Forever, Always, and Then Some

Chapter 41

 

Angel sits on a chair on his side of the glass. Faith is escorted up by the guard. She sits and they both reach for the receivers.

Faith: I am so glad you came.

Angel: You knew I would. I am sorry I haven’t been in lately, a lot has been happening.

Faith: I am sorry if I took you away from something important.

Angel: You didn’t. Now do you want to tell me what is wrong?

Faith: Nothing earth shattering. Just a lot of the same. The women in here just keep trying to take me down. I want so bad sometimes to just give them what’s what.

Angel: I understand. But you don’t, right?

Faith: No, I let them try but I keep my cool. But it has become a circus. The warden has offered to put me in solitary if I want.

Angel: Is that what you want?

Faith: No, I would rather take the occasional pummeling than be shut off completely.

Angel: Why do they keep trying?

Faith: I think because they can’t hurt me. I never get bruised or bloody and it has become some sort of a challenge.

Angel: But the warden knows you are not starting them?

Faith: She does. I just hope I get out soon. I just hope I don’t loose control before then.

Angel: I have faith in you. I know you can keep your slayer cool.

Faith: Was that suppose to be funny?

Angel: Not at all. You mentioned getting out, when is that?

Faith: I have my first parole hearing in about four months. But that is no guarantee.

Angel: Do you think you can handle it out here?

Faith: Do I think I can walk the right path? Actually I do. If I can resist the temptation to squash these other women I have a lot of self control.

Angel: Well you know I will help however I can.

Faith: Thanks for coming, I just needed a pep talk from my sponsor.

Angel: I am here whenever you need me.

Faith: Enough about me. Anything exciting happening with you.

Angel: You won’t believe it. My life has taken some amazing turns in the last few months.

In the waiting area Buffy is standing holding Conner. The warden comes in and makes a slow inspection around the room. She takes time to stop and chat with various family and friends waiting to see a prisoner. She stops beside Buffy.

Warden: Hello, I don’t believe I have seen you here before.

Buffy: No, I just came with my husband, he is visiting a family friend, Faith.

Warden: Oh, Faith. Is your husband Angel?

Buffy: Yes he is. I guess Faith doesn’t have a lot of visitors.

Warden: Not really, but she is somewhat of a loner.

Buffy: I know, she doesn’t trust easily.

Warden: You know her pretty well.

At that moment a prisoner, who was mopping the hall floor, charges into the room and comes at the warden with a broken broom handle in her hand. Buffy instinctively reacts and with Conner held to her chest she whips her leg into roundhouse kick and catches the prisoner in the jaw sending her into a wall. The woman is knocked unconscious and the guards surround and take her away.

Warden: Nice move.

Buffy: Thanks, I work out a lot.

Warden: But you did it with a baby in your arm and never even woke him up.

Buffy: Guess he is tired.

Angel walks into the waiting area.

Angel: Buffy, I talked to the guard. They won’t let Conner in because he is not related and only one of us can go in at a time.

Buffy: Does she know I am here.

Angel: Not yet. I wasn’t sure you would want to go see her alone.

Warden: Excuse me, Angel right?

Angel: Yes Ma’am.

Warden: I am Warden Johnson, we have spoken on the phone before. What is the problem?

Angel: Oh no problem, I am just visiting with Faith.

Warden: Oh and you want her to see your new son?

Angel: Yes but I understand there all rules.

Buffy: I came with Angel this evening so we could tell her we finally got married and about the baby. She doesn’t know about either one. Actually I haven’t seen her since the day she turned herself in.

Warden: Will she be upset by the news?

Angel: Not at all. Shocked more like it. Well I better get in there and tell her. Then you can go in.

Warden: Wait a minute. I have a better idea.

Later in the Warden is in her office and Faith is brought in with hands cuffed behind her back. The guard leads her to the chair in front of the desk. She sits.

Warden: Faith, I know you are wondering why I had you brought in here. Well I was talking to your friend Angel and I thought it might be better to meet with him in here.

Faith: Why? Is something wrong?

Warden: Not at all.

Warden: (into the intercom) Tell him he can come in now.

Angel enters.

Angel: Hello again Faith.

