The sounds of a kung-fu movie filtered in through Buffy's subconscious as she read intently from her book. She and Faith were joining Xander and Anya for a movie night and while she was immersed in her book her and Xander and Anya watched on in mild nervousness as Faith copied the moves she was seeing on the television.

"Wish I had something food-like to offer you guys but the hot plates out of commission," Xander said.

"We think the cat peed on it," Anya supplied not taking her eyes off the screen.

"I do have Spaghetti-O's. Set 'em on top of the dryer and you're a fluff cycle away from lukewarm goodness. How about Faith would you like some O's?" Xander asked the toddler.

"Not now Xander I'm tryna be a superhero," Faith said turning her attention back to the screen and copying another martial arts move.

"And if you didn't have the supernatural strength to match I wouldn't be as nervous," he said quietly so only Anya could hear him, wincing when the young girl kicked even closer to his television.

"Yes Buffy please get the small Slayer to stop before she breaks the most expensive thing in Xander's room," Anya said scowling when the blonde Slayer didn't look up from her book.

"What's a Slayer?" Faith asked stopping her kicking and turning to face the couple on the couch. Xander's eyes widened, he knew that Buffy and Joyce hadn't explained to the toddler what she was and whilst the young girl knew about vampires and demons and that Buffy fought them she wasn't really aware of what she was. Luckily he was spared from an explanation when a door slams upstairs and a muffled yelling can be heard filtering in from upstairs.

"Ah guess the folks are back," Xander said a hint of embarrassment edging into his voice, "No, no, I was wrong. Just incompetent burglars," he smiled sheepishly at Anya as a loud bang sounded from upstairs causing flakes of plaster to fall from the ceiling and onto the ex-demon's head.

"Yeah, maybe it's definitely time to start looking for a new place. Something a little nicer. Buffy, you've been to Hell. They have one-bedrooms, right? Xander said looking over at Buffy, his words having no effect on her as she was still immersed in her reading.

"B Mama says it's not nice to ignore people when they ask you something," Faith said coming to stand in front of her sister.

"I'm fine," Buffy said offhandedly her eyes never leaving the page.

"Come on B, stop bein' boring," Faith whined trying to pull the book from out of Buffy's grasp.

"Hey, I'm enjoying the studying," Buffy pouted but she let Faith take the book from her.

"Who are you and what have you done with my fellow unscholaristic friend, formerly known as Buffy?" Xander asked.

"You know never thought I would be saying this but college life actually agrees with Buffy," Buffy said.

"Oh blasphemy!" Xander gasped holding a hand to his chest in mock horror.

They were interrupted by a crash from the corner of the room as a piece of plaster fell from the roof and fell to the floor. Faith who had walked off to the other side of the room to look at Xander's comic book collection came racing back over to the group sitting on the couch.

"I didn't do it," the toddler said launching herself onto Buffy's lap and looking at Xander with a slightly scared expression, as if she expected he was going to yell at her.

"It's okay Faithy I know you didn't. Yep, definitely time for a new place," Xander said putting his arm around his girlfriend.

*********************************************************************************************

"You know what if Xander actually gets this place we might be walking up this corridor and singing tra la la la la we're off to Xander's," Willow smiled down at Faith as she swung their entwined hands. They were following Xander, Anya and Buffy down the corridor of a nice apartment block. Xander's earlier sentiment of finding a new place to live was quickly become a reality as this was the third place they had looked at today.

"Just warning you Xander I probably won't be doing that," Buffy said to her friend.

"Your sister is a bit of a scrooge sometimes," Willow said bending down to pick Faith up.

"Sometimes B is real fun, last night we made a cubby house under the kitchen table but then Mama got angry 'cause we used her good sheets," Faith said playing with the fluffy orange collar of Willow's sweater.

"Yeah and you got my in trouble because you told Mom it was all my idea which it so was not," Buffy said from in front of them.

"It was too, you sayed that we could play whatever I wanted to," Faith said her voice rising.

"Just 'cause I said we could play whatever you wanted to doesn't mean it was my fault we got in trouble," Buffy retorted.

"But you gots the sheets from the cupboard and put them on the table," Faith pouted crossing her arms across her chest. Willow nearly ran into the group in front of them who had stopped in front of a white door.

"Could you two please keep it down, your incessant yelling may ruin Xander's chances of getting this apartment which if judging by this hallway is going to be beautiful and spacious," Anya said running her hands lovingly along the pristine white walls that lined the corridor.

"Hey, we're just lookin'. Rent's way high, so don't get your hopes all carbonated," Xander said putting up his hands.

"But you have references," Anya frowned.

"No, I have Albert, which is me doing an important voice," Xander said turning to Faith and putting on a funny accent, "'Xander Harris? An excellent tenant. And a very nice-looking fellow,'" he finished and Faith giggled leaning over so he could take her from Willow.

