Uninvited

Disclaimer: All rights belong to Joss Whedon and ME.

Summary: Two-part sequel to Wind Beneath Me. Faith's affections arouse some uninvited feelings in Willow along with an unexpected twist…

Author's Note: This first part is based on the episode Killer in Me. The second part will be posted as a second chapter at some time in the future.

Author's Note 2: There is a brief exchange here that serves as my ode to Casino Royale. Long live James Bond.

Warning: Language and suggestive themes.

Like anyone would be
I am flattered by your fascination with me
Like any hot blooded woman
I have simply wanted an object to crave
But you, you're not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight

Uninvited---Alanis Morissette

Part I
(LATE AFTERNOON)

"Now, you're sure you'll be all right while I'm gone?"

"Giles, we've been surviving for months without you," Buffy answered. "Trust me, we'll be fine. Now go and have no fun at all."

The Watcher gave her a stern look. "Yes, well, apparently someone told them that the vision quest consists of me driving them out to the middle of the desert where I do the hokey pokey until a Cave-Slayer in dire need of modern hair care and a toothbrush arrives and speaks to them in riddles."

Buffy grinned sheepishly. "Well…in all fairness, that is what happened when you took me…"

Kennedy leaned over to Willow and said in a stage-whisper. "Think I could fake the flu to get out of this?"

The witch sighed in slight exasperation and pointed to the front door. "Go."

The dark haired Potential pretended to pout as she grabbed her bag and made her way in that direction. Looking outside, she paused momentarily. "Oh boy, looks like Molly and Rona are fighting for the car keys."

Faith chuckled, giving the Potential a slight shove out the door. "Better get out there to referee, Brat."

Giles unconsciously mimicked Willow's sigh. "Now, Faith, are you certain you wouldn't like to join us? I'm sure the vision quest would be beneficial to you as well."

"No thanks, G. Had enough head trips with Fang to last at least another decade."

"Very well, then. See you all in a couple days."

Buffy waved. "See ya, Giles."

"Bye, Giles!" Willow smiled brightly. "Bring us back some s'mores."

"Oh, good Lord, I'm going to end up singing campfire songs, aren't I?"

Xander gave the Watcher a light chuck on the shoulder as the older man walked out the front door. "Yep! That's the spirit, Giles!"

Faith watched half-amused as the Watcher tried to coax Rona to let Molly out of the trunk. "Giles sure he can handle the rug-rats?"

"So he claims," Willow said doubtfully.

Buffy waved it off. "Ah, he'll be fine. He put up with you, me, and Xander all those years. What's a dozen more teenagers?"

"Before or after he has a stroke?" Willow asked pointedly.

"Good point." A few moments of silence passed while the Scoobies continued to watch Giles and the Potentials. Suddenly, Buffy perked up and announced cheerily, "Well, I'm gonna go take a nice looooong shower before work."

"And I'm off to the site," Xander said. "Later, ladies."

"Bye, Xand!" both Buffy and Willow called as the carpenter left.

With a dramatic sigh, Willow dropped down in front of her laptop to continue her futile research. A few quiet minutes of the witch typing in searches and scrolling through various websites passed. She didn't look up from her screen as Faith plopped down across the table from her. After the hiss and pop of a can of soda and a short pause, the unmistakable theme from Super Mario Brothers cut into the hush. Sparing a look, the redhead couldn't help but grin as the Slayer focused on the Game Boy in her hands, her feet propped up casually on the table.

"This isn't botherin' ya, is it, Red?"

Willow returned her attention to her computer. "No, go for it."

Over the next couple hours, the witch every so often glanced up at the Slayer, a grin remaining firmly plastered on her face. She chuckled a bit when she noticed the tip of Faith's tongue sticking out the corner of her mouth during moments of intense concentration.

"Somethin' funny?" Faith finally asked without looking up.

"No. I just…think it's cute."

The Slayer tore her gaze away from the game to glare incredulously at the redhead. "It's not cute! It's…rugged and, and…"

"Manly?" Willow smirked.

The Slayer sputtered a bit, looking for a comeback. Giving up, she turned back to the Game Boy. "Shut up."

The witch let the smirk slip away as she once again turned back to her laptop. The teasing in her voice, however, remained. "Sorry. Didn't mean to insult your butchness."

