DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Buffy The Vampire Slayer stuff belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. All other characters that appear belong to me. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. There is some subtext in this story. If this kind of stuff is not legal where you live, if you're under 18 or if you don't like the notion of two women being in love, then you should read no further. This story is a sequel to Hope of Deliverance.

Gifts
By Kristjan Brezovnik

"Hey, Buffy," Faith said as she came to Giles in the evening. "What's with the face?"

"We have a problem."

"No kidding."

"Adam."

"That Frankenstein's monster?"

"That Walsh's monster. That son-of-a-Walsh is one hell of a fighter, Faith, he wiped the floor with me," Buffy said.

Faith chuckled.

"Son-of-a-Walsh?"

"Yeah. Professor Walsh made him. He killed her."

"Yeah?"

"Yes."

"Bummer. Any idea where he is or what he's after?"

"No."

"D… Ouch."

"Faith?" Giles asked.

Faith groaned, shaking her head.

"Cordelia just had a vision. No danger here." She frowned. "Hey, I didn't lose control. Nice."

"That could be Gabrielle's gift," Tara said.

"You think?" Buffy asked.

"Could be," Faith agreed. "So, any plans yet?"

"No."

"Okay, how is it that every plan we make is basically a last-minute one?"

"Because they're the best?" Buffy asked.

Faith shook her head.

"We're pathetic, you know that?"

Buffy shrugged.

"As long as we win, I don't really care."

Faith grinned.

"A good point. Want me to patrol with you?"

Buffy considered the offer.

"Nah. I have a feeling that he's up to something big and until then, he's not our greatest problem."

"Oh?"

"Our greatest problem are demons, especially vamps with delusions of grandeur."

"Oh. Then I guess we better get out there and disabuse them of that delusion."

Buffy grinned.

"Let's go. See you later, Giles."

"Be careful," Giles called after them.

"I just slept with a guy," Cordelia said right away when they met in their dreams.

Faith stared at her for a while, shocked.

"What?" she finally said and Cordelia could see that she was hurt.

"I'll explain," she quickly said. "I met this guy, Wilson, and, well, before I knew it, I was in bed with him. I didn't want to go to bed with him, but, I don't know, he made me want to go to bed with him." She paused. "I'm babbling."

"He raped you?" Faith asked, worried, having recovered from the initial shock.

"Well, sort of. I mean, sex was okay, I have to admit, he was gentle and pleasing and all, but the fact that he made me want to have sex with him makes me sick." She paused. "I feel so… dirty."

Faith hugged her.

"I'll come to LA in the morning."

"No, no need, Faith, I'm fine. But in the morning, I'm going to make his sorry ass wish he never messed with Cordelia Chase."

"You sure you're okay?" Faith asked, still worried.

Cordelia smiled and caressed her.

"Yes, just some stomach cramps. I'm gonna feel even better when I get my hands on Wilson."

Faith shuddered.

"Poor Wilson."

Cordelia laughed.

"You bet. Now, come, let's go cuddle."

Faith smiled, relieved that Cordelia was obviously alright, but she still felt a bit uneasy about it.

"Okay. Hey, remember the vision you had today? I didn't lose control. You?"

"My head didn't feel like it was about to explode."

"Good. Tara thinks that might be Gabrielle's gift."

Cordelia thought about it.

"Could be," she agreed.

"Hey, guys," Faith said when Hope with her escorts came to Giles.

"Hi, Faith," Monique said.

"Any idea on the gifts yet?"

"No, none. I'm not even sure I got one."

"Hey, you were there, the last line of defense."

Monique smiled.

"You make it sound so heroic. It's not like I could've stopped anyone."

"Hey, it's the thought that counts."

"Yeah, whatever."

Renee gave Hope to Kara and then joined them.

"Looks like they have a lot to talk about," Faith said and nodded at Hope, who was touching Kara's and Alice's faces so that they could all communicate.

"Yes," Renee said, glancing at her daughter. "I was quite surprised when she suggested that."

"Yes, she's growing up fast," Monique said.

"Yes," Renee agreed. "Too fast. Sometimes it scares me. You know, I want her to have a normal childhood. Or at least as normal as possible.

"Does she know?" Faith asked.

"Yes. She felt my fear and she asked me about it."

"Oh."

"Hello," Giles said when he came into the room.

"Hello, Mr Giles," Monique said.

"Hello," Renee said.

