Authors Note: Omg hey look I'm still alive. Don't worry I haven't forgotten about my other fic for any of you who are reading it. I've just had chronic writers block, and I'm trying to reactivate the writing part of my brain by doing something different for a while.

Stuff you should know before you read to avoid confusion: Not much really, its post chosen, Buffy and Faith are based in Rome and Willow and Kennedy are in Brazil. Yeah.

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Prologue

Rain hissed down through the thick canopy of trees, heavy drops pinging loudly off branches and leaves as they wound their way towards the ground, where small streams were beginning to form in the leaf litter that covered the forest floor. In the darkness, illuminated by the dim glow of a camper lamp, a tarp could just be made out, stretched out and fastened haphazardly to the lower branches of several trees. The weight of steadily accumulating rain water caused it to dip heavily in the middle, nearly touching the occupants underneath. Two girls, a blonde and brunette lay curled close together, wrapped protectively in each others arms. Despite the roar of the rain and the inescapable dampness of the ground, both wore peaceful expressions, and as the blonde stirred and snuggled closer to the brunette, her lips twitched into a soft smile.

There was a creaking sound, followed by a wet snap as one of the branches the tarp had been tethered to broke, sending the shelter and a torrent of water crashing down on the sleeping pair.

"Crap! Jesus damn it… Crap!" The brunette fought her way out from under the tangled mess first, slipping a bit as she stood, shaking wet strands of hair out of her face. Still swearing she launched a kick at a nearby rock which went crashing into a tree, tearing away a large chunk of bark and wood.

"Faith a little help?" The blonde had emerged too and was now struggling with the remains of the rope and the edge of the tarp in an attempt to salvage their shelter.

The brunette stalked over, grabbing the rope from the blondes hands and fastening it tightly again, giving the branch an experimental tug before ducking back under cover. The blonde ducked under too a moment later, crouching gingerly in the large murky puddle of water that had formed. She was smiling. "There an upside to being lost in the god damn jungle that I missed B?" Faith asked darkly as she glared at the other slayer.

Buffy's smile widened. "You're just kinda cute when you're angry," she said, raising her voice to be heard over the roar of the rain against the tarp.

Faith's eyebrows rose. "Yunno a few years ago you didn't think that," she said. Without thinking she sat back, landing in the puddle of water with a splash. "Shit!"

Buffy chuckled as she reached out, gently pushing some soaked strands of hair out of the brunettes face before leaning forward and giving her a soft kiss on the lips. "Cute."

"B I swear if you say that again," Faith said, but her voice lacked malice. Unable to fight back a mischievous smile she gave Buffy a small shove, easily sending the squatting slayer falling backwards into the pool of muddy water. Smile widening at the look of mock rage on Buffy's face she leant forward, pulling the blonde into a deeper kiss.

The lamp, which had come to rest in the puddle of water sputtered, and died.

"Crap."

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Chapter 1

1 Week Ago…

"I'm telling you, its not here Wills," Buffy said, cradling the phone between her shoulder and ear as she flipped over a page of the book she was reading, eyes widening as the aged paper tore out of the crusty binding. Shoving it back she smoothed it nervously before gingerly turning another page.

"Are you sure?" Willow asked. "It's a Dosel demon. D-o-s-e-"

"I've checked three times I'm positive," Buffy sighed as she flicked the book shut, examining the cover thoughtfully. "Maybe I'm reading the wrong volume of 'Iter Itineris Insectus'."

There was a pained pause on the end of the line. "That's a journal on insects Buff."

"Well they all look kind of demony," the Buffy defended, slumping down in her chair and eyeing the boxes of books stacked haphazardly around the tiny room in defeat. Since their arrival in Rome, books had been coming every day from Giles and the newly reformed watchers council as well as Willow and Kennedy, who were stationed in Brazil. Buffy had long since given up unpacking, since the unsteady glass bookshelves in the apartment were already brimming with old volumes. Finding anything was a nightmare.

"I'll email you a picture later," Willow said, before Buffy could start protesting about searching through the mass of books again. "It's just the usual scales and sliminess and fangs. They normally mind their own business and stay inside the rainforest, but this one's been venturing out into the local villages and might have killed some people. You know this is probably because of all the deforestation, its habitat is dwindling and its being—"

"Got it," Buffy cut the Willow babble short. "So it's in need of slayage?"

"Yep," Willow confirmed. "I think we need some more experienced slayers to track it down and kill it."

