AN: I feel really bad because I meant to get this chapter done and out much sooner but lately my work and personal life have been pretty crazy and I just have not had the time. The one thing I can promise is that I have every chapter planned out so there should be no worries that this is going to be dragged out. In this chapter some of the conversation I took directly from End of Days but the majority is mine. Anyway I just want to say sorry once again to the people who have been waiting and thank you to my beta and those of you who actually take the time to review.

Chapter 4

Tension.

Apparently it's not just a feeling, it's a lifestyle…or at least that's what B has me believing after a few days of living with her. At first I just thought it was me—let's face it, in this group it usually is me—but Miss Super Slayer seems to be giving everyone the cold shoulder. I get it, really, I mean we're facing a major battle against a big bad that we can't touch, and the general for the bad guys just wiped the floor with us. This situation pretty much sucks, but B needs to remember she is not alone in this fight. Granted, we are the only hot chicks with super powers in the group—I'd count Red if she wasn't so scared to use her magic—but everyone else seems to be trying their best to do what they can.

Today was such a long day, and it's just barely getting dark out. Buffy was at the peek of her avoidance game today. First she decides the girls need to know the opposition better, so she makes them take a "class" all day, which would have probably been cool if it wasn't run by Anya and Andrew. I mean, I'm as happy as the next person to get these girls out of my hair for the day, but even I think an all- day class with those two is just cruel and unusual punishment. Then right as the girls were going down to the basement, Red runs right to Buffy's side and asks when they were going to go see Xander. It seemed like a good idea to me, until I saw a panicked look cross B's face. I'm sure Red would have seen it too if she was looking at B instead of the Silver-Spoon Potential's ass as she was leaving the room.

Before Red even had a chance to come back from whatever fantasy her mind had taken her to, B quickly told her she had a mission for her and Giles. As if waiting for his name to be said, G man walks right into the room and asks all British-like about what she wants them to do. Everything probably would have worked out fine for B, but right before Willow was out the door she told Buffy she would bring everything to the hospital so B could get it there when they visited Xander. As soon as they were out of the house and all the girls were in the cellar, Buffy let out a very large sigh and just gazed out of her kitchen window. I wasn't sure if she knew I was still there.

"You okay?" I asked even though I knew the answer.

"Of course I am, this is what I do, evil comes after me and I knock its ass down."

Maybe if she had put more energy into what she was saying I would have believed her.

"Still, this seems like a pretty shitty situation." How is it that she was way easier to talk to when she was all crazy and locked inside a cell with me?

"What do you want from me, Faith? Do you want me to cry? Do you want me to tell you how unfair it is that I have to live my life based on what apocalypse I am facing each week? Sorry, but I don't see that happening. This is the life of the Slayer. If you would have ever owned up to your responsibility you'd know that."

Ow, she always knows exactly where to cut me.

"Don't throw my past in my face if you're not going to give me the chance to apologize for it." I'm assuming her staring me down is not a go ahead to give a heartfelt apology. "I get that you're stressed, but no one is asking you to take this on by yourself. I know it's late, but I'm here now. Let me help you."

For just a second I thought I had reached her. My words caused her to pause and take a few steps in my direction. Unlike a couple of minutes ago the woman in front of me didn't seem so angry or rough. I knew this Buffy that was in front of me, this was my B. I wanted to go to her, to wrap her up in my arms and tell her I had her and that we could do this together, but I was fearful she'd slip away like she did the other night. Maybe I was right to pause, I could already see the hardness coating her eyes once again…or maybe I just blew the only chance I was going to get.

"I'm going for a walk."

Damn, well on the bright side the girls are downstairs and I have the house to myself. I wonder if there are any chips left.

*********

It took me a while but I managed to find the chips. Hopefully little sis won't be too mad that I raided her stash, but she should know that all's fair in love and potato chips. Just to be fair, though, I was a good girl and cleaned up the kitchen before diving into my well-deserved snack. But you know how karma works, as soon as my hand went into the bag the cellar door just had to open.

"You got enough to share?" Yes, but I don't want to share.

"Trade ya for a carton of cigarettes and some soap." Apparently I managed to freak her out but she still wouldn't leave me alone with my chips. Damn. Well, I guess at least one Slayer should play nice with the kids. "Sorry. Habit. Shouldn't you be down at Hogwarts?" And away from my food.