"Wow this place is big," Willow said looking around in awe as they walked into the spacious apartment.

"I want it, pay anything," Anya said coming to stand next to Xander who was still standing near the doorway, Faith in his arms.

"Xander Harris?" he jumped at the voice behind him and turned to see a smartly dressed woman with cropped brown hair enter who they all assumed to be the estate agent.

"Ah yeah, hey," he said, balancing Faith in one arm and sticking the other out for her to shake which she did almost gingerly as she appraised his bold Hawaiian t-shirt.

"You have a daughter," the estate agent said looking at Faith, "you said in your application that it would just be yourself and your girlfriend."

"Daughter, what no, Faiths not, she's Buffy's, not mine," Xander spluttered. Sensing his distress Buffy came over and stuck her hand out to shake the real estate agents.

"Hi I'm Buffy, this is my sister Faith," she said taking the toddler from Xander, "and this is Willow we're friends of Xander and Anya."

"I see," the estate agent replied.

"They wouldn't always be around," Xander added quickly.

"But we're clean and quiet," Willow smiled nervously at the woman as Buffy came over to join her redheaded friend on the opposite side of the room. The estate agent continued to talk to Xander and Anya about the terms of the lease as Willow stared pointedly at Faith.

"Weird," she muttered.

"What?" Buffy asked frowning at her friend.

"Well just if I squint like this I can kind of see a bit of Xander in Faith," Willow said motioning to the toddler's brown eyes and hair.

"Eww Will don't even go there," Buffy exclaimed trying to cover Faith's ears.

"Don't," Faith whined loudly, trying to pull Buffy's hands off her ears. Anya shot them an annoyed look from the other side of the room as the estate agent spoke to her and Xander.

"Come on why don't we go and check out the bedroom?" Buffy said smiling apologetically at Xander and pulling Willow along with her. Buffy deposited Faith non to gracefully on the bed and the toddler bounced a few times before coming to sit on the end. They heard Xander laugh nervously from the other room as Anya proclaimed that the brunette man would take the apartment.

"I don't think Xander should get this 'partment," Faith said seriously looking around the bedroom.

"Why not Faithy? It's a pretty nice place," Willow said.

"Because," the toddler replied emphasising the end of the word, "there's no toys here so Xander will be sad all the time."

"Oh no poor Xander we must stop him immediately," Willow smirked leaning over and pushing Faith back on the bed blowing raspberries on the toddler's stomach.

"Wilwow stop!" Faith shrieked trying to push the witch off of her as she giggled.

"Only if you say Willow is the funnest, coolest most fantabulous person you know," Willow said.

"Okay, Wilwow is the funnest, coolest most fan-fanab-fantablous person I know," Faith gasped out, scrunching up her face as the witch left one last sloppy raspberry on her stomach before pulling her shirt back down.

"I told you, my construction job is ending, and I won't have any more money coming in. And by the way, you do have your own place," Xander said quietly as he and Anya walked into the bedroom to be out of earshot of the estate agent.

"So when I wanna visit you, I have to be in that awful basement?" Anya asked her voice rising angrily.

"Not forever. Just until things come together," Xander said putting his hand on her arm trying to calm her.

"Which is when, Xander? 'Cause right now, things are looking pretty untogether, and you can't expect me just to wait around," Anya said pulling out of his grasp swiping angrily at the few frustrated tears that had slipped down her cheeks.

"Xander Avelle Harris you pologise to Anya right away," Faith said hopping up off the end of the bed and pointing at him.

"It's Lavelle, wait what how did you know that?" Xander asked.

"Ah come on Faithy we should go let Xander and Anya talk this through," Willow said scooping Faith up hurriedly, a guilty expression flashing across her face as she walked quickly out of the bedroom. Xander turned to the blonde Slayer who was bouncing on the balls of her feet.

"What are you looking at me for?" she squeaked before quickly following Willow out.

"Thanks for leaving me high and dry in there guys I nearly broke and told him that we told Faith all his embarrassing secrets," Buffy said as she walked into the living room.

"Sorry Buff didn't mean to leave you high and dry but you know how I break under pressure," Willow said smiling sheepishly.

"Did you know that I have a Batman?" Faith asked the estate agent as the lady stood leaning against the kitchen bench. The estate agent looked from her paper work and smiled at the child before going back to her reading.

"I do my Mama got it for me, but she didn't get B one 'cause she sayed that B was already too spoiled," the young girl said earning a disgruntled "Hey!" from Buffy but this didn't deter her, "and I had a Piderman as well but I gave it to Angel so it would look after him," she continued frowning when the only reaction she got from the estate agent was another quick smile.

