Disclaimers: Joss owns all the BTVS characters, I won the rest. He makes no claim to mine, and I make no claim to his.
Date Stamp: Miss K, aka Kitty wrote this 24.12.01
Title: No Doubt own 'Too Late', a truly melancholy song, of epic proportions.
Dedications: To all the Veruca Salt and Nina Gordon fans on BuffynFaith. All hail us.
 
Faith's POV
 
Slayers Do Christmas XXXVII [37] - Fulfilment Just Adds Fuel To The Blaze
 
I watch her walk away, and feel tears coming down my face.
Don't act like a cry baby, Faith, cut it out.
 
You know when you're so happy you think, yeah, I could go right now, because I've got everything I ever wanted.
That's what it's been like the last few days with B.
I had it all, everything, I was so fuckin' happy I thought my face would crack wide open from it not being used to smiling so much.
Now I watch her walking away, and I want to get up and run after her.
Tell her everything; what Lucy said to me, what she asked me to do, what I've decided.
Tell her I love her loud enough for her to hear it, tell her she's all I wished for, that she gave me some of the most perfect days ever.
 
But I don't.
 
Instead I light another smoke up and keep focused on her, as she gets further and further away.
She rounds the corner and she's gone.
 
And I'm alone again.
Like I always have been.
 
Just me, in the dark.
 

Discord's POV

 
I do a quick check in the mirror, yeah, I got everything.
I like the new uniform, nice and snug.
Let's get this freak show on the road then Dis.
 
I walk out of the bedroom and Elle's jaw drops, as she sees me.
 
'What? I know, it's new. Last time, one of Lucy's minions got caught in my sleeve, so I dumped that outfit. You think it's too scanty? Elle? Say something.'
 
'Xena meets Lara Croft, with more weapons than Ripley had in Aliens II, I know you know I watch movies, cut the eyebrow out. You look... Dizzy, I'm so glad you're one of my Angels!'
 
She likes; cool.
Wait up...
 
'I don't look like fuckin' Xena!'
 
'Dizzy, you look more like Xena than she does. You'll just have to live with it, I can't do anything about your genetics.'
 
'Or die with it.'
 
I get this sinking feeling that something's not right with tonight.
Don't know what's going on, but something is.
 
'I've got that same feeling, Dizzy. And you're not going to die, although granted, I can't see the future of battles. Never figured out why that is exactly. Still, won't ponder what I can't change.'
 
'You think Lucy's up to her tricks again. I don't know why you trust her so much Elle, she's your nemesis, jeez!'
 
'I have a soft spot for her, you know why. She's not half as bad as everyone thinks, still makes her naughty as anything, I know. Crazy world we live in, or don't as the case may be.'
 
'How long we got, Elle?'
 
'Little under an hour. You all limbered up and bendy?'
 
'I'm not a stripper, I'm a warrior.'
 
'Well said, Xena.'
 
'Elle!'
 
'Sorry, I love the look on your face when I say it. I'll be good, I promise. What are you doing now? Oh, not that Tai Chi stuff again, I know, don't talk to me while I'm doing it, you'll break my concentration! You'd think you were God, sometimes Dizzy. I'll sit and be quiet. Shake me awake when you're done.'
 
If only people knew what she was really like they'd... all be buying her book, and that's not just because I know you're listening, either!
 
'You're a sweetheart, Dizzy, you really are.'
 
'Tell me something I don't already know. Now be quiet, I have to focus.'
 

Buffy's POV

 
I open the door to Faith's and walk in and... oh my G... gosh!
 
'You're almost naked, Dis! Sorry, I... I'll feel my way to the kitchen or...'
 
'No, this is my fighting outfit. Buffy, open your eyes, hey, watch out for my... too late.'
 
I feel myself fall over something, and as I open my eyes, I see the Knight family breasts, staring me in the face!
Oh my G... gosh, don't keep almost saying it, Buffy, not with her in the room!
Wow, that's some DNA they've got going with those things.
 
'I should be more careful with my stuff, Buffy, sorry.'
 
She pulls me up, and I look anywhere but at her, and by at her, I mean, at both her... things!
 
'I'm there with you Buffy, I am.'
 
'Huh? Never mind. You two have a lot of explaining to do. What's with this Dawn stuff. Faith told me everything about the soul snatching that you all have planned out.'
 
I look at Elle, and you know, I don't care if she's God.
Woo-fooey-hoo, big deal!
Ok, sort of is a big deal, but I'm being all protecty sister here, so we'll pretend she's a little God or something; not the God.
Where was I, oh, yeah, big whoop, I'm God... yeah, I'm not convincing myself.
 
'Buffy, please, you're going to make me do something terrible to you in a minute, please, what do you want to know. You broke me, I'll tell you anything. No more thinking like that, please!'
 
'Can you hear my thoughts?'
 
'Yes, Yes, YES, all of them, every single babbling one, and as adorable as you are, it's making me insane. What did you say about Dawn? Faith told you? But Faith doesn't know, she walked out before Dizzy had a chance to... Oh; Lucy, I'm going to kill her! Well, as much as I can do, what with her being un-killable. Is that a word? Oh, I'm God, I just made it a word. I'll pop it in some English professors head tomorrow, and get it in next years dictionary.'
 
'Exc-uuu-se me, I babble? Hello? Can I leave a message for the pot, tell her it's the kettle calling, and she say's she's black!'
 
'Dizzy, make her stop! Make her stop!!'
 
Have I slipped into some weird alternate universe or something where...
 
'No more! Dawn; we're here to fight over her soul. What else do you want to know, ask me and I'll tell you.'
 
'Well that was pretty much it, just wanted you to confirm it. Why Dawn?'
 
Yeah, why my sister, she's... ok, I've paused, tell me or I'm going to carry on thinking like this, I mean it!
 
'Ok, Dawn is going to be someone very powerful when she grows up. Powerful beyond comprehension. She'll cause Lucy no end of problems. I can't tell you anymore, suffice to say that's why she wants her soul. Dizzy and Lucy's warrior will be fighting over her soul in, oh, less than an hour.'
 
'What can we do to stop her, I mean what if Dis loses, no offence Dis, I'm sure you're going to rip Lucy's warrior's head off, just, I need to know what to do if you lose, which you won't, but if you...'
 
'OK! If she loses you can't do anything. Dawn's soul will be taken and that's that. If it helps, it's not all torment and fire down there. It's like a Palace, she'll have everything she ever wants, still I appreciate your total lack of enthusiasm over your sister losing her soul. Dis will win, I have faith in her, which reminds me where is Faith? I have this funny feeling that Lucy has had a finger in this pie. She's probably done that old trick of trying to persuade Faith to give her soul up to save... oh. Buffy, where's Faith?'
 
Give her soul up to save Dawn?
She wouldn't... oh my GOD, yes I said it, Oh my God, she so would!
That's why she was all sad.
I have to stop Faith!
 
'No, Buffy, we have to stop Faith, she's making a bad decision. Lucy won't stop the fight if Faith lets her have her soul. She's a total cow when it comes to lies, but then, that's why she's the Devil. Where is she? I can't get us there unless you tell me where she is!'
 
'Um, I saw her in the cemetery...'
 
And in a flash of light we're there.
Wow, the only way to travel.
 
I look round at Elle, about to thank her, and I see something that makes my heart start to break.
 
Faith talking to Lucy.