With a grunt of discontent, Faith turned off the game system, exchanged it for her soda, and took a long swig of the carbonated beverage. Keeping the can in hand, the former rogue reclined back in her chair and fixed her dark gaze on the redheaded hacker. An outside observer might call the look one of inquisitive contemplation. Minutes ticked by, the sound of Willow's typing seeming to race the clock.

"I know I'm fascinating," Willow deadpanned, her eyes not leaving the computer screen, "but is there a particular reason you're staring at me?"

Faith didn't respond at first. Then, "Ya wanna get out of here?"

The suddenness of the question caused Willow to stop typing and look up into the Slayer's eyes. "Huh?"

"I'm bored. Ya wanna go somewhere, do somethin' fun?"

The witch raised a brow. "Like what?"

Faith shrugged. "I don't know…the Bronze?"

Willow glanced at the clock, then down at her computer, then back up at Faith. "Um…sure."

"Cool." The Slayer jumped up from her chair and grabbed her leather jacket, already on her way to the front door. "Let's go!"

Shaking her head at the younger woman's enthusiasm, Willow wrote a short note to Buffy before donning her own red suede jacket.

A short while later found the two women sitting at a table in the Bronze sipping colas. Conversation had been light, focused mainly on what the two wanted to do after the ordeal with the First was over; Willow wanted to return to England for a time, and Faith wanted to travel.

After about an hour, Willow noticed her brunette counterpart gazing almost longingly at the dance floor. "Faith, if you want to dance, just go dance."

"Ya just wanna watch, don'tcha?" the Slayer teased.

The redhead snorted. "I assure you I will be keeping my eyes on the club for any vamp activity and off your perfectly shaped ass."

Faith regarded the witch passively, but a faint playfulness could be seen in her expression. "Ya noticed."

Willow groaned with a dramatic roll of her eyes and took a sip of her drink. Faith swirled her drink around, apparently intent on the light tinkling sound the ice cubes were making. Abruptly, the brunette stood and offered a hand to the redhead.

"Dance with me."

Willow's nearly spit out her soda. "Faith no. I don't—" She was cut off when the Slayer grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet. "No, Faith! I don't dance unless I'm drunk, a-a-and even then…much badness!"

Faith smirked and held up a finger and walked towards the bar. The witch watched in dread as the Slayer returned with two shot glasses full of whisky. Faith slid one to Willow and raised the other in a mock toast.

"Bottoms up," she said before tipping the shot glass's contents into her mouth.

Willow took the miniature glass in hand and stared at it forlornly. With a sigh, she mirrored the Slayer's move and downed the amber liquor, grimacing only slightly at its bitterness. Shakira's Eyes Like Yours began to pound out its rhythm from the club sound system, and Faith nearly dragged Willow onto the dance floor.

Pulling the redhead close, the Slayer pressed her mouth to the woman's ear. "No one is watching ya. It's just us, 'kay?"

Willow felt the tiniest flutter from the word 'us,' but she attributed it to the alcohol and responded with a nod. Faith allowed herself a small smile and turned so that the redhead's back was to her. The younger woman sank into the pulsing beat, feeling Willow slowly follow. The brunette rested her hands on her companion's shoulders before trailing them down the witch's arms.

Neither noticed the writhing sea of bodies surrounding them as the music induced a light state of trance in the dancers. Palms planted firmly under her partner's ribs, Faith pulled Willow's body closer against her own and hooked her chin over the witch's shoulder. One of the redhead's hands immediately snaked back around Faith's thigh, while the other reached up and back around Faith's neck. The Slayer was pressed firmly against the witch, and the two rubbed bodies without reservation.

In the closing phrases of the song, Faith turned Willow around and hooked her arms around the redhead's neck. The two shared a grin as though reassuring one another that their proximity was the dance alone.

The song ended, and the two women stepped into the cool night air, still slightly intoxicated from their evening of drink and dance. Faith breathed deeply in relief, not entirely sure the heat she felt was from dancing in a crowded club. Both remained silent as they walked, and when they arrived back at the Summers' house, Faith followed Willow up to her room.

"Had fun?" Faith asked quietly.

Throwing her jacket onto her bed, Willow grinned and shook her head in wonder. "I don't know how you do it." The Slayer raised a questioning brow. "Make me forgot all the bad stuff that's been happening," the witch clarified.

