TITLE: Stars Never Rise

CHAPTER: One

AUTHOR: Dreiser

EMAIL: dreiser0@earthlink.net

YAHOO I.D.: dreiser3

BTVS FIC ARCHIVE: http://www.geocities.com/dreiserfic/dreiser.htm

CONTENT: F/F romance, sex, and minimal angst.

SUMMARY: The Alternate Universe story of Faith and her Watcher.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing but my ultimate love of Evil King Stan in the PS2 game Okage: The Shadow King. If you like RPGs with humor get it. The game kicks so much ass! Almost better than Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure. Heheh. Giant pancake and flan attacks are cool.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Here's the deal. This is an alternate universe take off on my big fic, Neither Angels Nor Demons, in this fic Anna doesn't die. Feedback on it would be nice so I know if to continue. Thanks. Also, it's pretty much

given you have to read Neither Angels Nor Demons to understand where this

fic is coming from. You can find it at my BTVS fic website listed above.

Stars Never Rise

By: Dreiser

-One-

When Buffy entered the school library Giles was leaning against the counter,

rubbing his forehead wearing a frown on his features. It took her all of

five seconds to determine something was wrong. Then it took her two more

seconds to determine it had to do with something supernatural.

After all, when didn't it have to do with the supernatural in Sunnydale?

"Giles?" questioned Buffy, walking over to him.

Lifting his gaze, Giles put his glasses back on and gave her a small smile.

"Buffy," he murmured. "I've just received a phone call from the Council that

you'll be very interesting in hearing."

"Yeah?" asked Buffy, tilting her head. "What's the what?" She formed a mock

thoughtful expression and pressed her index finger to her chin. "Let me

guess, there's a big evil thing in town and they want me to kill it."

"You're close," Giles admitted, his tones soft and wry. He sighed then said,

"Although I'm afraid it's more along the lines of there's a big evil thing

in New Orleans and we'll be helping to kill it. It's quite urgent

apparently, which means we'll be leaving immediately," he added.

"New Orleans?" Buffy echoed, her face scrunching up. "What's in New Orleans

that they need us to go there? And do you know how much trouble I'm going to

get in with my Mom? You better be talking to her for me."

"New Orleans," began Giles slowly, unsure of how Buffy would take the news

and studying her features rather nervously, "is where the other Slayer lives."

The only response Buffy gave was to stare at Giles for a really, really,

really, really long period of time that was surrounded in silence. Then she

stared at him some more and he wasn't sure what to do. Or if this meant

anything good.

---

Meanwhile, in New Orleans, Annabel Cooper looked at her own Slayer, watching

with an equal amount of nervousness as she told her of the Council's

decision. A frown marred Faith's pretty features and she swallowed deeply,

averting her eyes to gaze out the long window in the library of their

mansion.

"I get it," said Faith hoarsely. "They don't think we're good enough... I'm

good enough to bring down Special K so they're callin' in the

reinforcements. Y'know," she stared at Annabel now, "the real deal. The

number one gun."

"Faith, no," the words tumbled from Annabel's lips as she rushed forward.

Her hands were tender and soothing on Faith's skin, pressing against the

sides of her face. Eyes met eyes and Annabel murmured, "You listen to me...

you have met and exceeded every expectation I've ever placed in you. If

there was a better Slayer, I'll never know of her, but Faith," her voice

lowered, softening as hazel eyes searched dark brown for understanding.

"Sometimes we must ask for help in this life. If we don't, if we keep our

stubborn pride, horrible things can happen. Just think of them coming to aid

us in battling Kakistos as a type of insurance." In a bare movement, the

tips of her fingers traced over Faith's cheek. "You nearly died," Annabel

whispered, "I don't want that to happen again."

"It won't happen again," said Faith, jutting her jaw, her eyes flashing. She

folded her arms over her chest and said, "I'm not gonna let it. We don't

need their help to beat this guy, Anna. We've always been fine on our own,

haven't we? Why call in the troops now?"

Hazel eyes flickered with worry, observing Faith quietly and Annabel firmly

but gently took hold of the Slayer's chin, holding it in the palm of her

hand. When a pair of dark eyes locked on her, she asked, "What's bothering

you?" Faith then opened her mouth to protest and Annabel said more strongly,

"Faith. Don't try to lie to me, you know full well I can spot the signs."

