"He's dead?" Buffy questioned.

"Faith said she came back from patrol and he was on the floor. She turned him over and his neck had several bite marks on it. She said he was lying in a pool of blood and-" Kennedy stopped and backed into the couch, lowering herself onto it.

"Kennedy, we should go talk to Giles."

"Yeah, we should do that."

"A rivalry? You said you saw the leader of one of the groups?" Giles asked.

"Kind of. We saw these vamps talking about money equaling power and alliances. The guy he was talking to appeared to be a lackey of his. His name was um…Michael."

"Were there any distinct marks or-"

The door opened and Willow and Xander walked in.

"Okay, we're here to jump on the joy train."

"Not really all that joyful," Buffy replied.

Willow was behind Xander and she didn't see Kennedy right away. When she did she stopped.

"Kennedy," she whispered.

Kennedy looked up from the table they were all sitting at when she heard her name and saw Willow, standing there in her pajamas and jacket. She looked like she had been crying and when Kennedy saw that she wanted to run over to her and hold her. Instead, she simply turned her focus back to Giles.

"No. No marks or symbols that we saw. There was nothing to show that there was anything different about these vampires. They might not have been members of one of the gangs."

"So, why are we here? 'Cause I love you all but it's like 3…no make that 3:30 in the morning."

"Apparently there is some sort of rivalry going on in Cleveland. A Watcher was killed."

"That's horrible. Who's Watcher?" Willow asked.

"He was Kennedy's." Giles said.

"Well, not technically. He was more of a friend."

"I'm sorry," Xander said, "Do you know who did it?"

"No, but we have a pretty good idea. Faith's there now, probably beating the crap out of something."

"What are we going to do? I mean Cleveland's kinda, you know…on a different continent." Willow added.

"I don't know, Will, but we should do whatever soon," Buffy said.

"Why do you say that?" Giles asked.

"It's clear that these guys aren't easing up and that might be a problem. Maybe I should pay a little visit to the Hellmouth," she paused and contemplated, "the other Hellmouth."

"Why you," Kennedy asked, a tad angered.

"You're too close. Plus, you've already made trips there and back once. You shouldn't have to go again."

"It's my fight. I'm not too close and I have nothing here anyway." She looked over at Willow, who lowered her head. "I think it's a better idea if I go. It would just be easier." She looked over at Willow once more. "I better go."

She walked out the door. Willow stood there for a second before she went after her. She left and ran after her.

"Kennedy seemed awfully upset over Cedric," Giles said.

"I don't think that was over Cedric," Buffy replied.

"Kennedy, wait," Willow called after her.

Kennedy stopped.

"You don't' have to go, especially over me." Kennedy turned around. "Please, let Buffy go. She's right you're too close."

"Why do you care?"

"Because I…I just think Buffy should go."

"Look, I just need to get away from this place. Get away from-"

"Me." Kennedy lowered her head. "You want away from me that bad?"

She didn't reply. She just turned and started to walk away.

"Okay, then you go. Leave. Run away. You do it so well."

Kennedy whipped around. "What? I ran away? You didn't' want me here! You didn't-"

"You didn't listen. I didn't say anything. That doesn't mean I don't. You just assumed I -"

"Do you? Do you love me? I'm listening now. Tell me, do you love me?"

"Yes. I love you."

She said it without hesitation, without thinking about it. The statement caught Kennedy off guard. She said it. She finally said it and all Kennedy could do was stand there. With all the emotion there was between them, neither seemed to be able to move.

Then, it happened. Kennedy miraculously found the ability to move and pulled Willow into a kiss, an extremely passionate kiss. A kiss that didn't hesitate. Neither woman refrained or held back in any way. Neither woman pulled away. They just stood there kissing one another, not acknowledging anything around them.