DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything!! BtVS characters belong to Joss Whedon and the Heroes characters to Tim Kring. I don't make any money out of this and neither does this site.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: No particular timeline for Heroes. I'm just guessing somewhere between season 1 and season 2. In chapter 11 I took a small piece of text from Revelations and altered it just a little so it would fit my plot. I'm messing a little with the time thingy... 'Chosen' happened around June 2006 and 'How to Stop an Exploding Man' was around May 2007.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
Heroes And Slayers
By Raven Morbisk
Chapter 4
It was a little past five a.m. when Faith felt a shifting in her bed, she immediately shot up, stake in hand then visibly relaxed when she saw it was Niki, no, it was Jessica getting out of her bed.
"Jessica?" Faith asked incredulously, putting her stake back under her pillow.
"How'd you know? I'm turned with my back towards you." The woman chuckled softly, getting dressed.
"Didn't see that tattoo last night on Niki." Faith replied, not bothering to cover herself as she sat up against the headboard.
"We switched sometime during the night, something about wanting to watch you sleep. She was worried about you, you were mumbling sorta scared and knowing you were pretty strong, she was a little scared of waking you so she wanted to keep an eye on you instead." Jessica explained and then turned to face Faith, her eyes glazing over the brunette.
"Watch me? How?" The Slayer cocked her head in confusion.
"When I'm not looking or sleeping or just, you know, busy. She can watch through reflecting items," she pointed to the large mirror on the other side of the room "like a mirror."
"Kinky, now I know what you were doing last night." Faith smirked.
"Yeah, 'cause I enjoy watching my sister, Niki, myself," she looked puzzled but shook it off "whatever, I didn't see. Much." Jessica winked.
"Hey, I got a question." Faith called out right before the blonde left the bedroom. When she turned Faith grinned "When you get really horny and no one's 'round, does Niki give you a hand or vice versa?" Faith wiggled her eyebrows.
"Pig." Niki was back. Faith smirked and put her hands behind her head. "I'll call you, Faith Wilkins."
"Around here it's Faith Scooby, sexy." Seeing the amused look on the woman's face she elaborated "It's Vegas, baby, dumber things are known."
"Weird girl." Niki muttered and left the hotel room, retreating to her own room. Faith was smiling and she didn't care, she had a great time and she didn't feel like she had to get one from the woman. Glancing at the clock she saw it was just past five a.m., she leaned over to the nightstand and grabbed the phone. Dialing a number she had recently memorized she held the phone to her ear. After a few rings a female voice picked up sounding very cheery.
"Hey, B, it's me." Faith said into the receiver.
*Faith? What time is it? It's gotta be like six a.m. over there, what are you doing up, shouldn't you be enjoying your vacation in Vegas?* the chirpy blonde replied.
"It's just past five and I just watched a gorgeous woman leavin' my hotel room. Two women actually, well, two but it's just one." Faith laughed quietly when the phone went eerily silent on the other end, she could just imagine Buffy trying to wrap her head around it.
*Faith, 'splainy?* the utterly confused voice came.
"She's got an alter ego, like a schizo and they're actually sisters, or so they say. And get this; one of the two's got Slayerstrenght-"
*Wow, Faithy, rewind. You're seeing a schizophrenic?* Buffy interrupted.
"No, keep up, Blondie; I had sex with a woman who's got an alter ego, don't know if there's a difference between schizo and alter ego but, whatever, see me care. And Niki, the one where the so very hot body belongs to, she's got this great and really smart kid."
For the next two hours the two Slayers were talking about everything that had happened since Buffy had gone to Europe. After half an hour of explaining, Buffy seemed to somewhat comprehend the complicated woman that Faith was seeing. Around 8 a.m. Faith looked down and saw that she was still sitting naked in her bed.
"Hey, B, I'm gon' hang up 'cause I'm still naked and it's 'bout 8 a.m. and-"
*Ew, Faith, you're naked and you're on the phone with me?* in the background could the grossed out sounds from Dawn be heard.
"Did you really expect anythin' different, B?" Faith snorted amused
*Nah, not really. Hey Faith?*
"Yeah, B?"
*What are you gonna do with Niki? I mean, are you serious about her?*
"Way to jump the gun, B." Faith rolled her eyes "I don't know, I like her and I like Micah and even Jessica seems cool, but y'know me and serious shit."