Faith merely looked at her companion for a moment, then shrugged.

"So, are you going to patrol with Buffy tonight?"

The witch received another shrug in response. While Faith wasn't always the most talkative person, Willow noticed the dark Slayer was more taciturn than usual. With a sidelong glance, the redhead saw a serious look on the other woman's face.

"What's up? Your brow's all furrowy."

The witch's comment was accompanied by her fingers smoothing over the Slayer's dark brow and trailing down her cheek. Unconsciously, Faith closed her eyes and leaned into the caress.

"Faith?" Willow whispered.

The Slayer reopened her eyes to find the witch quizzically searching their deep brown depths. Her breath caught in her throat.

"I should go," Faith managed hoarsely.

"Why?" came the soft reply.

Faith bit her bottom lip as she leaned a fraction of an inch closer. "Don't wanna do somethin' stupid."

Willow remained still. "Like?"

Still closer. "Hurtin' ya."

"You promised you wouldn't."

At this, Faith drew back, but only slightly. "What?"

"A few years ago, when you switched bodies with Buffy, you said you wouldn't let…well, you…hurt me." The redhead tilted her head. "Did you mean it?"

The Slayer's brow re-furrowed as she thought about that. "…If I didn't then…I do now—"

Surprising both of them, Willow crossed the short distance separating them, capturing Faith's full lips with her own. As the witch's hands slid into the dark waves of the Slayer's hair, tongues met in a tender dance. Neither woman noticed the air in the corner of the room begin to ripple and shimmer. As Faith's fingers traced Willow's jawline, mouths continued to seek out the other's comforting warmth. Neither woman noticed the undulating air begin to solidify as a humanoid form materialized.

"Bitch," a masculine voice spat.

Willow snapped back from Faith at the intruding voice, a look of fear washing over her features. She knew that voice.

"Red…?"

The witch looked up into the questioning and concerned gaze of the Slayer. "He's here."

"What? Who's here?"

Willow looked past Faith's shoulder, eyes focused on a single spot. Dread and despair was clearly written across her expression. "Oh gods, he's here."

Faith looked over her shoulder, quickly scanning the room. "Red, there's no one there."

Despite the Slayer's words, Willow continued to stare in horror at the corner of her room.

Warren Meers sneered back at her.

Willow came running down the stairs, Faith following closely on her heels. Curious, Buffy, Xander, Anya, and Dawn stood from their respective places around the living to see what was happening.

"Red, what's goin' on?" Faith asked.

The witch turned around and looked pleadingly up at the dark Slayer. "Make him go away!"

"Make who go away?"

"Don't you see him? He's right there! You have to see him…!" The witch was rapidly breaking down into hysteria as tears began streaming down her face.

"They can't see me!" Warren taunted in a sing-song voice.

Willow whimpered, her whole body trembling. "He's here to punish me…for what I did to him…"

A look of realization came over Buffy. "Warren?" The blonde Slayer gently turned her friend's face towards her. "Is it Warren?"

The witch could only nod. Buffy looked at Faith and then back at the others. When Xander mouthed 'The First?' she could only shrug helplessly. The blonde soothingly stroked Willow's cheek.

"Will, it's probably just the First. trying to shake you up. It can't hurt you."

"The First?" Willow repeated, her voice tiny. Buffy nodded.

Unseen by anyone but the redhead, Warren walked up to her with a cocky smirk. "If I was the First, could I do this?" He reared back a hand and slapped her across the face.

To everyone's surprise, Willow's head suddenly jerked to the side, and the witch's face contorted in pain. "Ow… He…can touch me…?"

Buffy's head snapped up as she shared a concerned look with Faith. "Will…" The blonde once again turned Willow's face towards her, this time looking closely at her friend's cheek. No mark could be seen. "Where is he right now?"

"Right in front of you," the witch answered quietly.

Buffy stuck out her hand, waving it in front of her and searching for any kind of solid contact. Willow cringed as she watched the Slayer's hand pass right through Warren.

"You can't…" Willow gave up and dropped her head while Faith rubbed the witch's shoulder with one hand.

Buffy shook her head. "I don't understand. What brought this on?"