"Hey lady my Mama says when someone is speaking to you you gotta say somethin' back," she said tugging on the woman's skirt.

"Faith!" Buffy admonished coming over to where her sister stood smiling apologetically at the estate agent.

"What?" Faith asked.

"That was rude you shouldn't speak to people that way," Buffy said.

"But Mama told me that it is rude not to answer people when they talk to you and that lady didn't answer me," Faith said not too quietly and Buffy's face flamed with embarrassment as they were clearly in earshot of the lady in question.

"She's busy baby, I think you should say sorry to her for being rude," Buffy said. Faith seemed to think about things for a bit her brow furrowed finally she crossed her arms in a defiant gesture, "No," she said.

Buffy recoiled a little in surprise, the toddler had had her moments but she had never deliberately disobeyed herself or her mother.

"Faith apologise to," she glanced up at the estate agent's name badge, "Michelle please," she tried again.

"No," Faith said again putting her hands on her hips in a stance that mirrored Buffy's.

"Faith Isabelle you apologise right now or you will be sitting in that corner until we're finished here and go to the Magic Shop you won't be doing any of the activities Grandpa Giles has, you will be sitting and watching," Buffy said sternly her voice rising.

"No," Faith said quieter this time.

Buffy sighed, "Okay then let's go," she said taking Faith by the elbow and leading her towards the corner of the room. The toddler went without a struggle but Willow caught the hurt look on her face as she passed her.

"Okay Faith you sit there in silence until we're ready to go," Buffy said pushing her down so she was sitting on the floor. The young girl crossed her legs and hung her head as she sat in the corner playing with her hands. Buffy went back over to the estate agent smiling apologetically at her.

"I'm sorry about that," Buffy said.

"It's okay, I probably should have said something to her, I'm not used to being around kids," Michelle admitted.

"No problems, she shouldn't have spoken to you like that anyway," Buffy said running a hand through her hair and looking over at Faith who still had her head bowed.

"I guess I'll just start on that application. I think you'll like it. I've been told I have lovely penmanship," Xander said smiling nervously as he and Anya walked out from the bedroom. Michelle handed him the application the expression on her face sceptical.

************************************************************************************************

Faith wouldn't look at Buffy as they made their way to the Magic Shop. She hadn't spoken a word to her sister since she had been put in time out. The four year old was currently walking in between Willow and Xander and was holding onto their hands. Buffy scuffed her shoe along the pavement as they walked. She knew she had done the right thing but she still hated when Faith was upset with her. Willow seemed to notice her friend's distress so she let go of Faith's hand and fell back so she was walking in time with Buffy.

"She'll get over it," Willow said.

"I know, I still don't like being all stern Buffy though, it's not good for my complexion," Buffy pouted.

"You did the right thing Buff," Willow said holding the door open for her friend as they approached the Magic Shop.

The ringing of the bell alerted Giles to their presence and he rushed up to them, "Buffy thank goodness you are here," he said.

"Here I am, what's the what Giles you look all...sweaty," Buffy said looking her Watcher up and down.

"A demon came in here looking for you and we had a bit of a run in," Giles said.

"How badly did you hurt him?" Buffy asked as they went to sit at the table the blonde Slayer pointing at the stairs for Faith to sit on giving her a stern glance.

"Well, hurt may be a bit of a strong word," Giles said taking his glasses off.

"I'm sure you startled him," Willow said handing Faith a drink of water.

"Uh, yes, yes, I'd imagine it gave him, uh, rather a turn," Giles said wiping at his glasses.

"He ran away huh," Buffy grinned at him enjoying teasing her Watcher.

"Um, sort of more ... uh ... turned and swept out majestically, I suppose. He said I didn't concern him," Giles said placing his glasses back on his face and deliberately not making eye contact with anyone in the room.

"So a mythic triumph over a completely indifferent foe?" Buffy said smirking.

"Well, I'm not dead or unconscious, so I say bravo for me," Giles said looking mildly insulted.

"Have a look in this book Giles there's some good demons in there maybe you can find your uh, turn and walk awayer," Willow said handing Giles a large leather bound book. Buffy looked over at Faith who was sitting with her chin in her hands a pensive expression on her face. She walked over and knelt so that she was eye level with the young girl.

"Faith are you sorry for what you did?" Buffy asked.

"I don't know why you are angry 'cause Mama told me that it is rude not to answer people when they ask you somethin'," Faith said quietly not looking at Buffy.

"I'm not angry at what you said, I'm angry because of the way you said it. It's not right to speak to someone the way you did. Not only that you disobeyed me, I told you to do something and you didn't," Buffy replied.

"I was bad wasn't I," Faith said softly.

"Yeah you were," Buffy said brushing some hair away from the toddler's face.

