- 1 Year Ago –
"Wanna head back to my place?" Faith asked.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, sure." Buffy replied, somewhat dazed from the tunnel.
They got back to Faith's tiny apartment and Faith threw off her denim jacket as soon as she got inside. Buffy hugged her black jacket close to her body, though.
"Can I crash here?" Buffy asked, looking up at the clock that read 3:14 AM.
"Yeah, B." Faith said as she walked back towards Buffy, "Cold?"
"A little bit." Buffy replied.
Buffy felt Faith run her hands up and down Buffy's arms. Faith was definitely inside Buffy's comfort zone right now, and Buffy didn't mind. Faith ran her hands down the whole length of Buffy's arms, making it far more sensual.
"Where would I sleep? There's only one bed." Buffy frowned, looking at the bed.
"It's big enough for two." Faith suggested, "still cold?"
"Yeah."
"I know a way we can fix that, but you're gonna have to be colder first."
"Colder?"
Faith smiled devilishly again and led Buffy over to the bed, she pressed the blonde slayer into the bed and took off her black jacket, tossing it onto the floor. Buffy felt that spark ignited once again as Faith's lips captured her own, this time with far more passion. Faith ran her hands down Buffy's stomach and toyed with the bottom of Buffy's shirt. Faith eventually pulled it up, breaking the kiss to get the shirt over her head, and then peppering trails of kisses down Buffy's neck.
"Faith…" Buffy groaned.
- Present –
"Arrange th-the dragon scales around the eye of newt." Tara stuttered as she meditated in the middle of a large circle on the floor of Giles' apartment. Tara began chanting once more.
"You're sure that's right?" Xander asked.
Giles nodded, "Fairly certain."
They stood back and waited as Tara slipped into her meditation and fell into the trance as she searched for the trail.
"How exactly does this work?" Xander asked Giles in a whisper.
"Well, you see, each of us has a specific energy attached to us, wherever we go, we leave some of this energy behind, creating trails of energy unique to every human. This energy can be seen only through a certain plane of existence, one we do not see on a daily basis. To see it, you must be put under a trance that places your spirit in that plane. It's not perfect, but it should do the trick." Giles informed Xander.
"That's great, but how will Tara know Buffy and Will's trails apart from everyone else's?"
"That would be the not perfect part."
- One Year Ago -
Buffy woke up peacefully with the sun streaming in through the windows. She looked at the small digital clock that read: Saturday, 10:48 AM. She was awake kind of early. She became aware of the arms wrapped around her stomach. Buffy rolled over and saw Faith's half-awake face. It was surprising to see Faith. Buffy expected Faith to throw her out after the deed like she'd done to so many before.
"Oh, wow, good morning." Buffy said, the surprise evident in her voice.
"Surprised you're still here. I wouldn't throw you out in the middle of the night, Buff." Faith said with a soft, gentle smile. One far different than the devilish and dirty ones she often gave.
"Why keep me in? I mean…" Buffy trailed off.
"Because you're different, B. You're a lot more… special to me than anyone else ever was." Faith pushed a lock of hair behind Buffy's ear.
That statement meant a lot coming from Faith. Maybe Faith wasn't against commitment as much as she was afraid of it. It could be true that Faith simply couldn't find anyone to love. Buffy leaned in and kissed Faith.
"Do you… want to, you know, do this again?" Faith whispered in Buffy's ear.
"What do you mean? Have sex?" Buffy said, confused.
"It doesn't have to be sex… just anything… together." Faith said.
Buffy paused and thought about it for a moment then replied. "Sure."
