Catch you on the flipside

Lonnie turned as she stopped. Waiting for Buffy to catch up to her, it was amazing after all this time the carnage that had been civilization still struck them in gross appreciation.



The crumbled buildings and cracked roads, the skeletons and corpses that dotted the land, and worst of all perhaps was the way any life that was spotted were of the rougher tougher demon species. Luckily she and Buffy managed to shy away from their attentions. As her blonde haired mate reached her side Lonnie reached out and gently took her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze.



Lonnie turned and continued down there course.

They had been traveling five days and still had seven if they were lucky before they would reach their destination. A previously active slayer outpost that hadn’t been heard from in almost a month. Normally protocol would dictate that they continued on as if the outpost had never existed but with the wavering spirits and morale as well as the severe decline in there stocked goods they were hiking to the cabin.



Lonnie continued on, half distracted by her thoughts as she carefully scanned her surroundings. Buffy had been extremely quiet ever since they had left the last town. The potent scent of death that hung around it had awed even Lonnie who had grown up in a world where villages rose and fell at a moment’s notice. Where death was a casual and sometimes daily occurrence.



“Lonnie.” Buffy said softly. Lonnie turned and regarded her mate carefully.

“Yes, what is it?” Lonnie asked.



“How long do you think people survive out here, without anyone protecting them?” Buffy looked up, her eyes tearing up. Confused Lonnie looked down, noticing for the first time that Buffy was clutching a ratted teddy bear, blood matted its fur and Buffy was clutching it so tightly her hand were white from the strain.



“Buffy….let go of the bear” Lonnie reached out to coax her fingers loose. Buffy wrenched the bear back and retreated a couple feet.



“This was a child’s bear, it couldn’t have belonged to anyone older than Axel and while all our loved ones are safe inside some magical fortress these people…children are left alone in the dark and cold. It’s not fair Lon” Buffy’s eyes watered and Lonnie pulled her into a tight embrace.



“I know Blondie. Someday it’ll stop.”



Buffy pulled back and stared into the forest green eyes of her wife. “Do you really think so?”



“Yes, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel as Mr. Giles used to say. Someday life will come back to this place and our children will grow up knowing peace and happiness instead of fear and hunger…I promise.” Smiling Lonnie leaned down and kissed Buffy. As had become practice over the years, she willed her mates body to relax into hers. When she did Lonnie pulled back and gently stroked Buffy’s cheek. “Let’s go make camp for the night. I really don’t want to be taken by surprise.”



Sasha stared in blatant shock as Kennedy stood brushing off her jeans and spitting dirt out of her mouth. “Lord…didn’t think time travel was so painful…so Sasha…where are we? Or better yet WHEN are we?” Kennedy asked, thoroughly enjoying the Gods stunned absent stare.



“What…what are you doing here? You weren’t meant to be here!” Sasha snarled. Kennedy rolled her eyes.



“You’re not as good at that growling part when you don’t have fangs…just so you know. “ Holding up her finger to illustrate a second point the slayer kept going “ and secondly your human and barely know how to use the restroom so despite whatever dust bowl you landed us in your going to need some sort of help…so here I am.” Kennedy tried and failed to grin at the outraged expression on the hell Gods face.





Huffing and stomping to the ledge Sasha momentarily fanaticized about throwing her child’s mother off a cliff for the sheer stupidity of this stunt. Then remembered that Coop had said just how fond children were of the mother. Turning she looked at the dirty slayer. “Were in Atlantis, forgotten Empire of the ancient world”

Kennedy’s eyes grew large. “NO WAY! That’s awesome!”



“No its not, because now instead of doing this on my own I have to make sure you don’t fuck it up. I have thirty earth days Kennedy and I’m supposed to cure the virus that not even that red headed witch could figure out.” Sasha was fairly seething and Kennedy just rolled her eyes.



“I’m sorry, but like hell was I going to let you run off into a whole pile of stupid without bothering to tell anyone. Sheri likes you, Nikos loves you. And I….well you don’t piss me off ALL the time. So shut up and let’s go.”



Raya smiled as Faith stealthily climbed into bed beside her, turning she regarded her lover and wife. The youthful beauty had grown into a gorgeously formed woman. Raya let Faith cuddle into her shoulder, happy with eh contact. Ever since Skye’s return faith had been more like her old self. Telling jokes and playing with the children, the last few hunts had had her mate returning unharmed which was a first in a long time.



Raya felt a pang of sorrow as she gently stroked the long clawed scars under Faiths shirt, or when she saw the diagonal scar that stretched across Faiths brow. “I love you” Faith whispered.



Raya smiled and leaned down. Gently growling into Faiths neck. “So do I my mate.”

“I still wake up and forget she is here. “ Faiths voice broke and Raya pulled her tighter.



“She is, we have a second chance Faith. It may not be in the world we imagined but it’s something isn’t it?” Raya searched her wife’s face, leaning back when faith turned towards her.



“We do, but what if we lose her again?”



Rays sighed and looked down. “I don’t know if I could survive that. But I know I will do everything in my power to keep her safe. She’s our baby Faith no matter how old she gets.”



“I know, I never really realized how much the twins take after her. Adrian even snores like she does.” Faith smiled softly at the memory of the night she had made that discovery.



She had just come in from a long hunt to Skye sprawled out on the couch with Adrian and Taryn tucked around her and Ryan curled under her, Skye and Adrian snoring in the same grimacing pattern.



“Do you think it’ll ever stop? The fighting and just…this whole world?” Faith asked. Raya turned sad eyes to the door.



“I cannot believe that I have lived to see so much, that we have survived so much for it to end this way. Somehow we will find the answer.”



Sasha peeked around the side of a large olive tree, taking in the small house, a baker from the looks of it. The massive stone ovens were bright with flames within. A goat was tethered to a small post while a young boy in a toga danced around brandishing a wooden sword.



Stepping out of the shadows she felt Kennedy fall into step behind her, “You there.” She called out. The boy jolted and took a cautious step back. “Are your parents here”



“Yes.” The boy said softly looking towards the house. Sasha looked up when a large man who looked much like Horus stepped out.



“Can I help you strangers?” He asked, his voice surprisingly jovial.



“ I am a traveler and this is my companion. Could you direct me to the city. Particularly, the palace.” Sasha said firmly. Kennedy was still looking around in shock at the primitive home and burning ovens.



“Yes, it is a day’s journey to the east. If you would like you make sleep here and have a meal with us.” This offer was made primarily out of ancient custom.



Sasha wanted to decline but her damned stomach began growling at her at the mention of food, looking beside her she studied the slayer. She did look a bit worse for wear, some rest wouldn’t hurt.



“Yes thank you. My companion is Kennedy and I am….I am Euricedoes.” Sasha didn’t want to use her given name since its meaning in Atlantean was child of the furies.



“ I am Marcos. My son, Astropolis.” The man’s voice took a noticeable change when naming his son. Sasha smiled at the pride and love she heard.

TBC