Author's Notes: Any mythic beings in this story are strictly the product of my imagination and not to be taken literally. There was no intent to defame or disparage any of your beliefs. They were strictly used in this way for fun and to help move the story along. The poem Promises © Michele 12/00. Both songs used in this Chapter are by Lifehouse. This chapter is in 2 parts.

XXXI - Promises

Part 1

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She slowly clawed her way out of sleep. She was sprawled out on top of Buffy, who had her arms wrapped tightly around her, almost as if she were afraid of losing her. She raised her head up from Buffy's chest and looked down at Buffy's peaceful face with sleepy eyes. Once again, she was stunned by how beautiful, how young and innocent Buffy looked in sleep.

She smiled lavishly at the innocent part. Buffy had more than proven that she was far from innocent. Then again, Faith mused to herself there still was something, a part of Buffy that was uniquely naïve and innocent. There was very little guile or deceptiveness in Buffy. Despite or in spite of all the evil that both of them knew existed in the world, both mundane and supernatural, Buffy still managed to look at the world through the eyes of a child with wide-eyed wonder and amazement. Since being with Buffy, Faith found that she was learning from Buffy how to see the world with the same wide-eyed wonder and amazement. She would have been surprised to know that Buffy thought that it was Faith who had taught her how to see the world again this way, not the other way around.

Faith gently tried to rise up and untangle herself from Buffy's arms. Still half asleep, she didn't realize how close to the edge of the chaise lounge they were and for the second time in twenty-four hours both Slayers went tumbling to the floor. Faith somehow managed to twist them so that Buffy fell on top of her. She landed on her back with an undignified grunt, the bottle of massage oil exploding under her. Thankfully, she managed to get Buffy's arms out from around her before they landed on the floor.

Buffy jumped up into a fighting stance the second after they landed on the floor. She had no clue what happened, her eyes were feral gold, flickering around the room looking for their attacker. Her hair was a sunlit halo flying wildly around her head, she was snarling, baring her teeth and she was purely primal.

Faith didn't think she had ever seen anything so wild, untamed, sensuous as Buffy was right now, so primitive and savage in all her naked glory. The ancient part of her, that was part of both of them now cried out wildly from deep inside her for its, for their, for her mate.

She heard a soft rumbling, growling purr calling to her from her mate and from deep inside of herself, she heard an answer to that ancient call. She looked down to see Faith smiling wickedly at her, her eyes almost solid emerald as they raked heatedly over her. As quickly as she had risen from the ground, Buffy returned to it.

She captured Faith's mouth in a carnal kiss, their tongues dueling for dominance that both knew neither could win. They sought to devour each other in that kiss as they tumbled over each other rolling in the oil across the floor, knocking over everything in their path, breaking apart for only the briefest of seconds for air before they continued to kiss furiously.

Faith forced her leg between both of Buffy's, her thigh pressing demandingly up against Buffy slick wet heat. She felt Buffy's hands grab her hips, forcing her down onto Buffy's own thigh hard, moving her to the same rhythm as Buffy was moving upon hers. They were both covered in the musky scented oil and each other's wetness. Faith's fingers were digging into Buffy's shoulders and she knew she would leave marks, just like Buffy was going to leave marks upon her hips and buttocks. She looked down into Buffy's gold eyes, somehow knowing way down deep inside of her that Buffy had let her, had stopped fighting, and had simply let her be on top. Then any coherent thought fled and just pure animalistic desire took its place, the same animalistic desire that was coming to Faith in waves from Buffy through their bond.

They were out of control, more like the two predatory panthers that not only they likened themselves to, but now others who saw them fight did as well. There was nothing gentle about their passion as they scratched and clawed, bit and sucked upon each other's flesh. Despite the savagery of their lovemaking, there was innate tenderness and love in the rough caresses of their hands and mouths and an acute awareness of what the other was feeling, sharing through their bond.

"Don't... fucking stop... Faith..." Buffy growled unsure where this was coming from, but not caring as long as it wasn't scaring her mate. She dug the heels of her feet into the ground, pushing herself up harder, grinding herself into Faith's well-muscled thigh.

"Won't... can't... don't want to..." Faith snarled back, almost a little scared of how they were, but not enough to pull back from the intensity of the pure primitive feelings running through her and through Buffy.

She felt Buffy's nails raking down her back and arched into the touch loving it, growling low.

"Oh fuck B... god... yes... B... B..." Then her head dropped down to Buffy's neck, her mouth latching onto it. Biting, sucking, at Buffy's pulse point.

Her hand somehow managed to get between them to find Buffy's swollen nub at the same time that Buffy found hers. They were moving together, in sync with each other, mirror images of light and dark, the same, but separate.

She began to mumble without any conscious thought, growling against Buffy's skin, "Mine... mine... mine..."