"I don't know," Willow nearly sobbed. "We were just…" She broke off as she realized exactly when Warren appeared. "Then he was just there." She abruptly pulled away from Faith's touch and headed towards the door. "I have to go…I have to figure this out."

"Will—" Xander called.

"No, I probably brought this on myself, so…I'll figure it out myself."

Before anyone could protest further, the redhead was out the door. None were aware that Warren was also no longer in the room.

Buffy turned to Faith. "What the hell happened?"

"I don't got a clue. One minute, we're…" The former rogue paused, also not wanting to divulge the details. "…fine and dandy, and the next, she's wiggin' out."

"I don't like this. She said he can touch her."

"Maybe the First is learning a new trick?" Dawn offered.

"No, there would've been a mark…" Buffy looked up at her companions. "Right? If something actually hit her, there would have been a mark, right?"

"So, you're thinking whatever Willow is seeing isn't really there?" Xander deduced.

"She did say that she probably did this herself," Anya reminded. Her eyes glazed dreamily over. "With a nudge from the right power, any subconscious can become a human's own vengeance demon. Quite useful when I couldn't come up with…" The ex-vengeance demon trailed off at the glares she was receiving. "What?"

Xander spoke first. "So, Willow really could've done this to herself?"

"Oh, absolutely," she answered cheerfully. "I wouldn't put it past her. I mean, she has done this sort of thing before, lest we forget the whole "can't see each other" thing. But it could also be someone else."

"Like who?"

"Um, guys?" Dawn interrupted. "Where's Faith?"

(NIGHT)

"You thought you'd get away with it?" Warren guessed angrily. The specter effortlessly kept pace with the witch as she made her way through town. "You really thought it'd be that easy? Huh. And I thought you were the brains of the group."

"Shut up."

"Ooo, nice comeback. Did they teach you that one over in Teabag Central?"

As Willow rounded a corner, another voice greeted her. "There ya are."

Willow looked up just in time to avoid running into the dark-haired Slayer. "Faith—"

Warren groaned. "Oh, great, Super Bitch number two. At least this one isn't as whiny as Slutty the Vampire Layer."

"Ya know, it's probably not the greatest time to be goin' for a stroll by yourself…"

Faith and Warren spoke at the same time, forcing Willow to stop for a minute to sort out their words.

"Faith, go home," the witch ordered firmly, side-stepping the woman and continuing on.

The Slayer ignored the command and fell into step beside the redhead. "Where ya goin'?"

"To see some old friends that might be able to help."

"Thought ya said you were gonna figure it out yourself."

Willow sighed. "I tried. Didn't work."

"Then let me tag along."

"Why?"

"Well, for one, I can't help but feel a little to blame here. I mean, we were ki—"

"Okay!" Willow snapped, cutting the Slayer off. "Fine. Just don't get in my way."

Warren began to sing obnoxiously. "Slayer and witch bitch, sitting in a tree—"

"Shove it, Meers!" the redhead spat, causing the young man to chuckle.

"You know, babe, I have to say, I can definitely see the attraction to this one. Tight leather, curves in just the right places, and she's got the whole dangerous thing going on. I bet she's a wildcat in the sa—"

"Don't you ever stop talking?" Willow practically yelled, causing Faith to flinch.

"Oh sure!" Warren exclaimed. "This coming from the woman who yapped at me incessantly for the last excruciatingly painful half hour of my life! Payback's a bitch, huh?"

"He still here?" Faith asked.

"No, it's the other ghost that haunts me," Willow replied shortly.

"Hey, I just wanna help."

Willow took a calming breath. "I know, and I'm sorry. I'm just frustrated, and I don't mean to take it out on you."

"Don't worry 'bout it." Faith grinned. "Hey, the way I figure, the sooner we get this worked out, the sooner we can get back to…ya know…"

"How touching," Warren muttered. "Say, you think she'll jump your bones? Because that is definitely something I want to see."

Willow grimaced. "You're a pig."

A look of hurt replaced Faith's smirk. "Jeez, sorry."

While Warren chuckled, Willow shook her head. "Not you. Him."

"Oh…good." Faith finally noticed their surroundings, realizing they were on the UC Sunnydale campus. "So, these friends of yours…"

"My old Wicca group."

"Ah."

