The Summers Home, 1230 hours.

Tara groaned as she moved her head from side to side while her it was still on her pillow. She put her arm over her eyes as she slowly opened them to look at the ceiling of what she knew to be Dawn's room at Buffy's house. She groaned again as she remembered what she told Faith before she passed out, what she told the dark haired Slayer as she looked into her eyes.

'I said I wanted to kiss her,' thought Tara to herself as she placed her arm next to her on the bed and just looked up at the ceiling, 'oh dear goddess, I said I wanted to kiss her… stupid Tara, she probably will freak out and she'll hate you even more over the fact that you betrayed her… yeah, that's a real fine end to a friendship.'

Tara slowly sat up, her blonde hair covering her face before she used her hands to sweep it back and then turned on the bed, and her legs were hanging off the edge… just over the carpet.

'You told her that you wanted to kiss her!' Tara mentally exclaimed to herself, 'what's she going to think of you now?'

Sighing, Tara got up and then stretched her arms over her head. She then walked towards the room door, and opened it. She then freshened up before heading down the stairs as she heard Buffy's voice from, Tara guessed, the kitchen. She gave a little chuckle when she overheard Buffy telling someone that Parker called her up and profusely apologized, and then said that she could tell the University newspaper that he apologized if she wanted to.

"It was weird," said Buffy as Tara walked into the dining room, and towards the kitchen, "he said someone made him reprioritize his priorities, or something."

"Don't tell me you wanna… hey, look who's up," said Willow who looked away from Buffy, and then at Tara who had just walked into the kitchen.

"Morning," said Tara as she walked to Buffy, and then rubbed the Slayer's back before yawning. Tara then headed for the fridge, took out some juice, and poured it into a glass while Willow and Buffy were asking how she was doing after the teleportation spell.

"I'm never doing that again," said Tara as she sat back dawn next to Buffy, "ever."

"And just so you know, Tara," said Willow as she leaned in to Tara and gave a small smile, "it's actually after noon."

"That's why no more teleportation spell," groaned Tara as she rested her elbows on the kitchen island top and rubbed her forehead. Willow looked at Tara, and gave a small smile… she knew that the blonde was one of the people that she owed apologies to for how she treated her, and then she looked at Buffy who was rubbing the blonde witch's back. Willow smiled as she realized that Buffy and Tara had gotten closer during the time that she and Buffy were having issues. Willow got pulled out of her thoughts when Tara asked if they had talked to Faith ever since she left.

"We talked a bit," said Buffy as she looked at Willow, and then at a concerned Tara before waving her hands, "no.. we kinda declared a truce between us. We just kind of got talking about some stuff, and then later on she got a message from the Knights of Byzantium."

"Oh?" asked Tara surprised, "what did they want?"

Buffy told Tara the same thing that she told Willow once she had gotten home last night after talking to Joyce and Dawn. The blonde Slayer told Tara about the potential alliance between the Slayers and the Knights, as well as the other things that they had discussed. All leading to Tara nodding her head while Willow was sitting down across from the blonde witch. She didn't want to mention the rest of the things that they had discussed with Faith, specifically the allegation that Kennedy could have pushed Willow to kill Oz. The redhead wanted to ask Tara if there was a way to examine past memories again, but she wanted to do it only after Glory was taken care off. However, the one thing she knew was that it was over between her and Kennedy, that she was going to break it off with the newest Slayer once they were done with Glory.

"Willow?" asked Tara as Willow looked back up at her; Tara breaking the redhead out of her thoughts while Buffy looked at the redhead, "you alright?"

"Yeah," replied Willow before shaking her head again, "I mean no… maybe… there's something I want to ask you, Tara. But only after all of this is done."

"Okay," replied Tara with an eyebrow raised at the redhead before nodding her head. It was just then that there was a knock at the front door, which led Buffy to run to the foyer leaving Willow and Tara by themselves in the kitchen. Tara took a sip of the juice and asked if they had any way to know if the meeting with the Knights was going to be a trap.

"Faith thought that it would be better to have someone check out the area," said Willow with a small smile, "we just told you, remember?"

"Oh, right," said Tara shaking her head, "sorry… I'm still out of it."

