Chapter Text
***Sarah's POV (you'll figure out who it is later)***
***2031***
"I had a pretty normal childhood I guess...I mean two
parents, friends, house, dog, picket fence...the
normal. I guess. Normal, kind of an odd word right,
yeah I know, deep thoughts...but really, I mean what
is normal? Everyone strives to be normal, but when
faced witht the question, who has the answer?
Personally, I'm not sure there is a normal anymore.
Oh well, it's probably too early in the morning for
these thoughts, right? Anyway, childhood, took too
long in my opinion. What do I mean, well 18 years,
too long. I wanted to grow up quick. But they...my
parents didn't really want me to. They always said
I'd regret trying to grow up to fast, you know what, I
don't...not yet anyway. Maybe it's just me.
"I suppose I'm happy with my life. Funny huh? But
really, I still have what I had as a child, two
parents, friends, house, dog a differnt one though,
got rid of the picket fence though. Normal? Ah you
were listening, there is no normal. Besides I've only
told you half the story. The other half? Demons.
Vampires. Monsters. Everything that creeps around in
the night that you tell yourself that isn't there,
was, is...weird huh? You should consider getting the
white padded room ready for me. I'm certifiable, on
most days anyway. I grew up in a house where by day
it was soccer practice and karate classes, by night it
was averting apocolypes and wondering who the next big
bad would be. Normal? No such thing.
"Padded room ready yet? Let's get weirder why we wait
shall we. I wasn't conceived. Nope. I was created.
Magic. A little of this, a little of that, few words
in a languge no one knows and poof, ME. Lovely huh?
Got any straight jackets handy? But regaurdless of
how I came about, they...my parents, friends, family,
always treated me normally enough...normal, there's
that word again. Can't seem to get away from it.
I've tried. Lived my life as abnormally as you could
think for awhile. Didn't help. Nothing helped.
Everthing was knocked off kilter. You don't kno what
I'm talking about? Interesting story. Mom tells it
the best. They're all in it, tied together in so many
ways.
"For starters there's Mom and Momma, or Buffy, weird
name huh, and Brooke. Then there's aunts Faith, Sam,
Willow, Tara, Anya, Cordelia, Dawn, Mac, Nicole, Lily,
and Carmen. Uncles Harrison, Angel, Xander, Spike,
Josh, Gunn, and Wesley. Gramma Joyce, and Grampa
Giles. And last but certainly not least my cousins
Keith, Charlie, Xan Jr., Mellisa, Tori, and Crystal.
What a family huh? Want the run down of each first,
you might want to take notes...
"Buffy and Brooke, or to me Mom and Momma, had just
- Brooke carried me since Momma is a slayer, and it
would have been hard to have a kid while dusting
vamps. I was created like aunt Dawn, only I'm not a
key of energy, just a normal spell. Tori and Crystal
were created with the same spell, different parents
though. Anyway Aunt Willow and Aunt Tara are Wiccans,
they did the spell. Aunt Faith is a slayer like
Momma. Aunt Sam is Mom's step-sister, she runs her
own newspaper. Aunt Mac is Mom and Aunt Sam's little
sister, she's cool, when I get to see her. Aunt Dawn
is the key, yeah I know I said that already, but she's
Momma's little sister.
"Aunt Anya and Uncle Xander are of a class all their
own. Uncle Xander runs a construction business, that
Aunt Anya does the money stuff for. Aunt Anya was a
man-hating vengence demon for like hundreds of years,
cool huh? Uncle Spike and Uncle Angel are both
vampires. And no Mamma and Aunt Faith shouldn't slay
them, they both have souls. Aunt Carmen and Uncle
Harrison are just...well not normal, no such
thing...but they're as close as you can get in this
little group. They don't know about all
the...nightly...stuff that goes on. Same goes for
Aunt Lily and Uncle Josh. Aunt Cordelia is a seer,
she gets visions from the Powers that Be to help Angel
get his redemption, she's always complaining about the
headaches she gets from them. She's married to Uncle
Gunn, and that's his last name not his first. He's
just a regular guy who helps out because of some
misplaced blame for his sister's death.
"Hmmm....who's left? Oh yeah, Grampa Giles and Gramma
Joyce. Well Giles is Momma's mentor and watcher, no,
it's not a dirty as it sounds. He is the father
figure to Mamma and crew, so that's why he's a grampa
figure to me. Gramma Joyce is Momma's mom, she's the
only really grandparent I know 'cause of the big rift
going on...yeah, I'll get to that later. Uncle Wesley
is a watcher like Grampa Giles, he was Aunt Faith's
watcher, till she decided she didn't need one. Lot's
of torture there...litterly...and then we get to Aunt
Nicole. She is a lot like Aunt Cordelia, they grew up
the same way mosty. They hide their hearts, but you
can tell they have them through some of the things
they do. Weird.
"And that would bring us to my cousins. Well Keith
and Xan Jr. both belong to Uncle Xander and Aunt Anya.
She was so upset they had two boys, Uncle Xander
loves it. They're twins, and were created the old
fashion way. Crystal is Aunt Willow and Aunt Tara's
daughter. Like I said she was created, just like me.
Aunt Tara carried her, from what I hear she lost to
Aunt Willow at Rock, Paper, Sissors. Aunt Faith tells
the story, so I don't know if it's true or not. And
speaking of Aunt Faith, her and Aunt Sam had Tori
created. Aunt Sam carried her for the same reason Mom
carried me. Aunt Faith's the slayer...told you, you
should have taken notes. Mellisa is Aunt Cordelia and
Uncle Gunn's kid. She's a hoot sometimes. A cross
between old money and street finess. And finally we
get to Charlie, poor kid is the youngest of us all,
he's Uncle Harrison and Aunt Carmen's son.
"Padded room ready yet, I know that took awhile. No?
Ok...you want to hear about the rift. Yeah I did say
I'd tell you, didn't I? Well keep in mind, a lot
happened before I was born, so it's heresay...Ok then,
it all started...
***************************
***2011***
Brooke and Sam walked quietly into the house at five
in the morning. Neither had meant to fall asleep, but
hey, stuff happens. Of course neither expected their
parents to be waiting in the livingroom waiting for
them. Unconsciously Brooke stepped behind Sam, not
wanting a repeat of just yesterday when her father had
grabbed her. Mike and Jane stood up when Brooke and
Sam came in. Mike was red with fury. Jane wasn't
much better. Things weren't looking good at all. It
was the second time in 24 hours that Mike went a
little nuts. And one of the last times Brooke was
around for it.
Brooke was brought out of her musings of the past by a
little hand placed on her's. "Mommy?"
Brooke smiled and her and Buffy's little daughter
Sarah, she looked exactly like both of them, which was
probally because she was created from both of them.
"Yeah honey?"
Little hands held up a book and little eyes gave puppy
dog looks, "read story?" Brooke couldn't resist, it
was the same look Buffy gave her when she wanted
something. The fact that Sarah's eyes were the same
color as Buffy's didn't help either.
"Ok, climb up here." Sarah climbed into Brooke's lap
and Brooke read her little daughter the story, funny
voices and all, until another little girl came running
- The exact opposite of Sarah little Tori bounded
into the room, quickly followed by Sam, who was trying
to catch the little bundly of energy. "Trouble
Sammy?" Brooke asked in mockingly sweet voice. Where
Sarah got Brooke and Buffy's calm, Tori got Faith and
Sam's restlessness.
"No...course not." Sam huffed. "Come 'ere you
little..." Sam reached out and grabbed her daughter
swinging the giggling child high into the air before
craddling her to her chest. "No more surgar." Tori
just giggled at her more.
Sam looked to Brooke, "wanna trade?" Brooke just
smiled and shook her head, and then went back to
reading the story, which Sarah sat still for. Not an
easy task for a three year old. Sam glared at them
for a second before tossing Tori in the air again and
tickling her. Once the little feet were placed back
on the floor however she was off, Sam hot on her
trail.
At the moment they were one kid short. Willow was
supposed to be dropping Crystal off so that the Scooby
gang (which both Sam and Brooke refused to join) could
get together to discuss one discuting thing or
another. These times were always interesting. And
would probably be more so once the twins were born.