"When will we take Kara home?" Monique asked Giles.

"This weekend, I think. On Saturday."

"I think we should keep numbers to the minimum," Faith said. "You, Kara and Renee should go, Renee knows the family, sort of, then Willow, she knows a lot about magic, and Lara, she can find her way around, like she did when Cordelia and I became one. That's five people and it'll be a tight fit in your car."

"Yes," Giles agreed. "I will tell Willow when she comes by."

"Okay. Tara, Buffy, me and the rest of the gang can protect Hope."

"Yes."

Faith moaned, clutching her stomach.

"Faith?" Renee asked.

Faith shook her head.

"This is the fourth time I've had this feeling of sickness today. I feel like throwing up, but fortunately, it passes quickly. Good thing I'm sitting."

"Perhaps you should see a doctor."

Faith laughed.

"I don't think so. It'll probably pass."

"I was pregnant," Cordelia said right away when they met in their dreams.

"What?" Faith asked, astonished.

"I'll explain," Cordelia quickly said. "Remember Wilson? When I woke up in the morning, I was eight months pregnant."

"I'll come to LA in the morning," Faith said.

"No, no need, Faith, I'm not pregnant anymore. Wilson wasn't the father, it was a Hacksaw demon."

"What?"

"Yeah. It was like Rosemary's Baby multiplied by seven. And at fast forward. I was possessed."

"Then I'm definitely coming," Faith said.

"No, Faith…"

She trailed off as a vision hit her.

"What the hell was that?" Faith asked, confused.

"Wow, I've never had a vision in my dreams," Cordelia said.

"What does it mean?"

"How the hell should I know," Cordelia snapped. "Sorry. It's just that all I have right now is a headache."

Faith smiled.

"Me too," she said, rubbing her temples. "Looked like a key and a demon or something."

"I think it had to do with Buffy," Cordelia said.

"Looks like another beastie's coming to town," Faith said. "I'm so happy. Not."

"You have to stay," Cordelia said.

"But…"

"No buts. Hope's safety has priority. And besides, I'm fine now and I'm with you."

Faith sighed and nodded.

"Yeah, I guess. I'll tell Giles in the morning."

Cordelia kissed her.

"I'll be fine."

"You promise?" Faith asked her, anime-eyed.

Cordelia smiled.

"I promise."

Faith smiled as well.

"Good. Oh, we're taking Kara home tomorrow."

The drive to the sorcerer's place was long. Kara was at first afraid of Giles' car, she had never been in one before, but when she got used to it, she curiously observed Giles as he drove. But the closer they got to the sorcerer's place, the more nervous she became as she recognized the surroundings.

"Hey, it's okay," Renee said, noticing that Kara became very stiff from fear. "The sorcerer is dead, he can't harm you anymore."

But Kara was still afraid. Renee hesitated for a moment and then put her arm around her protectively. Kara jerked at first, but then she put her head on Renee's shoulder and cuddled up to her, feeling slightly safer.

"Why don't you close your eyes," Renee suggested, feeling Kara's trembling.

Kara shut her eyes, but the trembling continued for a while.

"I believe this is it," Giles finally announced and pulled over in front of a sinister looking house that connected to the mountain behind it.

"This is in the middle of nowhere," Willow commented. "And creepy," she added, shuddering.

Renee jerked when she felt Kara jerk violently as she opened her eyes and saw the sorcerer's house.

"Hey, it'll be okay," she told her. "You'll feel much better when you go in there and see that he can't hurt you anymore."

"Yeah, you can even break some of his stuff," Willow suggested and smiled sheepishly.

"After we get all his books," Giles said and got out of the car.

"Yes," Willow agreed and got out of the car as well.

"Come, Kara, it'll be all right," Renee said and slowly got out of the car, gently dragging Kara after her.

Kara reluctantly followed her.

"Kara, do you know if there are any protective spells cast around the house?" Giles asked.

"I think so," Renee said. "Kara?"

Kara hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

"Yes," Renee told Giles.

"Do you know how many?"

Kara shook her head.

"She doesn't know."

"Good thing we came prepared," Willow said.

"This is an illusion," Lara said, staring at the house.

"How do you know?" Giles asked.

Lara shrugged.

"I don't know. I… feel it."

"Okay, let's do a counter spell," Willow said as she took her bag out of the trunk.