"That's fine," said Willow as she leaned forward, "Tara, I wanted to say this after we were…. I mean… I just want you to know that I'm sorry about everything that…"

"You already apologized," smiled Tara just as Anya, Xander, and Kennedy walked into the kitchen with Buffy behind them. Tara noticed the look on Buffy's face as she glared as Kennedy; the blonde witch could see her eyes tracking the newest Slayer as she sat next to Willow and put her arm around the redhead's shoulder before kissing her on the cheek, and then whispering into her ear.

"I missed you last night," said Kennedy, her whispering being loud enough for everyone to hear. Tara noticed the look of anger in the blonde Slayer's eyes, and in her aura. She then glanced over at Willow who glanced at Buffy as Kennedy then got up and rushed to the fridge. Tara then noticed that Xander and Anya were standing apart, instead of together as they usually would, even after Faith came back to Sunnydale and the both of them would have their disagreements about how to treat the second Slayer.

"I've talked to the Council about the plan that, she who shall not be named, had yesterday," said Kennedy pouring some juice into a glass, after which she returned the carton into the fridge, and then sat down next to Willow, "they said that they'll run interference. They don't want the military to…"

"You told them?" asked Buffy, "why?"

"You know why," said Kennedy, "Buffy, this whole deal is suspicious as hell. I'll feel better knowing that the Council can intervene and we'll be spared not relying on Faith, of all people."

"We have a truce," said Buffy as she looked at Kennedy, "and…"

"And you really think a truce means anything to her?" asked Kennedy as she looked at everyone, and then at Buffy, "in case any of you have forgotten, she tried to help end the world; and she murdered two people. Forgive me if I'm not feeling particularly 'truce' worthy. And besides, that truce was only between the both of you, Buffy. In case you forgot, Buffy… I am the Council sanctioned Slayer here."

"Stop it, Ken," said Willow as she looked at Kennedy who looked back at her, "why did you tell the Council? You do realize that they could tell the Knights what we're planning to do? What happens when the Council tells them that we don't trust them? Or that the military's about to get some reconnaissance done on them? They won't trust us, and we need their help with Glory."

"I'm doing what I think is right," said Kennedy.

"Like threatening to bind my powers if we don't hand Dawn over to the Council?" asked Willow as she jerked her shoulder away from the hand that Kennedy had rested on it. She looked at Kennedy before she got up and left the kitchen. While Kennedy looked at Willow walking away through the hallway, Buffy asked Kennedy if she told Giles about this.

"He's my Watcher in name only," said Kennedy, "so no, I don't have to tell him everything that I do. I know the…"

"General Hammond said that everything needed to go through Giles," said Tara as Kennedy sighed before looking at her.

"I don't answer to him," said Kennedy, "my duty is to the Council, not to the U.S. military. Heck, even Buffy agreed with that until you got the traitor back here."

"And they can't take Glory on their own," said Buffy as she rubbed her forehead, "we can't take Glory on our own, and the Knights can't take Glory on their own. That's why we're proposing an alliance with the Knights. Faith has the military back-up that we could need… and if we can make Glory use the majority of her power and revert to her human form? Then we can hand him or her to the Council and they can imprison whoever Glory's human host is forever."

"You should talk to Giles, Buffy," said Anya as she glared at Kennedy who was leaning on the island with her fists. Anya then looked at Xander who looked away in embarrassment while she told him that he had military information he retained as soldier-boy during Halloween, that he knew Buffy was right and that he was using his hate against Faith to get the better of him. Xander was about to say something when Anya put her hand up and shook her head, silently telling him not to speak, "Giles talked to you about this, I talked to you about this… this whole thing with Faith? Grow the hell up."

"You don't know her, Ahn, and…" said Xander with his hand rubbing the back of his head while looking at Kennedy who was looking back at him.

"Xander has the right idea," said Kennedy, "you don't know her Anya… well, you kind of should since she is a similar kind of monster that…"

"She is not a monster," said Tara as she looked at Kennedy while shaking head in disbelief and motioning towards Anya, "and neither is Faith. If you, even for one second, actually talked to her… then… then you'd know how different she is."

"Of course, you'd defend her," said Kennedy as her voice rose just as Anya interjected while Xander just looked away at the floor, and Buffy was rubbing her head in frustration before she slapped the top of the island, and told everyone to shut up.

