((Sorry for how long the update took, but I'm glad that there are people enjoying this story!))

Buffy sighed as she settled into the warm, bubbly water. It was so nice to be able to soak, even though her body was clean, except for some sweat from the fight earlier. "This is nice," she murmured, sliding a soaped up rag over her body. "Mmm, taut and perky, just like I remember."

And even though she was in Buffy's body using Buffy's hands on Buffy's body, it felt like she was in her own body touching Buffy and that it was being returned. Like the times they had been together before she turned to the Mayor's side... "It's wrong," she told herself, green eyes drifting shut as she slid a hand across her hips. A wicked smile that looked much better on Faith's face than Buffy's flashed across her lips. "And that's why I'll do it. Because it's wrong." She tilted her head back and let out a small groan when her hand slipped between her legs, finding the curls much the same as they had been a year ago. "Mmmmm, here's a tool I know how to work."

Half an hour or so later, after Joyce had called in to make sure that Buffy was alright, she let out a moan quieter than the ones she had been building up to. "Damn, B," she gasped, knowing full well that the other Slayer couldn't hear her. "You feel better than ever." All in all, it was probably the steamiest bath that Buffy's body had ever been exposed to... and Buffy wasn't even there to enjoy it.

Faith's eyes opened slowly and she moaned, her entire body feeling like it had been hit by a truck. "What...?"

"She's awake!" a woman cried. "Quick, she's not properly restrained yet!"

"No, wait!" Faith shouted, or tried to. It came out closer to a quiet cry. She clearly remembered seeing her body standing next to her mother as she was wheeled away in this body, Faith's body. "She's in that house with my mother, you have to let me go!" But no one was listening to her. The woman came at her with a needle full of what looked like water. Faith knew it for what it really was, a sedative, and the last thing that went through her mind after it was stabbed into her arm was an image of her body in a soapy tub of water.

No matter what the outsides looked like they didn't change what was inside and that, more than anything, pissed Buffy off. She was at the Bronze, just letting go, when Willow showed up with some shy blonde girl in tow. What's this? Buffy wondered, sneering at the guy who had started coughing up beer before turning to fully face the red-head. "So what's up re- Will?" she asked, only just catching herself. She appraised the blond girl openly, noting that Willow had found herself a pretty friend. But whatever happened to Oz? She never went anywhere without him. Not that she could ask, surely that would have raised red flags.

"Buffy, this is Tara," Willow said, her face practically glowing as she tugged the blond girl up beside her.

"Hi," Tara said, crossing her arms over her chest. There was a funny, appraising look in the girl's blue eyes that Buffy did not like one bit. It sent shivers down her spine.

"So, we've never met?" Going off of the way that the two were looking at her, it was a logical thing to assume. Tara shook her head. "Good. I just... have a problem with remembering names and faces sometimes."

"Tara was in my wicca group," Willow explained, as though it actually mattered. "You know, the one that I told you about?"

"Uh-huh," Buffy said, turning and walking off. So Willow was seriously into the witch-thing. For some reason that wasn't very surprising. Red had to have a way to keep up with her best friend, and physical strength definitely wasn't going to be it. Intelligence was the one place where she had her strengths, and she was definitely playing that to her advantage. Wonder what ol' B thought of that one?

"So, what's up?" Willow asked, obviously intent on following her. Buffy gritted her teeth as she plopped down on a couch and tossed her feet up on a table. She definitely wasn't used to this whole having people tailing after her like they actually cared. While it wasn't the worst feeling in the world it definitely wasn't one she was used to. "Patrol a no-go?"

"Got tired," Buffy said carelessly. "You know, the whole Faith thing. I let off some steam." Saying the name 'Faith' made her eyes tighten a little, but she managed to keep her face mostly straight.

"Good for you, you shouldn't work yourself too hard." For someone who Buffy didn't really like, Willow had some head on her shoulders some of the time.

"That's my philosophy." She snapped her fingers at Willow in a very Faith-esque motion. "You're catching onto that quick."

Willow smiled at her, not seeming to notice the different behavior. "Anyone want a soda?"

"Water," Tara said in her quiet voice. Buffy shook her head, having had enough to drink earlier. She did notice, however, how Tara's eyes followed Willow when she walked away, and the barely visible smile that curved on her lips.

Ohhhh, Buffy thought, a smirk coming to her face. I see what's going on here. Looks like I might have a bit more in common with little miss red-head than I ever thought possible. "So you guys been hanging out a lot lately, huh?" she asked.

"Yeah," Tara replied, a slight blush staining her cheeks. "She's, um, she's really cool. Really skilled and quick to c-catch onto things."

Buffy nodded slowly, trying to think of how best to put what she was going to say. Screw that, this girl doesn't know how B acts and Willow won't hear! "So Willow's not driving stick anymore." Tara's blush deepened considerably. "Who would have thought? I guess you never really know someone until you've been inside their skin. And Oz is out of the picture? Oh, never seen two people so much in love. She just couldn't get enough of old Oz." At that, the blush changed to a ghostly paleness abruptly, and Buffy knew that she had hit a nerve. Good, she thought viciously. If I can't have the relationship that I would have been happy with then why should these two? Red sure as hell doesn't deserve it. A small part of her cringed at the way she had put it, but she shoved it aside. Just because she looked like Buffy didn't mean she was going to start acting like her.

"She, um, said he, uh, uh, w-w-w-w-w-went-" Tara stammered.

"He w-w-w-w-what? You gonna get that sentence out sometime tonight?" Buffy interrupted cruelly, getting a sadistic rush of pleasure when Tara lowered her head. Maybe this night would be more fun than she had thought.

Faith stared at Giles house, breathing heavily from all the running she had done. She knew it was a futile attempt, but she had to do her best to get her former Watcher to believe that no matter what she looked like on the outside on the inside she was the same Buffy he had always known. "Even if I do look like... this." She looked at a lock of dark brown hair in disgust. No matter how good it look on Faith, she did not like it on herself. "Not that that makes much sense... since I am Faith." She made another sound of disgust before starting for the house, hoping that Giles would at least listen before calling someone to come and take her away for good. "It's Giles, he should listen to me."

Faith, back in her body for some reason she couldn't understand, was shocked for a moment. But she recovered a fraction of a second quicker than Buffy and managed to toss the blond Slayer off of her. She kneeled there, panting heavily, the sobs that had begun when she was still in Buffy's body continuing now. "I'm sorry," she whispered, unable to look at the other Slayer. Her dark eyes brimmed with honesty. "B... forgive me."

Buffy looked at Faith, seeing the brunette in a different light. How different things would have been, if only... She reached out and brushed her fingers lightly against Faith's cheek. "I forgive you," she whispered. "For everything."

Faith squeezed her eyes shut, and when they opened more tears fell. She leaned forward and kissed Buffy gently, a world of if's flashing through the minds of both Slayers. "Catch you later," Faith said, her voice hoarse as she leapt to her feet and ran away. Buffy stayed where she was, fingers pressed to her lips now and her own eyes filling with tears, and stared at the door Faith had run out of.

"Goodbye."