Unexpected Visitors
by LynX
Family Values Pt 2
[reviews]
Disclaimer: I don't own any of these characters, except for Andariel of course, she is my own:-) But all the characters from the show belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.
Feedback: Much appreciated. As always, email me at: shadowpanther@gmail.com
Plot: This is part 7 of "Something About You". Our two couples are still getting their heads around the fact that Willow is pregnant with Buffy's baby, and are now worried about the future that lies ahead for them and Andariel. Drama also ensues for Faith and Dawn.
Pairing: Buffy/Willow (wouldn't be here if it wasn't) and also Dawn/Faith..
Warning: This story contains love scenes between two females, so if you're offended by female/female relationships or just plain don't want to read sex scenes, then I suggest you get the fudge out. :-)
A/N: Yes I know it's been probably a good year or two since I've posted here and I really apologise for the delay for those of you that have been enjoying my story so far. Have had alot of problems involving life and such and inability to write anything :(
~Faith came in the door of the Summer's residence, smiling and happy, excited that she would finally get to spend a cozy night at home with her girl in front of the TV.
As she made her way through the house, calling out Dawn's name, and no reply came, she started to panic. Her eyes becoming somewhat dilated, a slight sweat on her brow as she ran up the stairs and back down again, all the while calling out her lover's name with more need, and with fear.
She ran back into the living room where she finally saw Dawn seated in the lounge. Faith suddenly sighed a breath of relief. She moved over to the smaller girl who's back was to her, and placed a hand on her shoulder with a slight smile.
Suddenly she gasped as the girl turned to ash underneath her touch, nothing left but a pile of dust on the couch. Faith let out a cry, holding her hand to her stomach as she stumbled back.
As she swaggered backwards, a hard foot was planted in her back, snapping her head back and pushing her into the couch. Winded, she turned to see her attacker. Her mouth dropped when she saw who it was.
"Buffy?!?..." she gasped.
The blonde slayer frowned and grabbed Faith by the neck, almost crushing her windpipe as she threw her into the mantlepiece.
'This can't be happening' she thought to herself as she sucked air into her lungs quickly, only to cry out in pain as a sharp sensation splintered it's way across her chest. A droplet of blood trickled down from her right eyebrow and fell onto her cheek, continuining to make it's way down.
"Do you really think Dawn would want you?? An ex-crim? Traitor? Who would betray her in a second?!?" Buffy hissed at her. Faith shook her head.
"You're evil, slayer, face it. You could never be accepted into the arms of a Summer's girl." Spike stated flatly, surprising Faith with his presence to her right.
"No..." she breathed, wondering if it was even barely audible.
"You don't deserve her. You don't deserve happiness!" Willow snapped from her left. Faith turned her head to meet the green eyes, gasping for breath now. She closed her eyes at the thought of their jeering expressions, as their taunts grew louder and louder, the things they were saying becoming harsher, crushing her heart.
She was begging, begging for the hurt to stop, begging for Dawn to come back to her arms... where she belonged...~
Faith suddenly sat up in her bed, gasping for breath, sweat pouring profusely down her face, neck, and chest. She cried out, not knowing how loud it was, but it must have been loud enough to wake the sleeping figure next to her.
"Faith??" Dawn quickly sat up and wrapped her arms around the raven slayer, running her fingers through her hair, trying to calm her racked nerves.
Faith turned to Dawn, her eyes searching her quickly before she realised, she was really there... and that it had just been a nightmare...
"Dawn..." Faith gasped and almost collapsed into the smaller girl's arms. Dawn didn't know what to say, she just held her lover tightly, stroking her back and whispering comforting things in her ear. She'd never expected to see her strong slayer like this, gasping for breath and scared witless, shaking and trembling in her arms.
Dawn held her for a long time, the slayer clinging to her like there was no way of letting go, her breath gradually slowing down to a regular pace and the trembling stopping. Dawn ran her fingers through her dark locks of hair and planted a kiss on her forehead.
"It was horrible.... Buffy... Willow... they were there and they... they.... they told me you'd never want me... t-that I wasn't good enough for you and... " Faith gradually started to explain what happened in her nightmare before trailing off and looking into Dawn's eyes. Dawn pushed a strand of hair out of Faith's eyes.
"It was just a dream..." Dawn reassured her before planting another kiss on her forehead. The slayer's eyes were glazed over as she glanced around the room, as if double to checking to make sure that the opposers in her dream wouldn't be waiting for her in the shadows.
