Indigo Spirit - I will most likely get into the subject of Warren, and probably a little about Faith's indescrestions. I've actually had bits and peices of that conversation in my head so I'll just have to see when the right time to get into is :-)

Ilse M Jupnur - Teehee couldn't help myself. Hope you enjoy!

A.N. - Thanks for reading! I have to say, I'm rather enjoying the new influx of RENT/BTVS stories. Makes me happy :-D


"How was your night?" Willow asked Faith on the walk to the subway.

"You know how it goes. How was yours? Looking to get groiny with him yet?"

"Oh yeah. We have plans for tomorrow night, want in?" Willow said sarcastically.

"Nah. His friend Collins, however..." she said, raising her eyebrows suggestively.

"He's gay, you know."

"Never stopped me before."

"And he has HIV." Faith stopped for a moment.

"I'd still do him." Willow laughed.

"And what about Robin?"

"I never said I was going to, just said I would." Good ol' reliable Faith. Always can trust her to do the wrong thing. "So, when are you two gonna go at it?"

"Do things always move so fast in your world?"

"Gotta. Life swings by too fast for the slayer type."

Willow was more confused than ever about Mark. Talking to him was easier than she expected. Easy enough to surprise herself. Rarely was she so open about Tara.

"So, the gangs getting together for Christmas?" Faith asked, the previous conversation forgotten in the silence.

"Yup. And it's here, if you didn't know. I just hope the school is ready for everyone by then. We'll only be open six months by then."

"You're ready for the students, why not the Scoobies?"

"Housing and schooling 40 girls is different than having a party where the gang is involved. Less chaos. Especially when you take into account our history with parties."

"You guys do throw a mean shindig." Faith laughed. "You inviting Mark?"

"Why would I?"

"Show off your new beau." Willow just rolled her eyes.

"Hey, wanna cut your patrol short tomorrow?" Faith shrugged.

"Haven't seen much the past few days. A few vamp attacks here and there. I probably could. Why?"

"Mark invited me to hang out with him and his friends. He said you could come too."

"Sounds like wild fun. I'm in."


The next day, Willow arrived at the Life a little after seven after her appointment with Celine.

She had been helping Celine, the sister of one of the slayers, cope with AIDS using magick. Nothing else was working for the poor girl, treatment, medication, nothing. Until Willow stepped in, it was likely Celine would have died within the month.

Though there was no magick that Willow knew about to cure HIV, she aided the girl though her bout with AIDS, and Celine was getting better.

Another week of Willow's visits and Celine might be in the clear, at least for awhile.

Her visits with Celine made Willow feel sort of euphoric and exhausted. Working so deep in magick, magick that was good, had that effect on her.

Nothing like what she got from Rack.

No.

This was clean and wonderful. And she didn't need it to get through a day.

Not too unlike what she felt after casting the Potential spell.

Willow always grounded herself, and rested after her meetings, it took an hour with Celine's case, but the good feeling inside her core always remained. Much like an aftertaste that eventually fades on its own.

She smiled when she saw Mark among the vaguely familiar faces of his friends. His eye caught hers and he grinned behind his glasses, jumping up to greet her and lead her to their table. Mark introduced everyone and they all gave a little wave at their name.

"So, Willow. Tell us about yourself. Mark has been less than forthcoming about details." Maureen started. Willow looked at Mark, who looked positively embarrassed. It endured him to Willow even more.

"Well, what do you want to know? Myself is kind of a vague topic."

"Mark said you lived in that town that fell into the sinkhole. What was that like?" Mimi asked.

"What? Living there, or leaving there. Cause, gotta say, both not so great."

"What was it called again? Sunny something..." Maureen waved her hand in the air as she tried to think of the name.

"Sunnyhell." came a voice from behind Willow announcing Faith's arrival. Willow turned to her and her eyes widened when she saw something green and slimy on Faith's shirt oozing down to her pants. Willow got up quickly and went to her friend.

"You do realize you have the slime of some kind of demon all over you, don't you?" She asked in a hushed voice. Faith inspected her clothes.

"Oh yeah. Got in a fight with a wicked nasty demon. Turns out it was the kind that turn to goo when you kill 'em."

"Well, what are you going to tell them?" Faith shrugged.

"I'll think of something." Willow gave her a slightly nervous look. Those were never good words coming from Faith. A worried noise escaped from Willow's throat as Faith made her way over to the table and she followed, sitting next to Mark.

"Whoa. What happened to you?" Collins asked. Willow took a sip of the tea Mark ordered for her as she awaited the story. Faith looked down at her clothes.

"Oh, that. Got in a fight with a demon."

Willow coughed, successfully allowing the rest of the liquid to flow down into her lungs, causing her to fall into a coughing fit. Mark and the gang looked at her worriedly, and she held her hand up to indicate she was fine as the coughing faded, the liquid eradicated from her lungs. She glared at Faith, who smiled.

"Are you okay?" Mark asked. One last cough.

"I'm fine." She offered him a smile.

Luckily everyone forgot Faith's comment. Either that or they assumed she was joking, and it wasn't brought up. Instead they started regaling the events of earlier in the evening at Maureen's most recent protest that, from what Willow had deduced, was a great success.

Faith began telling non-demon stories about before Willow met her, though she had heard before. Willow bit back a smile when she realized in one of the stories Faith had changed the demon into a drugged up sex fiend, which wasn't too far off the mark. She had to laugh at her friends ability to catch the attention of all six of the people sitting around the table, not too unlike when she heard the stories for the first time.

"So, where did you two meet?" she heard Mimi ask, bringing her out of her thoughts.

Willow met Faith's eyes.

"Um...Faith moved to Sunnydale in my senior year of high school. We just sort of fell into the same crowd." Willow explained, deciding not to lie completely, just leave out some of the truths.

"Wow. And you've been friends ever since?" Mark asked.

Another look to Faith. Friends, mortal enemies. Oh, what a fine line differs the two.

"Sort of." Willow answered. 'Except when she tried to kill me. Or the time when she tried to kill my friends. Or when she helped the mayor turn into a giant worm that tried to eat my graduating class.' she forced a smile.

"Oh yeah! Me and Red are old buds. Best of friends." Faith lied easily, giving Willow a slightly cheesy smile.

This was going to be a long night.


TBC :-D Please review! Reviews buy you faster updates...teehee