HEY KITTENS!! IM BACK!!!! Im back with Chapter 3...I truly hope you guys like it!! I do! lol
Anyway...I'll leave you to the chapter....
CHAPTER 3- Have a little faith…Willow and Tara left the house after breakfast. They would get to LA on time for lunch and after that, Cordelia would go with them to the prison where Faith was. Or that was the plan so far…
They were silent during the three hours trip, both Wiccans lost in thoughts…So many things had happened in the past four years since Buffy’s death…They had worked so hard and suffered so much. Tara knew that after Dawn of course, Willow was the one who was suffering the most, and the blonde Wiccan took it as her duty to take care of them both. She had watched them mourn the loss, she had watched them cry and yell. She had cried and yelled with them until there were no more tears…She had seen them light an especial candle every year for Buffy’s birthday, and how their eyes wouldn’t show so much pain as they started to heal…
It had been a surprise when they found out Buffy had named Willow and Tara Dawn’s legal guardians . They weren’t expecting it and sure as Hell weren’t ready for it….but they took “the job” gladly… It was one of the hardest things at first. To work to keep a house and raise Dawn without ruining their relationship and try to start the healing process all at once had been the biggest challenge they had ever faced…And somehow they had make it…
Willow had gotten a job at a local computer systems company, although she was still in college, that allowed her to work from home, and Tara had gotten a part time job at a bookstore. Some days they would only see each other at night, after dinner to go on patrol with Xander, Anya and Giles while Dawn was in the house with Clem. At first, Dawn had become really close to Spike, who looked after her at all cost, but after a few months, the blonde vampire left the town and never returned.
Tara had graduated with an English Literature degree and for the past year she had been teaching in the new high school. She really enjoyed teaching, it was a constant challenge and she loved it. Willow, of course, couldn’t be any more proud of her girlfriend.
Giles was a bit reluctant at first when he saw how Willow and Tara took charge of the Slayer duties but he had to admit that when the couple of witches put their minds into something…it was a better idea to step aside and let them be…
The Council had been a different matter. They didn’t want “kids” doing the Slayer’s job. But just like Buffy had done once, they had proven they were more than fit for the job…
But they had to face the truth…they weren’t the Slayer…they couldn’t keep going like this…They needed Faith…
*********************************************************************************************
Once they got to the Hyperion, they were received by Cordy and Fred, who led them inside where Angel was waiting for them, after getting their bags from the trunk.
“Willow, Tara, it’s nice to see you, guys,” Angel said and gave them both a gentle hug. The elder vampire had become a close friend during the past three years, he had helped
A LOT.“Angel, nice to see you too,” Willow said after pulling away.
“How are you, Angel?” Tara asked.
“I’m good. I’ll take your bags upstairs while you go for lunch with Cordy.” Angel gave them a small smile and took their bags.
“Thank you, Angel. Cordy, shall we?” Willow said.
“Let’s go, guys,” the seer said and grabbed her purse from the counter. “Fred, you’re not coming?” Cordelia asked her but Fred was already picking up some books.
“No, you guys go. I have some research to finish,” Fred said. She gave them all a small smile and waved as they left.
“See you later, then,” Cordy said.
“See you later, Fred,” Willow said. Tara smiled at her and waved as well.
Cordelia got in the back seat of the car and indicated Willow where there was a good place to eat.
“This is the right choice, Willow,” the seer said half-way through lunch.
There were in a small, private restaurant and so far nobody had said anything. They were eating in silence, lost in thoughts.
“You think, Cordy?” Willow looked at her. They had never been the best of friends, but in the past years they had changed and at least now they shared a respectful something similar to a friendship. The redhead didn’t understand how Cordelia and Tara could get along so well, like they knew each other for years, but she didn’t mind. After all, her blonde angel could make the hardest of hearts to melt, so she wasn’t surprised.
“Yes. I actually think you’re doing the right thing, Will,” Cordelia said. “If you had asked me that a few years ago, I would have told you she was a psycho who needed to be locked up.”
“But now, Cordy?” Tara asked.
“I think she deserves another chance,” Cordelia simply said. She looked…exhausted somehow. Tara had the feeling that the visions were taking their toll on the young brunette although she didn’t want to admit it.
“She was so lost…” Tara commented and the others looked at her. “When I saw her in Buffy’s body…She was lost, angry and sad…She was just a little girl, a lost little girl,” Tara explained.
“We need to give her a second chance but she must gives us one as well,” Willow finally said.
“She won’t be easy to convince, you do know that, right, Willow?” Cordelia asked. “Faith doesn’t trust anybody and she may be changed but she’s still Faith.”
“We know she won’t trust us. At least not now,” Tara replied and nodded.
“She can be quite stubborn but unfortunately for her, I am more stubborn than her,” Willow said as she stare at her half eaten plate, going over the details in her head again. That was all she did, go over the details over and over again…
“You seriously need a vacation, Willow,” Cordelia commented. “You look way too stressed.”
“Ya think, Cordy?” Willow chuckled. “If I was stressed before when I was just a sidekick… imagine now that I’m in charge.”
