The Gift, Take Two

Title: The Gift, Take Two - Chapter 10: A Question Of Xander
Email: Dafmeister@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: The Buffyverse is owned by Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, Fox and a bunch of other people who aren't me. No infringement of copyright is intended blah blah blah...
Distribution: Faithfanfiction.net, Mystic Muse, Shades Of Grey, Slayer's Fanfic Archive, A Sorta Fairytale, Oralfxatn, anyone else who tells me first.
Rating: R
Timing: End of Season 5
Feedback: Yes please, it really helps keep my morale up when my muse is being difficult.
Spoilers: Everything up to the end of Season 5
Summary: Faith is free and legal again. Now everyone has to try to move on with their lives.
Author's notes: Huge thanks to Kaz, beta extraordinaire, and to Leila, my friend and sounding board.

*****

"Hi, Anya, thanks for coming." Buffy held open the front door and waved the former demon through to the lounge. "Was Giles okay with you leaving the store in the middle of the day?"

"I told Giles I'd seen a dominatrix outfit in that Goth store on Robson Avenue, and I wanted to get it before Xander finished work. He started stammering and turning that funny purple colour - he couldn't get me out of the door fast enough." Anya sat down on the couch and cast a slightly apprehensive eye over the pile of folders and paperwork on the coffee table. "Anyway, it's pretty quiet at the moment. Sunnydale people just don't seem to understand how the capitalist economy works. So what's the big mystery, and why didn't you ask Willow or Xander to help with it?"

Buffy perched herself on the corner of the table, the slightly forced smile with which she had greeted Anya fading away. "I've, uh, I've got a problem, and I thought you would be the best person to ask about it." She picked up a file.

*****

Giles looked up as the bell over the door jingled. "Welcome to the Ma- oh, hello Willow, I didn't expect to see you. I thought you and Tara would be enjoying your free time now that college has finished for the summer."

Willow tossed her bag onto the research table as she replied. "She'll probably be here soon. My mom wanted the two of them to have a 'getting to know you' talk while we're staying at the house. You might want to keep the chamomile tea handy - maybe the scotch too."

"Yes, of course." Giles had only met Sheila Rosenberg a handful of times, but the woman always left him feeling in need of a stiff drink.

"Thanks, Giles." Willow beamed at him. "Hey, do you mind if I have a look through some of the magic books while I'm here?"

Concern washed over Giles' face as he looked across at the young witch. "Of course not, Willow. Is something wrong?"

"Huh? Oh, no, nothing's wrong!" Willow said. "It's just, with no school and no Big Bads on the horizon, I thought I'd dust off a few old projects."

"Oh, well, help yourself to the library. Is there anything in particular you're looking into?"

Willow's eyes dropped to the floor, and for a moment she was the nervous sixteen-year-old Giles had first met. "Well, I was, uh, I was kinda hoping to find something I could use to restore Amy. I haven't really tried anything for months, and now I have the chance..."

"Yes, of course. You might want to start with the Codex Aemellianus. It has a lot to say about the older shape-shifting magics."

"I'll give it a shot." Willow skipped up the staircase to the balcony, pulled a heavy tome from the shelves and began flipping through it. Restoration, restoration... why couldn't one of these guys have invented the index?

*****

"So, basically, you're telling me I'm broke?" Buffy asked, laying the last of the folders back on the coffee table.

"You're not broke - not yet. But you do have a definite money problem and it's going to get worse." Anya sat back and looked over the notes she had taken one more time. "Your mom made arrangements so that you and Dawn would be secure, at least until you graduated college, but her medical bills pretty much wiped all that out. With what you're paying to keep this house running, I figure you've got three, maybe four months before..."

"Before I'm completely screwed?" Buffy stood up and began pacing. "God, I never thought I'd miss being in high school."

"What about your dad, could he help you?"

Buffy snorted derisively at the mention of her father. "He still hasn't replied to the message we sent him when Mom first got sick. I don't think he even remembers we exist."

Anya easily noticed the pain underlying the venom in Buffy's tone - she really wasn't as insensitive as she let on. "Maybe the monks did something to his memory to keep him out of the way while Glory was around."

"Or maybe he doesn't care about us anymore." Buffy shook herself slightly, forcing herself out of the foul mood she was falling into. "I guess I'm gonna just have to get a job. So much for going back to college next semester..."

The two young women were silent for a few awkward moments, neither knowing what to say. Finally, Anya picked up her bag and stood. "I'd better be getting back."