Poor Anya was bigger than the house, or at least the
doorway, as she always complianed. Xander just
bragged that they were healthy...real healthy.
Sam and Brooke would probably end up watching them
too. Big fun. But right now, they would stick with
the two, three, and four years old. Crystal, the two
year old, was by far the calmest of the children, and
a joy for anyone to watch. But the poor kid was
already painfully shy. Which makes sense, since both
Willow and Tara spent most of their lives fighting
their own bashfulness. But they were working with
her, trying to get her past it, before she really got
into it. The only people she seemed totally at ease
with, other than her parents, were Sarah and Tori.
Which was good 'cause she spent so much time with
them.
Sam was currently chasing after Tori again when there
was a knock at the door. Laughing at her sister's
predictiment Brooke got up and answered, Sarah right
along with her. Tori squirmed out of Willow's arms
and she and Sarah took off, porbably to join up with
Tori at a previously discussed location...toddlers
were sneaky that way. Willow and Brooke shared a
laugh at their daughters antics. "So you'll be
researching all day?" Brooke asked.
"Yep." Willow answered cheerfully, it was still her
favorite part of the Scooby gang. And one of the main
reasons Brooke and Sam refussed to join. "Crys
already had a nap and a snack, so she should be good
to go for a while."
"Okay..." Brooke trailed off as three little tornados
ran past them, followed by a quickly waring out Sam.
"Have fun researching...and when Buffy starts whining
about research send her home." They shared another
laugh, and Willow left to make it to the meeting.
Brooke walked back into the livingroom, just in time
to catch Tori as she ran by. Carrying the squirming
child to Sarah's room she put her down in front of the
doll house, and immediatly she was playing with the
little figures. Sarah and Crystal found their way in
and started playing along. Amazing how that worked.
Sam stopped at the doorway and watched, then asked
Brooke, "how did you...?"
"It's a gift." Brooke replied with a smile and walked
out of the room.
"Show off." Sam muttered before following. The two of
them found their way to the kitchen where they sat to
do what sisters did, gossip about people. Before
anything truly juicy could up, however, there was a
phone call.
Brooke got up and answered, "Hello? Jane? What?"
Sam jumped up at hearing her mother's name, neither of
them had talked to thier parents since highschool.
"Ok...ok...ok...yes, I understand...goodbye." Brooke
hung up the phone and Sam stared at her, waiting to be
told what was going on. Brooke sighed, she wished
Buffy were there. "My dad is dying." Just like that.
Simple enough to say. No emotion, just fact.
Sam got up and pulled Brooke into a hug. "Are you
ok?"
"Sam you know my father died to me ten years
ago...I've already mourned and grieved."
"I asked if you were ok?" Sam repeated. She didn't
believe Brooke's brave front for a second.
Brooke looked into Sam's chocolate brown eyes, and
felt her own water. It wasn't supposed to hurt like
this. She had been through this all already. "No."
Before Sam could say anything Sarah reapeared and
Brooke took the welcome distraction. After Brooke
left the room Sam got on the phone and called the
Magic Box, telling Buffy what was going on. Needless
to say the meeting was cut short as most of the gang
headed to the Summers house to be there for Brooke and
Sam.
*****************************
***Sarah's POV***
***2031***
"What? Oh is it that time already? We didn't even
get to the juicy stuff yet. So no padded room, no
straight jacket? Well that's comforting. Till next
time I guess. I should get home anyway. Crystal will
be waiting for me. And I hate to keep her waiting.
Bye."
***Sarah's POV***
***2031***
"Hi...my week? Long...too long. Why? And yes I'm
repeating all of your questions. My week was long
because...long story short, Crystal and I had a fight.
I hate it when we fight, always have. But I don't
want to talk about that. I want to finish my
tale...though I'm not sure I remember where I was last
time...do you? Probably somwhere dramatic, I've beent
told I do that. Leave things at a climax and then
bye...*chuckle* no not during sex...mind in the
gutter? And my sex life isn't why I'm here. Why am
I here? Thought that was your job. So should I
continue with the story? Right...
*********************
***2011***
Faith and Sam walked up the stairs to thier home.
Faith cradling a very tired Tori in her arms, and
helping an equaly tired Sam by her side. It had been
a stressful night for all. Hearing that Mike was sick
and dying brought back memories of him. And Jane.
Not all of which were good memories, especally for
Faith and Buffy. But it wasn't about them right now.
It was about Brooke, and Mac. Poor little Mac, she
was too young to loose her father. Even if her father
was an ass...in Faith's oppinion anyway. As Faith
opened the door and they walked into their home Sam's
mind traveled to the past...
**********
***2001***
Brooke and Sam walked quietly into the house at five
in the morning. Neither had meant to fall asleep, but
hey, stuff happens. Of course neither expected their
parents to be waiting in the livingroom waiting for
them. Unconsciously Brooke stepped behind Sam, not
wanting a repeat of just yesterday when her father had
grabbed her. Mike and Jane stood up when Brooke and
Sam came in. Mike was red with fury. Jane wasn't
much better. Things weren't looking good at all. It
was the second time in 24 hours that Mike went a
little nuts.
"Where the HELL have you two been?!" Mike shouted.
Mustering up her courage Sam answered, "at Faith's."
"FAITH?! And I'm guessing Buffy lives there too,
RIGHT?!" Mike yelled in Brooke's direction. Brooke
could only nod her head yes. "You...YOU...get out of
my site before...GO!" Sam and Brooke started to walk
to the stairs, they still had to get ready for school.
"WAIT!" Both girls warily turned to Mike. "Get
ready for school. I'll drive you myself, and pick you
up, and then young ladies, we're having a talk."
Neither Sam nor Brooke liked the way Mike said talk.
And Sam's heart fell further when she realized that
her mom was nodding her head, agreeing with Mike.
Together they walked upstairs and to their seperate
rooms to get ready. After a little while Brooke came
into Sam's room and watched as the brunette tried to
locate her history paper. Out of the blue Brooke
asked, "what do you think he'll do to us Sammy?"
Sam wasn't sure if Brooke was asking about them, or
Buffy. She didn't like the possibilities of either
though. "I don't know Brooke...we'll just have to
wait."
"I hate waiting." Brooke said, she was on the verge
of tears now.
"I know Brooke, I don't like it either...but hey when
we get to school you can call Buffy and have her come
up for lunch." Sam said hoping it would help put the
blonde in a better mood. It did. Barely.
"Ok."
**********
***2021***
Sam was brought out of the memory when Faith placed a
feather light kiss on her temple, "you ok baby?" They
had just put Tori to bed and were in the hallway on
the way to their own room. Sam hadn't noticed any of
it she had been so lost in the past.
"Honestly?" Sam asked looking into Faith's eyes.
"I've been told it's the best policy." Faith replied,
and kissed Sam on the tip of her nose to encourage
her.
"I don't know...all this, him being sick...it brings
it all back, y'know?"
"Yeah I know baby...been thinking 'bout it all night
myself." Faith said as she layed her forehead against
Sam's, her hand lightly holding Sam's hips, keeping
them close. It was true, Faith had been thinking
about what happened so long ago. Ten years. So much
had happened since. She hadn't thought about it all
for so long that some of the memories had become
murky, faded even. And some...some were crystal
clear.
**********
***2001***
"Faith!" Sam yelled out her lover's name so that she
could hear. They were at seperate ends of the hall,
but Sam didn't want Faith to walk off and not see her.
She really, really needed to feel connected to her
right now. The ride to school had been the longest of
her life. She and Brooke had both sat in the
backseat, neither wanting to sit next to Mike, who was
still fuming.
"Hey Samantha." Faith greeted cheekily, still on a
high from their lovemaking only that morning. But
when she got a good look at Sam's face, and Brooke's
for that matter, her whole statement changed. "What's
wrong?"
"Mike and mom were up when we got home. They waited
up for us like all night. Mike wants to 'talk' after
school." Sam said gravely.
Faith didn't really see the huge deal. Ok yeah they
were probably going to be grounded, but they'd word
around that, and no more sneaking out. No big. "Hey,
ok so talking, not so bad, I mean hey you do it so
well." Faith ignored Sam's glare and continued. "So
you get grouned...we'll work around it, and it can't
last forever right. Just no more sneaking out...beg
and grovel a little and things should be fine."
