AUTHOR'S NOTE: This series was originally inspired by Ripe Wicked Plums'Buffy/Spike fic - Castaway.
Castaway can be found at -
http://dreamwater.net/dmarkedlove/castaway.html

*********************

Buffy shook her head as she entered the house. She needed to see him again. She had to tell him. She felt that she owed him that. Wiping her eyes, the little blonde went up to her room. *God, I miss Faith… so much…*

Collapsing on her bed, she grabbed her pillow and used it to muffle her sobs. It was her ‘before bed’ cry, not to be confused with her ‘first thing in the morning’ sob, or her ‘midday’ bawl. If only she new what had happened to Faith’s body, maybe, she could get Willow to try a resurrection spell. *But that would be wrong… but I don’t care… I just want my Faithy back…* Buffy wailed, burying her face further into the pillow. Eventually exhaustion would give her the peace of sleep.

……………………………..

Part 4 - Can’t Move On

"Buffy, come here. I have a surprise for you." Faith grabbed the blonde’s hand and led her onto the beach. Mr. Peepers stood outside in his grass skirt, and Elei sat next to him with a drum. "Go ahead, kid."

Elei softly tapped the drum while the tiny monkey stood up and did a little hula dance.

Buffy squealed with delight. "I can’t believe you taught him the hula." She rushed over and hugged Faith, raining kisses all over her face. "Do you know how much I love you both?!" Buffy asked, her eyes sparkling as Faith shrugged. "You silly! Of course I totally love you and Mr. Peepers.You two are my family now."

"Wake up, Faith!" There was a loud banging sound. Faith opened her eyes to see Smith peering into her cage. "Time to train."

…………………..

The little slayer awoke with a start. She had been dreaming that she was back on the island with Faith.

Slowly, she crawled from her bed and carried Faith’s jacket to her closet. Hanging the jacket every morning and taking it with her to bed every night had become part of her daily ritual.

The slayer froze when she sensed a presence behind her. Spinning around Buffy let out a sigh of relief. "Mom! You scared me."

"Sorry sweetie. I just came up to see if you wanted breakfast." Joyce leaned against the doorframe, watching her daughter with worry.

"No thank you. Not hungry. Besides, I was going to take Mr. Peepers to the park." Buffy headed toward the spare room to collect the little monkey.

"Oh, I didn’t know you had plans. I’ve let the girls take him to the Magic Shop." Mrs. Summers followed Buffy into the room and began straightening it.

"Ugh! I wish you hadn’t let them. If he breaks something I’ll never hear the end of it from Anya." The blonde rushed to her own room to get dressed.

"I’m sorry dear. But actually it was Anya that asked the girls to bring him over. Apparently she had some work for him." Joyce folded Mr. Peepers’ tiny pajamas.

"Work?! Mother, he’s a monkey!" Buffy became exasperated. "I need to borrow the car. I hope he hasn’t broke anything yet!" The little slayer quickly pulled on her jeans and headed out.

……………………

"This shelf, Mr. Peepers." Anya pointed to the top shelf as the tiny monkey clambered up the bookcase holding the book.

He looked back at her and when she nodded the monkey placed the book on the shelf then came down for another. They both turned at the sound of the bell.

"There you are. I hope you haven’t been bothering Anya too much." Buffy held out her arms and the little monkey made his way over, excited.

"No, not at all. Mr. Peepers was just helping out. I can’t exactly reach the top shelves on these bookcases so he was putting these books up for me. Oh, and not to worry. I intended on paying him." Anya smiled proudly.

"Thank you, but I don’t think a monkey has much use for cash." Buffy smirked as she noticed the cookie monster t-shirt and tiny overalls he was wearing.

"No, not cash. Xander is going to build him a jungle gym thingy or something. You’re mom asked him to do it so I thought he could just work it off."

Buffy chuckled as she held the little monkey up. "How does that sound to you? Do you want to work with Anya?"

Mr. Peepers nodded his head vigorously and gestured toward something behind the counter. Buffy turned to see what he was motioning at.

"Oh, he wants a cookie. That’s were I keep them." Anya explained as she went over to get the monkey a treat. "You know, I rather like having him. He’s very good company."

The little slayer turned and gave her a strange look.

"He’s not all judgmental like everyone else. I can say whatever I want with him, and he just listens." The ex-demon smiled as she handed the monkey a cookie.

"Anya, I don’t mean to belittle your bond with Mr. Peepers, but you have noticed that he is a monkey?"