"Faith... Yours always... YOURS! FAI!"

She felt Buffy's nails rake over her back again and she bit down hard, not even realizing that she broke the skin, drew blood and marked Buffy as hers.

Buffy screamed in primal pleasure as she felt Faith bite down hard on her pulse point. Something inside of her was unleashed as she felt Faith's teeth break her skin and her whole being was hurtled head long into release with the same impact as slamming into a cement wall doing a thousand miles an hour. She rocked up into Faith hard almost knocking her from her.

Without thinking, her arms went around Faith's neck, pulling all of Faith roughly down to her. Buffy began the same mumbled growling chant against Faith's neck, "Mine... mine... mine..." Her own mouth sought out Faith's pulse point and she bit down hard, breaking the skin, drawing blood, marking Faith as hers in return.

"Yours... Fuck... YOURS B!" Faith screamed even louder than Buffy as she was dragged down and submerged in what Buffy was feeling. The same thing unleashed inside of her as she felt Buffy mark her as hers. Then she too hit the same wall as Buffy as her climax slammed through her. Her body shuddering, contracting, arching almost violently into Buffy as Buffy arched with the same force into her.

Neither Slayer could do anything but cling onto the other as they fed off, and fed each other's ecstasy through their bond. Their cells, genes, chromosomes remembering, acknowledging where and who they came from, ancient, primal as man once had been. The part of them that at one time had been just the Slayer, now completely merged with them, and now was them. The need to be what they were born to be, predators, huntress', lovers, warriors, mates, primal, feral, soul-mates, gentle, loving, caring all the things they were before and all the things they were now. They were one with their ancestry, one with each other, one but two.

They clung to each other lost in the firestorm together until it became too much and they both passed out.

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When Buffy woke, it was dark out, Faith still sprawled on top of her, her breathing even and steady in sleep. She gently stroked Faith's hair back from her forehead.

"Hey sleepy head..." It hurt a little to talk, her voice was scratchy, hoarse and Buffy felt herself blushing just thinking about why it was that way.

"Umm... B?" Faith lifted herself from Buffy and groaned in protest, she almost felt like she had been beaten up. Then she felt herself start to turn scarlet as she realized why she was so sore.

They both sat up facing each other, not quite able to look the other in the eye. Both had acquired a case of the 'shys.'

Buffy looked down at her own body and saw the scratches, bruises, finger marks, and then she sneaked a peek at Faith's body from under lowered lashes and the curtain of her hair. Faith was covered in them too, along with hickey's and bite marks, which Buffy was sure she had as well. Then the fear slammed into her at the thought that she might have hurt Faith. She felt the panic and tears well up as she illogically thought for a minute that the damage on her own body was from Faith trying to get away from her. Before she knew what happened she was pulled onto Faith's lap, Faith's strong arms surrounding her, holding her impossibly close.

"No... Giz... you didn't hurt me... You could never hurt me..." Faith whispered, lifting Buffy's head up so she could look into her eyes. She put everything into that gaze, into her words, into their bond. "Even in the middle of all of it. Whatever it was, you still had enough control to let me be on top... 'Cause you know I'm afraid of anyone, even you of being on top of me..." Faith gave Buffy a sweet lopsided grin and felt herself grow scarlet again.

"Really?" Buffy's voice shook a little, her bottom lip trembled and Faith couldn't resist her, she leaned in and kissed her with tenderness, softness and a world of love.

"Yes, really..." She hugged Buffy to her tighter, both Slayers' let out a little moan at the soreness the hug reminded them of and then they both started giggling.

"That was... Whatever it was... was..."

"Intense..."

"Wow..."

"Hot..."

"Fierce..."

"And wicked evil B..." Faith finished then they both started giggling again.

"Wanna do it again F?" Buffy growled out as she delicately ran her nails down Faith's arm.

She couldn't resist the lure of running her fingers over to one of Faith's breasts after seeing Faith's nipples harden at her touch. She stopped only briefly in her wandering then slid her hand up to Faith's neck, brushing her hair back over her shoulder, her eyes grew wide as she saw the bite mark. Her hand flew away from Faith's neck to her own when she remembered she wasn't the only one who had broken skin.

Faith snapped out of the haze of desire Buffy was weaving around her when she saw Buffy's stunned expression. Then she tasted it, the slightly coppery taste of blood in her mouth and her own hand flew to her neck. Her eyes grew round and her mouth dropped open slightly.

"Oh shit..." Buffy looked at Faith then gently moved her hand away to see what she had done. She saw her teeth marks on Faith's pulse point, the skin bruised, broken. Something ancient and extremely primal growled, purred in satisfaction inside of her as she looked at her mark on her mate's skin.