"What about Kennedy? And Vi's in Cleveland, which is a lot closer to you than Rome." The blonde reasoned.

"I was kinda thinking you and Faith could do it."

Buffy frowned as she recognized the familiar tone in Willow's voice. The redhead was plotting something. "Willow…"

"What?" Willow asked in her most innocent voice. "I just think it'd be good for you two to spend some quality time together. Alone."

The slayer cringed. She did not like where this was going. The knowing quality in Willow's voice spoke volumes on a subject she had been doing her best to ignore. Faith. Well not just Faith, her and Faith and the more than friendly feelings she had for the girl. The hostilities that had torn their friendship apart many years earlier were gone, scrunched and left in Sunnydale with the First. They'd been traveling together since then, finding newly activated potentials, partying and slaying. It was just like before everything had happened with Finch and the Mayor. Things we're good, she was the happiest she'd been in a long time, and she could credit most of that to Faith.

"Buffy?" The Wicca's slightly worried voice broke through the slayers thoughts.

"Why would I want to spend time alone with her?" The blonde asked, doing her best to feign confusion.

"You have feelings for her Buff," the redhead stated gently.

"I don't!" Buffy shot back defensively. A little too defensively. Quickly the slayer swung into damage control mode. "It's just the slayer connection Wills."

"So you have these same special connectiony feelings for all the new slayers?" Willow asked incredulously.

Buffy sighed and slumped against the desk, defeated. Willow was right. That buzzing, exhilarated feeling of attraction was something she only felt around Faith. For almost four years she'd been able to write off the feeling as a special slayer connection. Even though she felt nothing even close to that with Kendra, she'd still had herself fooled. Then Willow had cast that spell and every slayer in the world had been activated, and what had come along with it was the realization she only felt that way around Faith. "Is it really that obvious?"

"Yeah," Willow said, and then quickly began to backpedal as Buffy let out horrified whimper. "I mean no! Totally unobvious, I only noticed because I'm your friend. Noticing these things is my job."

"Uh huh," Buffy said dully, her mind already swinging into panic mode as she began reviewing every conversation she'd ever had with Faith in her head. Is that why the brunette flirted with her so much? Because she was giving off the attracty 'come and get me' vibe? "Oh god."

Sensing discomfort Willow plunged into babble mode. "Hey its okay you know. I mean hey, totally down with the gay here. Not that I'm saying your gay, I mean I don't think love really stops to think about things like gender or-or undeadness for example."

"Love," Buffy echoed, eyes going wide.

"I-I mean like! Not love. Yes you like Faith a-and—"

Buffy stood up and began to pace, only half listening to Willow rattle on nervously in an attempt to reassure her. A knot began to form in her stomach as denial free realization began to set in. She liked Faith. Buffy Summers liked Faith. Faith of the female form and the get some get gone no relationships lifestyle.

"—She's totally your type too, leather wearing, sexy, mysterious, complete with super strength and a history of evil—"

"Willow!" Buffy exclaimed as she stopped pacing, finally realizing she was wrapped in the phone chord.

"Sorry," the Wicca said in a small voice.

"You know last time I checked Faith really liked boys," Buffy continued on as she half heartedly tried to disentangle herself from the spiraled chord.

"She's been with girls," the redhead reassured.

There was a clunk as the phone, connected to a tangled Buffy whizzed off the table and smacked into the ground. "She's been with girls!" The blonde exclaimed as she bent down, to grab at the phone set, nearly disconnecting the call in the process.

"I-Isn't this a good thing?" Willow asked cautiously.

The slayer took a deep breath, surprised by the jealously that had rushed over her. "She's never mentioned it to me," she said, trying not to sound hurt.

"Maybe she figured it wouldn't interest you. We had a long trip on the way back to Sunnydale from LA, we kinda bonded over girls a-and… going evil." Willow went quiet for a moment then changed the subject. "So, I think a slaying mission alone in the Amazon would be a perfect distraction free place for you guys to you know… talk."

"Yeah," Buffy said weakly. "Are you sure your okay with all this Wills?" She asked cautiously. The Wicca had never been the brunettes biggest fan.

"Definitely over the Faith loathing Buffy. Why would I be trying to se you guys up if I wasn't?" She pointed out lightly. "So, when are you going to ask her to go with you?"

Tbc?

Sorry, that was a bit of an introductory part, please stick with me! It'll start to get fun! Honest!