The two brunette slayers sat side by side looking straight ahead, out the large window show plains going back and forth. The older slayer's eyes fell upon the young woman who seemed to just tune out the world and go into her own little world, ignoring the dozens of screaming kids that were running around and the adults that talking on their phones, snoring and yelling at the desk clerks.
"Well this was a great vacation. Beat up, chained up, repeated as people felt needed."
"Yeah."
"Look Brat about what happened…."
"Shut up."
"Kenn…it wasn't your fault. Don't take this path I know it, well and--"
"I said shut up." The young woman repeated calmly as if it was a simple question that didn't even involve an ounce of thought, all the while her eyes stayed focused on the large, yellow and white, 747. "So all this traveling?"
"Watchers council gave me this pass…" She said as she waved a small pace of paper. "To fly where ever, when ever. Even though there are thousands of us now, I'm still number two."
"Yeah."
"Flight 815 to Italy now boarding." Both woman paused as the message replayed over the intercom, neither said a word as they stood up.
"Look kid, I'm not much for the inspirational talks, that's Angel. I'm not one to really listen either that's Red, Xander, B, ….Angel again pretty much any body but me."
"Then why dose it seem like you about to impart some great wisdom?"
"I like you Brat, I see a lot of me in you which freaks the crap out of me that Willow fell for ya, who knows maybe it's just a slayer thing. We have to get in touch with our inner darkness or what ever, I can't tell you how to beat it cause God knows with out Angel I'd still be out in the streets." Faith paused as she saw Kennedy still had the cold, blank look on her face. Letting out a sigh she threw her backpack over her shoulder before beginning to speak again. "Don't run, cause Brat it looks like you can run fast and far in a short time. You think your running down this street and you tell your self that it's not that bad, that soon they'll be an alley to turn down but it never comes, you know why?" Kennedy's eyes tried to keep contact with her's but at the feeling of tears they fell down to the dark, red carpeted floor.
"Wh--why?"
"Cause the truth is, your running down wards. Down to a hole that you rarely are able to get out of.'
"You got out."
"No, I was caught. Tossed a life line and I been trying to crawl out ever since." The older slayer forced out a small grin before walking past her toward the boarding gate leaving the once again emotionless slayer standing there alone.

-------------------------------------------------
KENNEDY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER
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"I'm sorry." Jennifer said shyly from her position at the desk.
"It's fine."
"Willow, things like this have to happen. It's just how it is. Slayers go through tests to prove they are…" She paused as she searched for the right word to use. "Kennedy made it through. Don't you understand that, she is an actual slayer. Do you know how many we've lost? How many have tried the test and failed?"
"Did you people ever stop and think the reason you have lost so may slayer is because you put them through so many tests?" Willow asked trying to hide just how upset she was, having to remind herself the girl was much younger then her and had no where near as much life and death experience. Taking a deep breath she got up and walked toward the doors where Ramon was just walking in. "Hey."
"Hey." He greeted back with a soft smile still unsure of where he stood with her. "She's still up set?"
"Just a little."

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Kenned found herself in a bright room, so bright it hurt her eyes. Quickly her eyes danced over the empty room that seemed all to familiar to her. She remembered she started to calm but this time her heart continued to race.
"Your squinting."
"Th--the light it's to bright. I remember I said that, what is this place? Who are you?" The slayer asked getting more and more angry as she turned around in circles trying desperately to find the source of the voice.
"No, it is merely so dark, it becomes bright."
"Right."
"Are you already so far down it seems as if you are on top?"
"What is this place? Land or riddles?"
"So brave you are scared to face the truth. So alone you seem surrounded or is it that your so surrounded you seem alone?"
"What? I don't---" She paused as a tall, hooded figure came out of no where. The hood so low his face unable to be seen, along with his hands that were interlocked inside of the arms of his robe. "Lemme guess you're the Riddler…or the joker? I can't tell yet." She asked annoyed as she looked around. "What is this like another test or something?"
"A test of not the body but the soul. A soul that is intertwined with another."
"Individuality or conformity is the question for you."

