Things that go bump in the night

Faith stepped out of the room onto the balcony, softly closing the doors. Turning she hid the flame from the wind as she lit her cigarette. Taking a deep drag she looked down at the street below her.



It was hard to believe that barely an hour ago it had been bustling with people and now was still and silent with only the occasional passerby. Turning she peeked into the room to make sure Wilson was still sleeping. He was, turning she decided that he had been right. She needed a break.



Starting when the balcony door opened and Wilson stepped out. Dressed in light blue pajama bottoms and nothing else he stepped out beside her.



“Faith, you know how I feel about your smoking.”



“You know how I feel about your drinking Wilson.” Faith smirked he let the topic go. He was so easy sometimes. She didn’t know why she said that, he wasn’t an alcoholic by any means. Hell she drank more than he did…but he didn’t need to know that.



“Do you still want to go skiing tomorrow? Or would you rather stay in?” Wilson asked as he wrapped his big arms around her. Smiling when she leaned into him.



“How about we get a late start?” She asked softly turning up to kiss his lips.



******



Raya sat on Buffy’s couch listening as the original gang went around the room telling her stories and laughing. Kennedy was already three sheets to the wind. Why she didn’t know…Kennedy kept trying to get her alone to tell her something but one of the Scoobs would come and pull her away for another drink or something.



She hadn’t missed how they all kept the conversation clear of Faith. They had told her many stories of her daughters exploits and she couldn’t wait to meet the little girl tomorrow.



“So your nephew is really the ancestor to Ramses?” Willow asked excitedly. Raya smiled and nodded, laughing when the redhead gushed over the fact that she was talking to a relative of the guy.



Looking around she turned to Buffy. “So what’s everyone been up to lately? I mean…Horus and Dawn are engaged, Xander? What have you been doing?”



“Well nothing much Ray, I have a small construction business and I do custom work for some of the locals. No girlfriend. Just working and helping around here.” Xander smiled and carefully readjusted his eye-patch.



“What about you Willow, you and Kennedy have a beautiful son by the way.” Raya turned and looked at Kennedy when she spurted beer out of mouth, coughing while Willow thumped her on the back.



“We don’t have a son Raya, who told you that?” Willow asked kindly.



“The small redheaded boy…he’s not yours?” Raya frowned…then whose was he?



“Naw he’s Faiths boyfriends kid…OWW” Kennedy yelped when Willow elbowed her in the ribs.



‘Boyfriend…Faith has a boyfriend?’ Raya looked around the room noticing how everyone seemed to be waiting for her reaction.



“…how long?” Raya looked at her son who she saw wasn’t looking at her…



“Little over a year now, they got engaged not long ago” Buffy said.



“Engaged…she’s going to marry this man?”



“Yeah looks that way.”



Everyone jumped a little when Raya shot to her feet. Turning she stalked out of the room and out the front door. Horus stood and went after her.



“Mother…wait.”



“DON’T MOTHER ME!!!! YOU KNEW…how could you not tell me? DAMMIT HORUS” Raya flung her hands in the air and stopped.



“Mother, i'm sorry. We thought you were dead.”



“I know…she can’t marry him Horus she is MY mate. Not his. She cannot marry him. She cant raise our child with him…I wont let her.” Raya brushed angry tears away. “How could you not tell me? You’re my son.”



“I’m sorry. Truly, its just we were all surprised and happy to see you and we didn't know HOW to tell you.” Horus looked away. “I’m sorry mother.”



“How long…until they’re married….how long?” Raya waited for Horus to reply.



“There is no date. They’re talking about April from what I know.”



“You live with her, you have been raising your sister with her and you do not know when she’s marrying this man?” Suddenly an idea hit her. “Is he human?” Horus nodded. “You’re sure? Couldn’t he be a demon?”

“No, he was checked out when he became involved with the school. He’s a watcher, no assigned slayers though.”



“…dammit….does she…does she love him?” Raya felt sick over the question but she had to know.



“I believe so yes. But I don’t believe it is the way she loved you.”



“Does Skylar love him?”



“Yes…she adores him. He treats her like a princess.”



Raya snorted at the irony…in a way her daughter was a princess.



“I have to go. When will she be back?”



“Tomorrow morning…or afternoon.” Horus watched as his mother turned and walked off. Watching as she reached the tree line and disappeared.



“Horus…is she going to be okay?” Turning he saw Dawn walking towards him, he saw the worry etched on her face.



“I honestly don’t know hun.”



Turning they walked back into the house.



********



Cordelia started when Raya burst into the guest house, nearly forcing the back door off its hinges. Standing back as the angry woman paced and cursed.



“So…is it safe to say the party didn’t go well?” Cordelia smirked when Raya threw her an angry glare that had it been anyone else probably would have scared half to hell.



“Shes engaged.”



‘Oh shit’ Cordelia thought. That was not good. All the wolf talked about on the way here between her hysterics and chanting was Faith. And to be honest she had intrigued Cordelia. Who was still unable to believe someone as ‘badass’ as Faith had been taken in by the volatile wolf. Violent more like it she thought when Raya grabbed a chair and flung it into the wall.



“Giles won’t like that.” Cordelia sat down and waited for the woman to stop huffing. She really did look reminiscent of an angry bear right now.



