Chapter Thirteen
Somethin’ don’t look right. The house is all dark and quiet. I been here off and on all day and I ain’t seen ‘em leave yet. Or come back. My tongue comes out in a fast flicker to taste the air. It’s fuckin’ disgustin’ but I guess I gotta just live with it. You know I don’t reckon I’da gone in that cave if Ma had told me this was going to happen. Sure I hate those bitches but I’m green goddamnit. And what the fuck am I supposed to do with a forked tongue?
Well. Maybe I could think of a thing or two to do with that. But gettin’ back to the green thing, there ain’t no damn way I can hide that. I’m like the Joker only not really. I don’t have that stupid smile. But I do have fangs. Which I guess is alright, ‘cept when they get in the way when I’m trying to eat. And green. Back to that goddamn color. I’m fuckin’ green man. “Stop that boy.” Fuck. I flick my eyes to her form and hiss.
“Stop what Ma?” Stop bein’ some freak? Or stop bein’ her son? ‘Cause I’d like to do both but I can’t. She gives me a look that I know I should be afraid of but I’m too pissed to care about right now. “I’m just askin’ seein’ as how I wasn’t doin’ anything. You know I’m a grown man now Ma, you can’t just boss me like you did before. Hell, Ma, you ain’t even alive.” I can see the fury in her eyes before I even know what’s happening.
I’m fucked. Ma opens her mouth and lets out a scream like a thousand nails on a chalkboard. Som’bitch! I stumble back and trip over a root. My ass hits the ground hard but I’m up quick like. “You dare talk to me that way? Think you’re a big man now do you? You can just treat your Ma like dirt? Even though I raised you. I brought you in to this world boy and I will damn sure take you out. You know why I’m back boy? Because you’re a failure. Just like your dad. You ain’t even half the man that poor drunk son of a whore was more a man than you.”
Why’d ya hafta go and say a thing like that Ma? Why? Boy I sure do wish I could inflict what they call grievous injury to Ma. “You take that back now Ma. Take it back!” I don’t want to hafta hurt Ma but I will find a way to make her shut up. That fuckin’ shitbag left her alone with me to raise. I never left her so I know I’m more a man than him. But she knows how to dig at me.
“Oh take it back now. Is that what little Jimmy Lee wants? Well I’ll tell you what I want. I want you to grow up! Stop standin’ around with your thumb up your ass and go kill those heathen whores!” I start to cross my arms over my chest and ignore her but she opens her mouth to make another one of those gawdawful screams. I back up quickly but give her a glare anyway.
“Alright already.” Jesus on the stick that woman is a bitch. I make my way up to the porch and let my tongue flicker out again. They aren’t here and I know it even before I jimmy the door. I try a light switch but nothin’ happens. What the fuck is goin’ on here? My steps take me to Faith’s room. I look around and see most of her shit is still here. But there’s a lot of clothes missing. I toss a few things around carelessly.
“Wes...WES? You in here boy?!” Oh no. I run for his room and push the door open. Shit. Shit. It’s gone. His clothes, his dumb book he’s always draggin’ around, his blanket, it’s just gone. Som’bitch! That whore. I don’t know what’s worse than kill but I’ll think of somethin’ real good for her. Goddamn slut took my boy. I duck out of the house as quick as I can. Ma’s just up round the corner waitin’ I bet. My breathing is a little heavy as I heave my ass in to the car.
Maybe I should stop smokin’ so much. I put the key in the ignition and look around to make sure ain’t no one looking before I turn it. “I take it they weren’t home.” I jump up hard enough to knock a dent in my coconut. Where the fuck did she come from? I look around again while rubbin’ my head. That shit hurts.
“Goddamnit Ma! You tryin’ to scare me to death?” She gives me a warning look about my language but shrugs an apology all the same. I put the car in gear and head to the highway. I don’t know where they went but they intended to be gone awhile. Electricity was out, probably water and gas too. Too many of Wes’ things were gone and that stupid stack of pictures Faith keeps around. Pictures of that...blonde. “They took of Ma, they ain’t comin’ back round for a bit.”
Think. I gotta think. Where is it that Faith would run to? Oh yeah. Him. Ma turns to give me a questioning look when I chuckle. “Something about all of this funny to you boy?” I shake my head and chuckle again.