Both Sam and Brooke seemed to be looking brighter when
faced with Faith's logic. It wasn't like neither of
them had been grounded before. "You're right...I
hope..."
"I'm going to go call Buffy, have her meet me for
lunch." Brooke said with the first smile she smiled
since before they entered their house that morning.
Sam leaned up and kissed Faith on the cheek. At
Faith's questioning look she explained. "Thank you.
She was crying earlier, I didn't know how to make it
better. But you did...you always seem to make things
look brighter." Sam's little impromtu speech earned
her a dazzling smile.
Faith blew on her nails and wiped them on her shirt
cockily, "yeah well...it's a gift." Sam just rolled
her eyes at her girlfriend.
That day had gone smoothly for the most part. The
four of them had lunch together, and both Sam and
Brooke were looking on the bright side for their run
in with Mike later. Of course nothing ever turns out
how you hope.
**********
***2021***
Buffy woke from a restless sleep by someone smacking
her in the face. She reached over and pulled Brooke
to her, stopping the flailing that the younger blonde
was doing. It was quite obvious that Brooke was
having a nightmare. And it wasn't hard for Buffy to
figure out about what. "Shhh....it's ok. Shhhh...."
Buffy cooed in Brooke's ear. The sleeping blonde
finally calmed a bit, and snuggled further into
Buffy's arms. For probably the millionth time in her
life Buffy cursed Mike.
Brooke's eyes were going a mile a mintute under her
lids. Darting everywhere. Seeing everything, just as
she had that night....
**********
***2001***
"Please sit down." Mike instructed as soon as they
were in the livingroom. He didn't seem to have calmed
down at all since they had seen him in the morning.
Not a good sign. "Jane and I have been talking about
it all day...and we've come to a few conclusions."
From her seat on the couch Jane nodded her head sadly
in agreement. "We have no other choice but to...send
you away for awhile."
"WHAT?!" Both Brooke and Sam yelled and jumped up.
"You CAN'T do that!" Sam continued.
Jane stood up as well. "Yes we can. Sam you've
always talked to me...but recently...you've changed.
You're seeing this...girl. And now you're sneaking
out. Things have to change, this is the only thing we
could come up with." She said reasonably.
"Where?" Brooke asked in quite anguish. The thought
of never seeing Buffy again was killing her. The
thought of being without Sam, her sister, and now her
bestfriend, wasn't any easier to take.
"Sam is going to live with a college friend of mine
who has agreed already...she lives in St. Louis."
Jane answered.
"And you're going to live with your mother in San
Fransico." Mike finished to Brooke. Brooke knew S.F.
wasn't very far from Sunnydale, and she'd probably
still get to see Buffy. But poor Sam was moving like
ten states away. She'd never get to see her again.
"St. Louis?! Are you serious?!" Sam yelled
furriously. They were sending her to a stranger to
live halfway across the USA!
"Deadly!" Mike answered. "This is for the best...and
there's really no choice...for either of you."
Brooke could feel the tears falling down her face.
Hell had just opened and swallowed her and Sam, it
wasn't fair! "This isn't fair."
"Oh there's more little girl," Mike said in a low
growl.
*****************************************
***Sarah's POV***
***2031***
"What oh...that time again? I see you have the same
thing with climaxes as I do. *Chuckle* Well then I
guess I'm going. Same time next week? Right.
Hmmm....no I still don't want to talk about the fight
with Crystal, or why it bothered me. Nope, won't feel
like it next week either. Ok, we'll see, but I'm
pretty sure I know me better than you do. Pretty
sure, anyway. I'm surprized...figured they'd be here
to cart me off to the padded room this time...guess
you guys are kinds packed huh? Oh well, society with
have to deal with me for a little longer. Stuff
happens."
***Sarah's POV***
***2031***
"I'm sorry I had to cancel last week...it was...busy.
Emily was born, well that's what they named her
anyway...Emily Rose...pretty. I think...I think I'm
jelouse. I didn't think I would be, but hey lets face
it, they had the baby I was supposed to
have...couldn't have. That's what started all of
this, the need for therapy anyway...so much to work
through. Don't know if I want to. It's crazy really,
I mean, I'm the godmom...so...definitly jelous. I
don't want to be. But it's not fair that they got to
have a baby...they thought about abortion you know,
they didn't want a kid, and now...
"Crystal tried getting my to talk about it, I
wouldn't...she got mad at me again. I don't try to
make her mad, I'm just good at it I think. But I'm
getting way ahead of myself here aren't I? I was
telling you about my family history wasn't I?
Hmmm....maybe I should be the one to take notes.
Where was I? Oh yeah Mike was sending Momma away
along with Aunt Sam.....
**********************************
***2001***
"Oh there's more little girl," Mike said in a low
growl.
"MORE?! What more could there possibly BE?!" Sam
screamed. She couldn't believe any of this was
happening. Her entire world had just crumbled before
her eyes and she could do nothing to stop it.
"You both will be on the strictist of
restictions...neither of you will have contact with
either Buffy or Faith, at all! We're getting a
restraining order so that if either of them try to
contact you, they will be arrested."
Brooke's world started to get fuzzy around the edges,
she felt as if she was going to pass out. She barely
heard Sam's next words, they were almost growled out,
and Brooke believed each and every one of them. "If
you do this Mom, you loose me... I'll wait till I'm
eighteen and you can't stop what I do, but I swear to
any god listening, YOU WILL LOSE ME!" Sam knew the
harshness of the threat. After loosing Sam's father
Jane had begged Sam to never leave. And now she was
being sent away, herself was the only leverage she
held.
"Don't say that Sammy." Jane pleaded. She didn't
want to loose her daughter, but she didn't want to
loose Mike either. Mike was deadset on this, she
didn't know if he would budge, even if she asked him
to.
A sudden calm came over Sam, she knew what she had to
- "What time do I leave...Jane?" Tears fell down
her mother's face. She had lost her father, and
now...she had lost her mother.
Jane looked helplessly to Mike, and his face softened
a little. It was time to give them a choice.
"Alright...no need to go there Sam...why don't we come
up with an alternative?" Both Sam and Brooke looked
at him dubiously, he was up to something. "You both
stay here, we stay a family, but you don't EVER see
either Buffy or Faith again."
"We go to school with Faith." Brooke said before Sam
could.
"Not anymore, we'll put you both in private schools."
"Let me get this straight, you're making us choose,
between the loves of our lives, and...our home?"
"You're barely seventeen, you don't know what real
love is yet, so it's not a choice really, let's just
put all this crazziness behind us." Mike said in a
now very calm voice. Jane was pleading with her
daughter to take the olive branch.
Brooke and Sam looked at each other, they would have
to agree for now....but they would find a way out of
this. "Fine."
**********************************
***2021***
Brooke shot up in bed. She couldn't believe she was
having the nightmare again. She hadn't had it for
years. She turned to look at the other side of the
bed where her wife was supposed to be, it was empty.
Crawling out of bed and putting her robe on she went
in search of the slayer. Brooke finally found Buffy
in the doorway to their daughter's room. Walking up
behind her Brooke slipped her arms around Buffy's
waist and rested her chin on Buffy's shoulder.
"Couldn't sleep?" They asked each other at the same
time. Chuckling Buffy asked, "nightmares?"
"Yeah, you?"
"Yeah." Buffy leaned back in her wife's embrace.
Life wasn't supposed to turn out this way. Their
daughter was supposed to have two sets of
grandparents, not one. "Are you going to see him?"
"No."
"Think you'll regret it?"
"Maybe...someday...but not today." Brooke answered
honestly. She felt Buffy's head nod against her
shoulder, "come on, lets go back to bed."
**************************
Sam rolled over and saw a little face peeking at her
over the mattress. "What are you doing out of bed you
little rascle?"
Tori climbed onto her parents bed and climbed under
the covers, snuggling up with her mommy. "Sleep
here?" Sam just couldn't resist the puppy dog eyes
and little pout her daughter gave. Faith had taught
her well.
"Ok...just for tonight."
"'Tay." Sam put her arms around her little daughter
and kissed the little head rested under her chin. She
wouldn't give these moments up for anything in the
world.