“I don’t give a flying fuck what Giles would like. He can take his tea and shove it.” Frowning when Cordelia snorted. “I’m glad you find my mate frolicking off and fucking someone else funny.”



“Okay one…not my mate and two…you’ve been gone a long time. Did you RAELLY think everything would be as you left it?”



“Well no but she didn’t have to” Raya was cutoff by Cordelia who put up her hand to stop her.



“To what? Move on? She thought you were dead. They all did and judging from the rather updated gossip circle those kids got going at the school she waited and suffered. And about a year ago prince charming shows up and suddenly she’s smiling again…can you REALLY blame her Raya? She loves you that much is obvious but now she’s got this guy who seems like an actual nice guy. And frankly just…see where you are with her and if I can ill help you get her back because honestly I have nothing better to do….and i’m kind of a sucker for happy endings.”



Raya stared down at the woman. This was probably the last person she thought would be willing to help her. Nodding she turned and went up the stairs to the vacant room and collapsed onto the bed.



*********



Buffy looked around her living room. They had all heard Rayas words outside. She looked up as she saw Willow carefully helping her girlfriend out the door so they could go home.



Looking over at Xander who sat there staring blankly at his beer. “What do you thinks going to happen tomorrow?”



Xander snorted, “Really don’t know Buff, either Raya kills Wilson and Faith kills Raya or Raya kills Wilson Faith goes back to her.”



“So…think we should warn her?”



“Would you want to find out your dead girlfriend or boyfriend had come back from the dead over a phone call?” Buffy winced when she saw the sad expression in his eye… ‘He’s thinking about Anya’



“No I guess not. Well…just makes sure Wilson gets off the grounds as fast as you can…okay?” Xander nodded so Buffy stood and told the room goodnight as she went to bed.



*******



~The Next Day~



Faith stepped out of the car, waving goodbye to Wilson as he and Sean drove off. Turning back to the house, she stopped…there was something off…she didn’t know what but…it’s Skye. She’s always out the door before we even park. Where is she? Faith walked up the path, swinging open the door she turned and looked into the kitchen, no…looking into the living room…no…going up the stairs, she heard voices.



Stepping into the room she saw Horus sitting with his back to her, laughing as Skye told him about her dolls. That’s when she felt it…someone was behind her. Turning she looked into gold/yellow eyes. Feeling faint when she realized what it was she was seeing…or who.



Raya.



Her mind screamed no. But every instinct convinced her differently. It WAS her. She just stood there staring at her. Faith felt her legs buckle and Raya caught her around her waist, “Its you. It’s really you.” Raya tightened her arms around her.



“Yeah it’s really me.”



That’s when shock wore off and that nice bundle of anger Faith had been carrying around reared its ugly head. Shoving her back Faith stepped away from the wolf.



“Where the FUCK have you been! What…did Red do some spell or what?” This made no sense. Red hadn’t been bale to find hide or hair of the wolf. Every time Faith had asked she had done it…all had the same result…nothing.



“No, I was never dead” Raya didn’t have time to react before Faith punched her and tackled her down the stairs. They rolled and banged against the railing. Landing in a thud at the bottom.



“You fucking left me! You left me in the middle of a WAR! With a week old BABY! DAMIT RAYA!” Raya rolled them over and pinned Faith beneath her.



“I didn’t leave you. Yakumut cast me away back to Egypt. I’ve been stuck there for the last five years and this was the first chance I have had to come back. I’m sorry I left.”



Faith held back tears and looked past Raya, on top of the landing stood Horus who held Skye’s hand as the little girl looked down at them. Pushing Raya off of her she stood going up the stairs she scooped up her daughter and went into her room, closing the door she locked it and collapsed.



“Mommy, who is that lady?”



“That’s Raya honey…that’s your other mama.” Skye’s eyes widened.



“Really? Where did she come from?” Faith felt a new waves of tears threaten to break through. Holding them back she stood and opened her door and led her daughter down the hall and down into the living room, turning she saw Horus fixing Raya a drink.



“There’s no drinking in this house until after eight.” She said this in her best ‘mommy’ voice. It was true though. She didn’t like Skye seeing alcohol.



Horus gathered up the drink and glass and put them away.



“Skye honey go play.”



Nodding the little girl ran to the door and ran out, no doubt to the daycare. Yes there was daycare…apparently enough of the girls had children for there to be one.



Sitting down she looked over at Raya. Part of her wanted to hug the woman, while another wanted to run for the hills. She chose the latter.



“You can’t just come here. You can’t just come here and expect everything to be like it was.” Faith ignored the flash of hurt that flew across Rayas face.



“I know. I have heard about your Wilson.” Raya felt a cold coil of hate build in her chest at the thought of that man.



“Yes, were getting married.”



“I didn’t expect to walk in here and it all be puppies and rainbows. But I came back for you Faith. I know it’s been a long time but dammit I hoped MAYBE you still loved me.”



“Well I don’t.” ‘LIAR’ Faiths mind screamed. Shed be damned if she let this woman in again.



“Fine. But that’s too bad. From what I hear I have until April to change your mind. You loved me once, and we have a child. So even if WE can’t work things out. We have to…for her. Because I will not pretend she’s not mine so you can have your damned step ford image.”



“I would not ever try to keep you from your child Raya.”



“Good.”



“Good.”



‘Oh Boy.” Horus groaned and buried his head in his hands. Praying for eight o’ clock.



TBC



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