A moment of silence passed then Faith finally said, "I screwed up." She

sighed deeply and turned her head from Annabel, shoving her hands into the

pockets of her jeans. "And Buffy, from the stories you've told me, sounds

like she never does that. What's she gonna think about me?" Faith snorted

then scowled at the situation, at herself, and muttered, "Slayer number two,

the big loser, she can't even kill a vamp on her own. She's gotta get the

Council to call for help."

"She wouldn't do such a thing," said Annabel, her tones fierce despite her

soft spoken voice. She pulled Faith to her and held her close, the embrace

both comforting and loving at the same time. Running her hands over the

Slayer's back, attempting to calm tense muscles, she leaned down, resting

her face against the dark head, kissing unruly locks. "But if she does dare

to think much less say that, do you know what I'll do?"

"No..." said Faith, burrowing into the safe haven of Annabel's arms and

smiling as the taller woman made her feel better. Then again, that was what

she always did for Faith... made her feel better. Better about being alive,

about being herself, better about just everything in this world. It was all

better thanks to Annabel. She sighed with contentment and asked, "What's

that?"

"I'll kick her square in the shins," Annabel murmured teasingly, her hands

still rubbing Faith's back. Feeling the Slayer shake with soft laughter, she

smiled and continued, "Wearing those spiked high heels you're so fond of

seeing me in. I rather think those would sting quite a bit, Slayer healing

or no."

"You're bad, Anna," Faith accused, pulling back to grin widely at her.

"Mmm," Annabel's hazel eyes twinkled and she moved forward, lightly kissing

Faith on the lips and murmuring against them, "but you like me that way."

"Oh yeah," rumbled Faith, her hands dropping down to Annabel's waist,

pulling her close so their bodies were pressed together. Her lips curved

into a sensual smile as her voice dropped an octave, "I like you in all

ways."

She groaned as Faith's lips were hot on hers, opening her up, pressing and

exploring deep, their tongues entangling, while those ever skillful hands

ran under the cool silk of her blouse and splayed over the tender skin of

her belly. Pulling away with a gasp, her hazel eyes darkened into a shade of

green, looking at Faith who now showed no sign whatsoever of her depression

from earlier. It was one of the things she liked and disliked most about

Faith, she had this habit of having the funniest mood swings, shifting

easily from one emotional state to another, and often times Annabel found

herself rushing to keep up with her.

"Faith," said Annabel lowly, her hand reaching out, whispering a touch over

the Slayer's cheek, tangling into dark locks. "As much as I truly wish to

continue this we have things to take care of before Buffy and Mr. Giles

arrive."

"Yeah?" Faith quirked an eyebrow, her hands resting on Annabel's waist,

caressing the skin of her hips aimlessly as she talked. "What?"

"Cleaning the mansion for one," said Annabel. She moved her gaze from

Faith's, reluctant to go on but knowing she had to. Moving it back to Faith,

she locked her eyes on the Slayer and said, "We mustn't allow them to know

of our relationship. If they find out, they could report it to the Council

and I would be removed from my post as your Watcher." Gentle hands cupped

Faith's face while hazel eyes tinted brown, gazing deep. "I don't want that

to happen. I want to stay with you as long as you wish it, Faith." Annabel

paused, searching the Slayer's features then adding softly, so softly Faith

barely heard her, "Stay as your Watcher and your lover. I'll be them both

for as long as you want me."

"That's forever, Anna," said Faith calm and decisively, her dark brown eyes

totally earnest, reaching up to hold Annabel's hands in her own. "And for as

long as you want me too."

"I'm glad," said Annabel with a breath, looking relieved as she squeezed

Faith's hands tenderly. "I think we'll be together for quite some time

then." She formed a playful smile then added, "As long as we get started on

our cleaning."

Chuckling at this, Faith tugged on Annabel's hand, leading her out of the

library. Turning to look back at her, she smirked big and said, "I think we

gotta start with our bedroom..." Her eyes flashed and she drawled slowly,

"Or should I be sayin' that it's your bedroom again?"

