FIC: These Roads We Travel (14/?)

[Kimber <kacoe@xxxxxxx>]

TITLE: These Roads We Travel (14/?)
AUTHOR: Kimber (kacoe@xxxxxxx)
DISCLAIMER: All BTVS characters belong to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.
SUMMARY: The long awaited next story in "The Road Series".
SPOILERS: Everything is fair game.
DISTRIBUTION: The usual suspects. Anyone else, e-mail me please.
AUTHORS NOTES: This comes because I've had so many great responses to the series and
many people begging for another. Be careful what you wish for.

{{Indicates flashbacks}}
-----------

Buffy and Faith stood in Faiths apartment in L.A. Even though most of her time was spent
in Sunnydale, she just didn't have the heart to give it up. It was the first place she
was able to call home in the time that she was working for Angel and Cordy.

Buffy had never been there before, so she was wandering around looking at all the knick
knacks Faith had scattered around. There were pictures of the gang at various stages of
their friendship, a picture of Angel and Cordelia of all people, together on a rooftop and
one lone wallet size baby picture in a frame. Buffy picked it up and studied the child
for a few moments. The edges of the picture were dog eared and Buffy could imagine that
it had seen better days. The child was wrapped in a pink blanket and staring out at her
with haunting eyes  eyes that Buffy could swear she'd seen before.

"What cha doin?" Faith came up behind her.

"Who's this?" Buffy handed the framed picture to Faith.

"It's ah. . .no one really. Some kid I saved when I was working for Angel." She
shrugged. "The parents sent me a picture, so I kept it."

Buffy nodded in understanding. "Cool place." She looked around. "Very Faith-like."

"You think?" The Dark Slayer smiled.

She nodded. "Yeah. So. . .why are we here?"

"I just thought a change of scenery would be nice. Plus you've never been here before so.
. ." She shrugged.

"Well, it was a great idea." Buffy smiled and put her arms around the taller woman's
shoulders. "No kids, no vamps, no Giles. . .what ever shall we do?"

"Buffy," Faith removed Buffy's arms from around her and looked at her seriously.

"Uh, oh. You never call me that."

"Yeah, I know. Look, I. . ." Faith walked away from her a few paces. She just couldn't
think when the blonde slayer was that close. "I don't know if this is such a hot idea. I
mean, what will Laurel think? And Red, she's the love of your life and all. I just don't
feel right about it. I've tried but," She shrugged. "I don't know. I'm sorry."

Buffy was crestfallen. "Faith, I need you."

The Dark Slayer shook her head. "No you don't, B. I'm not good for you, for anyone."

"God, do you hear yourself!" Buffy stalked up to her, angrily. "Don't pull that 'woe is
me' shit, cause it's not gonna work. Not anymore. You are good, Faith. You've atoned
for all the crap in the past twice over. And if you don't believe me just ask Laurel.
She loves you just the way you are and believe me, that's one perceptive kid we have
there."

"You. You have there. She's not mine, B."

"She may as well be, Faith. Yours and mine and Willow's. Willow never stopped Laurel
from loving you or seeing you. The three of us raised her. You have to know that."

Faith shook her head. "No, you raised her. You and Willow, I was just there for the
ride. I'm no good at the momming thing anyway, trust me on *that* one."

"What the hell do you think you've been doing this past year? You've helped me raise her,
Faith. You've been there for her the way a parent is. Don't you see that?" Buffy turned
the Dark Slayer around to face her. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and it took her by
surprise. She reached up and wiped them away. "What's this about?" He tone was more
calm now, more gentle. "I mean, really. I know it's not about Laurel, and it's not about
Willow because we climbed that mountain already, so what is it Faith? Tell me what's
wrong. Why are you doing this?"

Faith stepped away from her and walked over to where the pictures of the gang were. She
began re-arranging them for no particular reason. . .just for something to do so she
wouldn't have to answer Buffy or face her. She was afraid, more afraid than she could
ever remember being. One false move, one well placed touch or kind word, and everything
would come spilling out with no stop in sight. That just couldn't happen. Not to Faith
anyway. Faith was strong and brave and lived on the edge of danger. . .she wasn't some
little wuss who cried over every little thing that went wrong, or things she couldn't even
begin to fix or make up for.

Buffy stepped up behind her and wrapped her arms around Faith's waist. "What ever it is,
you can tell me. I won't judge you or turn you away. I swear."

Faith shook her head. "I can't." She choked out. She took a deep breath and turned to
face Buffy. "God, look at me. This isn't what I brought you here for. I wanted to stop
in and grab a change of clothes and show you the place."

Buffy smiled. "It's okay. I'm glad you did it. Bring me here I mean."

Faith nodded and wiped away the last of her tears. "Okay, so we should head back.
Laurel and Lisa are doing that movie thing tonight, but I thought we'd take them out for
iced cream before they settle in. Sound good?"

"Sounds like a fine plan to me. Let's go." Buffy grabbed her jacket and followed Faith
to the door. She turned her around and kissed her firmly. "And don't think you just
weaseled your way out of this discussion with promises of chocolaty goodness. We talk
later. Got it?"

Faith sighed, but nodded in agreement.

--------

Giles fumbled for the phone. "Hello?"

"Mr. Giles, sir, this is Quin Spencer from the council in England."

"Yes, I know who you are. What's the problem now?"

"We have some news, sir. Our research teams have come across a prophesy involving your
Slayer." He paused a moment. "I'm afraid it's not good news."

"Let me guess. The world is to come to an end is it? And the Slayer is to die?" Giles
rolled his eyes.

