Oz walked in just as Veruca finished her practice session. He took a breath, but not to control his hormones. It was to control his rage, so he didn't rip this bitch to pieces for trying to take Willow's place.

"Nice to see you again." She said as she came towards him. No scratch that, she almost purred. It took everything he had not snarl back. "I guess we didn't catch each other last night. Pity."

"Not really." Oz said. "Actually, it was rather lucky. For you." He finally let got the snarl he was hiding. "I know why you're here, so let me just reinforce Buffy's warning. It. Won't. Work. The reason we didn't run into each other was because last night I achieved the impossible. I now control the wolf. We talked, and it was decided that we would merge, completely, so as to better protect our mate. Willow. She is the only one for me, and if you think for one moment that you could ever take her place, you're wrong. If you so much as glance at her sideways, I will rip you to shreds. That's a promise." With that he turned and walked out. Veruca watched him leave. We'll see about that, young pup. We shall see.

"So, how'd it go?" Willow asked, bounding up to Oz's side as he walked into the manor.

"Buffy was right." He growled. "She's so confident, so sure. I almost shredded her there and then."

"I don't blame you." Buffy said. "I just wish Shal would let me carry a knife or something. Preferably something blunt."

"Buffy, behave." Shalimar admonished her. "Wait til she goes wolf. Then you can kill her."

"Such friendly sentiments." Xander said. "Maybe I should ask Sage to talk Wolverine to come down and talk to her."

"No." Oz said firmly. "That goes for you two as well." He looked pointedly at Buffy and Shalimar. "She makes a go for Willow, she's mine." Buffy was about to object, then changed her mind.

"Right." She said. "I understand." She gave a quick glance over to Angel. She understood all to well. "She's all yours. Just try to leave something for us to use as a punching bag, 'kay?"

"Got it." Oz said, holding Willow tighter. No one was going to hurt his mate. No one.

"You sure you have to go?" Buffy asked. Cane nodded sadly.

"I am afraid so." He said. "I now know where my son is, thanks to you and your friends. I wish to see him, at least." Buffy nodded.

"I understand." She said. She handed him a piece of paper. "My phone number. Call us sometime." Cane nodded

"I will never forget any of you." He said. "It has been…an experience." Buffy grinned.

"Yeah. You can now add straightening out a  former Slayer turned new mutant and curing a werewolf to your resume." She said. Cane chuckled. Buffy embraced the Shao Lin. "See you 'round. We'll miss you." Cane place a hand on her shoulder.

"As I will you." He said. She let him go. Cane placed his hat on his head and bowed briefly. Buffy returned the gesture, a deep, respectful bow. "Farewell, my friend. May we meet again."

"We will." Buffy said with a grin. "I know where you'll be. Nowhere is safe from the Scooby Gang." Cane chuckled, then turned and walked off. As he did so, he pulled his old flute out, and began playing. Buffy grinned. It would definitely be quieter around here without him.

She sat quietly near by. Former Slayer turned new mutant? How'd that work? If Buffy didn't have her Slayer powers, hell, this wouldn't be anywhere near the challenge she had been hoping it would be. Nowhere near as fun, either. She could always chase that old man and kidnap him. She grinned. Yeah, that could be enjoyable.

"Alright, Faith. You can come out now." Buffy said suddenly. Faith started. How the hell'd she do that? She hadn't made a sound since she started following her. "Come on, F. I don't have all day. Let's just get this over with. We need to talk." Faith walked out cautiously.

"How'd you know I was there?" She demanded.

"Same way I know you've been following me around for the past two days." Buffy said. "You weren't at the hospital."

"Checking up on the big, bad Faith?" The Slayer sneered. Buffy smiled sadly.

"Actually I was checking up on the could have been friend that I failed when she needed me." She told her. Faith raised an eyebrow.

"Alright, what's the scam?" She demanded.

"No scam, Faith." Buffy assured her. "Just honestly sorry. You needed a friend and I let you down. If you want to take it out on me, I wouldn't blame you. Just hear me out first. Then you can try to kick the crap out of me all you want." Faith glared at her.

"Alright, B. I'm listening." Buffy sighed. She'd expected hostility, she knew this would be hard. She just wished she knew how to handle her.

