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Chapter 4: Shared Destiny

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Willow couldn't believe her ears. In fact she wouldn't. "What the hell are you talking about!?"

"Well this girl walked into the magic box and told us the whole story. The cliff note version is that this girl…" She pointed to Kennedy, "has been following her. She also says that somehow she looks exactly like herself so when she finally settled down here in Sunnydale to pursue slaying, she beat her to slaying all the major demon gangs and basically said she was the new slayer in town."

"I don't believe you." Willow said bluntly and went to Kennedy's side. Faith sighed and scratched her head. "Red, listen to me she is not the slayer okay…"Willow cut her off before she could say anything else. "Faith she has got to be the slayer. You weren't there when she took down three vampires and saved my life, not to mention Dawn's also."

Now it was Faith's turn to be confused. Willow went back to checking Kennedy's face for bruising. "She saved Dawn's life?" Faith asked slowly. Willow looked back at Faith. "Yes alright…now help me carry her to the couch."

They both picked up Kennedy and carried her through the dining room into the living room and carefully set her down on the couch. The two friends then walked back into the kitchen to talk some more. "Faith did you even test her skills out?"

"No..." Faith realized she might be walking into a hopeless battle. "Okay, did you sense anything familiar about her?" Willow bent down and picked up the now broken plate. "Umm…no." Faith sat down on an island chair with a defeated 'thud.'

"Then how do you know she is a slayer!?" Willow stressed as she tossed the broken plate into the trash and Faith flinched. "Well, I guess I don't okay! She was just really buff and looked like the type to be a slayer." Faith started shaking her head at her own stupidity.

"So you just decided to find her and beat the crap out of her. Faith, how could you think like that? That's how innocent people die!" Willow said loudly, but to not wake up Kennedy she began to whisper, "That's something the old Faith would do way back when during the whole graduation thing. You're better than this Faith."

"I know, I know...I guess I just got wrapped up in the whole story...Obviously. But what should I do Red? I mean that girl is staying at Giles' pad and we have this girl here…" Faith threw her thumb in the knocked out brunette's direction.

"That girl has a name and it's Kennedy Hansen." Willow stated as a matter of fact. Faith raised her eyebrows and Willow just started to blush. "Moving on…I think we should have some sort of slayer competition. Ooh, ooh like the Olympics or something like that." Willow went to wash her hands proudly.

"That sounds good. I'll call Giles tomorrow and set up the whole thing. So what happened tonight? Why did you guys get jumped by vampires? I thought you were supposed to be home before sunset." Faith leaned forward eagerly onto the island.

Turning around to lean against the sink Willow rolled her eyes, "Well for one, curfew is ten and the sun sets at eight. Two, it was just a regular vampire, 'I want to suck your blood' festival. Complete with your own 'save your life slayer'."

Faith chuckled. The two just talked through the night like they use to before the whole 'Willow's planning to destroy the world' thing happened.

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Meanwhile in the living room…Kennedy was coming to.

'Oww…my head hurts. Where the hell am I? Oh wait, I remember now the slayer here in Sunnydale rushed me, grabbed me, and used me as a punching bag. Man my life rocks! Do you always have to be so cheerful when you get your ass kicked? Umm…hello it is called sarcasm! I knew that dumb ass. No you didn't. Yes I did, oh whatever. Up yours. Okay gonna stop now…starting to sound like to freakin two year olds inside my head. Alright mind sum up about where you are and a plan to get out of here…'

Kennedy sat up fast, but immediately regretted it. She groaned loudly. She heard talking in the other room so she quieted down a bit more.

'Alright, you're back in Willow's house...hmmm Willow's lips…okay keeping on track now. You're obviously on the couch with no one there. People in the next room talking quietly and me thinks we should high tail it out here...Or you could go ease drop...yes let's try that!'

Kennedy agreed with herself as she got off the couch and made her way over to dining room. Staying in the shadows she heard enough to know they wanted to test her against her look-a-like come the next day. 'Great. Looks like the only way to clear up this mess. Not exactly my plan A, but at least I know I'll be able to prove myself proper. Ugh I need a shower...'

Slowly making her way back out of the dining room she saw a pen and paper. 'Better leave her a note so she'll know I'm ok...and that I'll be there tomorrow.' Kennedy quickly wrote her note and left it on top of an open laptop. 'Someone's bound to see that.' With that settled she made her way to the front door. She didn't go far when she ran into a lamp. 'Quietly you dork. How's it going grace? Oh shut up and keep walking…'

She finally made it to the door and carefully opened it and walked out into the fresh air, closing it silently behind her. It had to at least two o'clock in the morning. The moon was full and you could see the stars again. Boy was she loving every moment of this.

She didn't realize how long she stood there but it hit her she had to get out of there. She ran off into the night leaving her new red head behind in closed doors.