"They understand a lot more than you think. Don’t you little guy?" Anya gave a pleased look when the monkey nodded. "Now when I was a vengeance demon…"

Buffy interrupted. "That’s great Anya. In fact, if you don’t mind I’d like for you to watch him a little longer. There’s something I’ve been putting off doing."

"No, go right ahead. I’d be happy to keep him here working." Anya went back to her stack of books and Mr. Peepers followed.

"Thanks Anya. I’ll be back as soon as I can." With that, Buffy left.

………………….

Knocking again, the little blonde peered through the window. "Come on, be home." She muttered impatiently.

"Buffy, hi."

"We need to talk."

Knocking again, the little blonde peered through the window. "Come on, be home." She muttered impatiently.

"Buffy, hi."

"We need to talk."

……………………………

Part 5 - Getting the Truth

"Of course." Giles stepped to the side so Buffy could enter. "What is it?"

"I need to know everything that the Council told you. Something here doesn’t fit." Buffy noticed the watcher’s confused expression. "Giles, I need to know what happened to Faith."

"I don’t have much detail. I was informed that an extraction team was sent to the island, and a fight ensued. During which, Faith was shot." Studying the slayer carefully, Giles noted the little blonde’s frustration.

"That’s all? That’s all you were told?" Buffy sat down with a frown.

"What kind of details are you looking for?"

Remaining quiet for a few moments, deep in thought, the green-eyed beauty stood and paced. Finally, she looked up at her watcher. "They’re lying."

…………………….

"Faith, you’re lowering your right again. We’re going to try a different exercise." Quentin walked over to the slayer with a blindfold.

"A little kinky there, wouldn’t you say?" The brunette arched an eyebrow sardonically.

"That’s enough, Faith. Now put this on." He handed her the accessory then checked to see if she had tied it tight. "Good. Now just block Smith’s punches."

"Whatever." Faith stood in the middle of the ring, hands up and waiting. Quentin signaled Smith, and the councilman came at her full force. Easily blocking every punch the slayer finished with a kick to Smith’s head. Laughing, she pulled off the blindfold. "Sorry, did that hurt?"

Smith merely glared but got to his feet.

"Good show Faith. Lunchtime." Quentin held the door for the stunning brunette, smiling as she passed by and headed for the dinning area. She was doing quite well. He couldn’t be more pleased with his decision. Keeping her alive looked as though it would pay off after all.

………………….

Tara and Willow entered the shop, carrying several shopping bags. They were pleased to find Anya still in a good mood. "How is he doing?" Willow glanced up at the little monkey who was perched on a high shelf with a feather duster.

Anya peered over at Mr. Peepers. "Great. He’s helped me rearrange the books so the least used are on the higher shelves, and he’s been dusting all the places I can’t reach."

Mr. Peepers put down his duster and clambered excitedly over to the two witches. The red head scooped him up and hugged him. "How are you doing, Mr. Peepers?"

The monkey gestured toward the counter. Anya rolled her eyes. "He wants another cookie, I imagine." Wearily, the demon handed him another Oreo.

He took the cookie apart and handed half to Willow.

"Awww… how sweet." Tara cooed, taking the monkey from her girlfriend. "Honey, let’s take him home, and try on these new things we bought for him. Then afterwards we can take him to our apartment to meet Miss Kitty Fantastico."

The monkey quietly nibbled his cookie while the two witches decided their afternoon.

"Wait. Buffy, said she was going to come back for him. She just had an errand to run or something. I’m not sure what. But she definitely said she was returning to pick him up." Anya protested.

"Well Anya, when she comes back just tell her that we took him home." Willow held out her hand and the tiny monkey took it, following them out.

Anya called after them. "Thank you, Mr. Peepers. You did good work today."

………………..

"True that they haven’t been the most reliable source of late, but what makes you believe that they’re lying?" Giles watched his little slayer with concern. She hadn’t really been the same since her return. He was starting to worry.

"Giles, I was on that beach. There was no sign of a fight or a struggle… just her blood drying in the sand." Buffy sat down heavily.

"You think they murdered her in cold blood?" The ex-librarian removed his glasses and began cleaning them.

"It’s possible. After all, the plane crash was a set up. They tried to kill both of us, Giles."

"Buffy, I heard about that. Those members who hatched the plot have been removed from the council and imprisoned. I believe, Quentin Travers intention never was to hurt either of you. His wish to rehabilitate Faith was genuine." Giles picked up the phone. "However there are calls I can make. Perhaps we can better surmise what happened if we had more details."

Buffy nodded and gave him a hug. "Thank you. I have to go. Just stop by my house later, and let me know what you’ve found out?"

As soon as Buffy stepped out Giles’ door, she was greeted by Riley.

