Faith
Faith woke up and looked around in panic. Where was she? And while she was on that subject, who was she?
She sat up slowly, and looked around again.
Still nothing familiar.
"This is... weird."
She stood up and went into the bathroom and looked in the mirror. "Well, I appear to be a girl."
Faith showered quickly in confusion, then rifled through her wardrobe.
"Whoa, I'm... I'm a slut," she commented, holding up a pair of leather pants. She opened her underwear drawer. "And apparently I don't feel the need to own a lot..."
She jumped at the sound of a phone ringing.
"Ok..."
Faith walked over and picked up her phone. "Zac? Who's Zac?" She shrugged and picked up.
"Hello?" she said uncertainly.
Zac
"Hi Faithy!" Zac said cheerfully. "How ya doing? Can I come over?"
Faith
"Faith?" Faith thought. "My name is Faith? Were my parents hippies?"
"Um... yeah, sure. Come right over," Faith said, figuring that he could probably tell her who she was.
Zac
"Okay, see you soon!" Zac replied cheerfully.
A few minutes later he was standing at Faith's door. The moment it opened, he wrapped his arms around Faith and gave her a great big kiss.
"Hey, sexy."
Faith
Faith disentangled herself quickly.
"Hi... please don't take this the wrong way but... I... I don't know you. Actually, I don't know me. I was hoping you could fill in some blanks."
She let him in.
"From what I can gather, I seem to be a girl, my name is Faith... which, by the way, how weird is that? And you and I seem to be sort of... intimate. Oh, and judging by my wardrobe... am I a hooker?"
Zac
Zac stared at her.
"Is this some weird joke? No? Ooookay... Well, no you're certainly not a hooker. You just dress like that because you like to I suppose. I like you dressing like that," he grinned. "And I should say we're intimate. We've been dating for... umm... since March or Apirl methinks. Initmate since March - the day we met in fact, and our first date was in APril, so I guess it all depends on perspective, huh?"
He reached up a hand and touched her face in concern.
"How come you don't remember? Or don't you remember?"
Faith
"We were intimate from the day we met? Are you sure I'm not a hooker?"
Faith bit her lip.
"I don't know. I woke up this morning, and I didn't know who I was, or where I was."
She touched her hand to Zac's.
"You seem to be a nice guy, I think I know why I like you. I don't have to have memories to see that you're a good guy. Am I a nice person? Do I have any friends? I found a note from a 'Xander' this morning. Funny name."
Zac
Zac laughed.
"No, you're not a hooker. We both tended to sleep around before we met though. And when we did... well, I mean, like I said, we both slept around. It was inevitable, I suppose. We had so much... fun... that night that we decided to be sex buddies and then..." Zac paused. "Then we kinda... fell in love."
He squeezed her hand.
"You have lots of friends. Xander's one of them, well, yeah... You're a vampire slayer and Xander is your watcher."
Faith
Faith giggled.
"Vampire Slayer? Ok, I don't know what that is, but I'm sure I'm not one. I'm just a girl."
She looked him in the eyes.
"So... we're in love? Yeah, I could see why I'd be in love with you. You're all... nicely put together. And you don't appear to have any flaws. Well... seeing as I just met you, I guess I'll soon find out."
Zac
Zac grinned.
"Oh, I don't have a flaw in the world. And you will never be just a girl, least of all to me."
He frowned then.
"I wonder why you don't remember anything..."
Faith
Faith shrugged.
"It might have something to do with this bump on my head."
She touched it gingerly.
"Strangely enough, it doesn't hurt that much. And I found out that I'm actually really strong. Well, stronger than I thought I would be. I'm like... super hero strong."
She shrugged again.
"Well, you are definitely a sweet guy. And I see why I love you. Since you seem to have the answers, can you explain why my couch has weird stains all over it?"
Zac
"You're strong because you need to be to fight vampires," Zac informed her.
A twinkle sparkled in his eye.
"And the couch has weird stains as a result of us... horizontal mmmbopping."
Faith
Faith nodded.
"Ah, I see."
She bit her lip.
"MMMBop? Weird."
