Genesis

Disclaimer : See Chapter 1

*********************

Giles was in the bar of the hotel waiting for Xander, he had ordered a beer and was quietly sipping it from the bottle.

“Hey G-man you ready to go?” Xander asked as he walked up to the older man.

“Please don’t call me that.” Giles asked while he removed his glasses and began cleaning them on his shirt.

“Sorry G Giles.” Xander said sheepishly.

“We have our first appointment in fifteen minutes, we better get a move on.” Giles said standing.

“Lead on oh wise one.” Xander smiled and bowed at Giles.

They arrived at the first of the properties, it was an old mansion that had been empty for a few years, they checked around but it wasn’t big enough, there were no real grounds to speak of and no chance of expansion in any direction, so they moved on to the next.

This was a larger property, the spas grs groundrrourrounding the house were lined with trees and beyond them there was a high wall. The mansion itself however was amazing, it had period features and very little work would be needed, they surveyed the rooms, the kitchen was huge it was fitted with modern stainless steel appliances and contained plenty of food storage, the dining room was a little small, they would have to eat in two maybe three sittings. The sitting room was large and had a built in flareenreen whi which Xander stared at for ages. There were fifteen bedrooms on the first floor and the loft space had been converted into two rooms, which could be used as dorm rooms.

“I like it.” Giles stated as they were on their way to the third property.

“Yeah me to, there’s room for expansion and we could move in almost immediately.” Xander agreed.

The Limousine they had hired for the day pulled up to the last property, in front of them stood the most elegantly designed electric gates, they both turned to look at each other as the Limo moved through them and started it’s journey on the long driveway.

They stepped out of the Limo and stared open mouthed at the building in front of them, the front doors were made of solid wood and stood at least twelve foot high they both had ornate carvings in the centre that almost looked like warriors on chariots. They entered into a large reception area the stairway rose from one side and there was an elevator next to it. The ceiling was high and was decorated with intricate designs and patterns.

To their left was the first sitting room, this was again huge, there was enough room for at least six sofas and even then it would have plenty of space left. To the back of this room was another doorway which lead into a library, Giles stared at the large amount of stacks it was almost as big as the school lry bry back in Sunnydale. He would be able to store every book he would ever need here and still have shelves left over, there was a large oak table in the centre and some other comfortable chairs dotted here and there. They moved out of the library and surveyed a few smaller rooms, these would be good as TV rooms as there would be much arguing about what to watch.

They moved to the other side of the house and into a smaller sitting room, not much smaller though, it would still easily house six sofas but there would be less space to play with. At the back of this room was the dining room, it too had a large oak table and there were at least twenty maybe twenty-five chairs around it. To the left of the dining room was the kitchen, this was very much like the second house they had viewed but this one also contained it’s own walk in freezer, and a cooker that any chef would kill to have. Again there were a couple of smaller rooms that they thought would be good for studying and stuff.

They walked through the door at the rear of the building and entered the huge conservatory that overlooked the gardens that seemed to stretch as far as the eye could see. There was the perfect area for training directly behind the hotel as there was a large expanse of grass that seemed level in all directions.

They moved to look on the first floor, there were sixteen rooms in all each with it’s own bathroom, they were good-sized rooms, they would easily fit a bed a desk and a wardrobe. They moved to the second and third rs, rs, they were the same as the first.

Then they took the elevator up to the fourth floor, there were only six rooms on this floor three facing the front and three facing the back of the property, originally there had been ten rooms that were the original hotel suites however the developers had redesigned them and now they were all apartment style, they all had their open plan living and kitchen areas, the bathrooms all contained large ornate baths and large walk in showers, the bedrooms had four poster beds and a walk-in wardrobes.

The two rooms in the centre had a small balcony from these you could access the roof, Giles and Xander made their way onto the roof and looked around the expanse of the property.

“Giles, this is the place, it has to be the place. It’s awesome, look there’s even a garage that’ll hold ten cars Giles this place is perfect.” Xander stated excitedly.

“I have to agree it is wonderful, there’s also a basement we haven’t looked at yet.” He stated.

“Ok then shall we just do it or get the other’s to ok it first?” Xander asked.

“Well I don’t think they would have any problems with the place, but I’ll have to ask Willow to check we’re not on sacred ground or something, the last thing we need is to be haunted.” Giles replied.

