Cordelia sobbed, and her enemy stroked her hair and whispered that it was going to be ok. Cordelia didn't care anymore. 'How could the girl I love hurt me so much, and the woman I hate be so nice to me?' she thought.

As if sensing what Cordelia had been thinking, Buffy answered the unspoken question, "I'm not your enemy Cordie. In fact, I want to help you. Whatever you want to do, I'll support you. We can leave town, we can go to LA, I know you lived there for awhile."

"I don't know what to do," admitted Cordelia.

"Well," said Buffy, "if the woman I loved was somehow being controlled by an evil robot, I know what I would do."

Cordelia sat up on the bed, and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "You think she's being manipulated?" she asked.

"I think so," said Buffy. "I've been a Slayer for a long time, and I've seen a lot of things. I've met evil robots, and I've experienced love spells, and I know the signs."

"That makes so much sense!" Cordelia exclaimed as she sprang to her feet. She turned around and locked eyes with Buffy. "Will you help me destroy it?" she asked, her voice steel.

Buffy grinned. "I've never been able to say no to a hot girl in her underwear," she kidded, then bit her bottom lip as she looked at Cordelia's body. "I'll help."

Buffy's obvious pleasure at the sight of her body made Cordelia feel attractive, and it felt good after years of wanting that same look from Dawn.

"C'mon, Sexy," said Buffy, "let's do some recon."

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

Blair followed the mystery girl, and the more she observed, the more she was sure she had not been mistaken. This was a Terminator.

It seemed to be looking for someone, but didn't seem to have much of a plan. She was just walking up one street, then down another. She didn't go in any buildings, or talk to anyone. The only thing she did do that was out of the ordinary was to search each cemetery she passed, which there seemed to be many of in this town.

She followed the girl for what must have been two hours, and the Terminator didn't seem to be slowing it's determined pace. She was being careful to keep her distance, and to hide whenever possible, just in case the Terminator turned around. She was hiding in the shadows, behind a tree, while pursuing It through one such graveyard, when suddenly she felt strong, yet small hands grab her from behind.

Blair instantly thought she was done for. She didn't know how the Terminator could get the jump on her, but she did know if a Terminator got you in a headlock, you probably weren't going to walk away.

The strong hands threw her to the ground, and she landed awkwardly on her side, just in time to see the Terminator leave the cemetery gates, about a quarter mile away.

Not understanding how the owner of the strong feminine hands could be a quarter mile away, Blair rolled onto her back, and was surprised to see two women standing over her. One was taller, with long brown hair, tanned skin, hazel eyes and thick full lips, while the other girl was petite, with raven black hair and sparkling blue eyes. Both wore black, head to toe, and looked like what Blair thought a cheerleader would look like.

"Who are you?" asked the taller girl.

"The Duchess of Argentina." Blair answered defiantly.

The shorter of the two kicked her in the midsection, and Blair felt all the air rush out of her lungs and she doubled over in pain. She had never felt a human kick so hard. "Goddamn metal," she wheezed, between deep breaths.

"If by metal you mean robot, you're barking up the wrong tree, Barkie," mocked the taller girl. "Why were you following It?"

"You're not Terminators?" asked Blair.

"No," said the shorter girl. "I'm Buffy. This is Cordelia. Answer the question, or I'll kick you again."

"I've been sent to evaluate It, see if it's one of ours, or one of the bad ones," answered Blair.

The two girls smiled down at Blair. "Girl, that thing is as bad as it gets," said Buffy, "and you just met your new best friends."

"What?" asked Blair, confused.

"We're going to kill the robot," said Cordelia, offering her hand to help Blair to her feet.

Blair accepted the hand and was dragged to her feet by a surprisingly strong arm. Buffy looked her up and down. "We're going to kill the thing, asap. But first, let's get you some better smelling cloths, shall we?"

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

Later that night, Cameron turned when she heard Dawn's voice call her name.

Dawn ran up to her, breathing heavily, and shivering from her soaked clothing. "I've been looking for you all night," she said.

"It's raining," said Cameron, not looking directly into Dawn's face, "go home. You're cold."

"No," said Dawn, "I'm not going anywhere without you. Where are you going?"

"I was looking for Cordelia," admitted Cameron.

"Why?" asked Dawn.

"I know her leaving upset you," said Cameron, "and I heard you, Anya and Faith talking. She loves you. I'm going to tell her to go home, and I will go away."

"What?" screamed Dawn, her voice suddenly filled with panic.

"I don't want you to be upset because she left, and I don't want to get in the way."

Cameron began to turn away, but Dawn grabbed her arm, and Cameron let herself be turned back around. Dawn's pale blue eyes met Cameron's.

"I am upset Cordelia is gone," admitted Dawn, "but if you left, my heart would break."

"Cordelia loves you," stated Cameron frankly.

"And I love you!" yelled Dawn.

Cameron's eyes widened. She looked at Dawn. Her hair was drenched, and raindrops ran trails down her face, her lip quivered, and her eyes sparkled with tears that threatened to fall any second.

"Dawn," said Cameron, then paused, before continuing. "I'm not human. I can't love you. I'm a computer program. I look at you, with water running down your face and looking very beautiful, and I think 'I love her', but it's synthetic. It's not real. I can't love you."

"No," said Dawn weakly, "Don't say that."

"It's true Dawn. You should be with Cordelia. She can love you."

Cameron turned away, and this time when Dawn grabbed her arm, she didn't let herself be turned back around. She began to walk away.

Dawn, unwilling to give up, ran in front of her, blocking the way. "Stop!" she yelled, but Cameron just turned the other way, to walk in the opposite direction again.

Dawn ran to block the way once more, but instead of saying anything, in a last act of desperation she grabbed Cameron's face, and pushed her own into hers, passionately kissing her, long and hard, and the rain washed down their faces.

Cameron resisted at first, but after a moment Dawn felt her give in, and kiss her back. Dawn wrapped her arms around Cameron's neck, and Cameron wrapped hers around Dawn's hips as their lips pressed heavily against each others.

Finally Dawn broke contact.

"I love you," she whispered, her lips only inches from Cameron's.

There was a short pause.

"I love you too," Cameron finally admitted.