Faith gazed just as intensely at the mirror mark on Buffy's skin. That same ancient, primal part of her growling, purring in satisfaction, possessiveness' at the sight of her mark upon her mate's skin. The word slipped out of its own volition in a low, husky growl. "Mine..." She leaned forward and reverently, tenderly, kissed the mark, running her tongue over it.

Buffy's shuddered with almost volatile desire at the feel of Faith's mouth and tongue upon the mark Faith had given her. Her response came out harsh, low, throaty, "Yours..." She pushed Faith back from her, her own mouth seeking out her mark upon Faith. And she too, kissed her mark on Faith with stunned awe and possessiveness, the word slipping from her without conscious thought, "Mine..."

"Yours..." Faith purred, as she pulled Buffy's face up to hers and they kissed with raw desire and love as they claimed each other for always.

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At the insistent chiming of the absurd magical doorbell, Faith tore her mouth away from Buffy's, lifting herself up to her hands and knees and hovered over Buffy. They were a tangled heap on the floor in front of the fireplace on the other side of the room from where they had started. With a quick look around Faith realized the room looked like a hurricane had blown through it. She forgot why she had stopped kissing Buffy as Buffy slid down under her and wrapped her mouth around one of her painfully stiff nipples.

The doorbell chimed again and Faith remembered the reason.

"WHAT?!" she snarled out.

Would they ever catch a break? Someone always seemed to be interrupting them.

"F... Faith?" Came Dawn's hesitant voice from the magical two-way intercom.

"Gamin?" Faith asked then bit her lip to keep from moaning aloud as Buffy's hand decided to keep her other breast from feeling lonely.

"Did you guys forget that I was coming here tonight?"

"YES! YES!" Faith couldn't stop the scream as Buffy's hand moved lower and started circling her clit. Her arms almost gave out. She looked down into Buffy's mischievous eyes. She mouthed to her, 'B, stop,' though she made no move to get away from Buffy's insistent hand.

Buffy just gave Faith an impish grin and started to move her fingers over Faith's center in all the ways that she knew would drive Faith headlong to the edge.

"B... oh fuck... B stop... fuck..." Faith whispered low not wanting Dawn to hear her, as her body moved to the dictates of Buffy's hand.

"Don't wanna Fai... not gonna..." Buffy increased the pressure of her fingers against Faith's wet, hot core. She was purring as she watched Faith's face as she felt Faith's body moving to her rhythm.

"OH HELLOOOOOO! You guys there or what?"

Both Slayers could hear the irritation in Dawn's voice. She couldn't get past the magical protection barrier until one of them gave their permission.

"Hang on a second Dawnie..." Buffy voice was calm and didn't betray how far from calm both Slayers actually were.

"B..." Faith gasped, she tried again, "B... stop... stopohchrist... stop... no... fuck... don't... yes... stop... pleasepleaseB..."

"Don't wanna stop... what I want is to taste you Faith..." Buffy whispered to her and she heard Faith's breathing hitch up another notch as she bucked into her hand hard at just the thought. She heard the little whimpering, panting moans start that told her Faith was right there on the edge. She moved her fingers to focus where she knew would take Faith those last few steps.

"Come on you guys! Let me in... Can I come in now pleaaaaasssssssseeee?"

"Should I let her in Faith?" Buffy whispered as she gazed up at Faith, her eyes wicked, as her hand, her fingers kept moving on, sliding over Faith's overheated center. "You want me to stop Fai?..."

"NO! DON'T!" Faith lowered her voice again, whimpering. "Udon'tplayfairB... God!Don'tstopdon'tstop... Fuck... ohgodohgod..." She pushed herself harder into Buffy's hand as she continued to hold her eyes, the world for her narrowing down, Dawn no longer existed, it was just her and Buffy and where Buffy was taking her.

"B... I'm... ahBI'mgonnaB..." Her body stilled than bucked into Buffy's hand hard, her head snapped back, her whimper turned into a full blown scream. "B, I'mmmm... CUMMMMIINNNNN'!"

"About time you guys let me in! Thought I was going to be out here forever. I can't wait to see you guys!"

"OH SHIT! NO! WAIT!..." Buffy yelled to Dawn, it wasn't Dawn who answered her, but Faith. Their side of the magical intercom had turned off the second Dawn was given permission to enter into the area for the Slayers' cottage and Buffy knew that Dawn hadn't heard her.

"BCAN'TWAIT!... AAHHHHFUCKBEEEE!" Faith was oblivious to what had just happened. Dawn was completely forgotten as she started chanting Buffy's name with each contraction of her body as her climax surged through her veins like lava.

She collapsed on top of Buffy unable to hold herself up as she was dragged down into the riptide of her release. Buffy crawled out from under her and haul her up to her feet, her body still in the throes of her climax. Buffy started dragging her towards the bathroom. Her legs trembling so hard she wasn't sure if she could walk, she clung to Buffy for dear life.

