Title: A Murder Of Crows

Rating: R (For Language later)

Relationships:

Story: Action\Adventure\Angst

Feedback: In lieu of a Faithbot yeah.

E-Mail: KeithWrestle@Yahoo.Co.uk

Jessica screamed as the monster grabbed her by the throat and pushed her into the alley wall. She struck out wildly but the creature laughed and grabbed her wrist, twisting it back to almost breaking point. "So pretty," she squealed when the beast’s eyes flashed yellow and it shoved her down onto the hard tarmac. "I think I’ll-."

"Die." A cold voice interrupted.

Her attacker’s mouth dropped open. A half-second later, the monster exploded into dust. Jessica looked up, her dazed brain trying to make sense of the lean man maybe ten years her senior staring cynically through the falling dust at her. After a second, the man reached out a gloved hand. She hesitantly took it, allowing him to drag her to her feet, feeling the strength in his ripcord frame. "W…what was that?" she stuttered.

"A vampire," the man replied, his tone matter-of-fact. Her mouth dropped open. That was impossible, but, she glanced at the dust, she’d seen it. The man smirked at her, licking his lips slowly. "You got a man?"

She was about to say yes. Then, thinking of Tony probably laid on the sofa, belching drunkenly as he snored and slept off his hangover, she shook her head. She wanted a real man for one night at least. "No one important," she declared. "Your place near-by?"

The demon hunter grinned at her. "Oh yeah."

* * *

He stepped out of the room, laughing at the sound of his team-mates indulging themselves with the local whores the pigs had brought in after another successful hunt. Taking a breath in the marginally fresher air of downtown air, he casually glanced around.

His breath caught when he saw the raven-haired babe stood just a few feet away. Pulling out his stake he continued his inspection. She was dressed in a leather micro that revealed all her long stocking-clad legs, and a black midriff top that displayed her flat belly and barely contained her ample chest. Nice lips too, full and pouty. And her coal-black eyes, a man could drown in them. He sauntered over to her. Noting the slight rising of her chest and the healthy colour of her skin, he dropped the stake back into his pocket before getting to the heart of the matter. "How much?"

The girl looked up. He realised she was young, barely out of her teens – if she was at all. "Depends what you want to do," the prostitute replied.

"You got a room?" he grinned. From the look of her he’d be getting his money’s worth. After a second she nodded. "Lead the way," he instructed.

* * *

Crow threw his spent cigar onto the ground, stomping it underfoot. "Tonight it ends," he looked at the town sign and shook his head in disgust. "Sunnydale? What fucking dickhead calls their town Sunnydale?" Still shaking his head, he climbed back into his SUV and drove into the silent town.

* * *

Faith resisted the urge to roll her eyes as the blonde continued to babble. When she’d run to Sunnydale she’d had such hopes of meeting the legendary Buffy Summers. And now she was there.

Her Watcher was kinda impressive, smart but with an edge. But the rest of them… The Xander kid, fuck the guy was a drooling idiot, and his girl-friend, an up-tight bitch who was slumming it. The Wicca, she was like a hyper-active mouse, and her boyfriend was just plain weird.

But Summers, she was the big disappointment. When she’d run, she’d figured the legend would be a kick-ass bitch with plenty of smarts and experience. What had she got? A vapid, whiny cheerleader who despite having slayed for close on four years had no idea of what was happening in the real world. Pathetic.

She decided to give it a few days, just to scope out the most likely places she could boost some money, then rob some businesses and run. This Slayer wasn’t the back-up she needed, not to face what was coming after her. Resisting the urge to shake her head, she turned around the corner of the warehouse they’d just checked out in one of Sunnydale’s industrial districts.

"Hello Faith." Her blood chilled when Kakistos stepped out of the shadow, the brawny vampire’s face still sporting the hideous scar she’d given him. The 1,000 year old vampire smiled as he strode towards her. "Still as pretty as ever I see," the vampire’s smile widened as he ran a cold finger down her face before tousling her hair. Out of the corner of her eye she saw B fighting the trio of demons but she couldn’t move, her body frozen with fear. "I’ll have to do something about that." The demon’s backhanded slap slammed into her face, snapping her head to the side and splattering her blood against the wall. "Slayer blood nothing sweeter." There was a pause, then the massive demon picked her up and flung her into the far wall, the back of her head bouncing off the concrete. "Well except a Slayer’s screams." She whimpered at the demon’s approach, her entire body shaking as if afflicted by a terrible palsy.

The vampire grabbed her by her hair and dragged her to her feet. "Where’s that spirit?" the demon taunted. "Where’s that heart? Did I break it when I ripped your Watcher’s heart out?"

Mention of her Watcher, the only parent she’d ever had, caused a fire to ignite within her. "You bastard!" she snarled as she leapt up. She slammed a fist into the monster’s broad chest, but the blow bounced off ineffectually.

"Dear," the vampire threw her back to the ground. "Keep struggling it makes it more fun." A look of puzzlement flickered across the demon’s face. "What is that?"

The Greek vampire began to turn to the left. Suddenly a silenced and metal-grilled SUV burst out of the darkness and slammed into Kakistos, lifting the bulky demon off his feet and flinging him into the air.

The demon hit the ground with a grunt. Even as Kakistos began to rise, the vehicle screeched to a halt, a door flew open, and its driver, a lean, edgy-looking bastard jumped out. "I’ll rip your lungs ou-, AHHHHHH!"

Faith’s ears reverberated with first the boom of the shotgun the intruder produced and then with the Greek vampire’s scream when the newcomer blew his knees out. She watched in stunned fascination as the man reached into his car and came out carrying a loaded crossbow and a sledgehammer. The interloper sauntered over to the demon’s body. "Not tonight mother-fucker," the man aimed his crossbow over the vampire’s heart and fired. The bolt smashed into the demon’s chest turning it to, she blinked, a skeleton. That had never happened before. The demon hunter raised his sledgehammer and smashed the skeleton into pieces before turning to them. "So," he leered at them. "Saved you two girls’ pretty little asses. Which one of you wants to thank me first?"

* * *

Crow smirked as he surveyed the two girls. Life was good, he’d just finished off the demon he’d been hunting for four months. And now, he was going to get some ‘gratitude’ of these two honeys. One was a typical but pretty California blonde with good muscle-tone and perfect teeth, dressed in a spaghetti top and red spandex trousers. The other was an exotic-looking sex-bomb with flowing raven-dark hair, smouldering eyes, pouty lips, and a curvy, leather-encased body that begged to be held. Been a while he’d had two honeys like this.

"Who are you?"

He was surprised to find the blonde glaring up at her, her eyes wary but not with the usual fear. "Name’s Jack Crow babe," he grinned at the girl. "I work for the Church honey. And speaking as a man of God, a pretty girl like you shouldn’t be walking the streets alone, maybe you need an escort."

"Jack Crow?"

"Yeah babe?" He turned at the husky voice of the second teen.

"Hi." Right into a bone-crunching fist to the mouth.