"For the time being," Annabel smiled, following Faith into her large bedroom

that had become their sleeping quarters for the past three months. "I

wouldn't worry so if I were you," she murmured, moving against Faith,

smoothly wrapping her up in an embrace from behind, sighing as the Slayer

leant into her. Dipping her head down, Annabel murmured into Faith's ear,

"We'll correct the situation. Soon as we rid ourselves of Kakistos and are

on our own again."

"Sounds good," Faith replied, relaxing into Annabel's hold.

And it did sound good. She really had no fondness for the idea of people

invading the nice happy cocoon she and Annabel had created. If Buffy and her

Watcher found out, if they spilled to the Council, she knew Annabel was

right about what would happen. They would fire her. Faith felt herself go

cold at the idea. Although she knew that no matter what, Annabel would never

leave her completely, the idea of Annabel not being her Watcher chilled

Faith to the bone. It was unthinkable, she needed Annabel in all ways

including as a mentor in slaying.

"This will take some time," Annabel sighed, reluctantly pulling away from

Faith and crossing the room, gathering up some of the Slayer's clothes that

were all over the premises, scattered in various places. She smiled softly

and looked back at Faith. "It seems we've made quite the mess."

"Yeah," said Faith, grinning sheepishly as she noticed how her things were

all over the place, having no rhyme or reason, but looking simply like they

belonged there. That it was where they were meant to be. Probably because

that's where they were meant to be, Faith realized. In here with Annabel.

"Looks like."

Picking up her clothes with Annabel, it took Faith only a few minutes to

realize something fairly significant. That if most of the rooms in the

mansion looked even a little like this one, with bits and pieces of their

relationship spread all over it, and she was pretty sure they did, they had

one hell of a cleaning job to do.

---

So far Buffy wasn't having a very pleasant trip. First she had to go through

the hell of explaining the situation to her mother and receiving first

strict orders then a deluge of worry over the entire trip. Then there was

the airplane ride, something she had been happy about...

Until she found out the cheapskates at the Council had booked them in coach

and she spent the whole flight with her seat being kicked by an obnoxious

little kid who Buffy wished with all her being was a vamp so she could stake

him. Too bad for her, Giles reassured her several times he wasn't a vampire

or some form of evil incarnate, he was just another spoiled child. Which, he

added, was in a lot of ways far worse than anything they ever dealt with

daily.

Now they were driving in the teeny weeny rental car, trying to locate

wherever the other Slayer and her Watcher resided in New Orleans. Looking at

Giles, she heaved a sigh then asked, "Are you sure you read the map right?"

"For the fifth time, yes," Giles clenched his jaw, starting to get annoyed.

He knew very well that Buffy wasn't happy about this trip of theirs but it

seemed to him she didn't realize neither was he. The constant complaining

was starting to get on his nerves and he wondered what sort of company

they'd be for their colleagues if this kept up. "New Orleans is a fairly

large city, you realize."

"Yeah," said Buffy, peering out the window again. "It's nice here though. A

lot prettier than Sunnydale." She looked back at him and frowned. "Do they

get tons of demon activity down here? Is that why the other Slayer's here?"

"New Orleans has always had a good deal of supernatural activity," replied

Giles, relieved Buffy had taken a break from complaining. "From what I

recall, this is the fourth largest center for it in the United States."

"Sunnydale's the first, right?" asked Buffy, smirking when Giles nodded yes.

"Give it up then... what are the other two?"

"Los Angeles and New York," said Giles. "One would suppose that is due to

their large populous, making it easy for demons to shift in and out of

society. It's not so in New Orleans, this being a smaller city, but still...

rather like Sunnydale, it has a history in the supernatural, drawing demons

to it."

"Huh," murmured Buffy thoughtfully. She looked out the window again, staring

at the crowds of people on the street, chatting happily, smirking at the

tourists that were gathered around a local voodoo shop. "What's she like?"

"I'm not quite sure," said Giles, frowning as he thought on this question.

"I've received minimal reports on their activities from the Council, just as

I'm sure they have about us, but they don't really describe her personality

as such. Her name is Faith Spencer, though, and her Watcher is Annabel

Cooper." He paused to smile softly and said, "Lovely girl. I knew her

father... stupendous man."

"You don't have any info on her?" Buffy asked skeptically, looking to him.

