Chapter 23

Buffy's POV

Why oh why is my girlfriend such a dork? I couldn't believe she thought I was just gonna do her in the dressing room. What were we porn stars? And now, I was waiting for her outside of this…this shop that she so loved to go into. It was lesbo friendly, so I guess it's not so skeevy. And I did really like the stuff she got from the shop, but still… I had never, and would never step a foot inside of there.

And here she came, sauntering out like she was god's gift. Carrying a really large bag. Jesus, what did she buy?

She opened the door and smiled at me, "Regretting something?"

"Put that bag in the trunk, we have to pick up Annie."

She came back around, "Happy now?"

"As a clam. So… what did you buy?"

She smirked, "I am so not going to tell you. You can wait till tonight."

"Whatever. I don't care anyway."

She leaned over and kissed me on the cheek, "Oh but you will. Trust me."

She had that look. You know, to the untrained eye, that look would be scary. It was a good thing I trusted her. I just hope nothing in that bag would make me want to hightail it out of there, cause there was no way she was letting me out of this little deal.

Faith and sex. Sort of like bread and butter, those two words. She exuded this sexuality that was almost frightening in its intensity. Hell, she got me pregnant for god's sake. How many girls could boast that? None, I am betting. I had a feeling that if Annie had never appeared; well we would have had to move out of that hotel. Cause apparently our slayer antics got on everyone's nerves within earshot. We were quieter now. No reason to add to the list of grievances our daughter will be telling her future therapist.

"I can't wait to pick her up. I wonder how her day was?" She turned to look at me, "I'm not sure I can do this everyday. She needs to be at home with us."

And we're back to the mush Faith. "She has to go to school. She can't go her entire life being uneducated."

"For what?" Faith asked. She got this serious look on her face. "Don't you wonder why she's here? I mean, she has to have a purpose."

I didn't answer her. Of course I wondered.

"Don't get me wrong, I don't care why she's here. As long as I'm alive nothing will ever touch her. But I worry B. I'm afraid we won't be around forever…"she trailed off.

I sighed, "Of course I think about it. I mean, she's meant to do something, be something. I don't know what though. The whole thing scares me. A lot. But she's… I don't know Faith, I think when the time comes, she will be able to protect herself."

Faith shook her head, "I don't care. She's not going to have to. Not while I'm around."

I pulled into the school's parking lot. "Well sweetie, let's just get through the first day of school. We'll worry about the baddies when the time comes. She's got us both – she's damn lucky that way. Cause we are super hot and super badass."

Faith winked, "Please, super hot I'll give you. But you can't even spell badass."

I winked at her, "Well maybe you'll change your mind tonight."

She moaned, "Good god, please don't bring that up right now. I can't have dirty thoughts walking into an elementary school. I'm pretty sure that is an immortal sin or something."

Whatever. When did she not have dirty thoughts? "You know Faith you are what I like to call a conundrum."

She raised her eyebrow at me, "Using big words now?"
I smacked her on the arm, "Whatever, I know lots of big words. I have a very extensive vocabulary." Not to mention, that I am super cool, I thought to myself.

"Wow look at ya B, we get close to a school and you start acting all smart and stuff."

She was teasing me. No, I didn't read as much as Faith (she read everything she could find. Even if she didn't like it, she would still finish it. Which is like – just retarded.) But hell, I read. Well, okay, I read sometimes. But I knew all of Annie's books by heart. Green Eggs and Ham was a personal favorite.

Faith cracked her knuckles, "Wonder if I am going to have to kick anyone's ass?"

I rolled my eyes at her. "I am sure everything went well. Stop being so damn paranoid."

We walked into the classroom. Several other parents were there as well. The kids were gathering up their things. Annie ran up to us.

"I made four new friends. And I met a monkey. It had on a dress and it danced. And we read two whole books. And we painted and colored and painted some more. And…"

"Whoa slow down," Faith said.

"I can't help it! I am excited. I saw a monkey!"

Where the hell did a monkey come from? That has so got to be unsanitary.

Faith's POV

A monkey? What the fuck?

I picked her up, "Did my little monkey miss me?"

She shook her head, "Nope."

Okay. Well… not going to cry here. She didn't miss me. That's cool. I am tough. No big. I am the queen of stoicism.

I guess she noticed I was about to lose it. "Don't look sad Mom. I had too much fun to miss you, silly." She gave me a hug. Jesus H. I loved this kid.

"So do you have all of your stuff ready?" Buffy asked.

Annie nodded, "over there on the table."

