Stupid Computers And Their Stupidness!

I can't get into the chapter I originally wrote so here I am, re-writing it like a fool. It's a shame, because I liked the other chapter. Ah well. Perhaps not enough plot in this chapter.

I'm calm.

Warnings: Some authorial anger and swearing, along with all the other stuff in here.My Faith swears. It's what she does. Lol.

Kennedy watched Willow talking to Xander. Her face was lit up, and she babbled insanely in a way Kennedy had never seen Willow act towards herself. She sighed. Why doesn't she look at me like that? She looks at Tara's picture that way- the bitch is dead! Get over it!

Succor love is heaven sent.

You pucker up, our passions spent.

My heart's a tart, your body's rent.

My body's broken, yours is bent.

Somewhere inside her, Kennedy felt a twinge of guilt for what she'd done to Willow.

I'll make it up to her. She thought firmly. She reached out for Willow's hand as they stepped out the door at Xander's side, but felt Willow flinch away. She frowned in annoyance and snatched at it, feeling another pang of guilt as her girlfriend turned wary eyes on her. Kennedy smiled widely. Xander looked between the two of them with a worried frown until Willow turned and smiled at him and he relaxed, starting to pass on messages from Giles.

"He wanted to come, you know that right?" Xander said seriously, looking around to be sure that Willow, as well as Buffy who had just re-entered the room understood him. Buffy nodded and smiled at him.

"But the girls…well a lot of them, it's kind of hard. They're either kids who have no parents, or parents who aren't interested and so they kind of skitz out on us-"

Faith came in at the point and stood near the door, making eye contact with Buffy.

"-or they go nuts- being Super Girl makes them think they're invincible."

Faith laughed scornfully and pointed a discreet finger at Kennedy, who didn't notice.

"So are we going to eat?" Buffy asked, standing up and turning around on the spot, displaying her clothes. Xander looked her up and down, a smile on his face.

"Looking great Buffy." He smiled, "almost as good as super-Xander here."

Buffy was wearing a black leather skirt, with a blue low-cut top.

He stood up, chivalrously offering a hand to the girls on the floor and led them outside where a rented car waited. The second front seat was covered in bags and clothes.

"All of us won't fit in at once so I'll have to make two trips, okay?" Xander said, climbing in. Willow and Kennedy climbed into the backseat, and Xander drove off, watching the remaining two slayers wave at him in his rear-view mirrors.

"So…"

"What?" Buffy asked.

"Are you going to tell him?" Faith asked aggressively, feeling sick inside.

"Tell him what?"

"Fuck you B." The dark haired slayer made to walk off but Buffy grabbed her arm.

"Faith I'm sorry, it's just a little, and I mean, this is all new to me."

Faith sneered. "Well fuck-me Blondie, this is a little new to me too but I'm not afraid. I don't give a shit what any of your friends think about us."

Guessing what was wrong, Buffy said, "They're our friends, and I'm not afraid. I'm the slayer."

"Actually," Faith said triumphantly, "If you want to get technical, I'm 'The Slayer'; you're just 'a Slayer'. Now answer my question! If you are ashamed, just say it and let's get this over with. If you can't handle Xander Harris knowing about us, how come it's okay for Willow and her girl to know?" throughout this angry speech, Faith's face was inches away from Buffy's, and her eyes flashed fire.

Buffy dropped her arm. "Faith, I don't have a problem with telling Xander! God, you sure jump to conclusions don't you?" she walked back to the spot where Xander had left them, and after a few seconds Faith followed. Buffy smiled as she felt Faith standing beside her again, and turned her head in time to catch a look of intense misery on her face.

"Faith, I'm sorry, what's wrong?"

Faith grinned, her smile not quite reaching her eyes. "Don't worry. Just slayer stuff. Protecting the innocent, blah blah blah. I mean, it's not as if we are a huge thing, or a long-term thing, but it's not something to hide. Xander knew when you went out with Robin."

Buffy blushed. "And when you went out with him."

Faith rolled her eyes.

Buffy laughed and shook her head, leaning gently against the other girl's black-jacketed shoulder.

"There you are!" Xander cried out, as the girls' hopped in. "Could hardly see you in the dark there."

The slayers looked at each other, having forgotten that not everyone saw in the dark as well as they did. "Sorry."