"If you do it I won't cry, I never cry," Faith said looking down at her feet.

"If I do what?" Buffy asked.

"Beat me," Faith said under her breath.

Buffy froze; sometimes she forgot the circumstances of the younger girls past. Forgetting that Faith was meant to be being punished she pulled the toddler into her arms. Faith tensed at first obviously expecting to get hit but when she realised that Buffy was hugging her she threw her arms around the older girl's neck.

"Sweetheart I would never hit you, no one would ever hit you for misbehaving," she said into Faith's hair, "not anymore."

"I'm sowy, Faith said as she pulled away.

"Apology accepted," Buffy said kissing her on the forehead.

"You know Giles the last couple of owners of this place met an untimely end and now you had a run in with demon guy, is anyone else thinking bad omen?" Xander said as he looked around at his friends.

"Toth," Giles muttered looking up from his book.

"Say what now?" Xander replied.

"He called you a Toth. It's a British expression. It means, like, moron," Buffy told her friend matter of factly.

"No, Toth is the name of the demon," Giles said looking at the blonde Slayer exasperatedly, "Faith put that down," the British man called as he spotted Faith over Buffy's shoulder holding a purple crystal. The toddler looked up sheepishly and put the crystal back on the shelf and came to stand next to Buffy taking her hand.

"Ancient demon. Very strong. Last survivor of the Tothric clan. It also says that for a demon he's unusually sophisticated," Giles finished.

"Sophisticated? So should I talk to him about men's fashions before I chop his head off?" Buffy asked.

"They're referring to the fact that he does not fight bare-handed. He uses tools, devices. Oh, he's also supposed to be very focused. And since he mentioned the slayer, I think we know what the focus is," Giles said shaking his head.

"Well I'm thinking a good killing will get him off our hands. Where do we find him?" she asked Giles.

"Well, there's no mention of the types of places he might frequent, but I have an idea. He had a very specific olfactory presence," Giles said closing his book and standing up.

"Grandpa Giles you talk funny," Faith said crinkling her nose and looking at the Watcher, he made a face at her and pulled her into his arms giving her an Eskimo kiss.

"Hey how come everytime I make fun of the G-Man I don't get kisses," Xander pouted as Buffy and Willow turned and raised their eyebrows at him, "wait forget that I even said that. So we're off the olfactory then," he said looking at Giles who rolled his eyes at the younger man, "I'm kidding I know what it means, he smelt right?"

************************************************************************************************

"The city dump. Where smells go to relax and be themselves," Buffy said pinching her nose as they walked amongst the mounds of garbage the residents of Sunnydale have disposed off.

"I found a spell so you can't smell anything, but it does it by taking your nose off, so ... no," Willow said shaking her head quickly.

"Giles explain to us again what this Sloth guy looks like," Buffy said as she kicking at a piece of old toaster on the ground.

"Ah tall, robed, skin sort of hanging off. Deep voice," Giles said frowning as he tried to remember.

"Kind of like that?" Xander asked pointing over their shoulders to where a creature fitting that description was indeed standing, his eyes glowing a fluorescent yellow and a large wooden rod in his hand. Before any of them had any time to react Toth roared into the darkness pointing his rod at them a red beam shooting out of the end. The beam missed them all as they ducked for cover and Buffy has to roll out of the way of the next one that narrowly misses hitting her. The demon roared again in frustration as he raised his rod his eyes glowing more intensely as his anger rose. He pointed it at Buffy who was still getting up off the ground and Willow and Giles looked on in horror as the beam hit Xander in the chest as he dove in front of the blonde Slayer.

The power of the shock sent him flying back into a pile of garbage that was behind him and the impact knocks the breath from his lungs. The rest of the gang rushed over to him hurriedly scrambling to make sure that he was alright.

"Xander are you alright?" Willow asked her best friend a worried frown on her face.

"I'm okay," Xander said as Giles helped him up.

"Easy," the Watcher said as the younger man groaned.

"He's gone," the blonde Slayer said as she looked around for the demon who had disappeared.

"That had to hurt," Willow said as she looped one of Xander's arms around her shoulder, Giles taking the other side.

"Yeah, yeah," Xander said.

"Take it slowly," Giles said.

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The morning rays of sunshine beat down on the Sunnydale city dump, the crows that had been foraging there cawing as they rose into the air, the roaring of a bulldozer interrupting their morning activities. Xander yawned as he scrubbed his hands over his eyes his nose scrunching slightly at the smell that affronted his senses.

"Anya are you using the hot plate again?" he asked opening his eyes blearily. As his vision cleared he realised that he was not in his basement apartment, the mounds of garbage surrounding him alerting him to this fact.

"Oh this is not good," he said sitting up and looking around, "so not good."

A/N: Reviews please. They make me a happy author.