*Yeah, you bail or overreact.* Buffy sighed.
"I did not overreact with Robin." Faith replied through gritted teeth "You didn't see the look in his eyes when I caught him, B. He knew he was busted."
*Yeah, okay but what if you go back to Cleveland? Las Vegas isn't exactly a neighbor city, you know.*
"I know, it's about 2090 miles apart." Faith sighed and slumped in her bed. She took the pillow Niki/Jessica had slept on and held it close, glad that Buffy couldn't see her like this.
*You are serious about this one, aren't you?*
"What if I ask her to come with me? I mean, she doesn't exactly have a real job, Micah's way to smart for his school-"
*Faith, calm down, you've just met the woman.* Buffy said, not used to Faith acting like this. Faith sighed and stared at the ceiling.
"You're right. I don't know what I was thinkin'. I don't do relationships, why start now with a woman with a psycho side and a kid."
*Just enjoy your vacation, Faith. See what happens after that, okay?*
"Yeah, 'kay. Hey, Buffy?"
*I know, Faith. I miss you, too.* Buffy said, knowing what Faith wanted to say but still sometimes had troubles with putting it in words.
"Bye, B. Tell the brat I said 'hi'." The brunette smiled, waiting for the blonde to say her goodbye she then hung up. She stepped out of her bed and went in search for some shorts and her bra. When she was dressed, sort of, she pulled her hair in a ponytail and took some special tape out of her suitcase and wrapped her hands. She then took a punching ball on a stand and placed it in the middle of the balcony. She swung a few soft punches and as the time went on, the punches became faster and harder, sometimes she would kick at the ball, hitting it perfectly. After about an hour she heard soft knocking on her door. Wiping the sweat from her forehead with the back of her hand she went over and opened the door, revealing Micah.
"Hey, shorty. What ya doin' here?" Faith opened the door a little more, letting the boy enter her hotel room.
"Mom's still sleeping. I left a note, saying I'm up here." He said a little absently, looking around the room. "You slept with my mom, didn't you?"
"Waow, boy, do you even know what you're talking 'bout?" Faith chuckled, closing the door behind him.
"I'm ten, Faith and I'm not stupid. My mom tried to sneak in at 5 a.m. and you were crashing in your room around eleven-thirty p.m." Micah rolled his eyes at the brunette.
"How'd you know that?" Faith asked, surprised.
"Every electronic device in this hotel is connected and they talk to me." The boy explained.
"What d'you mean with 'they talk to you'? Like they actually tell you stuff?" Faith inquired, taking a seat on her couch, motioning for the boy to sit beside her.
"It's like how Jessica is really strong, and after last night I'm sure you know about Jessica and her powers, that's how I can do things with electronic devices." He told the Slayer.
"That's some awesome power ya got goin' there." Faith grinned.
"Yeah, but you're avoiding the question. You slept with my mom?" He asked again.
"Dude, you're ten, how can you know 'bout those things?" Faith wasn't sure how to respond to the little guy.
"Like I said, I'm not stupid. Do you like my mom?" Knowing he wasn't going to get a straight answer on the first question he jumped to another instead.
"Yeah, I do. I like hangin' out with her, y'know, just like I like hangin' out with you." Faith really didn't know how this boy was going to respond to his mom and another woman.
"That's illegal, if you like me the same way you like my mom. Don't deny it, Faith." He stood up and faced the brunette "My mom still loves my dad, she'll always love him but I haven't seen her this happy in a long time so don't even think about playing around with her." He wagged his finger at her, trying to look intimidating.
"Kid, you're way too smart for your age, y'know that? And I'm not playin' around with your mom." Faith ruffled through his hair and grinned. Micah's ever working mind seemed to relax a little so she reached out and pulled the boy on the couch, tickling him.
"Please, Faith, stop." He laughed, struggling to get away from the Slayer. After a few minutes the brunette stopped and swung her arm around the young boy.
"I do like your mom, she's cool and beautiful. I like her more than I like Jessica." She looked down at the boy under her arm and grinned "Is that cool with you?"
"Yeah, but can you please take a shower? You smell." The boy giggled at Faith who was trying not to laugh.