"Yes, that's it sir. How did you know.?" The young watcher couldn't hold back his
surprise.

"How old are you, boy?"

"I-I'm twenty two sir. A novice for two years."

Giles shook his head. The least the council could do was to put someone experienced on
the phone. "Well let me tell you something Mr. Spencer, I've had three Slayers in my
charge and none of them have died yet from a prophesy. Well, one of them did, but it was
only for a moment. Now, unless you have other pressing business to discuss with me, I
would really like to get back to work if you don't mind."

The man cleared his throat. "Yes, well, there is the matter of the Slayer being assigned
a Watcher. You have been retired for some years now and the council would like to. . ."

"Mr. Spencer, do you know anything at all about the active Slayer?" Giles was beginning
to lose his patience.

"Well, yes of course. Small in stature, about 5'4", red hair, green eyes, birthplace
Sunnydale Memorial Hospital, birth mother is Willow Rosenberg a witch, father is unknown.
She is sixteen years of age, excels at her lessons in secondary school. . .

"Her name, sir. Do you know her name?"

"The Chosen One of course."

Giles rolled his eyes. "Her birth name you ninny! Do you know the name by which her
friends and family call her?"

"I'm afraid I don't, sir." The novice watcher was at a loss for words. "But I do know
that she is Slayer number one thousand two." He offered meekly.

"Her name is Laurel Summer Rosenberg you pillock! And for your information she happens to
be my granddaughter. I do not need a Watcher here for supervision because I have two
other Slayers, one of which is her other mother, here to guide her. I'd suggest you do
your research before contacting me again. Oh, and she is Slayer number one thousand ten
you moron. There have been nine others before her in the past sixteen years." He slammed
the phone down.

------

"You told her?"

"No. Not really. I just. . .coached her a bit."

"I see."

"You told me not to tell her and I didn't. I know she has to find out for herself, but I
couldn't stand to see her give up."

"It's alright. You didn't break any rules and I'm not mad." She smiled. "Leave it to
you to find a back door."

He grinned. "Yeah, well, things should move a bit faster now. Don't you think?"

She nodded. "Yes, they should. Though she's not going to be happy about her destiny.
She's going to fight it all the way until the last possible second." She chuckled a
little and shook her head. "Though it wouldn't be Willow if she didn't do that. Now
would it?"

"No. It definitely wouldn't." His expression grew serious. "If she finds out. . ."

"She'll be mad, but. . .these things can't be avoided. You know that. You're first
allegiance is to your station. You accepted that and all the responsibility that came
with it when you became the Shadowman." She placed her hand on his. "Don't worry. It'll
all fall into place soon."

"I just hope you're right."

--------

"We've been waitin for ya." Faith said to Laurel and Lisa as they walked through the
door. "Buff and I wanted to take you guys for iced cream before you start your movie
fest. You game?"

Lisa looked nervously at Laurel for some indication. Her face was unreadable.

"Sure." Laurel shrugged. She looked over at Lisa. "That good with you?"

"Uh, sure." She nodded and sighed in relief.

Laurel looked around Giles' apartment suspiciously. She could feel that something wasn't
right, but she wasn't sure what.

"What's wrong, Lau-Lau?" Lisa looked at her.

"I don't know. Something's. . .weird. My Slayer sense is doing double time."
Instinctively, she put Lisa behind her out of harms way.

Lisa rolled her eyes. "Laurel. What exactly do you think is gonna jump out and attack us
in your grandfather's home with three Slayers here? Get a grip, will ya."

Laurel tried to look at her menacingly, but it came off as an amused smirk. "Oh, I'll
get a grip alright." She wiggled her eyebrows. "Any suggestions where to start?"

Lisa's eyes went wide when she saw Faith's jaw drop.

"Laurel?!" Faith said, surprised.

Buffy walked back into the room from the bathroom. "Hey. . .I thought I heard you two
come in. Iced cream? Chocolate? What are we waiting for? Let's go." She headed toward
the door. Laurel and Lisa made a hasty exit and Faith followed shaking her head.

Giles sat passively at his desk watching the exchange. He wasn't surprised at the
development between Lisa and Laurel. He knew it was coming for quite some time. There
were more pressing matters to attend to right now other than his granddaughter's love
life. He turned his attention back to the desk. In front of him, was the eighth volume
of the Garzian texts. He took his glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Are
you sure?"

> > From upstairs, a figure descended. "I'm sure."

"There's no room for mistakes with this."

The figure, a man, reached the landing and stood before him. "There's no mistake. I
never would have come if. . ."

Giles raised his hand and stopped him mid sentence. "I know." He rose from his chair and
closed the book. He turned around and regarded the man before him. "What now?"

He shrugged. "It's a waiting game. The prophesy is clear, Giles. It's all going to fall
into place, we just don't know when."

"Bloody wonderful." Giles sighed. He looked up suddenly embarrassed. "I'm sorry. It
just such a. . .well, it's a paradox, really if you think about it." He tried to smile
despite the news. "While one person gains what they most want in the world, one person
loses what they love the most. And the world will be safe forever."

"I know. Believe me, that's all I've thought about." He glanced towards the window and
sighed. "It's dark. I should go before they get back. They don't need to see me yet."
He nodded his head solemnly and without another word, slipped out the door.


--
Your humble bard,
~~Kimber


Official Noodle wetter and distributor, Gutter-Slut and Vice President and Treasurer of
the Riley/Oz neutering society and garden club...Personnel Recruiter for all main gutter
and sub gutter affairs.



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