"Come on, I just want a crumb here. Nothing big."

"Well," Giles began slowly. "Faith and Annabel live together. Apparently

Faith's home life wasn't the happiest and when she was approached to train

as a Slayer in waiting, she was quite eager to leave Boston for New Orleans.

Also," his voice had a slight ring of disapproval, "she doesn't attend

school."

"No school?" Buffy asked, her tones tinged with envy. She wasn't exactly

school's biggest fan, especially with Snyder riding her all the time but

still... now that she considered it, it would be strange not to go. A

thought occurred to Buffy and she frowned then asked, "She isn't another

Slayer soldier like Kendra is she?" She was quiet for a moment then sighed

at this. "I mean... I liked Kendra and all but she was sorta gung ho'ey

about the whole Slayer deal. I'm not sure how well I can work with this

chick if she's like that too, you know?"

Pondering how wrong the word gung ho'ey sounded, Giles shook his head before

he replied, "Yes, I understand your feelings perfectly well, Buffy. However,

I think it's safe to assume Faith is nothing like Kendra."

"Yeah? Why's that?" asked Buffy.

"Because," said Giles with a smile as he parked the rental car on the

street, looking past Buffy and at the building before them, "Kendra would

have never lived in a dwelling such as this."

"No way," Buffy breathed, her eyes going wide. "They have a mansion." She

stared at it in shock for a long moment then she whirled around to face

Giles. "I want a mansion! Why don't you have a mansion? We deserve a

mansion!"

Rolling his eyes, Giles got up and out of the car, closing the door quietly,

and smiling benevolently as Buffy rushed out of the vehicle and began

bouncing in her inspection of the mansion. "Annabel's family is fairly

wealthy," Giles said in dry tones, he sighed as he watched Buffy pulling at

the winding vine of flowers on the large wrought iron gates. "Buffy!" he

chastised. "Don't do that."

"Do they have gardeners? They must have gardeners. No way could they do the

slaying thing and garden, it would take too much time," Buffy said, standing

back and staring at the huge white mansion. "This place is so cool."

"I'm sure they'll be happy to hear that," Giles said, shaking his head and

walking past Buffy and towards the front steps. "Now hurry up, if what I was

informed on their enemy is true, it isn't safe for us to stand about out

here."

"Pfff, Khaki Trousers, no big, I'll stake him easy," Buffy dismissed,

following after Giles, bounding up the large steps to the front walk. She

squirmed around him to knock loudly on the front door. "You'll see," she

beamed at Giles who raised an eyebrow at her, "this'll take no time at all."

"Faith said as much herself," a lilting voice said in humorous tones. Buffy

whirled around and came face to face with a tall woman with wild fawn

colored hair which was pulled back, piled haphazardly in a bun that would

look horrible on a normal person but somehow looked entirely sexy on her

figure. Dressed in a pair of dark brown slacks and a light blue blouse that

clung to her frame, she was a picture of quiet elegance. "You must be

Buffy," she continued, smiling. "I'm Annabel, it is a pleasure to meet you

but why don't we get acquainted inside?"

Standing to one side, Annabel held the door open as they walked in, closing

the door with a resounding click, putting the locks in place and turning to

them. A pair of hazel eyes focused on Giles and she smiled again. "Mr. Giles,"

she said with clear fondness. "It's good to see you. How have you been?"

"I've been quite well, you?" asked Giles warmly.

"Better days have been seen," said Annabel dryly, she reached her hand up,

pushing a stray lock of hair from her eyes. "Come," she said, "lets go into

the library. I'll explain everything to you there." She started to walk but

paused on seeing Buffy's curious expression as she searched her

surroundings. Smiling at this, she remarked, "Faith is showering. She just

finished training, you see."

"This late?" asked Buffy with surprise. Usually she only trained with Giles

after school. Hardly any other time than that. She wondered how different

the life this other Slayer led was from her own.

"Faith tends to train three or four times a day, depending on her mood,"

Annabel informed, walking up the wide and sweeping stairs. "She enjoys being

active."

Ignoring the look Giles was shooting at her and becoming more and more

convinced that despite the ultra cool mansion, Faith could very well be a

Kendra clone, Buffy studied the library they were now in. It was a lot

bigger than the one in the school, with twice as many books, although like

the library at Sunnydale High, half of them appeared to have nothing to do

with the supernatural. Must be a Watcher thing, she supposed, liking to read

a lot.