Faith trailed behind Willow into one of the college's many buildings. The witch seemed to know exactly where she was going as she easily traversed the winding halls. Eventually, the two women and one specter passed through a door and into a standard lecture hall.

A circle of about a dozen female college students sat cross-legged on the floor, hands joined and glowing crystals hanging around their necks. Willow immediately felt a familiar presence but focused instead on the circle leader, who was leading the group in a soothing chant.

"Wow, this is new," the redhead commented.

The darkly-tanned leader looked up. "Um…this is a closed meeting."

A few of the girls waved to the newcomers with small greetings.

"Hey, Willow."

"Nice to see you again."

"Welcome back."

"Hi, ladies," Willow responded. "Got past the whole bake sale phase, huh?"

"Actually, we still do that," the leader corrected. "Second Tuesday of every month. Willow, huh? Former member?"

"Yeah. Uh, sorry to barge in on you guys like this, but… Oh, this is Faith." The Slayer gave am uncomfortable wave to the Wiccans as Willow continued. "Um, I'm kinda having a problem that I was hoping you guys would help me with."

"Spell gone wonky, Will?" a new voice asked.

Willow recognized it instantly and took a steadying breath. "Amy."

"Hi, Willow," the former rat greeted nervously. "Long time."

"Yeah," the redhead agreed warily.

"Ok, look, here's the thing. Oh, hi Faith," Amy momentarily sidetracked. She received a distrustful nod in return. "Ok, so, I'm sorta screwed up. Of course, you already knew that because you…uh, well…lived it…but I'm doing better now. These guys are great, and they've really helped me come to terms with my…issues. And, so, I'm sorry. You know, for what I did to you. I kinda hope we can talk later and maybe be friends again, but I guess now's not a good time, huh?"

"Not really."

"What's going on?"

Willow took another breath. "There's this…spirit…that's hanging around, and I can't get rid of him."

"Spirit of who?" Amy inquired.

"Someone I…uh…knew. Briefly."

"Bad relationship?"

"Um…yeah. Something like that."

"Well, um, we're really more about healing our own spirits and nurturing our life force here."

Willow's face fell. "Oh."

"But, but we can try," Amy amended.

Warren rolled his eyes. "Oh, happy day." He turned to Willow. "Does Sabrina here really think she can do anything useful?"

"Oh, what would you know?" the redhead asked irritably.

Amy and the other Wiccans looked confused and traded glances.

Willow shrugged. "He talks a lot."

"Wouldn't be much of a haunt if he didn't," the blonde witch agreed. She clapped her hands together. "So, let's see what we can do."

As the pair of one-time friends discussed possibilities, Faith hung back with Vaughne—the circle leader—and the other girls.

"Think those two can handle it?" the Slayer ask wondered.

"Got a better idea?" Vaughne countered with a shrug.

Faith mirrored the gesture and didn't reply. The other woman opened her mouth to say something but hesitated. Eventually, she decided to just ask.

"You two been together long?"

The Slayer blinked. "What? No. No, I'm not her…I mean, we're not…we're just friends."

"Oh. Sorry. I just figured…"

Vaughne trailed off, not sure how to proceed from there. After a pause, she gave up and blew out a breath. An awkward hush followed during which Faith fought the urge to fidget.

She needed a cigarette.

Or maybe a drink.

A few yards away, Willow and Amy were lighting candles.

"I, um…I heard about Tara," Amy said quietly, wincing when Willow sucked in a breath and held it. "I'm sorry."

Not trusting her voice, the redhead simply nodded in acknowledgment. A few moments of silence passed while she drew a circle with sacred sand. Amy placed the candles on the circle's four points, along with a crystal.

She braved another comment. "So…Faith, huh? Didn't see that coming. Doesn't really seem like your type."

Willow coughed. "Huh?"

"Faith. Your girlfriend?"

"My what now?"

"Oh, I'm sorry. Your lover."

Willow's eyes went wide at Amy's rephrasing. "No! What? No." She shook her head. "No, we're not…No. She's not my girlfriend."

"Oh yes," Warren chimed in, using a high-pitched voice to mock Willow. "She's just a friend. I make out and have dance-sex with all of my friends."

"Oh, she's not?" Amy wondered, not sounding convinced. "So the big, bad, dark Slayer is following you around like a lovesick puppy in case an apocalypse just happens to occur right in front of you?"