"Jerk." She pulled her arm back and gave him a push when the boy looked at her innocently.
"Okay whiz kid, since you think I smell like real bad, ya wanna hit the punching ball while I get a shower?" She suggested.
"Sure." Micah grinned. He removed his jacket and waited while Faith taped his small hands. She led the boy to her balcony and gave him a few pointers. She turned and headed inside when Micah called out.
"Faith, when you get out of the shower, can we talk about your powers?" He asked.
"Sure kid, whatever you wanna know." She smiled and went to the bathroom.
Chapter 5
It had been a week and a half since the two women had slept together and they hadn't done it again so far. Not because they didn't want to, because they did, at times they had to get away from each other in order not to jump one another. They weren't even sure if they were dating or just friends. Faith was the first one, the day after they slept together, to say that it would be safer if it didn't happen again. Niki agreed, both claiming that it would be better for Micah so he wouldn't get attached to Faith when she finally did have to go back to Cleveland.
Jessica would sometimes go with Faith for some Slaying, after Micah was asleep, usually ending in a heavy make-out session before one of them pulled away. If Faith was kissing Jessica, the Slayer would pull away and if it was Niki kissing Faith, the blonde would pull away. To Faith it felt like she had two different girls but she couldn't have either one of them. The first time Jessica had kissed Faith, the brunette had shoved the blonde away.
---Flashback---
"What the hell are you doin', Jessie?" Faith asked angrily, staring at the blonde on her couch.
"Faith, baby, you and I both know that you're falling for Niki but-"
"I'm not fallin' for Niki, I don't do that. I keep my head out of the clouds and don't get with the fallin' in love thin'." The brunette interrupted.
"If that's what you wanna believe." Jessica sighed and stood up, walking over to the brunette.
"If you're not falling for Niki, then why aren't you screwing one of the hot bellboys? Or me for that matter." The older woman whispered, softly tracing the outline of the brunette's lips with her thumb. Faith's glare softened for a second as she took the thumb in her mouth, sucking it. Jessica leaned forward and pulled her thumb back, placing her lips on top of Faith's. The brunette picked the blonde up and laid her on the couch, lying on top of her. She pulled back from the kiss, staring in the blonde's eyes.
"I'm not screwing either of you." Faith growled.
"Then you are fa-" The blonde was cut off by the brunette's lips.
---End Flashback---
Faith was helping Micah beat a videogame. Occasionally Niki glanced over to the two and chuckled. She was in the bedroom packing because tomorrow they would be heading home.
"They're cute together, aren't they?" Jessica asked from the mirror.
"Yeah, Micah's gonna miss her when she goes home. Hell, he'll miss her the moment we step out of this hotel and go home." Niki sighed, putting the emphasis on 'we'.
"You could always ask her." Jessica said bored, looking at her nails.
"No. She's got a destiny; we'd only interfere with that."
"You, we, could become a part of that destiny. You could finally get some sex without worrying about Micah getting too attached and I can still kick some vampire ass with her around." Jessica smirked.
"Yeah and then you can get some, too, without Faith noticing, right?" Niki responded with a jealous touch in her voice.
"So that's why you don't want to screw her? Afraid that she might think I'm better than you." Jessica's smirk grew wider when Niki glared at her.
"Shut up." Niki retorted and exited the bedroom. She frowned when she saw Micah sitting alone. When she was about to ask where Faith was, the brunette stepped out of the bathroom with her cell phone, with a grimace on her face.
"Seems like I gotta cut my vacation short." Faith stated grimly. "I gotta go back to Cleveland. There's a big bad comin'." she frowned "It's not good, the Watcher man even called Red and B."
"Red is the powerful witch, right?" Micah asked, looking up from his videogame.
"Yeah, last time we needed her was to beat the First."
"So, that means you have to go today?" Niki tried to sound as neutral as possible. Faith nodded, not looking at her.
"Will you be okay? You're not going to die, are you?" Micah asked scared, he walked over to Faith and wrapped his small arms around her waist, somewhat surprising the brunette. She knelt down and took the boy's hands in her own.
"Hey, I'm not gon' die, buddy." She grinned "I can't be beat, I'm like superman, 'kay?" that got a chuckle from the boy.
"You promise?" He asked. She nodded and pulled him close. When she pulled back, she looked him in the eyes.
