Author's Notes: Set four years after 'Becoming' part two. Buffy ran away, and didn't come back. Now, four years later, she's about to be reminded of who and what she really is.

Rating: PG-13. Language and strong themes. Sorry, kiddies.

Disclaimer: Nothing you recognise is mine. Don't sue, please.

Feedback: Very welcome. Constructive criticism is welcome; flames will be used to help me toast marshmallows.

Chapter Notes: Sorry for the delay. Things in Real Life aren't great at the moment. It's going to be any interesting Christmas, to say the least…But a fairly long chapter for you now.

Chapter Fourteen: Restarting

"Four."

"No, three, that last one ran into the stake on purpose."

Faith scoffed. "Oh, you just don't like losing."

"You're right, I don't, but that last one had suicidal tendencies, I swear." Buffy gave her sister slayer a grin. After she and Spike had returned to the Summers' residence, the elder slayer had declared that she was now too hyped up to sleep, and would Faith patrol with her? Faith had agreed with no hesitation. Now the Chosen Two were making their way through the many cemeteries of Sunnydale, each trying to stake more vampires than the other.

"I still say he counted," Faith said. "I dusted him. He went dust on my stake." She smirked. "I'm in the lead, B."

"Not for long, little sister," Buffy promised. She let out a great whoop suddenly and did a series of flips, landing in a handstand on a gravestone. "By Haghd, it's good to be back!"

Faith followed her with an amused smile. "Way I hear it, you couldn't wait to get out of Sunnydale before."

"Oh, but the feeling here!" There was an expression of such freedom on Buffy's face. "I mean, it might be because of Glory, or it might be a Hellmouth thing – or maybe just me, I've changed – but there's so much energy all around! Can't you feel it?"

Faith shrugged. "I guess. I mean, there's more demon activity here." She raised an eyebrow. "Are you gonna get down from there, B? You're making me dizzy."

"Sorry." Buffy righted herself. "Too much ice cream, I think." She looked around. "Oh come on. There have to be more vampires out tonight than this."

"We have dusted a load already," Faith pointed out mildly. It was mildly unsettling, seeing the other slayer like this. Faith had acted just as carefree when she'd arrived in Sunnydale. It hadn't lasted too long. Maybe it was just a sugar high, though.

"I know," the other slayer nodded. "I'm just…I don't know. It's weird being out of that place, and Spike, and Ethan – by Haghd, Ethan!" Her happiness fizzled out. She felt sick suddenly. "I haven't said anything to him, and we were lovers…I'm such a frazlok trynp!"

"A what now?"

"Oh, sorry. Um. Roughly translates as slutty bitch. I think." Buffy chewed her lip. "What do I say to him? I mean, if it was a mate, it would be a different story, but Ethan's always been the jealous type, and he – oh!" Relief showed on her face. "I'll just get him and Giles back together."

Faith thought perhaps she ought to get her hearing checked. "Sorry, B, I thought you just said you'd get Ethan and Giles back together."

Buffy nodded seriously. "Ethan's missed Giles for years, and anyway, I can't be with him anymore – even if it hadn't been ten years, I think…I think I've found my Alpha mate."

Faith nodded. "You and Spike, it's wicked obvious. But Ethan and Giles? As in Giles, my Watcher? The stuffy old English guy?" She made a disgusted expression. "Don't get me wrong, I've nothing against the gays, but…ewww! They're so old, and wrinkly."

"You gotta seize the moment, Faith," Buffy told her sister slayer. "Otherwise it's gone. Tomorrow we could all be dead. I learnt that recently." She shrugged. "And technically Spike and I are older than both of them, and – hey, we are not obvious!"

Faith smirked. "I know Spike fairly well," she said. "He's got that love struck look. Angel says he used to be like that all the time with Drusilla. And hello, taking you for ice cream? That's…sweet, in a pre-teen kind of way…"

"Oh." Buffy was silent for a moment as they left the cemetery. "So. How long have you been a slayer?"

"Two years," Faith answered, eyes continually roving their surroundings – as much for guys as for vampires. "Been here nearly that."

"You're good."

"Thanks. You're better."

Buffy gave a small smile. "Had longer to learn, to practice in." She stretched. "Plus the Rakeshia blood gives me more of an edge. Enhanced vision, slightly stronger…things like that." She shoved her hands in the pockets of her leather coat. "Shorter pregnancy, as well. This little one will be kicking, soon enough."

"Really?" Faith was awed. "I never thought about kids. Even before the slayer thing, y'know? Not my scene. But you do it so well. Hattie, and Charlotte – you're like, this complete maternal figure."

"Well, I'm head of the family," Buffy said pragmatically. "All the refugees," she explained on Faith's look. "And their children. And Dawn, of course. And Ethan." She frowns. "That means Giles too, if he and Ethan get back together. And you, of course."

"Me? How do I fit in?"

Buffy gave an odd, crooked smile. "We're slayers. The same powers, same birthright. What are we if not family? Not in the same way as the others are, but still."

Faith rolled her eyes. "You're making no sense, B."