Willow glared incredulously at the former rat. "That's not what she's doing. A-and Faith doesn't get lovesick. She just gets…uh…some." The redhead nearly slapped herself for that particular statement.

Warren snorted. "No kidding."

Willow groaned inwardly as Amy raised an amused brow. "She's just a friend," she insisted, sounding more like she was trying to convince herself than Amy.

"Uh huh."

The redhead increased the venom in her glare. Amy held up her hands in surrender, so Willow went back to the difficult task of ignoring the gaze of the dark Slayer.

She could use a drink.

Or maybe a good fix.

She shook her head. Even after all this time, old addictions die hard. "Are we ready to do this?" she asked impatiently.

"Sure, let's give it a try."

Willow took a handful of the scared sand from the jar and threw it over Warren, muttering a command. "Continere."

"Cough, cough. That tickles," the man mocked. "What are you trying to do? Choke me with fairy dust?"

The redhead didn't answer, instead returning to sit within the circle, facing Amy. Each picked up a crystal and held it in the palms of their hands. Warren attempted to approach the two witches, but found himself trapped in the small ring of sand Willow had created around him with a word of containment.

"Is he bound?" Amy asked. When Willow nodded, the former rat began reciting a prayer. "Hecate, goddess of the underworld, we beseech you: claim this spirit lost. Banish him from the living world and return his soul to the peace of the ether realm."

The small flickering flames of the candles suddenly leapt upwards in a fierce blaze, and the crystals began to glow. Willow and Amy both yelped in surprise as their gemstones grew hot in their hands. Dropping them, the two women quickly stood. In unison, the crystals forming the circle and within it shattered, and the candles went out.

"Did it work?" Amy wondered.

Warren, freed from his prison, angrily stalked up to the witches. "No, you dumb bitch, it didn't."

Willow's head turned with the slap that followed. Without thinking, the redhead lashed out at the dark-haired menace. Her retaliation, though, passed right through Warren and struck Amy in the face. Both witches wore looks of shock.

"Ow," Amy whined. "You hit me!"

Willow shook her head. "I'm, I'm sorry. I didn't mean…I, I tried to hit him…"

The blonde witch rubbed her cheek. "Well, you missed."

The redhead stared at Warren's leering face, then lowered her gaze with a whisper. "Why don't you just kill me..,?" She felt a hand on her arm and looked up into Faith's concerned expression.

"Red, nobody's gonna—"
Amy held up a hand, cutting the Slayer off. "She's not asking us. She's asking him."

Willow abruptly turned on her heel and started rushing out of the room. "I'm sorry, I…I have to leave."

"Red!" Faith called as she jogged after the witch. "Red, wait up!" Willow was forced to halt her retreat when the Slayer took hold of her arm. "We can try again—"

"No, Faith, it's not working. Just…leave me alone."

Willow jerked free of the brunette's grasp and continued on her way. Faith attempted to follow, but an invisible barrier sprung up and blocked her path. "Red!" she called a final time before her friend disappeared down the hall.

(LATER THAT NIGHT)

"So why'd you do it?" Warren pressed.

It sounded as though this conversation had been going for a while. Willow quickened her pace as if trying to outrun the presence dogging her.

"Okay, one, you're not going to get rid of me by running, and two, it's a simple question."

"If you don't shut your mouth—"

"What are you going to do, kill me again?" Warren challenged. "Just give me an answer. You moved Heaven and Earth to kill me, and I want to know why."

The witch turned abruptly on him. "BECAUSE YOU DESERVED IT!"

"But did Tara?" he retorted, unphased.

All Willow's anger suddenly evaporated. "What?"

"Did she deserve what you did to her?" The witch was silent. "Okay, so I shot her. It wasn't intentional or anything, but you…" Warren scoffed. "You make a big gory show of avenging her death: strike one. Then, you go all Dark Phoenix, trying to kill everyone in your way and destroy the world because you can't handle the pain of living without her: strike two. But you know what takes the cake here, sweet cheeks? The fact that, in the wake of that whole glorified crusade of yours, what do you do? You play tonsil hockey with the first piece of ass you can get your slutty little hands on: strike three, babe. So, I ask again: is that fair to Tara?"

Willow stared at the ground, the burden of Warren's rant weighing heavily on her mind.