Renee finally managed to get Kara out of the car and Kara observed Giles and Willow as they prepared for the spells. She was terrified of magic because she was always on the receiving end of it and the magic was always bad.

"Hey, it's okay," Renee said and put her arm around Kara again. "They won't hurt you."

Kara nodded, but the knowledge didn't make her any less afraid.

Willow and Giles performed the spell and Lara observed them, while Renee did her best to calm Kara.

"Okay, done," Willow announced when the spell was complete and the house changed slightly, just enough that it didn't look sinister anymore.

"That's it?" Renee asked.

"Yes," Willow said.

"But I…" She frowned. "Well, I don't feel afraid of the house anymore."

"Exactly," Willow said. "Come, let's go in."

They followed Willow inside.

"Spell or no spell, this place is creepy," Renee said.

"Yeah," Willow agreed. She turned to Kara. "Do you know where he kept his books?"

Kara nodded and led them to a cluttered wall.

"Here?" Willow asked.

Kara nodded.

"Yes," Lara agreed.

"Must be hidden by a spell," Willow said and took a book. "Hmm… Ah, here it is. I knew this would come in handy. Lara, hold this, please."

Lara took the book and Willow took a small pouch out of her bag.

"Now, let's see," she said.

She then said something in Latin and then threw the powder from the bag at the wall. The wall shimmered and then a door appeared. Kara took a step back, scared.

"Everything will be all right," Renee told her, taking her hand.

Kara stared at her for a few moments and then nodded.

"Oh, wow, look at this, Giles," Willow said enthusiastically when she saw the books.

"Is your trunk big enough?" Renee asked, eyeing the library with raised eyebrows.

"I guess we will have to put some on the back seat and on the floor," Giles said, scratching his head.

"Giles, look!" Willow called.

Giles went to her and took the book she was holding.

"My God," he said, nearly dropping the book. "This is a very dangerous book."

"Em, shall we start packing them?" Renee asked.

"Yes," Giles said. "I'll go open the trunk. Kara come, you will watch the road," he added when he noticed that Kara was still scared.

Kara quickly followed him, relieved.

"Okay, that's it," Willow reported when she brought the last books out.

"Good."

She looked at the car.

"Looks like we'll have to squeeze," she observed.

"Yep," Renee said.

"Em, Giles, what about the rest of the house? I saw some useful things."

"I guess we will have to come back tomorrow."

"Em, how about we carry them to the library and I can then hide it again."

Giles raised an eyebrow, considering.

"Can you do it?"

Willow nodded, grinning.

"Oh yes."

"Okay then. Renee, you and Kara watch the road."

"Okay," Renee said.

"Hey, I think we'll need a van for all this stuff," Willow said as she and Giles went inside.

After having moved all the useful things into the secret room, Willow hid the door again and then they drove off to find Kara's family.

"I think this is it," Renee announced after several minutes of searching. "Yep, this is it."

Lara stared at the house for a few moments and then nodded.

"Yes."

Willow looked at Kara.

"Looks like you're about to finally come home."

Kara stared at the house, old memories coming back, and a tear slipped down her cheek.

Giles parked the car and everyone got out. Willow made sure that Kara was covered with her cloak.

"Looks like the right house," Renee said and pointed at the name on the door. "Blanchard, right?"

"Yes," Giles said.

"Will you do the talking, Giles?" Willow asked.

"Yes, I suppose so," Giles said and rang the bell.

After a few moments of tense waiting, the door opened.

"Yes?" Mrs Blanchard asked.

"Em, Mrs Blanchard?" Giles asked.

"Yes."

"I am Rupert Giles. Em, I believe you have twin sisters."

Mrs Blanchard frowned, confused that a complete stranger would talk about her daughters.

"We had. Kara has been missing since she was little."

"I believe we have found her."

Mrs Blanchard glared at him.

"How dare you…" she started angrily.

"Something wrong, honey?" Mr Blanchard asked, eyeing the strangers.

"They claim they have found Kara."

Mr Blanchard glared at Giles.

"Look, Mister…"

"Giles," Giles said. He quickly turned around. "Em, Kara."

Kara hesitated for a moment and then stepped closer.

"Oh my God," Mrs Blanchard said when she saw the toy horse.

Kara then moved her cloak a bit, so that they could see her face, and Mrs Blanchard gasped.

"What the hell is this?" Mr Blanchard demanded, outraged.

"This is Kara, your daughter," Giles said.

