Ok, so I'm not the best at updating (its been like a year or something), and make no excuses other than a really busy life. I have lots more of this story handwritten out in little notepads that I keep in my pocket, but have a real issue getting them on to the computer. So, please, bear with me as I have decided I'm going to get it done. I own these original characters and the plot, but aspects dealing with BtVS and WtF are the property of Mutant Enemy and WW Games.

Also be warned – uncouth language present.

"Hey! Aislinn!"

She turned to see John hurrying to catch up with her, dodging the after school crowds. "Yah?"

"What was that whole thing at lunch about?"

She paused a moment before replying. "No' sure, really. No' what I expected 't all."

"There was no fierce battle with claws and teeth?" He waved his arms around.

"No' hardly. Come t' think, where'd you go lightin' off too?"

"Hey, don't change the subject! My cowardice has nothing to do with this." He stated defensively.

Aislinn laughed. "Fair 'nough. Well, she jus' wanted t' apologize."

"Huh? For what?"

"She called me a southie in chem earlier today."

"That's rude. True, but rude," he observed.

She punched him in the shoulder. "Oww! Hey! What'd I say?"

Dirty look.

"So how'd you respond to such an affront?"

"How'd you think?"

"With fire and brimstone."

The redhead thought for a second. "Yeah, 'bout."

"And she was still sorry?"

"Indeed." They walked in silence for a moment.

"You know, it says something about the state of our society that we are genuinely surprised when someone exhibits common human decency."

Aislinn laughed bitterly. "It'd be cause it's a myth." Her companion shrugged in defeat. She smoked quietly as they continued, until her cigarette flared against the filter. She stared irritably at it, and then lit another. She should probably stop for a pack on the way home - something told her that she was going to need more.

"Cash, check, or credit?"

Aislinn hated that phrase. She hated bagging groceries, and she hated working for minimum wage at a stupid, boring job.

But mostly she hated the monotony of her life, and the ever-deeper rut she could see forming around her.

School, work, homework, sleep… she could manage an hour or two of free time a day, which she tried as hard as she could to not spend at home. Hell, it wasn't even really her home - it was a state-sponsored foster home, complete with foster family that had their own set of issues. She had always felt, in her gut, that she was destined for greater things; but for now, she was bagging groceries. Goddamn it all.

"Oh. Hey!"

She looked up from a bag full of frozen steak and chicken to see Katrina, card and keys in hand, with a bright smile on her face.

"Hey."

The cashier - a plump woman in her early thirties named Edna - passed a furtive glance back and forth between the two.

"Uh… how are you doing?"

"How do you think?" Aislinn responded sarcastically. "Do you even have a job, or do your parents just give you anything you want?"

The blonde drew back a bit, startled by the sarcasm in her voice. "Yeah. I do."

"So - you've come to taunt me?"

"Actually, I came for food." She indicated the bag. There was awkward silence.

"So, you know Aislinn?" Edna said brightly.

"Yes ma'am - we have some classes together."

"That's good! She needs some nice friends." Aislinn and Katrina's eye's met, and a look of mutual understanding passed between them.

"Uh… so, when do you get off?"

Aislinn opened her mouth to deliver another sharp retort - then caught Edna's expectant gaze out of the corner of her eye, and winced inwardly. The woman was a dragon, really.

"Twenty minutes."

Katrina smiled. "Great. Would you like a ride, or to go do something? Coffee?"

"Uh - sure."

"'Kay. See you outside!" She took her card, gathered her purchases, and left.

"Aww, honey, she seems like a nice girl."

"Edna, you're bein' strange. It's no' like she's takin' me on a date. She's just tryin' t' be friendly."

"And why are you so worried about that, dearie?"

""Cause I'm no' a friendly person! No one jus' wants me for me. There's always somethin'. Experience speakin', here."

"I think you're being overly dramatic, hun."

"Shuddup."