The young man continued his taunt. "Come on, witch. I thought you loved her."

"Shut up." Whispered.

"I thought you'd do anything for her."

"Shut. Up." More forcefully.

"You killed for her…"

"SHUT UP!" Screaming.

Warren paused, taking a moment to glance at the storefront they had stopped in front of. Then, he played his final card. "I thought you'd die for her."

Willow looked up at the store window, taking in the array of firearms on display. Comprehension burned in her darkened eyes.

(EARLY MORNING)

Once the door closed behind the last Wiccan member, Faith turned to the only other occupant in the lecture hall.

"Ya did this to her, didn't ya?"

Amy feigned innocence. "What?"

"Don't play dumb with me, rat girl. Ya may be able to fool them, and Will might be a little too distracted right now to see it, but I'm a Slayer. I can feel that you're still usin' some dark mojo."

The witch smirked. "Oops."

Faith clenched her fist and made to strike. With an almost lazy gesture from Amy, though, she was sent flying through the air, impacting hard against the wall on the opposite side of the lecture hall. After briefly slumping to the floor, the brunette staggered to her feet and sent daggers in the blonde's direction with her dark gaze.

Amy rolled her eyes. "Really, Slayer, you should know better than to mess with a witch."

"What did ya do to her?" Faith demanded.

"My, my, aren't we protective…" Amy received another cold glare. "Oh, it's just your standard penance malediction."

Faith raised a brow. "And that means?"

The witch gave her a patronizing look that one would give a child, annunciating her words with precise derision. "I put a hex on her."

"Undo it," Faith nearly growled.

The former rat shrugged. "Can't."

The Slayer's voice dropped dangerously low. "What?"

"See, that's the great thing about this hex," Amy began cheerfully. "It lets Willow's subconscious pick her own punishment. It's always better than anything I can come up with. And the only way the hex stops is if Willow resolves whatever it is she's punishing herself for. Therefore, no mess for me."

The Slayer spoke before thinking. "But why when we kissed?"

Amy's face registered surprise, then amusement. "Oh…" She chuckled. "Oh, that's rich. Looks like Willow's feeling a bit guilty about that. Huh. Go figure."

Faith ignored the barb. "Do ya really hate her that much?"

"Hate? No. Ask Willow, and she'll tell you this isn't about hate. It's about power. Willow's always had all the power, long before she even knew what to do with it. It just came so easy for her, while the rest of us had to work twice as hard to be half as good as her! But let me ask you something. Do people care how hard you work?"

Not waiting for an answer, Amy continued her rant. "No! They only care about the end product. They only care about cute, sweet, innocent Willow. Well, let me tell you something: Willow's not innocent. She gave in to evil, stuff worse than I can even imagine. The girl murdered two humans, almost destroyed the world, and people keep on loving her! But when I try to have a little fun, I get knocked down for it. It's not fair!"

Faith scoffed. "That's it? You're jealous?"

"Like you were never jealous of Buffy?" The dark-haired Slayer had no retort. "Thought so. I'm just slightly more efficient at dealing with it."

"This isn't dealin'. This is punishin' Will for somethin' that ain't her fault."

Amy nodded thoughtfully. "Yeah, it is, isn't it?" Her face brightened. "Oh well. Not my problem." Faith took a menacing step forward, but Amy held up a hand. "Careful, Slayer."

"Just tell me how to fix this."

Amy sighed. "I told you, you can't. Willow has to ride this out herself. But don't worry. She'll figure it out. She always does. And, for the record, it's not my fault she's losing it. Now, if you want to watch the show…that I can help you with." She smirked. "Should be a blast."

Before Faith could protest, Amy snapped her fingers, and the Slayer disappeared from the room.

(MORNING)

In the backyard of the Summers house, Buffy was starting training exercises with the recently returned Potentials. All of the them jumped when a light flashed, and when it subsided, they were shocked to see Faith standing in its place, looking more than a little disoriented.

"Well, that was a hell of a thing," Kennedy commented.

"Does she do that kind of thing often?" Rona wondered.

Buffy took a step towards her sister Slayer. "Um….Faith?"

The dark-haired woman shook her head. "Don't ask."

"Okay."

"Red here?"