Faith rolled over and put her arms around both Sam and
Tori...her family. "Pushover." She whispered in
Sam's ear before kissing her neck lightly. Sam just
chuckled and pushed her body back further into
Faith's, taking Tori with her, so that they were all
snuggled as close as could be. And together the
little family fell to sleep again. As she drifted
off, Sam thought about the past again....
****************************
***2001***
"YOUR DAD DID WHAT?!" Sam heard screamed as she
walked into the Novak. Then she saw Brooke, in tears,
and Nicole, who's whole face was red with rage.
"This is our last week here, we're being moved to
private school." Brooke sobbed.
"He...he...he can't do that..." Nicole said in
disbelief, she was loosing her best friend. Sure she
wasn't the biggest fan of Sam, Buffy, or Faith, but
this was an injustice even she wouldn't stand for.
There had to be something they could do to stop this.
"He can and he is." Sam said scornfully as she went
to the sink.
"There's got to be something you can...."
"Shut up Satan, there's nothing that can be done until
we're eighteen!" Sam said taking her bottled up rage
out on Nicole.
Nicole straightened her shoulders, and raised her
chin. Things like loosing her best friend she
couldn't handle, but a challenge...a challenge she
could work with. "We'll see about that Spam." And
with that Nicole got up and left, a plan already
forming in her mind. First thing she had to do was
get a hold of the little punk who had used the
computer to set her up, she had the feeling some
hacking would be required....
******************************************
***Sarah's POV***
***2031***
"I'm starting to think the hour get's shorter and
shorter each week. Huh? Why would you ask that? Of
course I had a name picked out...doens't matter, no
kid to name. If it was a boy Timothy Michael, and a
girl Kimberly Michelle, ok? Kind of a sadistic
question if you ask me...I don't want to talk about
it! WHY DO YOU HAVE TO ASK THAT STUFF?! *Chuckle*
Bet that padded room will be nice and ready next time,
huh?
"Just...just don't ask about it agian...or her...don't
like talking about Crystal either. This isn't....it
isn't about her...or the baby...really. I just
want...I want it to all go away sometimes you know?
Aunt Faith told me once that things never go away,
never stop hurting...you just adapt and move on.....my
problem is, well I'm not really qualified to say what
my problem is. You want to hear? My problem is, I
don't want to move on...adapt...don't want the pain to
lessen and become bareable. It's my fault...my fault
it all happened, is still happening....
"'Nough bad stuff, should be thinking happy
thoughts....Keith is getting married. Nice gal. And
Tori, Tori has a beautiful baby girl named Emily
Rose."
***Sarah's (Buffy and Brooke's daughter) POV***
***2031***
"Well this has been quite an uneventful week. Nothing
going on in my world. Isn't that sad, a whole week
has gone by, and yet, I have nothing worth while to
talk about. Or maybe...maybe that's a good thing, who
knows...I don't... Hmmm...I was almost certain after
last week you'd have the straight jacket waiting for
me when I got here....yes I'm always this
pessimistic...which would seem really odd if you knew
my moms. Of the group they were the cheerful, upbeat,
cheerleaders. Aunt Faith and Aunt Sam, they were the
downers, so to say...maybe I was supposed to be their
daughter...Tori is a lot like mom and momma....maybe
she's their daughter and we just somehow got
switched...only the difference in age would keep that
from being a possibility.
"Well I do seem to ramble don't I? Yeah guess since
I'm paying for the session I should have all out
rights to rambling...babbling...maybe some of Aunt
Willow got in me too...Crystal, she doesn't babble
like Aunt Willow, or studder like Aunt Tara, in fact,
after she turned like 12 she lost all the shyness that
connected her to her mothers. They're proud of her
for that though...I am too.
"Yeah I know, last week I flip out on you because you
ask about her, and now I'm telling you all about her,
I warned you I was crazy....yeah I know I shouldn't
use that term...why don't I just get back to the story
and the hour can fly by huh? Well Aunt Nicole had
just taken Aunt Sam's challenge and was in search of
Aunt Willow to put her plan into motion...
****************************************
***2001***
Nicole gave a triumphant smirk as she held up the
phone number for one Willow Rosenberg. The little
geek who humiliated her on the net. But she was
willing to put all that behind her (for now) in the
effort to keep Brookie home where she belonged. Sure
Nicole would love to be queen of the school, but she
didn't want to loose her best friend, the one person
who, no matter what, believed she had a heart and was
capable of doing good. Shaking herself out of her
thoughts Nicole dialed and waited for someone to
answer. "Hello?"
"Is..." Nicole checked the paper just to be sure,
"Willow Rosenberg there?"
"Um, yeah, just a sec..." Tara took the cordless
phone over to her lover who was currently looking up a
demon on the net for Giles. "It's for you."
"Who is it?" Willow asked distractedly.
"Um, may I ask who's calling?" Tara asked into the
phone.
"Nicole Julian, *friend* of Buffy and Faith..."
Nicole got a funny taste in her mouth from the word
friend, she was definitely not a friend of either
girl.
"Oh, ok." Tara put her hand over the phone and spoke
to her lover again, "it's Nicole somthingerother, she
says she's a friend of Buffy and Faith."
Willow looked up from the screen and scrunched her
nose up in a cute little 'huh' look. She took the
offered phone and spoke into the receiver, "hello?"
"Hey Red, listen up hun we need to talk." Nicole said
without preamble. Willow instantly recognized the
voice of the girl she had humiliated at Faith's
school. "Brookie's dad, that's Buffy's girl, went
flip recently, he's doing the spliting of lovers
routine, and I need some help making that not
happening."
Willow gave her head a little shake hoping it would
clear up Nicole's statement, it didn't work. "Huh?"
With an aggravated sigh Nicole spoke as though talking
to a small, dense child, "Buffy's girlfriend's father
is trying to split them up. I have a plan to make
sure it doesn't happen, but I need your help....get
that?"
"Yeah...but how can I help?" Willow asked while
rolling her eyes.
"I need someone who knows there way around computer
and even some minor hacking..." Nicole said while she
was mentally going over her plan in her head.
"To do what?" Willow wasn't making this easy at all.
"Alter Brookie's and Spam's ages."
"Spam?" Willow asked confused, wasn't that like some
kind of lunch meat, who would name their kid that?!
"Alright are you helping or not?!" Nicole asked
loosing patients.
"Yeah, guess so...I mean anything to help out Buffy."
"Good."
************************************************
***2021***
Tara knocked on the door to Buffy and Brooke's house.
She was taking little Sarah with her and Crystal to
the park in order to give them sometime to decide if
they were going back to L.A. She knew first hand how
it felt to have a blowout with your father, and then
later find out he was ill. It's a hard decision to
make, forgive or hold the grudge. In her case she had
caved and went to visit her father, and ever since she
was glad she had. They had worked things out as much
as they could have been, and when he died, she had a
sense of calm she knew she wouldn't have had if they
hadn't resolved anything. So she was going to help
Brooke in anyway she could, in this case, she would
take the kids to the park to play.
A very tired Brooke answered the door. Upon seeing
her good friend she gave a small smile and a hug.
"Hi."
"Hey, how are you holding up?" Tara asked concernidly
as she looked into Brooke's eyes to make sure she
didn't fib.
"Could be better, could be worse, I suppose.
Crystal's all ready and excited to go play with her
Aunt Tara...I swear you spoil her when no one's
looking." Brooke teased good naturedly. All the kids
seemed to gravitate and adore Tara, Brooke supposed it
was because of her gently nature and non-existent
temper.
"Oh yeah, I slip the kids twenty's when no one's
looking, right!" Tara said with a smile. Brooke was
about the only Scooby (even though Brooke wouldn't
admit it, she was a Scooby) that Tara had the easy,
teasing banter with. It was fun.
"I knew it! Just wait till I tell Buffy." Brooke
teased as Sarah came running into the room trying to
sip up her little jacket, and being very unsuccessful
at it. "Come'er let me get that." Brooke commanded
softly. Sarah stood squirming as her mom zipped up
her wind breaker, and as soon as she was done, Sarah
ran for Tara.
"Hey little one, read for park type fun?"
"Crystal coming right?" Sarah asked in her little
three year old voice.