* * *

Faith opened her mouth to croak out a thanks to the stranger for saving her. Then he began to talk to her companion. Her eyes narrowed when he mentioned his name. She reached a trembling hand into the inner pocket of her leather pocket and pulled out a folded photograph.

After taking a rattling breath, she unfolded the crumpled photograph her Ma had given her when she was six together with a fat lip when she’d asked why she didn’t have a proper daddy like all the other kids in her elementary class. Even as she looked at the photograph of a man sat on a hotel bed she remembered her Ma’s words. ‘That’s your Pa Faith, a worthless bastard. He would have to be to produce a no-good bitch like ya. You’re bad seed girlie."

Tears blurring her vision at the memories of the countless hours she’d spent staring at the photograph, wishing her pa would take her away from her hellish life, she looked up at the man talking to Summers. It was him. More lined and with some pepper in his once dark hair, but him.

Before she knew it she was up and moving. "Jack Crow?" she gasped.

"Yeah babe?" The man started to turn towards her.

"Hi." Her first blow caught him square in the mouth. Blood fountained out of his lips, spraying her. From somewhere near-by she heard Buffy’s shocked shout, but ignored it to slam a foot in the man’s groin. The bastard doubled up and slumped to his knees. A sneer on her face, she smashed a fist into his forehead, opening a cut. Now the man slumped onto his hands and knees. She raised a fist for another blow only to be grabbed and dragged away.

"Faith! I know he’s a pig!" Buffy screamed. "But what are you doing?"

"He’s more than an pig!" she screamed at her fellow Slayer while all the time glaring at the crumpled body. "That mother-fucker’s my pa!"

Oh god and bollocks.

Giles stared at the battered man sat on the opposite side of his desk, unable to believe what was happening. Just a few hours ago, Faith had been a complete enigma, a girl that he knew very little about indeed. But now, now, she had a father. He glanced at the man sat opposite again. Jack piggin’ Crow, the Vatican’s top gun, a man whose demon-hunting exploits were legendary, a man who even the Council walked carefully around. Watching, the career that just kept on giving. Ulcers mostly.

"Let me at him B!" the Vatican demon hunter shifted uncomfortably in his seat at Faith’s cry from the other side of the door. "I’m gonna make regret the day he ever got his thing on with my ma!"

"I think he sorta already does Faith."

And he’d originally thought Buffy was hard work.

Oh bloody hell.

He glanced down at the thin file lying on his desk, the few facts that Faith’s first Watcher had managed to glean from the suspicious teenager and official records. It was the story of a child taken into the dubious safety of foster-care at the age of ten, running away three years later, and living with a street gang for eighteen months until her Watcher had discovered and taken her in just under two years ago. Little enough information, but one only had to turn on the idiot box to see what happened to children in foster-care and on the streets. Add the fact that said child had made a pass at him, a man almost three times her age, on their first meeting….

Finally he spoke. "I suppose you’ll be staying in Sunnydale to be with Faith," he commented, his tone neutral. Faith’s happiness had to come before the Council’s wants and needs.

"Why? So I got a kid," Crow shrugged. "Way I get about there has to be more than one Crow Kid running about."

Giles’ eyes narrowed at that remark, the first smouldering embers of his temper lit. If his guest didn’t watch out, he’d be receiving his second beating of the evening, this time at the hands of a rather genteel-looking Englishman. "Perhaps you should read this," he said through gritted teeth. He passed the report over.

He noted the demon hunter’s slight blanch at some of the salient facts in the report. It appeared the man had at least some conscience. Finally the Catholic Church’s hired gun dropped the report onto the desk with a shake of the head. "This won’t work. She hates me."

"Is it any bloody wonder?" Giles half-growled. "Sixteen years of hell without having her father around, I’d say she was entitled. Be a bloody man for once in your soddin’ life, live up to your responsibilities."

The American’s eyes flickered dangerously before let out an unamused laugh. "You’ve got some stones ain’t ya?"

Stones? Oh splendid, another American seemingly incapable of speaking the Queen’s English. He, an Englishman with Classical degrees from some of the world’s finest universities stuck in a land filled with illiterate barbarians. If there was a god, he had a bloody warped sense of humour. Quelling his distaste, Giles leaned over the desk and stared challengingly at the man. "If you wish, I’m sure I could magic you up some."

"Nah," the man sniffed. "Pair I’ve got have done me fine so far."

Giles resisted the temptation to roll his eyes. He was beginning to wonder if maybe Faith was better off without this pillock. "So," he leaned back in his chair. "You intend to leave her. A man with your demon hunting experience are going to desert his daughter for the second time in her life, when she needs you the most. When she herself has received the same calling as yourself."

The man stared at him for a second before sighing. "I’ll give it a go."

"No," Giles corrected with a shake of his head. "You’ll do more than it give it a bloody go. That girl has wanted for a parent her entire life judging from what little I’ve seen of her."

The demon hunter’s mouth twisted up into a warped caricature of a smile. "Let’s go see my girl."

* * *

Faith tensed as the inner office door opened and Jack Crow exited the room. She began to rise, only to sit back down at a warning glance from her fellow Slayer. "Jack has decided he’ll be staying in Sunnydale," G announced as he followed the demon hunter out of his office. "Therefore it has been decided that you move in with him-."

"You smoking Crack G?" Faith laughed even as she shook her head. "Chasing the dragon or some shit? No fucking way!"

"I told you this wouldn’t work," muttered Crow.

"Faith, my office now." She ignored the Watcher to glare at the bastard who was her father. "Faith!"

She blinked at the Watcher’s hard tone. Before she knew it she was sat on the seat, that, judging from the heat, her father had just vacated. Giles sat down opposite her, staring intently at her for several seconds before speaking. "Buffy has informed me of your less than salubrious environment-."

"Say what?"

"Your grotty hotel room," Giles explained. "I was going to offer you a room at my home-."

"Why G," Faith fluttered her eyelashes. "You need a girl-toy?"

Giles gritted his teeth. "No Faith, I wouldn’t think of treating a girl your age in such a manner. But now your father is here-."

"No way am I moving with that prick!"

"FAITH!" She jumped when the Watcher slammed his fist onto the desk surface, shocked by his sudden rage. "Will you bloody please listen?" Stunned by the Englishman’s snarl, she stayed silent. G continued, his tone softer. "Faith, I have read your previous Watcher’s report." Faith bristled, how dare he? That had fuck all to do with him. "From what I understand you have never had a parent worthy of the name. And yes, before you say anything, I am more aware of Mr. Crow’s short-comings. However, he is also the Vatican’s top demon hunter," Faith’s mouth dropped open, "and would be an asset in our fight, giving you and Buffy more of a chance of surviving. If however you are not satisfied with your new living arrangements, you can move in with me."

Faith pursed her lips in thought. If nothing else she was a survivor. She stared at the librarian, surprised at the sincerity she saw in his eyes. Finally she came to a decision. "Deal." She spat on her hand and stuck it out for the Englishman to shake.