"Thanks for coming, Anya. At least now I know what I'm up against." Buffy walked with her to the door.

"How's the evil twin doing?" Anya whispered to her, inclining her head toward the stairs.

"Anya, please..."

Anya sighed melodramatically. "All right, how is your friend and comrade-in-arms?"

"Going quietly stir crazy, I think. She's stuck upstairs most of the time - the doctors told her to stay off her feet as much as possible."

"Is she going to be like this much longer?"

"She's having an x-ray in a couple of days. It's supposed to be just a status check, but I'm hoping she'll be healed enough for the cast to come off." Buffy lowered her voice. "I think she's just frustrated. Now that she's going to be an active Slayer again, I think she just wants to get on with it."

"Good. As long as she leaves Xander alone, we'll be fine. I may not be a vengeance demon any more, but I still know people."

Buffy smiled slightly at the threat. "I don't think you need to worry. Faith's not really interested in return visits."

Anya nodded silently, and opened the door. As she walked away down the road, she began mulling over an idea.

*****

Buffy closed the door and headed up the stairs. The door of what had been her bedroom was wide open, as had become normal since Faith had moved in - whether it was because Faith was trying to show she wasn't hiding anything or because she simply liked knowing she could leave the room any time she wanted, Buffy didn't know. The dark Slayer was, as usual, lying on the bed, flipping channels on the small TV in a vain effort to find something that could hold her attention for more than a few seconds.

Faith looked up as she caught sight of Buffy. "Hey, B."

"Hi. I was just gonna make some lunch. What do you feel like?"

"I'll have whatever you're having. You know me, I'll eat anything." Buffy was turning away when Faith spoke again. "B."

"Yeah?"

"I heard you and Demon-girl talking, about the whole cash sitch."

"Don't worry, I'll think of something."

"I can help. I've got some money put away."

Buffy looked at her in surprise. "How?"

Faith's eyes dropped as she answered. "The Mayor. He set up an account for me, back when..." She bit her lip and continued. "I blew a bunch of it on stuff I didn't need, but there should be a few grand left. I wasn't planning on using it again, but if you need it..."

Buffy stood silent for a moment as the thought of what even a couple of thousand dollars could mean warred with the memory of what Faith had done to gain the money. Finally she opted for the most neutral response she could muster. "I'll keep it in mind."

"Okay."

*****

"Giles! I'm back!" Anya yelled as she opened the door of the Magic Box.

Giles winced, his ears ringing. "Yes, thank you Anya. I actually hadn't made the connection when you came through the door."

"Aren't you going to ask me how my shopping trip went?"

"I think, in this case, ignorance may well be bliss." Giles started cleaning his glasses rather vigourously.

Glancing around the shop, Anya spotted Willow up on the balcony, engrossed in one of the books. "Oh, hey, Willow." No response. "Willow? Willow!" The witch's head shot up, a surprised expression on her face. Anya glared at her. "I said 'hey, Willow'. I was trying to be friendly."

"I'm sorry. Hi, Anya." Willow replied, her attention already drifting back to the book in her lap.

"What is it with people?" Anya moaned. "They tell you to be more friendly, they tell you to act more human, then when you make an effort, what do you get? Nothing!"

Giles sighed. "It's all right, Anya. We've all noticed the effort you've been making recently. Willow's just... engrossed in her research."

"Research? There's research?" Anya looked up at him, worried. "Is something happening? Is there going to be another apocalypse? Because, I've told you before, I'm not doing another apocalypse until after Thanksgiving at the earliest."

"It's nothing like that. Willow's just looking for a way to help Amy."

Anya's brow furrowed in confusion. "Who's Amy?"

"I'm sorry, I thought you knew." Giles gently guided Anya toward the counter. "Amy was a friend of Willow's in high school, a witch. She turned herself into a rat to avoid being burned at the stake a mob of the townspeople during their senior year, and Willow hasn't been able to break the spell."

"Wow, I'm sorry I missed that one." Anya smiled for a moment, then her eyes shot wide open. "Wait a minute! Witch-burning, angry townsfolk... was there a demon that appeared like two little kids?"

"Yes, how did y-" Giles didn't get a chance to finish.

"What happened to it?" Anya snapped, her expression more intense than Giles could ever remember seeing it.

"Well, I-I found a spell to reveal the demon's true form and Buffy killed it."