Buffy went to gather it all and Ms. Hart came over to us. "Annie had a wonderful day today. She is a very smart girl."

Uh duh. I already knew that. Was I supposed to thank her for her observation of the obvious?

"Yeah, we are really proud of her," I said. Annie was trying to pull out of my arms. I did not want to put her down. I never wanted to put her down. Why was she growing up? Wasn't there like a spell or something Red could do to keep her a little kid or something? Okay, I'm losing it.

The teach noticed my grimace I guess. "She'll be fine. She is very social. And very sweet. She shared her crayons and even offered to share her snack."

"Yeah, well she takes after her mom."

Buffy walked up, "And by that she means me. Cause I've never seen Faith here share anything."

She and the teacher laughed. Whatever Blondie. I do share.

Annie looked up at us, "You don't even have to come inside tomorrow. You can drop me off at the door like a big girl and everything."

What!?! I was coming inside with her until she graduated. What if someone in here was a demon, or a serial killer, or … I don't know, something evil?

Buffy smiled, "I am so proud of you. You are getting to be a big girl."

Shut up B. You are just encouraging her.

Buffy took Annie's hand. "See you soon, Ms. Hart," she called to the teacher. She picked Annie up, "We need to get your Mom home cause she looks like she's gonna be sick." She rolled her eyes at our little girl, "Again. What a wussy, huh?"

Okay, they were so not allowed to share jokes at my expense. "Bite me B."

She whispered in my ear, "Maybe later."

Annie scrunched up her nose, "Yuck."

I smacked B on the arm. "Slayer hearing, remember? Damn can you scar the kid for life?"

Annie clapped her hands after we got into the car. "I can't wait to show Cordy the picture I drawed for her."

B and I both turned around, "What?"

"I drawed Cordy a picture. It's me and her at the beach. With really pretty bathing suits and a big sun and a shark in the ocean. Lotsa stuff."

Why the fuck did she draw Queen C and picture and not me? I was supposed to get the picture. I was the Mom. Or at least one of the moms. Whatever. Cordy is gonna eat this shit up.

B pulled out, "Where are Mom and I in the picture?"

Annie shrugged, "Don't know. Probably in your room doing something. You always are in your room doin stuff. Cordy is the one takes me to the beach. 'Member?"

Shit fuck. We were terrible parents. Awful parents. We were in our room doing 'stuff' while Cordy was playing with our kid. We should be ashamed. I was ashamed. No more sex for me ever. Yep, I was going the celibate route.

Then I remembered the toys. Okay, change of plan, no more sex unless the kid was at school or safely and soundly asleep. There, that was better.

B looked more hurt than I was though. I smiled at her. "It's okay sweetie."

She frowned, "I'm sorry Annie. We should take you to the beach ourselves."

She looked confused. "Why? You take me everywhere. I like going to the beach with Cordy. It's our special time. I have special time with everybody. Willow, Uncle Angel, Aunt Dawn, Papa Giles, Andrew, Xander…"

Okay, she was obviously naming everyone in the house.

She giggled. "But I like special time with you and Mom the best, Mommy."

I beamed. "See we are the coolest moms in the world."

Buffy didn't seemed as convinced. But she tried to hide it. God she could get jealous of gnat when it came to Annie. I knew that cause I could too, but there was no reason to get upset.

I looked behind me, "You're very lucky to have so many people love you. You know that?"

She nodded, "And you and Mommy love me best. Right?"

"Of course," we both answered.

She yawned, "I'm sleepy," she said, before promptly falling asleep about thirty seconds later.

I nudged B. "I love you."

She smiled at me, "I know. I'm very lovable." I rolled my eyes, "I love you too, sweetie." She said. "I shouldn't have to tell you that."

I knew that. But it was still nice to hear it every once in a while.

Chapter 24

Buffy's POV

Back to the hotel. Didn't that used to be a song? With the horn beeping and everything? Oh well. So we were headed back to the hotel after a weird ass day. And Annie drew Cordy a picture. And not me. But hey, I'm cool with that. They all love her. I think it's sweet, you know, and stuff… but sometimes I just wish Faith and I had our own place. Shit if we moved though, the whole fucking gang would probably move too.

"You okay over there, B?" Faith asked. She's all concerned. I think that's sweet. She's probably just wigging – thinking about not getting to use those damn toys she bought.

I nodded, "Tell me what you bought?"

"Damn B. The kid's in the backseat."

"I was whispering." I looked in the rearview. "Plus she's asleep." I hated when she teased me. I guess that was what she was doing. But come on, that was a huge bag. What the hell could have been it?