“Well Giles I think we’ve hit the jackpot.” Xander said cheerfully as he made his way back inside.

Buffy, Faith and Dawn were all sitting in their hotel suite waiting for the other Scooby members to arrive Giles had called ahead to arrange the meeting. They had all taken advantage of the luxurious bathroom both Buffy and Dawn had opted for the shower while Faith and pampered herself for nearly an hour in the bath. There was a knock at the door and Dawn jumped up to answer it.

“Hi Will, hi Ken.” She said cheerfully.

“Hey Dawnie, what’s the what?” Willow replied as she entered closely followed by her lover.

“Hey.” Kennedy waved to them all as she entered the room.

“Hey both.” Buffy called. “You wanna drink or something.” She asked pointing to the bar.

“I’ll have a beer.” Willow answered to everyone’s surprise. “What, I’m taking advantage, I’m allowed to pamper myself, I did find this hotel.” She stated with a nod.

“I’ll join you.” Buffy smiled.

“I thought you didn’t drink anymore.” Dawn spoke to her sister.

“Well you thought wrong Dawnie,” Buffy replied turning to Faith. “You want one Faith?” She asked the brunette.

“Hell yeah, you ever heard me turn down a drink.” She answered with a lopsided grin.

“Can I have one?” Dawn asked.

“No you’re too young.” Buffy answered quickly.

“Aw come on B let her have the one, it won’t hurt.” Faith interrupted.

“Ok then but just ONE.” Buffy relented.

“Yey.” Dawn yelped, while Buffy rolled her eyes.

“Ken, do you want anything?” The blond asked the young girl.

“Ah, I’ll have a coke thanks.” Kennedy replied.

“You can have a beer if you want, there’s plenty.” Buffy offered.

“No it’s ok, I’m not really used to drinking, and with all these changes that see be be happening to me at the moment I’d like to keep a clear head.” Kennedy answered in response.

There was another knock at the door but this time Kennedy answered it as she was closest. Xander, Andrew, Giles and Wood all entered talking animatedly about the property that Giles had made an offer on.

“Hi guys.” Willow called interrupting their conversation.

“Oh, hello Willow, everyone.” Giles replied turning and nodding to the others in the room.

“I have some good news, I have made an offer on a property this afternoon and it has been accepted. We can move in, in a day or two when the paperwork is all signeHe oHe offered as explanation.

“Wait, what, you’ve bought something, where, how.” Willow started to question.

“Well it’s an old Hotel that was closed down, a new developer bought and renovated it in the hope of using it. Their company went into liquidation and the hotel is being sold at half the value it’s worth.” Giles explained. Xander took over the explanation of the property with wide arm gestures trying to show how big everything was. He explained that there was a garage and that there were spacious grounds surrounding it, he explained the electric gates and the fourteen foot wall that had been constructed around the whole property which gave them the added security and privacy that they would need.

Everyone listened intently at the description of the house. “When can we see it?” Buffy asked.

“Well I’ve arranged another viewing for us all tomorrow, in the meantime Willow can you check for any strange happenings related to the property, we don’t want to end up with the aftermath of some horror on our hands.” Giles stated.

”I’ll get right on it.” She stood to make her way back to her room.

“Oh and Willow, tomorrow I’ll need you to try to sense any danger on the land, you know things like bodies buried or tunnels used by demons running under the house.” Giles told her.

“No problem Giles, I’ll tune to the earth tomorrow.” She answered with a wink.

“Hey babe, you coming with?” She asked turning to Kennedy.

“Yeah I’m coming.” The young brunette answered standing and waving he ohe other in the room.

“See you guys later.” Xander called from his position on sofa.

“Yeah we’ll all meet and have dinner together.” Dawn offered.

“Ok we’ll see you in an hour or something.” Willow replied nodding at the young girl.

After Willow and Kennedy had left, everyone started talking about how they were going to move in and what things they needed. Andrew was charged with the food shopping which Faith offered to help, stating that someone had to make sure they had something edible in the house. Xander had decided to buy some tools ready for any work that may need doing. Giles and Wood had agreed to contact as many of their sources as they could to start the new book collection for the library. Buffy and Dawn were going to be responsible for the SIT’s they would have to ensure that all the girls had the necessary clothing and personal items that they would need, they didn’t mind this cause it meant shopping.

