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Chapter 1

Xander watched Buffy walk away and frowned. He knew there was more to the story with Faith, but Buffy had a habit of assuming the worst – especially when she was kept out of the loop.  

Willow was still talking on the phone with Giles; what little he could overhear, Giles needed a spell to break down the protection wards surrounding some rogue slayer’s estate. He slipped out of the room before Willow finished with her conversation, heading in the opposite direction to Buffy.  

If all went well, he could escape to his room, pack, and leave the grounds of the Scottish castle without anyone being the wiser.  

He’d read between the lines, and figured Giles was having Faith do something that Buffy would neither approve of… nor condone. The only problem with that plan was the indelible mark it would leave on Faith’s soul.

A soul that had already taken hits in the past.  

In his room, Xander threw several days’ worth of clothes in a duffle bag along with a few weapons. He wasn’t fool enough to think that he wasn’t going to become a target once he left Slayer central behind.  

Didn’t mean he wasn’t going though.  

He stepped out of his bedroom, his bag slung over his shoulder, and pulled the door closed behind him. His steps were purposeful as he strode down the carpeted hallway on his way to the servant’s staircase, stealth being the uppermost thought in his mind. He didn’t want to explain his actions to his friends or any of the others.  

Something was telling him to get to London… and now. Hellmouth instincts that he’d done well to listen to in the past.  

So he was going.  

What he’d not counted on was a seemingly all-knowing, all-powerful, nosey witch of a friend.  

“Willow! Hey!” he stammered out upon spying her in the kitchen.  

“Going somewhere?” she asked, eyebrow raised as she took in his duffle.  

“Yeah…” 

“Oh?” 

“Something I gotta check out. Shouldn’t be gone more than a couple of days.”  

He hoped.  

“Does Buffy know… I mean… that you’re going? What happens if a mission comes up? Who’s gonna man the command center? You’re her watcher now—”

“Oh please. Any one of the girls working the ‘Sit Room’ is more than capable of handling things in my absence. Truth be told…” His voice trailed off. He didn’t want to get into it with his friend. “Never mind. Look… I’ll be back in a few days. If not, I’ll call… alright?” 

“Xander…” 

His expression hardened at her slightly whiney tone. He crossed his arms over his chest and gave her his best impression of the famed “resolve face.” 

“Fine!” she pouted after several tense minutes passed. Precious minutes that he thought at any time would bring the Slayer into the mix.  

Which was to be avoided at all costs.  

“See ya,” he tossed over his shoulder as he turned and let himself out of the side door of the kitchen. Long strides took him quickly along the stone path that ended at the garage and his means of escape.  

He didn’t breathe a sigh of relief until he’d passed the waist-high stone fence that marked the magical borders protecting their stronghold. He opened up the throttle and the bike tore down the dirt lane, kicking up a dust cloud in his wake.  

~*~*~*~*~ 

“Then I guess we’re on our own, huh?” Faith commented, laying a hand on her watcher’s shoulder. 

“It would appear so,” Giles agreed. 

The doorbell rang and two sets of startled eyes swung in the direction of the front door. Neither was expecting company. But then, they probably hadn’t made friends when they’d killed off Roden.  

Faith pulled out a dagger; from where, Giles didn’t know. He motioned her to wait as he moved towards the door. It was daylight, and his house had all sorts of protection spells around it. Evil would be hard pressed to attack him in his own home.  

Still, he’d not reached the age he had without some degree of caution.  

“Who is it?” he called out through the closed door.  

“It’s Xander, G-man. Open up, would ya?” 

“Xander?” he questioned, even as he freed the lock and pulled the door open. “What are you doing here? That is to say… um…” He flushed slightly at asking so rude a question. Thankfully, Xander didn’t appear to have noticed his gaff.   

“Thanks,” Xander muttered, settling his bag more securely on his shoulder as he stepped over the threshold. “You got some place I can store this? Hey, Faith,” he added, spying the Slayer standing near the stairs. 

“Xander. What are you doing here?” she asked bluntly.  

“Nice to see you too. It’s been awhile. You’re looking good.” 

“Back at’cha.” 