"Nope. I told you. It is a surprise. You are just going to have to wait." She smiled smugly.

Argh. "I hate surprises. Like a lot. They suck. I need to know everything. All the time."

She turned to look at me. She was still smiling with that dinky little smirk she gets. Whatever. "You are so not going to get me to tell you. It's a waste of our time. You can beg and plead. And even stick that little lip out. But there is no way in hell I'm telling. So kiss it."

Look at little Ms. Badass over there. She thinks she is so cool. "I wish you were half as cool as you think you are."

"Why are you being so retarded? It'll all work out in your favor." She winked at me.

Annie decided to wake up. Wow. That was a long nap. A whole five minutes. "What did you buy today Mom?"

Faith shot me 'see what I mean' look before turning around. "I didn't buy anything. Your mommy is a dork."

I rolled my eyes. She is such a bad liar.

"You are a bad liar, mom." I swear to you that Annie and I have this telepathic / kinesis / thingie going on.

"No kidding Annie. Cause she did buy something. Something that I am going to take straight back to the store."

Faith looked at me, "Are you serious? Stop talking about this in front of the mini."

Annie then, taking a cue from her mother, rolled her eyes. "Never mind. It's one of those secret things, isn't it? You two are so weird."

Everyone was waiting for us at the hotel when we got back. Jesus, you'd think Ann had just graduated college, or come home from the Peace Corps or something.

Cordy ran up to her, "And how, my beautiful girl, was your first day at school?"

Annie giggled, "I drawed you a picture."

Cor picked her up, "Are you kidding me? A picture just for me."

Annie nodded and handed to her. Whatever Cordelia. So you got a picture. Big freaking whoop.

"Is this me and you on the beach?" Annie nodded again. "Where's the two dorky slayers? Oh wait don't tell me – in the shark's belly. That is super clever of you."

She turned to look at us, "Where are your pictures?"

You see, it is time like these that I want to harm Cordelia. In a permanent kind of way. Like take her arms and maybe twist them around so that she…

"I didn't draw them none."

She beamed. Oh hell, this was getting to be way too much. I so don't care. Okay, who am I kidding. I was supposed to be the ones getting a picture.

Cordelia took the picture and held it out in front of her. "Well I am going to hang it right over here. So everyone can see just how cool the two of us are."

Can I set her on fire now?

Willow picked Annie up and twirled her around. Kennedy came up from behind her. "Everything go okay? You didn't have to kick any ass?"

Oh for the love. Do they all have to have dirty mouths? Jesus, it was like living with a bunch of sailors.

Annie smiled, "Nope no booty kicking. Everyone is real nice. Plus they had a monkey."

Everyone looked surprised. Faith and I shrugged our shoulders. "No clue," Faith said.

"Who had a monkey?" Willow said.

"The teacher's friend. He works at the zoo, and sometimes he can bring the animals to school. I asked him to bring a tiger, but he said they were too big. I don't think they are too big, do you?" She asked.

Willow shrugged, "I'm thinking a tiger wouldn't be that good of an idea."

Annie looked like she had just remembered something then, "I forgot. He knew you mommy."

Huh. "He knew me?"

"Uh huh. He said, 'tell your mommy I said hi.'"

Okay. Everyone was looking at me. Trying to think back here – nope don't know any zoo people. Knew a few people who needed to be in the zoo. But nope, no zoo people.

"What?" I said, "I don't know anyone from the zoo."

Faith cocked an eyebrow at me.

I shrugged my shoulders. Seriously, no zoo people.

Annie held her hand up, "Oh yeah. Riley. He said his name was Riley. And he used to be your boyfriend." She realized what she had said and got a confused look on your face. "I thought you didn't like boys. You like girls. When did you have a boyfriend?" She looked at Faith, "He said he knowed you too. Both my moms."

Well hell. Everyone looked surprised. Right there with you. Faith just looked pissed.


Faith's POV

I swear to ever loving Christ. Beefstick. What the fuck ever? What the hell did he want? And why the fuck was he at my kid's school? With a monkey no less? I turned to look at B.

She looked shocked. "Did he say what he was doing here in LA?"

She giggled, "I told you silly. He worked for the zoo. He's the monkey guy."

"You got that right," me and Angel said at the exact same time. Then he high-fived me.

Buffy rolled her eyes. She looked around the room. "What? I don't know why he's here. I haven't seen him since he and his wife came to Sunnydale that time. That's it. Last I heard they were in Borneo or someplace."

