Things that go bump in the night

~ One Week Later~



Raya opened the front door to Faiths house and stepped in. She had come for Skye; Asher was going to drive her and the child into town for gelato at this small café. Apparently her daughter went nuts over the stuff.



Stepping into the living room she turned to see Faith talking animatedly with a tall redheaded man. Upon seeing her though, they stopped talking and looked over at her. Faith glowered and the man smiled. Suppressing the urge to growl at him she offered a tight smile.



‘Where was Skye? I want to leave’ Raya turned and was immediately pulled into a stare-down with her mate. Faith insisted that she was with Wilson now but that didn’t at all deter Raya from making the woman’s life easy.



Turning when her daughter came running down the stairs, clutching her favorite ratty blue bear. She smiled when Skye ran and wrapped her legs around her legs.



“Skye come give me a kiss.” Skye went and kissed Faith lightly on the cheek before kissing Wilsons own bearded cheek. Okay this time she did growl at the man. Smirking when he looked up at her curiously.



Instead of staying and continuing these little stare-downs she turned and took her daughters hand and led her to the car where Asher was already waiting for her.



She smiled down at her little girl. She looked so much like Faith, she had Rayas jet black hair but it was unruly and curled slightly like Faiths, big blue eyes and olive toned skin. Her ears pointed adorably and her fangs while were bigger than a humans weren’t noticeable yet. She was dressed in cargo shorts and a t-shirt with a smiling elephant on it. Raya though she looked adorable.



******



Sitting at the table at Roma Gelato café Raya listened intently to the conversation between her grandson and daughter. They were arguing over some Transformer movie. She really had no idea what that was but she didn’t really care as long as they were happy and laughing.



“Mama Ray, when are you going to come live with me and Mommy?” Skye asked, staring up at her for an answer right that second.



“Were not going to live together right now Skye. You know that.”



“I know but you guys aren’t like Billy’s parents so why aren’t you living together?”



“What’s wrong with Billy’s parents?” Raya couldn’t help but ask.

“They got there own houses and Billy’s got a fake mommy and they always fight. But they lived together first but you and mommy didn’t.”



“We umm…were not divorced Skye. We just don’t live together. There’s nothing wrong with what your mommy and I are doing.” She looked over to Asher for help but he just shrugged. ‘God you not living with your mate is so wrong on so many levels Raya. Just make her see’ she couldn’t stop the little voice in her head that had been getting increasingly vocal over the last few days.



“Okay. Can we go to the park?” Looking over to Asher who nodded she turned back to the girl and nodded, smiling when her little girl broke out in the biggest grin she had ever seen.



******



Raya sat beside Asher watching as Skye dove and ducked around the jungle gym, seemingly playing with nothing in particular but having fun all the same.



“Are you going to even try Raya?”



“What do you mean Asher? I can’t fight for what’s not mine.” Raya turned and looked at her grandson. Gods he had grown so much. Last time she had seen him he had been an awkward young boy, what sat beside her was a strong young man that was so much like his father it was scary.



“She is your though, Raya. She’s just scared.”



“What do you mean?” Faith scared? Yea it wasn’t a foreign concept but she didn’t see how her coming back could scare her.



“It…it nearly killed her Raya. Like there were times some of us really thought she was going to roll over and die. The ONLY thing that kept her going sometimes was your daughter. She got over you, or at least convinced herself she had and suddenly your back.”



“So what you’re saying is…I still have a shot?”



“Yeah you do. I’m not saying you’ll get that shot but its there. You just gotta figure out how to take it.” Asher looked down at his soda, obviously deep in thought.



Smiling Raya stood and ruffled his hair, ignoring his annoyed look she went to rescue her daughter who had climbed onto the bar supporting the swings and gotten scared.



*******



After dropping off her daughter Faith had kept her at the house long enough to tell her when to come by and spend time with Skye the next day and what time dinner would be at.



