FF Revelations 6/?

["Jolie" <slyfox_kitkat@xxxxxxxxx>]

Disclaimer in Part one

Chapter 6
Friends and Family

"So, let me get this straight, she is a half-breed day walking 
vampire who has a soul and heartbeat and is dating Erin," Oz said, 
in a weird summed up version.
"Basically," Willow answered.
"Cool. Welcome to the club," Oz said, extending his hand to Kat.
"Thanks, Oz," Kat said, taking his hand and shaking it.
"Welcome."

He grinned at her, and she could tell that he was a werewolf. It 
really didn't bother her, she did have weirder friends than him, and 
she loved them all. Emma still seemed a little shy to everyone, 
till Erin went to talk to her.

"Hi, I'm Erin, and I totally feel like I don't belong, how bout you."
"I'm Emma, Oz's wife, and I'll have to agree with you on that 
comment," Emma chuckled.
"Well, do you know everyone?"
"Yes, mostly. Willow, Oz's ex, is now with Buffy. Willow is Wiccan 
and Buffy is the slayer. Faith is also a slayer, and she is with 
Tara, another Wiccan. Giles is the watcher. Xander is research 
boy, and his girlfriend Cordelia. Joyce is Buffy's mother."
"Not bad. But you forgot Kat and me. We are lovers, and as Oz 
said, she is a half-breed. She is good with magic, but also she is 
very strong fighter."
"And yourself?"
"I love her, very much. She looked up to me, but I see her as an 
equal. I am a priestess, though I renounced my position when I 
joined with Kat. Wicca is still a big part of my life, it always 
will be."
"Aye, I know that feeling. I am similar to what you are not a 
priestess, just a guide, so to speak. I helped Oz confront his 
inner demon, the inner wolf. He can control his changes now, and 
uses them for good."
"So does she. Being a half-breed all she has is her animalistic 
instincts. I've helped her somewhat, but other half-breeds with the 
same problem can teach her more than myself. But when she moved, I 
was afraid she would give into the deepen blood lust."
"But she didn't?"
"No. She told me she was close, but my picture would help bring her 
back. She told me she would stare at it for hours on end."
"You must be really special to her."
"She is really special to me."

Kat sneaked over to Erin, quietly and gently wrapping her arms 
around her waist.

"You are so special to me, Erin, more than words can describe," Kat 
whispered.

Emma smiled at Erin, who was blushing all different shades of red.

"Take care of each other," Emma said softly.
"We will, and thank you. You know you don't need to feel like an 
outsider. I mean I know you are hiding something, but that's cool. 
When you are ready, you can tell us," Kat said.
"Thanks."
"Not a prob. Gotta accept everyone who is normal or non-normal. 
And hell, when you live in a city, like LA or New York, you meet all 
the weirdoes, and when you are like me, you love every last one of 
em."

The four couples sat around the living room while Giles and Joyce 
made dinner. It was a comfort for Kat and Erin to be welcomed into 
Buffy's home. 

"I know that we really haven't been friends for that long, I mean 
Tara and I have. And I've seen Buffy around campus a lot, had 
classes with her, and I secretly got to know her. But, I just 
wanted to say thanks for making me feel like I have a family again," 
Kat said.
"Hey, its all good. We like passing the scooby torch to a new 
generation, even if we are still the scoobs. But we need fresh meat 
to join us," Willow said.
"Besides," Tara added, "I always saw you as a sister Kat. You just 
had that ultimate love for everyone surrounding you. I know you 
were hired to kill demons and half-breeds, but it doesn't mean you 
don't care about what you are forced to do."
"I don't like to kill. Most of the times, I let them start the 
fight, so I had a reason to kill them. I know that is pathetic, 
it's the only way I could do it."
"I understand," Faith said, "I mean yeah, vamps are dead and evil, 
but sometimes they are old friends and it's hard. Buffy can vouch 
for that."
"Totally. It is really hard. I mean it killed me to kill Angel, 
cause I really cared about the guy, I still do, in a brotherly sort 
of way," Buffy said.
"Don't worry," Oz said, "You are totally cool by us. I mean, when I 
was not able to control my wolf, I went after Willow. That totally 
bugged me out. But now I can control my wolf, and be friend with 
people I care about."

Kat smiled, shyly. She then rested her head on Erin's shoulder.

"Thanks for accepting my love too," Kat said.

Within a few seconds she was sleeping. Erin chuckled to herself.

"She doesn't sleep much," she said softly to everyone, "When she 
gets the chance to rest, she does. She usually forces herself to 
stay up 24/7. Why, I really don't know, but I think she was 
watching over me."

They nodded in response to her comments. A few minutes later, Kat 
started talking in her sleep.