"Of course." Tara answered. "Say bye to mommy."
Sarah turned toward her mom and smiled, "bye-bye, I go
now." Brooke smiled and kissed her daughter good-bye
and wave as Tara loaded her up in the car. Next she
had to pick up Crystal from Xander and Anya, or she
would.
***Sarah's POV***
***2031***
"Hiya Doc, long time no see...ok so it hasn't been all that long.
Nine days, not long at all really. Well hiya just the same I guess.
Well it's been another boring week on my end. Nothing note worthy.
Well ok, I moved, I guess that's note worthy. It's the first house
I've ever bought. All mine. Bought and paid for, all with money I
earned. Pretty cool thought. It's not as big as the house I grew up
in, then again I don't need a place that big. It's just a little two
bedroom home. Cute, that's the way to describe it, cute. And I get
to use the extra bedroom as a office slash gym.
"I'm proud of myself. Some of the people at work didn't get the big
deal. But it's a big step I think. I'm growing up...finally.
Crystal always said I wouldn't grow up...guess I proved her
wrong...had Mom and Momma over, they loved the place. Mom is already
planning up ways to decorate, which is fine by me, I'd live on
beanbag furniture if they'd let me. *Chuckle* I can just see my
Mom's face. Aunt Sam would get a kick out if though.
"So that's my week. I'm living on my own, in my own home. It's a
special occation, I suppose. Crystal...she cried when I moved
out...didn't want that, never like seeing her cry...but I'm proud of
myself...I'm growing up...seeing things for how they are. And I
haven't mentioned the padded room yet, so hey, that's progress
right? Well it was worth a try anyway. Hmmm...well I guess I should
get on with the story, last time we talked I was telling you about
Aunt Tara picking me up for the park...
**********************************
***2011***
Brooke was curled up on the couch, eyes unfocused, staring off into
the distance, when Buffy came home from her run. Buffy stood in the
doorway to the livingroom for a minute just studying her beautiful
wife. She still sometimes couldn't believe they had lasted this
long. Hell in the begining she didn't even think of it as a
relationship, it was just some friend sex, as Faith would say. And
now, now they were married with a gorgous little girl of thier own.
Clearing her throat Buffy hoped to get Brooke's attention. When that
didn't work she walked over and snuggled up to the taller
blonde. "You need a shower." Were the first words Buffy heard.
Looking mildly insulted Buffy responded, "are you implying that I
stink?"
Brooke gave Buffy a playful smile, "yes, and you're all sweaty too."
Buffy matched Brooke's playful grin and pounced on her wife. Brooke
fell back on the cushions of the couch with Buffy on top of her.
Suddenly Buffy stopped the kissing assult she had just
started, "where's Sarah?"
"Tara just picked her up to go to the park." Brooke said pulling
Buffy's lips back to hers. If she was doing this, then she wasn't
thinking about the past, and if she wasn't thinking about the past
then she wasn't thinking about her father, and if she wasn't thinking
about her father, well then she was happy.
"Love you...so much." Buffy mumbled inbetween kisses. Buffy moved
her assult to Brooke's neck and started suckling her pulse point.
Brooke's mind lost in the pleasure let down it's walls, and the past
starting making itself at home in her present thoughts...
******************************
***2001***
Brooke and Sam stuck closely together as they walked into their new
school. The first thing she decided to hate about it was the
uniforms. She hated not being able to be the individual she was,
even if that meant wearing the most popular cloths everyone else was
wearing. The second thing she decided to hate were the teachers
milling in the halls. They made Bio Glass look like Mary
Poppins...which was just a scary visiual to begin with.
"Miss McPhearson and Miss McQueen?" A young man asked as they were
looking around. Mutely they nodded their heads. "Hi, I'm Micheal,
the tour guide." He gave them a smile that said he SO didn't want to
be tour guide, but had to be. They returned with smiles that said
they didn't want to be there, and so the day started. Brooke
silently wished for Nicole to set what ever plan she had into motion
so that she could get out of there.
*******************************
***2011***
Sam sat staring at her computer. It wasn't the first time she was
stuck in the thought process. Somtimes ideas flowed freely, others,
like now, they didn't. She typed a few lines onto the blank screen,
and then hit the backspace key rapidly, erasing all the letters
strung together. "How's it going?" Sam asked from just behind her
wife. Faith leaned down and wrapped her arms around Sam's shoulders,
and planted a little kiss on her temple. Taking the blank screen se
knew just how well ideas were coming for her lover.
"Usually this is so easy, but right now...nothing. Sucks." Hitting
the X at the top right of her screen Sam closed the window. She knew
that her editor wouldn't be happy if she didn't get the article in
soon, but right now she couldn't care less.
"Want me to tell ya what I do when I get a creative block while
working on somthin?" Faith asked as she nuzzled Sam's neck.
"Sure." Sam answered.
"This." Faith answered as she slipped her hand under Sam's shirt and
started lifting it.
"Mommy?" A little voice rang out. Faith sighed, and turned facing
her daughter, along with Sam.
"Yeah squirt?" Sam asked taking in the picture before her. Tori was
in her little footie pajamas that she loved so much, holding up her
sippy cup.
"More juice? Peas." Just for effect Tori wiggled the outstretched
cup, using the cutest darn look she could muster.
Sam walked over and picked up he daughter, throwing the giggling
bundle into the air before holding her close. "Juice huh? Apple or
grape?"
"Gape." Tori answered laying her head on Sam's chest. Faith watched
the two go saddly. She couldn't help but remember the days when she
had Sam couldn't keep their hands off each other. But lately, they
hadn't even made love...hell, hadn't even had sex in over a week. It
was starting to get to her. She couldn't think of a thing she had
done wrong. Yeah, she knew that Sam was having issues with the past,
but she had never shut her out before, and that was exactly what Sam
seemed to be doing now. Faith sat down heavily in Sam's chair and
glanced at the computer. She noticed a box in the task bar still
open, so clicking on it to close it she only barely registered the
words. Before she could click the X she looked closer at what she
hoped wasn't what she really saw. She knew reading somthing of her
wifes that she wasn't asked to read could mean bad news. But then
agian, she didn't often find things addressed "Dear Lauren" either.
She knew, just knew as she read that Sam couldn't be having an
affair. But the more she read, the more that knowledge was lost on
her...
*******************
"Hey still with me?" Buffy asked when she noticed she wasn't having
the desired effect on her wife that she normally did.
Tears formed in Brooke's eyes, she closed them breifly before
answering, "I can't stop remembering Buffy...I don't want to
remember...I don't want him to be sick...and I really, REALLY don't
want to care..."
"But you do." Buffy answered for Brooke.
"Yeah." Brooke replied softy as she reopened her eyes and focused in
on Buffy. Buffy sat up and pulled Brooke to her so that she was
cradling the other woman.
"I love you, you know that right?" A nod was her affirmitive
answer. "Maybe...maybe we should go back...just for a little
while." Buffy suggested, hoping she wasn't about to get her head
chewed off.
A few more tears fell from Brooke's eyes, "I think...I think that
maybe wer should too...if nothing else, to see Mac."
"Ok, leave it to me baby, I'll set everything up, ok?"
"Can we stay in a nice hotel?" Brooke asked through her sniffles.
"Yeah, we can stay anywhere you like." Buffy responded, then kissed
Brooke's nose.
"Can we ask Sam to come too? She needs to deal too."
"I'll talk to Faith, have her bring it up, ok?"
"Good." Brooke leaned over and kissed Buffy again, but this time
nothing got in the way of their passion for each other.
******************************
***2001***
"Are you sure that's all that needs to be done?" Nicole asked Willow
over the phone.
"I have all the false records they'll need, I sent them to the
address you gave me, now all you have to do is tell them about it."
Willow responed, quite obviously proud of herself.
"Great, thanks for the help Geek." Nicole said before she hung up.
Right, all she had to do now was tell Brookie, and even Spam, that
she had their records altered so that they were not only older, but
that their parents weren't even their gaudians. That should go over
real well...