She breathed in deeply, trying to push away the tightness still lingering in her chest as she moved away from Dawn and swung around so that she was sitting on the edge of the smaller girl's bed. She gripped the matress, not too tightly, steadying herself as she tried to shake the cobwebs. Her lover cautiously slipped out from under the blankets and moved over to where the slayer sat.
Faith turned her head to watch as her girlfriend perched herself right next to her, and gave her a grim smile before staring over at the window, to where a half crescent was gently spilling a white glow into the room. Dawn placed a hand on her slayer's leg to comfort her, saying nothing but rather letting her know that she was there for when she'd be ready to talk.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Andariel stalked through the dark graveyard, inhaling the thick, deathly scents she was surrounded by deeply into her lungs, trying her best to track the scent of that rat bastard that had managed to evade her. She cursed silently under her breath as she tried to contemplate how he managed to in the first place.
At first she'd been following the skulking vamp, no problem. Wanted to give him a nice little surprise, so she tapped him on the shoulder. After he turned around things got a little hazy... she thought about it... he moved alot quicker than normal vamps did that was for sure, in fact... she wasn't sure if she'd seen him move at all...
She stopped in her tracks as she thought that last bit over, replaying the scene where he escaped in her mind. Frowning it became evident, this guy probably wasn't a vampire after all but, something completely different and of a higher power....
And that's when it hit her....
No.... literally... something had just hit her square in the back of her head.
She winced in pain and stumbled forward, spinning around as she did so to face her attacker. It was that vampy-crossbreed-higherpower-guy again. He smirked at her.
"What's the matter little girly, too fast for ya?" he taunted, crossing his arms over his chest, rather quite confident in his own abilities. Andariel winced as she held a hand to the back of her head where he had hit her, then pulled her hand back around to witness the wet spots of blood now covering her fingertips. This wasn't right... her being snuck up on and wounded like this just didn't make sense.
She looked around him and took note of the fact that this guy also had no weapon. Her mind boggled, struggling to find an explanation for this whole, insane situation.
"Not at all in fact, I needed that warm up, what say we go a round?" she finally replied to him, steadying herself and ignoring the throbbing pain now starting up at the back of her head. He grinned at her and cackled. She screwed up her face.
"Stupid Slayer, I'm not here to fulfill your cravings for bloodlust. I'm simply here to pass on a message." He stated simply. Andariel ignored his statement and lunged at him, preparing to land one square in his nose.
Instead she found herself hitting the dirt.
"What the..." she gasped as she realised he'd disappeared right in front of her, throwing her off balance. She snapped her head around quickly to face the vampy-teleporty guy as he cackled manically at her. She growled under her breath.
"You're really not going to get anywhere Slayer. Like I said I'm just here to pass on a message, now, do you want to hear it or not?" He asked, still unable to control his urge to laugh under his breath. Andariel pushed herself to her feet, brushing off her black tank top and picking some leaves out of her hair. She decided to give in.
"Fine what is it?" she demanded, clearly unimpressed by any of these going ons. She couldn't hit him, there was no point trying, he'd just do that stupid teleport thing again. And if she got into a fight with him no doubt it wouldn't be a fair one.
The guy straightened himself out and finally managed to stop laughing.
"My sources are to tell you that the end is coming. For you, your friends, your family.... for humankind as you know it." he told her simply with a slight smirk. Andariel rolled her eyes.
"Gee where have I heard that one before." she stated, clearly unamused by this little 'message'. The vampy guy scowled at her, before suddenly vanishing. Andariel looked around before wondering what the hell had just happened.
Before she knew it, she was slammed against the nearest tree, her skull once again making contact with a hard object and sending a shattering pain throughout her entire body, coiling itself along her spine and down to her toes. She cried out quietly in pain as the hand around her throat pushed her harder against the tree and tightened it's grip, constricting her air flow greatly.
The vampy guy placed his face close to hers, snearing as he looked into her eyes.
"Best take the warning, slayer.... I'd highly advise it..." he told her in a threatening tone, tightening his grip again to the point where she could almost not breathe at all, and then before she knew it he was gone.
Andariel fell over onto her knees, gasping deeply for air and then moaning in pain as she clutched at the back of her head. She could feel there was more blood there now and an open wound. It wasn't bleeding profusely but it would have to be seen to. The pain alone was enough... she felt like someone was pummelling her head with a pair of mallets. And not the rubbery kind either.
Swallowing hard and gaining her bearings, she slowly stood up, taking another breath to try and calm her nerves.