Last she heard. She been keeping tabs on the bubblehead?

"Nah uh. He don't have a wife. She…" she put her hand to her head for a minute. "Oh yeah. She went to live in Africa. With a bunch of other peoples. That's what he said. He asked me where we lived."

I spun around, "Did you tell him!?!"

Oh I scared her. She looked like she was going to cry, "Was I not 'pposed to?"

Dawn picked her up, "Don't pay attention to your moms. They are surprised to see that he's in town. I always liked him. He was really cute."

Annie nodded, "He was cute."

"Whatever," I said.

Cordy perked up though. "Cute in the really hot way. Or cute in the 'I dated Buffy so I must be a dork' way."

Buffy threw a couch pillow at the queen.

"Hey, that hurt," she said, rubbing her head.

Dawn turned to me and B. "Do you care if we go have ice cream? I know it's close to dinner and all, but it's a special day."

I shrugged. I was still trying to figure out why the hell beefstick is in town. And apparently stalking my child.

B looked as distracted as I did. "Sure," she mumbled.

"Well I'm going too," Kennedy said.

Then Cordy grabbed her purse.

"We did not ask you to go." Dawn said.

"Like I care. Did you get a picture drawn for you today? Didn't think so. That means I'm Annie's favorite today. So I am so going. Plus I wanted to take her in that shop."

"What shop?" B asked.

"The one with the little sparkly dresses in the window. I promised I would buy her one."

"Cordelia, she cannot wear sparkly dresses to school."

Cordy rolled her eyes, "Well I don't see why the hell not." She took Annie's other hand. Kennedy followed them out.

Willow mused, "Wow. This is weird. Riley huh?"

Xander walked in, "Riley? What about Riley?"

"He's in town," Willow said.

"Oh that's great," Xander said smiling.

I can't help it. I sorta growled at him. But how the hell is that great?

He held up his hands, "Or not," he said, backing away.

"Well I for one do not like him going to Annie's school." Angel said. Right there with ya soul boy.

Buffy sighed and sat down, "He would never hurt Annie."

Willow nodded, "I wonder if he needs something. Maybe he can't contact us for some reason. Maybe it's dangerous or something."

Who the hell cares? "So," I said, "it's okay for him to contact my daughter. Yeah that makes a fuckin lot of sense."

B shook her head, "No. He wouldn't put Annie in danger. Ever. He's not like that. It must be something else. Or maybe… maybe it was just a coincidence."

"Yeah right B. He just happened to be at Annie's school. Cause now after all his military training and shit he has decided to quit it all and take care of monkeys. That makes a shitload of sense. And then he just happened to look at Annie, and figure out not only that she's your daughter, but mine as well. Yeah perfect sense."

Angel sat down, "I don't trust him. He must be up to something."

B looked at him, "No you don't like him. That's why you don't trust him."

"Hell B. What's up with sticking up for him."

"I'm not sticking up for him. I just wonder why he's here."

"Wonder why who's here?" I heard.

We all turned around. And there was beefstick. Standing there with the sun coming in behind him. He looked like some reject from a B movie.

Everyone was just staring at him.

Fuck this shit, "Where's your monkey asshole? And why are you stalking my daughter?" I asked, moving closer.

He walked in and ignored me all together. "Buffy, it's good to see you."

She got up and hugged him. And now I was going to have to kill him. And I so didn't want to go back to jail.

"What brings you to LA?" She asked. Why the fuck was she so calm.

He smiled at her, "Well you. Of course."

Yep. He was a dead man.

Buffy's POV

Okay. I looked to Faith. She looked ready to strike.

"Faith it's okay."

She shook her head and walked closer, "Nope. Not all right." She put her finger in Riley's chest, "What the hell are you doing here, monkey boy?"

He smiled at her. But he didn't back up. Good god, she could kick his ass all the way to next Sunday. I'm not sure if he was brave, or just stupid. "I needed to talk to Buffy. About Annie."

Faith's face flashed, "You need to stay away from our daughter is what you need to do. She's not your concern." I could see that she was angry. Angrier than I have ever seen her. And that was saying a whole hell of a lot.

I put my arm on her shoulder, "Please Faith. Let's hear him out."

She crossed her arms and walked away. She went to sit by Angel on the couch. Both of them had a death stare that was starting to bother me. Well at least they were able to bond. Dumbasses.

Willow and Xander walked up.

"Good to see you Riley,' Xander said, shaking his hand.

Willow hugged him. "So what's up with Annie?"