She looked around, then her eyes met Zac's.
"While I'm learning about me, is there anything drastic that I need to know?"
Zac
"What? Like the world is apparently coming to and end in a couple of days and we're evacutaing to a space station tomorrow? Only if your answer to that question is 'yes'," Zac grinned.
Faith
Faith looked puzzled.
"Space station? Where am I going?"
She shook her head.
"The world ending?" Faith let out a laugh. "Sure, I'm sure there've been lots of apocalypses and I bet I've even stopped one. Sure."
Zac
"Umm, yep that sounds about right," Zac replied, nodding his head. "Your memory must be coming back!"
He moved closer to her and put his hands on her hips.
Faith
Faith laughed.
"Yeah, sure, I'm like a superhero."
She tensed slightly in Zac's grasp, then relaxed.
"So... we're in love, I'm not a hooker, the world is going to end, and I'm like a superhero. Right... this is a confusing day."
Zac
"I keep telling you, you're a vampire slayer," Zac paused. "But you slay other demons as well in order to save the world. But this end of the world think is coming from a non-demon source, so, y'know. Yes, we're in love. No, you're certainly not a hooker (and if you are you never told me about it!) and if you think this is confusing, you haven't seen nothing yet!"
Faith
Faith shrunk back and backed away at Zac's tone.
"I'm sorry," she whispered timidly. "I just... I don't know what's happening."
Zac
"Hey, hey, there's no need to appologise," Zac said gently. "Don't worry, I'll help you figure things out. Come one, why don't we visit some of your other friends?"
Faith
Faith nodded.
"Ok... I'd like that."
She reached shyly for Zac's hand.
"Thank you."
Zac
Zac squeezed her hand and started towards the door.
"Wait... do you have your keys?"
Faith
"Keys?"
Faith looked puzzled then looked over at the table. She went and picked the keys up.
"Yes."
She handed them to Zac and took his hand again, nervously.
Zac
Zac grinned and led her out. After locking the house, they got into the van and Zac drove over to the manor.
"Hopefully they're home," Zac said. "Your friends, Paige, Piper and Phoebe Halliwell live here. They run a bar, club thing called P3."
Faith and Piper
Faith nodded.
"Ah, I get it... because they all have names that start with P."
They got out of the van and went up to the front door and knocked. Piper opened it.
"Oh hey guys, to what do we owe this pleasure? Come in."
Faith shyly stood behind Zac, and clenched his hand tightly.
Zac
"Hi Piper," Zac replied. "Faithy's having a slight problem remembering stuff. Why, she didn't even remember me, and I'm a pretty rememberable fellow."
He grinned.
Faith and Piper
Piper grinned. "Yeah, you're imprinted on my brain," she joked. She stepped back and let them into the house.
"Hey, Faith, I'm Piper."
"Ok. And we're friends?"
"Um... yes. You and I have known each other for awhile, since we were kids, basically."
"Right." Faith nodded and turned to Zac. "Nothing's ringing any bells."
Zac
"Aww, don't worry, Faithy," Zac replied, "I'm sure you'll start remembering stuff really soon."
He looked around.
"Ahh... all these rooms have memories for me. Like the dining room tab-" Zac looked at Piper. "I'd better not go there."
Faith and Halliwells
Faith looked confused.
"We... ah... were together in this house too?"
She bit her lip.
"You know, you can tell me, I won't be offended... am I a slut?"
Piper stifled a giggle as Phoebe and Paige came downstairs.
"Hey Faith!" Paige greeted.
Faith waved timidly. "I'm sorry, I don't..."
Piper turned to her sisters. "She's lost her memory somehow. Faith," She said, turning back to Faith. "This is Paige and Phoebe. You've known Phoebe for a long time too."
Faith nodded. "Um... ok." She looked around scared.
Zac
Zac's eyes glittered.
"Oh yeah, we were. Multiple times in... erm... multiple places. But I don't think the Halliwell sisters wanted to hear that."
He grinned at them cheekily.
Faith and Halliwells
Paige shuddered. "I'm so glad we weren't home."
Phoebe grinned. "I've gotta find a boyfriend like Zac."
