L.A.?  Faith wasn’t stupid, that would be a little too much too soon at this point, for both of them.

There was a knock at the door.

“Yo,” she said, not bothering to open it.

“Can I come in?”  It was B.

“Come,” Faith said, shoving the phone back into her bag, suddenly curious why she felt the need to hide it.

“Hey,” Buffy said, closing the door behind her.  “How you doing?”

“Five by five,” Faith said, smiling weakly.

Buffy returned her smile.  “Know better now, Faith.  What’s going on with you?”

Faith plopped on the bed and Buffy sat down next to her.  “Don’t know, B.  Just is.”

“What just is?” she asked.

“If I knew what it was, I could fix it, now couldn’t I?”

“Is it Spike?”

“We’ve been through this.  It’s over and done with, you know?”

“Doesn’t mean you can’t miss him.”

Faith looked at her.  “I could say the same about you.”

Buffy smiled.  “You could.  But I’m good.  I’m kind of glad we’re staying in the States.”  She crinkled her eyebrows.  “Although not so happy with the white stuff.  And honestly?  I never really liked Italy all that much.”

“Wait a minute.  You told me that Italy was all homey to you now.”

“I lied.”

“You lied?  I just keep finding out all sorts of interesting stuff about you, don’t I?”

Buffy said teasingly.  “How boring would it be if you didn’t?  Besides, Giles said that the rest of them would be coming shortly, after we get set up.”

“The rest of them?”  Faith asked.

Buffy frowned.  “I’m not really sure.  More slayers, I would assume.  Not sure if he’s bringing some back from Italy or leaving them there.  He really didn’t say.”

“What about the munchkin?” Faith asked.

Buffy smiled.  “Dawnie too, but not for a while yet.  I want her to finish out her semester.  She won't be too happy with that, but then she'll chill and realize that this time she gets to come and stay.”

“B gets some alone time away from the little sis and there’s no immediate big bad to fight.  What are you going to do with all your free time?” Faith asked teasingly.

Buffy laughed.  “I’m thinking sleep would be good.  Shopping works.  Soaking in a hot tub.  There’s got to be a mall around here.”  Buffy perked up.  “And Motown.”

“What is it with you and that place?”

“Actually… nothing.  She sighed.  “Heard a deejay talk about it once when I was listening to the radio.”

“So you pretty much pulled it outta your ass?”

“Pretty much,” she said with a slight smile.

“B, you’re too much sometimes,” Faith said, laughing.  Faith watched as Buffy’s face turned serious.  “God, what now?  Should’ve known you weren’t here to be all chatty.”

Buffy raised her hands in an it’s nothing gesture.  “I can be chatty without it being the end of the world.  I just wanted to let you know that I called Angel to let him know where we were and to make sure that Spike made it back okay.”

“What?” she demanded.  Panic?  Was that what that feeling was? 

“He’s fine.  He made it back.  Didn’t tell Angel much, well about the hellmouth and The Master and us going back to Italy.  Guess he didn’t mention any of this,” she finished, motioning to both of them.  “Doesn’t surprise me.”

“Being that 'love’s bitch' thing?” Faith asked.

“Pretty much.”

“Man, Angel could really beat him up good with that one,” Faith said.

“What?  Us?” Buffy asked.

“Exactly.”

Buffy was thoughtful for a moment.  “I don’t think he will.  Can’t say why.  Just a feeling.  But I think Angel will let Spike tend to his wounds for a little while at least.  Spike’s safe and he knows we’re safe.  Everyone’s safe.  And tonight, that’s how I’m going to think.  That way I can get at least one good night’s sleep,” she said, standing.  “Well, until we find out what’s going on when Emma gets here tomorrow.”  Buffy turned to go.  “You should probably do the same thing.”

Faith smiled.  “Yes, Mom.”

Buffy shook her head and closed the door behind her.

Part 2
Changes Main Page