Faith stumbled behind Buffy confused, disoriented, as her released slowed and changed to just little aftershocks firing off in her body.

"What? No cuddling..." She mumbled to Buffy, who turned and kissed her hard on the mouth quickly.

"Later, I swear later..."

Dawn walked into the cottage just in time to see the flash of naked buttocks going into the bathroom before the door slammed shut. She looked first at the front door hanging by only one hinge. Then at the mess around the room, the floor streaked with oil, the sheets and comforter balled up and in a corner, on the floor. One of the reading lamps was knocked over and lay on its side and someone had shoved the recliner up against the wall. She may only be a teenager, but even she could put two and two together and get four. Then it suddenly dawned on her that Faith hadn't been telling her to, 'Come in...'

Dawn felt herself turn beat red, but she still couldn't wait for them to come out of the bathroom. This week was going to be so much fun!

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Faith leaned up against the counter after the door slammed shut. She was still a little confused; she looked at Buffy who was just smiling at her with an amused look on her face.

"We almost scarred Dawn for life..." And Buffy couldn't help giggle at the befuddled look Faith gave her.

"What are you talking about B?" Faith asked her, it was sort of floating around the edges of her mind what Buffy was talking about, but it was refusing to surface. She reached out a hand and started rubbing the hair that rested against Buffy's breast between her fingers.

"Well, my little screamer. You forgot the 'G' when you screamed so it sounded like you screamed 'Come in' instead of 'Cumming' and the protective barrier dropped to let Dawn in. It's a good thing it takes a few minutes to walk here from the portal entrance."

"Not my fault B. It was yours, I told you to stop." Faith pouted, her own eyes taking on a decidedly impish glint.

"Really F? Was that between the, 'YES B's' or the 'Fuck B, ohgodohgod' or the 'Stop, don't stop B's' or the 'PleasepleaseB's'?" Buffy teased her back.

"What can I say B, you make me forget the rest of the world exists when you touch me." Faith grinned lopsidedly at Buffy but her eyes were sincere and before she knew it, she found her arms suddenly filled with a golden-haired Slayer, kissing her sloppily, happily all over her face.

"You know Faith for someone who claims not to know all the pretty words, you always say the best, sweetest things. You're just so damn cute, so friggin adorable, so sweet and cuddly..."

"No way B... I am a Bad Ass Tuff Girl! There ain't nothin' sweet about me, I'm tuff and mean," Faith huffed and shook her head in denial, "So there..." and stuck her tongue out at Buffy to prove her point.

Buffy gently stroked the side of Faith's face, "Okay baby, you can be a Bad Ass Tuff Girl if you want..." She smiled at Faith, and mumbled under her breath, "...in your dreams... and not with me you're not..."

Before Faith got a chance to answer Buffy, Dawn started pounding on the bathroom door.

"Are you guys ever coming out or what? I wanna go to Mars' early so I can play Final Fantasy Ten, he got a copy before everyone else."

"No way Gamin I'm playing first..."

"Nah uh Faith I am!" Dawn yelled through the door.

Faith snatched her robe off the hook on the door, put it on, grabbed Buffy's, threw it at her and gave her a second to put it on before she opened the door.

"Are not!" She yelled back at Dawn.

"Am too Grassssssshoppper!"

"Are not BRAT!"

"Are too!"

"Are not!"

"Oh my god I live with two-year-olds..." Buffy mumbled, shaking her head.

"I heard that!" Both Dawn and Faith yelled at Buffy.

"I'm going to take a shower, while you two fight about some stupid game..." Buffy laughed at them turning around.

"Am too going first and thanks for finally letting me 'comme innn' by the way, Faith."

Buffy almost tripped when she heard what Dawn said, she started to giggle so hard she began choking. Faith's mouth dropped open as she stared at Dawn smirking at her. She turned around and started pounding Buffy on the back when she heard her choking, mumbling under her breath something about, 'Summers' women not playing or fighting fair.'

"Enough! Enough... I'm fine, Faith..." Buffy turned around and kissed Faith quickly on the lips, "I'm getting in the shower now."

"Okay. I'm going to get something to eat, I'm wicked hungry."

"Gee that's a big surprise," Dawn smirked out.

Faith turned beet red as she huffed off to the kitchen, the giggles of both of the Summers' sisters following her.

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"What's she doing in there? She's been in there like forever... We're never gonna get there early enough to play the game."

Faith was saved having to answer Dawn by a knock on the broken front door.

"Commme innn!" Dawn yelled and then threw another smirk Faith's way, it grew bigger as she saw Faith blush.

