This little girl

Okay, I will eventually get to the smut. My mind just sort of runs wild and this is where I end up. Please review if you like. Also excuse in errors, I will fix them later!

Hope you like.

Chapter 25

Faith’s POV

Man, fuck this asshole coming in here and… I seriously cannot feel my legs at the present moment. Was me coming back what started all of this? He couldn’t be serious. What if something was going to happen to her? This was too much.

“B…” I tried to speak.

She held up her hand, “Not now Faith.”

She was pissed. I don’t know why. Maybe because of Sarah. I mean, I never got around to telling her about all of it. I suppose in a roundabout way she’d asked, but it was water under the bridge. Sarah, that fucking bitch, I am going to kill her. I would happily go back to jail.

B turned to Riley, “So what do we do?”

Angel spoke up, “What exactly is this thing after Annie?”

Riley shook his head, “It has something to do with the First. I know that for certain.”

Buffy grimaced, “We fucking beat him. Jesus. Can he not get a clue?”

Riley shook his head, “No. You beat his…”

“Army. Yeah I know. This is just a little frustrating.” She looked at me, “Not to mention terrifying as hell.”

I didn’t want to think about this. I couldn’t. She’s just a kid for Christ’s sake. She doesn’t even know how to properly tie her shoes. And she is supposed to beat an all-evil entity.

“Where do we go?” Buffy asked Riley.

“Somewhere safe,” He said. Jesus, this guy was a genius.

“Where the fuck is safe from the freaking First?” I was ready to kill him. “You got any idea. Because we figured out the last time that you couldn’t outrun the motherfucker.”

“Mom you’ve got to watch your mouth,” Annie said, walking through the front door.

My god. She was my baby. I could not let something happen to her. Did I cause all of this? She was smiling at me. Why did she have to be so damn adorable?

I picked her up, “I’m sorry honey.”

She bristled and I supposed she could sense something was wrong. “Hey monkey man,” she said to Riley.

He smiled at her. Asshole. “How’s it going Annie?”

She nodded. “Did you tell them why you were here?”

He looked as surprised as we did. How did she know why he was here?

She wiggled out my arms and went and sat on the couch. B and I followed suit. The others were whispering to each other in the foyer. Cordy looked ashen. I suppose Willow told her what was up.

She looked from me to B. “Something bad is coming.”

Buffy frowned. “How do you know that?”

She put her hand on her stomach. “I feel it here. In my tummy. It’s really bad. Not like vampire bad. Or demon bad. Badder.”

“Worse,” Buffy corrected. Good to know she’s worried about the kid’s grammar. Damn.

“I don’t feel anything,” I said. I turned to look at B.

She shook her head, “Me neither.”

Annie shook her head as well, “No you don’t understand. It’s not for you. It’s for me. It wants to get me.” She seemed so matter of fact about all of this. It was fascinating, terrifying and a tad bit creepy.

“Aren’t you scared?” I asked her.

She nodded, “Yeah. I’m afraid it will hurt one of you.”

I looked at B. Why did she wonder that? I know she knows she is strong and all. But she’s still a kid. She shouldn’t be dealing with this shit.

“Don’t worry baby. We’re not going to let anything happen to you,” Buffy said. I nodded my head in agreement.

She jumped up, “NO! You don’t understand! You can’t fight it. None of you can. It’ll hurt you.”

This was getting to be too much. Did she think she was supposed to be protecting us?

She looked like she was going to cry. She put her hand on my knee. “I know it’s scary but you have to be brave like me. ‘Member how you always told me to brave. Now you have to be the brave one. ‘Kay?”

Buffy stood up, “How long do we have Riley?”

Before he answered, Annie spoke up. “It’s not here yet. It’s not ready. It’s not coming for a little bit. But I can’t go anywhere. I have to wait on it. That’s what I am supposed to do.”

“How do you know that?” B asked.

“I feeled it,” Annie answered.

This was killing me. “Annie you don’t know what’s best for you. We have to leave. Before it gets here.” B was nodding with me.

She nodded at us, “You do have to leave. If you stay here it will hurt you.”