Faith: Wanna tell me what is going on?

Angel: Faith I have somethings to tell you, good things but because of all the restrictions in the visitor area the Warden thought it might be better in here. She doesn’t want the others to know we are breaking rules.

Faith: Won’t hear anything from me. So what is so earth shattering.

Angel: Well actually there are two others here to see you.

Faith: Who? Wesley? Cordelia?

Angel: No not them. I brought my wife and son with me.

Faith: What are you talking about?

Angel: I told you things have been crazy lately. Well I got married and we have an infant son?

Faith: You are serious? You have a son? I always knew you were different than other….uh men.

Angel: You want to meet my son Conner?

Faith: Of course I do and your wife too.

Angel goes in the outer office and carries in a sleeping Conner.

Faith: You were serious.

Angel holds him so she can see his face.

Faith: He looks like you.

Angel: That what everyone says, but the I think he gets his nose from his mom. Oh and the hair is coming in blonde.

Faith: So your wife is a blonde, you always had a thing for blondes. Oh wait a minute. Its not…

Buffy(from the doorway): It is.

Faith: (looks down) Oh B.

Buffy: Faith, lets not go there right now. We just wanted to share our news with you.

Faith: Oh B, Angel….I can’t believe you two are back together. And married?

Buffy: Shocking?

Faith: Hey wait a minute, this can’t be right. Angel told me this summer you were uh..

Buffy: Not quite myself. True. But you know how things work with me. I am miracle girl.

Faith: Understatement. And the baby. He is adorable. You are very lucky.

Buffy: Don’t I know it.

Angel: Hey I am the lucky one.

Faith: You all three are lucky ones. You make a cute family.

Buffy: Do you want to hold him?

Faith: I can’t.

She shrugs her shoulders to emphasize the handcuffs.

Buffy: Are those necessary?

Warden: Faith here is a very strong woman and I can not take any chances especially with the baby in here.

Buffy: I am not concerned and he is my child. I can handle Faith.

Warden: She can take you down in a blink.

Buffy: Not hardly.

She reaches over and picks up a metal baton lying on the desk and slowly bends it while she talks.

Buffy: I have beat Faith more than once.

Faith: I wouldn’t say that.

Buffy: Hey I never ended up in the hospital.

She hands the bent baton to Angel and takes Conner

Buffy: Honey, uh can you fix that for me?

Angel straightens the baton and lays it back on the desk while talking.

Angel: Hey, didn’t I put you in the hospital once? (smiles)

Buffy: Sure, only cause I had the flu and was not at my best.

Warden: How did you both do that?

Buffy: Oh we work out a lot. So can you please let her loose. She won’t try anything. And if she really wanted to she could have broken them by now.

Warden: Uh I guess

She releases Faith and Buffy hands her Conner

Faith: B, I can’t believe you trust me.

Buffy: I trust Angel and he trust you.

Faith: He is as good looking as his father.

Buffy: I think so. Another heart breaker in the making.

Faith: B, I plan on earning your trust again. I promise.

Buffy: I hope that is the truth. We need you on our side. You’ve tasted the dark side, I hope you can turn your back on it completely.

Faith: With guidance from Angel I think I can.

Buffy: I am here too. Just kinda got my hands full.

Faith: I see that, B.

Warden: I am sorry, we have to end this, visiting hours are over. And I don’t want the other inmates getting wind of this little visit.

Faith: They will just take it out on me, and I can handle it.

Faith hands the baby to Buffy. Angel pulls out a picture of Conner.

Angel: Can she have this?

Warden: Of course.

He hands the picture to Faith, who puts it in her pocket before her hands are cuffed.

Faith: Thanks guys. It is nice to know good things can happen to good people. Maybe someday that will be me.

Angel: Faith keep on the path, I am just a phone call away.

Faith: I know.

Warden leads Faith out to the guards.

Buffy: I guess we should be heading home.

Warden: One second. Can you please tell me how you were able to bend that baton?

Buffy: I am just a lot stronger than I look.

Warden: Please. I have heard all the stories about Faith and I have come to realize that there is more there than meets the eye. But now there are three of you with what I would consider superhuman strength. What are you?

