No way in hell Faith was going to be the last one up again.  Her internal alarm knew how serious she was, because she woke up at exactly 4:53 am with the remnants of a dream she couldn’t quite recall drifting away.

She grabbed a set of clean clothes and made her way to the big ole flowery bathroom with matching curtains, beating Buffy to it. 

“God,” she said, turning on the light.  “This is worse than the kitchen.”  Everywhere she looked was blue; blue toilet, blue sink, blue bathtub, blue rugs.  What was it with this woman and her decorating obsession?

Faith showered quickly, dried off with a blue towel, and threw on her clothes, which thankfully, were not blue.  Satisfied with her appearance, she quietly went downstairs, coffee sounding even better this early in the day.

“Faith.”

“Shit,” she said, taking a step back.  “Do you ever sleep?”

Giles smiled as he took another sip of coffee.  “Contrary to popular belief, I have been known to do just that, on occasion.”

“I’d like to know when,” she mumbled, reaching for a cup and pouring some coffee.

“The question remaining would be why are you up so early?”

Seemed like an easy enough question to answer, so why wasn’t it?  Faith didn’t want to be the last one up again because…? 

She hadn’t consciously thought about the why.  Well, she knew she didn’t want Giles thinking she was a slacker.  Plus, the way everyone had looked at her yesterday, she might as well have walked into the kitchen naked…not that being naked is all bad, in the right circumstances.

Those reasons and others flashed through Faith’s head. 

Deep down, Faith knew what it really was, what it all boiled down to.  She wanted Giles to be proud of her.  Wanted him to know that she was serious about this now and she had to prove it to him. 

Of course, what came out her mouth was entirely different.  “Couldn’t sleep,” she said, shrugging and plopping down in a Tweety Bird covered chair.

Faith watched as Giles smiled an alarmingly all-knowing smile.  It ticked her off for some reason.

“I see,” he finally said.

“I couldn’t sleep,” she repeated.  Faith figured it was a good time for a change of subject.  “Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”

“Yes?”

“Okay, I was thinking, we have all these potentials all over the world.  From what I can figure, they’re all different ages.  Like a little girl to an old lady, right?  So a potential wasn’t called, let’s say in the fifties or something.  Isn’t there a chance there’s a seventy year old slayer out there someplace?”

Shock wouldn’t describe the expression on Giles’ face.

“What on earth made you think that?” he asked.

Faith shrugged.  “Willow’s supposedly tapped into all these new slayers, just started me thinking.  What if she tapped into some grandma who’s wondering why she can hold her grandkids a little longer then she used to?  Or better yet, some grandma that has this huge grandkid that always wants to be picked up, but she wasn’t strong enough to do it and now she’s like heaving him all over the place.”

Giles thought for a moment.  “I cannot be sure of the exact age, but after a certain period of time, it’s believed that the potential status expires.  There were rumors floating around the Council for years about what the actual age was, but it was never officially confirmed, at least to me.”

“What about the girls that had Watchers?  I know some did and some didn’t.  What about the ones that had Watchers and never got called?”

“They would no longer continue the Watcher/Slayer relationship that had been established in the Potential’s youth.”

“That would be kind of a bummer,” Faith said.  “Like waiting for Christmas for days, and on Christmas morning someone saying, ‘Never mind, we’re not doing Christmas anymore.’”

“During a Potential’s training it is established that she can be called at any time.  It is also reinforced that she may not be called at all.  So you can probably rest easily, Faith.  We most likely do not have a supercharged grandmother out there anywhere,” Giles said, smiling.

“What’s with all the noise?”

Faith was surprised to see Emma coming in from the living room, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and stretching.

“I thought you went home,” Faith said.

“Mr. Giles said it was too late and I could sleep on the couch if I wanted to.  And I wanted to.”

“Whatever works for you,” Faith said, turning her attention to Giles.  “There’s got to be a 24 hour place around here.  Why don’t we go and get stuff for breakfast?  Bagels with all sorts of cream cheese and some real coffee.”

Faith wasn’t sure, but it sounded like Giles might be choking on his tea.  “What?” she asked, shrugging.  “Not like we’ll be missed or anything.  Besides, I still have some cash.  I’ll even buy.”