"Right. Ok." Faith nodded. "So... um?"
Piper stepped forward. "Ok, Faithy, because of the whole evacuation thing... we're going up to the Heaven's. With the Whitelighters."
"Oh... um... heaven?"
"It's a long story."
Faith looked helpless. "I see."
"It's okay," Zac said. "They lost me on that last part too."
He grinned at Phoebe.
"Good luck finding another guy like me. I'm one of a kind."
Faith and Halliwells
Phoebe smiled and stuck her tongue out. "Yeah... one of a kind."
Faith held Zac's hand tightly. "Heaven?" she repeated.
Piper giggled. "Yeah, we... um... well. Ok, we have a whitelighter, and he's kinda like a guardian angel, and we're going up to where he lives, just until everything is sorted out. And you're coming. With Xander."
Faith nodded, her expression still blank. "Alright. Xander, that guy again. My what?"
"Watcher," Paige put in. "He watches you slay. Or something."
"Ok. that sounds like a cover story. Zac tells me I'm not a hooker, but I think I am. And this Xander person, he's my pimp. Watches me slay. How obvious."
Zac
Zac cracked up laughing. In fact, he started laughing so hard he fell on the floor.
"If... if... if you were a hooker..." he laughed, "you'd make... a mint. And I... would be as poor as... a church mouse."
Tears started rolling down his cheeks.
"He watches you slay..."
Faith and Halliwells
Faith looked confused. "So, what do I do then, if I'm not a hooker?"
Piper laughed. "Well, you work at my club, P3. And... you slay vampires."
"Do I get paid for slaying vampires?"
"No."
"Well, shouldn't I?"
Phoebe bit her lip. "Well... it's kinda your destiny."
"Destiny?" Faith scoffed. "I don't have a destiny. I'm destiny free, really."
Piper shrugged. "I don't know how it works exactly. Um... what was that thing? One girl born in all the world, with the strength and skill the fight the vampires, to stop their spread of evil... it goes on a bit."
"Ok. Pssh, I don't think so. I'm Faith. I have this weird name, a really nice house, but a stained couch. I have three pretty cool friends, and I'm going to heaven soon. And I have a 'Watcher'. And I apparently now have a destiny, which sounds like it really sucks. But, I have a hot boyfriend."
Zac
"Oh... I have to stop laughing," Zac chuckled. "Oh dear."
He grinned at Faith.
"Yes, you have a hot boyfriend. See? There is a light at the end of the tunnel!"
Faith and Halliwells
Faith smiled. "Yes, it's a definite plus. So, how did we meet?"
Paige giggled. "Hmmm, yeah, let's tell that story. And you should tell her what happened between you two, the night you met, shouldn't you Zac?"
"Well, I know that Zac and I... you know."
Piper snorted. "Oh it wasn't just once. We got to hear it. It sounded very... let's not go into that."
Zac
Zac grinned.
"The real reason why they don't like it is because they were jealous you were getting some, and they weren't," Zac teased. "We were at my friend Ash's engagement party. And then we came back here and horizontal mmmbopped the night away."
Faith
Faith nodded. "I see," she said, not really seeing at all. "Um... well, so... we um... yeah, and then we went on our first date?"
Piper nodded. "That you guys did. And there were a few more... you knows, in between that. Why don't you take her to see Xander?"
Zac
"Alrighty then," Zac said agreeably, getting up off the floor. "C'mon, Faithy, my love."
He grinned broadly, taking her hand.
"We'll see you guys later... oh wait... do you happen to have Xander's address? I wouldn't have a clue."
Faith and Halliwells
Piper, Paige and Phoebe all looked puzzled.
"You know, all this time, we never thought to ask," Piper mused.
Faith cocked her head to the side and said Xander's address. Then looked freaked out. "Ok, how did I remember that?"
She bit her lip and looked at Zac. "Is your middle name Walker?"
Zac
"Yeah," Zac grinned. "Very good."
He gave her a congratulating kiss.
"Can ya remember anything else?"
Faith
Faith paused.
"No, I'm drawing a blank."
Then she giggled.