The Watcher stared with disgust at her hand. He sighed. "Delightful." After spitting on his hand he shook hers. "Deal."

* * *

"You have the bed," Crow glanced around the small hotel room. "I’ll sleep on the couch. I’ll look for an apartment in the morning."

"Five by five," Faith glared at him. "And for the record, you try and get in bed with me and I’ll cut it off and feed it to you."

"What the fuck do you think I am?"

"The sort of asshole who pays hos," Faith stepped towards him, forcing him backwards, he had to admit she was more than a little frightening. "Maybe you got a mother\daughter kink too."

"Listen missy," he growled. "I get you don’t like me and I guess you got reason. But I’m your father and I’m not going to touch you. Now get to bed and I’ll take you to school in the -."

"SCHOOL!" Faith’s eyes widened. "No fucking way!"

"You are getting an education!"

* * *

"So your dad’s this bad-ass demon hunter right?"

Faith looked away from her locker to glance across at the clearly uncomfortable kid stood to her left. She sniffed. "B’s got a big mouth."

"Not really," Xander hurried to defend his friend. Big surprise there, guy spent the entire day kissing each of the three girls’ asses in turn. She reckoned he might be gay. Or angling for an invite into the girls’ locker room. "She was just worried." Xander hesitated. "If you need someone to talk to I’m available."

Faith arched an eyebrow. Ah, it was the ‘befriend you into bed angle’. So not gay, just corny and unoriginal as hell. "You remember you got a girl-friend right?"

"What?" Xander’s eyes widened and he shook his head so hard that she thought it was going to come off. "N…no, I meant as a friend. I mean you’re hot and everything, but I’d never cheat-."

"X," she patted the youth on his cheek before slamming her locker shut. "’Course you would, you can’t help it. I’m Faith and you’re a guy." Spinning round, she sauntered towards the door.

"Uh, excuse me."

Faith turned to see a boy that came up to just above her chest standing to her right. Which was lucky cause that where his gaze was centred. "Yeah?"

"Uh, hi," the kid stuttered. "My name’s Jonathan. Principal Snyder said I’m meant to tutor you for your make-up classes." The boy looked down at his feet, which made for a change.

Faith groaned, Crow had mentioned she had to have a tutor. "You’re shittin’ me, you’re my fucking tutor?" the boy’s eyes widened at her language even as he nodded. "Ah fuck. I get a fucking munchkin. Say kiddie, does your ma even know you’re out on your own?" The boy flinched as if she’d hit him, Faith’s heart fell. Life had let her with edges, but she wasn’t a bully. She’d been bullied too much by other kids about her clothing, no-good ma, and other stuff to ever pick on someone. "I’m sorry Jonno, wanna try again?"

The youth looked at her, suspicion warring with hope in his eyes. "Sure."

The two of them started towards the nearest empty classroom. "So, what music you into?"

"Pop I guess."

Faith rolled her eyes. "I see I got a lot of work with ya."

"Work?" her companion queried.

"Yeah, if we’re gonna be buds I can’t have ya humming MMMBop at me can I?"

Jonathan stopped and stared at her. "You wanna be buds with me?"

"Why not? Ya seem like a pretty cool guy."

Jonathan’s surprised smile only lasted a second. "Whoo! Levinson!" A beefy kid knocked Jonathan’s books to the floor. "What have I told you about talking to hotties? They belong to -."

In a second she had the teen pinned against the wall, her hand wrapped around his throat, squeezing with enough pressure to make the youth gasp as he flailed desperately at her hand. "You don’t fuck with my friends," she snarled. "When I finish talking, I’m gonna let you go, and when I do that, you’re gonna pick up those books," she glanced at the books scattered on the floor, "give ‘em to JL and apologise for being a prick. You do anything else and I will break something. And," she stepped closer to the bully, "’case you think I’m like Summers, I ain’t. She’s sunshine and light, I’m the darkness. You hurt JL again and I will hurt you. In fact, your continued good health depends on him being in tip-top condition, so anyone else hurts him, and I’ll come looking for you. You dig?" The bully nodded, his eyes bulging with fear. "Cool." She released her grip.

Immediately the youth grabbed the scattered books off the floor and thrust them into JL’s hands. "I’m sorry Jonathan," the thug muttered before running off.

"Wow! Thanks!" Faith smirked at Jonathan’s look of worship. Oh yeah, a girl could get used to that.

"Xander!" Cordy slapped him on the arm. "You were day-dreaming again. Who were you thinking about?"

Xander shook his head to clear it before staring at his girl-friend sat on the science lab seat beside him. "Uh, nobody, just Slaying," he lied.

"More likely a Slayer," Cordelia glared at him. "I’ve seen the way you look at Faith."

"What?" Xander felt his cheeks redden at the accusation. It wasn’t like that, well okay no denying it, Faith was a major-league hottie, but then so was Cordy and he’d never cheat on her. It was just that Faith was a part of the gang now, and that meant she was one of his girls, his responsibility. And sometimes she looked so lost, so alone. He glanced at his girl-friend’s set face. Realising that saying that would probably end up with him being dissected, he shrugged. "Do you think I’m a player?"

Cordelia’s hysterical laughter was less comforting than he’d expected. "You, a player?" his girl-friend laughed. "Oh that’s a good one." Cordy’s eyes suddenly narrowed. "Why, who called you a player?"

Xander thought quickly. He desperately constructed a lie, he didn’t want Cordelia to suffer death by Slayer. "Uh, nobody. I just offered this girl carry some books for her, she was running an errand for a teacher. She accused me of trying to pick her up," he was careful to put an injured note into his voice.

Obviously too injured. "How dare she!" Cordelia’s scream sent every eye in the lab to her. The cheerleader continued, her tone lower but no less than angry. "I’ll go and show this harlot what happens to a girl who dares to think my man would make a move on her! Who is she?"

"Uh," Xander was careful not to groan. Obviously his lies were just too convincing. "I honestly don’t know her. I think she was a sophomore."

"A sophomore?" Cordy’s eyes widened in outrage. "A sophomore thinks she can get away with thinking she can accuse my man of wanting her! You see her in the corridor tell me!"

"I will," he weakly promised. God he was such an idiot. Although, he did have an idea for an in with Faith, get her to maybe talk to him.

* * *

"So that’s why the answer to question 23 is 17." Jonathan paused as he realised his companion was staring intently at him. Colouring slightly, he turned to face her. "What’s up? I got a booger or something?"

"Not hardly," Faith purred. She moved closer. "You’re looking pretty good JL." His eyes widened in half-alarm, half-pleasure, when Faith cupped his flaming face in her so soft palms. The sultry Bostonian chuckled. "Wicked cute when you blush too." She pressed her lips to his-.

"Jonathan! Dinner!"

His eyes snapped open with a groan. The dream, again. "What’s that," he muttered, "the sixth time in two days?" Jumping up from the bed he shook his head. "Yeah, like a hot girl like Faith would ever be interested in a loser like me." He snorted bitterly. "That’s a joke."