"Dawn..." She hissed, before greeting the two Immortals, "Hey... Nice toolbox Gran!" Faith had called the Immortals from the kitchen to come and fix the door when she was making herself and Buffy a sandwich.

"So when did you and Buffy break the door?" Dawn started giggling when she saw all three adults blush, this was turning out to be way more fun than she had hoped.

"We didn't, Gran and Kiddo did. They ah, they... oh fuc... ah you two explain. I'm going to see what's taken B so long." Faith grumbled and stormed off to the bathroom, mumbling under her breath something about not being warned that becoming redeemed made you stupid and blush all the friggin' time.

"So... what happened?" Dawn gave Clotho and Lilith her best innocent look, though neither missed the smirk that was lurking around the corners of her mouth.

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Faith stomped into the bathroom still mumbling under her breath, she couldn't believe Dawn heard her. She was never going to be able to look her in the eyes again and Dawn and Buffy were never going to let her live it down.

She stopped stomping and mumbling when she turned the corner and saw a naked Buffy in the shower, head tipped back, eyes closed, hands running the soft looking washcloth over her breasts, down to her abdomen. Faith's whole body clenched with renewed desire and she could feel the whispery soft, shadow-like, touch of the washcloth on her own skin. She took off her robe and let it drop carelessly to the floor as she stealthily made her way over to join Buffy in the shower, mumbling under her breath again.

Buffy was aware of Faith the second she entered the bathroom, she felt her through their bond, she felt her through their connection as Slayer's, she just felt her period. Her own body was still throbbing with unfulfilled desire, Dawn having interrupted them way too soon.

They both had forgotten Dawn was coming today to spend a week with them. This was going to be hell, especially after what just had happened. If she knew her little sister the way she thought she did, Dawn would make it her mission not to give them more than a few minutes alone the whole time she was here.

Faith was still mumbling as she slipped into the shower with her. She leaned back into Faith as her arms came around her from behind.

"What are you mumbling about baby?"

"Friggin Dawn, blushing, commme in, the Immortals fixing the door, maybe get Red and Blondie to do a soundproof spell at the Mansion, us turning into lust-puppies, friggin' little pink rabbit with sunglasses and a drum..."

"Lust-puppies and a pink rabbit? You have a fever Faith?" Buffy said giggling as she turned around and wrapped her arms around Faith.

"You know lust-puppies; we are lust-puppies, fucking, making love all day long like we're in heat. Like that damn bunny, that just keeps goin' an goin'. And the fever I have is you B, 'cause all I can think about is touching you, wanting you to touch me and now we've got a whole friggin' houseful of people." Faith pouted.

"You complaining about wanting to make love Faith? And for the record I don't fuck! I, we, make love." Buffy teased her, running a hand down Faith's arm, then softly stroking her face.

"Hell no I ain't complaining! And for the record B, we make love, but we also fuck, though it's different 'cause it's not just fucking. It's fucking but making love at the same time. And I know that doesn't really make sense but it does sort of, doesn't it?" She looked at Buffy and then continued not waiting for her to answer her, "But I guess it isn't just fucking 'cause it's done with love and I don't know whatever it is, whatever we do together is beautiful, you are beautiful. So..." Faith stopped her rambling, gave Buffy a cocky lopsided grin and then kissed the living shit out of her.

Buffy grabbed onto Faith's shoulders as her knees started to give out, as her air, her strength, was kissed right out of her by Faith. By the time the kiss ended, she found herself being firmly held up against the shower wall and being giving a wicked, down right evil smile by Faith.

"And B..." Faith ran her hand up from Buffy's waist, her fingers capturing and teasing one already hard nipple. "If you don't want Gamin, Kiddo and Gran pickin' on you all week too, I suggest you be quiet..." Faith started kissing Buffy again before she could answer her.

Buffy could do nothing but bite her bottom lip and gasped, as Faith's mouth, tongue and hands seemed to be everywhere all at once. She whimpered low in her throat as Faith trailed her mouth down the column of her neck, stopping to taste briefly again where her mark was, then trailed down further to capture one of her nipples between her lips. Her teeth biting it gently, her tongue torturing it with hard then soft flicks and for a second Buffy thought she was going to come just from Faith's mouth on her breast. Then Faith started to move lower, slowly trailing her tongue down her stomach, sinking to her knees and Buffy stopped her, pulling her back up.

"No..."

"But, B..."

"I want you to... God, I want you to, but Faith there would be no way in hell I could be quiet... At least this way I can bury my head in your neck..." Buffy leaned up into Faith and kissed her with everything she was feeling, every nerve in her body was screaming for Faith to touch her. "I need you to touch me so bad right now Fai..."

Buffy's whole body rocked when Faith slid her hand between her legs. She felt Faith move to straddle one of her thighs and Buffy pressed up into her, incapable of anything more at the moment, as she was overwhelmed with the sensations flooding her body.