“I know where she’ll go. She used to take up with this fellow from New York. Said they were just friends but she was probably bangin’ him on the side.” Well. Not that she was ever really bangin’ me exclusively. No she had to be all independent woman and not want to be in a relationship. Now what kind of woman don’t want a man? A dyke that’s what kind. I had my questions about this Buffy bitch before. Faith seemed awful keen to stay away from her but she had pictures of her.
Didn’t make a lick of sense. I should have figured it out sooner I suppose. But the sex was too good for her to be fakin’ that. She liked dick well enough when she was with me. I glance over at Ma who’s bein’ merciful and keeping her fat trap shut for a change. I need time to think. She’s goin’ to New York probably to have some weird sex thing. Three way or what have you. She’s gonna wanna ditch the kid so she can do whatever she intends to do.
If I take him then she’ll come lookin’ for me. Faith is a shit list of things, whore and a bitch just the least but I can’t lie. She’s a damn good mamma. If she didn’t have to be such a bitch I think I woulda married her. Hot sex, she looks damn fine, she can kick most men’s asses, she gave birth to a boy, it’s almost perfect. Except for the sex was only on her terms, she talked back to fuckin’ much, and she didn’t even give my boy my last name. Not to mention that she named him something other than what I told her to name the boy.
Bitch.
“Well have you figured out you’ve got to take your boy first yet? Or do I still have to sit here until you puzzle it out?” I hiss in her direction and keep drivin’. I already figured that shit out Ma, thank you very much.
“Yeah I got it worked out. Just thinkin’ about how much I hate Faith.” She gives me an approving nod. Killin’ her won’t be so much of a problem for me. I’d have liked to work it out if she could learn to obey me. She was a nice ride afterall but fuck her. She took my boy and broke my face. That bitch deserves to die.
Chapter Fourteen
It’s quiet in here. Just the sounds of me and Wes breathing in shallow slow breaths. We were taking a nap and waiting for Faith to get back. Her reassuring weight denting the bed behind me makes me smile. She must have been what woke me up. A warm hand rests on my hip lightly and warm, happy sensations flood our connection. Is it even possible to be this much in love? She hasn’t tried to wake me, I’m guessing she’s tired. Up all night, long flight, even longer talk with a younger slayer.
How long has it been anyway? I crack an eye open and flick my gaze toward the glowing time stamp on the clock. 7 p.m. Faith can tell I’m awake now. She’s shifting a little behind me to get more comfortable. Incredibly soft lips graze my ear by way of hello. I open both eyes and run a hand through Wes’ wavy black hair. He looks like a tiny angel. Er. Not the vampire. Though in the right light... “Ya get a good nap B?”
And just like that she derails my little thought train. Jesus, Mary and some other guy, did she have to do that right in my ear? I shiver but give a slight nod. “It was okay. It’s better now though.” I’m just going to stay right where I am. Because if I don’t look at Faith then I won’t be tempted to make out with her. Don’t laugh, it worked in high school. Sorta. I get a nibble to my ear and I sigh happily. Blood rushes to my ear making it scarlet red. At least I think it’s scarlet. I can’t see my own ear though once Faith got me drunk and told me to try and I spent fifteen minutes actively trying to look at my own ear. “So how’d it go Dr. Laura?”
Faith’s quiet for a minute while she looks over my shoulder at Wes. About a hundred emotions flash behind those eyes of hers. I can tell she’s getting with the heavy thoughts. I don’t know if she’ll talk to me about it and I’m prepared to change the subject with no fuss. I’ll just bring up the fact that I’m still annoyed about the ear thing. “Bad home life, out on the streets, hangin’ out with all the wrong kinds of people. Shit happens ya know? Coulda been me sittin’ there. Only this kid doesn’t have half the attitude I did. She’s like Willow was. Shy, always smilin’ and shit.”
I think she identifies with this girl more than she’s willing to admit. My eyes go to the tanned arm that reaches out and runs a fingertip over Wes’ jaw. He’s her boy and I know she’d never trade that in for anything. It must have been so hard for her. And lonely. I need to do something to break the silence that’s settling over us. My voice is tender and soft, because I don’t want to be intrusive while she’s thinking. “She sounds like a good kid.” It’s not really saying much of anything but it’s something.