Around the table at the restaurant, it was easier than Willow had imagined to casually slip into a seat between Buffy and Xander, leaving Kennedy to sit on the other side of the table, next to Faith.

As they sat across from each other, Buffy noticed that Faith had a frown on her face as she idly twirled the straw in her drink.

"Faith, what's wrong?"

"Nothing! Piss off." Faith snapped.

Buffy scowled and Faith caught her eye.

"Sorry." She muttered. "Just in a funny mood I guess."

Buffy smiled. "That's okay." She said. "I know how to cheer you up." She said cheekily.

Faith smirked, although inside she still felt bad. Guilt had been gnawing at her for weeks, and every time she felt happy, it got worse.

How can I just sit her calmly, knowing how unhappy Red is?

When did I change so much that I care about Red's feelings?

I wish I could just punch Kennedy, right here, right now.

"What does everyone want?" Xander asked, "I'll get the drinks."

"Just a soda thanks." Willow said, picking up the menu.

Later, dancing. Willow and Xander danced together, Buffy and Faith danced together, and Kennedy sat at the bar, sipping her beer.

"What's with Faith and the Buffster?" Xander asked at last, glancing over at them. "When did they become such good friends?"

Willow blushed uncomfortably. "I'm not sure…I think you should ask them."

"Ask them what?" Xander stopped moving and looked at her. "There's something I should know?"

"Maybe." Willow said quietly.

"You mind if I go cut in with Buffy? You're girlfriend has been sending me telepathic messages to get off you anyway." he joked, backing away.

Willow watched him go, then turned and headed over to Kennedy. "Hey Ken." She said, shouting over the resounding noise. "Hey Will." Her girlfriend stood up, sculled her beer and wrapped an arm around her waist. "You finished dancing with Harris?"

"He wants to talk to Buffy." Willow explained. Kennedy smiled. "Ah, the new development comes out. You know, my watcher told me once that slayers would, if they met, always have a powerful bond because of our powers. Either love or hate. This was obviously after Buffy died the first time."

"You know about that?"

Kennedy's smile was triumphant. "Of course, silly. It's never happened before, they were the chosen two. Very famous in Potential circles. Of course, now it's like the Chosen 100, which isn't quite as catchy. We weren't sure what would happen if Buffy ever died again, but then she did die again didn't she? And no new slayer was called."

Willow nodded half her eye on Xander and Buffy, who, as a slower song came on, started to talk softly to one another. Faith was nowhere to be seen.

In fact, if Willow had looked carefully enough, she might have seen the dark haired girl sitting on top of a stack of tables in the shadows. She was smoking a cigarette, with a no smoking sign above her head.

"Bloody Buffy Summers." She took a long drag of her cigarette and looked around. Willow and Kennedy were also watching Buffy and Xander.

Buffy looks nervous. Faith thought.

Xander laughed nervously. He ran his fingers through his hair, took one-step and turned back. "Really?" he said, loud enough for it to carry to where Faith was sitting.

Buffy nodded.

Xander sighed.

He shook his head.

And gave Buffy a hug.

"Whatever makes you happy." He said. He hesitated. "But Faith?" he said incredulously.

"Yeah." Buffy said with a smile. "Faith. I know this must seem very weird to you, but for the moment, its right for us."

Xander shrugged and led her off the dance floor, back to Willow and Kennedy. Buffy smiled at them, and sat down, glancing around for Faith.

Faith still watched from the shadows, preferring her cigarette, but guessing that Buffy would be able to sense her, in the same way Faith could. She yawned. Dinner was good, but honestly, all Faith wanted now was to go Slay. And right on cue, she felt it. The subtle stirring in the air that she'd never quite been able to figure out. It was as if the breathless vampire changed the air, as if she could feel him passing coldly through it.

She swung her legs off the tables and landed lightly on the ground. Not having a stake on her, but not worried, she followed the vamp out of the restaurant. He was leading a girl into the park opposite.

"Out for a bit of fun gentleman?" Faith called once they were sufficiently into the park.

The vamp turned around. He was a clean cut, all-American kind of guy. Dark curly hair, tanned, blue eyes, and of course a bumpy forehead. The girl he was gripping began to scream. Faith eyed her disinterestedly, and jerked her head sharply. The vamp let his girl go and turned towards Faith, a grin on his face. "Hello sweetheart." He said, face contorting into a snarl.

