Title: Come To Play
Author: Starla
Email: starla@buffymail.com
Disclaimer: These Characters belong to Joss Whedon, except Gorlock, Alana, Adrian Townsend, and anyone else you don't recognize.
Distribution: Take it, but let me know. If you have any of my other fics, go ahead.
Author's Notes: It *will* be B/A I promise. I realise this part is a little depressing. Sorry. Season 4 did happen, Fish Boy did date Buffy, Angel went to LA, etc.
Spoilers: I dunno. Anything is possible, be warned.
Summary: 150 years after the Scooby Gang die, they return to Earth to help out the current Slayer and her Slayerettes.

Part 17


Alana rested her chin in her hands and tried to focus on the teacher droning on at the front of the classroom. She blinked, cursing herself for not sleeping the night before.

Finally, she couldn't stand it anymore, and she fell into a light sleep.

She looked around the classroom, at the colours that seemed much hazier, much paler than usual. She looked down at herself, surprised to see that the red of her silk shirt was still vivid and clear.

She leaned over to talk to Kressa, who was doodling slowly on the pad in front of her.

"What's going on?" She whispered into her ear, but Kressa didn't even acknowledge that she had spoken. "Kressa?"

"She can't hear you." A cool, confident voice informed her. "No-one can hear you."

Alana's head snapped up to see Faith, leaning on the teacher's desk, arms crossed casually across her stomach.

"You can hear me." She replied after a moments pause.

Faith smiled. "I don't count." She looked around the classroom. "This place hasn't changed since B's day." Faith walked around the classroom, watching the faces of the students around her. She knelt in front of Andy Synemeyer's desk, positioning her face only millimetres from his, pulling faces, baring her teeth.

She saw Faith reach under the table, running her fingers up his thigh.

He didn't even flinch.

Alana's eyes widened. That was just disturbing.

Faith grinned. "See?"

She locked eyes with Alana, her smile growing cold. "I can do anything I want..." She ran her tongue up and down his cheek, biting on the flesh of his neck.

Andy didn't blink.

Faith stood up. "I could screw him silly right here and he wouldn't even notice."

"This is a dream." Alana muttered.

Faith smiled. "Bingo. You know you're a lot smarter than I gave you credit for."

Alana didn't reply.

"I was sorry to hear you and Angel broke up." Faith told her, sounding anything but. "Man...you must feel so inadequate."

"Not at all, actually."

"Really? Angel's quite the prize piece."

"True. Which explains why you went nuts when he didn't want you."

"I wasn't all that interested in Angel." Faith sneered.

"Still....he chose Buffy over you. He *rejected* you." Alana paused. "You have issues with rejection, don't you Faith?"

Faith glared at her. What was it with Alana and Buffy? Everytime she tried to have a little fun with them they went all psycho-analytic on her.

It was irritating.

"What's it to you?" She replied cooly.

"Answering a question with a question. A sure sign that I've struck a nerve."

Faith's eyes narrowed. "If you think so." Faith shrugged. "I just dropped by to tell you to be ready."

With that, Faith was gone.

"So you have to leave when this is over?" Angel asked, his voice cracking.

She looked up at him from beneath her lashes, and nodded.

"But..." He was at a loss for words. He'd known, subconsciously, that she couldn't stay there forever.

But when hit with the reality...

Just the thought of going back to life without her was unbearable.

< But we have to bear, right? No other choice.. >

"I'm sorry." She whispered, her eyes filling with tears. "I should've told you sooner, I just..."

He shook his head, pulling her into his embrace, crimson tears filling his own eyes.

"I love you." He murmured, running his hands down her back, memorizing the feel of her silky skin.

"I love you too." She replied, hitching in a breath. She pulled back, gazing into his eyes, wiping away the blood that marked his cheeks with her fingers, then resting her hand on his cheek. "I love you too."

He covered her hand with his own, leaning into her touch. She stretched up and kissed him softly, then wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her head against his chest.

"Once again we've been sucked into the black hole of despair." She whispered, burying her face in the hollow between his neck and shoulder.

He closed his eyes, holding her tight.

Trying to forget.




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