The sun had just set when Aislinn emerged from the market, apron in hand. Her hair was up in a loose braid. Her work outfit consisted of black slacks and a button-up white shirt.

Katrina was leaning against the door of a late model silver BMW, keys in hand. Her honey-blonde hair was tied in a loose ponytail that fell over the shoulder of her short black t-shirt and hip-huggers. She had that same impish half-smile Aislinn had seen earlier that day.

"Ready?"

"Why are we here again?" Aislinn asked as she opened the door.

Katrina looked at her over the roof. "Well, you graciously accepted my offer of coffee and a ride home."

"And you're sure you're no' hittin' on me?"

Katrina smiled and turned the key. The car came to life with a low rumble.

"Why - do you want me too?"

Strange look.

"Just kidding." She giggled.

The cars interior was tan leather. Clothes were strewn randomly in the backseat, along with CD cases and books. A necklace of beads and shells was looped around the rearview mirror, and a small, plush wolf commanded the dashboard.

"No' exactly how I expected your car t' look," she remarked.

"Why's that?"

"No' as well kept as it appears from t' outside." Aislinn picked up a couple of CD cases - the Dropkick Murphy's, Darkness, and My Morning Jacket. "No, no' what I expected t' all."

"You can stop looking for the Backstreet Boys and Barbie dolls. I'm a big girl."

Aislinn blushed. "I didna' mean -"

She waved her off. "I understand. I… sometimes it's like I have two very different personalities. There's the one you see at school - the Katrina Hargrave that used to go Winchester Academy and all. Definitely my mothers' daughter. And then there's me. I'm a lot different."

Aislinn settled back in her seat and watched Boston race by ouside her window. "How so?"

"It's like I told you earlier - I realized that what I was doing wasn't what I had in my heart, as crazy and dramatic as it sounds."

"Tha's about clear as mud."

"Sorry. I don't like talking about myself. It makes me sound all snobby."

"You're right. It does."

She laughed and shook her head. "Yeah. That's what I'm trying to get away from. I just don't want to be that person anymore… but sometimes I have to, ya know?"

Aislinn watched her reflection in the window. "Yah. I get you."

They rode for a bit in silence.

"Uh… I'm sorry to dump all that on you."

"Nah. 'Is alright. Where we headed, by th' way?"

"Home, first. Gotta drop off my groceries."

"Oh. Right then."

"I promised coffee afterwards - don't worry. You like coffee, right?"

"I'm Irish. O' course I like coffee."

Ten minutes later, they pulled up to a condo not two blocks from the Commons.

"This your place?"

"Yep. I'll be just a sec." She rescued the bags from the trunk and headed up the walk. The door opened to greet her, and a tall boy about her age with frosted hair took them from her. They hugged in a very familiar manner - a little close to be relatives, Aislinn thought - and came back down to the curb.

"So, Rain - who's your friend?" His gray eyes fixed Aislinn over the half-lowered window.

"Aislinn, I'd like to introduce my friend Aiden. Aiden, Aislinn - she goes to my new school."

"I see." He caught the blonde's gaze, and something seemed to pass between them that went right over Aislinn's head. "Well, you kids have fun now."

"Bye…" Katrina winked at him and got in.

"Your boyfriend?"

"No, just a friend. Almost a brother."

"With th' benefits, then?"

A look passed over her face, and then was gone. "No - not that - aw, hell, it's complicated. But no. Never have, and never will." There was finality in her voice that Aislinn noticed. There was something else going on here that she wasn't telling. Oh, well, it was Katrina's business, anyways, not hers.

"Alright, then."

Katrina pulled away from the curb and began rhythmically shifting through gears with smooth, practiced motions. "I know a place for coffee. It's not too far."

"Where's that?"

"It's called Four Star. Excellent coffee, mocha's, their latte's are pretty good too - "

"The hotter an' blacker my coffee, the better," Aislinn interrupted.

"Didn't figure you for anything but a purist."

"Why'd… Aiden?... call you Rain?"

