FF: RoL II:: Revelations and Realizations (10a/?)

[keeper444@xxxxxxxxx]

Yep I'm back.
This one got kid of out of hand and so it ended up in three parts. I
think some will be happy with it, as I do answer a question or two, but
don't get too smug, I didn't answer all of them<eg>
Since I'm having so many problems with Yahoo lately, I would ask that if
you have any feed back you want me too see asap then send to me off list
at:
.....................
keeper444@xxxxxxxxx
.....................
Ok so that's all for now, please sit back relax and I hope you enjoy the
ride.
Later
Alex
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Full disclaimers can be found at:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/buffywantswillow/message/8661 
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Revelations and Realizations (10a/?) 
by: Alex P. 
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Morrigan set a very stunned and confused Buffy back on her feet and
waited for the young student to absorb the startling information she had 
just been given. The warrior stepped back and waited for the eruption
she knew would occur when the overwhelming implications of what she had 
been told hit the Slayer. 

"What do you mean that Dad isn't my Dad?" Buffy asked in a small
insecure voice. "How do you know? Mom would have told me. She wouldn't
think of holding back something this important from me. I mean
especially the way he's been treating me ever since LA and then
after...this...last...year...?" 

Buffy stopped as suddenly certain things from the past began to make
more sense when added to what Morrigan had just said. 

"Why didn't mom tell me?" Buffy asked as her resistance to the idea
faded quickly "When he abandoned us like he did why wouldn't she tell me 
he wasn't my father? Who is my real father if it isn't Hank Summers, who 
is he and who am I?" 

Brigit took the confused young woman's hand and gently led her to the
couch where Brigit sat next to her. She was taking over for Morrigan
knowing that she was better equipped to handle this kind of discussion
than the legendary warrior. 

She loved her wild eyed and gruff mannered mate but when it came to
subtleties and feelings the woman just wasn't the one to send. 

"Elizabeth, I have a story to tell you, but I must ask you to hear me
out and not to make hasty judgments until you have all the facts." The
compassionate blonde told Buffy softly her voice soothing the Slayer's
raddled nerves. 

Her eyes took on that same inner glow that came to Lugh and Willow when 
ever they were telling someone something they really needed to hear. She 
could feel the almost magnetic pull of the power washing over her
calming and relaxing her making Buffy more receptive to what Brigit had 
to say. 

"It's really a sad tale in one way a story of love and death, but on the 
other hand it is a story of hope and sacrifice as it has yet to see its 
ending." Brigit began slowly wanting both her students to hear and
understand to story she was about to tell. "Are you willing to hear me
out my child?" 

Buffy was shaken to the core, these people were asking her to question
everything she'd taken as fact since she could remember. Memories of all 
the wonderful times spent with her "father", Hank Summers, growing up in 
a loving caring atmosphere. Pictures of her father's proud and loving
face when she won her skating competitions. Back when she was Daddy's
girl. The nights spent sitting up late to watch a special movie munching 
popcorn with him. 

All these memories faded as she recalled when the shallow Daddy's girl
met Merrick and became the Slayer, then came the viciously cruel Lothor, 
her first master vampire, visions of blood, death, destruction, her
first prom. 

Oh yes, her first prom night, and it's aftermath, those memories came
crashing unwanted and unwelcomed, but undeniable and indelible. 

The screaming, the throwing things, the accusations. Then a memory
surfaced, one she had suppressed deep in her subconscious in the hopes
that forgetting it would make it go away and never had happened. Just a 
hurtful thing said in the heat of passion that wasn't really true. 

Or was it?
************* 
It was the week after the prom, when everyone was hurrying to forget
vampires and Slayers, and were turning them into gangs and hoods, when
Buffy was fast becoming the scapegoat of all the bad things that
happened, so survivors could sleep well at night, and some could forget
their short comings, and embarrassing cowardice when faced with pure
evil. 

Her mother and father were having one of their worst screaming matches
to date. They didn't know Buffy could hear, and now, she wasn't sure
they 
even really cared if she did. 