At that moment, Willow walked through the gate into the backyard, quiet determination in her step. Warren, still invisible to everyone else, followed. Faith moved to intercept the redhead.

"Red! It was Amy. She put a hex on—"

"I know," Willow interrupted. "She thinks I'm weak, but I felt it…could practically taste the dark magic she used."

"'kay, good. Then we just gotta figure out how to get rid of it. I'll help, if ya let me…"

"She's trying to trick you," Warren whispered in the redhead's ear. "Make you forget…"

"You can't help me, Faith. No one can."

"Why not?"

Faith took a step back when Willow lifted her arm, pointing a gun at her. Buffy's eyes went wide, and the Potentials exchanged worried glances. For once, Warren remained silent, content to simply watch the scene unfold.

"I get it now," Willow said. "He is here to punish me, but not for what I did to him. He's here because of what I did with you."

"What you did with me…? Red—"

"I'm being punished," the witch repeated. "I kissed you just, just for a second, but it was enough."

At this revelation, Buffy switched her gaze between the two women, stunned.

Willow continued, letting out a small sob. "I let her go. I didn't mean to."

A look of understanding immediately passed over Faith's expression. "Red, kissin' me didn't mean tha—"

"No, she was never gone," Willow interrupted, the desperation clear in her voice. "She was with me! We should have been forever, and I…" The redhead cringed remorsefully. "I let her be dead. She's really dead." Another sob made her voice waver. "And I killed her."

As Willow started to break down, Faith took a tiny step forward, ignoring the tears coursing down her own cheeks. "No ya didn't… Come on, Red, put the gun down. Ya know Tara wouldn't—"

The distraught witch quickly raised the gun level to Faith's chest. "Don't! Don't you say her name! You don't…you don't get to do this. It's your fault!"

"Blamin' me isn't goin' to make the pain stop."

"No…" the witch agreed, suddenly subdued. Lowering the firearm again, she stared at it as if seeing it for the first time. "It won't."

Faith's stomach lurched as the redhead rested her forehead against the barrel of the gun. "Will, you're scarin' me," the Slayer admitted quietly, her voice quavering.

The witch continued as though she didn't hear the Slayer. "God, Faith, I'm so tired of this. Of everything. I just want it to stop." Willow turned the muzzle of the firearm inward at her temple. "Just make it stop..."

Buffy held her breath as Faith dashed forward with every ounce of speed the Slayer could muster, Wrenching the gun out of Willow's hand and dropping the weapon to the ground, the brunette pulled the redhead into her arms and held her tightly. At this point, Willow broke into sobs, and the Slayer dropped to the grass, still holding the quivering witch in her strong embrace.

"Faith, make it stop," Willow pleaded. "Please, just make it—"

She was silenced by Faith's lips on hers. The witch struggled at first, pushing futilely against the Slayer's firm grip on her arms. Soon, though, the shock wore off, the reflex died, and Willow clung to Faith's leather jacket. Unseen by anyone, the image of Warren faded silently into nothingness.

Breaking away and carefully prying the witch off of her, Faith searched Willow's eyes.

"He's…he's gone…" the redhead whispered.

Faith cracked a tiny grin. "Damn, I'm good."

A final tear slipped down Willow's cheek. "…she's gone, too."

"But you're not alone," Faith answered softly.

Mentally exhausted, Willow slumped against the Slayer and closed her eyes. Gently, Faith picked the nearly unconscious witch up and began carrying her into the house. She stopped, however, when Buffy called her name. The blonde Slayer conveyed a look of gratitude to her darker counterpart, to which the brunette simply nodded.

With that, Faith disappeared into the house with Willow. Buffy stood staring after the two, then slowly dragged her gaze away. When her eyes came to rest on the gun laying in the grass, the blonde broke into tears and sank to the ground, oblivious to the watchful Potentials surrounding her.

Inside, Faith gently lowered Willow onto the witch's bed. She pulled the comforter up to the woman's shoulders and brushed a stray lock of auburn hair from Willow's face.

"…thank you…" the sleepy redhead mumbled.

"Any time, Red," Faith whispered back, placing a tender kiss on the woman's brow.

Moving to the foot of the bed, the Slayer sat down and fixed her gaze on the witch, silently wondering when she had grown soft.

"Never alone," she echoed, as though trying to convince herself.

…to be continued…