Riley look at me, "She's in danger Buffy."

What? What sort of danger? She's just getting ice cream.

I started to move out the door, but he stopped me. Faith and Angel both popped up from the couch.

Riley shook his head, "Not right now. I mean…" He smiled a bit and tried again, "She's special."

Faith rolled her eyes, "Big fucking duh. You had to come all the way here to tell us something we already know."

Riley turned to her, "I know you hate me."

She nodded. Well, at least she was honest.

He shrugged, "And I don't like you either. But your daughter is Buffy's daughter. And that makes me…" he trailed off.

She smirked, "Jealous?"

He shook his head again, "No. Worried. There's a force rising. Something is happening. Intel is pretty sketchy right now, but be forewarned… something is coming and it knows all about the slayer line converging."

World spinning. I needed to sit down. Please tell me he was kidding. I didn't expect anything like this to happen. Not while she was so young.

Faith walked closer to him. A mixture of horror and anger crossing her face. "You better not be fucking with us, monkey boy."

"You don't actually think I work for the zoo do you?"

"I don't give a fuck who you work for. I want to know how you know all of this. And what it has to do with Annie." Her voice was so even it scared me. I know she was frightened, so was I, but she was going to have to calm down.

I looked over at Xander and Willow, "Will you guys please go find them?" I was starting to get terrified and worried.

They both nodded. "We'll be back shortly."

I looked at Faith. She was shaking. I walked over to her and put my hand on her back. "Calm down. We're gonna get to the bottom of this. Okay?"

She couldn't look at me for staring at Riley. Angel came and stood behind her.

I looked at both of them, "You two are going to have to get over this shit, okay?"

They both looked like they wanted to kill me. I so didn't care.

I led Riley over to the sofa. "Tell me what you know. Everything."

He nodded, "We've been keeping an eye on you for a while. We knew about Annie. But it was recon and nothing more. I didn't want to upset you. And trust me Buffy, I have always had your best interest at heart. But I was not to contact you – those were the orders. Under no circumstances. They just wanted to make sure…" he trailed off and looked down and sighed. "Everything was okay, I guess. And so I followed them. But then," he looked back up, "some info came in. We don't know that much about it. Or I haven't been told that much. I think they wanted to keep me out of the loop as much as possible. They knew how much I…"he didn't finish. He didn't have to.

I put my hand on his knee. "It's okay." I ran my fingers through my hair. Why does this shit always happen? "So they don't know you are here?"

He shrugged. "They probably do. I don't care. When I realized they didn't have yours or Annie's best interest…well I'm here aren't I?"

Faith shook her head, "And what fucking good does that do us? So what if you are here? You don't seem to know shit. Except something's coming. Well I hate to break it to you big guy, but something is always coming."

He looked at her, "Yes Faith I am well aware that all of you deal with danger on a regular basis. I'm in the thick of it as well. But this… this is not about you. Or Buffy. This is about your daughter. And so you need to get your head in the game here and get over whatever it is that has got you so pissed at me. Because all I recall is that I was used and deceived by you. Not the other way around."

She jerked and moved closer to him, "How do we know that you are not in on this? If you think for one moment that I would let anything happen to her, you are sadly fucking mistaken. I would kill to protect her."

"You've killed for lesser reasons."

She lunged. I could see it coming but couldn't stop it. She was just too damn close. Angel and I jumped at the same time. He caught her first. She was jerking and swinging. "Get the fuck off of me soul boy! I'm gonna kick his ass!"

Angel was shaking his head. I couldn't believe he still able to hold on her. She was losing it.

I walked over to her. And slapped her. She looked stunned. So sue me. She's probably gonna really kick my ass later, but I don't care. She had to calm the fuck down. We still didn't know what was going on and she was pulling this jealousy crap.

"Faith, goddamnit, focus."

She lunged towards me. What the hell is her problem? "Fuck you B."

I slammed her against the wall. She was struggling but not using all of her strength. She was scared. "Please baby, just calm down," I whispered. I kissed her forehead. "We'll figure this out. But you freaking is not going to help matters. Okay?" Please say yes. Please say yes.

She nodded, "Okay."

Riley tried again. "All I know is that she is in danger. There are some very powerful people out there. And they know about her." He looked to Faith, "They had someone. Someone watching both of you. This operative, the one who was following you Buffy," he turned to me, "was killed. Or she killed herself. She'd been staked out across the street for months. I think it was just her job to watch. But we intercepted some information and dispatched someone to bring her in. Someone must have known we were coming, though I don't know how, cause when we got there she was dead. Gunshot wound. Most likely self-inflicted."