She had to get this information back to Buffy and Willow, if this was what she thought it was... then they were all going to be in for a hell of a time the coming few months.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dawn had been sitting by Faith's side on the edge of the bed for quite some time now. She guessed maybe, half an hour? But her judgement of time was poor, it's why she had an alarm clock right beside her bed and the whole family knew without it, there would be many a times of dragging the girl off to school at lunch time.
As her mind started to wander a voice finally broke the silence.
"It's not your fault, Dawnie."
Dawn looked up to see those beautiful brown eyes looking into her own. She smiled but didn't understand what wasn't her fault.
"What's not?" She asked as she shuffled around to be looking at Faith more directly. Faith looked down at her feet before gazing back out the window.
"This. Me. My nightmares, they're not your fault." She stated more clearly. Dawn smiled again.
"I know that, I didn't think they were... I know you have alot of ghosts from your past..." the smaller girl trailed off. Faith gave a dry laugh.
"Yeah I do, more than you know. And I shouldn't be burdening someone as young... and perfect... as you with a past like mine." she stated, looking back at Dawn with a seriousness in her eyes she'd never seen before... and was that... a hint of sadness?
"Don't be silly..." Dawn started but was met by Faith snapping back at her.
"That's just it Dawn I'm not being silly. You're so innoccent. And you've had to deal with so much in your own life already the last thing you need is a criminal like me throwing all her fears and worries onto you. It's not fair..." she finally shook her head and looked away. Dawn opened her mouth to say something but couldn't find the words.
Faith stood and went over to the window, staring out at the moon as if it was calling to her. She was staring, off in her own world for quite some time before she finally came around. She turned to face her lover. Dawn wasn't sure what to do or say, so she just smiled in the most comforting way she could.
Faith's eyes gradually softened as she looked into that beautiful gaze of her lover's before eventually sighing. She moved over to Dawn and kneeled before her, grasping her hands gently. Dawn enjoyed the sensation of the slayer's strong, calloused fingers tenderly stroking her soft hands.
"I've just... never had feelings like these before, y'know? Especially not for someone who's sister was practically my mortal enemy at one stage." she chuckled at that last part as Dawn grinned back at her. Faith's smiled gently up at Dawn.
"I don't want to burden you... and I don't want to screw things up for us." she finally stated.
Dawn nodded. She was starting to understand her raven slayer more and more by the day. Yes she was strong and tough on the outside. Yes she could wrap you up in her arms and make you feel like you're in the safest place in the world. Yes she was hard to get to open up. And yes, she had a heart of gold that all this time was just waiting for someone to show her what love really was, and to give her a chance.
"I know that... but I also just want you to know that I want to be there for you, every step of the way." Dawn told her firmly. Faith smiled and stood up, gently placing a kiss on her lovers lips.
Dawn grabbed faith by the waist of her boxers and pulled her back into bed with her. Faith laughed as she fell half onto the bed and half onto Dawn. The younger girl giggled and her eyes shone as her raven slayer gently moved her body above her, stretching out along Dawn's length like a panther.
Their lips fused together, a deep passion rising between them as Faith gently slipped her tongue into her lover's mouth. Dawn moaned quietly as the raven slayer kissed her deeply and longingly before grently trailing her lips down her chin, to her neck, and starting to kiss her way down to her belly where she suddenly stopped.
Dawn gave Faith a questioning look as she gazed down at her.
"Faith.. what's wrong?"
The raven slayer was quiet for a moment, before laying a few more fluttering kisses on the pale skin before her. She looked into Dawn's shining blue eyes.
"Before me... did you ever..." Faith started, not actually finishing the question but her gentle nudge let Dawn know what she was talking about. Realization finally set in and the younger girl turned a bright shade of red.
"N-no... I mean I never.. " she stammered over her words, illiciting a cheeky grin from Faith. Dawn was exasperated but finally smiled.
"I was saving myself ... f-for someone I loved..." she finished her sentence.
Faith's expression softened and she kissed Dawn's belly a few more times.
"You won't regret it... baby... there will never be another...."
Dawn fully understood what her raven slayer was saying. She gently tugged on Faith's shirt and pulled her up for a deep, loving kiss.
The slayer could swear it was as if she was melting into the younger girl, and even the simplest of things, like her touch or her kiss, would make her heart burn and crave for all the things she never dreamnt of ever happening to her.
They shared a slow, passionate kiss, letting each other feel their deepest emotions and fears, sharing them with one another, holding each other tightly enough to let the other know they would never leave their side.