"When the fight's over, I'll call you, sound good?" Faith smiled sweetly when he nodded in response and kissed the top of Micah's head.
"Micah, can I talk to Faith for a moment, sweetie?" Niki asked gently placing a hand on his shoulder. The boy nodded. The two women left the hotel room and headed up to the roof, where they could talk without having to worry whether there were cameras or not.
"When do you have to leave?" Niki began.
"The brat and B are already on their flight home, so're Red 'nd Ken. G-man booked me flight for tonight." Faith wasn't looking at the blonde; she walked over to the ledge and looked down.
"The brat, that's Buffy's younger sister, Dawn, right? Why is she going back as well?" The older woman asked puzzled.
"'Cause she got witchy powers, too." The brunette shrugged and finally faced Niki. She walked over to the blonde and cupped her cheek. She stroked her cheek with her thumb, relishing in the softness.
"You'll be safe, right? Because if you die, I won't hear about it. It's not like anyone knows about us." Niki smiled grimly.
"B knows 'bout ya." Faith smirked and placed a feather light kiss on the blonde's lips.
"You're avoiding the question." Niki chuckled, wrapping her arms around the brunette's neck. Seeing as Faith was a little shorter, she wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist and looked up in Niki's eyes, with a little gleam in her own eyes.
"I'll try to be safe, but knowin' me, I'll be in the middle of it all." Faith chuckled, concealing her nervousness.
"You promised my son you wouldn't die, so don't die. We'll be expecting your phone call." She pulled the younger woman in a hug and laughed softly "Besides, all three of us would like to see you again, preferably alive."
"I'm feelin' popular." Faith smirked and placed her lips on the blonde's before pulling out of Niki's arms. "I'm gon' go pack."
Micah, Jessica and Faith were standing at the gate; the brunette was stalling a little, waiting for the last boarding call before she got on her flight. Faith groaned when a woman's voice rang through the airport that her flight was now boarding. She hugged Jessica, giving her a peck on the lips then knelt in front of Micah.
"This," she took off her silver necklace with a silver cross hanging from it and put it on Micah "is my favorite. B gave it to me. Take care of it, 'cause when I come back, I'll wanna see it still around your neck, got it?" The boy nodded and hugged the brunette. When the hug ended she stood back up and smiled at Jessica.
"Can I say goodbye to Niki?" The blonde smirked for a second then it disappeared and the gentle eyes that were Niki's appeared.
"Be careful, Faith." Niki said and gave the brunette a sudden kiss. It was a chaste but sweet kiss that made Faith want to stay but the thoughts of her redemption took her back to reality.
"I slipped somethin' in your suitcase before we left; I'm comin' back for it." The Slayer grinned and kissed the blonde once more before turning away.
During the entire flight she couldn't stop thinking about the blonde and Micah. She thought the feeling in her gut would go away if she didn't see them anymore but instead it worsened. She was wondering if that was what people called missing someone like crazy. Because Faith was convinced that she was crazy, missing someone she knew for just two weeks.
'This sucks.' She thought sullen. The first thing she did after she exited the plane was grabbing her cell phone. Her fingers automatically searched for Niki's number. When she was about to press the call-button she sighed and closed her phone. 'Stupid Jessica, if she didn't go all *you're fallin' for my sister* I wouldn't be in this damn situation.' She thought, mentally glaring at the annoying alter ego. When she exited the airport, she saw Xander and Andrew waiting for her.
"Great, I get called for back-up, cuttin' my vacation short, and they send me two freaks to pick me up? What'd I do to deserve this?" The grin on her face showed the boys that she was joking.
"Great to see you, too, Faith." Andrew scowled and reached for her suitcase, dropping it when Faith swung it in his arms. Xander bowed mockingly, opening the door so Faith could get into the car.
"Is B back yet?" She asked when the two young men got in the car.
"They are arriving tonight. Willow is back and Kennedy, too, but they were on separate flights. I don't think they are talking to each other." Andrew answered, starting the car.
"Why're they on separate flights?" the brunette questioned confused.
"Will came from Brazil and Kenny just got back from Florida." Xander turned in his seat, facing the Slayer in the backseat.
"So, they broke up?" Faith asked, furrowing her brows.