“Key word bein’ kid. I wasn’t much older when I had Wes but I wasn’t a kid. Ya know?” It’s hard for me to think of Faith as really being a kid. She always seemed so wise. Part of that was the cocky strut. It was like she owned Sunnydale, or California for that matter. She owned it all and she wanted everyone to know it. You know, I haven’t seen her strut in a long time. Might have to do something about that. “Wood is gonna hook her up with a real good Watcher. He already talked to Giles about it I think. Someone patient but you know, tweedy.”
I grimace at the thought. Giles, luckily for me, has stopped wearing the same suit he wore the entire first year I knew him. He thinks Dawn and I put it away in storage but really we had a bonfire in the yard. Old relationship burn out. We just added the suit at the end because we couldn’t think of a better way to say good bye to it. “Have you been in contact with everyone but me?” Where that could seem bitchy, it’s not. She knows I’m teasing by the soft chuckle at the end of my question. Faith gives my ear a hard nip in retaliation. But hey look who’s not being all cranky pants.
“I’ll give ya contact B.” And before I can even take a breath to make a reply she’s kissing me. Long, slow kisses. My body melts in to hers as we shift to make this easier. I could kiss her like this for the rest of my life. It’s not like we’re trying to eat each other’s face here. It’s just...our way of communicating I guess. “How’m I supposed ta sleep if you keep makin’ kissing noises with Buffy?” I swear this kid has the worst timing. Faith chuckles in my lips and pulls away. At this rate I may never go back to my natural color, I’m just going to stay red in the face forever.
“Just wait boyo, when I catch ya kissin’ on someone you’ll never hear the end of it.” Wes gives her a wide eyed look. I know what he’s thinking. I can see the wheels turning as he ponders that one. I flick my eyes to Faith and bite back a grin at the serious look on her face. “And before ya even say ‘ewww or gross mom’ just remember when you get older ya won’t think that way and I’ll be waitin’.” Wow. Dramatic much? Wes’ eyes get that much bigger as he ponders the idea of Faith waiting years to get her revenge.
I snicker and nudge Faith in the ribs. My poor little Bubba is going to be all repressed when he gets older if she keeps it up. “Don’t worry Wes, I won’t let your mamma pick on you.” Much. Hey he has it coming. Wes wriggles up closer to me and puts his small hands on either side of my face. He’s got this awestruck look like he’s never actually seen me before. Weirdo. I love it.
“Mamma...can we keep her?” Faith bursts in to laughter and I go right along with it. If only I had a video camera to catch the genius that is Wesley Alexander. “I’m workin’ on it boyo. I’m workin’ on it.” Hrm. Said twice for emphasis. I’m tempted to tell her that she doesn’t have to work on it because I’m for it buuuut, I’m all for showers of affection and love so I’ll let her keep at it awhile.
“So. How long are we staying for? Because I could really get in to the shopping. I didn’t actually pack much and I’ve been wearing mostly your clothes which never really seem to fit me quite the same way. Oh! And I can get you guys really nice thick sweaters. It’s getting cold in London now.” Would someone please just duct tape my mouth shut? Could I be any more obvious about my excitement? If I was a puppy I’d be all butt wiggly with the excitement.
Faith and Wes look at each other then at me and then back to each other. “Pay up boyo.” He gives her a dramatic sigh and places a kiss on each cheek and gives her a bear hug. He’s not as bothered by it as he’d like us to believe. Wes crawls to the end of the bed and hops down muttering something about food so he won’t have to hear the kissy noises. I raise my brow at Faith as she glances over to me. "Told him ya wanted to go shopping.”
It should weird me out a little that Faith is teaching her soon to be five year old son about gambling. But it’s just so damn cute. And she would kill me for ever thinking so. “Well I’m glad that I can provide you and Wes with some quality gambling time together.” We laugh together. Sometimes even just randomly. Like we’ll be sitting on the couch together or at the counter over coffee and we’ll just start giggling. It’s the most bizarre thing.