And as Faith finally fell asleep holding the most perfect girl in the world in her arms, she finally had nothing but peaceful dreams.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy awoke to the sound of the front door unlocking and slowly creaking open.
'what the... Dawn... I bet she left that door unlocked again!' she thought to herself as she finally groaned out loud.
It had been so perfect. She'd been dreaming of a gorgeous mansion, and it was all hers and Willows. They would just lounge around in front of their widescreen Tv all day, occasionally playfighting or having a makeout session. Then they'd have dinner as a family, her, Willow, Dawn, Faith, Andariel, Reeanus... all there. Laughing and chatting, throwing peas, plates or whatever was readily available.
Buffy groaned again, this time gradually managing to pry herself from Willow's grip. The wiccan screwed up her face and mumbled something about elephants under her breath as Buffy scooted to the edge of the bed, feet over the edge and ready to get up. Buffy snickered to herself at Willow's musings in her sleep and leant over and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
This roused a much louder comment and/or possible threat from the Red head and Buffy wasn't quite sure what to make of it.
"That's not the place!" was what Willow had stated.
The slayer shook her head and finally got up, sneaking out of the room and making her way quietly to the balcony. She peered over the edge. Her slayer sense wasn't hinting to anything particularly evil... perhaps Faith had gone out for some late night dusting and just come back.
Dragging her feet along she went over to the stairs and made her way down, her ears pricking as she heard the light switch come on in the downstairs bathroom.
'Definately must have been Faith' she thought as she trudged her way over to where the place light was now shining out from under the bathroom door.
She pushed it open and was about to say something about leaving the door unlocked when she saw none other than Andariel, sitting on the edge of the bathtub and holding a cloth to the back of her head. Buffy's mouth hung open slightly as she eyed her daughter up and down, noticing the blood covering cloth being held in place by Andariel's hand.
Andariel looked up, her face somewhat pale, her shirt covered in some dirt stains and bruising around her neck evident.
"Hi mum..." was all the managed to get out before Buffy quickly rushed over and threw her arms around her.
"You stupid girl!! What did you do? Why are you bleeding?? You are NEVER going to hear the end of this from me!" she started going into a fit, Andariel wasn't sure if it was worry or anger driven, or both.
"It's ok... it's just a bit of a cut on my head... and some bumps and bruises..." The red head tried to fight back but she could feel one of Buffy's hands tightly clasping her shoulder while the other one took place of holding the cloth to her head injury. Her blue eyes snapped down to meet her daughter's. Andariel instantly knew this look... and awaited the on-coming lecture.
"Bumps and bruises??" Buffy pulled the cloth away and inspected the cranium wound, slightly gaping and still dripping blood from it.
"That's going to need stitches and you could have brain trauma, or you could have gone into a coma or bled to death or.. or.. " Buffy struggled for words. Andariel tugged at Buffy's shirt.
"Mum..." Andariel whispered out. Buffy glared down at the sore women before her.
"What?!?" she snapped. Andariel sighed.
"They gave me a message." she replied.
Buffy bit her bottom lip and pressed the cloth tightly against Andariel's head.
"What message?"
"They warned us... they basically said the end is coming... for all of us.... " Andariel winced as she placed a hand at her neck to rub at some of the tenderness there. Buffy watched her carefully.
"And what attacked you... they were strong?" she asked, her tone one less of anger now, but still serious all the same. Andariel gently nodded and then moaned as she realised that was not a great idea for her pulsing cranium. Buffy shifted slightly, her hand on Andariel's shoulder now gentle and worried.
"So... this is bad ... right? I mean you're all future girl... is this where the big bad comes in?" Buffy looked at Andariel for a sign, hoping that her fears and worries would be wrong and that this was just some demon that had taken advantage of her daughter, trying to scare her, trying to break up their family.
"Yeah although, I didn't realise even their message senders could pack such a punch." she laughed gently then quickly stopped as Buffy's hand gave her shoulder a warning squeeze.
"That's not the point... you do realise you could have died out there tonight?" Buffy asked, a tone of worry suddenly in her voice. Andariel sat silent for a bit.
"I didn't know..." was all Andariel could say before Willow suddenly entered the bathroom.
"Oh my god, Andariel what happened??" the wiccan suddenly rushed over to her daughter's other side and started looking at her all over with panic in her eyes.
"She had a little run in with a messenger of a big bad." Buffy stated simply, giving Willow a look who instantly returned it with one of fear.
