Thanks for the reviews!! Love you all!! This chapter is really just about some Gwen and Buffy interaction. I like the idea of these two as friends.

Buffy gave a horrified gasp and froze, her eyes darting to the window and back to Gwen. Gwen was rooted to the spot, shocked and confused. A few seconds past in total silence.

Predicting the inevitable, Buffy darted to Gwen's side and clapped her hands over the girl's mouth. It felt wrong and horribly cruel, but she had to avoid a scream at all cost. Gwen regained her senses and struggled, fear in her eyes.

Buffy kept one hand over Gwen's mouth and grabbed her arms with the other to avoid a punch to the stomach. Gwen struggled and aimed a kick at her shin but Buffy dodged it and whispered desperately,

"Stop struggling, and let me explain! Please!"

Gwen's eyes widened and she stood stock-still, still afraid but less so. Buffy tentatively withdrew her hand from Gwen's mouth and let go of her arms, tensed just in case.

"You…" Gwen stuttered.

"Shh, please," Buffy begged. "I can explain!"

Gwen lowered her voice. "What are you doing here?" she said. Buffy glanced guiltily at the clothes chest and Gwen followed her gaze. "My clothes?" she hissed in disbelief. "You were stealing my clothes?"

"I don't know," Buffy said helplessly. "I needed too, I'm so sorry. I was going too, but… I just couldn't."

Gwen stared at her. "You don't look like a burglar," she said. "But you don't look… normal, either," her gaze raked Buffy's singlet-top and jeans. "Who are you?"

"Will your father come in any time soon?" Buffy asked nervously.

"How did you…? Have you been spying on me?" Gwen hissed, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

"I just saw through the window," Buffy defended herself. "I am in a seriously bad situation here, okay? If I could just understand, I… oh well. What about your father?"

"Father's tired. He'll be resting in there until dinner," Gwen said. "You'd better come with me to the back room. He won't be able to here us there, the walls are thick."

Gratefully, Buffy followed Gwen out into the tiny passage. Careful to make no sound, she tiptoed behind as Gwen led the way into the bigger back room. She knew it wasn't likely but she was worried that Gwen's father would hear two sets of footsteps and be puzzled by it.

Gwen shut the door of the back room and gestured for Buffy to sit on one of the two wooden stools by the table. Buffy sank into one of them, feeling a lot less frantic than before. There was something trustworthy and kind about Gwen, Buffy knew she wouldn't betray her without a very good reason.

"Now," Gwen said. "Explain."

Gwen was a good listener. Buffy began with Toth. She knew she should mention being the Slayer, and all of her story, but she couldn't bring herself to. It was like keeping her secret was hardwired into her system. Not to her friends of course, but she couldn't just go blurting out the fact to strangers.

Gwen gasped in various places, and when Buffy described Toth and mentioned the word 'demon' a look of pure fear crossed her face. Buffy stumbled a bit at the end- it was still unclear to her what had exactly happened, and she saw Gwen's face for the first time.

"Gwen! What…?"

Gwen didn't even register with the fact that she hadn't told Buffy her name, yet Buffy knew it. She was staring at the door as though frightened something would come bursting through it.

"King Uther…" she murmured. "Oh no."

"Umm?" Buffy raised her eyebrows questioningly. "Did you just say King Uther? Isn't he Arthur's dad?"

Gwen gasped. "You've met Arthur?"

"Sure. Arrogant guy with blonde hair. Good runner. Bit too angry for my liking," a blush tinged her cheeks as she remembered Arthur's staring.

"Oh no!" Gwen jumped up and began pacing the small room. "This is so bad!"

"Why?" Buffy was confused. "So I met Arthur, and his dad is Uther. What's the problem?"

Gwen explained about King Uther's laws. Buffy gaped.

"Executing witches?" thinking fondly of Willow and Tara, Buffy was furious. "I happen to have two very good friends who are witches and they have helped me in so many ways…!"

Gwen shushed her with a frantic expression on her face. "I know it's not sensible, but honestly, we have some really dangerous warlocks out there."

"A warlock could help me get back!" Buffy said suddenly. "If only we could find one…"

"Slow down!" Gwen said desperately. "I need to think this through. How can I even know if you're telling the truth? You could be a sorceress yourself! And if you are telling the truth, how will you possibly be able to find a sorcerer or warlock or something? Everyone will just think you're a spy for the King."

"You don't have to help, okay?" Buffy said. She was sorry for putting Gwen in danger. "If I could just borrow some clothes, maybe? Then I'll blend in. I will return them," she said, when Gwen looked sceptical, "or buy you new ones."

"I guess so," Gwen said. She jumped as bells chimed through the house from somewhere in the city, marking the start of a new hour. "Oh goodness! Dinner! I have to hurry. You need to get out of here." she suddenly thought of something. "You haven't even told me your name yet."

"It's Buffy, Buffy Summers," Buffy said. "But I think I should change it, don't you? I told Arthur that name."

"Then you must definitely change it," Gwen agreed. "I'm sure you'll think of something."

She herded Buffy back towards the other rooms, keeping quiet, and handed her a cream short sleeved dress, a red pinafore and an old brown cloak. "It's my spare," she said apologetically. "It's quite old."

"It's perfect," Buffy pulled Gwen into a grateful hug. "I promise you I'll return them," she assured her. "Don't worry." She headed towards the window.

"Buffy?" Gwen called after her.

Buffy turned. "Gwen?"

"Tell me how you're going, okay?"Gwen asked quietly.

Buffy flashed her a smile. "Oh, don't worry. If you want me too, I certainly will."

So Buffy's out searching for a warlock. I wonder who'll she find…