"Fancy a bit of a suck…either I suck you, or, since you're so pretty, you can suck me!"

Faith laughed. "I think you have the wrong slayer. I don't date the dead." She said, still grinning and taking a few steps nearer. In the back of her mind, she felt a moment of hurt- still the whore in the whore-Madonna split.

The vamp snarled and lunged.

Faith sent him flying with a few kicks, and when he was sprawled upon the grass, she remembered the toothpick, pulling it out of her pocket.

"Now stay still." She warned, feeling slightly ridiculous. The vampire snarled, and his sneer turned into a grin when he saw what she wielded. "What the-?"

Unfortunately, for him, Faith had worked out quickly that a toothpick would work, provided it was long enough and so, using all her strength, she buried her fist, and the toothpick into the vamps chest. He stared unbelievingly at her, and dissolved into dust. "Should have just gone for the easily meal," Faith commented dryly, turning around and getting a bit of a shock.

"Xander! How long have you been standing there?"

"You didn't notice me?" Xander's more serious face momentarily dissolved into an impish grin. "I've been trying to sneak up on Buffy for years, but she always knows."

"Maybe it's because your pants flap as you walk." Faith shot, walking past him.

Xander followed the slayer inside again. "Dance with me." Faith ordered, pulling Buffy away from her conversation with Willow. Buffy laughed and followed.

Willow watched them through her eyelashes.

Xander sat down. He watched Willow.

Kennedy reached over and took Willow's hand.

Dancing, fast and hard was exhilarating, and as Buffy leaned towards Faith, she caught a smell she was very familiar with. 'Vampire?' she asked. "Yeah," Faith shouted back, "smell like dust don't I?"

Faith danced, watching Buffy try to keep up with her. "You need to cut loose more often B." she said approvingly. She glanced back over to the table. Kennedy appeared to have been behaving herself for the last few days, and the two girls were sitting side by side again, Kennedy sharing Willow's drink. Xander sat across from them, his gaze traveling around the room and landing squarely on Buffy. A wicked smile crossed the dark-haired slayers' face. Little uncomfortable are you X-man?

Mid-dance, Faith stopped, and pulled Buffy towards her. Despite her embarrassment, the blonde slayer came eagerly, and Faith bent her low, kissing her passionately as all around them people danced, and some stopped to gawk.

Faith straightened up again, a smile playing on her lips. Buffy was flushed, wiping her lips and looking accusingly at her girl. Faith turned and stared straight at Xander, giving him a wicked wink. Willow looked as though she was trying not to laugh, whilst Xander spilt his drink all over the table.

Succor love is known to swing.

Prone to cling and waste these things.

Pucker up for heavens sake.

There's never been so much at stake.

It was later that Willow's good mood evaporated. The charming, smiling, friendly Kennedy disappeared as she shut their bedroom door.

"Did you have a good night?" Kennedy hissed.

"What's wrong with you?" Willow asked carelessly, sitting down and removing her shoes.

The blow that came knocked Willow over, sending her sideways over the bed, hands raised to her cheek. It was followed by a strong cruel hand that gripped her wrist, slowly forcing it backwards.

"I wish you'd never become a slayer." Willow said painfully trying to get up, to get away.

Kennedy vaulted onto the bed. She stood above her girlfriend. "Unluckily for you, I am a slayer."

"Well I'm a witch," Willow growled, at last reaching for her powers.

"You dare use that hocus-pocus on me?" Kennedy whispered furiously. Willow made a movement. Kennedy blinked. She couldn't speak! She went red with rage. All the better, now I won't have to worry about your friends hearing me. Using all her anger and power, she threw an explosive punch that blasted through Willow's rather weak shielding spell and knocked the Wicca to the ground. Willow gathered her magic and was about to blast Kennedy back again when a face flashed into her mind.

Warren, pleading for mercy. His peeled corpse hanging in front of her. Her magic faded away.

Kennedy pulled the redhead up by her wrists; pressing the other girl to her strong slayer body, she kissed her. "You know I love you, right? I just can't let you use magic on me. I won't, and every time you do, you make me so angry." She kissed her again, her fingers trailing over the bruises that decorated Willow's upper arms. "Why do you have to make me so angry?"