Kennedy's eyes flew open as her body trembled, making it very difficult to breath.
"Are you ok?" She heard a soft voice ask tenderly, she turned her head slightly to see Willow standing at the closet looking over at her.
"Ye--yeah."
"Want to talk about it?"
"Just a bad dream."
"Th--that's not what I meant."
"I know."

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"When are you going to let me take you out on a real date?" Luis asked as he rolled over on his side facing Nikki who was looking up at the ceiling.
"Luis I told you this is what we do. There isn't anything more to do between us."
"Why are you so afraid to get close?"
"End of convo." The light brown haired girl said as she nearly jumped out of the bed and began looking for her jeans.
"Why do our nights end happily but our mornings turn to crap?"
"Because you are a man and don't have the sense to recognize a good thing when you have it."

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Kennedy stood staring at the bag, her hands held up with the black tape wrapped around them matching her silky, sweat pants and her sports bra. Taking in a deep breath she started to stand on the balls of her feet as her right hand made contacted followed by the left. And again.

Buffy stood in the middle of the hotel room pacing angrily as Faith stood in the back, arms folded watching the sight in front of her while Willow and Giles both sat on the bed leaving Kennedy standing a few feet away. "No! No! NO!"
"This isn't your decision." Kennedy said taking a step toward Buffy who seemed to responded the same way. "No where near it."
"See I know your on some little power rush being a new found slayer and all, but Willow isn't going any where with you."
"B, I think you need to chill. Brats right you really don't get a say in this."
"You stay out of this." Buffy ordered as she turned around pointing a finger at the other slayer before turning back to Kennedy who was clearly upset. "She isn't going any where but were I am going."
"Excuse me, she isn't your girlfriend."
"And she isn't your's either."
"Buffy." Giles let out trying to calm the woman.
"What? I think all the kissing, sleeping in the same bed and hand holding would constitute as girlfriend."
"Kennedy sorry to be the one to brake it to you, but weather you find out now or in Brazil, you are just a rebound. Nothing more then a simple little--"
"Buffy!" Giles let out this time as he stood up. Kennedy looked to Faith who was staring at the ground and then to Willow who was staring at her hand that were in her lap.

Kennedy's hand began to hit the bag harder punch after punch as her speed began to pick up. Even though her hits got harder and angrier they stayed centered.

"Baby, about earlier…" Willow started as she ran her hand over the young woman's bear stomach as they laid on the bed, Kennedy looking up at the ceiling while the witch stared as the woman's perfect skin.
"it's fine. I hope you and Buffy are happy together in Italy."
"Kennedy I…"
"You said nothing!" Kennedy yelled as she sat up abruptly causing Willow to follow as she tried to comfort the slayer.
"Kennedy it's Buffy she's…"
"Willow right now, who is more important? Me or Buffy?" The young slayer sat there for a moment as silence fell over them. Willow's eyes danced over the girl's face before they fell to the bed making Kennedy jump out of the bed and storm out the door.

The slayer punches began to get harder leaving indentions on the bag. The slayer was so wrapped up that she hadn't notice that her body was drenched in sweat.

Kennedy walked into the dark hotel room slowly as she threw her keys on the bed and shut the door before turning the light on exposing Willow who was sitting underneath the window as tears fell down her face. "Willow?" She let out with fear written all over her face as she rushed over to her girlfriend.
"Don't touch me!" She yelled jerking away.
"Willow tell me what's wrong. I wanna help."
"I don't need you. I'll never need you."

Kennedy grabbed the bag with both hands as she brought her knee up to it repeatedly harder and harder.

Kennedy tried to push herself up but was kicked back down, this action repeated until the hooded figure pulled Kennedy up by her hair with one hand and pulled out a knife with the other. He moved the knife toward her but in one swift motion she grabbed a hold of his wrist with one hand and spun around using her leg to kick out his legs. Once hitting the floor still holding his wrist she turned it on him.
"Brat, what's wrong?"