He turned and looked at Faith again, "Yours was a little closer. I assume you know a Sarah Glasshouse."

Faith paled. That must have been the bitch from the phone that night. Jesus Faith was fucking this… woman?

I raised my eyebrow to Riley, "She was with Faith? Why? I don't understand. Faith didn't even know about Annie."

He looked at Faith again, "You were in Europe Faith. Before you came to LA. What drew you back here?"

What? She was in Europe? How the hell did he know that?

"Buffy. I came for Buffy."

He didn't look convinced. "Don't think we didn't know where you were Faith. Those little magic pills may have kept your location a secret from them. But not from us. We kept tabs on you."

She shrugged, "Glad to see I was so important." Why the fuck is she being nonchalant, now for god's sakes? What are they talking about?

He tried again, "What brought you back?"

She sat down. "Dreams. Dreams of B. I dreamt," she didn't make eye contact with me, "that she was in trouble…that she needed me. They were really strong. Slayer dreams." Dreams? What dreams? She didn't mention anything about slayer dreams?

He shook his head. "How does that make sense though? She wasn't in trouble when you got here. Was she?"

She shook her head back. "No."

He nodded. "You had been close to LA a dozen times in the last five years."

What the fuck? "How close?" I asked.

He ignored me. Asshole.

"Faith, we think Sarah planted those dreams. I don't know how, but they sent you back here."

"Why?" She asked, "Why would they want me closer to Annie? That doesn't make sense. I could help to protect her."

He shook his head, "I'm not thinking you were brought here to protect her. I think you were brought here to distract her."

I took a deep breath. This could not be happening.

He turned to me, "Buffy I know this is difficult to understand, but she is in danger. A lot of danger. And we need to get her out of here. So you…" he turned to Faith, "Both of you, are going to have to trust me. It's not going to go down in the next day or two, but it's going to go down. And she's got to not be here when it does."

I looked at Faith. She was wringing her hands together. She was terrified.

I nodded at him.

Chapter 25

Faith's POV

Man, fuck this asshole coming in here and… I seriously cannot feel my legs at the present moment. Was me coming back what started all of this? He couldn't be serious. What if something was going to happen to her? This was too much.

"B…" I tried to speak.

She held up her hand, "Not now Faith."

She was pissed. I don't know why. Maybe because of Sarah. I mean, I never got around to telling her about all of it. I suppose in a roundabout way she'd asked, but it was water under the bridge. Sarah, that fucking bitch, I am going to kill her. I would happily go back to jail.

B turned to Riley, "So what do we do?"

Angel spoke up, "What exactly is this thing after Annie?"

Riley shook his head, "It has something to do with the First. I know that for certain."

Buffy grimaced, "We fucking beat him. Jesus. Can he not get a clue?"

Riley shook his head, "No. You beat his…"

"Army. Yeah I know. This is just a little frustrating." She looked at me, "Not to mention terrifying as hell."

I didn't want to think about this. I couldn't. She's just a kid for Christ's sake. She doesn't even know how to properly tie her shoes. And she is supposed to beat an all-evil entity.

"Where do we go?" Buffy asked Riley.

"Somewhere safe," He said. Jesus, this guy was a genius.

"Where the fuck is safe from the freaking First?" I was ready to kill him. "You got any idea. Because we figured out the last time that you couldn't outrun the motherfucker."

"Mom you've got to watch your mouth," Annie said, walking through the front door.

My god. She was my baby. I could not let something happen to her. Did I cause all of this? She was smiling at me. Why did she have to be so damn adorable?

I picked her up, "I'm sorry honey."

She bristled and I supposed she could sense something was wrong. "Hey monkey man," she said to Riley.

He smiled at her. Asshole. "How's it going Annie?"

She nodded. "Did you tell them why you were here?"

He looked as surprised as we did. How did she know why he was here?

She wiggled out my arms and went and sat on the couch. B and I followed suit. The others were whispering to each other in the foyer. Cordy looked ashen. I suppose Willow told her what was up.

She looked from me to B. "Something bad is coming."

Buffy frowned. "How do you know that?"

She put her hand on her stomach. "I feel it here. In my tummy. It's really bad. Not like vampire bad. Or demon bad. Badder."

"Worse," Buffy corrected. Good to know she's worried about the kid's grammar. Damn.

"I don't feel anything," I said. I turned to look at B.

She shook her head, "Me neither."