"Like hell she is. She's a freak," Mr Blanchard said angrily and tears started to run down Kara's cheeks.

"Yes, I know she looks… horrible, but I assure you, this is Kara."

"Look, Mister, I don't know where you found her, but this is not Kara. And if you don't get the hell out of here, I'll call the cops."

"But Mr Blanchard…"

"Leave. Now."

Giles sighed.

"Now what?" Renee asked.

Giles shrugged.

"I don't know."

"Hello," a girl said as she walked up to the house.

"Hello," Giles said with a smile.

The girl passed him. When she passed Kara, she noticed the toy horse and she looked at her face. She gasped when she saw how disfigured it was. She looked closer, curious as to how come the girl had exactly the same toy horse as her long missing sister, and frowned. Kara stopped and they stared at each other for a while.

"Kara?" the girl then asked.

"Althea, come inside," Mrs Blanchard said, but Althea ignored her.

"Kara, is that you?"

Kara nodded and smiled shyly. Tears were still running down her cheeks, but this time they were tears of happiness. Althea hugged her and Kara hugged her back.

"Althea!" Mrs Blanchard cried, afraid that the ugly girl who was supposed to be her other daughter would hurt Althea.

"I missed you," Althea said when they stopped hugging, ignoring her parents. "Where have you been?"

Kara's face became serious and she looked at Giles for help.

"She doesn't talk," Giles explained.

Althea looked at him.

"Why not?"

"She wasn't allowed to and now she probably doesn't know how to."

"Oh." She looked back at her sister and took her hand. "Come, let me show you your room," she said and started to lead her inside.

"Althea!" Mrs Blanchard said.

"Mom?" Althea said, confused.

"She's not entering this house."

"But, Mom, this is Kara, I know it."

"Althea…"

"Dad, this is Kara. She's still my sister, even though she looks like… this." She looked at Kara, smiling. "Come."

Kara followed her inside, casting fearful glances at her parents, who stared after them, surprised.

"Looks like there's gonna be a happy ending after all," Renee commented, smiling. "She's your daughter," she told Mr and Mrs Blanchard. "She needs you."

The parents stared at her for a few moments and then looked at Giles.

"Where did you find her?" Mr Blanchard finally asked.

"Well, actually, she found us," Giles said.

The parents looked at each other, curious.

"Why don't you come in," Mrs Blanchard then said.

Giles and the girls entered.

"Would you like something to drink?" Mrs Blanchard asked when they were all seated.

"If you have some tea, please," Giles said.

Mrs Blanchard nodded and went to the kitchen.

"Are you gonna tell them the long or the short version?" Renee asked.

"I'm not sure," Giles said, scratching his head.

"You want me to tell them?"

Giles looked at her, raising his eyebrows.

"If you want."

"Sure."

"Here you go," Mrs Blanchard said when she returned.

"Thank you," Giles said and took the cup.

"Em, you want to call Althea, so I can tell this only once?" Renee asked.

"I'll get her," Mr Blanchard said and left.

Everyone was quiet as they waited for Mr Blanchard to return with the girls. Althea had gotten Kara to take off the cloak, but Kara was still clutching her toy horse. Mrs Blanchard stared at her, not sure how she should feel. If the girl was really Kara…

"Okay," Renee then started. "Em, this is going to sound like I've seen too many horror movies, but I assure you, I've seen worse things in real life than anything they show in the movies. Oh, eh, I suggest you take my words at face value and don't try to rationalize what you hear, it'll spare you the headaches. So, em, we… No, I'll start with Kara. She was kidnapped by an evil sorcerer." She paused and looked at Kara's family, who were staring at her, confused. "Yes, a sorcerer. I don't know the reason, he probably took her because she was available. She was raised by… Well, I don't know what that was, but it wasn't pretty. Or gentle. She was his slave and she wasn't allowed to speak. Later, the sorcerer also started to use her as a lab rat and that's why she looks, well, like she does. Then the sorcerer decided to kidnap my daughter. Well, I won't go into details. Let's just say that he didn't survive. Now, Kara knew where he was going and why and when he didn't come back, she decided to find my daughter." She paused. "When I first saw her, I thought she was a demon. But then I saw the toy horse and I looked closer and I recognized her. And then Willow here," she pointed at Willow, "used the computer to check out the missing persons reports and that's how we found you." She thought for a moment. "I think that's about it," she then said. "Questions?"