"Hank what is your problem?" Joyce had yelled "How can you possibly
believe that Buffy could have done all that? She's a good girl. I just
know there's a good reason for all this. If she says she was trying to
save her friends then that's what happened. After all she is our
daughter." 

"She is YOUR god damn bastard daughter!" her father had yelled back
viciously trying to hurt his wife "certainly not mine. Face it you were 
out whoring around and got yourself knocked up, and when "Mister
Wonderful" found out he took off and left you high and dry. 
Then good old stupid Hank comes along, and covers your whorish ass and
takes on some other man's bastard spawn and look at my reward. 
A wife that stiffens at my touch and fucks like an iceberg, and a stupid 
little cunt of a daughter that is nothing but an embarrassment and
constant trouble. 
Well bitch I've had it and after we're finished with this mess I'm
gone." 

Buffy had cried herself to sleep that night, and by the time she woke up 
the next morning the frightened young girl had convinced herself that it 
had only been a bad dream. By the time all the prom night mess was
cleared up and all the charges taken care of she had forced herself to
forget it altogether. 

Even when her father had packed his bags and left without even saying
goodbye she still refused to connect the two events. Then with the
divorce, selling their house in LA and moving to Sunnydale, and learning 
of the Hellmouth and all the things that went with it, including a new
Watcher, she managed to never think of that fateful argument so long ago
ever again. 

Until now. 
*********** 
As soon as Brigit and Morrigan had brought up that Hank Summers wasn't
her father, it all came roaring back into her consciousness with a
vengeance. Silent tears fell from the Chosen Ones eyes as her emotional 
world began to crumble all around her. 

She needed an anchor, she needed a steady shoulder to lean on and there 
was only one thought on her mind <>I want my...<> 

"W-w-w-il-l-l-low?" Buffy stammered her voice wavering and tiny as she
called out the only name she knew that meant unconditional love and
support, something it seemed nobody had ever given her before, "W-wills,
honey, I need you." 

Even through the overwhelming pain and anguish she was still getting
Willow heard her lover calling for her. The Slayer's voice was tiny and 
broken, like a lost child, all alone and searching for the only one she 
could trust above all others. 

In a flash the witch was off the bed and had maneuvered herself behind
her lover so that the emotionally devastated blonde was sitting between 
her legs and leaning back into Willow's chest, with the warm comfort of 
the redhead's loving arms enveloping her, holding her close. 

"I'm here sweetheart," Willow whispered softly into her lover's ear.
"I've got you my love. We'll get through this together." 

Buffy leaned back into her wife absorbing the warmth and comfort from
the love of her life 

"Alright Brigit," Buffy began with a resigned sigh and drawing strength
from the very presence of her wife. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be.
Explain why you think that Hank Summers isn't my father, and just who
you think is." 
========== 
Jeffery Fallon was putting the final touches on an experimental vaccine 
that would combat the effects of the Tien Szu demon's venom. 

The venom was a particularly nasty weapon the Tien Szu demon would spit 
it on their victim where it was almost immediately absorbed through the
skin. The venom contained a virus that would begin to multiply in the
victim's system until it reached fatal proportions. 

It was a horribly painful death that took several days to reach it's
conclusion. That was why Jeffery had worked so hard on the vaccine. 

That and he'd received reports that there were Tien Szu demons in the
service of the newest Dark Lord that was known to be operating in and
around Sunnydale. If it worked on people the way it did on his test
animals then he would be able to save a victim that had been poisoned up 
to eight days before. 

The longest anyone had known to live after being was fifteen days before 
he succumbed to the venom. 

The dedicated researcher and physician carefully place the vial of
precious fluid into the secure cabinet. As he turned away from the
cabinet he noticed the vial and full syringe laying on the counter, he
picked up the vial and replaced it in the cabinet, then he picked up the 
syringe and studied it thinking back on the conversation he'd had
earlier with Mr. Giles. 

The more he thought about it the more he became uncertain of this course 
of action. Thinking of the way the man had reacted and spoke was very
out of character for the former watcher. 