********************************
***Sarah's POV***
***2031***
"It's funny...telling a story about before you were born...ok so I
was there when Mike got sick, but I was what, like three. Doesn't
count. Have I mentioned that all I know is second hand. Mostly Aunt
Faith and Momma telling the story, they're the only ones who will
talk about that time. Which makes sense, it was Mom's dad who was
sick, and Aunt Sam was going through more than probably even Aunt
Faith knows about at the time. And the rest of them weren't on the
front line...well maybe Aunt Nicole once they got back to L.A...but
that's info for later..."
***Sarah's POV***
***2031***
"I got the place all decorated now. It's all me. Everywhere you
look you can see my personality. I'm not sure whether that's a good
or a bad thing yet...but it's home. My home. All mine. A place
where I'm safe...not saying that I'm not safe other places, I mean
hell, one of my moms is a slayer, I'm about as safe as you can get!
But in my place, I'm safe to be me. No expectations, nothing to live
up to...just me. Does that make sense? I'm not thinking clearly
today for some reason. Doc says that's normal though...I don't like
feelin' right. Scares me. But I guess you hear that a lot, your
line of work and all...
"I'm rambling aren't I? See, not me all, 'cause we all know I would
never ramble...ok that was a big fat lie of the biggest porportions!
*smile* *frown* I'm not sure I'm gonna make sometimes. Real safe I
am... It doesn't scare me as much as it use to though...death I
mean. Use to terrify me when I was little. I saw death every day
almost. Living dead. Cold. Feelingless. Scary. But now, when I
feel as though I'm on death's doorstep, it's not so scary...more of
an escape...a release. I want that. The release...the oblivion.
But I know, just know they wouldn't let me go. Never. That's
scary...
"Well I'm thoroughly depressed now...aren't these damn sessions
suppossed to help that not 'cause it?! Well screw this...I'm
leaving!"
*****************************************
***Sarah's POV***
***2031***
"Hi...last week...I was being childish, I realize that. Realized it
at the time I think... It was just...so much was coming down on me
at once...I'm known for not being able to deal with things. If it
could be put into one word it'd be my middle name...other-wise it'd
be to long and just not....dear god I've started babbling like Aunt
Willow. *shiver* I want to talk this week though...no more
running. I'm to tired to run. To tired to much of anything these
days. But still not ready to do the big talking...I'll just tell
more the my story...then maybe...maybe...the story. It's been so
long, where was I? Oh yeah, Aunt Nicole and Aunt Willow just...
*****************************************
***2001***
"I'll ignore that...so what do Sam and Brooke really think about all
this?" Willow asked nicely, although she was slightly bristling at
being called a geek, again.
"Well I haven't actually told them the plan yet, just that I had a
plan..." Nicole trailed off as Willow started shouting over the
phoneline. She had to hold the reciever further away from her ear
just to keep her hearing.
"You haven't even thought to tell them about all of this yet?! Are
you insane?! Nevermind I already know the answer to that question!
You ARE!" Willow shouted angerily. She had just altered everything
about the two girls, and they didn't even know she had done it. What
if something happened, if they got hurt, their parents would never
find out. Shame washed over her, the shame turned quickly to anger
though, and that anger was directly over the phone line at Nicole.
"Calm down. They'll thank me for this. Well at least I think
Brookie will. I hope." Nicole had definitly lost the confidance
that usually made up her persona. She would never admit it, but she
was scared. And scared was not an emotion she did well, nope, not
well at all!
"I'm hanging up now." Willow said exasperated, and she did just
that. She put the phone down and crawled to the other side of the
bed where Tara was reading a magic book. Curling up next to her
girlfriend Willow put her head on Tara's chest and listened to her
heartbeat. Letting the soothing sound calm her, as it always did.
Tara put the book down and put her arms around her lover, holding her
close. Kissing the crown of her love's head Tara pulled the blankets
up and turned off the light. Snuggling together they fell asleep.
******
After Willow hung up on her Nicole put the phone down. Somewhere in
her head she knew what they had done without permission was wrong.
But the bigger part of her just cared that she wasn't going to loose
her best friend...or Spam. Who would she verbally spar with then?
Resigning herself to the talk that was ahead of her the next day
Nicole got up and headed off to bed. She still needed her beauty
sleep after all.
******************************************
***2011***
Sam walked in her and Faith's room after putting Tori to bed. It had
been a long day. She could tell Faith was mad at her, she just
assumed it was because they hadn't been able to fool around earlier
when Faith had wanted to. It wasn't her fault though! Tori was
awake, and around getting into things as usual. And what was she to
do, deny her daughter juice 'cause her wife wanted to play naughty?
Ok, so there was a time when she would have just put Tori down for an
early nap and ravished her wife's body. When they were younger.
When love was newer. And their daughter was younger. But that
couldn't last forever...could it?
Faith seethed as she watched her wife move around their room getting
ready for bed. There was a time when neither would even bother to
put sleeping cloths on. And now Sam was wearing long sleeves and
pants. When Sam crawled into bed Faith leaned over and kissed Sam
soundly. Moving her hand under the offending shirt Sam's hand
stopped her. "What?!" Faith asked as Sam directed her straying hand
off her stomach and out of her shirt.
"Nothing Faith, I'm just tired." Sam rolled over and closed her eyes.
"Yeah, you been real tired lately." Faith said in a sad defeated
voice. She was loosing her wife and she didn't even know why.
Something in Faith's voice made Sam roll over and look at her. Faith
had the begining of tears in her eyes as she got out of bed and
started putting slaying cloths on. "Where are you going?" Sam asked
softy.
"I feel the need to beat the shit out of something right now." Faith
said headed towards the door.
"Well...when will you be back?" Sam asked, her own anger rising
since she didn't know why Faith was so mad.
With an unusual slump in her shoulders Faith pulled a piece of paper
out of her pocket, threw it to Sam, and walked out of the room, not
answering Sam's question. Sam watched her wife go. She had a sudden
sinking feeling, like she was loosing something. She opened the
tightly folded peice of paper and looked at her latest journal entry
that started just as all the others had, "Dear Lauren,"
Scrunching her brow trying to figure out just what she had writen in
her journal that made Faith seem...defeated... "Oh god she doesn't
think?!" Jumping out of bed Sam called Willow and Tara hoping they
could watch Tori, she had to find her wife before she went off and
did something stupid. "That's what you get for naming your journal
dumbass!"
******************************************
***2011***
Buffy draged herself out of bed to answered the insidious knocking at
the door. If it wasn't for her slayer hearing she wouldn't even had
known it was there. Which would explain why Brooke was still
sleeping soundly, now clutching her pillow since she was no longer
there. Buffy grumbled all the way down the stairs and opened the
door to a sight she had never seen before, a teary-eyed Faith. "Oh
god, what happened?!" Buffy asked immediatly, wondering if somthing
had happened to Sam or Tori, or both.
"I've lost her." Faith said, her voice cracking on the few simple
words.
Buffy thought the worst, "oh my god Faith, what happened,
who...how?" Buffy asked while leading Faith inside.
"Some chick named Lauren." Faith asnwered scornfully.
Ok, now Buffy was confussed, "Lauren, is that some demon? Who did it
hurt, Sam? Tori?"
Faith tilted her head and regaurded Buffy for a second before it
clicked in her mind what Buffy must have thought. "No one hurt
them. Lauren is some woman who Sam is seeing behind my back...I
found a letter...the things she said to her...told her, about
us...about everthing...I've lost her Buffy." Faith completely broke
down into tears and welcomed the comfort the other slayer's arms
provided her.
Buffy held the sobbing slayer in her arms, gently rocking them back
and forth, whispering comforting non-sense to her. After a while
Faith finally calmed down enough to talk again. "Ok, tell me what
happened, all of it." Buffy demanded gently.
"I think it started..."
****************************************
***Sarah's POV***
***2031***
"Sad huh? Aunt Faith thinking she had lost Aunt Sam, and all 'cause
of some journal entry. Just goes to show you shouldn't jump to
conclusions. I think that's what I did, before, with Crystal. I
should have learned from the mistakes in the story huh? After all
that's probably why they told me about everything. So I wouldn't
make the same ones. But it wasn't really the same, but it was. Then
again why would they think I was going to repeat them, when they told
me they thought I was dying...still think so...