"Yes!" Anya pumped her fist in the air. "Hallie is going to freak! I mean, there were rumours, but there've been rumours before. No one actually believed..."

Giles was hopelessly lost. "Anya, what are you talking about? Who's Hallie?"

"Halfreck. Old friend. Vengeance demon, specialises in neglected and abused children. She's had it in for that thing since it started the Children's Crusade!"

"A demon was responsible for that?"

Anya rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Giles! A bunch of kids march off across Europe to capture Jerusalem? You really think humans are stupid enough to come up with that one by themselves?"

Giles just looked at her, one eyebrow raised questioningly.

"Good point. So Buffy killed it, huh? And now Willow's trying to fix her friend?"

"Indeed. Now that she has some free time, she decided to make a concerted effort at reversing the spell. I recommended she start with the Codex Aemellianus, and she hasn't moved from that spot since."

"That's nice." Anya looked up at Willow, whose fingers were gently tapping the black leather covering the book as she turned a page. I could have sworn the binding on the Codex was red. Oh well...

*****

When Xander arrived at the Magic Box after work, he found the whole of the Scooby Gang (or at least, the people he considered to be the Scooby Gang) already there. Willow and Tara were helping Dawn with a post-final assignment, or 'big waste of time' as Dawn was referring to it, Anya and Giles were tidying up the store, and Buffy was just coming out of the back room after a workout session.

"Hey! You're early!" Anya skipped over and kissed him, before suddenly jerking back. "You didn't get fired, did you?"

"No, Ahn, I didn't get fired." Xander replied in his most patient voice. "We had to close down early. There's been a problem getting some of the structural supports from the supplier, so we're pretty much stalled until that gets fixed. It could be a week before we can start up again."

"I can't believe they're actually building another school on top of the Hellmouth." Buffy grumbled. "I mean, I'm a professional Hellmouth guardian, you'd think my opinion would count for something."

"Well, it might, if you could actually tell anyone about it." Tara offered.

"So, does this mean you get to slack off for a few days?" Dawn asked.

Xander shook his head. "Actually, no. The boss found a quick job we can do while we're waiting. The city council finally decided Glory's tower's a danger to public safety, so we start dismantling it tomorrow." Xander was silent for a moment, thinking his next words over. "Speaking of new beginnings, Anya and I have something to tell you."

Anya looked up at him in surprise; she hadn't expected this tonight. "Now?"

Xander looked deep into her eyes and nodded. "I think we waited long enough." He turned to face the others. "We're getting married."

There was a moment of stunned silence, then total pandemonium broke out around the table. Buffy and Willow raced to be the first to hug Xander, nearly knocking him off his feet in the process. Giles settled for slapping the young man on the back as he went to hug Anya. Tara broke into one of her radiant smiles as she, too, embraced the bride-to-be, while Dawn opted to pile in behind Buffy and Willow.

"When did this happen?" Buffy asked as she let go of her old friend.

Xander blushed slightly. "I actually proposed in the basement here, just before we went in against Glory, but with everything that happened that night it didn't seem like the right time to tell you all, and then we just... kept not telling you. Then I came in tonight, saw you all here together and I thought 'What the hell are we waiting for?'"

"Quite right, too." Giles remarked, clapping the young man on the back. "We should celebrate. Anywhere but the Bronze."

"Willy's it is, then!" Xander quipped, laughing at the look of exasperation on Giles' face.

Buffy looked over at Dawn. "Our place? We don't have much party stuff, but we could stop off on the way..."

"You don't think we'd be disturbing Faith?" Tara asked, gathering her things together.

Giles relied, "Actually, I think she might welcome a little disturbance at the moment."

Xander was about to object, but he caught the silent plea in Buffy's eyes. "Okay, sounds like we have a plan!"

As they all headed out the door, Anya asked, "Does this mean I get to wear the ring now?"

"Yes, Ahn, you get to wear the ring now..."

*****

Faith was reclining on the couch, her injured leg propped up on the coffee table, when the front door opened and Dawn burst in. "Hey, Bitesize! Big sis with you?"

Dawn, who had been about to run up the stairs, turned suddenly at the sound of Faith's voice, her expression wavering between excitement and annoyance. "What are you doing down here? You know you're not supposed to use the stairs when there's no one else in the house. What if you fell? Huh?"

"Dawn, my leg doesn't even hurt any more. We both know I'm just playing along with the docs to keep B happy, so just ease off, okay?"

