Spike slowed to a trot, coming up behind her with a scowl on his face. "Only because you cheated. Why do the goody goodies always cheat and call it fair? If I'd cheated, you'd be telling me how it didn't count because I'm evil and I cheated."
"It's because you are." She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, quickly forgetting the entire purpose of their race to the store.
His arms snaked around her, pulling her even closer, rubbing his body against hers suggestively. "The practice room is empty. And it has all those nice springy mats," he whispered.
"Hmmm. And the pommel horse. Remember that?"
His eyes closed and a faint but proud smile graced his features. His hands strayed down to her butt, pulling her up his body so she was straddling his waist. "Got a key to the store, luv, or do I need to pick the lock?"
"Whoa, B. Guess you can teach an old dog some new tricks," a pale looking, but still saucy Faith commented wryly.
"Oh my God. She got out," Buffy whispered hoarsely, her body tensing around Spike.
A smirk crossed the rogue Slayer's wan face. "Not hardly. I'm on probation. Free as a bird…if I stay with the great Souled one."
"I don't believe you."
Buffy's arms and legs tightened around Spike. He could feel her shaking from head to toe. Rumors of the Slayer gone bad had reached him in Brazil, but he'd never for a second worried that Buffy couldn't take her. Even when her body'd been stolen, Buffy came out on top. She didn't have to do it alone this time, though. He'd rip the bitch's throat out before he'd let her hurt Buffy.
"You don't have to. I have a witness. When I went to find Angel, his place was empty except for this guy," she said, hitching her thumb at a green horned demon in a loud suit. "So I figured…holidays, empty hotel…must be party time in SunnyD. Here I am."
Buffy glared at her and turned to the green guy. "And who the hell are you?"
"Cool it, sweetie. I'm in tight with your ex. My name is Lorne, and I escorted this young lady to make sure Angelcakes know she's being square. I took the call from the prison," he said, studying Buffy intently.
"You thought you'd be welcome here, Faith?"
"Hey, it's five by five, B. I'm not here to mix it up with you or your boy toy. The green guy said something was going down here to help with some big to do coming up." She crossed her arms over her chest, and stuck her hip out in her trademark pose.
"I thinks he's telling the truth, pet," Spike said, his eyes boring into Buffy's. He understood how hard it was to reform an unfortunate past, especially with the Scoobies.
"Thanks, Blondie." Faith smiled slightly, looking for a moment like the girl she'd been.
"Why me?" Buffy groaned, banging her head on Spike's breastbone.
"It's the Slayer gig, sweetheart," Lorne supplied. "Now when are my boys getting here?"
"Is there no on who knows what a rhetorical question is?" Buffy muttered. Turning to answer him, she replied, "I don't know. Spike and I ran; they were way behind us. Speaking of which, Spike, did you um notice that we were singing? Again?"
"How could I not? We had a bloody good time doing it, Slayer."
Buffy sighed; trying to decide what PTB was looking at her and laughing. She
eyes Faith speculatively, then said, "Spike, break us in. I'll call the
gang and circle the wagons. Then me and Faith have some aggressions to spend
in the training room if we have to work together from now on." She looked
at Lorne, who smiled angelically. "And I think the Grinch here knows more
than he's letting on."
***********************************************************************
Xander put down the phone. Rather, he slammed it down. Anya rushed over to him,
her face wrinkling in concern. Dawn looked up from her Gameboy for a moment,
but decided Anya had control.
"Xander, you look like you're ill. Are you going to be sick? If so, please do so in the bathroom, because I don't want to clean it up."
"No. I-I-Faith's here. Out of jail. Free. Without restraint," he blurted out.
Cordy smiled at his fumbling. "Hey, great. Well, I mean, how'd she get out? If it's legit, let's party!" She smiled at Connor as she said this and the baby cooed appreciatively.
"Buffy didn't say. She said it's all good, well, calm, anyways. She wants Cordy, Fred, Willow, and Tara to hustle down to the shop, and to pick up Angel and his crew if you see them walking on the way. Guess Buffy and Spike musta taken a detour on their way." His look of disgust told everyone what he thought of that.
Dawn looked up briefly. "So that means you and Anya are stuck with us kiddies again, right?" She scowled, then her face lit up. "But it means I get to play with Connor the whole time. I guess I can deal with that."
"Oh, and I forgot something. As if Faith wasn't enough, Buffy said she and Spike broke into song again."
Dawn groaned and Anya seconded it. "Buffy is such a bad singer," Dawn added.
Cordy quirked an eyebrow curiously. "I'm clueless as to why Spike and Buffy went Broadway, but God help us if it gets to Angel." She looked at Fred, who nodded vigorously from her perch next Willow and her laptop.
Anya frowned. "It's my store. Why does everyone get to go but me?"
"It's okay, Ahn. We're the stay behinds. No danger for the engaged folks. Besides, like Dawn said, someone has to watch the young'uns."
"Well, if we get to watch Angel's offspring I'll get to practice for when we have our own. I guess it's okay," she said, musing.
Dawn noted Xander's expression and chuckled. "Don't worry, Cordy. We'll both be keeping an eye on him."
Cordy sighed her relief and called the others. "Ladies, drop the techno-babble. Time to hit the battlefield, so to speak."
When they all assembled, Cordy grabbed the van keys and waved at Dawn. Xander and Anya closed the door behind her. Eyeing Dawn, Xander walked over and knelt in front of her and the baby.
"Are you okay? I know you and Faith have a complex history," he said,
his eyes searching hers.
Dawn rolled eyes. "Thanks, big bro. I'm fine. If Buffy can handle Faith, I certainly can. And nothing can upset me when I've got a cute little baby in my hands. I think I'll take him upstairs to my room and we'll hang out."
Xander watched her retreat upstairs and sighed heavily. Anya looked at him curiously, trying to figure out where this remoteness was coming from. It occurred to her suddenly while she watched him trudge to the kitchen. He must be upset about being the babysitter again. I have no idea why not being action guy makes him feel so badly, she thought. I wonder if Buffy ever considers that when she hands down these assignments. She opened her mouth to call out and began to sing, "He spent his whole life being too young, to live the life that's in hid dreams, at night he lies awake and he wonders…whey can't that be me?"
She looked around wildly, and then remembered what Xander had said about singing and sat down on the couch. "Cause in his life he is filled with all these good intentions, he's left a lot of things he'd rather not mention just now. But just before he says good night, he looks up with a little smile at me and says 'If I could be like that I would give anything, Just to live one day in those shoes. If I could be like that, what would I do?'"
Xander stared into the refrigerator morosely. He knew Anya hated being left out, as well, but there was nothing he could do. They weren't seers or witches or Slayers or vampires; therefore, they got assigned to stay behind duty more often than not. Shutting the door, he walked out onto the porch, looking up into the night sky. He rolled his eyes when he felt an overwhelming urge to sing, knowing he couldn't fight it. "She spends her days up in north park, watching the people as they pass. And all she wants is just a little piece of this dream; is that too much to ask? With a safe home, and a warm bed, on a quiet little street. All she wants is just that something to hold on to; that's all she needs."
Anya came out on the porch and joined him, her eyes mirroring his in emotion. Together they sang quietly, "If I could be like that, I would give anything just to live one day, in those shoes. If I could be like that, what would I do? What would I do?" They faded out, looking at each other than into the night. Neither of them spoke aloud the thought they shared; what would they do?