"Oh... but I remember... um... you know, the first time we... you know-ed."
Paige groaned. "Ew. You remember that but you don't remember us?"
Zac
Zac grinned broadly.
"And why wouldn't you want to remember that? And for that matter why do you keep saying 'you knowed'? It's called sex," he teased. "Or how about making love? Or horizontal mmmboping? Or -"
Faith and Halliwells
Piper clamped a hand over Zac's mouth.
"We don't need to hear anymore of that. And take her to Xander's. He might know the reason for her sudden amnesia."
Faith frowned. "I don't know what that is, but I'm certain I don't have it. I bathe quite often."
"Could it be magical?" Paige asked, after giving Faith a strange look.
Faith scoffed. "Sure, magic. Magic exists. Right. And I bet aliens do too. In fact, you guys are all probably aliens. It would fit with me being a superhero."
Zac
"See? You are remembering more," Zac beamed. "And amnesia is when you lose your memory after like, a bump on the head or something. Nothing to do with keeping clean."
He looked her up and down.
"How do you know how often you bathe?" he asked cheekily. "Can you remember the last time? Maybe we - err, you - should have a wash now?"
He wiggled his eyebrows.
Faith and Phobe
Faith smiled uncertainly at Zac. "I feel like the sort of person who would bathe often."
Phoebe rolled her eyes. "Just go see Xander. He can probably clear a few things up. And he'll probably want to know what's happened to his best Slayer. Well... his only Slayer."
Faith closed her eyes. "Zac... should there be a reason why I look at you and think of chocolate?"
Zac
Zac cracked up laughing.
"How about I tell ya on the way to Xanders?" He grinned. "I don't think these... ladies... would like to hear the answer."
Faith
Faith stumbled slightly.
"Whoa, dizzy."
She glanced up as she followed Zac from the house.
"There's gotta be a reason why a collar is springing to mind, right?"
Zac
Zac laughed some more as he got into the van.
"Oh there's a very good reason. For both of them. Kinky sex!"
He grinned cheekily at her.
Faith
"Hmm, and I'm not a hooker. Well... this is just odd. I don't feel like the sort of person who would be involved in those sorts of things. Although," Faith paused as she got into the van. "I do have vague memories of being tied up. A lot. And you weren't always there. That's weird."
Zac
"Don't ask me," Zac replied. "That could have been anything."
He started driving down the driveway and towards Xander's place.
"What is your obsession with thinking that you're a hooker?"
Faith
Faith shrugged.
"I don't know. I just... judging by my wardroke and the way you and I were and stuff... it makes me wonder if I was just this really big tramp. Oh, left here," Faith said automatically, then blinked in surprise.
Zac
Zac made the left.
"Don't worry," he said. "You're not as bad as you think you are."
He gave her a reassuring smile.
Faith
They pulled up at Xander's house, with Faith fidgeting nervously as she hopped out of the van. She waited for Zac and reached shyly for his hand again.
"I remember your van."
Zac
Zac smiled.
"Cool."
He walked up to the door with Faith and rang the bell.
Faith and Xander
Xander opened the door and let them in.
"Hey Faith, Zac."
Faith hesitated then walked in.
"How's your head?"
Faith looked to Zac for assistance.
Zac
Zac followed them inside.
"My head is fine, thanks for asking," Zac replied, grinning. "But it's faith's head you should be worried about. It seems she has amnesia."
Faith and Xander
Xander looked confused for a second then smiled.
"Amnesia? Damn, I knew I should've stayed the night at her house. In a non sexual way," he added quickly.
He reached out to touch Faith's head and she shrank back.
"Faith, I'm Xander. You and I went patrolling last night, and you were knocked around a bit."
Zac
"Patrolling is what you call 'hunting for vampires'," Zac informed Faith. "I went with you once. Boiled a couple too."
He squeezed her hand gently.
"Don't worry, Xander's not going to hurt you."
Faith and Xander
Faith nodded and let Xander feel the lump on the back of her head.
"What happened?"
Xander pressed gently. "Does that hurt?"
"No."
"Well, we were patrolling. Ran into some nasty demons, and the biggest one grabbed you and knocked your head against a headstone."