"As far we've been able to tell, Kakistos moved his operations best he could

to New Orleans. Including taking up temporary residence with his entire

legion of followers," said Annabel. She leaned back against her desk,

gesturing towards the various furniture about the room and they took notice,

Giles sitting down in a leather chair and Buffy plopping onto the

comfortable couch. "Faith and I came upon some of his followers on our Mardi

Gras patrol, I'm afraid. We killed a good many, but not all, and the few

that lived ran back to him, informing him of our actions." She sighed deeply

and her eyes were solemn. "He wants revenge as such. Kakistos happens to be

one of the rare Master Vampires that cares about his followers. Also," her

hazel eyes shifted into brown, holding a definite look of worry, "he doesn't

like the idea of a Slayer being in his territory. It just won't do in his

opinion. Which leads us to the situation we're in right now."

"The Council said that you attacked Kakistos," Giles began slowly.

"Well, yes and no," said Annabel, she shifted in her position, folding her

arms across her chest, covering her lengthy frame. "We wanted to see his new

base of operations, seek it out, search for weaknesses for when we would

attack but we were discovered. A battle was inevitable in such a situation,

and so battle we did." Annabel shifted her eyes away from Giles, looking at

the wall of books, her expression tightening slightly. "Faith was injured

and we retreated. I contacted the Council and they felt that you should aid

us in destroying Kakistos. I agreed to it, of course." She looked to them,

her expression honest and unwavering. "Because it is what would be safest

and smartest for us right now."

"Makes sense," Buffy commented and was rewarded with a soft smile from

Annabel that made her blush lightly on seeing it. "Faith got hurt?" she

asked, hoping to distract herself from this reaction.

"An alligator bit her," said Annabel, giving a wry smile. Her hazel eyes

twinkled and she chuckled on seeing Buffy's face scrunch up. "I know," she

murmured. "It is rather odd, I admit. Apparently Kakistos keeps them for

pets. Heaven knows why. Horrible creatures, even when they're meat on a

stick."

"Awww, Anna," a slow drawl sounded in the air and everyone turned, looking

towards the door to the library. Faith stood there, leaning against it with

an easy smile on her features. She was clad in a pair of black jeans and a

cream colored mans dress shirt, unbuttoned just enough to show a bit of

cleavage. "I thought I was finally gettin' you to appreciate the wonders of

gator on a stick."

"Not quite," said Annabel in droll tones, smiling fondly at the Slayer. She

looked over at Giles and Buffy and murmured, "Mr. Giles, Buffy... this is

Faith." Turning her attention back to Faith who was strolling over to sit on

the desk that she was leaning against, Annabel then said, "That's Mr. Giles

and Buffy."

"No," said Faith, gasping a bit, wearing an expression of false surprise,

"really?"

"Smart aleck," Annabel accused, smiling. She reached out to tap Faith on the

nose. "Be good." Looking over to Giles and Buffy, she shifted back into

serious mode and asked, "What do you suggest in way of a plan of attack? I

had thought we might begin training first... ready Faith and Buffy for

battle, so they could learn to fight together before we strike out at him."

"Yes," Giles said, giving a cough, darting his gaze over at Buffy who looked

just as baffled as he was. They got along well, yes, that was true, but they

didn't get along that well. Still... different Slayer, different Watcher,

that much was clearly true. "I think perhaps that would be the best route to

take."

"Well then," Annabel smiled softly, "lets get started, shall we?"

"Yeah," chuckled Faith, hopping off the desk, walking backwards out of the

room as she waggled her eyebrows at the British woman. "We shall do that."

"I said be good," chided Annabel, following after Faith.

The two of them exited the library completely unaware of the curious looks

they were getting from both Buffy and Giles who were wondering how different

things really were in this part of the slaying world. And what it all meant.

---

"You have an impressive collection of swords," Giles murmured, inspecting

the walls while Faith and Buffy kicked off their shoes in preparation for

sparring.