Katrina laughed softly. "It's my middle name."

"Rain? Like falls from th' sky?"

"Yeah. My mother is a psychiatrist."

"That's pretty fuckin' strange."

"Hey, your name isn't exactly common either, Ash-Lynn." She emphasized the separate syllables. " But yeah, it is. Then again, I'm not your normal rich girl."

"Oh? So you admi' it, then?"

She shrugged. "No point in not. I try and be humble about it, though."

"I guess. Your house didn' seem so big for old Boston money."

"Uh, well, it's not my family's house."

"Eh?"

"It's mine. My parents live on the other side of the commons, on Vernon."

'"You're fuckin' shittin' me. You're in high school an' have your own fuckin' house?"

"Yeah."

"Me place isn't near so big, an's go' four people!"

"Hey!" She said defensively. "I've got roommates."

"Is Aiden one, then?"

She blushed. "Yeah."

"Hmmm."

"Hey, I can't apologize for who I am."

"I s'pose you can't."

Katrina eased the BMW into a shopping center filled with Lexus' and Mercedes. "This is it."

"No', uh, me normal digs, bu' okay…" Aislinn observed.

They entered the coffee house to the strains of Mozart and soft conversation. Several people looked up when they entered, and the room grew silent. Aislinn froze. She wasn't sure what was going on… everyone was staring at them! She felt heat begin to creep up her cheeks. Katrina took her arm and pulled her to the counter.

"Hey there, Emma. Could I get a large mocha with lots and lots of chocolate? Thanks. Oh, and…" She looked back at Aislinn.

"Coffee. Black."

"What kind, ma'am? We have smooth, bold, Arabica, Christmas blend, -" the girl behind the counter counted off.

"Coffee. Black."

"Just get her a house blend." The girl gave them a strange look. "Right. Mocha and house."

Katrina paid and led Aislinn to a table in the corner.

"How'd you deal with it?" The redhead whispered.

"What?" She sipped her mocha calmly.

"With e'ryone lookin' a' ye!" She said fiercely, her accent thickening.

Katrina got that same amused smirk again. "Well, you learn to like it after a while."

"No fuckin' way. I hate attention."

"Well, sorry to break it to you, but these people were all looking at you."

"Bullshite. You're th' hot one, 'member? 'Adul' film actress?'" She made air quotes.

"Maybe so, but I come here all the time. Most of the people here see me on a regular basis. You - different story." She smiled in that way Aislinn was beginning to tell meant she was holding back laughter.

"You're an evil bitch. Ye' planned this!"

"Nope, not hardly." Katrina let out her laughter and shook her head wryly. "Why are you so opposed to the thought of being attractive?"

"Well - I'm no' fat, and I know guys like th' red hair, bu'… no' seein' it pas' that."

"Aislinn, don't kid yourself. You're gorgeous. You look like Lindsay Lohan with an anger management problem."

"Uh, thanks… maybe." Aislinn wasn't really sure how to take that. People didn't tell her she was pretty. Athletic, tomboyish, sure, but attractive? Not really. Especially not compared to Katrina.

"Anyway. Real conversation. Mmm… what sport do you play?"

That was easy. "Track. An' you?"

"Swimming. Middle name?"

"Aislinn."

"Huh?"

"It's me middle name. Firs' is Cara."

"Cara Aislinn. That's pretty."

Whatever. "D'you go by Katrina or Rain?"

"Either. Goes back to that double life thing. My… real friends - Aiden and the rest - tend to call me Rain."

"Why's that?"

She shrugged. "He says it suits my nature, whatever that means."

"So your nature is rainy? Tha's depressin'."

Katrina laughed surprisedly, a musical sound that filled the room. "You know, you're not so bad when you're not trying to snap my head off."

"Oh. Umm… I guess I should b' makin' apologies for me comments earlier. Uh… some people ha' said tha' I have a rough tongue."

"No shit?" They both giggled. Katrina downed the rest of her drink.

