"William the Bloody. It's a pleasure. Buffy's told me miles about you. I feel like I already know you. Not that anyone ever told me any news. No one writes letters these days. A few months incarcerated and a girl's a social disaster. Doesn't matter though. Do they usually meet in there?" She jerked her head in the direction of the Magic Box.

"What do you want with them? Buffy's dead."

"I know, but you know how it is. Gotta renew acquaintances while you can. So, do you work for them? The Doo to their Scooby?"

"I'm a free agent."

"Uh huh." Faith stood and hauled Spike up by the collar. "Let's go. You can make the introductions."

"You know them."

"There's a few new faces. The last time I was in town, there was a little confusion. Formal introductions were out."

A memory surfaced in Spike's mind. This girl's eyes were very familiar but somehow not. Last time he saw them they were hazel, now they were brown. No, wait. Buffy's eyes were that colour. Faith.

"Hey! Now I've got it. 'warm champagne.legs buckled. It's wrong." Spike chuckled at the memory. Faith had been Buffy for a while. His face hardened as he recalled her charade.

"How sweet. You remembered." Faith grinned a little.

"Nevermind. It's not funny." Remembering the frustration. Humiliation.

"Let's go."

She stood behind him and pushed Spike out the door and into the street. Following him, stake handy, she crossed the street. The chime rang on the Magic Box door.

"So this is the new hang. Neat."

***

Tara woke up a little at the sound of the bell on the door. Her head was against Willow's chest. Soft snoring surrounded her. So did empty glasses and an enormous bottle of Bourbon. Spike was at the door. Somehow, she recognized the woman who'd followed him into the store but couldn't quite place her. It was as though the face was familiar but there was no personality attached. She sensed something wrong, something juxtaposed. Tara tapped Willow's shoulder frantically trying to wake her.

"Um, hello." Tara stood, knocking over a glass. The others slept on.

"Don't you remember me? Gosh, we're like sisters." The girl at the door came forward, moving like a snake, graceful and mesmerizing. She embraced Tara, giving her a hard thump against the back. Faith pressed up against tightly against Tara. The embrace was both violent and erotic. Tara fumbled and backed away.

"Faith? What are you doing here?" Tara's eyes narrowed. This didn't make any sense. Why would Faith come back here of all places? Tara wished that the others hadn't had quite so much to drink. Napping was one thing, unconsciousness during major events was another.

"So." Faith took a few more steps closer to Tara, running her fingers along Willow's sleeping shoulder, her eyes working the curves and grooves of the young woman's body. Faith looked up suddenly and looked Tara right in the eye. "Is it nice?"

"Wh-what?"

"Having Willow all to yourself. No Buffy." Faith smiled. She picked up a lock of Tara's hair and pushed it around in her fingers. "She always did have a thing for blondes." Tara's eyes narrowed but she maintained her silence.

"Well, it doesn't matter. I can wait." Faith raised herself and sat on top of the sales counter, kicking her legs out in front of her. "You and I can sit and talk till the rest of them wake up. We can paint each others' nails. Like a slumber party."

Tara looked at Spike. He looked confused and a little nervous. Tara had no idea what Faith wanted with them. She just didn't want to be the only one to find out.

"Excitate." Anya, Xander, Willow and Giles all jerked their heads up suddenly. Tara flinched at their immediate confusion. An awakening spell like this was really no good since it left its subjects too disoriented to think for a minute.

Giles was the first to speak. "What is it? Uh." He adjusted his glasses. "Faith?" Squinting, now.

"Giles! You're awake! I missed you. A girl gets awful lonely in the big house." Faith's tone was dangerous. Her eyes were shining with excitement. She moved to stand beside Giles. Faith took his arm and wrapped it around her shoulders. "Well Daddy, big sister's dead. How about a little love?"

"What do you want from us? I didn't imagine you'd come back here. At least not so soon. They'll be after you soon." Giles pulled his arm back. Everyone was backing away from Faith like she was an angry cat, just waiting to strike.

"I know. That's why I'm here. You weren't just going to let them have me, were you?"

"Who's after her Giles?" Willow stood up, now. Looking around she seemed to have woken up more quickly than Xander or Anya. She glanced at Faith, "Does the Council know where you are?" Back at Giles "Should we tell them?"

"Don't be silly, Willow. She's running from the Council. That's why she's here."

"You mean.you think they'd try to..?"

"I think they're capable of it, anyway. They may try."

"Try what?" Xander was watching Faith warily. He didn't trust her. Well, no one trusted her.

"The Council wants me dead. They know where I've been, but I think I lost them on the way here."

"You mean they've been following you?"

"Following, stalking.hunting. It's all the same."

"And now you're here." Giles sighed in frustration.

"You're setting us up, then?" Willow looked at Faith, surprised.

"Hope you don't mind."