"No, they said they were still together but they haven't said a word to each other since they got back." The brown-haired man replied.
"They're gon' break up. I'd bet on it." Faith shrugged. Seeing Xander grin she held out her hand and shook his. A bet was made, money was the usual.
'Those fifty bucks are mine.' She grinned at her own thought and leaned back.
"Hey Faith, how was Vegas? Did you go to any magic shows? I heard they were really cool." Andrew asked with a wide grin, trying to keep his eyes on the road.
"Vegas was great, man." Faith replied with a smirk then stared out the window "Really great." She mumbled under her breath.
"Welcome home, Faith." Andrew said as they pulled up through huge iron gates. After about fifty feet they reached a large Victorian mansion. They were immediately greeted by a little over twenty people standing in front of the house.
"B's entourage?" the brunette asked chuckling.
"No, Faith, they're waiting for you." Xander laughed at the perplexed expression on Faith's face.
"No shit." She exclaimed and exited the car. The minute she stepped out of the car the girls swarmed over her, telling her how much they had missed her, how she was so much better at training them than Giles and on and on.
"Girls, girls, girls, give Faith some breathing space. Let her rest up and then you can annoy her." Faith grinned at the voice and she made her way through the girls and enveloped the redheaded witch in a hug.
"You look great, Red." Faith sighed grinning. Willow's hair was longer, almost reaching the bottom of her back, she was slightly tanned but what the brunette realized the most was how much power the witch was radiating.
"You, too, Faith." The witch responded and linked her arm in Faith's, dragging her in the house. The two went up the stairs of the three-story mansion, going to the general living room on the first floor. Faith wasn't tired; she just didn't want to deal with all the juvenile Slayers.
"That'd be Buffy." Willow shot up when the bell rang. "She said she wanted to take a cab because she didn't know what time she'd be arriving and didn't want anyone to wait up." Faith nodded in understanding and followed the witch downstairs. It was already dark outside since it was nearing midnight.
"You get the door, I'll get Giles." Willow said and went in the direction of the library.
'Some things never change, always with the researchin' in the library.' Faith thought and shook her head chuckling. She opened the door, ready to see a blonde and a tall brunette but found a young man instead. He had brown hair and looked like he had been standing in the wind for hours. His brown eyes were filled with sorrow but he didn't show it.
"Faith Wilkins?" He asked, hands in his pockets.
"Who's askin'?" She retorted, blocking the door. She could sense the presence of Giles and Willow behind her.
"I'm a friend of Niki's, she asked me to help you with some big battle." He answered. Faith's eyes grew a little colder.
"Who are you?" She asked, trying to stare him down.
"Peter Petrelli."
Chapter 6
..Three Months Earlier..
Sylar was down; the sword that went through his chest now left a gaping wound. Hiro had teleported himself away after being flung away by Sylar before the Japanese young man could kill Peter, in order to stop him from exploding. Peter was desperately trying to control the power but he was failing. He fell to his knees, breathing heavily. Against the Kirby Plaza building Niki, D.L., Micah and Molly were watching the young man frantically trying to oppress his power. Mohinder was sitting by Parkman, who was shot with his own bullets by Sylar.
'Please, let it stop.' Peter repeated the phrase in his mind. He looked up and saw Claire running to the Plaza, she ran over to her father and after she saw the energy growing inside Peter, she took the gun from his hand. He closed his eyes, willing the energy to stop flowing. The blonde cheerleader came closer to Peter, watching his hands glow with light and energy. He opened his eyes and stood up as Claire pointed the gun at him.
"Do it." He managed to say. Claire's eyes shone with unshed tears, some what shaking her head.
"Do it! You're the only one, Claire." He shouted. The blonde's tears were now running down her cheeks.
"Tell me there's another way, please." She sobbed.
"Shoot me, there's no other way." He grunted, holding the explosion off as long as he could. Claire straightened up and gripped the gun tighter, determined to shoot Peter when Nathan landed right in front of her from the sky.
"Yes, there is, Claire." He says softly. "The future isn't written in stone." He pushed the gun in Claire's hand down, pointing it to the ground.
"I took his power, Nathan." Peter said. His brother turned to face him "I can't control it, I can't do anything."
