Genesis

Disclaimer : see chapter 1

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Dawn had just said goodnight to Buffy and was making her way to her bedroom when Faith entered.

“Hey D you goin to bed?” The dark slayer asked.

“Yeah, we’ve got lots of shopping to do tomorrow, and me being without the slayer stamina need the rest.” She smirked.

“Hey you’re worse then me.” Buffy called from the sofa.

“Goodnight Kiddo.” Faith smiled.

“Night Faith.” Dawn answered as she entered her bedroom and closed the door behind her.

“Hey you wanna beer.” Buffy called over to Faith.

“Oh yeah.” She answered jumping on the other side of the sofa.

Buffy handed Faith an open beer and held her own up, “Here’s to the Future, ‘Slayers United’” she called.

“Wait, wait.” Faith stopped her as she was about to drink. “And here’s to you Buffy,” She lifted her bottle. “Cos without you, none of us would be here.” She smiled brightly at the blond. They both raised their bottles and took a long drink.

They sat up for at least another two hours finishing most of the contents of the mini bar and were now rather drunk. Realising the time they decided it was time to go to bed.

“Which side were you having?” Faith slurred.

“I dunno.” Buffy giggled.

Soon they were both laughing at each other, Faith could barely stand and Buffy kept hiccupping. They both crashed onto the one bed, they were still giggling to themselves.

“Night B.” Faith said turning over on her side.

“Night F.” Buffy replied. No sooner than they had said this they both passed out.

Buffy woke again in Faith’s arms, at some point in the night they had both moved under the covers and were now snuggled into each other.

“Hey.” A husky voice whispered from above her.

Buffy lifted her head slightly and opened one eye, she winced at the pain in her head. “Sssshhh not so loud.” She replied.

“How much did we drink last night.” Faith asked rubbing her head.

“Urrgh I don’t know, but remind me not to do it again, my head hurts.” She whined.

Faith leaned down and gently kissed Buffy on the forehead, she looked down at the blond and smiled. “There I kissed it better for you.”

“Mmmm.” Buffy replied smiling and buried her head back onto Faith’s shoulder.

“BUFFY, FAITH, are you up yet?” Dawn yelled from outside while banging on the door.

“GO AWAY!” Buffy screamed. Dawn opened the bedroom door and smiled at the two slayers, they hadn’t moved and she thought they looked cute all curled up and in obvious pain.

“Well I can see why the mini bars empty now.” Dawn stated while crossing her arms.

“Empty, we didn’t, Faith we didn’t drink the lot did we?” Buffy asked confused, she was sure they hadn’t drunk that much.

“Ooops.” Faith replied with a smile and shrugged her shoulders a little.

“Fuck I feel like shit.” Buffy said, standing she grabbed her bathrobe and made her way out of the bedroom and into the bathroom. She closed the door and leaned her back against it she glanced at the mirror that was in front of her. “Fuck I look like shit.” She said aloud.

Faith and Dawn were waiting in the sitting area as Buffy came out of the bathroom looking decidedly more human.

“I am never drinking again.” She spoke as she walked in to the bedroom and closed the door behind her.

“I’ve heard that before.” Dawn replied rolling her eyes at the retreating form of her sister.

“I know how she feels.” Faith whined as she placed her head in her hands.

“I think you need a shower, you stink.” Dawn laughed as she threw a cushion at her.

“Ok, ok I’m going.” Faith replied and stumbled towards the bathroom.

Soon they were all ready to leave, they made their way down into the hotel lobby to meet the others. When they arrived Willow, Kennedy, Xander and Andrew were already there.

“Hi guys.” The red head greeted brightly.

“Urgh.” Faith replied.

“Double Urgh.” Buffy concurred.

“What’s up with them.” Willow turned to Dawn, looking puzzled at the response from the slayers.

“They emptied the mini bar last night, they may be slayers but the amount they drank, we could have all had a party.” Dawn stated rolling her eyes at the two slayers.

“Oh.” Willow replied.

“So what’s the plan? And where’s Giles?” Buffy asked.

“He said that he and Wood will stay here and make some calls, we,” Xander continued pointing to the group. “have to do everything we discussed last night, that means I have to go buy tools and I suppose that leaves the rest of you to get everything for the SIT’s, we can’t get food yet we don’t have anywhere to put it.” He finished.

“Oh great that means shopping malls.” Faith whinged.

“You could come with me if you like.” Xander offered.

Faith smiled widely at him, “Cool.” She said relieved, if there was one thing she hated it was shopping malls, only when she had to did she ever venture inside one, and then that was only one or maybe two shops she would run in buy what she wanted and then run straight back out, she hated them.

“Can I come?” Kennedy asked.

“Sure, don’t like malls either huh?” Xander answered.

“Nope I hate ’em.” Kennedy stated defiantly.