"I changed my mind you know. Death scares me agian. I don't want to
die, who does? I don't want to live either though. I think I'm
scared of both...got a pill for that doc? No, didn't think so. Too
bad, could make millions off of it.... Jumping conclusions, bad, did
I say that already? Yeah I know I did, just making sure you're
paying attention, good job. Must be tough, listening to people tell
you their problems all day long. Freaks like me. Ok, not like me,
they probably have more normal problems. But, take out the demons,
and I guess my problems are just as normal as any others.
"There's that word again, normal. Evil word. Made up by those who
wanted to lead the world. Lead sheep. Have to be normal. Have to
conform. Have to follow me. Don't want to be normal. Can't...I
think it's time for me to go. I'm depressing myself again. Plus I
have another appointment to get to. Doctor Waters wants to see me
again today, somthing about the results for the tests they did.
Luck? Thanks, I'll need it..."
***Sarah's POV***
***2031***
"Hi...I'm fine, you? That's good. Glad to hear it.
The appointment with Doc Waters? Bad. Didn't go as I
would have hoped. Wasn't as bad as it could be I
suppose. But...bad. I'm not dying...not living yet
either. Is that even possible. Vamps. It's
possible. But I'm not one of them. I'm human.
Alive. Do you ever feel like your under water? Like
the world is closing in on you and all you can do is
doggy-paddle away, but that doesn't do any good?
Could be just me... The tests were possitive...the
cancer is back. Not dying...not living...barely
being. To be or not to be, it's not even up to me any
more...or it is, I don't know.
"I told Crystal, went straight to her after the
appointment. She cried...I hate making her cry. It
hurts inside. Me. Hurts inside me, making her
cry...but I seem to do it so often. Don't want to. I
told Toni, and all my aunts and uncles. Mom and
Momma. Most cried. Even the uncles. They don't want
me to die...I can't figure out why. I'm no good to
any of them, proved that more than once. And yet,
they cried.
"Is it bad...does it make me a bad person to say that
I'm glad they cried, glad they don't want me
dead...glad they want me. I don't want to be a bad
person. I push them away, figure it will be easier
that way...but still, they cried, and I'm glad...and
it hurts, inside, because I made them cry. I am a
horrible person....
"Well, without thinking about it I've actually talked
to you, first time eh doc? Well here's where that
ends, and the story continues...wouldn't want to leave
you haning any longer on what happens...it's big stuff
at that. Ok let me think, when I left last time I was
telling you about how Aunt Faith thought that Aunt Sam
had cheated on her and was talking to Momma about
it....
*******************************
***2011***
Buffy had finally gotten Faith to calm down and tell
her all that had happened. She couldn't believe that
Sam would ever cheat on Faith. They were just to much
in love, weren't they? After calming Faith down she
sent her home to talk to her wife. Faith had to know
for sure that Sam had done what she thought Sam had
done, or nothing would ever be solved, finished.
Faith had sulkily walked out of her house, hopfully on
the way back to her own. Now she had to go wake up
her own wife so that they could pick up Tori.
Wouldn't want the poor kid to wake up to her parents
fighting. She knew all to well how much that hurt.
Buffy walked into her and Brooke's room. Brooke was
curled up on the bed with her pillow in her arms. A
poor substitute for her, but in a pinch... "Brooke,
honey, wake up."
"Mmmm...sleepy...must sleep..." Brooke mummbled out,
burrowing further into the bed.
"Brooke, baby, somthing's happened." Buffy said
gently while shaking Brooke some.
Brooke shot up, wide awake. "Sarah?!"
"Is asleep in her bed." Buffy answered, then she
answered the question Brooke asked with just her eyes.
"Faith came over tonight...she thinks Sam cheated on
her...I was thinking we could pick up Tori so she
wouldn't have to be there for the blow up...if there
is one."
"Sam cheated on Faith...but...why? Oh god, poor
Tori...poor Faith..." Buffy kissed her wife tenderlly
on the lips to prevent her from going on a 'poor
world' tirade. "Ok, I'll get Sarah." Buffy nodded
and got to get dressed.
*********
Faith looked up at her house. The home she had built
with Sam. And Tori. Faith walked into the quite
house. she looked at her bedroom door. Her's and
Sam's. But decided to check on her little daughter
first. Walking into Tori's room she turned on the
night light. That's when she noticed that her
daughter wasn't in bed where she belonged. Pushing
down the panic she felt rising like a tide within her
she rushed to her room. Praying that Tori had gotten
up and crawled into bed with Sam, as she ofter did
with them.
Practically flying into her room she saw it to was
empty. At first Faith thought of a demon, taking it's
revenge on her family. But then she noticed Sam's
dicarded night cloths. Sam had gotten dressed before
she left. Left. With Tori. They had left her. Left
her for someone else, she was now, truely alone.
Faith fell to her knees on the floor and let loose a
blood curdling scream filled with all the pain she had
inside of her, and it was a lot at this point.
****************************
***2001***
Nicole sat Brooke, Spam, Buffy, and Faith down on her
couch. All but Brooke looked uncomfortable being
there. This was Satan after all. The one who had
promised revenge on all of them, except for Brookie of
course. In fact Faith was surprised that a vengence
demon hadn't shown up on her doorstep to hurt her yet.
It was only a matter of time though. "Now I'm not
one for small talk to I'll cut to the chase." Nicole
began, when she noted she had all of their attention
she continued. "Me and the Geek did something..."
"Woah...Geek?" Faith cut her off.
"Red." Nicole answered as if it didn't matter, she
was a geek after all.
"Willow? Why would you and Willow do
anything...together?" Buffy asked with the confussed
puppy-dog look that Brooke loved so much.
"To keep Brookie at Kennedy...Spam and Fleather too."
Faith's eyes narrowed at Nicole. The look had made
Vamps and demons flee, but Nicole just gave as good as
she got back. Faith would have said something about
how she only wore real leather, and add a nifty snippy
comment in, but Sam's hand on her thigh made all
thought of such comments flee her mind. In fact, most
thoughts in her mind fled, thoughts else where
however. Faith gave Sam a sultry look then focused
back on Satan.
"Anyway as I was saying before I was so rudely
interuped, me and the geek did something to your
records."
Sam raised an eyebrow, somehow she knew that by the
end of this conversation it was going to be needing to
be held back, not Faith. "Our records? What. Did.
You. Do?"
"The Geek changed them so that you would be old enough
to chose things for yourself, like your school. So
Brookie can come back as Queen of Kennedy." Nicole
gave herself a satisfied smirk. She had done good.
Brooke was the first one to fly out of her chair.
"WHAT?!"
"You can't alter our lives like that!" Sam wasn't far
behind Brooke. Faith and Buffy just sat back. They
both had experience with their lives being altered,
due to the Council interfereing with their lives, on
WAY to many occations. They were, however, ready to
restain their girlfriends from killing Satan, if it
came to that.
"But...but...this is good right. I mean you're 18
now! Or so the records say, you can choose where you
go to school, where you live...this is good, right?"
Both Sam and Brooke sat back down. They were both
pissed beyond belief, but they were starting to see
the upside. If they could choose all this stuff, then
their parents couldn't keep them from their
lovers...right?
"You shouldn't have played with our lives like that
Nicole." Sam said with ice in her voice. "But thank
you." It was tearing her up inside, having to say
thank you to her mortal enemy. It would be like Faith
or Buffy thanking a vampire for sucking someone's
blood. It was just wrong on all levels.
"No problem Spam." Nicole stated back in the same icy
voice. Although she was glad that Spam was trying to
kill her. That was a good sign.
"If you ever do anything like this again..." Brooke
left the threat hanging. Nicole got the hint though.
"So does Kennedy have it's rightful Queen back?"
Nicole asked hopfully. Brooke just smile, grabbed
Buffy's hand, and let the way out of Nicole's house.
*********************************
***2011***
Buffy and Brooke just walked into Sam and Faith's
house. They never bothered knocking, they were
family. What they saw broke both their hearts. Faith
was sitting on one of the bottom steps of the stair
case, just staring off into space. They weren't even
sure that she knew they were there now. "Faith?"
Brooke asked quietly.