"Probably."

Relax, share, we can always get more.

"All right. Playin' hooky. Score one for the boarding school brat. Anya's technique's probably a little different than what you're used to." Then again, how many people are used to bat-shit crazy.

Sometimes these girls make it difficult to be nice to them. I was just getting over Silver Spoon eating my snack when another girl had to come into the room, bitching and moaning about Anya's sex life, and jumping in on this yummy feast. But I'm a calm person, so no one died today. For a second it almost seemed like they might leave me alone, but then they had to start this whole woe-is-me bullshit about the preacher. If I remember correctly they walked out with barely a scratch, while the rest of us got our asses handed to us. Still I guess I can try to talk to B about doing something to calm their nerves.

"Hello?" Damn, she must be a superhero, all you need to do it think her name and she appears. Without giving her a response, the three of us go into the dining room to see what's going on. Even though I still find Buffy fucking hot, she does seem more exhausted than when I saw her a few hours ago.

"So what's up?" I try to say in my most peaceful voice.

"I just got these papers from Willow; it's everything they could find on Caleb." As much as I hate research, this is the best news I've heard all day…which is sort of depressing.

"This is great B; maybe this will have some dirt or a weakness on him." God, I hope so.

"Or how he can knock out a Slayer with a simple punch."

Fuckin' A, I guess the connection between brain and mouth is running slow for Silver Spoon today. Yeah, you best look apologetic, dumbass.

"I'm sorry, I can't believe I said that. I didn't mean it." Duh.

"It's fine, don't worry about it."

How fine can it be when your eyes are screaming at me?

"Shouldn't you girls be in Anya's class right now?" Push them away before it hurts too much, is that the game we're playing today?

"Um, yeah. We were just taking a break, but I guess we better get back." Ken doll pauses before leaving, looking as though she wanted to say sorry again but I shoot her a look that gets her to leave.

"Are you okay?" We both know the answer; I just want to see if she ever plans to be honest with me.

"Yeah of course. I still have some things to do, but why don't you get started on this stuff?" She asks slash orders as she gets up to leave.

"B…" I love you; please just talk to me. "I'm here to help, anyway I can." For the second time today I see her again—the girl I love, that loves me back. Just for a moment she appeared in those beautiful eyes…just to glaze back over with a blank expression as if she never heard me. Without any more words, I am left to watch her walk away from me once again.

**********

The rest of my day seemed so empty once she left. Training the girls, reading through the files, even hiding on the roof to drown my sorrows in chips did little to make time move any faster. Maybe this is why B always seemed to have a stick up her ass, an apocalypse can really harsh up a person's vibe. I guess that is something I do appreciate about my old way of life. Any moment I wasn't having any fun, I'd just go out and make my own fun.

Hell, one of the best days of my life is when I got the Golden Girl to be a little bad with me. Ditching school, ignoring her friends, grinding at the club, escaping from the cops—and okay, the day did end on a sour note—but up until that point I was having the time of my life. And even if she didn't say so, I know she felt the same. Everyone needs to cut loose once in a while, just shake off all the bad shit that's been weighing you done; let it all go.

Hopping down from the roof, I finally felt like I had the right answer for once. It's time these girls remembered what they were fighting for, that their lives won't always be so terrifying, that fun does still exist, that you just got to go find it.

"Who feels like going dancing?" Though I didn't say it very loudly, everyone quickly gave me their undivided attention.

"Did you talk to Buffy?" Surprisingly, even though Giles was in the room, he didn't ask the question. Dawn did.

"I'm not organizing an attack on the Bronze, I just think you guys could use a night off." Clearly still not comfortable with what I was saying, Dawn and most of the girls looked over at Giles.

"Well, things certainly have been quite stressful of late. I don't really see this as such an objectionable idea." I wonder if he really needs glasses or if he just wears them so he can take them off and wipe the hell out of them.

"Wicked. You heard him girls, anyone who wants to come out with me tonight go get ready and meet me down here in like two hours." The majority of the girls hauled ass up the stairs. Some lingered and seemed to be really thinking about what they should do. The last person to head up stairs was Dawn. I really don't know why she's so worried. It's just dancing. What could possibly go wrong?

5