Chapter 4
The next day was filled with more moving from one apartment to storage unit to Summers residence. Anya was convientantly absent from seven a.m. on. Her philosophy was that she helped Xander move into that apartment therefore was exempt from moving him out.
At about eight that evening, they arrived back at the Summers' house with Xander's one suitcase and his few boxes of belongings. Willow led the way. She opened the door to find Faith frozen half way up the stairs. Willow froze wide-eyed. She looked over her shoulder. The rest of the group were on her heels. Panicing, she shut the door back and stood infront of it, blocking the scoobies' entrance. She stood, frantically trying to think of an excuse.
"Willow? What are you doing?" Buffy asked, starting to feel the weight of the heaviest box on her arms.
"Uh, I, uh.. wanted to make a.. toast?" she stammered.
"A toast?" Buffy asked shifting her weight.
"There aren't any glasses." Dawn pointed out.
"Yeah, fine not a toast. But.. a something.. to celebrate Xander's new home."
"I didn't get a 'something'" said Anya, coming up behind them; well planned timing. Xander smiled smugly.
"Ok. To our new roommates." Willow said, glancing over her shoulder to see if Faith was still standing there. Looking thought the empty window she sighed, relieved.
"Uh, could we toast or whatever later? This box is getting heavy." Buffy asked, finally.
"Sure. You're right. How silly of me." She opened the door, allowing all to come in. Buffy found the nearest floor space and dropped the heavy box. Dawn and Xander followed, stacking their arms contents on hers. Willow glared bitterly up the stairway.
Buffy dusted her hands off; there wasn't any actual dust on them but she felt that it was an appropriate gesture. "Well, guys, today has been lovely, and to add to the bliss I believe I'm going to go patrol the graveyards."
"It's a romantic life you lead, Buff," Willow said wryly.
"Yes, indeedy," replied Buffy. "The one in all the world chosen to never get to bed before one am. Night guys." The others replied with their own goodnights before spreading to their respective corners.
Practically slamming the door behind her, Willow entered her room quickly. "Faith," she hissed, searching the seemingly empty bedroom.
Faith stepped in through the window. She had been crouched in the corner under the window for the last few minutes, waiting for the scoobies to settle into their beds. "Honey, you're home?" she asked gingerly.
The smile did not match Willow's scowl. "Are you trying to have me evicted?" She started to rifle through her dresser for a night shirt.
"Eh?" she asked.
"Stealth isn't your forte is it?" asked the red head, taking off her sweater.
Faith turned away respectfully. "Look, before you go throwing a hissy," she said to the wall, "I didn't expect you back so soon. I was getting a snack. You don't expect me to starve do you?"
Willow sighed. "Yeah, I guess not. Remind me again why we aren't telling Buffy about all this?"
"Because," she paused, " Can I turn around now?"
"Oh, yeah, sure."
The slayer continued, "Because, I told you, she'd have a fit."
"Why do you think that?" Willow asked emptily.
"Oh come on, you know B, she'd totally wig," said Faith with a big shrug. Willow nodded. "Anyway, I'll be out of your hair in a few days. No harm. No foul." She bounced onto the bed and kicked off her large boots.
Faith had a point. Buffy probably would wig. However, the wigging she could handle. What the red head was actually worried about was that if Buffy did find out, she'd end up asking Faith to stay with them on a more permanent basis. She could handle a few days, more than that wasn't possible. Sighing, Willow grabbed a brush from the vanity and sat down on the opposite side. Grooming, she asked, "Where do you plan on going, anyway?"
"Well my watcher had this sister, and when he died she told me anytime I needed a place to stay her door was open." She stood back up and began to pull the spare blankets and pillow out of the closet. "The only thing is, she's seemed to have moved without a forwarding address. Considering I can't exactly go through the Watcher's Council… meh, it's a snag. I'll find her." She tossed her make shift bed haphazardly on the floor and plopped down on it. "Night red." She sat back, with no intention on sleeping. Too early.
Turning out the light, Willow yawned and pulled up the covers. It was so late. She closed her eyes and promptly fell asleep, temporarily forgetting about the slayer on her floor.
It was getting late in Buffy's mind, also. It wasn't until she had a full six-second yawn that she decided the night was a bust and that she should head back home. Of course, she thought too soon. A generic looking demon jumped from behind a crypt. "Oh, come on! I was actually tired and was gonna get to bed early for a change." The demon snarled. "Yeah yeah, come on, let's do this already." The demon charged on command. Buffy caught it and threw him over her shoulder. He landed on the ground and didn't get back up. The slayer sighed boredly, before pulling out her stake.
She was about to thrust when the demon spoke. "The seven. The Being will be pleased."
"No, silly, I think you got your mythos wrong. I'm the one." And with that she let her arm fall and demon ceased to breath. A sharp triangular stone rolled from the demons hands.
She stood up and wiped off her weapon. Re-concealing it, she thought about the demons final words. She looked at the stone now in her hands. The Being? What being? Arg, was there a new big bad in town? Just what Sunnydale needed, another apocalypse.