"I'm not leaving you, Peter." He walked over to the young man, who backed away from him. His entire body was bursting with light as he grows brighter and brighter. "There's another way to end this, and you know it."
"I can't let you die." Peter replied.
"And I can't let everyone else." Nathan turned to Claire who was crying, still with the gun in her hand. He turned back to his younger brother.
"You saved the cheerleader, so we could save the world." Nathan stepped closer to Peter. The young man looked at his older brother, tears shimmering in his eyes.
"I love you, Nathan."
"I love you, too." Nathan replied and glanced up at the sky. "You ready?"
"Yeah." Peter nodded. Nathan took hold of his brother and flew him straight up to the sky where they disappeared from sight. The others walked out on the Plaza, looking at the sky. Noah Bennet limped over to his daughter while Claire stared into the sky. He took the gun from her hand and looked up just as the sky lit up from the explosion.
"What happened to them?" Niki questioned but didn't get an answer. Niki and D.L. hugged Molly and Micah while Claire cried on her father's chest. He held her close and looked over his shoulder to Sylar. He put on arm around his daughter and pointed the gun with his other hand at Sylar, shooting him in the middle of his head. The others jumped at the gun shot.
"Making sure he's really dead." He said, looking at the others.
..Present Day..
The large library was almost empty, thousands of books on shelves and bookcases looked grim in the shadows. The only light was the soft light that lit the faces of the original Scoobies plus Faith, Dawn and Peter. Buffy had arrived five minutes after Peter. They were currently listening to Peter's story.
"I already heard 'bout this from Niki." Faith said rolling her eyes. "What I don't get is how you're not dead." She said glaring at him.
"I was dead. But I take other people's powers when I come in contact with them. I took Claire's power and that's how I'm alive again. I've been wandering through America the last three months 'til I got to Vegas and I ran into Niki and Micah." He explained.
"So, you can't die and that's when you decided to help us out?" Buffy inquired. "Do you even know what you'll be fighting against?" She then turned to Giles with a rather confused look in her eyes "What are we fighting against, Giles?"
"I'm not quite sure. Rona and Vi were clearing a nest of vampires with five other girls when they came across a pack of demons they describe as 'ugly-ass-things with horns and teeth and scales and drool and slayer-ass-kicking-power', their words, not mine." Giles sighed. "We've lost three girls already. When they became Slayers, they also became quite stubborn and under the impression that they cannot be defeated."
"So, they're all l'il B's?" Faith quipped, jerking her stare away from Peter.
"I'm afraid so, although Buffy was somewhat more stubborn and unwilling to listen than these girls." Giles took off his glasses, cleaning them.
"Hey, I'm sitting right here, you know." Buffy spoke up bothered.
"Yes, well, nevertheless, seems that these demons are followers of Abbadon, the Destroying angel of the Apocalypse." He told the six young people staring at him.
"I heard about him!" Willow exclaimed "My grandmother used to tell me stories about him. She said that he was connected with Satan himself. He's like the chief of the demons of the underworld hierarchy." She smiled proudly.
"Quite right, Willow." The older man stood up and began pacing.
"Hey, I know a game where you have to beat this Abbadon." Xander spoke up with a smile, when Giles looked at him with an irritated look he shrugged "Well, I do. I played it with Andrew just a few weeks ago."
"Did you kill it?" Dawn questioned with a hopeful twinge in her voice.
"No, we got scared so we shut if off." The one-eyed man looked down in shame.
"Games are not the same as real life, Xander. When we go and fight this thing, it's gonna be a lot scarier." Buffy said rolling her eyes.
"I'm thinking you could use my help. I don't know what demons are, but I'm guessing they're hard to beat." Peter finally spoke up.
"Hang on, buddy." Faith said, turning back to him. "How can you help? You ain't got real powers."
"I can take anyone's power once I come in contact with them, Faith. You've seen Niki's power, I can help." He countered.
"Why would you want to help? You don't know us." Willow asked, trying to read his expression.
"Because I already lost my brother, I can't lose anything else." He said, leaving out that there was one more person but he hadn't seen her, couldn't find her, so he figured he had already lost her.
"How'd ya find me, anyway?" Faith asked crossing her arms defensively.
"A tracking system." He simply said, making clear he didn't want to go in it any further.