"Hi, I thought I might find you here."

"I don’t have time right now, Riley. I have to get back to the Magic Box and pick up Mr. Peepers." Buffy frowned when she noticed the soldier tense up. "You really don’t like him, do you?"

Shrugging, the farm boy fell in step with her. "I’ll walk you there. I was hoping we’d have another chance to talk. Anya and Xander kind of interrupted something last night."

"Yes. Yes, they did. I guess now is as good a time as any." The slayer gestured for him to accompany her.

"I don’t have time right now, Riley. I have to get back to the Magic Box and pick up Mr. Peepers." Buffy frowned when she noticed the soldier tense up. "You really don’t like him, do you?"

Shrugging, the farm boy fell in step with her. "I’ll walk you there. I was hoping we’d have another chance to talk. Anya and Xander kind of interrupted something last night."

"Yes. Yes, they did. I guess now is as good a time as any." The slayer gestured for him to accompanying her.

……………………..

Part 6 - Riley’s Reaction

Pushing his hands deep into his pockets, Riley turned to face her. "Buffy, I know why you told me you were unfaithful. You were just scared and trying to hold me at an arm’s length. I know you, and I know what’s really bothering you. You’re still upset about me sleeping with Faith when she was in your body."

Buffy looked away. "Yes. But not for the reason that you think."

"Let me make it up to you, I swear she meant nothing. It wasn’t even good." Riley floundered.

"Now you’re just lying." The slayer strode on, agitated.

"Buffy, come on. You can’t tell me that you were sleeping with another man on that island, because there weren’t any. You already said it wasn’t any of the natives so unless it was Xander or one of the crew on the way back, you couldn’t have been unfaithful to me." Riley grabbed her shoulders and turned her toward him.

"You’re right. I wasn’t sleeping with another man." Her gaze was steadfast. "It was Faith."

……………

Tara and Willow carried Mr. Peepers into their apartment. They set him down cautiously and watched while the two animals studied each other. Miss Kitty Fantastico crouched nervously, and Mr. Peepers backed away.

"Awww… it’s okay, Miss Kitty. Come here." Tara knelt down and began petting the frightened cat. The little monkey held onto Willow’s leg but looked on with great interest.

"Mr. Peepers pet the kitty." Willow brought him over and encouraged the monkey as he stuck his tiny hand out hesitantly. "That’s right. Kitty likes it."

Mr. Peepers gently stroked the kitty’s fur. The cat meowed and rubbed against him, intriguing the tiny monkey who screeched with delight. He picked the small cat up and hugged it, petting her more vigorously.

"Careful, Mr. Peepers. Don’t scare the kitty." Tara took the cat from his arms and set her back down. The witches were surprised to see the little cat follow after the monkey. Mr. Peepers went to their bags and retrieved his half eaten Oreo. Holding it out, he offered the cookie to the small feline.

Miss Kitty merely sniffed it and meowed.

"Oh that’s sweet. But Miss Kitty doesn’t like cookies. Here Mr. Peepers you can give her one of her snacks." Tara held out the tin with the kitty treats, causing the little cat to meow loudly and rub against the monkey. Mr. Peepers carefully opened the can and removed one. Sniffing it first, he held it out for the kitty.

Miss Kitty accepted the treat enthusiastically. "Look they’re friends." Willow noted gleefully as she hugged her girlfriend.

……………………

Riley grabbed the little blonde, roughly shoving her. "Now you’re lying!"

She considered him with an icy stare. "No, I’m not. I fell in love with Faith. We were together and happy. And if I thought for one second I could have her back if I’d stayed, I’d still be on that island."

"Buffy, how could you?! After all she’d done to you, and you… you just sleep with her. It’s sick and wrong!" The soldier’s face turned red with rage. "So you’re telling me that you’re gay now?!"

Buffy suddenly seemed less resolute. "I don’t know. I mean, there’s only been Faith. And she’s still the only one I want." The slayer covered her face with her hands. "But she’s dead. Everything is so confusing right now."

Riley saw his chance and took Buffy into his arms. "It’s okay. I understand you were lonely and confused. It couldn’t have meant anything."

The small slayer stepped away from him. "Yes, it did. It meant everything to me." Buffy began to sob in earnest. "And I didn’t really ever tell her that."

Riley glanced around at the people staring. "Come on, let’s get you home. Someone else can go pick up the monkey later."

…………………

Giles’ expression changed. "Are you sure that a new slayer hasn’t been called?!" He paused and listened carefully to what his informant was saying. "No, that’s very curious. I agree. Thank you."

The watcher hung up the phone and went to his books to look up a locating spell.

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