“So I think we should head out in the morning. I told Wood that everything was five by, gave the girl my cell number in case she needed ta talk or somethin’. It’s all I can do ya know?” Big softy. I nod and run my fingers through her hair. It’s soft and she must go through a lot of creme rinse. Which brings up another question, how’d she get her hair so shiny and full in prison? Because I’ve seen prison movies and none of those women had hair like Faith’s.
“She’s got a lot of advantages you didn’t have Faith. And you turned out to be pretty fantastic.” She gives me doe eyes at that. I think I just melted her heart. Hey score one for Buffy. Faith gives me a loving kiss before pulling back. I can hear Wood and Wes talking about Chinese food and my stomach gives a growl. Faith’s echoes it and we laugh again. “So I’ll call Giles and Dawn and...well everyone. Let them know we’ll be there soon.” Faith gives me a slightly worried glance and a nod.
“Think Squirt’s gonna try an’ light me on fire?” Possibly. I tweak her ribs and bounce out of the bed before she can retaliate. Sometimes. I really love being a Slayer. “You are so done for ya know that?” Ha. If she can catch me. I take off down the hall with Faith practically breathing down my neck behind me. So why am I running again? I stop and let Faith’s body plow in to mine taking me down to the floor. I think I smacked her nose with my head at one point so I look over at her rubbing her face and crack up.
Faith gives me a glare that I return with a sunny smile. She smirks at me even though she’s still rubbing her nose gently. It must be love.
Chapter Fifteen
Well damn if I wasn’t right. Sort of anyway. Ma snorts at the scene of Faith and my boy, Buffy and that fella Wood sitting around the table having a family dinner. Just like that. All together. What kind of fucked up kinky bullshit is this? Eatin’ Chinese food around the table ain’t gonna make this normal or alright. It’s just confusin’ my boy even more. Now he’s gonna think everyone is like this, that gay is normal.
I bite back a hiss and flick the air with my tongue. They don’t even have a shred of fear to ‘em. I’d have tasted it if there was. Ma backs away from the window as they all laugh about some bullshit coming out of Buffy’s mouth. I don’t know what it was but I’m sure it wasn’t funny. She’s got a mouth on her and likes to act all innocent but it’s just an act. She’d strangle a man to death. One she don’t even know.
I remember how that bitch is. I follow Ma back out to the street and get in to a car I borrowed out of the airport lot. Coulda got me somethin’ better but no, Ma wanted somethin’ less noticeable. So now we’re ridin’ around in some crap ass import. I hate little cars like this. Don’t got much to ‘em, barely anything under the engine. Mostly they remind me of paper cups. They work but they crumple awful easily.
“So now what boy?” She’s askin’ me? I raise my eyebrows and settle in to the driver’s seat. Good question Ma. Now what do I do? ‘Cause it don’t look like they’re gonna send the boy off anywhere and I might just be a real ass kicker now but I don’t wanna run up in that house and take on three people at once. No. I gotta change tactics. They’ll shove the kid off at some point.
“Now we wait Ma. Track ‘em tomorrow, see where they go, what they do. Shouldn’t be too hard to grab the kid and go.” Especially if they aren’t paying attention. The only problem with that is me walking around a big city with green skin. Ma turns her head to give me a look of surprise and finally disbelief.
What’s it gonna be Ma? You gonna cut me down for my ideas or you gonna keep it shut and go along with it? “Of all the stupidest ideas I have ever heard, and all of them come out of your mouth mind you, that is the worst. How the hell are you going to cover up your complexion? Walking around New York lookin’ like that. Boy if I were corporeal...” She’d what? Knock the freak offa me? That’d be nice.
I give her a glare and pull out a cigarette. She hates the smell she says but I bet it’s because she can’t smoke one too. I light it and take a long drag. Ma just stares at me until she looks away. See the key to winning with Ma is to just let her steam run out and then throw it back in her face. “Well if you got any ideas, what with workin’ for the First and all, I’d sure as fuck like to hear ‘em.”
Yeah I said fuck. Something about Ma don’t seem right and I’m wonderin’ if she’s gonna do that scream again. But she doesn’t she just shimmers and fades in to Buffy. What the fuck? The cigarette falls from my lips and I smack at it to put it out before it lights my dick on fire. “So you think you have this all figured out already huh?” What the shit?? I back against the door and reach down for anything to use as a weapon. My hands curl around the handle of a maglite and I swing it around to knock the bitch’s head off. It goes right through her and she smiles.