"We have a truce, Kennedy," said Buffy as she pointed her finger at the angry Slayer, "you should not… and I emphasize not… have called the Council without telling me or Giles. And don't you dare talk about being the authorized Slayer. As far as you are concerned, I am the most senior here; secondly, I'm willing to follow Willow's advice and give Faith a chance… thus the need for the truce between us right now."

Upon hearing her name as she was walking back down from the restroom on the second floor, Willow was on the last step when she heard Buffy speaking her name. She then walked into the foyer and then into the hallway when Buffy told Kennedy that she was the one who was pushing Willow all this time ever since she came to the Summers house.

"That's because she has power," said Kennedy, "she is the most powerful among all of us, or at least she could be.. and my job after I got to know her was to make her realize that potential."

"You and Atwood wanted a weapon for the Council," said Anya, "you have her on your side, and then break us up. You and Xander have been hanging out a lot.. and well, we all know what's that done."

"Faith assaulted me and nearly killed me, Anya," said Xander as he raised his voice against his girlfriend.

"And Kennedy's been whispering that into your ears every day," said Anya calmly while Xander was panting, "you're still such a child, Xander. You forgave Willow so easily after she killed, but someone has sex with you and then leaves you outside with no clothes? You hate her for the tiniest reason. You knew what she was like, but you still went on your own. You knew the risks… and now because everything went wrong, you hate her. You had sex with her, where by the way you didn't even know her name or what she was like… you know, kind of like how we had sex the first time. Do you hate me too?"

"That's not the same thing, and…."

"Or do you hate her because she made you leave," said Anya looking at Xander, "I didn't leave after you orgasmed.. so does it mean that if I left then you'd hate me too? I'm not saying you'll be depressed... I mean from what you said about Buffy and Parker…"

"Hey," said Buffy as Xander apologized.

"Buffy was depressed and moping around until she met Riley," said Anya, "she didn't hate him…"

"I did want to see him in pain though," mubled Buffy as Willow walked back into the kitchen.

"But you hate Faith," said Anya who looked at Xander again, "I see it in your eyes when I mention her name."

"She tried to end the world," said Xander and Kennedy together.

"You know what damage I caused as a vengeance demon?" asked Anya as she looked at Xander, "how many wishes I fulfilled? how many men I killed and tortured? Believe me, you can't imagine the punishments I meted out. Do you hate me? Do you want to kill me?"

"No.. but…" said Xander as Anya interrupted him while she looked at Kennedy, "but she kill two.."

"I killed thousands," said Anya looking back at Xander, "and I remember all of them."

"It's not the same, Anya," said Xander, "she's supposed to protect us and…"

"Have you ever asked her what happened to her to make her the way she was?" asked Anya as she looked at Xander, and then at the other, "did any of you? I mean really ask about her past?"

"Who cares?" asked Kennedy.

"I do," said Tara as Kennedy rolled her eyes at the blonde witch.

"Or how about if we take care of Glory, and Kennedy decides to take me away to the Council to face punishment for the things I did for the past twelve hundred years?" asked Anya as she looked at Xander again, "would you let her take me?"

Xander just looked at the floor before Anya shook her head, "start thinking for yourself, Xander. You forgave Willow, good. She did what she did in self-defence; if you can look past that… then maybe you should give Faith a second chance. You want to continue listening to Kennedy? That's fine, but you do it without me."

Xander looked up as Anya walked away past Willow, and out to the dining room. Xander flinched as the front door was slammed shut before he looked at the young women who were all looking back at him.

"Give her some time to relax," said Kennedy.

"Go to her," said Tara and Buffy just as Willow rushed over to her oldest friend and grabbed his arm before pulling him to the hallway that led the dining room.

"Run after her, dumbo," said Willow.

"Will," said Xander as Willow kissed Xander on the cheek before gently pushing him to the first door, "go after her."

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, Buffy asked Tara to call Faith and tell her about what Kennedy just did. The newest Slayer just glared at Buffy before she huffed and leaned back against a counter, while Buffy said that she was going to talk to Giles. IT was then that Willow walked back into the kitchen, saying that Xander was on his way to catch up to Anya. Tara and Buffy walked out of the kitchen to make their calls while Kennedy walked towards Willow.

