Faith

Fuck! If she didn't recognize me earlier she sure as hell knows I'm here now. I felt her as soon as I stepped inside but ignored it. I spotted her quickly and walked around the other side of the club, mixing in with those on the dance floor. She showed no signs of sensing me and I relaxed, enjoying the show.

Then suddenly my whole spine shuddered and I knew she felt it. I turned slowly and found her staring at me. I couldn't help myself, I stared back. I hadn't realized how much I missed her until that moment. But the longer I stared the more I realized she isn't the Buffy I knew. She's different. The spark is gone.

She closes her eyes and I take my chance, darting into the shadows of the club. Spike walks up to her and they stare at each other silently. That boy looks whipped. I shake my head, walking to the door when he brushes by in a huff. I pause and turn to see Buffy looking at me again. I shake my head softly and turn, walking out the door.

That's not Buffy. Not my B anyway. She's missing something and I wonder if she'll ever get it back. Oh well, I'm convinced of what I have to do. Now more than ever. Keep avoiding her when possible. I need to stop going places she goes. Shouldn't be too hard. Just keep my eyes peeled.

If only things work the way I plan. The next afternoon I'm sitting in the park with Seth. We're playing catch and the kids not half bad for a 4 year old. The feeling creeps up on me slowly until I see her approaching from across the park.

"Fai! Toss me the ball!" Seth whines as I stand there. I shake it off and toss the ball to him softly. We continue with our game until she's not 10 feet away. Guess we're past the gazing stage. What's she doing here anyway?

She's got a bewildered look on her face as her eyes travel from me to Seth and back. Seth notices her and comes running behind me, holding my leg and peering at Buffy from the side. I reach down and run my fingers through his hair, "Its okay Seth, she's a...well, she's one of the good guys."

Seth grabs the hem of my shirt and tugs. I let him pull me down to my knees and he whispers into my ear, "She a bodyguard too?"

I hear Buffy laugh softly and I look at her. "Bodyguard?"

I shake my head and Seth gets a little braver. "Fai's my bodyguard. She saved me from the car."

She looks over at me, raising an eyebrow. "Fai?"

I shrug it off. "He ran into the street after a ball, no big."

"Can we eat?" Seth asks, rubbing his tummy.

"Yeah squirt." I lead him over to our picnic basket, under the shade of a tree. I pull out our food and help him get his lunch ready. Once he starts eating I grab a sandwich and take a bite. Buffy walked over with us but is just standing there. This silent thing she's got going is starting to creep me out. "Want one B?"

She nods and sits across from me, taking out a sandwich and picking at it. We all eat silently, Seth finishing first and asking to go play in the sandbox. I tell him its okay and he runs off. I finish my food and look at Buffy. "So, when's the interrogation start?"

"How do you know Seth?" She asks, obviously avoiding whatever she wanted to talk about.

"He's the son of a friend." I don't really feel like sharing my new life's story with her.

"Friend," she mumbles under her breath.

I feel myself start to grow angry. "Yeah B, I'm capable of friendship, go figure."

"I never thought you weren't," she says softly. Then she sighs, "What are you doing here Faith?"

"Your friends didn't tell you?" I'm surprised. I thought she'd go right to the Scoobies after seeing me.

Her eyes narrow slightly, "They knew?"

"Well, yeah." I take out a cigarette and light it. "I've actually been back longer than you."

She flinches at that and I momentarily regret my wording. Oh well. "Why?"

"Hellmouth needs a Slayer."

"The Council got you out," she says more than asks. She doesn't sound all that surprised.

"Yeah, made me a nice little deal."

"Good," is all she says.

She's gone quiet again and its getting on my nerves. I start to pack the basket back up and call Seth over. "Say bye to Buffy. We gotta go home."

"Bye Buffy!" He says as I take his hand. He grabs his ball with his free arm and I take the basket. I look at her for a moment. "See ya 'round B."