My head was spinning. This was quickly freaking me out. But I was certain of one thing. There was no way in hell I was going anywhere. Not without the two people I loved more than anything.

Buffy’s POV

My head was spinning. What are we supposed to do? Just sit here and wait for it? Or go and let Annie wait for it? I highly doubt that would ever happen.

“I’m confused,” Cordelia said walking up. She looked at Riley, “I’m sorry, forgive me Cordelia Chase.”

He took her hand and shook it.

She smiled at him, “Now what the hell do you mean something is coming for her?”

He tried to explain again.

Kennedy shook her head, “She’s too little. Doesn’t the First know that?”

Willow sighed, “I am doubting he cares that much how old she is.”

Faith groaned, “Of course he does. It makes perfect sense. Attack her when she’s young. She’s vulnerable.” She looked near tears. She was scared to death. She couldn’t keep that lilt out of her voice. Her hands were shaking so much that she slammed them down on the counter, “Fuck! This is insane. This has got to be some sort of slayer dream.” She looked at me, “Right B?”

I nodded. Oh please. Please let this be a dream.

Annie sighed, “It’s not a dream, Mommy. It’s real.” She walked up and wrapped her arms around my leg. I bent over and picked her up. She smelled like strawberry bubblegum. I buried my face in her hair. Maybe if I just closed my eyes. This is too much.

Faith came up and wrapped her arms around me, “It’s gonna be okay B.”

I could tell by her voice that she didn’t believe herself.

Angel cleared his throat. “Let me put some feelers out. See what’s going on.” He looked to Riley, “You better know what you’re talking about here.”

Riley shook his head, “I am risking my whole career as well as my marriage to be here. I just couldn’t… I couldn’t let this happen. All I am trying to do is help here.”

He was only trying to help. I smiled at him, “We know that Riley. It’s just a bit much.”

He smiled at me and put his arm around me. “I’m here to help. Just consider me at your disposal.” He winked at me, “I always worked better with you.”

I smiled at him. I could feel the daggers Faith was metaphorically throwing us. I firmly believe that if she had had the literal ones she would have been throwing those as well. I just can’t deal with the jealousy now. This is too much for her to…

“Faith,” I said. “Can I see you outside?”

She nodded and followed me out, “You are going to have to get over him being here.” I told her.

“I don’t like him,” she spat out.

“And why is that? Because I used to date him? Because he brought news of impending doom? Why?”

“I don’t know B,” she sighed and sat down on a ledge near the door. “He just gives me the creeps.”

“I’m doubting if he is oh so very fond of you either.”

“Well I don’t fucking care what he is oh so very fond of.” She put her face in her hands. “What are we going to do?”

I sat down beside her, “What we always do. Fight.”

She shook her head, “This isn’t the same. And you know it. I can’t distance myself from this fight. My heart is in it too much. This is not about defeating. It’s about protecting.”

I sighed, “I know. But… well what are we supposed to do? We can’t let this thing near her. And we can’t let our emotions get the better of us. So we are sort of stuck.”

She closed her eyes, “Where’s Giles?”

I shook my head, “I don’t know. He said he had to go meet someone about something. You know how he is.” Something dawned on me, “You don’t think he knows do you?”

She shrugged, “I don’t know.”

She started to cry. It was just a little at first. So much so that I could barely discern it. She turned away from me. But her shoulders were moving, up and down, and I could hear her swallowing. I laid my head on her back.

“I love you Faithie,” I whispered.

Wrong thing to say. She started crying harder. I wrapped my arms around her. I don’t know if I can take her breaking right now. She has every right to do so, but…I don’t know. Everything seemed to be quickly spinning out of control.

“What if this is my fault?” She whispered, so low I almost didn’t hear her.

I kissed the back of her neck, “No. Don’t start that. It’s no one’s fault. We just have to figure everything out.”

“Well until we do, I’m not letting her out of my sight.”

Right there with ya, sweetie.

Faith’s POV

“I am not sleeping with you two.” Annie said, stamping her damn little feet.

