Through it all

Saint Louis, Missouri -2047
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Willow stood patiently in front of the Hard Rock Café waiting for her guest to arrive. Tapping her foot nervously she hesitently scanned the crowds for the fifth time in less than ten minutes. Turning when she saw Xander join her, coffee in each hand she smiled gratefully and took one.

“Anything?” Xander asked smiling at the anxious squint that his oldest and dearest friend wore on her face.

“No…not yet. She said three right? I mean…wait…there she is. Is that her Xander?” Willow asked, standing straighter as they both watched a lone dark figure make her way through the crowd. Even over sixty years of age she barely looked a day over thirty. Thanks to what had been unknown slayer powers.

See…no slayer had ever lived past twenty-five but imagine everyones shock when once all the slayers were called the survivors stopped aging at twenty-seven and proved to be immortal and unfazed by all injuries save decapatation.

So the two all too human scoobs watched as the rogue slayer came through the crowds looking half there age. Smiling Willow was pleased at least to see that Faith seemed same as always. The same cocky expression was seen on her face, faded brown leather jacket, jeans and a worn shirt was the slayers attire. The old Army duffel slung casually over her shoulder even seemed as unstoppable as the slayers spirit.

The slayer stopped in front of her old allies and quite possibly the only real friends she had ever had.

“Hey Red….hey Xan, hows OOF” Faith staggered slightly when Willow rushed forward and hugged the brunette so suddenly she was taken aback. “Umm…missed you too.” Faith blushed and smiled awkwardly at Xander but did nothing to push Willow off her.

“Were so glad you came…umm…the cars this way.” Willow said once she had managed to compose herself.

The three turned and walked towards the exit and into the parking lot.

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Faith stood outside the beat up old SUV and stared up at the large ranch style house befor eher…fucker was huge. Rustic sprawling design complete with a feirce looking gate and iron fence which according to Red was also lined with a strong warding spell.

Sighing she stepped up onto the stairs, ignoring the hsuhed whispers and curious looks that the young girls sent her. It had been….God twenty years at least since she had come here. Frankly…shed be lucky if B didn’t kill her on sight…and from what little Xander said on the way here she got the impression Buffy didn’t even know she was coming.

Upon first sight of the entrance way she forced her self from going wide eyed at the vaulted ceilings and practical and tasteful décor of the house. Turning to the fireplace she winced at the most poigant memory.

*Nona, you well? Nona want Ilsa or Ilsa go to sleep?* Faith smiled and twitched as a fissure went through her telling her that Ilsa was shifting across her skin again. Breathing deeply she calmed her erratic hearbeat so not to cause Ilsa to come out and eat whatever was in sight in defense of her master.

“No Ilsa it’s alright.” Faith whispered quietly. Picking up a tacky orange vase on top of the fireplace she studied the small array of pictures that she saw there.

Turning when her slayer tingles went off…in a way that could only mean B.

Swallowing hard she turned and felt her jaw drop when she didn’t see B. No…it was some blonde haired girl staring at her in bewilderment. She was a good looking kid, probably around eighteen or so.
“Are you Faith?” Blondie asked.

“Yeah…you going to take me to see B? Or do I have to find her myself?” Faith asked curtly.

Blondie was queit for a moment, staring at her strangely before nodding softly. “Yeah shes upstairs. Come on.”

Faith followed the girl up stairs and down a long hallway before they stopped at what seemed to be some sort of office door….honestly the words Ms. Dawn Summers printed out gave it away.

Faith swallowed hard and prayed like hell Ilsa stayed asleep. That’s all she needed…showing ALL her cards at once.

Stepping inside the office she looked at the figure behind the desk. Fighting the sudden and overwhelming urge to flee…no instead she walked in and calmly sat down in a ridiculously stiff chair and stared in surprise at Dawn.

The once gangly teenager had aged gracefully and was stunning. She had to be well into her thirties Faith guessed.


Looking up Dawn smiled at the blonde slayer and motioned with her head that she sit down. Blondie did. Faith frowned….why was she staying here?

“Faith…I wish this was happening in more…well I wish you were coming back here sooner. Alots changed…and well. I have some bad news.”
Faith felt her stomach clench. Inhaling sharply she dindt even notice that Ilsa was shooting across her skin like a caged animal. The only constant thought that she seemed to have was ‘Please anything but Buffy’

“Buffys been taken. We don’t know who or how….she was on patrol in Rome three months ago and we lost contact. Willows scans and shes is alive but we can’t find her anywhere.” Dawn said tiredly and that was the first time that Faith had noticed that Dawn seem damned wore out.
“Why did you call me in for this?” Faith snapped.

“Because call me crazy but one I thought youd like to help, two you are quite possibly the one fucking person that could find her and three…apparently I was dumb enough to think youd moved on from all that crap that happened before you left.”

Scoffing Faith looked around her and back to the kid. Looking back to Dawn. “ We had a fling Dawn…nothing worht getting your ovaries in a twist about. She got married to whats his face so its all in the past.” Fuck…twenty years and that shit still hurt.

“Faith. I know you wanted to be left alone and we have left you alone. IF there was any other way to find her….we would. But your it.” Dawn whispered.

Squirming she felt her slayer sense go off. Fuck…turning she shot the blonde kid a glare and turned back to Dawn. “Who the fuck is the kid?”
After what seemed like a moment of deep thought Dawn pinched the bridge of her nose and looked up at the kid. “Noah…come here honey.”
Faith watched in confusion as Noah stood up and mutely walked over to Dawn.

“Faith…this is Buffys daughter. Buffy was pregnant when she got married.” Dawn said softly.

Faith fought down the ball of anger as long as she could which was probably around ten seconds tops before she shot out of the chair so fast that it toppled over. Before she could stop her she felt Ilsa separate from her back and shoot to seven feet tall of red and orange demon, large bat like wings extended menacingly and glowing white eyes completed the heart stopping image of her demon.

Faith had a moment to react before she shot her arm out to stop Ilsa from taking off one of the womens heads.

“STOP! Ilsa return dammit!” Faith said sharper than she meant too. Ilsa assessed the two humans beofre looking over at Faith with what in this form could only be hurt.

“Nona in trouble, Ilsa stop baddies and eats them, yes?” Faith rolled her eyes and pulled off her jackey and pulled up her sleeve.

Ilsa rolled her eyes and with one more reproachful glance at the stunned pair in front of them shifted into black mist and flew onto Faiths arm and formed the shape of a menacing dragon tattoo. Faith flexed her arm to ease the tickling achiness that accompanied her whenever Ilsa returned to her.

Turning to the pair she glared at Dawn and then unwillingly to Noah. God she did look like B. fucking Christ. Faith looked up to the ceiling before nodding.

“Alright…ill help you. On the condition no one hurts my demon….got it? You got your friends and shit and I got mine.”
Mutely Dawn nodded and Noah just sat there staring at her with eerily famliar expression on her face.

TBC
Comments?

Having writers block on my other story so figured id start something else up to see hwo it goes.