Faith reached around and rubbed her head softly. "So... I was knocked out?"
"Not completely. My guess is that you passed out when you got home. Which doesn't exactly explain the amnesia, but sometimes head wounds can cause it."
Zac
"So, do we do what they do on TV," Zac asked teasingly, "and whack her over the head again?"
Faith and Xander
Xander laughed.
"Yeah, let's try that, and deal with an angry Faith."
Faith looked confused.
"I want my memory back. But... on a brighter note, I've met some really nice people today."
Zac
Zac laughed.
"Aww, I bet I could make it all better again," he grinned. "And yeah, not many people get to meet me for the first time twice. You are such a lucky person!"
Faith and Xander
Faith nodded. "Yes. It is nice to meet you again. All of you."
Xander looked confused. "Has she been like this all morning?"
Zac
"Yep," Zac grinned. "And it was even funnier when she was convinced she was a hooker, I her best customer and you, her pimp."
This succeeded in Zac going into another round of laugher.
Faith and Xander
Xander joined in the laughing.
Faith frowned, and her lip quivered. She was so confused. She looked around and while they were still busy laughing, she ran from the house, trusting her instincts to get her back home.
Needless to say... she got lost.
Zac
"Oops," Zac said, as Faith ran off, trying really hard to stop laughing. "I'd better go after her."
Zac's eyes met Xanders and he let out another chuckle.
Faith and Xander
Xander laughed again and held his stomach.
"Yeah, you should go after her."
Xander chuckled, then wiped his eyes. "I guess I'll catch ya later... I'd hurry, memory or not, she's fast."
***
Faith looked around, her eyes widening in panic. She's managed to get herself lost in the bush that she'd normally know by heart, but now... everything was so big and confusing.
She whimpered and ran in any direction, hoping she'd find her way again.
Zac
Zac left and got into the van, a wide grin still on his face. It was then that he realised that he had no idea where she went. So he decided to assume she was headed home, and drove in that direction.
Faith
Faith's heart was racing. She'd found her way out of the bush, but she still had no idea where she was.
There was no way she was going to trust her instincts again.
Zac
"Hmm... she's not at home... so where is she?" Zac wondered.
He kept driving, his eyes searching for Faith carefully.
Faith
Faith took a deep breath.
"Ok, you can find your way home."
She looked around at the houses looming around her and suddenly felt really small. She walked down the footpath, crossing her arms and looking around nervously.
Zac
"Ah ha!" Zac said triumphantly. "There she is."
Zac pulled over to the side and leant out the window.
"Faithy!"
Faith
Faith jumped in surprise. She looked over at Zac in the car and smiled nervously.
"Hi..."
Zac
"Hey, sorry I laughed at you," Zac paused, "again. Come on in, I'll drive you home."
Faith
Faith hesitated then hopped into the van.
She glanced briefly at Zac.
"It's alright. I just wish I knew what was happening."
Zac
Zac gave her a reassuring smile.
"Don't worry, Faithy," he said. "I'm sure everything will work out."
Faith
Faith nodded and her gaze drifted out the window. They pulled up at her house and she shuddered slightly.
"So... wait a minute. If the world is ending soon... and you're going to a space station and I am going to Heaven or something... um... won't this mean we don't see each other ever again? And isn't that bad?"
She took a deep breath.
"Because something in the back of my mind is crying and screaming at the thought of never seeing you again."
Zac
"Y'know what? I wondered about that too," Zac said.
He reached over and stroked her cheek.
"But y'know what? I'm sure they'll be able to send you to the station from Heaven, if worst comes to worst. Everyone's trying to stop the bombs, so I'm sure everything's gonna work out just fine."
Faith
Faith smiled timidly.
"Yes. Because I don't want to not see you again. Seeing as I've just met you again as well... it's all so confusing. But the basic point is I don't want to lose you."
Zac
Zac kissed her gently.
"And I don't want to lose you."
Faith
Faith kissed him back and hugged him, leaning into his shoulder, but staring out at the world which suddenly seemed so threatening.
"Thank you..."