Faith gave him a thorough once-over, and Xander stiffened at her frank appraisal. As Faith looked her fill, he silently congratulated himself for every single workout he’d endured to lose what he secretly referred to as the pre-wedding jitters weight he’d gained and been unable to shed until recently. 

“So… Xander,” Giles interrupted, and Xander tore his gaze away from Faith to meet Giles’ questioning look.  

“What? Can’t an old friend drop in for a visit? Should I have called first… maybe scheduled an appointment?” 

“You know you’re always welcome here, Xander.” 

Xander barely managed to suppress the smile that threatened at Giles’ pissy tone. “Wasn’t quite sure there for a moment,” he teased. Then grew serious as he added, “Far be it for me to interrupt whatever you two have got going on.” 

“We don’t—” 

“We’re not—” 

Faith and Giles protested at the same time. Both sounded equally guilty, and he knew he’d been right. 

“Uh huh. Look, Giles, we need to talk.” Alone, he didn’t add. 

“Well, I can take a hint,” Faith announced. 

“Faith, you don’t have to leave,” Giles told her. 

“Nah… it’s cool. Was headed out for a bit anyway… if that’s alright?” She sauntered to the front door without waiting for an answer. At the door, she tossed her hair over her shoulder and stared at Xander. “You hangin’ around for a bit, Xander? If so, we can catch up when I get back.” 

Xander swallowed as she winked at him. Another toss of her head, and she was gone, the door closing softly behind her. He was still staring at the closed door when he demanded Giles tell him what the hell was going on with him having Faith kill a fellow slayer. 

“Don’t you think she’s got enough to handle with her past being what it was?” He turned around and pinned Giles with a look. “Having her do your dirty work is going to send her right back over the edge,” Xander yelled. “Is that what you want?” 

“Xander…” 

“No! It’s not fair, dammit! She was paying for her crimes, trying to do the right thing by turning herself in. It wasn’t her fault Angelus lost his soul and Wesley had to spring her from jail, making her a fugitive from the law. She fixed things in L.A., then she came to Sunnydale and helped us fix things there too. Now you’re turning her into a cold-blooded killer again. Having her do the jobs the other girls are apparently too good for.” 

“It’s not that simple, Xander.” Giles sighed and removed his glasses. Gestured with his hand for Xander to follow him into his study. 

“Drink?” 

Xander thought about refusing, but at the weary expression on Giles’ face, thought he might need it. 

“Yeah. Sure.” 

They settled back in their seats, Giles behind his desk. Xander gulped his drink in one, and immediately wished he hadn’t. His eyes watered, and his throat felt like he’d swallowed liquid fire. He coughed and gasped, pounded his chest a few times in an attempt to ease the pain. 

“You’re supposed to sip it, Xander,” Giles drolled. 

“Don’t change the subject,” Xander gasped. 

“Fine. If you must know, Lady Genevieve, was a one-time thing. I was giving Faith an out once she completed her assignment. New passport, new identity, new country. She turned me down. Right before you showed up, as a matter of fact.” 

“What?” 

“Like she said, there are going to be other Genevieves out there.” 

“And you’re just going to let her kill them?” 

“On the contrary. Faith thinks she might actually be able to help them. Bring a few back from the dark side, if you will.” 

Xander sat up in his chair and leaned forward. “I want to help.” 

“Xander, I don’t think—” 

“I’m not asking, Giles. Faith’s not going to be able to save them all, and she’s gonna need someone besides you telling her that she’s not bad. That no one thinks less of her for doing what she has to do to keep the world safe. I’m staying, and that’s final.” 

“What about Buffy?” 

“What about her?” 

“She’s already not speaking to me. If she finds out you’re with us, there’s going to be hell to pay.” 

“Buffy’s one of my best friends, and I love her. But she has this habit of seeing things through rose-colored glasses. Sometimes you have to get your hands dirty. Sometimes you gotta— sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.” He stared hard at Giles. “I know you were the one that killed Ben. Buffy couldn’t do it, even after everything that happened. Yet, you didn’t hesitate.” 

“It’s not something I’m proud of, Xander.” 

“I’m not saying you should be. Just that… I understand. And it doesn’t make me love you any less. You’re still the father I never had. Nothing will change that. Faith needs to know that, whatever happens, we… me and you… still care about her. That she’s still one of the team. One of us.” 

“Very well.”

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