Buffy: Can’t tell you, its classified.

Warden: Oh…..oh. I see.

Angel: Lets go sweetheart. Anne is coming over and I want to make a stop on the way home. Night Warden Johnson.

Warden: Night

Buffy and Angel leave the prison and drive off.

Buffy: Where are we going?

Angel: To buy you something pretty.

Buffy: Huh, what for.

Angel: Because I want to see you in something other than my t-shirt tonight.

Buffy: What do you have in mind?

Angel: Not sure yet.

They get out at the mall and she carries Conner as he leads her to Victoria’s Secrets. He takes her hand and they walk around looking. He soon spies something he likes. He pulls out a royal blue spaghetti strap long nightgown.

Angel: This is much better than a t-shirt.

Buffy: You are really playing with fire.

Angel: I told you before I don’t play. You don’t like it?

Buffy: I do but do you think it will keep me warm.

Angel: That is my job.

Buffy: And what about when you are here and I am in Sunnydale, how will I stay warm then.

Angel: Forget it. I just thought. Never mind.

Buffy: Angel I am sorry I was just teasing you. I like it. And I know what you like about it best.

Angel: And what is that.

Buffy: It feels like silk.

Angel: Hey I like the feel of silk. Is that a crime?

Buffy: Never. I like it to.

Angel: So do we get it or something else a little warmer.

Buffy: It of course.

Angel: Well you need to find the right size, I have no idea.

Buffy: Figures.

She finds her size and heads toward the register. Angel stops her and nods to a display of teddies. They remind her of the ones from his dream wedding night.

Buffy: No.

Angel: Uh huh. Get one, I may never see you in it but just knowing you have it on……

Buffy: What will drive you mad.

Angel: No, besides it has snaps.

Buffy: Is that all you think about?

Angel: What else is there? Now get one so we can leave.

Buffy: Fine.

They finish their purchase and leave the store.

Buffy: I swear everywhere we go same thing.

Angel: What?

Buffy: Women drooling all over themselves. I thought the cashier was going to need a bib.

Angel: What are you talking about?

Buffy: You really have no idea how many women would love to trade places with me.

Angel looks around.

Angel: You are crazy.

Buffy: No I’m not.

Angel: Well even if it were true, they are completely out of luck, my heart belongs to you.

Buffy: Not sure if the heart is the part they want.

Angel: My everything belongs to you.

They reach the car and strap in Conner and head back to the hotel. Anne is already there with the kids when they arrive. Everyone is there including Bill and Lesley. Even Lindsay has stayed.

Wesley: There you three are. How did it go?

Angel: Fine she just needed a friend. Others still trying to prove themselves by going after her.

Wesley: It is a fine line she walks. I hope she can keep on the path.

Angel: I think she can.

Buffy: I am heading upstairs for a sec, can you get a bottle ready for when I get back.

Angel: Sure, you want me to take him.

Buffy: No he’s fine. I’ll be right back.

Buffy heads up the stairs. Cordy watches her and then head to Angel.

Cordy: Angel, what are you up to?

Angel: Uh fixing my son’s dinner.

Cordy: No the Victoria’s Secrets bag. I hope that was flannel footie pajamas.

Angel: No actually it was a negligee and a teddy, if you must know.

Cordy: Are you serious?

Angel: Actually I am.

Cordy: She bought a negligee and a teddy.

Angel: No, I did. She just gets to wear them and I get to watch.

Cordy: Watch, just watch, yeah right.

Angel: Okay touch too but we do sleep in the same bed. Actually I don’t get to see the teddy. But that I can see in my mind. Nice visuals.

Cordy: You two are going to take this too far and we will all be done for.

Angel walks up to her and looks her in the eye.

Angel: Cordelia, Buffy and I both know what we can and can not have. We do not need to be constantly reminded. I know you are concerned but can you please let us live our lives. We are both responsible adults. And there is no way we would ever risk everything we have for one moment of pleasure.

Cordy: Fine, I just worry.

Angel: Please don’t.

Buffy: Don’t what.

Angel: Nothing important. Here is the bottle.

Buffy: Thanks, I will be so glad when I can start nursing again.

Angel: I think he does too.

© 2005 Tara