“I’ll come with you and I can even drive,” Emma said, sounding more than fully awake all of a sudden.

“Well, you two can go and I’ll wait for the others.  We do need to go,” Giles sighed heavily, “to the mall today.”

“It’s going to be a good day,” Faith said.  “Come on Pipsqueak, let’s go get some decent food.”

XXXXX

They were going to the mall.

Faith made sure she had extra cash, just in case, before heading back downstairs.  She found everyone was already out of the house and loading into the van.  Giles was waiting for her in the living room.

“Your car’s here,” he said.
 
“It is?” she asked, surprised.

“They must have delivered it sometime during breakfast,” Giles said, reaching into his pocket and handing Faith her keys.  “I found these in the mailbox,” he said, a small smile appearing his lips.

“The box on the porch.”  She slowly returned his smile.  Faith snatched the keys, holding them up and said, “Can I check it out before we take off?”

“By all means,” Giles said, walking to the front door and opening it for her.

Faith couldn’t have been happier.  Full tank of gas, sparkling clean, and everything was where she left it.  Too bad it was family day out, she thought.  The weather was pretty mild and she was more then ready to go out on her own.

She grabbed her weapons and extra cash, not wanting to chance putting it back where she found it.  Faith took it with her and climbed into the van where everyone else was waiting for her.

“That’s your car?” Emma asked.  “Sweet.  Almost as nice as mine,” she said, smiling.

“Where’s yours?” Xander asked.

Emma pointed down the street.

“Is that a Porsche?” Xander asked. 

“Yep,” Emma said, smiling proudly.  “My folks may suck as parents, but they bribe well.”

“Damn!  All I got is this lousy t-shirt,” Xander said, sullenly.  “I’m the guy.  The guy is supposed to have the cool car.”

“Hate to break it to you, Xander, but you don’t even have a car, cool or otherwise,” Willow said, placing her hand on his arm.

“Oh, thanks for that, Will.  I feel so much better now.”

“Do you see what I’m driving?” Giles said.  “Once upon a time, I was a highly respected Watcher with a rather nice little sports car, and now I’m a typical suburban father, driving his charges around in a mini-van.”

Buffy laughed.  “At least you people know how to drive.”

“Who knows, B.  Maybe one day I’ll teach you how to drive the Viper.  I’m sure you can handle a stick.”

“Faith…”

Emma laughed.  “I’ve only been around a couple of days, Mr. Giles, and even I can tell you’re fighting a losing battle with that one.”

“Told you she’d fit in just fine,” Faith said, allowing herself to loosen up and enjoy just being with them all for the moment.

XXXXX

They shopped for the rest of the afternoon, and they all made out like bandits.  Faith was pretty happy with her haul.  She got her shit kickin’ boots that were guaranteed not to fall off in the first snow bank she ran through while patrolling.  She also got a tight-fitting coat with one of those linings that zip out, matching gloves, hat, and scarf.  Not that she’d wear a scarf while patrolling, since it was a little too easy to be strangled if it fell into the wrong hands, but it was a package deal.

All in all, it turned out to be a good day.

On the way back to the house, Giles suggested they stop for a quick dinner of pizza and salad, which seemed to be the only thing the group of them could agree on eating without getting into a big fight.  Emma was more than happy to join them, though it wasn’t like she had a choice, with her car back at the house along with Faith’s.

“So,” Xander asked between bites of pepperoni and sausage, “what did your parents do to land you a Porsche?”

Emma blushed.

“Jeez, Squeak, can’t be that bad, can it?” Faith asked, curious as hell. 

“They didn’t do anything… it was a, um, thing.  A deal I made with them,” Emma said, trying to sound casual, but failing miserably.

“It appears that this entire subject is making Emma extremely uncomfortable,” Giles said.  “Maybe we should just let it drop.” 

Why should she be any different?  That was part of being in the gang, Faith thought.  Everyone pushing everyone else beyond the point of being comfy.

“Thank you, Mr. Giles,” Emma said, taking a huge sip of the soda that was sitting in front of her.  “Are we patrolling tonight, Faith?”

Faith shrugged her shoulders.  “Beats me.”

“I don’t see why you and Faith can’t.  Patrolling would be a good training exercise for you, with or without running into any vampires.  The rest of us will be conducting some research.  We need to determine why there isn’t much happening around here of late. 