"You've seen me job. Wha' is it tha' you do?"

Katrina smiled and fished out her wallet, handing Aislinn a white card with a red cross. "I'm an EMT on some nights and weekends. Both my parents are medical professionals, so they, and I, kinda always figured I would follow in their footsteps and whatnot. I really do enjoy it, though. There's nothing like saving lives."

"Have you? Saved anyone's life, tha' is?"

"Yeah. I've done CPR, defib, trauma care on gunshots, knife wounds, car wrecks - you'd be surprised. I was when I found out first hand how violent this city actually was. Busted me out of my shell, so to speak. First step on the road to redemption."

"I'm impressed. You're awful young for such a thing."

"My calling runs in my blood, I guess you could say."

"Yeah. I…" She stopped. She still barely knew this person. No sense in blabbing her deepest thoughts and feelings to someone she had known for twelve hours, and actively disliked for most of that. "Well, next time I ge' shot, I'll be sure t' call you 'fore the cops."

"Next time?" Her expression immediately became concerned. "There was a first?"

"Yeah."Aislinn undid the bottom two buttons of her shirt and showed the series of small, dull scars on the left side of her abdomen. "Caugh' the edge of a shotgun blas' intended for someone a bi' less fortunate than I."

Katrina couldn't help but notice the muscles in her belly bunch when she half-stood to show off the scar. The girl was built! Katrina knew that she was in good physical shape, but realized now that she had nothing on the Irish girl across from her. Instinctively, she reached out to examine the wound.

Aislinn flinched a bit when Katrina's fingers touched her - they were warm and soft, and her touch was expert.

"Well, it seems to have healed just fine. Nothing but scar tissue," she observed.

"Yeah. I got real lucky." She sat back down and redid her shirt.

"So… why is it that you have such a problem with people? You don't seem to get along too well with anyone at school, and… just not too big on the whole company-of-others thing."

Aislinn stirred her drink for a few seconds. "Why's it tha' y' won' sleep wi' Aiden?"

Katrina's mouth opened and closed, and her face flushed with embarrassment. 'Sorry. I guess we both have personal business."

"Yeah."

"Are you hungry? I'm starving."

"I could eat." She shrugged.

"Good. Let's roll." They pushed away from the table and headed for the door. Aislinn was still very self-conscious of the attention they got, but she could swear that she saw Katrina wink at a guy in the corner - and sure enough, right when they got to the car, he and his buddies were behind them.

"Hey, ladies. Where are you headed?"

Katrina turned, and instantly something about her shifted - Aislinn couldn't help but think predator. Despite being by far the smallest person present, the petite blonde exuded an air of dominance that left absolutely no question - she was in control.

"Nowhere in particular, boys, and we'll be going there alone. Thanks anyway." Her smile showed teeth, and her eyes promised equal parts sex and violence.

"Okay! Fine! No problem." He held his hands up and backed away. She turned to Aislinn, and the normal Katrina was back. She winked and motioned to the car.

"Katrina - wha' th' fuck was that?!?"

"I've been studying theater since I was five." She started out of the parking lot and back on to the road.

"Tha's one thing, bu'… tha' was like a completely diff'rent person!"

"That's kinda the idea of acting." She pointed out.

"Yah, bu'… I can'na tell which is really you. Is' damn convincing."

"Well, which do you think?" She said sweetly, and glanced over with the same grin and hungry eyes.

"Chris'! Don' do that!"

"If you say so, dearie." Her voice was light and cheerful again.

"Don' you start tha', too. Why'd you do tha' to those poor dumb jocks? Likely scared 'em half t' death."

"Call it an object lesson. Your personality has power, Aislinn, whether you believe it or not. All you have to do is have the confidence and willpower to back it up."

"I've go' plenty of confidence." The redhead grumbled. "Come run wi' me sometime, and we'll see how much confidence ye' have."

"Sure thing. But you gotta agree to come to the pool with me, then. Fair's fair."