* * *

"So what’s it like having your dad around?" Buffy asked. Faith grunted. Buffy tried again. "How are you liking school?" This time her companion shrugged. Buffy wasn’t one to give up. "Are you interested in Jonathan?"

This time she got a reaction. Her fellow Slayer stopped and spun around to face her. "You’re on something Summers!" the Bostonian’s eyes flared. "Jonathan’s just a geek!" The east coast teen shook her head. "He’s an okay guy, but he’s just a tutor."

"Do you normally beat bullies up for your tutors?" Buffy teased. "Three in two days."

Now Faith’s eyes grew hunted. "Don’t like bullies," she muttered. Suddenly the girl turned away from her as if hiding something. "Anyhow, we’ve done our sweep-through, see ya later."

"Faith!" Buffy yelled after the other Slayer as she hurried away. Buffy shrugged. "Touchy much?"

Shaking her head, she started on the way back home. Trying to connect with her fellow supernatural warrior was difficult, even harder than connecting with Kendra. On the outside she was really extroverted, brash even, but if you tried to get close….

She stopped at the sound of growling just off the path. After drawing her stake, she stepped into the undergrowth. Her eyes widened and time seemed to stop, her breath coming in gasps. "A…Angel?"

* * *

Crow looked up at the knock on their hastily arranged apartment’s door. He picked up his .38 and shoved it in the back of his pants before sauntering over and opening it. On the other side of the door stood a nervous-looking kid maybe his daughter’s age. "Yeah?" he growled, careful not to invite the boy in.

"Uh, hi," the youth stuttered. "My name’s Xander Harris, I’m a friend of your daug-, Faith."

"Oh yeah?" Crow’s tone was non-committal but his internal alarms were sounding loud and clear. Only person his daughter had mentioned aside from Summers and Giles was some kid who was tutoring her to catch up on the stuff she’d missed in the three years since she last attended school. And this wasn’t him. "What ya want kid?"

The youth stepped into his room, Crow relaxed, but only slightly. There were plenty of humans who worked for vampires. "Uh, sir. I know about Faith’s Calling, I help Buffy Slay for these past two years."

Crow raised an eyebrow. If this was true it was impressive. If it was true. "You kid?" he was careful to put a ton of scorn in his voice, just to test the boy’s reaction. "And what can you do?"

The boy’s eyes flickered with anger. "I’m the reason Faith’s a Slayer!"

"And I thought the powers chose them?"

"Well I’m the reason there’s two Slayers," the youth’s shoulders slumped and his eyes lost their heat. "I gave Buffy CPR after the Master drowned her, split the Slayer line."

That was impressive. Boy had nerve. "Uh, uh." He glanced down at the floor for a second until his face was under control. "Well she’s out on patrol, don’t know when she’ll be back. Want to leave a message?"

"Uh no sir, I know. I waited until she left before coming to the door. I wanted to see you alone."

"Right." Suddenly it was a whole lot clearer. Boy was a fag, not exactly surprising if he spent all that time hanging with an upper-class Limey. Everyone knew what they got up to at Oxford. Suddenly he realised the kid had continued to talk. "What kid?"

"Uh, Giles says you’re a bad ass demon hunter with nearly three decades of Slaying, fighting vampires without any powers. I was wondering," Xander shrugged before shaking his head and turning away from him. "It doesn’t matter. It was a dumb idea."

"Wait!" Jack blocked the kid’s route. "What were you wondering?"

The youth looked everywhere but at him. "That maybe you could train me. You’ve been fighting vamps way stronger than you for three decades, you could really help me."

Crow opened his mouth to laugh. Instead he found himself nodding. "Sit down ki-, Xander. Tell me all the stuff you’ve done Slaying, what you’ve learnt. Ya wanna juice or some milk?" Fuck he was becoming domesticated. Telling himself he was doing it so that his girl would see he was making an effort, he turned to the fridge. "Well?"

"Uh, I haven’t done much."

"Kid," he felt his temper flicker. "If that’s the truth, then you’re just a passenger and you’re wasting my time. If not, talk."

"Uh, okay sir." Crow’s eyes widened as the youth began to talk. If half of what the kid said was true, the boy had serious potential.

* * *

Faith shook her head as she sauntered towards the apartment her -, Crow had hired for them. It wasn’t anywhere classy, just a normal four-room basement level apartment, but it was better than anywhere she’d lived apart from with Ally back in Boston. She was just waiting for pa to demand his rent. Fuck, if it wasn’t for the Council she’d have skipped out already.

She had to admit school was actually pretty cool. JL was kinda fun to hang with, her own personal fan club, and she’d found to her surprise she was pretty good at the learning thing. She especially liked English, back in Boston she’d used to hang in the school library until it closed, anything to avoid going home, and history, it was wicked learning about old shit. The asshole guys sucked, but she could handle them and the cheerleaders were bitches, but fuck ‘em.

Unlocking the front door, she strode into the hallway. Hearing the sound of voice coming from the kitchen\dining room, she popped her head around the door. Her eyes widened as she recognised the youth sat with Crow. "What the fuck are you doing here?" she growled.

The teen jumped. "Uh, uh." Xander turned to face her, his face pale. "I was just visiting your dad, asking him if he’d train me." Faith snorted, what bullshit, guy had got serious wood for her.

"Faith," her dad rose in that loose-limbed, ripcord way of his. "You wanna drink? Maybe sit with Xan for a while, shoot the breeze?"

"Fuck no," she snorted. "I’m going to bed."

Crow’s face hardened. "No you’re not. You’re walking Xander home. It’s not safe."

"Uh, no," Xander’s eyes darted from her father to her. "I can go on my own."

"He walked here solo," Faith agreed.

Crow’s eyes narrowed. "Just do what you’re told for once, okay?"

Faith glanced at Xander. Harris was a fucking pain, but she didn’t want his death on her conscience. She’d already failed to save her first Watcher. "Fine," she nodded. "Come on."

"Okay," Xander glanced at her dad. "I’ll see you soon sir."

"Call me Jack kid." Crow nodded. "I’ll see you tomorrow." Faith groaned. Her pa turned to her. "Got something to say kid."

"Oh no nothing dad I’m wicked cool," she drawled sarcastically before turning to X. "Let’s move."

* * *

Faith managed to keep grumpily quiet for two-thirds of the journey to Xander’s place but finally snapped after what seemed his hundredth inane quip. Grabbing the surprised kid by the lapels of his shirt, she slammed him into the wall of the shadowy alley they were walking through. "What the fuck is your angle Harris?" she growled. "You trying for the post of my own personal stalker?"

"N..no," Xander stuttered, his eyes widening with shock.

"Oh yeah, why’s that?" she sneered.

"I want to be your friend sure. But I need to train, I’m sick of being a passenger."

Confused, Faith released her grip and stepped back. "What do you mean?"

"G-man’s knowledge guy, you and Buff are the Slayers, and Will’s got her mojo thing. Me, I’ve got nothing. And I," Xander dropped her gaze, "I get so scared sometimes."