In fact this was just the sort of heavy handed action that caused the
man to turn his back on the council, in the first place. In short this
entire episode wasn't at all the way Jeffery had seen the Scoobies do
things. 

The former monk decided that Giles wasn't acting like Giles and he
wasn't at all sure he should follow through on the orders from this
questionable source. 

He looked at his watch and noticed that it was nearly time for Dr
O'Bryan to meet him for dinner. The thought of the beautiful surgeon
brought a gentle smile to Jeffery's usually solemn face. 

<>That is what I shall do<> the doctor thought coming to a decision <>I 
will talk this over with Cheryl, she will be able to help me find the
proper solution to this dilemma.<> 

Whistling an ancient Gypsy love song he had learned as a child the
doctor locked up his laboratory and office then headed for the emergency 
room where he knew a beautiful green eyed woman with raven black hair
would soon be joining him, as they did nearly every night. 

She had even 
gone on a couple of patrols with him. 
She was well aware of the threat that existed in Sunnydale, and the way 
it had to be fought. She hadn't liked it, but she was practical enough
to 
realize the necessity of the crude and violent methods. 

The doctor entered the emergency room and was greeted by one of the most 
beautiful sights he'd ever seen. Standing at the admitting desk was the 
incredibly gorgeous woman that for some reason he couldn't begin to
guess had become a very important part to doctor Jeffery Fallon's life. 

The smile she gave him when she first saw him made him stop in his
tracks and listen to the angels sing. 

<>How could anything be a problem with such a woman at my side<> Jeffery 
thought<> With Cheryl's help I am sure that whatever we decide to do it 
will be the right thing<> 
=============== 
Slowly the youthful Slayer opened her eyes and let them focus on the
beautifully built woman that had said her name. 

"Yeah Cordy, it's me." Faith answered trying to keep her voice calm
hoping that this woman that was her destiny wouldn't notice the way she 
was trembling. "It's ah been a while huh?" 
"Y-yes, yes it has." the ex-cheerleader said sure that Faith would be
able to hear the way her heart was pounding in her chest
"Did...ah...the...ah 
Goddess send you?" 

Faith took a tentative step toward the woman she'd been told was the
mate to her soul, but she hadn't been told about the way being near her 
would make her soul sing and her heart flutter. 
That her mind would go blank and her body would be almost impossible to 
restrain from rushing to her side and either sweep her into her arms and 
kiss her senseless or fall to her knees and beg to worship her like the 
Goddess she truly was. 

It was at this moment that Faith's mind, body, heart, and soul knew for 
certain that Cordelia was truly the one being in the universe that could 
bring back the light to her life that had disappeared so very long ago. 

"Yeah, I ah I've been kind of a guest in her temple many times over the 
last few years." Faith told her as her voice broke, betraying how
nervous the dark Slayer truly was. "She's ah well the Goddess she's
really somethin' ain't she?" 
Cordelia let out a nervous chuckle at the younger woman's remark. Faith 
had always been the mistress of the understatement and this was
definitely one of those times. 

"You got that right." the still frightened woman agreed "and that's a
real accomplishment from someone that grew up on the Hellmouth." 

The two young women shared a slight laugh then became serious. They
gazed into each others eyes both looking for some clue of what to do or 
say next. They were both uneasy and neither one was sure where to start. 

Being the one that was used to dealing with awkward social situations it 
was really no surprise when Cordelia spoke first. 

"Faith?" she asked her voice barely above a whisper, "Do you know where 
we are? I mean I've seen the Goddess' temple but for some reason I don't 
think this is the same place." 

"Yeah...eh...I mean I know...or...well she...the Goddess...she said that 
this is the ah astral plane or anyway that's what she called it." 

"Hum, okay, I think I've heard Willow mention that before." The brunette 
said thoughtfully as she sifted through her memories some times a
photographic memory came in handy, another side effect of her visions.
"I remember it was several months ago, she said it was where you went
when you left your physical body. 
So that would mean our bodies are still back home or at last wherever
they were before we were brought here." 