"It's getting rather late, so I suggest that we all go to bed. I'm sure we'll find a place for Mr. Petrelli to sleep." Giles smiled warmly at the young man.
"Buffy, Dawn, I'm sorry we have to see each other again under these circumstances but I'm glad you're back." He smiled and made his way out of the library. Reaching the double door he sighed and turned around.
"Faith, it's nice to have you back but do not hurt this young man until we know more." The brunette in question rolled her eyes but nodded.
"'Night Giles." Five people said in chorus.
"Well, I'm going to bed, too. Jetlag's a bitch." Dawn yawned. "I'm hoping I still share a room with Vi and Rona?" After Xander nodded she smiled and waved her goodbye.
"Xander, you wanna bunk with us?" Willow asked, pointing to Buffy and herself. The man grinned and wiggled his eyebrows.
"Perv, no." Buffy laughed and playfully slapped him on the arm. "You coming, Faithy?" She directed her question to the brunette who was still glaring at Peter.
"Nah, I'm not tired, 'sides, you three got a lotta catchin' up to do. But hey, if Red's goin' tell you what happened with Ken, I wanna know." She flashed the redhead a grin. "And I'll make sure this chump gets a bed." She said nodding to Peter.
"Okay, Faith. G'night and I'll see you tomorrow. Same time, same place, right?" The blonde asked.
"Yeah, sure, B." She walked over and hugged the blonde "Great to have ya back, blondie." She whispered and quickly let her go again. She then hugged the witch but when Xander opened his arms for a hug she raised an eyebrow and chuckled when he lowered his arms with a pout.
"C'mere, Cyclops." Faith said and hugged Xander. The three Scoobies walked away together, animatedly talking about Rome and Brazil and various adventures, leaving Faith alone with Peter.
"So, you saw Niki and Micah?" the brunette asked, wringing her hands. Her sudden change of attitude surprised Peter. Before she was intimating and seemed very aggressive but the moment they were alone she softened up, she was almost to the point of being shy. Getting over the surprise Peter smiled slightly.
"Yeah, I ran into them at the airport, probably after putting you on a plane." He shrugged and for the first time since he arrived he relaxed in his seat.
"What exactly did they tell you?" She asked, sitting next to Peter.
"That you were very strong and Micah said you were cool and nice." He noticed Faith smiling to herself "Niki's a very proud woman but she asked me to keep an eye on you, so you got to mean a great deal to her."
"She means a lot to me, too." She said, smiling at the young man "I'm not plannin' on endin' in a box." Faith snorted the last sentence and leaned back in the couch.
"That's good to hear; or Jessica or Niki would kill me." He laughed softy. "Tell me, Faith, do vampires really exist or was that something Micah was making up to make you look good?"
"They exist. I took Jessica out on some patrols in Vegas, she loved it." Faith smirked. "Hey, you want somethin' to drink?"
"Sure." Peter smiled but like all his smiles it didn't reach his eyes. Faith got up and motioned him to follow her to the kitchen. They entered the kitchen just as the front door opened and a group of five Slayers came back from patrol.
"How many girls live here anyway?" Peter asked the brunette.
"When I left two weeks ago, there were 'bout fifty girls but we find new girls every week. Some girls get called later than others." She shrugged and opened the refrigerator door.
"Called?" He asked, taking a drink from the water.
"Yeah, when they get their powers, y'know. Once the girls are called we can track them down and give them a home." She replied and jumped on the counter.
"What if they already have a home?" He questioned.
"Ever seen the movie X-Men? You can say we sorta do the same. The girls can stay here and learn to control their powers. They get schooling here, too, y'know. It's like a boarding school for Slayers." She took a swig from her bottle and continued "Girls who still have parent that care can go home for holidays and all that, others stay here." She shrugged "We're a big, happy, dysfunctional, gay family." That last part got Peter choking on his water.
"Gay?" He asked, wiping the water from his mouth.
"Yeah, lots of girls are gay in here. To some it's a passin' thing, for others it's just to be loved by someone or it's for real." She winked and then nodded behind Peter.
"Hey Sandra, you want a drink?" She asked the girl.
"Sure, Faith." Peter's eyes grew wide and he turned around, staring at the girl with brown hair and blue eyes.
"Claire? What are you doing here?"