"Oh no.... are they... are they after... our baby?" Willow suddenly asked, clutching at her stomach and glancing between Buffy and Andariel. The blonde slayer quickly grabbed Willow's left hand and squeezed it tightly, looking deeply into her eyes.
"No one is going to harm our baby sweetie.... not if I have anything to say in the matter." Buffy told her. Willow returned it with a faint smile.
"They are after me.... well... unborn me... if they can kill me as a baby then the balances between good and evil will be tipped towards the favour of evil..." Andariel stated, her eyes weary, and her statement not one that spoke of confidence in herself or of the women she was surrounded by. Willow shifted from her position and removed the cloth from Andariel's head.
"Hold still." she told her.
Andariel did as she was told and listened as Willow softly whispered some words and healed the wound for her completely. She sighed as the pulsing in her head finally subsided.
"Thanks mum." she said with a sleepy smile. The wiccan returned the smile and gently stroked her cheek.
"So this messenger... what did they look like?" Buffy asked, suddenly serious again, and wanting to find out as much as she possibly could. Andariel straightened a little and took a deep breath.
"Kinda vampy, but without the fangs I guess. Very strong, didn't have any weapons. And they teleported around." she explained.
A look of understanding suddenly hit Willow's face and she smiled slightly.
"I think I know what that is. I think... I mean... it sounds like one..." she trailed off, rambling slightly. Buffy looked at her intently.
"Sounds like one what, Wills?"
Willow took a breath and glanced between Buffy and Andariel to make sure she had their attention.
"Well it sounds like a Glimmer..." she stated. Buffy and their daughter waited for her to continue but when she didn't, Andariel intervened.
"A glimmer?" she looked almost puzzled. Willow nodded quickly before realising she needed to explain it a bit more thoroughly.
"A Glimmer, they're like... a messenger for the demon world... they uhmm are normally right hand mans of high up powers in the evil world. They don't normally make their presence known around human's and so not a whole lot is known about them. Being a bringer of bad news, after they've brought the news, the person they brought it to is normally dead... " Willow realised she was starting to ramble a little and she decided she should get straight to the point.
"They've strong, fast, and they can teleport themselves around. Hence the name Glimmer." she finished up.
Buffy bit her bottom lip.
"So we should probably start organising huh?" the blonde slayer asked her wiccan. Willow smiled lightly.
"Yeah looks like we're gonna have one hell of a battle ahead of us."
Buffy sighed.
"Come on And, we better get you some rest you've had a rough night." Buffy stood up, followed by Willow who stood on the other side of Andariel to steady her as she got up. She smiled thankfully at both of her parents as they escorted her to the lounge room, where they pulled out the sofa for her and got her into bed.
Buffy wandered into the kitchen and poured herself a cup of juice. Sighing she sipped on it carefully and looked out the window. She turned and smiled as her wiccan came up behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist.
"The sun's coming up." Buffy stated.
"Mmmm." Willow just placed a few kisses on her slayer's neck, sensing the tension that lay there.
She held onto her slayer for quite some time in silence before finally speaking.
"Do you think... our baby... Andariel... can we keep her safe?" Willow asked, her voice filled with a tone of fear that Buffy couldn't help but admit sent a shiver down her spine. She turned in her wiccan's arms and placed her own around the girl's smaller frame, holding her tightly.
"I promise you... nothing's going to happen to our baby..." Buffy's words were sincere, and she wanted nothing more than for them to be true. And as the sun came up a little more, she was determined that no matter what, no one, nothing, was going to hurt her and Willow's daughter.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dawn awoke to the sun brightly shining in her eyes. She groaned and tried to block it out, stretching and turning around in the arms that were holding her, facing her lover. Faith grinned.
"Morning baby." she whispered as she planted a little kiss on Dawn's soft lips, and watched smirking as the girl tried to rub the sleep from her eyes and made groaning noises as she continued to stretch.
"Mornniinngg..." Dawn yawned and snuggled further into the arms of her slayer, enjoying the closeness and the warmth, and also enjoying the sight of Faith's perfect breasts hiding under her shirt, nipples slightly erect and almost beckoning to Dawn from underneath the material.
Without another word Dawn pushed the raven slayer onto her back, grinning. Faith was somewhat surprised by the action but nonetheless enjoyed the attention she was now getting from the girl she loved more than anything else in the world.