Kara's family was quiet for a while.

"Em, okay, sorcerer," Althea said. "You mean like a magician?"

"Yes."

"As in black magic and stuff?"

"Yes." Renee looked at Giles questioningly. Giles shrugged and Renee looked at Lara. "Lara?"

Lara hesitated for a moment and then nodded. She concentrated and everything that was on the table suddenly started to rise up. Kara's family nearly jumped and Kara seemed to shrink. Lara then put the things back on the table.

"That was you?" Mr Blanchard asked Lara.

"Yes," Lara said.

"Wow," Althea said.

"So, you see, magic is real too," Renee said.

"You don't say," Althea said, impressed. "So you guys defeated that sorcerer with magic?"

"Yes."

"Cool."

"Why did the sorcerer want your daughter?" Mrs Blanchard asked.

Renee hesitated for a moment.

"Well, she's special. She's still a baby, but she's already a witch. And when she grows up, she will be a serious problem for the forces of evil. The sorcerer wanted her so he could corrupt her and get her to open a passage to Hell and let the demons to Earth."

Mr and Mrs Blanchard glanced at each other.

"I know this might sound strange," Giles said, "but I assure you it's quite true."

"Oh, how did you recognize Kara?" Althea asked. "I mean, you haven't met her before, have you?"

Renee glanced at Giles.

"Well, no. You see, my daughter is also telepathic. She can't read minds from a distance, but she can talk to people, if she touches their face." She hesitated. "Well, in another… I don't know, time line, the sorcerer succeeded in kidnapping her and Hell came to Earth. But Hope, my daughter, managed to escape into past and helped us defeat the sorcerer. The baby Hope talked to the grown-up Hope and then told me what she had learned. That's how I knew."

Mr Blanchard scratched his head, having a hard time to believe it.

"You sure you didn't mix reality with Star Trek?" Althea asked skeptically.

Renee smiled.

"I don't watch Star Trek," she said. "And besides, you've seen magic at work, so…"

"Well, it's weird."

"Tell me about it."

"Can you help her?" Mr Blanchard asked. "I mean, you know magic and all…"

"I'm afraid not," Giles said. "At least not yet. First we need to find out what exactly he had been doing to her and then we have to find the right spell. But we do have his books, so there is a good chance that we will find a way to help her."

"I see," Mr Blanchard said, disappointed.

"We'll let you know when we find a solution," Willow said.

"Oh yeah," Renee suddenly remembered. "You're gonna have to let the police know you've found her." She grinned. "Though I don't think the police would believe the story I've told you."

Althea grinned back.

"They'd send us to a nut house."

"We'll think of a story," Mr Blanchard said.

"Good," Giles said and got up. "We'll keep in touch then."

Mr Blanchard nodded.

"Okay."

"Bye, Kara," Renee said.

"Bye," Willow said.

Lara just waved her hand, smiling encouragingly.

Kara waved back, smiling briefly.

Mr and Mrs Blanchard escorted Giles and the girls to the door.

"That true what she said?" Althea then asked Kara.

Kara nodded, looking down.

"Hey, it's gonna be all right. You're home now. I know Mom and Dad are acting bitchy right now, but they have to get used to it."

Kara looked at her and nodded. Althea smiled at her and Kara smiled back.

"That's better," Althea said and gently squeezed Kara's hand.

Mr and Mrs Blanchard quickly returned and then stared at Kara, still having trouble believing she was their daughter. They noticed she was scared and that made them uncomfortable.

"Mom, this is really Kara, I know it. She recognized some of the toys I still keep around.

Mrs Blanchard sighed and slowly approached Kara, who tried to back off, scared, but was stopped by Althea.

"It's okay," Althea said encouragingly, "they won't hurt you."

Kara glanced at her and Althea smiled.

"Kara."

Kara looked at Mrs Blanchard.

"Do you remember us?"

Kara glanced at Mr Blanchard and then nodded.

Mrs Blanchard hesitated for a couple of moments and then hugged Kara. Kara was scared for a moment, thinking Mrs Blanchard wanted to hurt her, but when she realized Mrs Blanchard only wanted to hug her, she relaxed and, after a moment of hesitation, hugged her back. And when she started crying, Mrs Blanchard finally accepted that Kara was indeed her daughter and she started crying as well.

Althea smiled and hugged them and even Mr Blanchard joined them after a few moments of hesitation.

The End