Faith snorted. Wuss. "You get scared, why do you do it?"

"’Cause it’s the right thing to do," Xander reddened. "My girls and G-Man, if I help them, I’ve done something worthwhile." He kicked a can across the alley it clattered against the opposite wall. "And it’s the only thing that makes me special. Maybe by training I can help them better. They’re," Xander looked at her, "you’re the important ones."

Faith stared at Xander, rocked by the raw emotion in his voice. Finally she gave herself a mental shake. "Let’s get ya home." Maybe he was different.

* * *

"There you go," Buffy muttered as she fastened the chains around her snarling, wild ex, securing him in the lounge of his mansion. How he’d got here she had no idea. And there was no-one she could ask, she’d have to keep this secret.

If Crow found out, he’d dust him without a second thought.

"Hey Padre!" Jack grinned as he opened the apartment door to find the preacher, two African-Americans, one Mexican, and the cockney that had made up his new team stood on the porch. "What the fuck are you doing here?"

Father Adam Guiteau beamed back at him as he entered. "Jack Crow retiring to a life of domesticity? We had to see this for ourselves. And meet the unfortunate girl who is your daughter." The preacher looked around. "Where is she anyhow?"

"Faith’s at a school dance."

One of his men snorted. "A daughter of yours at a high-school dance? I don’t believe that!"

"You know," Crow grinned, remembering Faith’s cursing when he’d laid down the law. "Neither did she."

* * *

Mr. Trick nodded in satisfaction as he looked at his army. Forty vampires, more than enough for two Slayers. It had taken him almost two weeks to amass this army, either turning likely candidates, or press-ganging lesser vampires into his army, but now they’d pay for killing his sire. "The Slayers will be at a school dance tonight-."

"Why not separate them?" commented one of his minions. "Half of us after one, the other half after the other."

"Because one might escape, alert the others, but if we attack them at a dance," Trick smiled. "Plenty of innocents, they can’t run."

"And plenty of food for us," his questioner finished.

"Exactly," Trick nodded. "Only don’t forget our main targets. Time for fun afterwards." He smiled at the others’ nods of agreement. This would be the atrocity that put him on the map as a vampire to be feared. No-one had ever killed two Slayers at once.

* * *

Faith glanced around the converted sports hall, as usual hiding her anxiety behind a mask of bravado. This was the first dance she’d ever been to, the schools back home couldn’t afford them and even if they had, she wasn’t the sort of girl that got invited. But now, both Crow and G had insisted she go, something about her being part of the school and the Scooby gang. The Scooby gang, she snorted derisively, no surprises that Harris came up with that dorky name. Jesus.

"Hi Faith."

"Hey B," Faith forced a smile as the blonde Slayer walked up to her, looking smouldering in a red dress. "Looking good."

"You too," the other Slayer stared at her for a long second.

"Say," Faith babbled, god nerves sucked. "You seen JL?" She’d looked for her bud but hadn’t seen him around.

"He doesn’t come to these things," Buffy grinned slyly. "I thought you didn’t have a thing for him."

"I don’t," she replied, her tone flat. It would just be nice to have someone here she actually liked instead of people she just endured. "How come he doesn’t come?"

Buffy shrugged. "I guess he gets uncomfortable, he’s not part of any gang. He’s just on his own."

Faith’s eyes narrowed. "And you noticed this but you didn’t do anything about it?"

"Hey!" Buffy’s own eyes glinted and her tone turned defensive. "I don’t have time to social work. Slayer remember?"

"And yet," Faith strode over to the wall, tore a poster off and slapped it into the blonde’s hand. "You’ve got time to stand for some stupid Homecoming Queen shit! You don’t get it, Slaying ain’t just about killing shit, it’s about helping people too!"

Buffy reddened and opened her mouth. "For your information Missy," Faith groaned at the strident tones of Xander’s squeeze to her right. She turned to see Cordelia and Xander had arrived, accompanied by Oz and Red. "The position of Homecoming Queen is very important. And it’s mine!"

"Important sure," Faith rolled her eyes. "Right up there with the president or UN. Secretary-General."

"I heard that-."

"Calm down honey," Xander had a wide-eyed look in his eyes as he interrupted his girl-friend. Man, the guy was whipped. It was weird. It was like two Xanders, the one who trained with her dad was kinda cool, she secretly enjoyed walking him home afterwards. But when he was with the others, he was such a fucking dork. "Faith just doesn’t get how important this is to you."

"Huh," Cordelia sniffed. "I’m not surprised, the girl has no idea of how to act in proper society."

Faith’s eyes widened. "You bitch," she growled. "I won’t need any Slayer powers to kick your ass."

"Faith," it was B, "we’ve got trouble."

"Oh no," she continued to glare at the resolutely scowling cheerleader. Girl had a set, she had to admit that. "Queen C won’t be trouble at all."

"Uh I’m sure," B continued. "But I was actually talking about them."

Faith glanced towards the door. Her heart dropped when she saw the forty or so vampires striding through the hall double-doors, knocking over tables and students as they went. "We are so fucked," she muttered. Not good odds, not good -. Her eyes narrowed as she recognised the lead vampire. "Trick." That fucker was going to pay for what he’d put her and Ally through.

* * *

Trick smiled as he strode into the high school sports hall, the sign over the front door invitation enough. Grabbing hold of a near-by partier, he sunk his fangs in drinking his fill before tossing the corpse to the ground. He searched for the Slayer through the crowd and smiled as he spotted her. He’d never seen her in a dress before, quite delightful. "Um," he licked his lips. He’d promised his companions that they could have their share of the teens, but she was his. "Get them."

* * *

"Fuck!" Faith pulled her skirt up, pulling her stake out of her calf sheath before kicking her high-heels off. "These dresses aren’t made for fighting in B!"

"Tell me something I don’t I know," her fellow Slayer looked behind. "Xan-," the blonde squinted. "Where’s he gone?" The shorter girl shook her head. "Oz, take the others and get out. We’ll hold them off."

Faith snarled in disgust. She’d thought Harris was different. Her mistake. "Chickenshit," she muttered.

"I’m staying," she was surprised to see their Watcher stood by them and nodded approvingly. At least Tweed had a set.

* * *

The moment the vampires had appeared, Xander made his move. Leaving the others, he’d dodged around the back of the gym and headed into the darkened corridor, mind whirling with plans. One of the first things Jack had taught him was to make weapons out of whatever could find. His heart stopped when he sensed someone ahead. The party was behind him, the caretaker would have gone home long before. It had to be a vampire.

Pulling out his stake, he continued to run as if he hadn’t noticed the demon. Suddenly it lunged out at him. Instantly he twisted to meet the monster and thrust his stake upwards. "Damn it!" He cursed as he missed the demon’s heart, instead tearing through its left triceps.