I am so fucking tired of seein’ that damn smile. I swing again but nothin’. I glare hard and put the flashlight away. “So. You died too huh?” What I wouldn’t give to make her die again. The Buffy thing nods at me and crosses her arms over her chest like she’s cold. What does Faith see in this girl anyway? Besides the obvious.
“Twice even. Me and death we’re old pals.” She gives me this sweet look and I feel somethin’ inside of me stir. An itch almost. A need. I need her. To hurt her, to fuck her, to kill her. “She’s not your mom any more than I’m the annoying little blonde you want to kill right now. We’re all just faces the First uses to make a point. Now.” This part kills me. The part where she looks up at me from under thick eyelashes.
Oh she’s learned the game alright. She knows what men wanna see. The Buffy thing slides over in the seat so she’s closer and I can almost feel heat like a body would give off. My cock hardens and she looks down at it with mild surprise. She ain’t even close to surprised but she’s actin’ like it. “So you’re the big dog huh? I’d think ya’d hate ta put on that bitch’s face.” See this is me trying to keep my cool.
It ain’t as easy as I make it look that’s for damn sure. Not with her hands not quite touchin’ my chest. Or the flutter of air over my ear as she leans in to whisper. Fuck. If this is just a copy of the real thing it’s a wonder why Faith ditched her in the first place. She might be a pest and really fuckin’ annoying but she’s dead sexy. My cock twitches again at the thought of the two of them fuckin’ around together. Hrm. I’d like to see that happen.
“Thinking about what it’s like when Faith and I are alone?” I don’t say nothin’ but I don’t have to. She’s readin’ me like a fuckin’ book right now. “You know how she is Jimmy. Like she can’t ever get enough. The way she looks at you like she’s going to devour you if you don’t hurry up and fuck her.” I give a slight grunt as she crawls even closer. I press myself back in to the seat because I just don’t want her that close to me even if she can’t touch me.
I try for some bravado though. “You an’ me an’ half of Texas bitch. We all know what Faith is like.” I’m just assumin’ here ‘cause like I said, we weren’t exclusive. I know she fucked other people. She had to have. “Don’t kid yourself sweetheart, a woman like that don’t give a rat’s ass about you once she’s done gettin’ hers.”
You’ll be out the door faster than you realize. Bitch. “Yeah well getting hers always means getting mine.” She gives me a sexy little smile and I hiss. Fuck I want her bad now. My hand goes down to the crotch of my jeans and I rub a little. The Buffy thing watches me, her eyes goin’ a dark green color. Oh yeah. I like them eyes. “The things she can do to me...mmm. The way her body is always so fucking hot, and wet. Bet you couldn’t do to her what I do Jimmy.”
Ha fuckin’ ha. “You wish little girl. I had Faith in ways you never could.” Mostly ‘cause I have a dick. I give her a full on head to toe eyeballin’ before smirking and rubbin’ myself harder. Who the fuck does she think she’s kidding? She might be a dyke but she’s all girl. Hell this one is probably the fuckin’ pillow queen. I can’t imagine Faith would let anyone top her and not the least this lil piece of fluff.
Her laugh trickles out and I feel another puff of air across my face. It could be real. If I close my eyes and pretend a little it could be real. “Oh Jimmy you have no idea the ways I can have her. You think just because I wasn’t born with a dick it means I don’t have one? And oh my girl likes it to. The way I fuck her with it all night.” My breathing is heavier and the look on her face is making me think she’s fucking me instead of Faith. I close my eyes and undo the zipper of my jeans.
My cock just falls right out in to my hand like it was waitin’ for this. I give it a few tight strokes and just listen to her voice. “Do you remember what it’s like to be in her pussy? The smell of her all around you. The feel of her gripping your dick with each thrust.” Oh yeah I remember. Visions of Buffy and Faith takin’ turns fucking each other and me take over my mind. Oh fuck. I’m gonna bust a nut here soon. I give another hard jerk when a sound shatters my little world.
“Boy would you put that thing away?” Goddamnit. I jump and pull my hand away from myself. Som’bitch. That was a damn rotten thing for it to do. Lookin’ one second like her and talkin’ and making me think things. Then to just turn around and be Ma again. I mean I know it’s not really Ma, especially after that little display but I can’t get over it. As long as The First is wearin’ Ma’s face I have to behave.