"I'm sorry," said Kennedy as she gently held on Willow's hand, "I know you think that…"

"You wanted to bind my powers and take Dawn away," said Willow shaking her head, "how…"

"They would never have harmed Dawn," said Kennedy gently, "I would have gone with her, and made sure of it, Willow. All I needed was for you to trust me."

"I…." said Willow as Kennedy stepped forward, pulled the redhead in and hugged her tight. She then kissed Willow's neck while saying that she loved her, and to give her another chance. Before Willow could say anything, the redhead heard the Slayer whisper something into her ear, and opened her eyes wide just as there was a orange flash of light from her pupils, and she found herself hugging Kennedy who stepped back and smiled at her.

"Ken," said Willow as she shook her head and stepped back, feeling as if she was missing something, "after this whole thing with Glory, I… I need to talk to you about everything and…"

"Hey," said Tara as she and Buffy ran in, "I just called Faith, and her mom picked the phone. She wants to see me… said its really urgent, I'm heading there with Buffy."

"I'm giving her a ride," said Buffy with the car keys in her hand, "I can give Faith a heads up about what Kennedy just did, maybe come up with something else."

"You do that," said Kennedy glaring at Buffy.

"I'll go to," said Willow as Kennedy looked on confused at Willow.

"Will," said Kennedy, "you can't…"

"I told you I'm giving her a second chance, Ken," said Willow as she looked back at Kennedy before she left with Buffy and Tara, with Kennedy behind them. As they walked onto the porch, Kennedy told Buffy that she'll head to the Magic Box.

"Since you're so insistent that Giles know everything," said Kennedy, "I'll tell him about the whole Council and Knights thing."

"Fine," replied Buffy as she nodded her head before she ran to Joyce's jeep. As the jeep backed off in a hurry, none of them noticed the smile that appeared on Kennedy's face as she walked down the porch steps, and onto the pathway that led to the pavement. She then got into her car, and drove off.

"Sorry, Willow," said Kennedy to herself, "don't worry, you won't remember a single thing. This was supposed to be effective if you and the traitor were alone, but since Tara and Buffy are going to be there as well, Tara can vouch for your innocence using her aura reading after you killed her. This is the final order of the Council.. if this doesn't work, then they'll let it be… she'll be watched, but they won't come after her again. As for Tara, she'll never be able to see this coming.. she'll never be able to read for it."

Faith's Home, twenty minutes later.

Faith was seated on Major Carter's lap as she read the latest report from Area 51; the little girl didn't understand what her mother was reading but that didn't matter to her. She was holding onto the soft arm that was wrapped around her abdomen, and she felt the bottom of the Majors head resting on top of her own while occasionally the blonde woman would sniff Faith's hair. It was an act that made the former Slayer smile as she thought about what she was like when she was older.

Faith wondered what happened to those memories; she felt a part of her was upset that those memories were missing. But the other part, the larger part, was glad; she would now be able to make new memories with her mother.

Her real mother.

No more getting slapped. No more shouting. No more having strange men in the house looking for her mother and father.

She knew she was going to be safe.

She had seen pictures of her room, and she loved it. She didn't understand the posters that were hung on the walls, but the Major told Faith that they'd redecorate.

"Mommy," asked Faith as she looked back up at the Major, who closed the lid of the laptop and looked back down at her daughter, "can I fly with you?"

"Yep, we can take a single engine up after my friend checks you out," asked the Major with a smile as Faith grinned and nodded her head, "if she can't help then… then we're going home to Colorado Springs."

"Did you take me flying when I was older, mommy?" asked Faith softly.

"I took you up in a jet eight months after we found each other," said the Major as Faith grinned, "but we'll do that when you're older. Right now, I'll take you up on a small plane. Okay?"

"Okay. Mommy," said Faith when the doorbell rang. Teal'c was the one who walked out of the room he shared with Jonas, who had been sent to the Magic Box to start work with Giles on continuing to translate the materials they received from the council. There was still a lot that they had to go though, so the hope was that they'd find more on any weaknesses for Glory.

That was an hour ago.

The Major picked up Faith from her lap and placed her on the floor before she got up when hearing Tara's voice. However, she heard two more voices saying that they needed to talk to Faith as well, that it was urgent.