Willow stared dully up at her. Anger still seethed beneath her surface, but it was buried behind a gate of guilt and fear. Despite everything, Willow was more afraid of killing again than she was of being killed. The anger I felt…it's because of the magic…Kennedy loves me…she was right to do what she did. Even as Kennedy bit her lips, even as the slayer licked the blood from her lips in a grotesque parody of a real vampire, Willow continued to lie passively, doing nothing to avoid the blows.

Buffy…she said once, reflexively calling on the girl who usually saved her from danger. Kennedy paused above her, naked to the waist. "Calling on a slayer to save you Will? You know what they would say if they saw you? If they saw, how you made me beat you and then writhed underneath me like a whore… You like it rough Willow, and I'm just giving you what you want. Your friends won't be so accommodating. They'll hate you for telling them."

Willow almost told her not to bother trying to convince her. I could never tell anyone.

"Do you love me baby? Kennedy said, sliding inside her roughly.

"I love you Ken." Willow said brokenly, letting go of her last shreds of self-esteem.

"Do you like to annoy me? Do you deserve to be punished?

Willow stayed silent for so long, Kennedy hit her. Willow still didn't answer.

She slapped her with all her strength, a blow to make a demon wince, and Willow's eyes rolled back in her head, dazed and aching. She could hardly think through the pain in her head, and latched onto the only words that would make the pain stop.

"Yes. I deserve it. Yes."

Like the naked leads the blind.

I know I'm selfish, I'm unkind.

Succor love I always find,

Someone to bruise and leave behind.

Faith slept alone that night. In her own room, Buffy sat awake by an open window, staring into the sky. She had mixed feelings. She was happy, living with Faith and Willow. She was free both from a lonely duty as the one slayer, and as substitute parent for Dawn. But this new responsibility? That's all it felt like, this supposed gift of one wish. It felt like a pile of chains around her neck, and though she knew it was paranoid, she felt it made the others look at her strangely, as though every time they looked at her they saw their most cherished dream.

She sighed and the very air changed.

It smelled like…like children. Like sticky lollies and red cordial. Like band-aids and mother's perfume.

She glanced around, confused. The smell changed. It smelt like too much deodorant, like scented candles. Someone was muttering nearby, Buffy cocked her head towards the sound.

"You don't get me! I'm not like you!"

Buffy smiled. Adolescence.

"I think…I think I love her. Mum, what should I do?"

Buffy frowned. "Mum, don't! Please don't die!"

Buffy looked around frantically but there was nothing to see. No one stirred in the house behind her and there was no one around outside. Nevertheless, she could still hear the voice.

"Sorry, sir." The voice was contrite, and, Buffy knew, somewhat older.

The scent of candles still hung in the air.

"I am you know."

"What?"

Buffy frowned as a second voice intruded. I know that voice.

"Yours."

Everything went black, and Buffy fell backwards.

"Hey, watch out." strong hands stopped her descent, pushed her back upwards roughly.

"Faith." Buffy breathed. "You scared me." The other slayer stood behind her, dressed in her pajamas- a long black t-shirt and shorts.

"Snuck up on you did I?" Faith said sleepily. "I heard a noise. Were you talking to yourself?"

"You could hear that? Can you smell the candles?" Buffy asked excitedly.

Faith wrinkled her nose. "If you're going to sleep, why don't you do it in bed? All I can smell is rain, and musty house."

"But you heard the girl talking? Two girls, just then?"

Faith looked at her and a reluctant smile formed. "No. I heard you, muttering. And I've come to drag you away from the window, and into bed."

Buffy shrugged mentally.

"Whose bed?" she asked playfully.

Faith smirked. "You woke me up; you pay the price…yours."

Buffy pouted.

Faith laughed. "Oops." She said, grinning. "I'll wake up the house."

"Come on Blondie" she continued, pulling her towards the bed, "Time to make you pay."

Kennedy sighed. She smiled down at Willow. All done. She's a good girl now.

Willow tried to smile back, wincing at the pain in her jaw.

Here it is at last. A new version, alas.

Anyway, review, tell me if you loved it or hated it or are in-between.

Thanks to:

Genimay

Sutzina Zion

Howard Russell

and

devianttart, all of whom inspired me to keep writing.

I didn't realise when I started just how much 'Faith' would creep into my story.

Next chapter: Someone discovers the real state of Willow and and Kennedy's relationship and resolves to do something about it.