Her knee made contact again and again and again before she let the bag go and went back to wildly hitting the bag. Going from punching to using the back of her arm and then placing a kick. As memories and thoughts came back to her.

Cause the truth is, your running down wards Down to a hole that you rarely are able to get out of.

Kennedy spun around to the sound of clapping that came from the same source it had just four nights before. She stood there looking Mr. Sear up and down studying his Armani blue, suite. The slayer tried to calm her breathing as she placed her left hand to her side as she used the other to wipe sweat off her forehead and out of her eyes.
"Very impressive." She could almost feel his tone cool the room at the sound of his words as he walked over to the bag and ran his hand over the rip that was pouring out sand. "Are you ready?"
"For?"
"You see my dear, dear Kennedy. You are chosen."
"So are a gazillion other girls."
"No, a Million other girls are picked. Picked because there has to be, because when their turn of those who aren't chosen come, there needs to be replacements until the chosen one comes." Kennedy looked the man over as her breathing started to calm along with her sweating. "You have far surpassed everyone's expectation, mine included. Strength, agility, intellect….you are truly amazing." He continued as he started to circle her with his hands folded and a small, sinister smile. "No other potential can come close to you, do you know why?"
'Wh--why?"
"Cause beyond them, beyond Buffy and Faith you are the chosen one. Maybe you didn't come first but that means nothing."
"What…is this some game you like playing or.."
"For Willow to even think Buffy higher then you is crazy. Buffy nearly passed her test and Faith? HA if not for Buffy she would have died but then again neither of them had your test, or shall I say tests."
"What do you want from me?" She asked as she backed up to the bleachers not wanting to let down her guard. Picking up her small, black, sleeveless tee shirt.
"I want you to realize your potential. Become what you are. Destiny is something to be scared of, but you if any one shouldn't be of your power."
"I'm a slayer. I punch things."
"Is that merely all? Killing demons and making the world safer is nothing to you."
"Wh--no I meant that--"
"Miss. Reys.." He paused as he saw the young woman wrench at the mention of the watcher making his smile grow wider. "She tells me you have been bringing in a heavy head count, at lest five a night?"
"Something like that. I can't…I have these urges I can't seem to control it's like…" She trailed off as her guard lowered and she took a seat soon mimicked by him.
"Do not control what comes natural. Do animals not kill? Do humans not love? This is nature you can not stop it, only God can so innless you plan on talking to him about it…what?" He asked a his smile dimmed a bit as he noticed the slayer's guarded go back up.
"Nothing, I….I just really don't like jokes about God that's it." He followed her example and stood up but stayed in place as his mind began to race and moments later the evil smile came creeping back.
"Is that because you're a devout Catholic or because your faith scares you?"
"I have to go." She said before walking away.
"I can see why it would I mean after all you do seem lost. You pray in church but out side you don't. You pretend to be devout but….well there is Willow and I'm sure others." His smile continued to get wider as his eyes lit up while he walked up behind the slayer who seemed frozen. "After all your mother did send you to that school for a reason, and well your father…..what is that saying we have?" He walked in font of her and staired down at the teary eyed girl. "You can quote passage but it doesn't mean it's in your heart. I'm sure a good little school girl like you know's that one. Humm? Kennedy?'
"Y--yes. I know it." She could feel her throat become dry as her eyes fell, and her body began to shake as she did every thing she could not to cry.
"I'm not trying--"