Annie shook her head as well, "No you don't understand. It's not for you. It's for me. It wants to get me." She seemed so matter of fact about all of this. It was fascinating, terrifying and a tad bit creepy.

"Aren't you scared?" I asked her.

She nodded, "Yeah. I'm afraid it will hurt one of you."

I looked at B. Why did she wonder that? I know she knows she is strong and all. But she's still a kid. She shouldn't be dealing with this shit.

"Don't worry baby. We're not going to let anything happen to you," Buffy said. I nodded my head in agreement.

She jumped up, "NO! You don't understand! You can't fight it. None of you can. It'll hurt you."

This was getting to be too much. Did she think she was supposed to be protecting us?

She looked like she was going to cry. She put her hand on my knee. "I know it's scary but you have to be brave like me. ‘Member how you always told me to brave. Now you have to be the brave one. ‘Kay?"

Buffy stood up, "How long do we have Riley?"

Before he answered, Annie spoke up. "It's not here yet. It's not ready. It's not coming for a little bit. But I can't go anywhere. I have to wait on it. That's what I am supposed to do."

"How do you know that?" B asked.

"I feeled it," Annie answered.

This was killing me. "Annie you don't know what's best for you. We have to leave. Before it gets here." B was nodding with me.

She nodded at us, "You do have to leave. If you stay here it will hurt you."

My head was spinning. This was quickly freaking me out. But I was certain of one thing. There was no way in hell I was going anywhere. Not without the two people I loved more than anything.

Buffy's POV

My head was spinning. What are we supposed to do? Just sit here and wait for it? Or go and let Annie wait for it? I highly doubt that would ever happen.

"I'm confused," Cordelia said walking up. She looked at Riley, "I'm sorry, forgive me, Cordelia Chase."

He took her hand and shook it.

She smiled at him, "Now what the hell do you mean something is coming for her?"

He tried to explain again.

Kennedy shook her head, "She's too little. Doesn't the First know that?"

Willow sighed, "I am doubting he cares that much how old she is."

Faith groaned, "Of course he does. It makes perfect sense. Attack her when she's young. She's vulnerable." She looked near tears. She was scared to death. She couldn't keep that lilt out of her voice. Her hands were shaking so much that she slammed them down on the counter, "Fuck! This is insane. This has got to be some sort of slayer dream." She looked at me, "Right B?"

I nodded. Oh please. Please let this be a dream.

Annie sighed, "It's not a dream, Mommy. It's real." She walked up and wrapped her arms around my leg. I bent over and picked her up. She smelled like strawberry bubblegum. I buried my face in her hair. Maybe if I just closed my eyes. This is too much.

Faith came up and wrapped her arms around me, "It's gonna be okay B."

I could tell by her voice that she didn't believe herself.

Angel cleared his throat. "Let me put some feelers out. See what's going on." He looked to Riley, "You better know what you're talking about here."

Riley shook his head, "I am risking my whole career as well as my marriage to be here. I just couldn't… I couldn't let this happen. All I am trying to do is help here."

He was only trying to help. I smiled at him, "We know that Riley. It's just a bit much."

He smiled at me and put his arm around me. "I'm here to help. Just consider me at your disposal." He winked at me, "I always worked better with you."

I smiled at him. I could feel the daggers Faith was metaphorically throwing us. I firmly believe that if she had had the literal ones she would have been throwing those as well. I just can't deal with the jealousy now. This is too much for her to…

"Faith," I said. "Can I see you outside?"

She nodded and followed me out, "You are going to have to get over him being here." I told her.

"I don't like him," she spat out.

"And why is that? Because I used to date him? Because he brought news of impending doom? Why?"

"I don't know B," she sighed and sat down on a ledge near the door. "He just gives me the creeps."

"I'm doubting if he is oh so very fond of you either."

"Well I don't fucking care what he is oh so very fond of." She put her face in her hands. "What are we going to do?"

I sat down beside her, "What we always do. Fight."

She shook her head, "This isn't the same. And you know it. I can't distance myself from this fight. My heart is in it too much. This is not about defeating. It's about protecting."

I sighed, "I know. But… well what are we supposed to do? We can't let this thing near her. And we can't let our emotions get the better of us. So we are sort of stuck."

She closed her eyes, "Where's Giles?"

I shook my head, "I don't know. He said he had to go meet someone about something. You know how he is." Something dawned on me, "You don't think he knows do you?"

She shrugged, "I don't know."

She started to cry. It was just a little at first. So much so that I could barely discern it. She turned away from me. But her shoulders were moving, up and down, and I could hear her swallowing. I laid my head on her back.