"We're a family like…like a wolf pack, I guess. I'm the Alpha, the head of the clan. Oh, look, vampires!"

Faith watched as Buffy dispatched the two vampires with practised ease. A wolf pack. She could see that. The refugees did take care of each other like pack members. But Buffy wasn't a wolf. She was a panther, lethal and graceful and aware of every inch of herself. It was strange. She'd been hearing stories about Buffy for nearly two years, and now she was seeing the girl – the woman – in action.

"So," she said when Buffy had returned to her side and their feet had turned towards the Summers' home. "You and Spike."

"There is no me and Spike," Buffy said with an edge of frustration in her voice. "Not yet, anyway, and I'm not up for casual sex right now. I need someone to help me, to be there for me. With Hattie, and the baby, and the clan." She shrugged. "It's different, now. Ten years is a long time. I mean…I remember Spike more than anyone else, which would make sense if he's an Alpha, but he'll want to stay here, and I have responsibilities at home."

"You're not giving him enough credit. You're right, you don't know him. You don't really know any of us – except Dawn, I guess." Faith looked at her seriously. "But we've got bigger problems. You have any idea how we can sort out Glory?"

Buffy grinned, a fiercely predatory grin that made Faith fervently wish that she would never be on this Slayer's bad side. "Oh, I've got a few thoughts."

Across town, sitting on the back steps where Buffy and Spike had earlier been seated, Giles' cigarette stubs were joining Spike's. He didn't usually smoke – he hadn't for years – but he felt that the current situation called for it.

He had changed so much over the past four years since his slayer had run away. Perhaps too much, he reflected with a scrap of melancholy. He barely recognised the man he had been then. He was far more like the youth he'd been, now. A person he'd hoped never to be again.

"I thought you quit."

Giles let a sigh escape his lips. "Ethan," he acknowledged. "I thought you were asleep, like everyone else."

"I still don't sleep well with others in the room." There was a mild note of censure in his voice at the intimation that Giles might have forgotten. "Besides, I thought I'd leave the couch to you."

"I'll go home in a bit."

"Ah. That bottle of scotch calling you, is it?"

"Chrissakes, Ethan. You don't know a damn thing about me anymore, don't assume you do." Although that bottle of scotch was looking like rather a good idea. No. He didn't drink alone anymore.

"I'll join you, if you like," Ethan offered, dropping gracefully onto the steps next to Giles. "Could use a drink." An odd look passed over his face. "I'm going to be getting a talk in the morning, I'm fairly sure."

"A talk?"

"Annie. Ten years is a long time, Ripper. People change. She's pregnant. And I was never the…what is it the Americans call it? The long haul guy."

"You seemed close enough a few days ago," Giles observed.

"But it wasn't just a few days ago." Ethan regarded him keenly. "You haven't quite grasped it yet, have you, Rupert? She's older than both of us put together. She's lived longer, done more, seen more atrocities than we could ever dream of. And knowing the kind of dreams you used to have, that's saying a lot." He nicked a cigarette from the packet on the step, and lit it with Giles' lighter. "A day for us, mate, but ten years of her life, and of Dawn's life. Yeah, we were close. But things change."

"Not us." Giles couldn't look at him. "We're still arguing."

"You wouldn't be you if we didn't argue, Rupert." A fond smile tugged at the sorcerer's mouth. He stretched his long legs out in front of him. "Now, Ripper, are we going to get drunk and shag, or do I have to actually seduce you again?"

Giles dropped his cigarette and put it out with his heel. "I think drunk and shag is the way to go right now, Ethan, if you have no objections."

"None at all." He glanced up as the two slayers entered the back yard. "Hello, Annie. Have fun?"

"Yep. Nearly twenty vampires." Buffy's eyes twinkled with mirth as she glanced between him and Giles. "Ethan, sweetie, can I have a word?" She grabbed Ethan and pulled him upright and over to the other side of the garden.

"Save the speech, love," Ethan said gently. "I know. Ten years is a long time."

"No, I wasn't going to say that at all," Buffy shook her head. "Although that's very valid, and I'm glad you're not heartbroken over it. I just wanted to say go for it. With Giles? I know you miss him. And you need your mate back."

Ethan glanced over at Giles, who was watching them cautiously. "Yes. I do. Although I wouldn't call him that."

Buffy shrugged. "As close as makes no difference. And you're my family, so it's just easier if I call it that. You don't mind, do you?"

He smiled and kissed her. "No, Buffy, I don't mind. Go find your Alpha."

Buffy left him and went over to Giles. "Well, Giles? Get going!" she said mock-severely. "I just gave my blessing. Don't make me regret it." She followed Faith into the house.

Giles raised his eyebrows as Ethan sauntered towards him. "I don't have a bloody clue what she was on about." Ethan took his hand and pulled him upright before kissing him hungrily. "And suddenly I don't care, either."

"Doesn't matter," Ethan murmured. "Let's go to your place, Rupert."

Please review…It'd make me feel better…

Coming next chapter:

Hattie gets to know Spike and Angel.