"No. Leave her alone. Take me, please. Don't," Kat mumbled, as 
she waved her hands, "Please, let her live. I'm begging you, 
please, please, let her live. Take me! Goddess let her live. No, 
no, NO! Mom, mom NO! Why? Why her? She never did anything to 
you! I swear on her soul and my life, I will kill you, Travers!"

She sat straight up, nearly jumping to the floor. Luckily Erin 
caught her, holding her sobbing lover in her arms.

"Damn you, Quentin! Damn you," Kat cried.
"Shh, sweetie, its ok," Erin said, soothingly.

Everyone watched as Kat crumbled in front of their eyes. Buffy was 
being held back by Willow, she knew how Buffy felt about Quentin 
Travers. He made Giles poison her on her 18th birthday. And now, 
he had killed Kat's mother. Kat sobbed into Erin's body, as Erin 
soothed her in every way she could think of. She even started 
singing.

"When the visions around you, Bring tears to your eyes And all that 
surround you, Are secrets and lies I'll be your strength, I'll give 
you hope, Keeping your faith when it's gone
The one you should call, Was standing here all along.. And I will 
take You in my arms
And hold you right where you belong Till the day my life is through 
This I promise you
This I promise you I've loved you forever, In lifetimes before And I 
promise you never...
Will you hurt anymore I give you my word I give you my heart (give 
you my heart)
This is a battle we've won And with this vow, Forever has now 
begun... Just close your eyes (close your eyes) Each loving day 
(each loving day) I know this feeling won't go away (no..) Till the 
day my life is through This I promise you.. This I promise you.. 
Over and over I fall (over and over I fall) When I hear you call 
Without you in my life baby I just wouldn't be living at all... And 
I will take (I will take you in my arms) You in my arms And hold you 
right where you belong (right where you belong) Till the day my life 
is through This I promise you baby Just close your eyes Each loving 
day (each loving day) I know this feeling won't go away (no..) Every 
word I say is true This I promise you
Every word I say is true This I promise you Ooh, I promise you...
(N'Sync; This I Promise You)," Erin sang, very sweetly.

Kat calmed down, and finally woke up. She looked at Erin, and that 
all the faces around the room. Ashamed, she ran out of the house.

"Shit," Erin muttered.
"I'll go," Buffy said.

Erin nodded, and Buffy ran after Kat. The slayer was fast and 
caught her too.

"And where do you think you are going," Buffy asked.
"I just needed to get away."
"Did he really kill your mom?"
"Travers? Yes!"
"I'm sorry."
"Me too."
"Why did you look so ashamed when you ran out?"
"Cause I let her die."
"No you didn't. Maybe if I were faster, Kendra would still be 
alive. Maybe if I sensed the danger, I could have prevented Willow 
from being forced into a coma from Angelus. Hell, maybe if I could 
have stood up to Lothos, I would have been able to save Merrick's 
life. Someone told me that things happen for certain reasons, good 
or bad. You are here because we need you in our battle. We'll get 
Quentin back for what he did to you, and to me."

Buffy took her into a hug, as Kat began to cry again.

"We all carry regret with us. But once we find something to have 
faith in, and to move on with, we can let some of the regret go."
"I know. I'm scared though."
"Hey, it's ok to be scared. I get that way all the time. Even 
Faith gets scared, but we get through it, we all do. We'll work 
things out, that is no problem, and we'll help you too"
"Thanks."
"Now lets get you back before your girl wigs out."
"Yeah. I didn't mean to run."
"Its cool. We understand."

They headed back to the house, Buffy noticed it was starting to get 
close to dusk. When they reached her house, she noticed Cordelia's 
car in the driveway.

"Angel's here."

Kat nodded and stayed behind Buffy. They entered the house and saw 
everyone staring at them. Erin rushed over to Kat, holding her 
gently.

"I'm ok, baby, honest."
"Good. I don't want anything bad to ever happen to you again."
"Well," Angel said, "as soon as we get that implant out, she should 
be safer, for the time being. And I know Tara and Willow are 
working on a protection spell for the two of you and for the house."
"Good, I am tired of being a damned demon magnet," Kat said.
"Totally understandable," Buffy added.
"So here is the plan, Emma, Oz, Cordy and Xander, you guys can get 
out of here. Buffy and Faith, you guys stay down here, so you can 
hold Kat down, and I need you to find and sterilize a sharp knife 
for me. Also, find something to numb her arm. Erin, Tara, and 
Willow, I'll need the three of you upstairs, and not witnessing 
this."
"But," Erin started.
"No buts Erin, if she knows you're down here, she'll worry. You 
guys should work on an herbal salve to put on the wound after we 
have it stitched, then you can bandage it, ok."
"All right."
"Giles and Joyce, make sure all the windows are shut and put on some 
music."

Tara and Willow escorted Erin upstairs, while Giles and Joyce did 
their job. Buffy lead Kat to the table and laid her down, grabbing 
some ice to help numb her arm. Faith was in the kitchen, 
sterilizing the knife. Erin sat in Buffy and Willow's room, pacing 
like a caged animal. Tara tried to calm her down.