“Why not?” Buffy said. She was running her fingers through her hair. She looked exhausted. Weird how danger looming just off the horizon does that to a person.

“Because it’s gross. And I am a big girl. And you have to touch my leg all night. And mom keeps waking up and and and… turning over and stuff.” She shook her head, “I don’t want to.”

I looked down at her, “This is not about what you want.”

She shook her head again, “You don’t understand. It’s not coming yet. And you can’t do anything to stop it even if it was.”

“How about if she sleeps with me and Ken?” Willow suggested.

Kennedy nodded, “Yeah. We sleep like the dead,” she said, ruffling Annie’s hair. “Plus I’m a slayer and Will’s a powerful witch. She’ll be fine.”

Nope. Not going to happen Red. She’s sleeping with us. And if you don’t like it you can…

“Okay,” B said.

What the fuck? I spun around and looked at her.

“Look Faith. We are not going to get any sleep tonight. It doesn’t mean we should keep Annie awake as well. Plus, you do move all night. It’s something I’m used to, but I highly doubt Annie is.”

“Well excuse the fuck out of me for being a light sleeper.”

Cordelia rolled her eyes, “This is retarded. We should be discussing the big evil coming. Not the sleeping arrangements of three slayers and a witch. Am I the only one here with any sense?” I started to answer, “Nope,” she said holding her hand up, “that is what I like to call a rhetorical question.”

I hate it when she is right.

Andrew walked in about that time, “What’s up?” He saw Riley standing there, “Who are you?”

Why was this clueless motherfucker still living with us?

Buffy turned to Dawn, “Why don’t you guys take her into the kitchen and fix dinner?”

Dawn nodded. She looked as scared as her sister. She really did love the little munchkin. She scooped Annie up, “So what do you want for dinner?”

“Cookie dough,” Annie squealed.

Dawn giggled, “I am thinking something more in the line of actual food.”

“Well that’s no fun,” Annie said.

Andrew patted her on the back, “That’s cause your Aunt Dawn is evil,” he said, running off into the kitchen, with the key and the kid chasing him. Glad someone has found a reason to smile here.

I heard someone clear their throat behind me. Giles.

“Well I suspected I was going to have to make a big announcement, but apparently someone has beat me to it,” he shook Riley’s hand. “Good to see you again Riley.”

Buffy ran up to him. “What do you know?”

He took off his glasses. Well that’s a bad fucking sign.

“Not a lot, I’m afraid. Just that something is happening. My sources seem to be scared. And that is never comforting.”

“Tell ‘em to get in line,” I mumbled.

He sighed, putting his glasses back on. “I suppose the main thing is to not lose our heads. We have defeated the First before.”

Buffy shook her head, “No his army. Remember.” She was being a smartass, but who could blame her? “And no Annie then. This is a completely different ballgame Giles.”

“Ah yes. I know. It seems the prophecy is being fulfilled a little earlier than I thought.”

“Fuck the prophecy,” I said, “All these prophecies have ever done is rain shit down on us and basically just ruin our day.”

“Be that as it may, we can’t very well ignore it.”

Whatever. “I don’t see why not. We could just leave. Pretend like we’re normal.”

Giles sighed, “I am afraid that nothing about this situation is normal. She happens to be the only child ever created from two females. And slayers. And… well you all knew this was coming. She’s meant to defeat it. I have a feeling that with a little luck she will succeed.”

Buffy reddened. “We can’t bank on luck Giles. She’s our daughter. What are we supposed to do? Send her into a battle with a tiny axe and pat her on the back? ‘Good luck Annie.’ Not going to happen.”

“It may have to,” he said simply.

Can I kill him now? I am itching to beat this shit out of something. And even though I have a soft spot for the old man, doesn’t mean I won’t… what the fuck? It may have to, my ass.

I shook my head, “I don’t think you get it G-man. There is no way I am going to let her anywhere near such a thing. Never. Over my,” I looked around, “and everyone else in here’s dead bodies.”

Fuck them all. I would never let her go. And no one, not even the fucking First and all his armies, could make me.

TBC