“Why not?” Faith asked.  “We have all of our required slaying tools at our disposal.”

Giles glanced at Faith.  “'Kickin’ boots' included.”

Faith smiled.  So, he remembered that, huh?  Faith was going to try and make a conscious effort not to be so hard on him.  He was making the attempt, it was the least she could do.

“Hey,” Buffy said.  “I have new slaying active wear too.  When do I get to try out mine?”

“In time, Buffy, in time.  But first, we must do research.”

“Since when have I been research girl?” Buffy mumbled, taking another bite of her pizza.

XXXXX

As soon as they got back to the house, Faith and Emma prepared for patrol.  While Emma ran to her car to grab something, Faith waited in the living room.  She couldn’t help but overhear Buffy and Giles talking in the kitchen.  She moved closer to the kitchen doorway when she heard her name come up in their conversation.

“Tell me again why I’m not going out on patrol?” Buffy asked.

“It appears that Emma has grown rather fond of Faith.  I feel it would be a good training exercise for them both.”

“Both?”

“Emma has been on her own for quite a while and I think it is good that she has found not only a friend, but another slayer with whom she feels comfortable.  Faith has made a lot of progress, but she is still fiercely independent.  I believe that having another to rely on her is just what she needs to help her adjust to her new way of life.”

“I can see that,” Buffy said.  “But do I really need to research?  Maybe I can just go patrol on my own.”

Faith could hear the hope in her voice.  Apparently Giles disagreed and not with words.

“Fine,” Buffy conceded.  “I’ll help research.”

“What are you doing?”

Faith jumped when she realized that Emma had come back into the house and now was standing directly behind her.

“Are we eavesdropping?” she asked.

“No,” Faith said, brushing by her and moving towards the front door.  “I was waiting for you.  Let’s go.”

XXXXX

As they began their patrol, Faith couldn’t help but think about what Giles and Buffy had been talking about.  Why had Squeak attached herself to Faith?  And this was a good thing?  Why?  Going crazy because she had a shadow?  Giles typically knew what he was doing, but Faith wasn’t so sure this time.

As she and Emma rounded another corner, Faith decided that she should be focusing on what they were out there for.  A training exercise.  Slaying.  One of the things she was best at.

“We come across a vamp and he’s yours,” Faith said.  “You come out with me; I want to see what you got.  Need to know if I got a partner or someone I need to baby-sit.  Got it?”

“Yep,” Emma said, distracted.  “So is anything out here?  I’m not feeling anything.  You guys talk about all this feely stuff, and I just don’t feel anything.”

Faith focused to see if she could sense anything, there was nothing in the immediate area.  Not a threat Faith could sense, so for now, it was all good. 

“Think your spidey-sense is working about as well as mine.  I’m not feeling much but sore feet at the moment,” Faith said, stopping to loosen the ties on her boots.  She hoped that was all it was.  She’d be pissed if her new kickin’ boots turned out to be a major pain…literally.  Patrolling with sore feet, well, that was pretty much a bitch.

“New boots hurt your feet?” Emma asked, stopping to look at Faith.

“Just a little.  Hoping I just had the stupid things tied too tight,” Faith said as she squatted down and began unlacing her other boot so she could loosen the tie on that one too.

“Faith!” Emma shouted. 

“Wha…” Faith was tackled from behind before she could get anything more out.  She tumbled forward along with whatever hit her and landed knees first on the hard cement, the impact shredding both knees of her new jeans, and leaving a few layers of her skin behind in the process.  “Shit!” she said, trying to regain her balance and fling off whatever was on her back.

“I’ll help you,” Emma cried.

Faith could hear the fear in the young slayer’s voice. 

“You’re not supposed to hit someone when they’re down.  What a chicken!  Come after me!  Come on, I’m over here."

The pressure on Faith’s back was relieved as the vamp stood.  Yep, her tingle said it was a vamp - too bad it waited to tell her after the shithead landed on her full force.  What was it with her senses lately?  If they kept being so slow in the reacting, they might just as well stay the hell away.