"Like I'm sure you just heard, I'm not the Slayer any more." Buffy began. "I haven't been the Slayer for four years, since I died and was brought back by Xander. That job was filled by first Kendra, and now you. I'll be frank with you, Faith. I can't do this anymore. I've watched too many friends die, seen too many things that, honestly, I could have done without. It's time for me to step aside, let the true Slayer take over." Faith gawked. She didn't know what to expect when she and B finally talked things out, but this wasn't it.

"Hold on a second. If you aren't the Slayer anymore, how'd you survive the night life this long?" Buffy grinned.

"That's the other reason I'm leaving Sunnydale." Buffy began.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Time out." Faith exploded. "Leaving? When? Why? You got it good here. You got friends, family…"

"Yeah, but I've got family out there, too." Buffy interrupted. "I'll always love mom, hell she raised me. But I recently found out she's not my real mother." Faith's jaw hit the floor. Joyce wasn't Buffy's real mother? "I, my sister and who knows how many others, were the product of Genomex's experiment, the one that created the new mutants. I'm a feral. All the Slayer powers, with heightened senses and no destiny. My sister and I were separated at birth. We don't know who our real parents are; we don't know where we really come from. But we want to find out, and I can't do that fighting vampires in Sunnydale." Faith stood silently, trying to rap her mind around what Buffy was saying. "There's a government military organization I've been working with, prepping them for when I move on. Y'know, which demons are huntable, which ones have info, that sort of thing. But I'd feel better leaving the Slayer here to watch things. You, whether you decide we have to fight here or not." She turned to walk away. "The choice is yours, Faith. I hope you make the right decision."

"What's that supposed to mean?" She demanded. Was she threatening her?

"The Council's hiding out in the hotel." Buffy explained. "Shalimar and I checked it out. They have orders to kill you to make way for the next Slayer."

"And you care?" Faith shot. She knew, the second the words left her mouth, that it was too much. Buffy had already shown that she did.

"Yes, Faith, I do." Buffy said sharply. She'd had enough. "As much as I should probably just walk away and let them blow your head off, I do care. I care because, as much as you'd like to think otherwise, we are alike. We've both lost a lot to this war. Hell, I nearly lost my sanity. That doesn't have to happen anymore. I'm trying to help you, but if you don't want it, then just go, plan your revenge or whatever it is you want." She stormed off, leaving Faith leaving like absolute shit. Why the hell'd I do that, she wondered. She watched the feral a moment, and then raced after her.

"Buf…" A hail of bullets cut off her shout. "Shit!" Muttered, running a dumpster for cover. Faith noticed Buffy turn, then dart off. It was a trap, Faith thought darkly. The cheerleader set her up! I didn't even think she had that in her. Faith crept into the nearby alley and crept up the fire escape. "Two can play at that game, blondie." She muttered. As she reached the top, she heard sounds like a fight was going on. She poked her head over the top. "The hell…?" Faith watched as the feral threw the gunmen around the top of the roof. She had nothing to do with the shooting. Faith suddenly felt really bad for blaming her. A determined look set on her face as she crawled over the edge of the roof, moving silently to the nearest gunmen. "Target practice is over!" She said, belting the guy over the back of the head. "And you were lousy anyway."

"Damn straight." Buffy said. "They didn't nick either of us. I thought the Council hired decent assassins."

"Maybe they're low on funds." Faith said as they mopped up the last shooter.

"Or low on brains." Buffy suggested. The two warriors stopped and looked at each other. "So…"

"Buffy, I'm real sorry about what I said." Faith blurted suddenly. "You were just trying to help, and I spat on in your face. I can understand if…"

"The offer's still there." Buffy told her. "The Hellmouth's your responsibility now. I don't want anything else to do with vampires for a while."

"What about Angel?" Faith teased.

"Actually, he's a new mutant like me now." Buffy told her. Faith's jaw dropped again. "Payment from the Powers That Be for service rendered."

"Well it's about time you got something for your troubles." Faith said, flabbergasted.

"It still leaves him off limits." Buffy warned. "Besides, you left someone rather unceremoniously and, against better judgement, he still harbours feelings for you." It took Faith a while for it to click, but when it did, she almost fainted.

"Xander? You're kidding, right?"

"'Fraid not, F." Buffy said. "He's still got a thing for you, so if your going to start appologies, I think you should start with him." Faith nodded. "Scooby Central's at the manor on Crawford Street now, most of the time, anyway. Meet us there tonight. Try not to be too late, 'kay?" Faith nodded and watched as Buffy headed back to the fire escape she had used. Faith took a deep breath. Time to get this over with.