"Aw, why the fuck no'? You're on."

Aislinn took a deep breath of the cool night air and began to stretch. Katrina had dropped her off after a stop at Taco Bell, where the tiny blonde ordered a huge steak burrito and wolfed it down in record time. When asked, she mumbled something about metabolism and kept eating. Aislinn had no idea how she did it - the damn things sat in her stomach like bricks.

She started out her run slow, then picked up the pace as she warmed up. Her breathing fell into the cyclic in, out, in, out rhythm with her footfalls. Five minutes turned to ten, then into twenty. The snow began to fall when her watch beeped 10 PM. She made it all the way to the waterfront before stopping for a break.

This particular area of Boston was part industrial and part commercial, with lots of shops and restaurants along the wharves where deep-sea fisherman unloaded their wares. The monument to the Holocaust, three glass towers etched with the prisoner numbers of those who died in the Nazi concentration camps, stood in a small park across from the piers. Gratings vented steam around and through the towers, so that those who stopped to read were reminded of the heat and stench of the cremation chambers. Aislinn liked the place - it was quiet and peaceful, and those who came here were very respectful. It reminded her of the worst part of human nature - of the depths of depravity to which man could sink.

She was leaning against a bench, stretching her calves when something moved out of the corner of her eye. She looked to her right - nothing but shadows and snow. She shrugged and stretched the other leg.

Something moved again.

Aislinn spun and looked all around. Still nothing.

"Alrigh', this is too fuckin' creepy." But then again, Aislinn, you are certifiable, she reminded herself.

She quickly shied away from that train of thought -that was not a part of her life that she particularly wanted to remember.

Aislinn remained perfectly still, watching the hedges and shadows for something - anything - to show. She hated not knowing more than anything else. At least she could fight a would-be rapist.

Her idle speculation ended when three dogs emerged from the shadows and came towards her. They were all big - maybe Lab's, or Huskies? - Aislinn wasn't sure - but they came right up tp her and sat expectantly.

She smiled and relaxed. Dogs she could handle. She wasn't a particular expert on breeding, but had always seemed to get along well with canines, like she had a certain empathy with them.

The three circled her - one was black, another brown, and the smallest yellow. Aislinn knelt and offered her hand.

There now. Good pup. Gave me quite a fright, ye' did, thinkin' ye t' be somethin' scary." The yellow sniffed and nuzzled her hand affectionately. She scratched behind it's ears.

"What are ye doin' runnin' round here so late? Like t' be picked up by the pound!" The other two nipped at the yellow. It gave a startled yelp and leaped at the black dog. All three began tussling in the snow.

Aislinn laughed, a genuinely happy sound filled with joy and amazement that left her smiling. She sat and drew her knees up to watch the dogs growl and wrestle with each other.

She treasured these moments when the city slept; t made her feel liike the streets were hers and no one else's. She admired and envied the simplicity that the three dogs enjoyed - they didn't have the social moors and innuendo that gave Aislinn such a fit. A lot of times she wished - well, she wished that people could be more like dogs.

She whistled sharply and stood. All three looked up quizzically. "Sorry, guys, bu' I've stayed long enough. Gettin' behind in me run." She patted the yellow and black ones on the head. Damn, but they were big, and beautiful, too. How were they running around without collars?

The black one barked twice, and they all vanished like spirits into the darkness and swirling snow.

Aislinn loked at her watch. 10:15. "Well, I s'pose I shoul' get a move on." She sketched a hasty salute to the towers of glass and trotted back onto the street.

When she got home, the lights were already out. The television's white fuzz cast the living room into sharp contrast. A silhouette waited in the doorway.

"Where have you been, young lady?"

"Chasin' dragons an' turnin' tricks. Where do I go e'ery night, Glenn?" She moved past her foster father and closed her door with a final thud.

She immediately shod her clothes and climbed into bed, falling instantly into a deep, restful sleep - and for the first time in a long while, didn't wake up screaming.