A/N: Sorry for the delay. I've been pretty busy lately and have had a bad case of writers block, especially when it comes to this story. Much thanks to everyone who has reviewed. It's because of you that I haven't completely given up this story. Hope you enjoy...

So sorry, I know I'm being horrible with the writing and all. Things have just been happening so fast lately that I just haven't had the chance. And the few times I do someone distracts me, not that I'm complaining but sometimes it's a little much.

I woke up that next morning with a killer headache, brought on by the alcohol as well as the sun being forced on me. Dawn came in bright and early, pulling the curtains back and flooding my room with light. "Rise and shine sleepy head!"

I groaned and pulled a pillow over my head, mumbling from beneath it, "What time is it?"

"Quarter to seven," she replied while pulling the blankets off me. "You've got time for a shower before Faith finishes breakfast."

Faith's cooking? Wonders never cease. I rub my eyes and pull myself up into a sitting position. "What's the hurry?"

She pauses in the doorway, "Giles called, wants everyone in by 8:30. We let you sleep in as late as we could."

"Thanks," I say as she walks back towards the living room.

Despite a rushed shower, and wolfing down my breakfast even faster than Faith, we still arrived late. Giles glared at us while Willow gave me a knowing smirk. I shook my head to let her know that isn't why we're late and she pouted causing me to laugh.

"Buffy, this is serious. I've discovered some secrets the Council had been keeping, and I'm sure we'll uncover more." He cleans his glasses while giving me that parental glare.

"I wasn't laughing at..." I groan, giving Willow the evil eye, causing her to smirk as Faith and I sit down. "So what's the big secret."

"Now that we're all here..." he says, pointedly looking at me and Faith. He can be as childish as us sometimes, always having to have the last word. "It seems the Council has kept more from us than we thought. Are you all familiar with Ann Rice?"

All eyes were on him, Willow actually taking notes like she was in class. I think she misses school a little too much. We all nod. I don't really know much about what she writes but I've seen the movies. "Well, there is more truth to her work than we thought."

"Lestat is real?" Xander asked.

"Not exactly, the tales themselves are fiction, but they do hold ancient truths."

"The Talamasca," Faith said quietly.

Giles smiled, obviously proud while the rest of us looked at them confused. "The what?"

Faith sat straighter in her chair, resting her elbows on the table. "That's the order of mortals who observe the vampires, sound familiar?"

"The Council!" Willow said, catching on.

"But the Council fought vampires, not watch them." I point out.

"The Council did, but..." Giles pulls out a book and flips it open, setting it down in front of me. "It seems that centuries ago there was an unspoken pact between certain vampires and the Council."

"What kind of pact?" I questioned, never one to trust the council.

"They simply observed. Kept records of vampires made and where they traveled. Most have been lost but this book has a couple references to the bloodlines they followed. More specifically, the bloodline Orlando belongs to."

"What makes these vampires so special? Did they have souls like Angel?" Xander asks, his mood growing darker the more we talk. He never did play nice with the fanged persuasion.

"Haven't you read any of the books?" Faith questioned him.

"No, but Aaliyah looked hot in the last movie," he replied with a grin. We all glare at him. "I remember two girls fawning over Stuart Townsend," he glared back.

Willow and I both look down, pretending to be reading whatever book is in front of us. Kennedy snickers and Faith shakes her head, continuing, "Most of her characters only kill the evil doer."

"So these vamps feed off the bad guys?" Xander questioned.

"Precisely," Giles answered. "Since they seemed to be helping society in that way the Council looked the other way."

"So what's his beef with us now?" Kennedy asked.

Giles frowned, scratching his temple. "We haven't been able to figure that out as of yet."

"That's simple," I say quietly. Everyone turns to look at me, "What?"

"It's not that simple, we've been pouring over these books for days."

"Well, his bloodline has been protected by the Council. No Council, no protection."

Everyone considered my idea, Willow was the first to question me. "Buffy, why would he take the offensive. They attacked us, wouldn't he want to come to a similar arrangement?"

"He would," I pause. "But I think I might have dusted one of his buddies last month."

Giles picks up the book he gave me, flipping through the pages but not finding whatever he's looking for. "What makes you think you killed one of his bloodline?"

"Well, the vamp was pretty well dressed. Fought like he'd been around forever and told me his death wouldn't go unavenged."

Giles frowned again, "And you didn't report this?"

"Hey!" I slouched back into my seat. "All vamps talk like they're the next big bad, how was I supposed to know to take that one serious!"

Giles sighed, "I'll give you that. But now that we know what we're dealing with it's imperative that you record as much from that encounter as you can."

