Dammit, she needed a smoke. She fumbled with the lighter, which spluttered little sparks as if to protest against being used when it was all out of lighter fluid. Eventually producing a spark big enough to light up, she took a long, satisfying drag, wondering which was better – the sex or the after-sex cigarette? So engrossed in her smoke, she didn't notice the blonde figure following her into the kitchen, and jumped in surprise when she felt a warm body up against her back.

"You smell."

"Damn B, you know how to charm a girl."

"It's true." The older slayer snaked her arms around Faith's bare torso. "Thought you were giving them up again."

"I was. Yesterday."

Buffy gave her girlfriend's stomach a playful pinch. "S'not good for you."

"Well then you shouldn't make me feel so damn good, then I wouldn't crave 'em, would I?"

"Well don't think I'm doing it now. There's no way I'm kissing you with smokeybreath."

Faith turned to cup the other girl's face. Maybe it was the after-orgasm glow talking, but standing there, swamped in one of Faith's old football shirts, she had never looked so damn beautiful.

"Like you could resist."

Buffy tried to look innocent, but subconsciously licked her lips as Faith breathed in deeper than usual, almost pushing her cleavage out of her bra. She barely remembered why she had gotten up in the first place.

"I'm hungry." She stated, forcing her thoughts into purer territory.

"I got something ya can eat right here, B."

There go the pure thoughts. "Now who's the charmer, F?" she retorted, pushing herself away from the semi-naked body. "Do we have any food?"

"Uuuhh…." Faith turned and opened the fridge. "We got milk…. some brown crap… shit, I dunno what the hell that is…" she pulled out a small jar containing a yellow-green substance somewhere between liquid and solid.

"Mustard?"

"Too lumpy to be mustard… wanna taste it?"

"No thank you."

"Fair enough" she said, placing the unidentifiable food back in the fridge. "It's either that or pickled onions."

"Oooh, gimmee!"

"Oh hell no!" she protested, handing her the jar. "Don't tell me you're gonna eat that stuff."

Buffy smiled as she opened the lid and popped an onion whole into her mouth.

"That's disgusting."

"I know, I hate this stuff." She said, stuffing another into her mouth. "But I'm seriously craving pickles right now."

"Well I don't think I'm gonna want to kiss you now with picklebreath."

"Like you could resist."

About a mile away from the Cleveland apartment, in the middle of a large cave lit by torches, two demon stood huddled around a steaming cauldron. The golden-green liquid inside spat angrily at its observers. The larger one, dressed in a long black robe, a hood obscuring its face, spoke in a hoarse, gravelly voice.

"Did you bring it, servant?"

The smaller, blue skinned demon, dressed in jeans and a denim jacket, rooted through a drawstring bag.

"Umm… the newt spleen or the bat milk?"

"Both."

"OK. I got pickled spleen and fresh spleen, I wasn't sure which one you…"

"Either will do." The demon snapped impatiently.

"Okey-doke, here you go."

The elder demon grabbed the ingredients roughly and sprinkled them into the cauldron, chanting Latin under his breath.

"So, uh, sir, I was just wondering…"

"Quiet, servant."

"Yeah, that first. I'd really prefer it if you called me Nork, that being my name and all, and anyway, I'm not really your servant, I'm a freelancer. Secondly, I just wanted to go over the issue of the, uh, well, the payment."

"You will get your money."

"I was just thinking maybe a… deposit. Insurance, if you will, just in case things go wrong. So if you could just give me that now then…"

"You will be paid when the spell is complete."

"Yeah, but the thing is…"

The demon snapped round, its eyes flashing blood red, illuminating the deep scaly cracks that lined its face, a violent hissing noise escaping its lips, and Nork was reminded that his customer was at least 7 feet tall.

"OK, we'll go over the finance later."

"There is one final ingredient. Flesh of a Tahr-nek."

"A Takrnek demon, huh? You know I'm actually half Tahr-nek on my mother's… oh god…"

Nork barely had time to flinch as he was grabbed, spun around, and crushed against the side of the cauldron. He could feel the hot steam on his face as his arm was twisted round and held over the liquid.

"You know, this wasn't in the contract."

The demon said nothing as he reached into his pocket and drew out a long silver knife.

"I'm sorry about this." He said emotionlessly, holding the blade against Nork's trembling fingers. "I really am." He sliced, and barely blinked at the scream.

Faith lay back on the soft pillow, her mouth tasting faintly of cigarettes, vinegar and B's cherry lipgloss. She was right. She couldn't resist. She closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of the woman with her head rested on her heaving chest. She ran her fingers through her blonde locks, soothing both Buffy and herself in the process.

"Told you ya couldn't resist."

"You totally gave in first." came the muffled reply.

"I was only countin' kisses on the mouth."

Both slayers giggled a little, and Buffy snuggled a little closer, allowing Faith to press her lips against the top of her head.

"Love ya, B."

"Love you, Faith."

Basking in the warmth of the older slayer, she closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

"Gods of the mind, hear my cry. Seek out my enemy. Purge her, and leave only darkness. Gods of the mind, bringers of despair, cast your shadow. Wreak your destruction!"

He stepped back as a huge stream of smoke rose from the cauldron. Jet black, it twisted and turned like a snake, drifting almost enchantingly for a moment, before shooting upwards and through the roof of the cave.

"Save us all."

A contented sigh left the brunette's lips as pleasant dreams soothed her. She was at home, in B's arms. She was warm, and held, and loved. There was nothing but the feeling of the blonde's skin on hers.

Then the lights started to dim. Her vision blurred, the only thing she could see was a black torrent of smoke that was twisting and growing in front of her. There was no home any more, it was cold, and she was alone and crying and confused. There had been a light, but it had gone out now, and Faith was sure there had been a girl, but she couldn't remember her name. She tried to scream but no sound came, just a fierce wind and rain striking her face, drowning her sobs. She didn't know where she was, or who she was, and she couldn't feel anything for her skin was turning to ice.

And then there was nothing but screaming.