“Did’ja have scare me half to death?” She pretends to look away while I get my junk back in my pants. It’s gonna be real uncomfortable the rest of the night. Especially if I have to sit here and watch the house in case any of them leave. Ma squints her eyes at me when I’m done and shakes her head. I don’t wanna hear it. I’m a grown ass man. “And don’t you start with me, the plan stays the same. Watch and wait. She’ll ditch my boy soon enough and we’ll snag him there. An’ if that don’t work then I’ll think of somethin’ else.”
She gives a nod and I look around for my dropped cigarette. It’s crushed to bits and I think it was my last one. Motherfucker. I grunt and resettle myself uncomfortably. Well. Can’t jerk off. Can’t smoke. Can’t leave. This sucks. “You tired yet boy?” I nod a little and lean my head back against the headrest. “Well you g’wan and get some shut eye. I’ll wake you if anything happens.” I don’t trust her much as far as look out goes but if she really is this First thing then it’s best to go along with it. If it wants Faith and Buffy dead that bad it’ll wake me.
I feel like I’ve just closed my eyes when I hear my name bein’ called. I open my eyes and look around. The sun isn’t up yet but I can sense it. Ma gives me the same look she used to give me when I was a kid. “Well well the creature stirs.” She smiles and I can’t help but smile back. I missed her. Well. I miss her sometimes. “Something is goin’ on down yonder. Saw the dark man putting luggage in his trunk.”
Hrm. I do not like the sound of that one bit. I watch Wood from my review mirror and ponder. “They must be ready to take off again.” Just a stop over then. I gotta think. I can’t remember where this Buffy bitch is supposed to be from. I glance to Ma and shrug. Might have to beat the information out of Wood but I will find out where they’re goin’. I put the car in gear and pull away from the curb. Ma looks like she’s about to argue but I put a hand up while I puzzle this out. “Looks to me like they’re goin’ visitin’. They’ll come back home at some point but it’ll be easier to get my boy while they’re on the road. So for now we gotta find us somethin’ to eat and a place to rest. I’ll come back and have a little talk with Mr. Wood there. Find ‘em and catch up.”
Yeah. I think I can make that work. Ma nods at me but doesn’t say anything. Good. I was tired of her yappin’ anyway.
Chapter Sixteen
I don’t dislike flying but I hate long flights. Don’t get me wrong. I love Faith and I love Wesley but being cooped up in a jet for seven hours with them can wear on a saint. And I’m no saint. I’m watching them wrestle around on the floor of the cabin like I have been for the past two hours. I don’t know if it’s because he’s the son of a pretty damn powerful Slayer or if it’s just because he’s Faith’s son but that kid has more energy than I do. He’s making me tired just by watching him.
I wonder if this is how Faith keeps in shape. She chases her kid around and beats the hell out of the undead. I might have to rethink my pilates program. Finally I can feel the plane starting it’s descent. Wes looks up at me and beams and I fall in love with him all over again. I’m going to have to ask Willow if dimples have any magical properties that I didn’t know about. Because I swear a few grins from these two and I’m a puddle of Buffy.
“Ladies and Gentleman, we’re about to land so please take your seats and buckle in.” Wes’ smile starts to fade until he’s got the most serious look on his face that I’ve ever seen. Faith frowns slightly as she starts buckling him in to the seat in between us. She settles in and runs a hand through his hair and I note that she did not bother to buckle herself in. I give her a mild look until she gets it and huffs in irritation. But hey she’s getting buckled in so yay for me.
“You okay Bubba?” Wes turns his attention from the window to me and shrugs. I wonder what’s up with him, he was just fine a second ago. Faith shrugs at me when I give her a questioning look. Maybe he’s just nervous. I know Faith is, I can tell even if she’s acting all hardass about it all. It’s been a long time since she’s had any contact with Dawn or Willow or Xander. I have faith in the fact that they’ll forgive her for that. Eventually. Well. Willow and Xander will. Dawn is another story altogether.