"I know, I know, I just don't want to see you in a heap on the ground again."

Faith's reply was cut off before it began as Buffy led the others into the house, carrying several bags of drinks, snacks and decorations. "Whoa, did I forget somebody's birthday?"

Buffy and Xander were both about to answer but Anya beat them to it. "We're getting married!" she burst out, her engagement ring glittering in the light as she waved her left hand at Faith.

For a moment, Faith was taken completely aback, but she soon rallied. "Okay, you better be talking about you and Xan 'cause, no offence, but you're not my type."

"Very funny, Faith." Xander retorted, while Anya just looked confused for a moment.

"Hey, I got to take my laughs where I can get them." Faith smirked. "Seriously, congratulations."

"Uh, guys?" Willow cut in from the back of the group. "Heavy bags, not getting lighter..."

"What? Oh, right." Buffy began moving some of the bags into the kitchen.

An hour later the living room was decked out with streamers. Anya was regaling Buffy, Dawn and Giles with the story of how Xander had proposed (complete with more detail than any of them felt was necessary) and Tara and Willow were dancing together, lost in their own little world.

Xander was in the kitchen microwaving some popcorn when he heard something behind him. Turning around, he realised it had been the sound of Faith's crutches on the kitchen floor. "You want something?"

"Just needed some air." Faith replied, heading over to the back door.

"Fine." Xander turned back to the microwave.

Faith took hold of the door handle, but stopped short of opening the door. "I meant what I said."

"What?"

Faith kept facing away as she spoke. "I meant it. I'm happy for you."

A humourless laugh escaped Xander's lips. "Is that supposed to mean something?"

"Maybe. I know you hate me, I know I hurt you, but-"

"What, you're going to apologise now?" Xander cut in, his voice scathing.

For the first time, Faith turned to face him. "Would it help?"

"Since when does it matter to you, anyway? You've never cared what anyone thought of you."

You have no idea what I care about... "I care because Buffy cares. She thinks I've got a chance here, but it can't work if she has to chose between me and you guys. I'll leave town before I let that happen, but I really don't want to go, so I have to at least try to make things right here."

"So very noble of you."

Faith pulled the door open. "Go be with your friends, Xander." She was outside and closing the door before he could reply.

Out on the porch, Faith gingerly sat down on the steps. Fumbling in her pocket, she pulled out a crumpled pack of cigarettes and a lighter. The acrid flavour of the smoke filled her mouth, but couldn't drive out the bad taste Xander had left behind.

A few minutes later, she heard the back door open, but ignored it.

"You know those things will kill you." The fact that it was Anya speaking came as a surprise, but Faith still didn't look at her.

"I started in jail, just for something to do. Besides, I'm a Slayer. You think I'll live long enough for cancer to get me?"

"You upset Xander." It didn't take a Slayer's acute senses to detect the undercurrent of naked hostility on Anya's voice.

Faith took a long drag on the cigarette before responding. "Yeah, I'm good at that."

Anya sneered. "No, Spike is good at it. You're an expert."

"What do you want, Anya?"

"Just stay away from him, okay?" Anya's voice was harsh, almost shrill. "We're happy together, we're getting married, you can't have him!"

Faith finally turned to look at her. "Have him? What are you talking about? You think I want another roll in the sack with him?"

"I've been told all about you, Faith! The whole 'Get some, get gone' philosophy. Well, you're not going to be 'getting some' from Xander, not this time!"

"Anya, I do not want Xander! And even if I did, do you actually think he'd ever touch me again?"

"No, but... that's not the point!"

Faith just stared for a moment, then she suddenly burst out laughing. "Oh my God! You actually think every girl that meet's Xander want's to get his pants off, don't you?"

"They do! You had sex with him, Willow and Cordelia were both heading that way... okay Buffy never tried anything, but she wouldn't notice a good catch if you nailed him to her..."

Faith tossed her cigarette on the ground and stamped it out. "Okay, look, let's just get this straight now. Yeah, I screwed Xander, and it was fun. And yeah, the only thing I regret about it was kicking him out the door the way I did. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't done that, but it was more than two years ago." She hauled herself to her feet and picked up her crutches. "You can't change the past. You either deal with it, or you don't. The most I'm ever going to want from Xander is to be his friend, and I don't think that's ever going to happen, so just take a chill pill and go cheer up your fiancée." With that, Faith headed back indoors, leaving a rather confused former vengeance demon behind her.