Faith stood slowly, her knees burning so much she was finding it hard to stand up straight.  She reached for her stake.  The stake that was in the waistband of her jeans.  The stake that wasn’t there anymore.  The stake that must’ve fallen out when she’d hit the ground.

Faith had only been half serious when she told Emma the next vamp was hers, now it was looking like she had no other choice.

Faith scanned the ground.  It took her less than a minute to find the stake, its tip embedded in a snowbank.  Faith snatched it up and took on a battle stance, but then relaxed as she watched Emma take on the demon.

No formal training?  Screw that.  Emma was holding her ground.  Stake in her right hand, she was landing blow after blow on the vampire - spinning, twisting, jumping, kicking.  Giles would be proud.  The vamp was down and up so fast, Emma didn’t have time to actually stake it.  That didn’t stop her though.  Using the vampire’s confidence against him, Emma feigned exhaustion.  In the time it took the vampire to stop and gloat, Emma was behind him, staking him from the back, her smile becoming even more visible as the dust cleared.

“Damn, girl!” Faith declared.  “Like you need help.”

“That was okay?” Emma said, walking to Faith, then stopping and looking at Faith’s knees.  “Are you okay?  That doesn’t look so good.”

“You did great,” Faith said.  “I’m fine, I’ll heal.  My jeans on the other hand…”

“Sorry about your jeans.  He came out of nowhere.”

“Good thing I bought more then one pair then, huh?” Faith said, winking.

“Yep!”

“What do you say we head back?  Think I’ve had about as much fun as I can stand for one night.”

“Sounds good to me.”

XXXXX

“You’re kidding me!” Faith exclaimed.  “No, seriously, you’re kidding, right?”

“Nope,” Emma said as they made their way into the house.  “They both came to me on my twelfth birthday and said, ‘If you maintain your virginity until the age of eighteen, we will buy you a car of your choice.  If you maintain your virginity to the age of twenty-one, we will give you twenty thousand dollars cash to do with what you will.’”

“You know that’s a whole control thing, right?”

“Yep.  The eighteen thing wasn’t a big deal, seeing I didn’t have a boyfriend.  Twenty-one… well, that one could be up in the air.”  Emma shrugged.  “Figured it was their way of parenting since they were never home.  It was their babysitter, in a manner of speaking.”

“And I thought my mom was bad,” Faith said, not really thinking and grabbing a soda for both her and Emma out of the fridge.  Sitting down at the table, she continued.  “I mean, my mom was drunk half the time, left me on my own early, but damn, moody bitch that she was, at least she came home once in awhile.”

“Your mom was an alcoholic?” Emma asked, popping the top on her own soda and drinking the can half way down.

Faith realized what she had just said, and froze.  Faith never just said anything about her personal life, especially her mom.  “Um, yeah, she had a few drinks too many once in awhile.”  Just when Faith thought it was impossible to surprise herself…

“Guess that would be tough, huh?” Emma said, finishing the rest of her drink.  “Where is she now?”

“Dead,” Faith said, and started going through the cupboards looking for something to snack on.  She was hungry all of a sudden.  “Lived with my grandma until she died.”

“Before or after?”

“What?”

“You said you lived with your grandma until she died.  Your mom died and then you lived with your grandma until she died?”

“Yeah, I lived with my grandma after my mom died, they wouldn’t let me live alone because I wasn’t eighteen.  Assholes.  I was already living alone.  So yeah, when my mom died, I went and lived with my grandma.”

“How old were you when your grandma died?” Emma asked.

There was a little too much bonding going on for Faith.  “I’m kinda tired.  Thinkin’ I’m going to turn in for the night.”

“Sorry, didn’t mean to pry,” Emma said standing up.  “You’re right, though.  We were up early this morning and I guess I should actually go home for a change.  Tell the others I said bye.  See you tomorrow, Faith.”

Faith watched as Emma grabbed her coat, and headed out the door.  She listened for the car to start and head down the street.  Keeping her anger in check for as long as she could, knowing she was finally alone, Faith grabbed one of the Tweety Bird covered oak kitchen chairs and smashed it up against the wall, watching it splinter into pieces that scattered throughout the entire kitchen.

Faith should know better.  She had broken her number one rule.  She had let someone in…again.  What made it worse; Faith hadn’t even realized she was doing it until it was too late.

 

Part 6
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