“Buffy?” I look up at the sound of Faith’s voice and raise my brows. She looks at Wes who is back to staring at the masses of land gliding by now that we’re close to actually landing. I look back at her not sure what she wants me to do or say here. Give me a clue at least sheesh. Faith shakes her head with a smirk and goes back to staring at nothing and pretending she’s not the mom in the situation. Fine fine. I’ll take care of it.
I lean down and give Wes a tickle and a kiss that he squirms for. “Are you nervous to meet Xander?” He shakes his head no and grips Faith’s hand just a little harder when we hit some turbulence. I know this kid isn’t scared of flying. He’s not really scared of anything. Except Jimmy. So. It’s not Xander. “Do you miss Pinkie?” Because I kinda do too so it’s okay if he does. Another head shake. Okay. I give up, he’ll tell me when he’s ready.
I shrug at Faith and lean back in my seat. We bounce on landing and Wes’ expression just gets even more serious. My poor little man must have a lot on his mind. “So is Xander pickin’ us up or Giles?” I smile a little at getting to see my family again. I missed them these few months.
“Xander. I didn’t tell him about Wes, I just told him I knew a couple of Slayers that would need a ride from the airport to Giles’.” She nods a few times and looks at her watch. I don’t know why she’s doing that it’s still on Texas time. Finally the plane stops and the hatch opens. I pull the buckle holding Wes in place and reach down to pick him up. He goes with me and we start down the steps with Faith in tow.
Holy crap. It’s cold. I shiver and Wes takes his beanie off and puts it on my head. Thankfully I have a smallish head. “Thanks Bubba, but now your ears are going to get cold.” He smiles sweetly at me and shakes his head. Apparently the cold doesn’t bother him as it would the average child. But there’s nothing about him that’s average that’s for sure. We make our way over to the big suv that’s pulling up to the plane.
Faith’s warm hand is resting on my shoulder and I turn my head to kiss her knuckles. Everything is going to be okay. Just don’t go anywhere near Dawn if she’s holding something flammable. The truck parks and the two front doors open. Oh God. Dawn showed up here too. I pick up on the anxiety trickling tremulously through our connection. Why is it that Faith can kick the living crap out of the meanest, nastiest, gnarliest demons but she’s afraid of my little sister?
Xander reaches us first. God it’s good to see him. He stops and looks at Faith with a mixture of amusement and joy. Well it’s good to see someone besides me is happy to see her again. “Well it’s about time you moseyed on back to us. You are moseying on back to us right? We’re not just a pit stop on the way to bigger and badder baddies right?” That’s my Xander. She gives him a light smile at that and nudges him in the shoulder playfully.
“I think my moseying days are up Xand.” Hey that’s always good to hear. She gives me a shy look when Xander’s arms wrap around her in a tight hug. Aw. See? He missed her almost as much as I did.
“That’s good to hear Faith. We missed you.” I’m going to have to thank Xander later. His attitude went a long way in soothing Faith’s nerves. He lets her go after a minute or two and turns his attention to Wes. Xander’s head cocks to one side as he eyes the kid and then Faith. “And who’s the lucky little man that gets to be oh so close to Buffy’s b...er...bosom?” I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing at it.
Wes debates sticking his face in my neck and hiding but he holds out his hand to shake Xander’s with a look of sheer resolve. “I’m Wesley Alexander. But everyone just calls me Wes.” Xander takes his hand and shakes it solemnly. It’s got to be a man thing.
“Wes this is my bestest friend Xander, and this is my sister Dawn.” I finally turn and give Dawn my attention because she’s been waiting oh so patiently while I ignore her. Dawn offers Wesley a slight smile and holds her hand out to shake his smaller one. He takes it but doesn’t let it go. And then it happens. I knew at some point Wesley would prove how much he was like Faith I just didn’t expect it right here and now.
He grips Dawn’s hand a little tighter when she tries to take it back and furrows his brow. “If you’re gonna make mamma cry we’re gonna have a problem.” Slowly everyone turns to Faith who’s probably just as shocked as we all are. Wes lets go of Dawn’s hand and narrows his eyes. “Well? Are we gonna have a problem?”
“Um. Nope. No problems here.” He gives her a sage nod and wiggles out of my arms. Wes grabs Xander’s hand and starts leading him away toward the car. Dawn turns to Faith and raises her brows. “Wow. Attitude must be hereditary huh?” Faith laughs and looks between me and Dawn.