“You both need to start taking care of yourselves more. You both are thinner than the last time I saw you,” Cordelia said.
“We’ve been under a lot of stress lately,” Tara replied. “And you look thinner too, Cordy. Those visions are wearing you out.”
“I get what you mean, but there’s nothing I can do. But you need to take care or you won’t be must of a help. We have to go soon, I’m going to go to the restroom and be right back.”
As soon as Cordelia left, Willow sighed. Tara looked at her, frowning.
“She means it with the best intentions, Will. She’s changed a lot,” Tara said, knowing what was going through her girlfriend’s mind.
“I know she did. Still, it’s hard to just…forget. It’s not easy to get used to it,” Willow said.
“How do you expect to forgive Faith if you can’t forgive Cordy?” Tara asked.
“I never said I didn’t forgive her. I’m just saying I’m not used to this caring good Cordelia. That’s all,” Willow replied. She was tense. Her whole body was tense and Tara could see it. The blonde brought up her hand to caress her girlfriend’s hair and sighed.
Cordelia came back from the restroom and they left the restaurant. To say that a visit to a prison was uncomfortable was a statement. The guards checked and rechecked they didn’t have anything on them, they made them put their car keys and other little things in boxes to get them on their way out. Willow frowned while the female guard registered Tara, she didn’t like anybody putting their hands on her girlfriend, but of course she didn’t say anything. They were inside a prison after all…
Then they were led to a big room that had a lot of tables and benches to sit, some were already occupied by women wearing the characteristic orange overall talking to family and/or friends. It was depressing, the gray walls, the metal tables and benches...the air inside that place was suffocating. Willow and Tara sat down on one of the benches and waited. Another guard brought Faith to the table a couple of minutes later. She looked good, except for the scar across the left side of her mouth…
“Red? Blondie? What the fuck…”
Faith frowned, as if not believing her own eyes. The Slayer sat down in front of them and starting cracking her knuckles and wrists. She hated to feel the handcuffs. She was silent for a minute, before she couldn’t take it anymore.
“What are you doin’ here?” Faith asked.
“It’s nice to see you, Faith,” Willow said, trying to not sound so sarcastic.
“What are you doing here?” The Slayer repeated, confused. “I don’t think you missed me so…Spill it.”
“Always so charming, Faith,” Willow said ironically and Tara took her hand, offering her silent support.
“We’re here because there’s something we must talk about, Faith,” Tara said firmly.
“Wow, you speak, Blondie. What happened to the stutter? It was kinda cute,” Faith teased and smirked.
“Shut up, Faith,” Willow said firmly, feeling less confident than she was letting show. “Now, you listen. We’re here because it is necessary. But if you’re gonna be a bitch, then we’re gone. None of us is going to stand any kind of bullshit. Okay?”
Faith looked at her as if the redhead just slapped her. After a few seconds, Faith cleared her throat.
“Deal, Red.” Faith looked at Tara. “Sorry, Blondie.” And this time Tara could sense the honesty behind Faith’s words.
“Apologies accepted,” Tara said.
“So, what’s the deal? Why are you here?” Faith’s tone was a bit nicer this time.
“Well, you do know about Buffy, right? Cordy said she told you,” Willow said.
“Yeah, I know…” Faith frowned at this for a moment. “I was truly sorry to hear what happened. At least she left fightin’, savin’ the world…”
Of course Faith didn’t mention that she had felt it when Buffy died. She knew before Cordelia showed up to give her the news. It was the weirdest experience ever for her. She was in her cell and suddenly she passed out and when she woke up she knew. Somehow she knew… But that secret would die with her…
“She did. She saved us all,” Willow said after thinking for a minute. The redhead took a deep breath. “Faith, we’re here because we need you.”
Once again, Faith was surprised.
“What?
YOU need
ME?” Faith asked, surprised evident in her voice.
“Yes, Faith. We need you,” Tara confirmed.
“Tara and I have been taking care of the Slayer duties since Buffy died. We’ve been taking care of everything, but we can’t do it anymore. We’re not the Slayer. We
NEED the Slayer, and although I’m sure we could, we can’t bring Buffy back. That is why we need you,” Willow said. “We’re here offering you your freedom, a second chance.”
“And we’re asking for you to give us a second chance as well, Faith,” Tara added.
“What? You jokin’.”
“No,” Willow replied. The redhead sighed and Faith could see how tired she looked. Faith could see Willow, the confident woman she had become, but she could also see the tiredness behind her eyes, the exhaustion… “Faith, we all know you did mistakes. But so did we. Maybe if we hadn’t…We need the Slayer, you’ll have your freedom back and full support. And a salary from the Council, we have a deal with them. And no, before you think about it, we don’t want you to be Buffy’s replacement…We need you.”
Faith chuckled.
“It would take to be born again to be B’s replacement, Red,” Faith said with a hint of pride in her voice that confused both Willow and Tara. “But I can’t go back.” Now it was Willow’s turn to be surprised.
“What? Why not?”