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Willow was starting to yawn when she looked at the kitchen clock realized how late it was. "Goddess Faith! It's already three in the morning!" She turned back towards Faith who was just barely awake. Faith nodded a little tired her self. This was weird because she was a slayer after all. Slayer's are the original energizer bunnies! "I haven't heard anything from the living room Will. Do you think she is still out of it?" Faith said as she leaned back in her chair to listen more closely.

"I don't know Faith. She did lose a lot of blood so maybe she is. I'd rather just leave here be for now." Willow was secretly hoping to take care of her more. "Ok, yea, I saw the bandage. Has she been bitten before?" Faith asked standing up and stretching. "No, she was pretty shocked. She didn't realize how much it could hurt." Willow stayed seated. Her thoughts drifting back to Kennedy.

"What was she thinking!? It is only getting your life getting sucked out of you." Faith shook her head. "Pretty much." Willow stood up and started to walk out in to the dining room. She turned around when Faith didn't follow.

"You coming?" She asked. "Naw…I just gonna make some coffee and then head off to bed." Faith moved around to the island to reach for a coffee mug. Willow nodded and walked into the living room. She froze when she saw the couch empty. 'Not again…you can't keep that girl in one place for just one night can you?'

"Faith!" She called. Faith just came running. "What? Where's the fire?" Faith waved her arms around exaggerating the danger. "No fire here but Kennedy ran off again. What if you gave her a concussion? Or maybe she needs to change her band aid? Or…"

Faith cut her off with her hand over her mouth and grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her towards the stairs. "Nothing you can do till tomorrow…I mean today…I mean later today. Oh, you know what I mean. So you might as well get some sleep."

"Yea your right…Goodnight Faith." Willow walked up the stairs. "Goodnight Red…" Faith whispered. She had a feeling something more happened between the possible slayer and her witch, but until then her mind would just have wait till Red was ready to talk. Walking back to the kitchen through the dining room Faith noticed a note laying on Willow's laptop.

"Dear Willow,

Sorry I couldn't stay. I needed to be in my own space, plus I need to shower after saving your life. For the second time I might add ;) I overheard you talking about needing to test my skills to make sure I'm legit. I'll be at the Magic Box by noon tomorrow.

-K"

'Little girl better bring it tomorrow if she is to get me to believe anything...' Faith thought as she took the note with her into the kitchen. 'Now to think about a suitable test.'

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The next day the Scooby gang was at the Magic Box examining the other possible slayer. Everyone of course had their own suspicions but they kept those to themselves. The girl who looked identical to Kennedy just stood in front of everyone not moving. Nobody really did anything because they were waiting for the now always late Willow.

They heard the familiar bell of the shop and turned to look to see who it was. It was only a customer. Anya jumped off the table and ran over to the person saying quiet loudly "You here to spend your money?"

The bell was then chimed again and in walks Willow. She looked up from her book and saw the girl there. "Kennedy!" She said as she ran over and gave the girl a hug. The brunette was frozen like a statue and pulled away. She backed up a few feet and put out her hand.

"Umm…no but my name is Jerae. Nice to meet you umm…Willow." The witch took her hand and shook. She realized that the bite mark on her was gone and just couldn't believe it wasn't Kennedy. 'Boy am I not believing in things lately…maybe the whole world is against me…maybe this is all just a huge conspiracy…'

She didn't know that she was still shaking Jerae's hand. Jerae just kind of yanked her hand back. That motion made Willow snap out of it. "Hehe, sorry about that. I seem to do that a lot." Willow blushed. "No problem." Jerae replied as she turned towards everyone else with impeccable posture.

Willow walked back to a table and sat down. Once again there was silence. "So Will…how was school?" Xander asked to fill the void. "Fine…we have finals coming up so it is almost summer which means more beachy goodness!" Willow smiled. Xander laughed.

"The sun kills you know." Anya walked back to sit on Xander's lap, "It gives you skin cancer, burns, and let's not forget the whole 'kills vampire' part." Anya was in deep thought at that point. "If it makes you happier Anya I will watch my intake on the sun." Willow replied. "Good. Now if you excuse me I have to go count my money." Anya stood up but not before slightly glaring at Willow.

"For Pete's sake I have been here for less than five minutes!" Willow slightly yelled."Just let it go Will, just let it go." Xander said. "But…" Willow pouted. Xander cut her off. "Please?" "Fine, but just wait till round three. I am bringing out the bunnies!" Xander chuckled at that. "Okay Will."

"Xander! That's not funny…bunnies can also kill!" Anya input. "Yea see? I never win." With that Xander got up and walked to one of the suddenly interesting book shelves.

"Please everyone we have to get started." It was Giles who spoke this time. "To the back?" Faith asked. She had been awkwardly silent this whole time. Giles nodded. Everyone got up and started to walk to the back. Then they heard the shop bell once more. They all turned around to a frozen Kennedy staring at Jerae.

"How dare you follow me here!?" Kennedy yelled.

"But sis we share the same destiny." Jerae slowly walked towards Kennedy with both arms out for an embrace, but Kennedy shuddered from the motion and took a step back.

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