"Remind me again why I'm stuck here babysitting you?" Spike growled as they moved closer to Arkham through the underground sewer system that started at the northeastern bridge and moved south west along the previous path that Faith had taken before.

"I don't know Spike...I thought Angel was the broody one, but you've become almost as pathetic." Faith groused for the upteenth time since they'd left Wolfram and Hart...having to listen to Spike complain, she'd just wanted to dust his grumpy ass.

"I am not broody, I'll have you know. I'm just not entirely enamoured with the odor coming from this place. Besides, why aren't you back at the posh palace getting properly shagged by the buffed billionaire?"

Faith's eyes rolled as she shook her head in exasperation. "Been practicing that one in front of the mirror last night?"

Spike just smirked. "Trouble in paradise already Slayer? What's the matter, the Bat not holding your interest...or maybe he isn't as whipped as he appeared last night, eh?"

Faith turned around and punched Spike, watching him fall on his ass as he growled out in anger. "What the fuck is your problem Spike? Is it Buffy? Is that why you're acting like a prick to me? I don't need this shit, okay? So if you're done being a fucking jerk...just leave. It's what everyone does anyway...so go! I'll figure this shit out on my own!"

Spike looked up from the ground gobsmacked at Faith, whose whole body was radiating a kind of tension and pain he'd never seen from her before. Shaking his head, he stood and walked over to the Dark Slayer with an apologetic look on his face.

"Wood really did a number on you, didn't he?"

Faith turned around and started walking towards their destination, trying to ignore Spike's question, but the blonde vampire had no intentions of letting it go.

"Look, I'm sorry, alright?" Spike groused a bit more humbly than Faith thought he was capable of. "I haven't seen Buffy since Sunnydale and frankly, I'm not exactly having kittens thinking it's going to be all 'happy to see me' if you get my meaning."

Faith gave Spike a sidelong glance. "Why would you think that? She was pretty broken up after the battle."

"Yeah?"

"Yes." Faith sighed. "Not that I hung around much. But Buffy was really quiet, seemed truly upset. I think that's why she moved to Europe...to get away from the reminders."

Spike nodded. "What happened with you and Wood?"

Faith shrugged. "At first it was all good, you know? Exciting and fun. We patrolled together most nights and spent our days getting to know Cleveland. Then he took a Principal job, and became more distant. I'd realized that my smarts weren't able to keep him interested for the long haul so I went back to school...I'd finally decided to take my GED and some online classes too. I wanted to surprise him, show him I was making an effort to be a bit softer, less me...but he'd decided that I wasn't enough. Cheated on me and left me a note stating that it had been fun, but he needed more than me. Short version, I wasn't good enough. It broke something inside of me...because I had really tried, you know?"

Spike nodded in understanding. "When I got my soul back for Buffy, I thought it would be good enough for her."

Faith gave Spike a pitying look. "And it wasn't, was it?"

"Nope. I don't think anything I'd ever do would be good enough for her. It's bullocks because I love her still, and I don't think she's ever returned that...even though she said it before I vaporized into a cloud of dust."

Faith looked completely shocked. "Do you think she meant it?"

"I told her thanks for saying it...even though I knew she didn't mean it."

Faith shook her head. "You don't know that, fuck...I don't know much about anything relationship related. I'm just damaged goods."

Spike scoffed loudly. "Because of Wood? Fuck that Faith...that guy isn't worth you giving yourself such a hard time. We've all made mistakes...me more than anyone. But I have to believe there's something worth redeeming inside of me...if there hadn't been, the First would've won before."

"Bruce was in love with someone else...she died, but I'm pretty sure if she hadn't, he'd have never looked at me twice."

"So, people die all the time. Your problem is, you're scared of living."

Faith glared at Spike in anger. "What do you think I've been doing these last ten years...sitting on my ass?"

"Going through the motions...maybe not with Wood...I'm sure you genuinely cared for the useless wanker, but the rest of it...yeah? I think you're terrified Faith, and you need to let it go and find a way to move on and live again."

Faith shook her head sadly. "What if I can't, or don't want to? Do you remember when you told me about a Slayer having a death wish?"

Spike nodded.

"Sometimes I look forward to death...just to stop the pain I feel everyday from eating me alive."

Spike grabbed Faith by the arm and stared at her. "Don't you dare give up Slayer...don't you dare. It would destroy Angel, and as much as I think he's a namby pamby brooding, big-foreheaded pillock, he genuinely cares for you like a little sister. Buffy does too...as does the little bit. Dawn would be devastated and I'm pretty sure that boy toy you shagged stupid last night would be pretty broken up about it too."

"Don't worry Spike...if and when I go out, I'll do it giving every last ounce of fight I've got left in me."

Spike sighed in relief. "Good."

"Come on, we're almost there." Faith said and sighed in aggravation when her phone rang again...for the third time since they'd been down in the sewers...how in the fuck was she still getting a signal down here?

Looking at the phone, she shook her head when she saw the number. It was Bruce calling again.

"Answer the phone Faith, and put the guy out of his misery. He obviously knows something's up if he keeps trying to get in touch with you."

Hovering her finger over the green button, Faith pressed it and put the phone up to her ear. "Hello?"

"Hey." Bruce said softly on the other end...his voice sounding a bit unsure. "You left this morning without saying goodbye?"

"I thought our conversation was over, so I left. What did you want?" Faith said a bit harsher than she'd intended and heard Bruce's deep sigh on the other end of the phone, while Spike just shook his head at her in exasperation.

"Where are you? I called Angel and Wolfram and Hart, and left messages."

"I can't talk right now."

Bruce's voice deepened noticeably and Faith felt her body shiver at the tone. "Where are you Faith?"