“Definitely Squirt.” I hold my breath for a second before Dawn chuckles and socks Faith in the arm hard. Obviously not hard enough to really hurt a Slayer but hard enough to let her know she’s not quite forgiven. They’ll be having a talk I’m sure. “An’ sorry about Wes. He’s kinda protective of me lately.” Well watching your dad and a couple of his friends beat the shit out of your mom will do that to a kid.
Dawn nods for a second and then gestures vaguely to the truck. Faith’s hand covers mine and we stroll along to the car in time to catch Wes babbling at Xander while holding his hand against the side of the car. Ooh that reminds me. “Faith? Why does Wes always have his hand on the car like that?” She looks at her son and then back to me with a slight shrug.
“Well when he first started walkin’ I didn’t want him to run in to traffic so anytime he’s gettin’ in to or outta a car he’s gotta put his hand on it until I’m ready to go.” Huh. That’s a pretty good idea. Wonder why mom never did that for us. Not that Dawn would have listened. Or me for that matter. Oh. Well maybe that’s why she never bothered with that. I give Faith a loving look and hop in to the backseat of the suv. Wes wiggles around a little in the seat until he’s pressed right up against my side. My arm goes around him and he cuddles in.
“Tired Bubba?” He nods and frowns at the fact that Faith is sitting up in the front seat with Xander while Dawn is on my other side. I don’t think he’s ready to let Dawn off the hook. I wasn’t expecting it but I’m kind of glad. I know Dawn and I know how she feels and I wouldn’t want her to be a pain to Faith either. Even if she feels that Faith deserves it. And I’m not too sure Faith does deserve it no matter how fall on her own sword she may be these days.
“Buffy?” I look down at Wes and smile gently. “Do you think Giles will like me?” I glance up at Dawn who’s trying so hard not to do the awww thing. Which is fine because if she does then I will and then Xander will and poor Wes will get all embarrassed and won’t talk to Giles or Willow. I bite back my internal babble and cup his little face.
“Of course he will baby. Why would you think he won’t like you?” He shrugs and glances in Faith’s direction. I can see her watching from the visor mirror. I don’t think she knows how to handle this. Well. That makes two of us. Faith turns in her seat and levels a serious gaze at Wes. He blinks and focuses in to her in a way that makes me wonder if they can read each other’s minds. Nah. Probably not.
“Hey boyo.” Wes reaches out a hand with his pinkie extended and Faith locks one of her pinkies to it. “I promise ya got nothin’ to worry about. Giles might be kinda British an’ cranky sometimes but he’s a good guy. An’ he must already like ya ‘cause he’s the one that sent ya your favorite book.” Ah ha. So he’s the one that sent fairy tales in Latin to a four year old. I should have known. “We cool?”
Wes gives her a nod and takes his hand back so that he can curl up with me again. I am so not complaining. Xander clears his throat and turns on the windshield wipers. “So. Not that I want to die here but my god Faith, when did you become so darn cute?” I bite my lip to keep from laughing at the look on Faith's face. Dawn snickers quietly from the seat next to mine.
“Eyes to the road. Zip it Squirt.” That’s my baby, getting all gruff and annoyed. Heh. Wes looks up at me and sighs heavily. He knows what’s coming. Everyone in the car gives us their attention the minute I start talking.
“Pay up Bubba.” I told you Faith was rubbing off on me. And later I’ll really let her rub off on me. But right now I’m content with the fact that Wes is letting me pepper his face with kisses. He giggles in my grip and pretends to fight me off but lets face it folks. This kid loves getting hugs and kisses from me and Faith. She grumbles from the front seat as Xander out right laughs.
“Never shoulda taught that kid how ta gamble.” Grumble grumble. She’ll get over it. I’ll even help her. With nudity and everything. And now that we’re not plane hopping or staying at other people’s houses I’m so going to have my way with Faith. She gives me a look in her mirror and I smile that smile. Yes. ‘That’ smile. Faith gives it right back and Dawn sighs.
“God, could you two maintain for at least the duration of the car ride?” No not really.
“Well I would Squirt but I just don’t wanna.” God I love her.