Faith slid her hand, her fingers into Buffy's heat. Her whole being thrilled with the feel of how hot, how swollen, how ready Buffy was. She slid further, her fingers poised at Buffy's entrance, "B?" She questioned softly and waited for Buffy to raise her eyes up to her.

"Yes..." Then Buffy thought she would die from the sheer pleasure, the tenderness, the gentleness, the love that was in the touch, in the slow way that Faith entered her.

She was floating on a wave of incredible sensations as Faith slowly moved within her, then she felt Faith's thumb circle up to brush against her clit with the same tender, gentle touch of her fingers within her and Buffy was lost. Her head fell back against the shower wall and Faith quickly took advantage of her exposed neck, raining hard and soft kisses, along with the water that beat a steady tempo down on both of them as she moved her own throbbing wet core on Buffy's thigh.

"B... touch me..."

Buffy lowered her thigh and slid her hand down over Faith's breast, stopping to tease a stiff nipple, lingering until she heard Faith's barely whispered, 'Please.' Her eyes closed as her hand drew a mental image of Faith in her mind. Her hand slid down further over Faith's fluttering stomach, unable like always to resist stopping to swirl around and into Faith's belly button. She continued her downward trek at the subtle thrust of Faith's hips against her slowly moving hand. Her fingers traced momentarily at the thin line of Faith's wiry hair which covered her sex, then finally slid lower into Faith's heat.

"God... Faith... so wet... so warm..."

"Open your eyes... B... please open your eyes for me..." Faith waited for Buffy to open her eyes, she smiled softly at her. "B... I..." She was unable to finish her sentence as Buffy touched her just as softly, as gently, as tenderly, with as much love as she was touching Buffy.

She stared up into her mate's eyes, seeing all Faith felt for her. Remembering briefly a time when Faith hid all she was, all she felt behind those amazing eyes. Buffy found herself lost now in them.

"I love you Faith..."

Their hands, mouths and tongues started to move more urgently against, upon each other. They were lost in each other's eyes, the rest of the world ceased to exist for them. It consisted of just them, and who they were, and who they were together, as they continued to take the other to a place that they only had ever been able to get to with each other.

"So closesoclose... Faith... please..."

Then Faith took Buffy over the edge into sweet release, into the tumultuous storm that was the two of them and Buffy took Faith right along with her.

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Neither of them had thought to bring clothes into the bathroom so they were forced to go back out into the main room of the cottage in their silk robes. They noticed right off that someone had straightened up the room and made up the bed for them. They saw first the smirking face of Lilith who just lifted an elegant eyebrow at them, then Clotho who actually gave them a very Lilith/Faith-like knowing look, to Dawn who just out and out smirked at them.

Faith pulled clothes out of the dresser and closet as fast as possible, before someone, Dawn, said anything.

"Faith..." Lilith started and Faith felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up just by her tone. "It's too hot out for turtlenecks."

"She knows that, they just want to hide the fact that they had a hickey contest today..."

"DAWN!" Both Slayers' yelled at her.

"What? It looks like all four of you had a hickey contest today. Who won anyway?"

"DAWN!" This time both the Slayers' and the Immortals' yelled at her.

"Well it does..."

The Slayers' stomped off to the bathroom to finish getting ready, both now mumbling under their breath. While the two Immortals couldn't help laugh and think to themselves that the Slayers' were in for a quite a ride when it came to raising Dawn.

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Crow had beaten them to Mars' house and no amount of bribing, or threats by either the Key or the Slayer, could get him to give up the controller to the PlayStation2. An elderly man, with shocking white hair and an equally white goatee, of impressive height didn't ask, he just shut the game off before Crow even had a chance to save it and took the game cartridge. While Crow cried out in protest, the Key and the Slayer laughed and told him it served him right.

The distinguished looking gentleman turned his piercing blue eyes on Faith, he held out his hand to her in greeting. "I'm Christopher, everyone just calls me Chris, I am also Crow's father. You must be Faith one of the Chosen. It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

"Ah yeah, you too?" Faith shook his hand back.

She still found it strange, awkward, when people, or an Immortal in this case, were glad to meet her, she wasn't used to this type of reaction from people. She shifted from foot to foot a little uncomfortable under his intense gaze and unconsciously called for Buffy. She was saved from having to try to make small talk when Mars' voice bellowed from the other room that dinner was ready and for everyone to get their lazy asses into the dining room now!