The monster snarled as it backhanded him, knocking him into the opposite wall. Xander’s eyes widened as he realised that in his flight he’d dropped his stake. Ducking under the monster’s follow-up right, he shoulder-charged it in the chest, knocking it off-balance. Taking his opportunity, he squatted and picked up his stake, leapt to his feet, and spun around, slamming his stake home. Once the monster had exploded into dust, Xander looked down, squinting at the object that must have fallen out of the monster’s pocket during their life and death scuffle. "A mobile," reaching down, he picked it up and began dialling.

* * *

Jack grinned as his gang laughed at his story. Until now having a daughter had been a chore, a duty. But now, talking to his friends, he realised how proud he was of the spirited, brave, and streetwise kid that was his daughter. The only thing that pissed him off were the missed years.

His sudden dark mood was interrupted by the sound of his phone. Motioning the others to silence, he picked up the phone. "Yeah?" He listened with growing horror to the kid talk, his words little more than a babble. "Be there soon, don’t let anything happen to my girl!" He slammed the phone down. "Guys," he turned to his former team. "You in the mood for a turkey shoot?"

* * *

Xander hung up the phone. Seeing he was just down the corridor from the auto shop, he hurried towards the building, the smouldering embers of a plan burning in his head. It had to work.

* * *

Faith stared fearfully at the vamps surrounding her and B as they guarded G’s unconscious body. It had been a hell of a battle. She’d taken out six vampires and B eight, obviously she hadn’t found any of them hot enough to bang. Even Oxford had weighed in with two. Before he’d been knocked him out.

Seven of the remaining vampires had corralled the other students into a corner, probably for dessert, but that still left fifteen surrounding her and B. And she didn’t know about her fellow Slayer, but she was about out on her feet. "I don’t suppose you’d surrender?"

She forced a glare at Trick’s question. "What are you? Fucking mentally challenged? You want us, come get us!"

"Did you have to issue an invite?" B muttered.

"Ah well," Trick shook his head. "Youths today, no manners."

"You’re right there." Faith blinked at Xander’s voice behind them. The next second, she heard the sound of something rolling also behind them. "I’m especially ill-mannered." And then an almighty explosion.

Three of the vampires exploded into flames, dusting a half-second later. Even as that happened, a bottle flew over their heads to land amongst the vampires in front of them, exploding on impact. "What the fuck!"

Even as she looked around, the window at the far end of the hall was bathed in light and her pa’s SUV came crashing through it, rolling onto the hall floor, totalling the punch table before screeching to a halt. A half-second later, her pa and five hard-faced men jumped out, crossbows in their hands and deadly intent on their faces.

Buffy glared at Xander. "Burning the gym down Xander?" the blonde grinned suddenly and shook her head. "So passé."

* * *

Xander looked around, more weary than he could remember. The battle had been hard, some of the vampires had escaped but with the twin surprises of his makeshift weapons and Jack’s arrival they’d survived. He thoroughly expected a school assembly on the dangers of PCP gangs in the morning.

"You did this?"

Xander glanced towards Faith. "Yeah, I went to the auto shop, grabbed some gasoline and bottles, made a few Molotov cocktails. Nothing much."

"Well I was wicked impressed X, real smart. Ballsy too."

"It was nothing."

"Don’t put yourself down Xander," he looked over his shoulder to see a battered, but otherwise fine, Giles stood there. "You did exceptional today."

"Uh, thanks," he shrunk into himself at all the praise, as always hating being the centre of attention.

* * *

Jack scowled as he noticed the way his daughter was looking at his student. It wasn’t right, she should look at him with that sort of respect. Something had to be done about that.

* * *

Trick winced as he raised a hand to his face, feeling at the healing burn there. This was the last time he crossed the Slayer, first Kaktosis had lost his eye, then the bitch’s father had killed his sire, and now her and her companions had wiped out nearly two score of vampires. "Gotta get out of Sunnydale."

"I’m afraid I can’t allow that." He turned to see himself being regarded by a genial looking middle-aged man. The man inspected him for a second before speaking. "Hello, I’m Mayor Wilkins."

"You missed a hell of a party last night JL!"

Jonathan nodded. "I don’t like parties," he lied. Truth was he hated sitting on the side watching while everyone else had a good time.

"Oh yeah?" Faith shot him one of her all-too knowing looks, the ones that ripped through his defences and rummaged through his deepest secrets. "You were lucky, anyhow a gang turned up, started a fight, and everything."

Jonathan blinked. "But they didn’t hurt you?"

"Me?" Faith’s dazzling beautiful smile almost made his knees buckle. "You’re worried about me? You’re so damn sweet." He blushed when the brunette patted him on the cheek. "I’m cool. Say," the Bostonian looked nervous, he’d never seen her look worried before. The east coast teen shuffled from foot to foot. "I’m kinda struggling with the Civil War-."

"I could help you study!" He eagerly interrupted. He knew he didn’t have a chance with a gorgeous girl like Faith, but just spending time with her was his all-time favourite thing to do. "We could go to the library after class."

"Uh, I was thinking we could go round to my place," Faith looked embarrassed. "I kinda don’t want the others knowing that I need the extra help."

Or that you’re hanging with me, Jonathan’s mood dropped. Forcing a smile, he nodded. "Sure."

* * *

Jack rose at the sound of the front door opening. "That you girl?"

"Hey Crow."

He wondered if it would kill his daughter to call him ‘Dad’, or ‘Pop’, or anything other than Crow. He prowled into the hallway. "You’re home early," his voice trailed off as he registered his daughter wasn’t alone, accompanied by a youth even shorter than she was and who wasn’t one of the Scoobies. "Who’s he?"

The boy jumped at his growl but his daughter just glared at him, which was all she seemed to do. "This is Jon. He’s my bud and tutor," Faith winked at the youth before turning her glare back on him. "I need twenty bucks."

"What for?" That was another thing about having kids, they practically inhaled money.

"We need something to eat before we study, I’m gonna get some pizza."

"I didn’t realise pizza was brain food," he commented sarcastically. "I thought that was fish."

"We’ll have it with sardines," the Bostonian shot back before holding her hand out. "I’m waiting?"

Why did he bother arguing? Sighing, he pulled out his wallet and gaped when the Slayer snatched it off him, pulled out a wad of notes, and threw it back to him. "You’ve taken more than twenty dollars."

"Yeah," Faith pulled two boxes out of her bag and shoved them into his surprised hands. "It’s candy. Seeing as the gym got burnt down by PCPers we have to sell that shit to rebuild it. You just took two boxes off my hands. Thanks." The supernatural warrior grabbed hold of the dazed looking teen, boy definitely had his sympathy, and pulled him out of the door. "Cya later!"

Jack looked around his empty hallway. "Now I’m the sort of man who buys charity candy?" Jack felt like his world was ending. Shaking his head, he tore open the box and pulled out a bar. "I bought them, might as well eat them," he groused.

* * *

"How is production going?"

Ethan glanced nervously at the vampire stood beside him on the factory floor before nodding. "Fine." The African-American vampire might wear a ten thousand dollar suit, but it didn’t fool him for a second, he knew the bloody thing was a demon. He was starting to wonder if making this deal and returning to Sunnydale had been a bad idea.