Dawn pulled her lovers shirt up, exposing her voluptous breasts to the cool air which caused her nipples to harden even more. Faith shuddered, a warm fire starting to burn inside her as Dawn looked into her eyes with a look of pure lust, before hungrily wrapping her lips around her right breast. The raven slayer moaned and arched her back, gently entwining her fingers through Dawn's long brown hair and holding her close against her body.
"Oh baby..." she murmered, biting her bottom lip and watching as her lover gently sucked and licked her nipple, grinning before moving to the left one to share the attention. Faith closed her eyes and moaned, waves of pleasure washing over her body and all coming to rest to the place where she wanted it the most.
Sensing her slayer's need, Dawn gave her nipple one last lick before slowly starting kiss her way down her abdomen.
Faith moaned more, begging for Dawn to give her what she needed, when she suddenly noticed that the kisses and touching had stopped. She looked down to see a very pale Dawn and instantly became worried. She sat up and helped Dawn to sit up properly as well.
"Dawnie what's wrong??" Faith quickly asked her, looking her over, feeling her forehead, trying to find out what had suddenly overcome her girlfriend.
"I... I don't feel so well..." Dawn muttered and finally shot up and ran out of the room. Faith was speechless but quickly got up and followed Dawn to where she finally ended up...
The poor girl was bent of the bathroom toilet, heaving her guts up, hanging onto the bowl like it was her best friend. The slayer quickly bent down and helped Dawn hold her hair back out of the way, rubbing her back gently and waiting for the waves of sickness to stop.
"Dawnie?..." Faith waited as the girl finally managed to stop being sick and coughed up the last bits. She looked up at the slayer with a bit of a smile and tears in her eyes.
"Yeah I'm ok. I just... got a little sick ... probably something I ate." Dawn finally responded before taking a cloth from Faith that she had dampened for her and wiping her mouth with it.
"You sure?" Faith asked as she helped her girl stand up and watched as she rinsed her mouth out with some water. Dawn nodded as she spat out the last of it.
"Yeah I'm sure... I feel alot better now." she stated before smiling and wrapping her arms around her strong slayer. Faith held her tightly and stroked her back.
"Come on lets take you downstairs, get you some juice or something to help settle your tummy." the raven slayer said gently as she took Dawn by the hand and led her downstairs. Dawn smiled gratefully and kissed her on the cheek as they entered the kitchen and Faith poured her a glass of orange juice.
Faith had noticed Andariel sleeping on the pullout sofa bed in the lounge room as she'd been taking Dawn through it and wondered what had taken place while she and her lover had been asleep. She looked over to where Willow was muching on some peanut butter toast and Buffy was reading the newspaper, a piping hot cup of coffee waiting at her fingertips. Willow leant over and tried to read the page Buffy was looking at which caused her Slayer to quickly take a nibble on her Wiccan's ear lobe. Willow giggled wildy and went back to her toast, watching Buffy who was now grinning as she continued to read.
"Morning Buff, Morning Wills." Dawn greeted them as she reached for a box of cheerios out of the cupboard then rummaged through the fridge for the milk.
"Morning Dawn, Faith." Buffy replied as she continue to read, turning the page of the newspaper.
"Morning B, Morning Red." Faith grinned and watched Willow smile.
"Morning lovers, how did you two sleep?" Willow asked as cheerfully as possible.
Dawn poured some cereal and milk into a bowl and started to munch. Faith wandered over as Dawn took a seat at the breakfast table, leaning over the shoulder of her girlfriend and waiting as Dawn fed her a spoonful of her cereal.
"Can't complain." Dawn answered finally as she took a spoonful of cereal for herself. Faith nodded.
"Yeah not bad, and what's up with Andariel on the couch?" Faith added. Buffy put her paper to one side and started to sip her coffee as she sat back a little, looking at Faith with a look that only slayers would understand. The look that forewarned something coming, something evil, that would threaten their happiness and the lives of all the ones they loved if they weren't prepared to face it. Faith caught this look and shifted uncomfortably.
"She had a little run in last night. A messenger. Forewarned of some big bad coming to end us all, and the world... y'know... one of those guys." Buffy explained.
Faith nodded slowly.
"This to do with why she's here?" Faith asked. Buffy nodded in reply. Willow looked between the two of them before adding in.
"I'm not really sure what it is that we have to expect. Wouldn't know where to start really... although .. I guess I could ask Giles, maybe do some research on the Glimmery guy and see if I can track down some info. Maybe get a lead on where we should start anyway." the wiccan smiled at Buffy, recieving a warm one in response.