Everyone was there, the Scoobs, including the newest members James and Gary, the LA Crew, Luc, Atropos, Lachesis, who was escorted in by Spike to everyone's amazement, Lily, Clotho and Lilith, as well as Crow's mother, Charlotte. They sat down at the massive table that could have easily sat fifty. They ate until they were all ready to explode and everyone except for Mars stayed away from the tequila this time. Both Slayers gave a small sigh of relief that Dawn had decided not to 'bust their balls' so to speak, about what had happened earlier at the cottage. What they didn't realize, as they sat around the table drinking coffee and having dessert, was they should have been looking in another direction.

"So..." Angel began and then to everyone's, well almost everyone's utter amazement, he smiled. "Why didn't one of the four of you invite Spike and I to participate in your little contest? 'Cause I would have to say without a doubt we would have won hands down."

Angel just smiled again at Lilith, Clotho, Faith and Buffy as they all shot wooden daggers at him. He even winked at them.

"What contest are you talking about Peaches?" Spike asked him playing along then he too winked at them.

"Soul-boy... Junior..." Faith threatened, Spike and Angel just gave her their best innocent looks.

"Oh the one to see who can give the most or was it get the most..."

" . ." Buffy rushed out in one long exhale while grabbing Faith's hand and pulling her out of her chair.

"I don't know Angel, I think Luc and I could give you and Spike a run for your money." Atropos laughed then just reached out and pulled Faith back down into her chair. "Oh, and you two can't leave yet, there is something that Chronos Senior needs to talk to you, well… all of us about first."

"Yes well, before we move onto that let me just say I doubt a one of you could beat Charlotte and myself."

"Dad! That's gross. I don't want to hear about you and Mom doing that stuff."

"Dawn you are so gonna pay for this you big mouth..." Buffy snarled at her out of the corner of her mouth.

"Me? Me? I didn't do anything. I didn't say a word. You'd have to be blind not to see the twenty billion hickeys all of you have."

Faith just dropped her head on the table and groaned. She felt the blush starting from her feet and working its way up. She felt Buffy running her hand soothingly over her back; she wasn't used to this yet. All this teasing. All these people being nice to her. All these people actually liking her. She knew the old her would have just gotten angry and told everyone to 'Fuck off.' She hadn't a clue how to act now.

"It's okay, baby. You can sit up." Buffy gently pulled Faith back into a sitting position.

Faith opened her eyes and stared right into Cordy's amused, evil looking ones.

Oh Shit! Queen C came out to play! Go on just say whatever it is... go on I'm waiting...

"OH MY GOD! I didn't know you could blush Faith!"

Faith just shot a look at Cordy, groaned and started to drop her head back down on the table again. Buffy stopped her. Faith turned and looked at her, her eyes pleading with Buffy to make them stop.

"Are we all done yet?" Buffy huffed at them.

"Yes, well, I believe Buffy the answer to that would be no. But if I were a betting man I would place my money on myself and my fellow Englishman Wesley beating you all out in that department." Giles told her in his best proper English speaking voice.

Buffy and Faith's mouths dropped open; they had figured if anyone would put a stop to this it would be Giles. Wesley started to open his mouth to say something when Buffy jumped up and started almost shouting.

"Okay fine! Fine! I have hickeys! Faith has hickey's. Clotho's has hickeys. Lilith has hickeys! Ya happy now?! Want to see all of them 'cause there are a few you can't see. Well? Anybody?" Now that her little temper tantrum was over Buffy felt like an idiot. She felt the blush rising up to her face, she slumped down into her chair and decided to imitate her mate and dropped her head down onto the table.

"I think you guys broke her." Faith leaned down close to Buffy and whispered for her ears only, "Maybe I should take you home and fix ya B."

"Yes..." Buffy whispered back just as low.

"Hey Gran can I borrow your toolbox..." Faith looked at Lilith and gave her a wicked grin.

Buffy's head popped up from the table, she looked at Faith incredulously, "You're so bad Fai..."

Faith just gave Buffy one of her cocky lopsided grins, "Told ya so B," then both Slayers busted out laughing. Soon, the whole table joined in.

xxxxxxxxxx

"So, Chris, what was it that you need to tell us all?" Atropos inquired a little while later.

"Under normal circumstances it would fall to Crow to tell you about this, since he is the current Chronos. However, given his age and the fact that he is relatively new to the job... And I must say, he has made me proud of the way he has performed so far. Anyway, it was decided that I would tell you about this."

Chris picked up an old brown, weather-beaten leather bag from the floor. He opened it and pulled out a scroll that from the looks of it had been around since the Dawn of Man. And in this case, looks weren't deceiving. He saw the glint in both Giles and Wesley's eyes and he held up a hand to stave off their questions.