“Ok then, that’s all sorted. Giles asked us to be back by three and he’ll take us back to the house, so we can all get a good look round and stuff.” Andrew informed everyone.

With everything arranged the two groups split up, Xander, Kennedy and Faith headed out to find Xander his tools, and the others made their way back upstairs to get the SIT’s to go shopping, it was going to be a long day.

It was close to three when all the SIT’s and the four members of the Scoobies returned looking dishevelled, Buffy instructed all the younger girls to take their new things up to their rooms and explained that the Scooby gang would be back in a few hours.

The nine members left and made their way to what was going to be their new home. The mini bus they were in pulled up to the big iron gates at the front they stared in awe as they entered and drove up the long driveway.

“Wow.” Willow exclaimed.

“I second that ‘wow’ and raise you a ‘holy shit.” Faith added.
They pulled up outside and stepped from the vehicle, Giles made his way to the front doors and opened them, he gestured to the rest to follow. Once they were all inside he directed them through the hotel showing them the different features. They had finally reached the roof and were looking amazed at the grounds that the property was in.

“This place must have been pretty exclusive in it’s time.” Andrew spoke aloud.

“Yeah I mean look we have our own golf course.” Dawn stated pointing to the large expanse of grass at the back of the property.

They had been stood for a while trying to process what they had seen, the hotel was huge there was no disputing that.

“Well we’ll have plenty of room here.” Buffy stated.

“Yeah but whose gonna sleep where, I mean can I have my own apartment, please Buffy please.” Dawn whined.

“Well there were six big rooms and there’s eight of us, perhaps we should draw straws.” Xander offered.

“Ah, there’s nine.” Faith offered quickly counting everyone.

“Physically yes I would agree, but can you see them two sleeping in different rooms.” Xander finished pointing at Willow and Kennedy.

“Oh yeah, forgot ‘bout that.” Faith said smirking.

“If I might make a suggestion.” Wood spoke to the group. “There are six of you that have been together a long time, it was you who brought us all together so I think that the ‘original’ Scoobies should get the apartments, me and Andrew can take a room on the other two float lat least then we can keep an eye on the SIT’s.” He suggested.

“Robin that is very kind of you.” Giles replied.

“I can always knock two of those rooms into one and give you your own suites if you like, it’s not as if we haven’t got the space.” Xander offered.

“Ok then who gets which apartment?” Dawn asked smiling.

“Well I think that should be up to Buffy and Faith, it’s through them that we have gotten this far, they should have first choice.” Giles smiled to the original chosen two.

“B, you choose first.” Faith offered.

“Nope I want you to choose, it’s as much your right as mine.” Buffy smiled at her counterpart.

“Ok,” Faith started. “I’ll take the middle one in the front.”

“Good choice.” Buffy winked. “Cos I wanted the middle back.” She laughed.

“Ok then what about the rest of you?” Faith asked turning to the others.

“Back right.” Willow called.

“As you look at it or as you look from it?” Xander asked.

Willow thought for a moment. “From it.” She answered.

“I’ll have the back left then.” He stated.

“Well Dawn it leaves you and I to choose.” Giles stated to the teen.

“I’ll go opposite Willow cos I lost track of which is left and right.” Dawn looked confused.

“Ok then that leaves me opposite Xander.” Giles clarified his position.

Once had had confirmed the rooms Wood and Andrew were asked to choose which floor and which rooms they wanted. Wood chose the first floor which left Andrew on the second, they both chose rooms and Xander quickly surveyed the possibility of converting two rooms into one, with this confirmed they all made their way back to the hotel.

They had called a meeting with the s tos to explain that they had purchased a property for everyone and they explained that they would be moving in a few days. They were told that in those few days they would be enrolled in to the high school ready for the new semester when the summer would be over.

The next few days were spent organising the move, the SIT’s had been enrolled in high school. Everyone was busy packing everything they didn’t need and moved them into their designated rooms in their new home. Willow had been and purchased a computer system that would be set up in the library but could be accessed anywhere in the house.

Xander had started the alterations to Wood and Andrew’s rooms, Faith had been helping him with it, as she couldn’t deal with all the excited teenagers. Buffy and Kennedy had been and purchased the different home entertainment equipment for the communal TV rooms. Andrew had been busy checking out everyone’s dietary needs and compiling the relevant shop lis lists. Everyone else was busy tidying things and putting things in their allotted spaces.

The day had come when they were ready to move in, Xander hadn’t finished the construction work so Wood and Andrew chose temporary rooms.

Giles drove the school bus once more, this time they were headed for their final destination well at least for a while. All the SIT’s had loaded their remaining belongings and were excited about their first night in their new home.

Giles pulled the bus up to the front and the SIT’s were greeted by the Scooby gang and a banner which had ‘Welcome Home’ written on it. Everyone was in high spirits.