"They're gone. Sam...Tori...gone when I got here...no
note...just...gone." Faith said brokenly. What
little life was left in her eyes when they had entered
drained away with her verbal admission of what she had
found upon entering her home...no, it wasn't a home
anymore...it was merely a house. A shell of what it
had been formerly. It was nothing now. Empty, like
her.
"Oh god." Buffy said quietly, not beliveing what was
happening to her friend, her best friend, her sister.
Brooke sat on one side of Faith, while Buffy sat on
the other, blocking her in the circle of their arms.
Trying to comfort their sister as much as they could.
Neither could even think what they would do if they
lost the other or their daughter. And all for some
other woman. It wasn't fair. Faith had been through
so much in her life, she was happy, and now that short
lived happiness was taken from her. Making her colder
than she was even after she had accidently killed
Finch.
Faith sobbed into Buffy's shoulder as she leaned on
her sister slayer. Never before had she shown anyone
she could be this weak. Anyone but Sam. And now she
was sobbing before Buffy AND Brooke. The world could
be a funny place sometimes. A heart wrechingly funny
place.
Buffy and Brooke just held the slayer until her
sobbing subsided, and all was quiet. To quiet for a
place that had held such joyful noise such a short
time ago. Quiet before the storm...
****************************
***Sara's POV***
***2031***
"I'd like to be able to say that I've never known how
Aunt Faith felt that night. When she thought she had
lost everything that meant anything to her, but I
can't. I know exactly how it feels. Wish I didn't.
Wish no one did. But wishing never got anyone
anywhere did it? Well except...I wish one day I'd be
real...worked for the puppet, maybe it'd work for me.
"Does that make any sense. You know, I think I'm just
going to stop asking that. It's a stupid question.
My third grade teacher told me there was never a
stupid question...I think she was wrong. There are
stupid questions. Are you ok? How do you feel? How
would anyone fucking feel after they lost their
world...LIKE SHIT!
"Sorry...I shouldn't be yelling at you. It's just...I
have no way...no way to let it all out. I can't let
them see it. They need me to be strong...always so
strong. But I'm not. Inside. I'm weak, and I'm
crying, and lost, and scared...I don't feel so safe
now."
***2031***
***Sara's POV***
"Fate. Fate is a funny thing really. Not funny as in haha
necessarily. But funny as in...well maybe it's not so funny after
all. Who am I to know? Who is anyone to know? Guess. That's all
we can do. Some deity out there has written down what is to be and
we just lay back and let it happen. Whether we want to or not.
Whether we want to be born...die...live...it's not up to us. We just
walk through. Try and pay attention to what happens. Try to stop
and smell the roses. But...do we? Do we really try? Do we care
anymore?
"I don't think I do. No...I know I don't. Life be damned. I didn't
ask for this. Why should I care what I'm getting. What I've got?
Why? But that's the real question isn't it? Why? Why this? Why
that? Why not? All ends...starts...contains...why? Why life? Why
death? Why love? Why love?...Why?"
****************************
***2001***
Sam, and Brooke walked into Kennedy High. It was their first day
back since Brooke's dad had sent them off to private school.
Suddenly two strong arms wrapped around Sam's waist. "Hey
gorgeous." Faith whispered into Sam's ear.
"Hey yourself." Sam responded as she leaned back and tilted her head
up to kiss her girlfriend.
Brooke rolled her eyes and said playfully, "oh get a room already!"
Faith gave Brooke a mischievious look, "ah, poor B2, B1 not giving
you any?" Brooke narrowed her eyes at Faith and was about to say
something that no doubt would have been scathing, but Faith was saved
by the tardy bell. "Well off to class we go." Faith said with a
cheery smile, then dragged a laughing Sammy away.
"That was mean Faith." Sam said when they were out of earshot of the
irate blonde.
"I know, but I also know B1 is planning on saying something big
tonight, don't know what, B wouldn't tell me, but I'm sure her little
problem will have been taken care of." Faith said with a grin.
Buffy indeed had something big planned for Buffy, real big.
Sam gave a whistful sigh, "so what are we doing then?"
"You're not jealous of the B's are you?" No answer. "Well since
you're going to be that way, I'll ruin you're surprise...we're have a
moonlit picnic tonight, but don't get to excited, it's in my
backyard."
"Sounds romantic." Sam said as they sat down for another of Bio
Glass' painful classes.
"Alright scum..."
********************************
***2011***
Dejectedly Sam walked back into Tara and Willow's house. Willow was
with her, her hand on Sam's back rubbing in small circles to help
comfort the woman. "Any luck?" Tara asked from the couch where both
Tori and Crystal had taken up residence with her.
"No." Willow answered for Sam. Sam just walked in, picked up her
daughter, and held her. "We tried Brooke and Buffy's house, no one
was there..."
"Mommy, where's momma?" Tori asked in a sleepy, little voice. Sam
didn't answer, just held her daughter tighter to her.
Willow motioned for Tara to follow her into the other room, which her
wife did. "Maybe we could try a tracking spell?"
"Already have all the stuff together in the kitchen." Tara answered,
she pulled her lover to her and gave her a feirce hug. Both praying
to the goddess that it was never them who had to go through what Sam
and Faith were going through. When the hug ended Willow went into
the kitchen to do the spell.
*******************************************
***2001***
"Dinner is served mylady....well it's only sandwhiches...but, it's
served....or somethin' like that." Faith said as she sat down her
bounty of sandwhiches and kool-aid.
Sam leaned over and kissed Faith. "It's perfect...and hey red kool-
aid is my fav." They ate their meal togher in comfortable silence.
Just enjoying each other's presence till their little meal was done.
When they had finished eating Faith pushed the plates and glasses to
the side and laid down. Sam laid down with her, her head pillowed on
Faith's chest. After a few more of silence Sam asked, "do you think
we'll always be like this, together?"
"God I hope so...I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you." Faith
said sincerely as she tilted her head down to kiss the top of Sam's
head. Sam in turn snuggled closer to her lover.
***********
"So what are we doing tonight?" Brooke asked as she sat on the chair
in Buffy's room. Buffy walked over to her lover and kneeled in front
of her. Taking both hands into her own she kissed each before
looking up into the most beautiful eyes she had ever seen.
"There's something I have to tell you...something you're not going to
like..."
******************************************
***2011***
Buffy walked out of Faith and Sam's room. After Faith had cried
herself to sleep in their arms Buffy had carried her sister slayer up
stairs, Brooke right behind them. "She's sleeping now...tossing and
turning, but sleeping nonetheless."
"Poor thing...I'm gonna kill Sam when we find her." Brooke said,
hating her step-sister at the moment for what she was doing to
Faith. And hating her even more from taking Tori from Faith, Tori
and Sam were Faith's world, and Sam had effectively killed that world.
"If we find her." Buffy said sadly, "we have no idea where to look
for her, where this other woman is."
"As much as I hate magic and all that, couldn't Willow and Tara do
something." Brooke suggested
"Probably...you should call Xander and Anya and tell them that Sarah
will be staying rest of the night with them, I'm sure they're
worried...and I'll go see Will and Tara see what they can do." Buffy
gave Brooke a light kiss on the lips and went out to her car. She
hoped her oldest friend would be able to come up with some sort of
spell.
***********
"This can't be right." Willow said looking at the map of
Sunnydale. "She can't just be at their house...that would be too
easy" Willow smacked herself in the head. "Of course, why didn't we
think of that before, of course she'd go back there." Willow went
back into the living room, which was in much the same state as it was
before, except Tara had put Tori and Crystal to be, so only she and
Sam were sitting in the room.
"And?" Tara asked as she saw Willow walk in.
"I'm pretty sure she's at your house Sam." There was a knock at the
door and Willow went to go anwer it. "Buffy, hi?"
Buffy was a little surprised to Willow up at such a late hour, but
didn't pay much attention to it. "I need you to do a spell to find
Sam, she took of with Tori somewhere, and it's killing Faith..she
thinks Sam's cheating on her."
"Buffy she's in the living room, Tori's here too, and Sam never
cheated on Faith, it's all just one great, big, stupid
misunderstanding."
*****************************************
***2031***
"Everything's a misunderstanding doc. You blink, you miss something,
and things blow up. That's the way the world wo..."
"Sarah? Sarah?! NURSE!" The doctor shouted as she started checking
her fallen patient's stats.