I growled, not liking homework. I don't miss school. Giles assigned everyone tasks and we broke up. The rest of the day went by in a slow haze. I wrote down everything I remembered from that night, which surprisingly took up four pages. Giles thanked me and disappeared into his office, where he's been spending most of his time. Faith disappeared after lunch, saying she'd see me at home. I spent some time with the girls, helping them train but once the sun started setting I decided to call it a night.

When I got out to my car there was an envelop sitting on my drivers seat. All the doors were locked and it didn't look as if anyone broke in. I unlocked the door, grabbed the letter and sat down. I read it at once.

Slayer,

Hopefully you have now had the time to uncover that which you are dealing with. I propose a meeting, where we may discuss what measures are to be taken to rectify the current situation. Meet me tomorrow night, an hour after dusk, at the statue.

Sincerely,

Orlando

I put the letter back in the envelop and reached to get out of the car. Giles would want to know immediately but then I changed my mind. If I go back in there I might not get out at a decent hour. Besides, there was nothing new for him to know. I decide to just head home and fill him in tomorrow.

Once inside my apartment I know something is going on. For one, the place is quiet... Dawn definitely isn't home, doesn't sound like Xander is either. There is a fire going, with a blanket spread out on the floor in front, and music. I set my stuff down and slip off my jacket, stepping into the room just as Faith comes out of the kitchen. "I didn't hear you come in," she says.

"Only been here a minute. What's all this?" I gesture around the living room.

She's carrying a couple plates and sets them down on the blanket. "Dinner, take a seat while I get the drinks."

I smile and sit down on the blanket. She seems nervous, which is kind of cute on her. I can tell she's trying to be romantic and it isn't something she's used to being. She comes back in with a bottle of champaign on ice. She pours a couple glasses and sits down with me.

She puts a plate in front of me, Chinese food... one of my favorites. She starts to eat right away and I take a couple bites. "What's the occasion?"

She looks up, "Don't you like it?"

"No," I answer quickly. She almost looks hurt. "I do, it's just unexpected."

"Oh," she takes another bite. "I just wanted to do something... nice for you."

"Well, it's perfect."

"Thank Dawn, she told me what to do. I'm not really good at being..."

"Romantic?" I interrupt. She nods, giving more attention to her food. I lean over our plates, lifting her head up by her chin and kiss her softly. We share a smile and quickly finish our food. With our slayer appetites it doesn't take long till dinner is over.

She clears the plates and settles back on the blanket, only this time she's sitting behind me, with me between her legs. We're both staring at the fire, sipping our champaign. The silence between us is nice, not one of them awkward silences that I usually have with people.

I'm finally able to relax, the tension melting away, once I feel her lips lightly graze the nape of my neck. She places several soft kisses along my shoulder and neck causing my head to drop back and rest against her shoulder. My eyes flutter closed as her arms wrap tightly around me. She kisses up my neck to my ear, using her tongue to tease me. I open my eyes to look at her but first I see the clock on the wall.

Groaning, I try to sit back up but she keeps me in place. "Faith... We have to get ready for patrol."

"Nuh uh," she mumbles into my shoulder.

I turn halfway around so I can face her. "Baby, I don't wanna leave any more than you do but we have to patrol."

She brushes my hair behind my ear, smiling mischievously. "Ken, Red and Xander are patrolling tonight. Dawn's spending the night at a friends house." She leans in, kissing my lips slowly. I feel her tongue lick my bottom lip and I open my mouth, allowing her to deepen the kiss. I shift so I'm straddling her, wrapping my arms around her as our kiss grows more and more heated. She leans forward, laying me on my back and I smile at her. "What?"

I run my hand over her cheek, my thumb brushing her lips. "I love you."

I see a flash of panic in her eyes, but she blinks it away. Her eyes return to mine and she plays with my hair. "Since when?"

"I have been for a while, just realized it too late." She smiles and it gives me the courage to continue. "I went to Boston to tell you but things didn't go as planned. But now you're here," I smile, twirling her hair between my fingers. "And you did all this for me, and are so beautiful in the light from the fire, that I realized I couldn't let the chance to tell you pass me by again."

She leans down and kisses me softly. "I love you too."

Not too much more was said that night. Sure, things were moaned or screamed or whispered... but we were done talking. She made it the most incredible night of my life. Let me tell you, she's not all talk. But, I'm not going to go into all the dirty details. That night was just for us and we want to keep it that way. You understand right? If you're good, maybe I'll tell you about the next time. When there is a next time.

Right now I've got to go meet up with the gang. We're going to meet up with Orlando in a few hours and have some last minute details to get in order. Once the dust settles I'll let you know what went down.