"Stay here where I can see you, honey," said the Major before she kissed the top of Faith's head and then headed to the door.

"Tara?" said the Major as Teal'c stepped to one side, with the blonde officer blocking the door, "ummm… sorry, with everything going on I forgot to ask you to come alone."

"Sam, you remember Buffy, and this is Willow Rosenberg," said Tara who noticed the frown that appeared on the Major's face, and she saw that she was trying to control her anger.

"I've talked to your mother," said the Major controlling her anger as she looked at Buffy, "they're doing well,"

"I talked to them last night," said Buffy, "I.. I don't know if Faith's told you this but.. the both of us have a truce and, and I'm just here to tell her… and I guess you and the big guy Murray, and Jonas, that Kennedy called the Council. They know that we're trying to make an alliance with them. And since the military's involved…"

"I'll let my superiors know, and…."

"Hi," said Tara as she looked behind the Major and waved her hand at the little girl who was leaning away from the table with one hand on the edge of the wooden top. The Major and Teal'c looked back at the curious little girl giving Tara a small wave, which was returned by Buffy and Willow. It was then that Tara's eyes grew wide open as she came to a realization when she looked at the little girl's aura, "Faith?"

"HI," said Faith as the Major walked towards the little girl, "I'm Faith.. Faith Lehane, are you mommy's friends? You are so pretty and…"

"Faith," said the Major as she crouched down, "I thought I told you to stay."

"I know, mommy," said Faith as she noticed the rising tone of the Major's voice and her bottom lip started to tremble, and she had a flash back to Sabrina Lehane scolding her, "I… I'm sorry, and…"

"It's ok," said the Major gently as she ran her hand through Faith's hair, "I just want you to be safe and…"

"Faith Lehane," said Willow as her eyes glassed over and her hands turned to fists as she glared at the little girl, "Lock."

"Willow," said Buffy; it was the only thing she could say before she felt her jaw lock, did the rest of her body. She felt herself being unable to move no matter how much she tried, and it was the same with Tara, and the man she knew as Murray whose eyes were the only things that were moving. While the rest were just standing, Major Carter was locked in her crouching position, unable to move.

"Repel," said Willow as Buffy and Tara were flung to other sides of the house, Buffy landing on concrete hard, while Tara landed hard on a bed of flowers. The Major and Teal'c were thrown into the house, the both of them hitting a wall before falling onto the floor with a thud. Willow walked in while she was glaring at Faith who was screaming for the Major as she ran to the unconscious body.

"Mommy! Mommy!" shouted Faith as she started crying while the front door was slammed shut with Willow walking towards her. The redhead then noticed movement as Teal'c was the first to get up while the Major groaned in pain with Faith holding on to the blonde officer as she cried out at Willow, "don't hurt my mommy! Don't hurt my mommy!"

"Willow Rosenberg," said Teal'c as he approached her.

He took just one step before Willow waved her hand and flung Teal'c into the computer room hard. She saw the Jaffa crash into the table that held the computer, and then he fell onto the floor. Willow then turned back to Faith who was looking up at her with red eyes that were full of tears streaming down her puffy face, while there was someone pounding on the front door.

"Willow!" shouted Buffy as she pounded on the steel reinforced door, "Willow! Stop it!"

"Willow!" shouted Tara as she pounded on the door with Buffy beside her.

"Tara," said Buffy as she held on to her left arm while wincing in pain as she pounded on the door again with her right hand, and then went on to hold her left are while looking at the witch, "I need you to use magic to open the door. Pull it out of its hinges if you have to."

Tara nodded her head before telling Buffy to step back. The blonde witch closed her hands into fists while her arms were by her side, and started to chant a spell.

"Help! Help my mommy!" shouted Faith between sobs inside the house as she looked behind the redhead, and then she looked up at Willow who held an arm up at the little girl's direction. Faith wrapped her arms around the blonde officer's head while she continued to cry, "don't hurt my mommy."

"This will be only for you," said Willow as she started to mumble something that Faith couldn't understand. Her fear keeping her by her mother's side as black coloured flame gathered in Willow's outstretch palm, "goodbye, Faith Lehane."

TBC.