"I love you Faithie," I whispered.

Wrong thing to say. She started crying harder. I wrapped my arms around her. I don't know if I can take her breaking right now. She has every right to do so, but…I don't know. Everything seemed to be quickly spinning out of control.

"What if this is my fault?" She whispered, so low I almost didn't hear her.

I kissed the back of her neck, "No. Don't start that. It's no one's fault. We just have to figure everything out."

"Well until we do, I'm not letting her out of my sight."

Right there with ya, sweetie.

Faith's POV

"I am not sleeping with you two." Annie said, stamping her damn little feet.

"Why not?" Buffy said. She was running her fingers through her hair. She looked exhausted. Weird how danger looming just off the horizon does that to a person.

"Because it's gross. And I am a big girl. And you have to touch my leg all night. And mom keeps waking up and and and… turning over and stuff." She shook her head, "I don't want to."

I looked down at her, "This is not about what you want."

She shook her head again, "You don't understand. It's not coming yet. And you can't do anything to stop it even if it was."

"How about if she sleeps with me and Ken?" Willow suggested.

Kennedy nodded, "Yeah. We sleep like the dead," she said, ruffling Annie's hair. "Plus I'm a slayer and Will's a powerful witch. She'll be fine."

Nope. Not going to happen Red. She's sleeping with us. And if you don't like it you can…

"Okay," B said.

What the fuck? I spun around and looked at her.

"Look Faith. We are not going to get any sleep tonight. It doesn't mean we should keep Annie awake as well. Plus, you do move all night. It's something I'm used to, but I highly doubt Annie is."

"Well excuse the fuck out of me for being a light sleeper."

Cordelia rolled her eyes, "This is retarded. We should be discussing the big evil coming. Not the sleeping arrangements of three slayers and a witch. Am I the only one here with any sense?" I started to answer, "Nope," she said holding her hand up, "that is what I like to call a rhetorical question."

I hate it when she is right.

Andrew walked in about that time, "What's up?" He saw Riley standing there, "Who are you?"

Why was this clueless motherfucker still living with us?

Buffy turned to Dawn, "Why don't you guys take her into the kitchen and fix dinner?"

Dawn nodded. She looked as scared as her sister. She really did love the little munchkin. She scooped Annie up, "So what do you want for dinner?"

"Cookie dough," Annie squealed.

Dawn giggled, "I am thinking something more in the line of actual food."

"Well that's no fun," Annie said.

Andrew patted her on the back, "That's cause your Aunt Dawn is evil," he said, running off into the kitchen, with the key and the kid chasing him. Glad someone has found a reason to smile here.

I heard someone clear their throat behind me. Giles.

"Well I suspected I was going to have to make a big announcement, but apparently someone has beat me to it," he shook Riley's hand. "Good to see you again Riley."

Buffy ran up to him. "What do you know?"

He took off his glasses. Well that's a bad fucking sign.

"Not a lot, I'm afraid. Just that something is happening. My sources seem to be scared. And that is never comforting."

"Tell ‘em to get in line," I mumbled.

He sighed, putting his glasses back on. "I suppose the main thing is to not lose our heads. We have defeated the First before."

Buffy shook her head, "No, his army. Remember." She was being a smartass, but who could blame her? "And no Annie then. This is a completely different ballgame Giles."

"Ah yes. I know. It seems the prophecy is being fulfilled a little earlier than I thought."

"Fuck the prophecy," I said, "All these prophecies have ever done is rain shit down on us and basically just ruin our day."

"Be that as it may, we can't very well ignore it."

Whatever. "I don't see why not. We could just leave. Pretend like we're normal."

Giles sighed, "I am afraid that nothing about this situation is normal. She happens to be the only child ever created from two females. And slayers. And… well you all knew this was coming. She's meant to defeat it. I have a feeling that with a little luck she will succeed."

Buffy reddened. "We can't bank on luck Giles. She's our daughter. What are we supposed to do? Send her into a battle with a tiny axe and pat her on the back? ‘Good luck Annie.' Not going to happen."

"It may have to," he said simply.

Can I kill him now? I am itching to beat this shit out of something. And even though I have a soft spot for the old man, doesn't mean I won't… what the fuck? It may have to, my ass.

I shook my head, "I don't think you get it G-man. There is no way I am going to let her anywhere near such a thing. Never. Over my," I looked around, "and everyone else in here's dead bodies."

Fuck them all. I would never let her go. And no one, not even the fucking First and all his armies, could make me.

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