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: I hope you all had a good holiday, and that none of you were personally affected by the tsunami disaster in Southeast Asia. All my prayers and hopes are with those who have survived.

Chapter Sixteen: Skirmish

"Slave," Glory sneered.

"It's Buffy, actually," Buffy corrected coolly. "Was there something you wanted?"

"Hey, little girl," the goddess scowled. "Don't you talk like that to me. I'm a god."

Buffy raised her eyebrow. "Of what, skanky outfits?" She glanced derogatively over the goddess' dress. "I mean, give it a rest. You look like a ho." Glory looked down at herself. "And that nail polish? Do you really wanna be giving off that impression?" She felt, rather than saw, Faith join her.

"You pathetic little bug," Glory sneered after a moment. "I cannot believe I even listened to that. You mortals are all so pathetic. Thinking words can actually hurt a god?"

Something within Buffy suddenly got very angry. "Don't call me mortal," she said very softly.

"I want my Key," Glory said abruptly. "You'd better give it to me, little girl, or – "

"You'll bore me to death?" Buffy interrupted sweetly. "You want the Key, Glorificus? Alright. I'll make you a deal." She lifted her chin defiantly. "I'll give you the Key if you guess my real name."

Confusion flittered across Glory's face. "What are you talking about, Slayer?" she demanded. "You just told me your name. I guess the clichés about dumb blondes really are true."

"My name, Goddess, or I'm going to destroy you."

There was something so rigid, so unyielding in Buffy's countenance that for a moment the hell god felt – was it? – a flicker of fear. Faith, not able to see Buffy's expression, shivered. Max, standing further back, smiled grimly to himself. He'd seen her acting a little like this before. Spike, next to Buffy's mate, let a slow smirk creep over his face. This was the Slayer he remembered, giving ultimatums and threats that would without a doubt be followed through. There would be fire in her eyes, he conjectured, and in a moment – yes, she flipped her hair over her shoulder.

"What's it going to be, Glory?" Buffy asked finally, softly. Then without waiting for an answer, her leg shot out and she kicked Glory against the front door. The door snapped into several pieces with the force of it, and Glory ended up flat on her back on the front path. Buffy stalked out after her.

Yes, Faith mentally smiled. Buffy was a panther.

"You wanna have a guess?" Buffy questioned, giving the hell goddess another kick before she could get up. This one sent her onto the road. "Although I can tell you right now, you're not gonna get it right."

"Slayer," Glory shrieked. "What are you doing, you stupid slave!" She got up and punched Buffy hard, sending the slayer stumbling back into a tree. "How dare you kick me!"

"Nope, guess again," Buffy said, glancing at Faith, who was circling them warily.

Glory laughed scornfully. "You think I'm gonna play your stupid games, Slayer? Sweetie, you have some serious issues." She grabbed Buffy's arm and wrenched it back. There was a sickening snap, and Buffy almost bit through her lip in order to keep from crying out. A gleeful look suddenly lit up Glory's face. "Say, slave, you've been somewhere else recently." Buffy's eyes widened and she pulled herself away from Glory. "You've been home!" Glory gave her a tender look. "How is my dear own lovely hell dimension?"

"Fine," Buffy bit off, leaping up to grab a branch and using her momentum to give two hearty kicks to Glory's head. She dropped back down, cradling her arm. "They don't miss you."

"Still breeding?"

"Mostly." It was kind of odd, part of Buffy's mind mused. She'd had a conversation a little like this with Glory's siblings.

"So how's the kid?"

Buffy's eyes grew even wider. Of course Glory would have sensed it – they'd touched, and Buffy had so much of Phtygiktha in her in one form or another…

She took a step back, then another and another.

"Hey Glory! Got a tip for you!" Glory turned to be hit across the face with a very large hammer, wielded by Faith. "Don't turn your back on a slayer," the brunette continued. There was a feral look on her face as she swung the hammer again, knocking Glory off her feet. The goddess's temple was bleeding, and she touched her blood incredulously.

"You hit me?" she demanded, getting back up. "And you ruined my dress!" The seams of the dress had indeed been ripped apart. Faith smirked.

"Good," she said. "B's right – the skanky look is really out." She tried to punch Glory, but the goddess grabbed her wrist and used the slayer's momentum to send her crashing into the flowerbeds. Glory stalked up to the slayer and went to grab her, intent on causing as much hard to this girl as possible, but she was stopped by Buffy, who grabbed her by the shoulders and wrenched her away with all her strength, ignoring the pain of her arm.

"You stay the hell away from my family," the blonde seethed, teeth bared in an unconscious signal of superiority. "If you know what's good for you, you stay the hell away."

"I'm gonna get my Key one way or another, puny little girl," Glory warned, evidently realising the necessity of retreat at this point. "You just better hope you're not in the way when I do."

"You'd better hope I'm not," Buffy retorted coolly. "I dealt with your brothers in Phtygiktha, Goddess, and I can deal with you here. Now get out."

Glory left without a fanfare, storming down the street. Her minions joined her partway down, and Buffy watched with grim satisfaction as several of them gave her fearful looks over their shoulders.

"That's right," she muttered. "Run and hide." She turned to see Faith already on her feet. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Faith nodded. "No broken bones." She looked pointedly at Buffy's dangling left arm. "We should really get you to a hospital, B."

"Not yet. Dawn and Hattie." The older slayer returned to the house determinedly. Her eyes lighted on Spike. "Where are they?"

"They're safe," he assured her. "Angel took them into the sewers. I'll go get them back." He took in her appearance critically. "Need to get that arm sorted, pet," he said gently.

She shrugged, and then winced. "Ow. Maybe you're right." She moved to return the way she'd come, then stopped and looked back at him, stepping back into the more shadowed area of the lounge. "Tell them I'm sorry for yelling at them?"

Spike gave a strange half-smile. "They know, luv." He stepped close to her and dropped a kiss on her forehead. Buffy closed her eyes and gave a soft sigh. "Now get to the hospital, pet."

Buffy scowled as he gave her a gentle shove towards the door. "Tease."

"Go!"

She went.

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Coming next chapter:

Memories and thoughts of a slayer.