"I'm with Spike. We are trying to find a way into Arkham through the sewers...I don't even know how I'm still getting service down here."

Bruce's sighed again. "Are you coming home tonight?"

"Home?" Faith choked out. "I didn't realize we'd established that Wayne Manor was my home."

"And I'd thought we'd had. Faith...I'm sorry about this morning and I didn't mean to dismiss you like that. I think we need to talk, so please meet me at my penthouse tonight at seven, okay?"

Sighing in resignation, Faith nodded. "Fine. I have to go now, I'll talk to you later." And she hung up the phone, watching Spike, who was just grinning at her knowingly.

"You've got that man by the short hairs...you might want to consider giving him a real chance to prove himself before you assume he's going to muck it up somehow."

"That's disgusting Spike...but I'll think about it."

When Faith returned to Wolfram and Hart with Spike in tow...both were irritated about not being able to find a way into Arkham from the sewer system. When Faith got to her apartment, she was quickly enveloped into a strong hug. Looking down, Faith smiled softly as she returned the affectionate gesture.

"Hey Dawnie." Faith pulled back and gave Buffy's little sis the once over. Not much had changed with Dawn, she still had her long brown hair and innocent features. Gazing up, Faith's eyes met those of Willow, Kennedy, Xander and Buffy...who was smiling widely at her.

"How are you Faith?" Buffy said.

"Five by five...you know me."

Xander smirked. "I hear you're dating the Prince of Gotham? Is it true he's the Batman?"

Faith shook her head. "Yes, he is the Batman...and I would appreciate it if you kept that quiet...it's not for open conversation."

Xander nodded sheepishly, his inner fanboy smacked down properly. "We heard about Wood too...sorry Faith."

"Don't worry about it Xander...what's done is done. It's good to see you all though."

Buffy nodded as her gaze shifted from Faith's to Spike's...who was standing in the corner looking very uncomfortable before Dawn noticed him and rushed over, enveloping him into a hug. Spike smiled and hugged Dawn back.

"Hey, little bit...you're looking well."

Dawn looked up into Spike's eyes, her own filling with tears before she smacked him hard on the chest, earning a 'Hey now!' for her efforts.

"Why didn't you tell us you were alive? How long have you been alive, Spike?"

"Yes, Spike..." drawled Buffy, "how long have you been alive?"

Spike shrugged. "A while...maybe three years now...not really good at keeping track."

Buffy walked over to where Spike was standing and gave him a considering look. Spike, to his credit, just stood there and didn't move...didn't flinch or give an inch. After a couple minutes, Buffy's hand shakily moved up and cupped Spike's cheek, her breath hitching when she felt his skin solid underneath her touch and her eyes welled with tears. The next thing Spike knew, was that Buffy had pushed him against the wall, her lips locking with his. He was startled momentarily, before he gave in to the kiss, and all the old feelings that came rushing back.

After a few moments, Buffy pulled away and slapped Spike across the cheek, causing the vampire to grunt in pain. "That's for letting me think you were dead all this time."

Spike glowered heatedly. "I did come to Italy you know...but you were off shagging the Immortal...so excuse me for thinking you'd moved on."

Buffy growled angrily. "Oh, poor William...were you jealous? Didn't you think I might've been...oh, I don't know...on the rebound or something? Was I supposed to remain celibate after you died?"

"I didn't say that...but bullocks Slayer...did you have to go and shag the Ponce?"

"Well, as a matter of fact, I'm not shagging said immortal any longer...not since I found out you were alive! I can't believe what a jerk you're being about this entire thing! I thought you were dead Spike! D-E-A-D!"

Spike looked down at Buffy fondly and smirked. "Don't you know that death can't keep me away from you."

Buffy choked on a sob. "I hate you Spike."

"Yeah, me too Slayer." Spike grinned.

Faith cleared her throat. "If you two are done with the strange reunion...shouldn't we try and figure out how to deal with the mess we have here?"

"Sorry." Both Buffy and Spike muttered simultaneously.

"So what exactly is going on Faith?" Asked Willow.

"The First is here in Gotham." Faith said as she sat down across from her friends and proceeded to tell them everything, up and including the part where she believed that Richard Wilkins was this Strega and her biological father. The looks of shocked disbelief were tangible until Buffy shook her head.

"I think that actually makes sense. He was always protective of you Faith, and possessive too. Do you have any idea where the entrance to the Hell mouth is?"

Faith shook her head. "Nope, but I'm pretty sure it's under Arkham Asylum. The occult references are just too much of a coincidence for it not to be. The Turok-Han I fought were in close proximity to there."

"Where?" Kennedy asked.

Faith's eyes widened. "There's an abandoned factory just east of the Asylum, where I fought them. You don't think there's an entrance there?"

Buffy nodded. "It's worth looking into. How about you and I go patrolling tonight?"

Faith grinned, looking at the time. Is was just after six o'clock. "I have a thing at seven here in Gotham. I'll meet you back here at ten?"

Buffy nodded again. "Going to go see Wayne?"

Faith shrugged, but didn't deny it. "Yeah, apparently we need to talk."

Everyone grimaced and Spike just rolled his eyes. "The man is completely besotted with our resident Slayer. Go Faith...talk it out...get your Kum-ba-ya-ya's out of the way and then shag the poor man stupid...put him out of his misery."

"Shut up Spike...if I want your opinion...fuck that, I'm never going to want your opinion." Faith glowered while Spike just chuckled. "You all are welcome to hang here...there's take out menus in the drawer by the phone. I have an account with Wolfram and Hart so feel free...I'll see you in a few hours B."

"Okay." Buffy nodded and watched as Faith made her way into her room to get ready for her evening with Bruce Wayne.