He barely had time to blink as Trick grabbed a passing-by production worker, fed, and dropped the corpse by the stacked cardboard boxes. "I think that’s ‘fine sir’ from now on?" the vampire arched an eyebrow. "Shall we give it a try."

Ethan gulped. "Fine sir." Oh he wasn’t wondering anymore. Now he knew coming back to Sunnydale was a bad idea. If Ripper didn’t kill him this crazy bastard would.

* * *

"And how is work progressing?"

Trick swallowed anxiously, his earlier assurance dissipating as he entered the office of his new boss. The Mayor was scary, more frightening than with his sire. At least with the Greek vampire you knew where you stood, it was mayhem, carnage, and torture all the way. But with this guy… One second he could be greeting a boy scout troop with a genial smile, congratulating them on some good deed or other. The next he could be ordering their deaths. Guy was erratic. "On schedule sir."

"Excellent," his boss beamed at him. "And when does Mr. Rayne say the candy will begin to take effect?"

"We’ll see the first effects tomorrow."

Wilkins nodded. "Most satisfactory." The politician’s smile disappeared, revealing the heartless black mage beneath. "After all, there can be no distractions when I make my move. None at all."

* * *

Buffy’s heart stopped as she hurried into her home, she was already late because of the enforced hard labour that Snyder had placed them under to clean out the gym, Faith had skipped out on that, no surprise there, girl was a law onto herself. Add her clandestine visit to see Angel and she was seriously late. And her Mom was waiting in the lounge with Giles. Her Watcher and her mother together at the same time. Not a good sign. "Hi guys!" she tried and failed to put a sunny note in her voice. "What are you doing here?"

"Waiting for you young lady," Giles stood, an all-too familiar disapproving look on his face. "And where have you been to this time?"

"Yes Buffy?" her mother cut in. "Where?"

Suddenly inspiration hit. "I was talking to a boy," she sighed. "Scott’s dreamy." Normally her mother hated it when she dated, but after Angel, her mom wanted her dating anyone at all. If she turned up with Brutus the local biker gang chief she’d probably start picking out bridal hats. Just because Angelus had murdered half the town and tried to end the world, people were so narrow-minded.

Ignoring the pang that thought caused her, she pouted. "If I had a car I’d be able to get home earlier," she said, re-visiting an argument they’d been having ever for years.

She gaped when her mother dropped some keys in her hand. "Fine, you can borrow the car. But for one night, and it better come back in one piece." Buffy looked at the keys, her Watcher, her mother, and then the keys again. "What are you waiting for?" her mother asked.

"Uh, yeah." She hurried to the door. "See you guys later."

* * *

Giles grinned as Buffy hurried out of the house. "Bloody hell," he turned to Joyce. "I thought she’d never leave." Grabbing the older Summers woman by the hair, he pulled her into a long, passionate kiss.

* * *

Faith swallowed as B screeched the car around yet another corner. Before tonight she’d have sworn that station wagons couldn’t go this fast or on two wheels. Or that she’d ever wet herself again. It appeared she’d been wrong on all counts.

"The freedom a car brings, it’s so liberating."

"Yeah B," she growled. "That’s why all the babes burnt their bras in the sixties, for the right to drive."

Her remark gained her a glare from B and a near hysterical giggle from Willow. She glanced over her shoulder to see the Wicca looked as terrified as she felt. "We’re here!" Buffy screeched the car to a halt outside the Bronze.

"And still alive." Again B glared at her. Again she ignored it.

* * *

Buffy stared around the Bronze, her mouth dropping open at what she saw. The dance floor was filled with people her mother and Giles’ age, and the band were the same age. Her eyes widened, she recognised at least three of the band as tutors from Sunnydale High. She turned to her companions. "What is going -." She paled as she noticed the body lying on the floor behind an all too innocent looking Faith, blood dripping from the man’s nose. "Faith! What did you do to Snyder?"

"Me B?" Faith’s look of wide-eyed innocence was about as convincing as Xander’s. She just stared at her fellow Slayer. Finally the brunette shrugged. "The asshole felt my ass, I introduced him to the business end of my elbow."

"Faith!" Willow exclaimed between looks at her, her fellow Slayer, and the unconscious principal. "You’ll get in big trouble."

"Fuck Red," Faith sounded disgusted. "They’re all under a spell," Buffy blinked as her fellow Slayer back-handed a drunk who tried to paw at her chest over the top of the pool table. "I doubt Snyder will remember shit in the morning. If he does," the brunette shrugged. "Worse case scenario, they throw my ass out of school. Big fucking deal." Faith looked at her. "What’s the sitch, B? To the bat-cave?" She looked confused, her fellow Slayer sighed. "The library?"

Buffy nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

* * *

"That’s the last of the buggers Joyce."

Joyce sighed. "That means," she threw an empty wrapper to the floor, "if we want some more we’ll have to go out."

"Ah bollocks," Giles pulled her to her feet. "Grab ya coat love, looks like we’re making a trip out."

* * *

"Give me that!" Buffy watched in bemusement as two grown men in their mid forties fought over a half-eaten candy bar lying on the pavement.

"Willow!" she shouted as she realised her friend had run over to pick up the bar. "This is no time to get the munchies."

"I hate to agree with B," Faith commented from beside her. "But she’s got a point."

"Thanks for the whole-hearted support Faith," she replied.

"Hey no problem, fellow warrior for good!" Faith shook her head the moment she spoke. "Shit. I’m hanging with JL way too much."

"I’m not hungry," Willow exclaiming before shoving the bar in her hand. "Look at it!"

Buffy looked down. It was one of the bars they were selling to rebuild the gym. "Not seeing the point here Red." She nodded in agreement with Faith.

"Don’t you see, they’re fighting over the bars!" Willow exclaimed. "They’re causing it!"

She glanced at Faith. Her fellow Slayer shrugged. "Worth a look I guess," the Bostonian said. "Not like we’ve got any better leads."

"The chocolate factory it is."

* * *

"What the bloody hell do you think you’re playing at?"

Crow glanced away from leering at Joyce to sneering at the clearly irate Englishman in front of him. "I was wondering how a real woman like Joyce ended up with a fucking limey."

The insult was barely out of his mouth when Giles’ fist slammed into it, knocking him back a half-step. "You prick!" he snarled before throwing a right that the Englishman ducked beneath before lunging in and grabbing him around the stomach. He instantly responded with a knee to the stomach.

The limey grunted, released his grip and stumbled, crab-like, backwards. As the Englishman straightened, he snapped a left jab into his face, catching his adversary in the eye. "You bugger!" His nose exploded in pain when the librarian ducked his follow-up, slid inside, and headbutted him in the face.

"Fuck!" he stumbled backwards, blood spurting everywhere. Ignoring the pain he staggered back towards the Englishman, intent on pummelling him.