Now as she wearily stepped through the door of her guest house she shared with Cordelia and let out the tense breathe she had been holding in all day.



“Well…how did it go?” Cordelia asked. Raya watched as the woman carefully put away groceries.



“It was okay. He was there again.” By now Cordelia had learned that ‘He’ was Wilson. And judging by the Raya shaped person standing in the dining room, she hadn’t killed him.



“Asher’s thinks I have a shot. A small one but still…a shot.”



“Really? That’s good. What do you propose?”



“I don’t know. Last time it was easy, I just jumped her bones and it went well from there…but something tells me that wouldn’t work so hot now, would it?”



“No I don’t think so.” Cordelia opened her wallet to return her visa card when a thought struck her. “I’ve got it…were going shopping.”



“What?” Raya frowned at her…how would shopping get her a shot?



“We go shopping. Make you all…pretty” At Rays frown she quickly continued “NOT that you aren’t already just you know…clean, not ‘I’m a cavewoman’ pretty.” Cordelia had to admit Raya was beautiful. She was tall and her skin was a couple shades darker than olive tone, rich black hair and ‘luminous’ golden eyes. ‘Did I just call a woman’s eyes luminous? Her lips were full, high cheekbones…frankly she was a knock out.



“You believe this will work?” Raya was willing to try anything. She wanted her family back. But most of all she wanted Faith to want her back.



“Yep, and if not you’ll at least get some free clothes.” Cordy smiled and flashed her American Express. Raya wondered idly how many of those money cards the woman owned.



“Okay. What time do you want to go tomorrow?”



“Haws one? Oh and Vikki and Kennedy are coming with us.” Cordealia didn’t want to be alone in the possible nightmare this would be. She knew how stubborn the wolf was and as well as her rather limited range of clothing styles.



“That will work. I will see you then.” Turning Raya went upstairs to shower and head to Giles. He had mentioned earlier that there was something he wanted to talk to her about.



*******



Sitting in Giles living room, she shifted on the large leather chair. Waiting for him to return with the drinks. She looked at the coffee table; there were papers and maps strewn all over it. Looking up at the wall she saw a large map of the world that was littered with small red dots, she assumed they were slayers locations.



Turning when he walked back into the room, bearing a glass of single malt scotch in one hand. She turned and smiled at the older man.



“Don’t you think that’s…how do you say…bringing your work home with you?” She smiled at the slight blush on his face.



“Yes possibly, but a Watchers job is never done.” Sitting down he motioned for her to do the same.



“What is it you want to speak to me about Giles?” Giles smiled at the young woman.



“You never were one for small talk Raya. I wanted you to know how much I am happy you’re back with us. Not just for Faith. Although I am glad fro that…but also…well you became family while we were in Sunnydale.”



“Thank you Giles. That means a lot from you.” Raya sat quietly for a moment. Letting him scrutinize her before she turned back and looked him in the eye. “As grateful as I am for your words…I suspect that is not the only reason why you asked me here tonight.”



Laughing softly Giles shook his head no.



“Raya, I know what it is like to love and not have it returned. I am not presuming to know anything about your private relationship with Faith. That is between you. But I am here to offer you a job. You can take it at any time…Do you wish to hear more?” Giles asked kindly.



“Yes.” Raya studied the British man. He looked troubled with whatever it was the job was. She knew she could turn it down so she let her curiosity get the better of her.



“There is a Hell mouth, just outside Nuremberg Germany. At this time I have two teams in Germany. One in Northern Germany and one just off the border of France. If you ever want to, I will name you team leader to the new group I am organizing to patrol the Hell mouth in Nuremberg. If you were to accept it…”Giles stopped when Raya shook her head.



“I can’t Giles, thank you for your offer but I can’t…not yet.” Standing she mutely walked out of his home.



Giles sighed and muttered ‘Bloody hell’ before tossing back the rest of his glass as well as hers, he stood and went to call Buffy.



TBC



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