"It suffices," said Annabel, dipping her head and giving a smile. She

approached him quietly, dropping her voice as she said, "Faith is fond of

them. I found it best to simply keep them about. Makes patrol more enjoyable

to have some variety."

"Buffy doesn't have a preference in the way of weapons," chuckled Giles,

adjusting his wire rim glasses. He paused to think on this and murmured,

"She enjoys a good swing of an ax sometimes though. Then again," his lips

moved into a smile, "I think so does any fighter of evil."

"Axes can be rather fun," Annabel agreed, chuckling as well.

"Horrible to clean though," said Giles, shaking his head, facing Annabel.

"Once took me five hours to get one back to half its original state after

Buffy killed some Rievaw demons with it. Dreadful creatures," he muttered.

"I know," said Annabel, her eyes lighting up. "We destroyed a nest of them

only a few weeks back. Simply took the longest time of any slaying, not

because they're particularly hard to kill but because they're just so

messy."

"The explosions, god!" Giles exclaimed, making a childish face of disgust.

"Splatters of green and blue everywhere. I can't stand even thinking of it

and the smell," he ducked his head, whispering to her, "Buffy smelled for

days after."

Nodding her head, Annabel replied, "Faith as well."

The Watchers would have continued in their conversation if a loud and

irritated cough hadn't sounded in the air. Turning, they looked at the

Slayers who had on peevish expressions as they stared at them. At least

Buffy had a peevish expression, Faith just looked amused about something.

"I smelled for days?" Buffy repeated, putting her hands on her hips,

scowling at Giles. "You said it wasn't that bad! I thought the springtime

fresh aerosol helped me get rid of that? You said it did!"

"Yes, well... it wasn't that bad?" offered Giles lamely, looking

uncomfortable.

Narrowing her eyes at him, Buffy said huffily, "Whatever." She turned her

attention to Faith who was smirking big at Annabel and said, "You don't have

anything to say to her? She said you smelled too, you know."

"Oh, she already got punished for that," Faith drawled, her dark eyes filled

with humor as she recalled their activities that night. "Had to smell me

plenty."

"Indeed," said Annabel, turning red. She coughed a bit then clapped her

hands together, nearing the mat as she said, "Why don't you start with a

simple sparring match? Skills against skills, no weapons." Quickly looking

back to Giles, she had sudden expression of worry. "Unless you have another

suggestion, I don't--"

"No, no," Giles waved his hands, giving a warm smile, "I think that would

make a fine starting match. Let them test each other, see how the other

fights." Walking to her side, he murmured, "You make a fine Watcher,

Annabel. It seems that you have the instincts for it." He paused then added,

"Your father would be proud."

"Yes," Annabel said quietly, watching with lidded eyes as Faith stood across

from Buffy on the middle of the mat, moving into position. "I hope as much

myself."

The Slayers stared at each other for a long moment, then Faith's lips formed

the barest hint of a smile and then she arched an eyebrow, as if to say,

"Well? I'm waiting." That was when Buffy's eyes darkened and she made the

first move, a sharp high kick aimed at Faith who ducked it as her smile

widened.

And so it began, an elegant and deadly dance as kicks and punches were

exchanged with blinding speed, moving and ducking blows, coming close to

defeat but always rising back towards victory. It was an even match that had

merely one element that stood out of place, to attention.

Faith was having fun and Buffy... well, Buffy wasn't. While the dark Slayer

had an easy smile during the entire fight, one that kept spreading wider and

wider, with happy laughter even escaping her lips at some points, Buffy's

frown deepened as the look in her eyes grew darker yet. After just a few

scarce moments it became clear to their Watchers that the two girls had

severely different temperaments that sprung from their opinions on slaying

and just fighting general.

While Faith enjoyed being a Slayer, enjoyed the life it gave her, and

enjoyed the battles she fought, Buffy, with everything that was in her, did

not. Giles knew this, it was hard not to when you were close with Buffy, but

he hadn't realized just how extreme it was until he watched her spar with

someone who did enjoy it.

Perhaps it was Buffy's lack of enjoyment and her anger at Faith on seeing

how the other Slayer obviously felt the opposite, which caused her to win

the match. A strong punch to the stomach sent Faith falling and Buffy was on

her, pinning her to the mat as dark eyes met light and Faith gave her that

infuriating smile again.