“Ok can I get everyone’s attention for a sec.” Faith call from the front doors, when everyone quietened down she continued. “Thanks, it’s our first night here so we decided that we could all do with some fun, so we’re gonna have a party.” She smiled.

Everyone cheered, they hadn’t had time to relax since they couldn’t remember when, and now they could party.

The Scoobies had run around all day making sure everything was ready for the party, Faith and Andrew had cooked up an amazing selection of food, they had surprised everyone. Xander and Willow had supplied the drinks, they allowed a little alcohol for the SIT’s but not enough to cause any real problems, they also hid the real stuff for the ‘adults’ well they deserved to party to.

Dawn was busy with Giles, Wood and Kennedy moving all the furniture so they could create a decent sized dance floor. They had put about fifteen different CD’s into the new home entertainment system and were y toy to start.

Willow tried the new pager system that was connected to the computer. She typed in a few commands and a pager in each room would sound, it worked a bit like an intercom system but she could manipulate the sound, so they could have different call signs to use.

Soon each of the SIT’s were making their way to the ground floor, Dawn hit the playback on the stereo and music began to pump through the speakers. Xander held out drinks for everyone, the party had begun.

Andrew and Willow started the dancing, Faith was busy eating and talking to Kennedy, they were both munching on chicken wings when Angela one of the SIT’s came over to join them.

“How you liking your room Ang?” Faith asked with a mouthful of chicken.

“It is good, I like it.” She stated in htalitalian accent. “Is the food good?” She asked.

“Well I made it and I’m eating it so yeah the foods good.” Faith replied with a smile.

“Hey Faith come and dance.” Dawn called from the dance area of the room.

“Later D I’m eating.” She replied.

“God when don’t you eat.” Dawn replied in a huff.

“You better go.” Kennedy pushed Faith.

“Ok ok I’ll dance.” She replied as she walked over to the youngest of the Summer’s girls.

Once Faith started to dance she felt the music taker, sr, she really loved to dance, it was her release, her senses were tuned as one with the music, she felt every beat, every sound, every lyric, she lost herself in the music. It had been so long since she had felt this free and this relaxed. She turned and opened her eyes, she looked around the room at the others, she smiled to herself watching the different members of her new family. She watched as some of the younger girls winced at their first taste of alcohol, she watched as others tried some of the exotic food that she had prepared, some were nodding enthusiastically about something and others were turning up their noses. ‘We gotta right bunch here.’ She smiled to herself.

She watched as Willow and Kennedy were slowly dancing in the corner of the room, even though the music that was playing was anything but slow. She looked at Xander and saw him talking to Wood and Andrew, she looked around the rest of the room and spotted Giles stood off to one side, he was holding a glass of Scotch and he had a small smile that lit up his face, Faith couldn’t remember the last time any of them had actually been this relaxed, the problem with ‘The First’ seemed to have taken a lot out of everyone.

It was way past midnight when some of the SIT’s started to make their way to bed, many of them were a little drunk and some had to be helped by the more sober ones. There were only a couple of SIT’s left with the Scooby gang who were now into full party mode, they were all rather drunk and dancing in the middle of the room, none of them seemed to be dancing to the same song but never the less they danced. Giles and Wood made their excuses and left the rest, soon Xander Andrew and Dawn followed along with the remaining SIT’s, which left Willow, Kennedy, Faith and Buffy.

They turned the music down and changed the CD for a more mellow sound. Buffy and Willow started to clear up some of the mess that everyone had created while Kennedy and Faith poured everyone fresh drinks. They all retired to the sofas, Willow and Kennedy curled up into each other and Buffy and Faith sat across from them.

“So is anyone gonna tell me what really happened between you lot?” Kennedy asked.

“Not now Ken, maybe some day.” Willow replied.

“No, she has a right to know what I did back then, I need everyone to trust me and the only way they can do that is if they know everything.” Faith stated honestly.

“We don’t have to say anything yet Faith.” Buffy offered.

“No we don’t but I want to.” Faith replied. She took a deep breath and began her story, she began from the time her watcher had been killed by Kakistos, how she had fled to Sunnydale hoping that he wouldn’t follow her.

She explained about killing Finch and instead of asking for help she tried to deal with it herself, she explained about the Watcher’s Council trying to kidnap her, she explained that she had convinced herself that she was evil, she didn’t hide anything.

While she was relaying her side of things Buffy and Willow listened intently, they had never realised what Faith was going through back then, none of them had tried to look past the tough girl exterior, they had all missed the signs of a lonely young girl who couldn’t ask for help. Buffy laid down with her hin Fin Faith’s lap and was watching the younger girl’s expressions as she spoke.