'Since you paid so much attention in Sunday school I'm guessing you know this one too. Do not belittle one, because the size of their faith for that is near covenanting, but turn back and repent for braking such a heavy commandment." She looked the man up and down again as she could tell she was the one back in control. "Basically that means, don't try using my faith to hurt me just because you don't have any. Or is there some other reason we're having this conversation? Other then Sunday school lectures, of course."
"Tell me Kennedy, are you so strong your weak? Or so weak it seems your strong, since you couldn't bear for people to know what's underneath this tough girl exterior. I mean do you think the black helps? Or the contacts? The little bit of makeup to hide little scares, so no one knows? Tell me my little slayer, was Buffy right about you?" He asked, his words dripping with distain as he cupped her cheek and used his thumb to roughly remove a small amount of make up by her lips, before letting out a small chuckle and walking out leaving the slayer trembling inside as she watched his back.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Abandoned?" Ramon asked in his soft but heavy accented tone as he walked up behind Willow who was staring down at a small book as she sat on a wooden bench out side. He carefully made his way past the many flowers over the ground before he took a seat next to her.
"Umm….?"
"Abandoned? Umm…lonely? Is that the right word?"
"Oh, yes right word but no I'm not lonely."
"Really?" The boy pressed on as he gently took the book from her, closing it slightly to see the title but made sure to keep his index figure in between the pages. "I really did not know about Kennedy. I--I promise. Test are usually mush smaller and we are in on them."
"I….it's ok really I been through much worse." Willow comforted as she took the book back and began flipping through it leavening him looking dumbfounded as he watched her. "I bought a ticket to Italy. It's in the night stand drawer. It's in two days and I have my bags packed on the floor of the closet."
"S-s-s-so yo-you decided to leave?" He asked as his eyes fell to the dark, sandy ground around them and then back to her who was still looking down at her book.
"You want to know the funny part?"
"Funny?"
"Ironic I mean…" She paused closing the book and turning her body slightly to face him who seemed more then happy about this as a smile came across his face before mimicking her action. "In the bag of my clothes are the only two pictures we ever took together. Next to the tickets is the promise ring she gave me. And in my pocket is her cross, so tell me what's the sense in that?"
"Maybe….you love her, but it's not how she or you wants it?"
"I…I don't…I mean maybe….I do care but…no…well I…" She began to ramble making the boy laugh slightly before starting to blush.
"Maybe time is needed, to experiment your feelings and explore other things. Kennedy…." Once again he paused as he saw a small smile come across her face at the mention of the slayer. "Sh---she is going to be experimenting with herself and needing some one to do that with and if your not sure you can do that then maybe it is better she dose it alone……what?" He asked seeing the witch move her hand to her mouth to hide the large smile that had come creeping up on her. "I didn't say it right did I?"
"Ha, umm….no, I understood it though. It--it's nice to have someone to talk to about….well anything."
"You and Jenny seemed to be getting close."
"Were. But…she helped them. I trusted her and every move she made was a lie, I really don't know if anything she told me was true."
"She is a good girl, really." A silence fell over them both realizing new ground rules in their new friendship. Ramon ran his hand through his slicked back hair, that once again wasn't standing straight up making the red head think of Angel.
"So you know about me, what about you?"
"M…me?"
"Yeah, why not?" She let out with a laugh not understanding his sudden shyness.
"People don't really ask about me."
"Well I am. So what do you like?" Willow continued excitedly deciding to focus on him and forget about a certain dark, skinned slayer.
"America, basketball, boxing….and jenny."
"Oh that's….wow."