"If we can find out how to fight it, that's all that matters." Buffy stated, reaching over and taking Willow's hand in her own and squeezing gently.
Faith noticed this display of affection and took a seat next to Dawn, reaching over and placing a hand gently on her thigh. The younger girl looked at ther hand, then at her. They both grinned at each other.
"Oh and I kinda got sick this morning too." Dawn added simply before taking another spoonful of cereal and chewing. Willow's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Sick? What kind of sick? Like... ohh I ate something I shouldn't have sick or like... tummy ache sick or..." Willow ran out of ways to describe the different types of sick she could think of so she gave up. Dawn though about it for a moment.
"I guess it was just sort of like... out of the blue... one minute I was in bed with Faith the next I was like throwing up in the toilet." Dawn looked sheepishly at her cereal, but smiled gently as Faith rubbed her thigh.
"Yeah It was really wierd, right after she and I started... well... " Faith blushed slightly as she recollected her and Dawn's unfinished business. Willow and Buffy both exchanged glances, but Buffy knew by the grip Willow had on her hand to not say anything.
"Uhm.. well, Dawnie... did you eat anything lately that might not agree with you? Anything out of the ordinary?" Willow asked, continuing the conversation. Dawn thought about it for a bit.
"No I didn't really eat anything different. Ice cream, popcorn, the usual." she remembered some of the things she'd eaten recently. Willow looked in thought for a little bit.
"Although I did read this old book the other day, maybe I accidentally cast a spell that made me sick or something." Dawn wondered.
Willow and Buffy both went stiff while staring at Dawn. The girl seemed slightly unnerved.
"W-what's wrong? Guys?" she asked, suddenly very worried. Faith shuffled in her seat.
"Yeah come on guys don't keep us in suspense." she kidded lightly.
"Dawnie... you didn't read from an old book... an old, old, brown book did you? One with something about Sapphiric in it did you? One from the attic?" Willow asked nervously, quickly trying to shake her worries that Dawn had actually found the same book that had gotten her pregnant to Buffy. Dawn's eyes seemed to light up at the wiccan's description and she nodded her head enthusiastically.
"Yeah that's the one!" She replied and grinned, giving Faith a quick look who suddenly seemed very concerned. Dawn's grin faded a little as she looked over at Willow and Buffy, who's face seemed to have turned to stone.
"Oh... goddess..." Willow muttered quite meekly as she realised what this meant.
"Willow... what??" Faith suddenly demanded, wanting to know what was wrong with her girlfriend.
"Faith... that spell Dawn read? Well... that's the same spell that got me pregnant... to Buffy...." Willow finally managed to reply, her voice filled with concern and impending doom.
Dawn's mouth dropped, unable to comprehend what she had just heard. Thoughts racing through her head. Oh god! I'm gonna have a baby! A baby?? A baby with Faith! What am I gonna do I'm so young I can't have a baby what about vampires and monsters and evil I can't have a baby!! This isn't the right time oh crap, what's Faith going to do, she's going to leave me!! She doesn't want some kid with a baby...
But that was the least of Dawn's worries. At the same time Faith's head was on the verge of overload.
An ex crim for a parent??
Me?
No... it can't be... I could never be the parent Dawn would want... she deserves better... oh god... what am I gonna do..... run? Yeah I can run, get away, or.. maybe this is just a dream! Yeah just a dream! But what if it's not? No it's not... No Faith don't be stupid you can't run from Dawn... Dawn... Oh god I love her so much... we're gonna have a baby??.....
Her thoughts were interrupted at that very moment, as a fist suddenly impacted with her face. Everything went dark.
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
She could hear their voices. All of them. It was still dark, and she couldn't move just yet, but she could hear all of them arguing.
"She got her pregnant!"
Buffy...
"Buffy it wasn't her fault, Dawn's the one who.."
Willow....
"Hey don't blame me I didn't know!! It was just some scrappy old book it looked like poetry to me!!"
Dawn... my girl...
"Mum why'd you have to hit her, geez..."
Andariel....
Faith slowly opened her eyes, concentrating on the soft hand that was slowly smoothing it's way through her hair. She looked up and saw Dawn looking down at her, so beautiful.... so radiant... But she could see there was a look of worry there, and Faith knew she had to make things right between them. Tell her how she felt...
As Faith finally managed to push her way to her feet, Dawn steadying her on her right side, Andariel on her left, she fixated her gaze on the one, very unhappy blonde slayer standing a few feet from her.
Buffy glared at Faith before finally pointing her finger.
"You knocked up my sister!!"