“I went to the Mayor.” Faith continued. “I knew he was evil and at first I thought I could stop him, but he offered me something, something I had never had, he offered me love, strange as it may seem he cared about me or at least I thought he did.” She stopped for a moment to gather her thoughts. The next part of the story was the hardest for her she had lost it completely and wanted to ruin Buffy’s life.

“I agreed to kill Angel, but The Boss didn’t tell me that there was a cure to the poison that I had been given to use. You see the cure was slayer blood, so Buffy came to get mine, basically we fought she stabbed me and I ended up in a coma for eight months.”

“Yeah but tell her about you helping us defeat the Mayor.” Buffy interrupted.

“Well, when I was in a coma me and B shared a dream, a slayer dream where I gave her some hints on how to kill the Mayor.” Faith explained. “Anyway when I came out of the coma I didn’t know where I was or what had happened, I found out that the Mayor was dead and I went Psycho, I tried to take B’s life I had a body switching thingy that the Mayor had left me and so I used it, I became Buffy Anne Summers for a short while and well she became me.” Again she paused trying to put the events in order on her head.

“I slept with B’s beefstick and was about to leave town when the call came up about what seemed like vampires who held some people hostage in a church. I was gonna say ‘fuck it’ and leave but I couldn’t I was Buffy and she would save their asses. So I returned and well B found me and somehow with a little magic we got our bodies back. I ran to LA, I hated myself.” Faith had started to stroke Buffy’s hair while she spoke.

Willow and Kennedy had been sat in silence while Faith told her story, Willow was amazed at how Faith was opening up, she would never have spoken this freely before, but then she realised she hadn’t ever been given the opportunity.

“So how’d you end up in prison?” Kennedy asked wanting to know more, she had been intrigued by the brunette slayer ever since she arrived from LA with Willow.

“Well, when I got to LA I was on a real downward spiral, some lawyer offered me a large amount of cash to kill someone. That someone was Angel, I thought I could do it but I realised that I didn’t want to kill anymore I wanted to be killed.” She stated with a tear running down her face. Buffy felt the tear land on her shoulder and slowly lifted her hand and placed it over Faith’s she squeezed it gently.

Faith continued with her story. “I kidnapped Wesley and was busy torturing him, I knew that Angel would turn up and hoped that when he saw what I had done he would kill me, but he didn’t he offered to help me. I couldn’t take anymore so I relented and went with him.” She looked down at the blond laying on her lap and smiled gently.

“That’s when B showed up, she didn’t know what was going on, Angel was stuck in the middle trying to calm her down when the Watcher’s council turned up again. This time they had guns and lots of em. We managed to get away from them and I tried to apologise to B, but she told me if I ever did she would beat me to death, I was so scared at the time, I begged her to tell me how to make it better and she did. She told me to turn myself in and to pay for what I had done.” She squeezed Buffy’s hand as Buffy was now also crying at the memory, it seemed so long ago and the woman in front of her seemed so different now. She admired Faith for everything she had been through.

“So I turned myself in, I should still be in there, but I realise that I can do more good out here than locked up. I’m ready to face the challenge now, I know it’s gonna be hard staying on the right side but I want to do it, I have to, not only for me but for you.” She finished never breaking eye contact with the blond.

“Wow, how’d you survive all that?” Kennedy asked in awe.

“She’s the strongest woman I know.” Buffy answered for her. Faith looked down at her open mouthed surprised at what tlderlder slayer had just said.

“Ok you lot I don’t know about you but I’m beat, I’m going to bed.” Willow stated standing from her position next to the young brunette.

“Yeah I think we should all head on up.” Buffy agreed.

Faith had been lying in bed tossing and turning for a while when she decided to get some fresh air, the revelations that she had spoken earlier had brought back some of her old feelings, she needed to clear her head. She made her way onto the balcony and ascended the stairs to the roof.

She positioned herself in the middle and closed her eyes, she slowed her breathind bed began her ritual of Ti-Chi. She had been there for only a few minutes when a small voice brought her back to reality.

”Sorry I’m not disturbing you am I?” Buffy asked walking slowly towards her.

“Na, I couldn’t sleep thought I’d try and clear my head a little.” She stated.

“Cajoinjoin you?” Buffy asked.

“Sure come on.” Faith replied.

They stood opposite each other and began strong fluid movements. They were moving as one it was as if they were a mirror image of each other. When they had finished and become more relaxed they stopped.

“I suppose we better get some sleep.” Buffy offered.

“Yep s’pose so.” Faith replied rocking gently back and forth.

This was the first night they would sleep alone, even when they could have slept in different beds in the hotel they had curled up together in one.

“Um, I, ah, don’t s’spose ya wanna join me?” Faith asked shyly, she just didn’t want to be alone tonight.

“Yeah sure why not.” Buffy answered with a smile. With that they both made their way down the front steps and back into Faith’s room. They climbed into bed and soon drifted off into a peaceful sleep.