"Hey you," Buffy whispered softly, running a gentle hand over Spike's cheek.

"Good morning love. Sleep well?" Spike asked.

"Better then I have in a long time," Buffy confessed. "I'm so happy."

"Me too. I like being back here. In your bed…with you." Spike fingered the freshly made scar on Buffy's neck gently. The mark that he had made the night before. The mark that bound the two as mates for eternity.

"Do we ever have to get up?" Buffy asked.

"Sadly, patrolling calls." Spike made a move to get out of bed. However, with coy smile, Buffy decided to show Spike exactly why he should stay in bed.

Buffy plunged her stake into a fledgling vampire and watched as he turned to dust. "That makes the final stake count four - me, and two - you," Buffy noted with smug satisfaction.

"You only won because I let you have them. It doesn't count!" Spike protested.

"Not true. You were so busy playing with your vamps that you missed some golden staking opportunities. In conclusion," Buffy paused dramatically, stepping onto a tombstone and flinging her arms open, "I won!"

"Playing games with a vampire," mocked a voice neither Buffy nor Spike recognized, "That's not very slayer-like."

Suddenly ready for a fight Buffy jumped off the tombstone onto solid ground. "Who's there?" The Slayer asked.

A young woman stepped out of the shadows and came towards the pair. Her dark brown hair fell just below her shoulders. A red tank top accented her harlot red lips, and tight blue jeans hugged her wide hips. A leather jacket completed the ensemble. "I'm Faith the Vampire Slayer."

Buffy paused for several seconds. Then burst out laughing.

"Hey," Faith said, taking a step back from the laughing Slayer. "I knew you wouldn't believe me. And hey, if I were in your shoes," she spared a glance at Buffy's scuffed up leather books and muttered, "which I wouldn't be caught dead in," before continuing, "If I were in your shoes I wouldn't believe me either. That's why on my way past Sunnydale I got Giles to write this." Faith extended her hand and gave Buffy a sealed envelope. Buffy opened the letter and read the contents quickly.

Dear Buffy,

I trust that I find you in good health and in as much safety as your occupation allows for. I know that if you are reading this letter Faith has arrived in Los Angeles. Indeed, she is a Slayer just like you. Apparently, she was called when you died and has been slaying in Cleveland since that time. Please assist her to the best of your ability.

Yours,

Rupert Giles

"Well," Buffy said, folding the letter and putting it in her back pocket. "I'm guessing you have something important to tell me, so spill."

"We have a problem," Faith said, confirming Buffy's suspicions. "Have you ever heard of Angelus."

At the sound of his sire's name Spike's head snapped toward Faith. "Angelus, he shouldn't be causing you any problem. Last I heard he got a soul."

Faith looked at Spike for the first time that evening. "He lost it. There was a curse. One moment of true happiness would turn him back into the monster he was before he got the soul. He was living in Cleveland, helping me slay when he lost his soul. Now he's back to his old tricks. He left Cleveland and I'm pretty sure he's coming here, probably to try and kill Buffy. I need your help to take him down."

Buffy planted her hands firmly on her hips and looked strait into Faith's eyes. "We'll help you." She assured her sister slayer.

"No!" Spike exclaimed. Causing the already strained mood to darken further. "I…I can't. Angelus is my sire. There are grave penalties for killing your sire. I'll do all I can in leading you to him, but I can't be much help in the actual showdown."

"It's okay," Buffy said, reassuring Spike with a smile. "I think Faith and I can handle the kill. You'll have to be the brains for this mission."

"I'm always the brains love," Spike teased, referring to Buffy's colorful educational record. Buffy's lips twitched and she glared playfully at Spike before turning her attention back to Faith.

"You can stay with me, Faith, until we get this whole Angelus mess figured out."

Faith nodded and trailed behind Buffy and Spike as the pair led the way to Buffy's apartment.