AUTHOR'S NOTE Thanks to people who reviewed! I heart reviews, hehe. This story is only about 10 chapters long, so it's almost half over already.

DISCLAIMER Don't own them. James E. Reilly and Joss Whedon do.

…

Theresa watched sadly as Ethan and Gwen led her son from the park. She'd seem him again at Mass, she told herself. She scanned the crowd to make sure no one saw her as she ducked back behind the snack building to return the drunk Santa's costume to him. Off on the other side of the park, she saw Luis and Sheridan skating together and smiled.

Luis and Sheridan were having a great time, laughing together as they skated clumsily around the pond. "I don't know why this is so difficult!" Sheridan said breathlessly. "I'm usually better at skating than this!"

Luis shrugged and hugged Sheridan to him. She burrowed into his embrace happily. Across the pond, she saw a young woman figure skating. Sheridan frowned, for she didn't recognize her. She whistled as the girl landed a double axle perfectly. Luis looked down at her. "What?"

"Oh, I'm just watching that girl skate. She's good. I haven't seen her in Harmony before. Do you know who she is?"

Luis's voice turned hard. "Yeah, I know who she is. She's staying at the B&B."

Sheridan pulled away and looked at Luis, confused. "Don't sound so upset, Luis. What's wrong?"

"She's got a warrant out for her arrest!"

Sheridan looked wide-eyed at the other woman. "Her? What'd she do? Why doesn't Sam arrest her?"

Luis sighed. "He can't. The warrant is over five years old. It was for murder, but Sam can't get in touch with the authorities where the warrant was issued, so he can't technically do anything about it. But don't you worry. I'm watching her."

Sheridan knew she was safe in Luis's arms, but she couldn't help feeling nervous. "Okay."

Buffy knew that the detective and his girlfriend were watching her, but she didn't care. She was just happy to be back on the ice. She remembered skating once with Angel, before they were interrupted by one of the Order of Taraka that Spike sent after them. She remembered many things with Angel but they only pained her. Angel was gone. Or, he might as well have been. She knew that the Senior Partners were after him and she knew that they wouldn't stop hunting him until he was dead. She knew that she, or anyone else, would never be able to find him.

Buffy was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't realize that she was about to skate right into Detective Lopez-Fitzgerald. "Watch where you're going!" he cried angrily at Buffy after he pulled his blonde companion to her feet.

Raising an eyebrow coldly, Buffy replied, "I'm fine, thanks, are you okay?"

The other blonde put a hand on Buffy's arm. "I'm sorry. Are you alright?"

"Sheridan!" Lopez-Fitzgerald hissed.

Sheridan turned on him. "Luis, it's okay." Turning back to Buffy, she asked, "You sure you're okay?"

"Oh yeah." Buffy waved a hand. "I've been through worse. It's no big."

"Alright, fine. Sheridan, let's go!" Luis said sharply. He led Sheridan off with a withering glance back at Buffy. Sheridan looked apologetic as she skated away.

Within moments, Willow was at Buffy's side. "I saw you fall, are you okay?"

"Yeah," Buffy grumbled, still watching Luis and Sheridan. "I'm fine."

Willow followed Buffy's gaze. "What was that all about?"

"Luis Lopez-Fitzgerald doesn't seem to like me much," she explained, slightly bitterly. "I think it was the whole wanted for murder thing."

Incensed, Willow cried, "But that was so long ago! Buffy, you've got to do something about that warrant or it's going to haunt you for the rest of your life. You didn't kill Kendra!"

Buffy sighed. "I know. But it's not like I walk into the Sunnydale Police Department and explain anymore than I could convince them that a vampire killed Kendra."

Willow put a sympathetic hand on Buffy's shoulder. "I'm sorry Buffy."

"It's okay. You know, after it happened, Angel was dead, I ran away, then Angel was back and then there was Faith and the Mayor…I suppose that I forgot it was even out there." Buffy smiled. "Oh well."

Willow glanced at her watch. "We should probably get going soon. It's getting late."

"Okay." Buffy gave her best friend puppy-dog eyes. "But just a few more minutes? Please?"

Willow had to laugh. "Okay."

She was about to skate off when Buffy called to her. "Did you find the Wheelers yet?"

Glancing around, Willow shook her head. "But it doesn't matter. They aren't the ones we're looking for. I don't feel that energy here at the park."

Buffy shrugged. "Okay."

Just as Willow left her alone, Buffy was surprised to see the detective's blonde friend Sheridan skate up beside her. "Hey."

"Uh, hi." Buffy peered over Sheridan's shoulder. "Where's your knight in shining armor? Won't he be upset that you're here?"

"Who, Luis?" Sheridan shook her head. "He's over getting hot chocolate." She shrugged. "I just wanted to apologize about before. Luis just has a lot on his mind and frankly he's a little freaked out about you being a convicted murderer and all."

Buffy's eyes flashed. "I am not a convicted murderer! Okay, yes there was a warrant, but Kendra was my friend. I would never have hurt her. And, there were extenuating circumstances at the time."

Sheridan waited for Buffy to continue. Finally, she asked, "Like what?"

With a wry laugh, Buffy answered, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

Sheridan laughed with her. "You'd be surprised." She held out her hand. "I'm Sheridan Crane, by the way."

Buffy smiled and shook her hand. "Buffy Summers."

Across the pond, not far from where Luis was ordering two cups of hot chocolate, Willow watched Buffy and Sheridan talking from behind a tree. She'd already returned her skates and disappeared into the dark woods behind her.

…

Sneak Peek at the Next Chapter

Tabitha's grin grew even wider. "Willow, yes of course. I've heard good things about you."