Buffy blinked, unable to believe what she was seeing. A riot outside the candy factory. "We have a winner." She noticed her fellow Slayer wasn’t looking in the same direction as her and Willow. Instead she was mouthing a swearword repeatedly as she looked slightly to their left, into some shadows. "Faith what’s up?"

Faith shook herself before replying. "You never told me your mom was a skank B."

"My mother’s not a skank!" Buffy screamed.

The other Slayer grinned weakly. "Oh yeah? Then why are G and Crow kicking the crap out of one another over her while she makes out with another guy. Sounds like a skank to me, B."

Her mouth dropped open as she realised just what the Bostonian was alluded to. "Oh crap! Faith-."

"I’ll grab Crow, you take G, Red you’re on Joyce detail." The east coast native chuckled. "Get her away from that guy who’s mouth she’s investigating."

As usual her glare bounced off Faith. The Bostonian was enjoying this too much. After hurrying across the street, she dragged Giles away from the fight. Seeing that Faith had matters in hand with Crow, she glanced towards her mom and her paramour.

"Here’s ten bucks!" Willow was screaming into the protesting man’s face. "Go buy yourself a lap-dance from another floozy!"

"Hey Willow!" Buffy protested. "My mom’s not a floozy!"

"No Red," Faith agreed. "We decided before she’s a skank."

* * *

Faith looked around the factory. It was hard to see anything, what with the lack of light and the boxes stacked everywhere. Having to control her horny pop wasn’t a bundle of laughs either. "What are we looking for B?"

"Something magical," the other Slayer whispered back at her.

"Could you be any vaguer?"

Suddenly G let out a shout. "Ethan! You bloody ponce!"

Seeing G recognised the stranger and figuring that if her Watcher didn’t like him, he had to be a bad guy, Faith leapt towards the man. "Look after them B!" she shouted. The guy’s face paled as he started to run away, but she cut him off. The man snarled and threw a decent right haymaker that she ducked under, grabbed the man’s wrist and threw him facefirst into the wall. As the man staggered back she kicked him in the lower back. The man squawked and fell to his knees. Grabbing his collar, she flipped him onto his front, knocking him onto his back.

Before the man had chance to rise she was straddling his stomach, fist raised menacingly. Instantly the man stopped struggling, eyes filling with fear. "Smart guy," she praised. "Who is he anyhow?" she glanced over to the rapidly approaching others.

"Him and Giles ran in a gang in the early seventies, real tough nuts," Willow babbled excitedly. "Giles went straight, Ethan didn’t. He’s caused trouble twice in Sunnydale"

"Oh yeah?" Faith glanced to her Watcher with interest. Hidden depths uh? "So why you’re here English?" She asked Ethan.

"I’ve heard rumours about the striking new brunette in town," the Englishman smiled at her.

"A charmer." Faith nodded thoughtfully. Then punched the Brit in the chest, making him gasp in pain. "Cut the crap and talk."

"I'm subcontracting. It's Trick you want. I'm just helping him collect a tribute... for a demon."

"What demon?" Buffy demanded.

Ethan’s eyes went shifty. "I don't remember."

Faith punched the man in the mouth, sending teeth flying. "Wanna tell me the truth?"

"Lurconis," the Englishman replied, blood bubbling out of his mouth. "Demon named Lurconis. They wanted a way to get the tribute away from people."

"So you're just Diversion Guy?" Buffy put in.

"Rather more than that," huffed her prisoner. "They said the tribute was big, so big that people would never let them take it. That people had to be out-of-it. And later on, when the candy wore off, they'd blame themselves."

"So where's Trick?" Faith queried

"I don't know exactly."

Faith gut-punched the man. "Wanna try again?"

"No! I-I-I really don't know. Delivering the tribute."

"Wanna share?" Buffy pressed. "What's the tribute?"

* * *

Mayor Wilkins stood at the back of the tunnel observing the ritual. "Oh heck," remembering something he took out his cell and quickly dialled his secretary even as he watched Trick supervising the four vampires who had stole the children as they chanted in Latin, standing on the wide concrete rim of a small pool. One of the demons stepped down with a shallow bowl of water taken from the pool and began to anoint each of the crying babies with it. All was going swimmingly.

Finally his secretary answered the phone. "Carol. Hi. Yeah. Call Dave on the public works committee tomorrow about sewer maintenance and repair. I have some concerns regarding exposed gas pipes, infrastructure, ventilation. And, uh... cancel my 3:00."

He nodded in approval as the last two babies were anointed. Suddenly Buffy dropped down from above, followed quickly by Faith. Heart racing, the Mayor stepped back into the shadows.

In an instant the two Slayers move to meet the vampires. The first swings at the blonde who ducks and stakes him, her smooth movements mimicked by her sister Slayer. "Extra-ordinary," he muttered as he watched the Slayers in action. "Like poetry in motion." The moment the last of the Slayers’ group had entered the tunnel, he climbed up the ladder and escaped.

* * *

The final surviving vampire attempted to dart around them but Faith caught him with a contemptuous side kick, knocking it into the pool. She heard a deep rumbling. "That can’t be good." The vampire got to his knees. Just then a huge demon snake appeared

through a huge hole by the water. Seeing the vampire it swallowed him whole before retreating into the tunnel. Faith gulped. "I’m thinking that was Lurconis."

"See you!" Trick raced out of the tunnel.

Faith winced at the returning sound of the rumbling. Buffy yelled. "Light your lighter and throw it in the air!" She obeyed instantly, flinging the lit lighter into the air. "Duck!" She dived at the floor and looked behind her to see B jerk a gas pipe from the ceiling sending gas exploding into her lighter. The gas stream turned to flame, hitting Lucronis in the face, engulfing him. "Let’s get out of here!"

"I hear you!" Faith muttered.

* * *

"And your friend?"

Trick shifted uneasily in his seat, hating the Mayor’s tone. "Paid him. The man did his job. No reason to burn that bridge."

"This didn't turn out the way I had planned."

"Where's the downside?" Trick defended. "You just got yourself one less demon you

have to pay tribute to. The way I see it, I did you a favour."

"I guess you did." Suddenly the Mayor was in front of him, leaning into him. "In the future... I'd be *very* careful how many favours you do for me."

* * *

"Hey G."

Giles looked up to see a surprisingly nervous looking Faith stood in his office doorway. "Hello Faith," he squinted. "You weren’t here for training before class," he accused.

"Yeah I know," Faith looked down. "I didn’t know if you’d want me around after Crow and you got into a throw-down. Me being his daughter and all."

"Faith," Giles sighed. This poor girl had been neglected her entire life leaving to believe that she’d be rejected at the slightest opportunity. "We were both under a spell, I’m not going to hold a grudge. And if I was, I would not direct my dislike towards you for something Jack had done. Understand?" The girl nodded. "Good." He chuckled. "Truth be told, it made a pleasant change to be fighting someone who couldn’t press six times my weight above their heads."

"G," he saw that the curvy brunette’s eyes were twinkling. "You’d have totally kicked his ass."

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