Faith was trying to think of what the beautiful woman standing in front 
of her was saying but she was having a hard time focusing on her words, 
while her eyes kept wondering over Cordelia's incredible body. 
It was as if they had a mind of their own and they wouldn't obey her
when 
she tried to force them up to look into the ex-actress' eyes, but they
wouldn't listen and on their own accord kept boldly roaming over
Cordelia's magnificent curves. 

<>Ohmygodohmygodohmygod<> Faith's mind was screaming at her <>She is so 
damn gorgeous, I can't believe she's talking to ME! She's talking TO me, 
not at me, like all the rest of them. Oh man her voice is so beautiful,
it's like listening to that choir music I always heard at the soup
kitchens back in Boston. God I loved that music. Oh shit she's expecting
an answer nonononono, how can she expect me to pay attention when she's
standing there with that body. She's just so-so-so
Aaaaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh!!!<> 

Once she finished her silent mental melt down and scream Faith found
herself able to figure out that the other woman was asking her a
question. 

"Huh...what?" Faith stammered clumsily "I ah well oh shit! Could you ask 
that again. I guess I wasn't paying attention or something and I missed 
what you needed to know." 

Cordelia's blush almost matched Faith's when she realized why the other 
woman hadn't heard her question. She thought she'd seen those incredibly 
deep dark eyes taking in her body, but she couldn't be sure because
Cordelia realized she had been giving Faith's body and clothes an
appreciative appraisal. She could feel the heat of her own blush
creeping up her neck. 

<>What is wrong with me!<> Cordelia scolded herself<>I've seen lots of
people checking me out and lord knows I've done my share of checking out 
hot bodies both men and women. I never even gave it a second thought. 
Geez how many times have I had conversations with the top of somebody's
head while they talked to my chest. 
It never bothered me before, but one look from this ravishing creature
and I've lost my mind. 
Come on girl get it together this is too important for me to blow it
over some childish reaction to a simple look. I've got to make this
right for both of us, I can't let my life turn into the hell the Goddess
said it would become without my soulmate, and I 
can't condemn Faith to that same hellish loneliness and despair. I just
hope she'll believe I'm serious, but it's up to me to convince her to
give me a chance and maybe with her help we can be whole again. 
I can't fail us this time, I don't think there will be a third chance.<> 

Cordelia looked up and noticed that Faith had a strange look on her
face, like she was trying to see where a piece of a puzzle goes without 
looking at the picture on the box. Cordelia could tell from what little 
Faith had said up to now that she had spent a lot of time with the
mysterious Goddess which to Cordelia meant Faith was far better informed 
about what was going on than she was. 

That raised Cordelia's hopes considerably, that Faith knew why they were 
there and her being here meant she was at least willing to listen to
what 
she had to say. It also seemed to mean that the Slayer was willing to
try to make this work for both of them. 

That maybe there was a real chance that they could get their lives back 
on the right track and be where they were supposed to be. 

"Ah...Cordy maybe we should find some place to sit," Faith said her
voice wavering like a little girl that was lost "I think we both have a 
lot to say." 

It was right then Cordelia could actually feel what her soulmate was
feeling, and she knew that the battered abused and brutalized young
woman's insecurities, suspicions, and fears were about to rear up and
try to ruin the little bit they'd managed to gain to now. 

She knew it was time for her to take some desperate action or she would 
lose this one last chance at something she'd dreamt of since
adolescence, 
someone to love that loved her back completely and unconditionally. 

Cordelia wanted it, she knew Faith needed it and damn it they both
deserved 
to have their lives have meaning and fulfillment just like everyone
else. 
Cordelia stepped up fell to one knee, gently but firmly took Faith's
hand in her own and looked deeply into those incredibly magnetic dark
eyes. Knowing she had the young Slayer's complete attention she first
kissed the back of the woman's hand. 

Faith wasn't sure what was happening but when she looked down at
Cordelia's tear stained cheeks and intense shining eyes, she knew that
her life was about to be irrevocably changed. 

She only hope it wouldn't kill her. 

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END 10a
TBC in 10b
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