"You're not gonna help her by getting yourself worked up. She is 
going to be fine. She's in good hands, three really strong pairs of 
hands," Tara said.
"I know. But it doesn't get any better for me. I hate waiting."
"That's the worst part," Willow said, "I hated waiting for Buffy to 
return from patrol, and especially during the whole Faith is a bad 
ass slayer. Sorry Tara."
"Hey, its ok. She told us all what happened. I mean she came from 
a really bad background, and well, the mayor threw her a lifeline. 
If only Buffy has convinced her sooner, you know. And we know she 
has changed for the better."
"With a little help from you, Tara."
"Thanks Will."

Downstairs, Joyce and Giles finished closing all the windows and put 
on some Celtic music. Angel was over by Buffy and Kat, he had some 
towels and bandages ready. Faith brought the knife in and handed it 
over to Angel. She then walked to Buffy and helped brace Kat.

"I'm not gonna lie to you, this is going to hurt," Angel said, 
soothingly.
"I can take it. Good luck," Kat grimaced.

Angel nodded as she closed her eyes tight. Buffy put a wooden spoon 
handle in her mouth, so she could bite down on it. Angel soon made 
an incision above the device and then traced the blade around it. 
Kat bite down on the spoon as tears dripped down her eyes. Buffy 
and Faith kept her steady. Soon, he was able to pull it out just a 
bit. He, slowly, began working on the wires, cutting them gently, 
not to cause her anymore pain that she was already in.

Upstairs, the three witches were working on an herbal salve to place 
on the wound. Angel was still working effortlessly on removing the 
contraption from her arm. After a few more grueling moments, he had 
it free from her arm. Faith moved over and applied pressure to the 
open wound. Angel went and handed the device to Giles.

Giles and Angel then went outside to destroy it. Faith began to 
stitch the wound up, while Joyce went upstairs to get the other 
girls. Faith was finishing up when they came downstairs and Erin 
walked quickly to Kat. She checked out the stitches and smiled. 
She then applied the salve and bandaged it up.

Faith and Buffy then carried her over to the couch and laid her 
down. They gave her some sleeping pills to rest. Willow and Tara 
just looked at Erin, who was curling herself up against the couch. 
Faith and Buffy went back to Tara and Willow.

"We gotta get going," Buffy said.
"Yeah, still need to patrol, especially with those two dip wads out 
there, hunting her and Erin. We'll be back late," Faith added.
"We'll keep a candle lit for you," Willow said.
"Please do."

Buffy hugged Willow, while Faith hugged Tara. Then the two slayers 
left the house. Out back, Angel and Giles were talking.

"It's destroyed, right," Angel asked.
"Ripped to shreds and blown apart."
"Good. So what's the prophecy this time?"
"They are going to bring back Angelus. Or so they say."
"How?"
"The demonic angel."
"I heard of it. Whomever possesses it can channel the most foulest 
of demons into his person."
"Well, I guess the council had a back up plan, if Kat failed."
"What do you mean?"
"She was ordered to kill Faith, Buffy, Tara, and Willow. But her 
heart is too strong and full of love that she could not bring 
herself to do it."
"Smart kid."
"Yes. She is a half breed, but you probably knew that."
"Yeah. She is a day walker. She is really good with magic, a lot 
stronger than Tara or Willow."
"Yes, she showed us that earlier, quite amusing."
"I'll bet."

Back inside, Tara was watching over Erin as she slept. Willow 
placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"You ok," Willow asked.
"I'll be ok, when I know she is ok."
"Yeah, poor girls, been through hell."
"How have you been?"
"Well, it's been hell the past year. Being away from Buffy was the 
hardest. I was really happy that you and Faith came to visit, but I 
wanted Buffy there so bad."
"I know. Faith would tell me how empty she seemed. And I knew she 
was empty when I saw her in class. She always had this front, but 
anyone who knew her really well could see that it was just that."
"Yeah, I heard. I've talked to Giles all the time, even Joyce. I 
heard Angel called her all the time checking up on her."
"Yeah. He even made a few trips here too, not just checking on her, 
but Faith as well. Kinda like a father, you know."
"Big brother is more like it, though he is old enough to be their 
father."

They both chuckled at that.

"Hey, Wills, I was thinking, Faith and I have a lot of money saved 
up, and well I know Buffy does too, and well I've been thinking, why 
don't all six of us chip in and buy the old mansion. Re-building 
shouldn't be too much of a problem and well, I mean, I really don't 
want them to leave. They feel like family to me."
"Well, I like the idea, let's discuss with Buffy and Faith and then 
talk to Erin and Kat."
"Ok."
"Besides, I have a feeling a war is coming soon."
"Yeah, one hell of a battle."

TBC