Faith winced and touched a finger to her nose, revealing a tiny bit of blood.
"You knocked me out." Faith replied, smiling slightly. Buffy was exasperated.
"This isn't funny! We already have Willow pregnant, now we have to deal with you two?? And Willow!! You said that book was safe!!" Buffy turned to her lover who instantly become flustered.
"Woah hey! I didn't think anyone ever went snooping about in the attic, and... and.. reading stuff.... like old books that are clearly not poetry..." Willow replied, trying to defend herself. Buffy sighed.
"You guys do realise that we're stressing out here on protecting our own daughter from this evil that's coming, and now we have to worry about another kid that's on it's way." Buffy explained, a tone of worry evident in her voice.
"No one's hurting our baby." Faith stated firmly, surprising everyone in the room, but no one more than Dawn. The younger girl looked up at her dark haired slayer, who's face was set to resolve mode. Faith gave her girlfriend a gentle smile.
That had been the last thing anyone expected to hear from Faith, even Buffy's mouth had slightly opened in surprise and she now started to realise that Faith really had changed... for the better.
"Woah... hey.. ok... I think maybe we should all have a timeout... uhm I'm sure that Faith and Dawn have got alot to talk about now and Buffy, Andariel I wouldn't mind your help if you could come give me a hand... I want to try and pull up as much information as I can about these Glimmer guys... maybe get a lead."
As usual Willow was the one who calmed everyone down, gave them all a task to do and made them do it. Faith had never been so grateful of the redhead before.
"Thanks Red.". Faith said as the wiccan managed to shoo Buffy and Andariel out of the kitchen. They gave each other a little smile before Faith and Dawn were finally left to themselves.
"I'm sorry Buffy hit you." Dawn said regretfully as she wiped the rest of the blood from Faith's nostril. Faith grinned.
"Nah it's ok, I deserved it, should've used a condom..." she joked lightly. Dawn smiled and embraced her raven slayer tightly, needing to know now more than ever... that she was going to be there for her. They were quiet for quite a while before Faith finally spoke.
"I won't leave you.... or our baby.... not ever."
Dawn was slightly shocked... there was something different in her Slayer's voice... but what was it.... and then she knew.
She pulled away from Faith and looked into her eyes, and what she was met with was a sight she never thought she'd ever see. Faith was crying....
"Oh god baby... don't cry..." Dawn wiped the tears away and relaxed as Faith again buried her face into the smaller girl's soft brown hair, inhaling that sweet scent of strawberries and willing for the tears to stop flowing.
"I meant it when I said I wanted to have a family with you..." Faith managed to choke out. Dawn smiled.
"I know... I meant it too... I just didn't expect it so soon." she grinned as they pulled away from each other. Faith wiped the rest of her tears away as she looked into Dawn's deep blue eyes.
"I don't think I'm going to make a very good father, though." The raven slayer joked. Dawn laughed.
"That's ok I don't think I'm going to make a very good mum." the girl replied. Faith scoffed.
"Yeah right you're going to make a great mum for our kid." she replied.
The stood there in silence just admiring each other for quite some time.
'God she's beautiful, I'm so lucky' Faith thought to herself. Dawn blushed and looked away. The raven slayer looked puzzled.
'Dawn has a hot ass...' Faith thought quickly, to test her theory. Dawn shot her a look.
"No I ...." she stopped in mid sentence. That was when it hit them both.
"So that's the looks B and Red have been exchanging... it must have been the spell you read." Faith said out loud. Dawn frowned.
"So we're like... telepathic.. but only to each other?" Dawn asked.
"Only one way to find out..." Faith grinned mischeivously and quickly slipped a hand underneath the hem of Dawn's jeans, instantly bringing her fingers to her most sensitive spot.
'Oh... christ...'
'I read your mind baby' Faith teased
'Read this... Don't stop...'
Faith kissed Dawn passionately, and with that she pulled her hand out and led Dawn upstairs to finish their business from earlier.
Buffy, Willow and Andariel had watched the giggling couple as they'd run up the stairs as they'd been sitting at the wiccan's PC.
"I guess they got things sorted out then." Willow stated with a pleasant smile. Buffy shot her a warning glance, but then leant over and gave her wiccan a soft kiss on the cheek.
Andariel sat back. So much on her mind. She had no idea when things were going to start going downhill, and now they had TWO parents to look after. It was going to be a rough ride but no matter what, she had to make sure that she kept her family safe, even if that meant bringing out the big guns...
TBC