----------------------------------------------------------

Nikki slowly walked into the library were Miss. Reys and Jennifer were whispering to each other about something. "What's that what?"
"Oh, nothing dear."
"Well you guys were…"
"Yeah, it was something girly." Jennifer said as she stood up nervously, straighten out her black skirt and then her white, button up shirt before flashing her a smile and walking past, toward the door.
"Ok last time I was in the shower I looked pretty girly, but a lot can change in what…? Twenty minutes?"
"Nicole, dear. I know you're a girl.." She paused her halfhearted explanation as she scooped up three books off the table and walked over to her. "A very pretty one at that, so have the library. Do….something. Matter a fact take the day." The watcher finished as she had already started to walk away leaving the young woman alone standing in the middle of the floor looking around room until Mr. Sear walked down the small set of stairs, holding a small, black book.
"Well, well, well. Isn't that just like them? For two years you kept them safe, protected them from anything that came your way. Night after night, year after year…..friend after friend. And what do they give you?" She looked him over before shoving her hands in the pockets of her baggy, blue sweat jacket while her eyes began studying her shoes.
"nothing."
"Nope. Not a thing, but Kennedy isn't to blame is she? I mean she's been here for a week and a half now and well she isn't doing to much better is she?"
"N…no."
"After all this time…still nobody loves you, but that's all you want isn't it?" Her head shot up, as anger came across her face making a smile come across his. "Something wrong?"
"No, I'm late." She bit out before turning around and almost jogging out.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Willow sat on the edge of her bed with only the soft light radiating from the side table lamp. Letting out a heavy sigh, she reached over and pulled the drawer open, throwing the ticket in, her eyes fell on the small, gold ring that the light reflected off of.

"Willow are you drunk?" Kennedy asked as she pulled Willow towards her.
"I said leave me alone!" She yelled again as she pushed the slayer away.
"Willow? Willow?!"
"Go! GO!!" She yelled again as she pushed the slayer back again this time causing her to fall onto the floor. "kenn??" She looked at the young girl who had a mixture of fear and anger. Once seeing her start to get up the witch's face turned back to cold. "Go!" She repeated as she turned back into herself. Kennedy pushed herself up and walked the short distance back over to the witch, grabbing her roughly by the arm she turned her to face herself, then grabbed her other arm too.
"No. I didn't leave when you turned into Warren, when you pointed a gun at me, when I may have had to kill you at the whole magic thing, when you sucked the life out of me."
"I'm not safe. Your say---I'm…"
"I didn't leave then and I'm not leavening now. No matter what comes, I'm going to be here. Weather you want me or not I'm here. Good, bad, happy, sad. The best or the very worse. I'm here till the end. Girlfriend. Lover. Friend." Kennedy paused for a minute seeing her girlfriend begin to cry causing her to loosen her grip and sit down next to her. "I'm here. And there's nothing that can change that."
"There's one thing.

Shutting her eyes tightly she shut the drawer before falling back onto the bed and sticking her hand in her pocket looking for her cell phone, once grabbing something she pulled it out but instead of a small, silver phone she pulled out a thick gold chain, with a cross hanging off of it.

Willow stood by the door watching Kennedy zip her book bag that was on the bed, suddenly she turned around, bag in hand as she walked over to her. Tracing a finger over the woman's lips she leaned in a placed a quick kiss. "Willow, I understand. Buffy needs you to…there's just two things I need you to remember."
"Wh--what?" She asked, her voice dry and crackling making Kennedy's heart brake just a little before she leaned in, hands going onto the girl's hips, and lips pressed to her ear.
"What I told you last night. And….most importantly, I need you too, a lot more then Buffy." The slayer could feel the witch's grip tighten on her and her body begin to shake a bit. "You're my way, and I need you but….." She pulled away a bit, moving her hand from her hip to cupping her cheek, as tears started to fall from the witch's eyes. " If Buffy actually needs you more then me….which I don't think is possible but…I understand. Just…." Kennedy trailed off as she reached into her pocket and grabbed her hand placing the cross in her hand. "I know, I know that it's….but it's apart of me in more then one way so…" The slayer was cut off by Willow placing a passionate kiss to her lips. "Bye, mi amor." She said before reaching over opening the door and then walking out shutting the door behind herself.

Still holding the chain she used her other hand to reach into her other pocket this time finding her phone.

-----------------------------------------------------

Kennedy walked down the dark hall hands buried deep in her black, leather jacket. Thoughts running through her head over and over again causing her headache to come back. Slowing her pace as she came to a large office, but even more surprising was that Nikki was standing there staring at the door. Both shared a look but neither said a word. As the slayer went to reach for the door Mr. Sera opened it for her.
"Now we can begin."