“Oh shit I know what we haven’t done.” Buffy caught everyone’s attention.

“What, I think we’ve got it all covered.” Faith asked bemused.

“Faith it’s you, we haven’t sorted you yet.” Buffy answered as if by explanation.

“Sorry if I sound like I’m missing something here but huh.” Faith looked at the blond confused.

“You’re a fugitive remember, I’ll call Willow and ask her if she can do anything with your files.” Buffy offered.

“Oh” was all Faith could say, in the last few days she hadn’t thought about how she got out of prison only that she was out.

“Yes Buffy, good idea.” Giles added. Buffy stood and went to the phone she dialled the red head’s room. Once she had finished explaining to Willow she hung up and smiled at the others.

“She said no probs, on on it and something about the good old days.” Buffy said smiling.

“What she can do that, just make files disappear.” Faith asked in awe.

“Well she doesn’t delete them or anything she just looses them somewhere and no-one can find them.” Buffy answered with a shrug.

Everything had been agreed for the next days’ itinerary, and everyone left the girls to get ready for their dinner date.

Willow and Kennedy were the first to arrive at the bar in the hotel, they ordered drinks and were sat chatting quietly when Xander and Andrew arrived.

“Ladies, my I say how gorgeous you both look this fine evening.” Xander greeted them slowly bowing his head.

“Thanks Xander.” Willow replied. “Where are the others?” She asked.

“They’re all on their way, said for us to get a table.” Andrew answered the red head.

“Ok then let’s go.” Kennedy said standing.

They had been sat at the table for about ten minutes when the others joined them. They all talked about anything and everything and had way too much to eat. At the end of the meal they made their way back to their rooms.

Willow and Kennedy stepped out of the elevator. They turned quickly to wave goodbye at the others and started to walk towards their room.

“Hey Red wait up!” Faith called as she pushed through the semi closed elevator doors.

Willow turned to see Faith stumble through the doors and almost straight into a potted plant in the hallway.

“Are you ok?” Willow asked walking back towards her one time enemy.

“Yeah Will, I’m fine, I ah,” The brunette started “I just wanted to thank you, ya know for the police records and shit, ya didn’t have to do that. But thanks.” Faith finished looking at the floor.

“Faith, look at me.” Willow answered softly while closing the space between them. Faith raised her head a little to look at the red head. “You’re right, I didn’t have to do it, I wanted to, Faith we were all wrong back then but this time, we stick together.” She smiled brightly.

Faith couldn’t help but smile back she closed the remaining space between them and quickly hugged the woman in front of her. “Thanks Red, I promise you this, I wont mess up this time. I know it’s gonna be hard but I have changed, I’m not that teenage girl anymore, I understand more now than I ever did, I want this to work, I want to help, but I also want you to help me.” She took a small step and looked at the red head in front of her.

“I know you’ve changed Faith, cos the old ‘Psycho Slayer’ wouldn’t ask for help, and you’ve stayed around a lot longer that she would have, Faith I can never forget what happened but I was wrong then too, and well I forgave you a long time ago, Faith I want you as my friend and not as someone I call when the demons get to big.” Willow finished looking into the tearful eyes in front of her.

“I, I, don’t know wha, who sao say.” Faith mumbled.

“Say nothing Faith, now get to your room and get some rest young lady you have work to do tomorrow.” Willow chided.

“Yes Mom.” Faith answered with a lopsided grin.

“Night Faith.” Willow said softly to the slayer.

“Yeah night Red, night Ken.” Faith waved at the younger woman.

Faith turned and headed back to the elevators. Willow felt two strong arms circle her from behind.

“You did good.” Kennedy whispered in her ear. They stood in the embrace until Faith’s elevator doors had closed.

“It’s gonna be ok, I can feel it,” Willow started while turning to face her lover. “now, I know we fed you, so you can’t be hungry, so how else are you feeling.” Willow said seductively to the young woman.

“I think I need to get to bed.” Kennedy answered wide-eyed, quickly she turned and ran down the corridor to open the door of their room. Willow stared at her girlfriends’ ass as she ran away from her, ‘wow’ she thought to herself, she shook her head and started to run after the younger woman. She entered the room and closed the door behind her.