“‘Cause…Oh, I don’t know, Red, maybe ‘cause I’m in here,” Faith replied sarcastically. Willow actually laughed this time and Tara smiled.
“And you think I can’t get you outta here?” Willow asked and her eyes glowed for a moment with pride. A pride Faith didn’t know the redhead possessed. “With a click, you’re free, Faith.”
“I won’t work for the mother fuckers of the Council,” Faith said.
“You won’t work for them, Faith,” Tara said. "You will be working with us."
“Exactly. You won’t work for them, they learnt the lesson. They work for us, for you. This is simple, Faith. And believe it or not, we actually want you to come back. We want to make things right this time.”
“We need you in the team, Faith. We don’t have to be friends, but we work as a team,” Tara added. “You need to understand that.”
“If you accept, you’ll be release on Monday. You’ll come back to Sunnydale with us. Giles will give you a couple of days to get settle with us and then you’ll start training again. And as I already told you, the Council has agreed on paying you. The sons of bitches sure have enough money. You can stay with us for as long as you want to or you can get a place to live.”
Faith seemed lost in thoughts for a few minutes. Willow and Tara glanced at each other, wondering what was going on through her mind, wondering if they’ll get out of that place empty handed.
Finally, after fifteen minutes, Faith sighed and ran a hand through her now really long hair to pull it away from her face.
“I’m actually makin’ progress, ya know?” Faith said and Willow and Tara looked at her, confused. “Here,” Faith explained. “They make you see a shrink every week,” Faith clarified when she saw they hadn’t understood.
“No wonder you’re actually being polite,” Willow said and Tara hit her thigh under the table. Faith however was laughing.
“Nice, Red,” the Slayer said. “You sure can get me outta here?”
“I would advise you to not doubt of the only person who can get you out of here, Faith,” Willow said firmly.
“I’m not, Red.” Faith thought for another minute. “Okay. If ya can get me outta here, then I’m in.”
“Great. Awesome.” Willow looked so relieved and tired Faith thought she would fall sleep right there. The Slayer looked at Tara. She looked exhausted as well, but it was obvious she was trying not to show it, just like Willow. The blonde held her girlfriend’s hand all the time and was surrounded by a light that showed how strong and mature she was now. The blonde that Faith was looking at was very different from the shy insecure girl she had met once a long time ago.
*********************************************************************************************
'This should be interesting...' Faith thought while she was being taken back to her cell.
*********************************************************************************************
Willow was already in bed, typing furiously in her laptop while Tara did her routine before bed. She was rubbing cream in her arms and legs in front of the dresser.
“HA!” The redhead exclaimed triumphantly.
“What is it, Will?” Tara asked as she made her way to the bed in the room Angel had set up for them. The blonde looked like a vision with her black satin nightie that reached mid thigh and her long blonde hair cascading down her shoulders. Willow was looking at her, open mouthed, just like every night. “What?”
“You get more beautiful every day, how can you do that?” Willow breathed out like a love struck teenager . Tara gave her a small smile and a light blush spread over her cheeks.
“Are you sure you don’t need glasses, Will?” Tara joked and got into bed.
“You are, Tara,” Willow said. The redhead leaned in to kiss her girlfriend’s full lips and Tara gladly responded to the kiss, her lips instantly moving against Willow’s. “And I love you,” Willow added.
“I love you too, Will,” Tara answered. “So, tell me, what happened?”
Willow placed her laptop on the night table and brought up her left hand to interlock her fingers into Tara’s silky hair. The redhead pulled her in for another sweet kiss.
“I got everything set up for Faith to get out of prison. She’ll be release on Monday. Baby, you smell really good!” Willow breathed out.
The redhead’s mouth was only a few inches away from Tara’s and Willow’s pink tongue came out for a second to lick the redhead’s dry lips.
“So, everything is ready, honey?” Tara asked and silently gasped when Willow began to nuzzle the skin of her cheek and neck with her nose. She was barely touching her but it was driving the blonde crazy. “Will? Honey? Can we…talk for a minute?”
Willow pulled away from Tara’s yummy skin and stared at her girlfriend, almost pouting.
“I want smoochies!” Willow whined, causing Tara to smile. “Now!”
“Honey, just answer me and then we can have all the smoochies you want to, okay?” Tara told her as if she was speaking to a 4 year old.
“Yes, everything is ready. Faith will get out Monday morning. When we get back to Sunnydale, I’ll call Mike from the Council and he’ll erase her jail record,” Willow said. “Now, can we make out?” The redhead asked with such child-like excitement that Tara let out a small laugh.
“That and more, honey,” Tara said, giving Willow that lop-side smirk that was only for her, as she closed the distance between them and her lips met Willow’s for a tender yet full of passion kiss.
“Yay,” Willow whispered before her lips met Tara’s again and again, while one of her hands fund its way under Tara’s nightie….
*********************************************************************************************
Okay, guys, that was the Chapter!! I hope you liked it!!! I have a little surprise for the next Chapter..."somebody" will show up in a way none of you imagine! So wait for the next Chapter!!