"Let me start by saying that I will tell you all I know." He paused when Faith snorted softly, amused by his statement, she knew better. He smiled, raised his eyebrow and continued with a chuckle, "Well... You can ask questions but more than likely I will not be allowed to answer most of them." Chris paused and smiled at the collective groans from all present. Especially the louder ones from the Immortals who weren't used to having the tables turned on them in such a manner. "This scroll has been around since man first came into existence and has been handed down from the very first Chronos until it now is in the care of my son Crow and I would imagine that it will be handed down to his son or whomever takes Crow's place when his time to retire comes.

"It was given to us because as Father Time we have the ability to see not only into the past, but into possible futures and no I will not tell you how far back or how far forward we can see. We became the guardians for this reason, so that we could look for the signs. It is called the Living Scroll, because it has the ability to write or as the case may be re-write itself. Although, it does not erase what was already there. It works much like the Tapestry of Life, in the sense that anything is possible. We, or rather Chronos was made the guardian of the scroll because as you will see we also play a part in the events that were written, though up until when the event happened we did not know this. We were, or rather Chronos was blind to his own part in the Living Scroll. With the scroll were nine other items, they were placed in the keeping of the Fates though they never knew of it, and I doubt they knew or rather remembered their existence until recently.

"What I am going to read now was what was written in the scroll when the first Chronos received it and what was written over the years as it was passed down to each new Chronos. Until it was passed down to my son by me, where on the second day as Chronos what he was to look for was rewritten or added to the scroll. So let me read up 'til there." He paused and took a sip of water then he opened the scroll and began to read from it.

"In the beginning there is only the Primordial. She who is one with her power, neither of the Light or the Dark. As man begins to build upon the earth, the Primordial will become separate from the source of her power as time passes and she finds her humanity. There will come a time when the Huntress will no longer just blindly follow other's Council. She will be the first to find anchors in the world. And she will find love and see for the first time into the gray with a Child of the Night. She is of the Light and will rise above her own death. And from her death another will rise, though her time as a Huntress for the Light will be brief like the dawning of a new day. Where once there was only one now there are two.

"As the second of the Chosen falls another rises to take her place. One who is neither of the Light nor of the Dark. A child who was raised by those of the Dark, who strives to live in the Light. And again, where once there was only one, there are now two. And for a time the second Chosen will have Light at the edges of her gray world. Then she will stumble and fall. Pushing aside all the hands that try to break her fall. Pushing away the Light and submerging herself into the Darkness. And the two that should have fought side by side will now face each other in the fight. One will rise; the other will fall, as the Light sends the Dark into the dreamscape of an almost endless night. Within the world of dreams, the first step from the Dark to the Light will be made. But all dreams must come to their end, and the sleeper will wake, the dreams will fade, and she will rise to the same day. The Darkness still remains.

"A parting gift from the only love of a parent she has ever known, causes an eclipse as Day becomes Night, Night becomes Day and Dark becomes Light. Now life is seen through shades of gray. A glimpse of the Dark, a glimpse of the Light. A choice to be made. A headlong flight is stopped as the Dark takes a step into the Light. An eclipse in a holy place, changes Dark back to Light, Light back to Dark and Night into Day. The Dark will flee carrying a piece of the Light. The Light will stay now holding onto a piece of the Dark. The first connection now fully made.

"The Dark will seek her own eternal Darkness at the hands of the Child of the Night. The Child of the Night will lead her down a different path. A path of redemption, of amends, of discovery that leads towards the Light. The Light will seek out her revenge. Taking her first step on the path away from humanity and into the Dark. Once again, the Chosen begin to walk parallel but very different paths. As the Dark moves towards the Light and the Light moves towards the Dark. A second connection is made as the Light joins with the source of her power, and all those who have wielded that power.

"The paths of Dark and Light cross again, as the Dark of the Chosen begins to walk the path to bring the Light out of the dark. For a brief moment, there is hope, as the Dark and the Light become one. Until the Light strikes within the heart of the Dark and the Dark flees after making the ultimate sacrifice. Another eclipse, as the Dark has gained her humanity and the Light has all but lost hers. Another choice to be made. And the Light will travel to the past to learn the true source of her power and of her gift. And to find her way once again to the path of humanity and the Light. While the Dark continues on the path towards the Light and starts to learns of the choice that Fate will have her make.

"The path of the Chosen will entwine again. The Light will reach out to the Dark and the Dark will take another step into the Light as she reaches out for the first time to take the proffered hand of the Light. Where once there had once been only One and now is as it should be, there are Two. As the Dark and the Light, find the path to each other. The final and full connection is made as a Bond for eternity is forged and the Two, whilst still separate, individual, become One.

"Another choice is Fated to be made. And each will hold the Key to the Fate of man. And the Light will make the ultimate sacrifice for love. And the Dark will make her choice as she stands in the warmth of the Light in the name of what is right and for love. The Light of the Chosen will pass on to the Eternal Day and the Dark of the Chosen will stand alone in the place of the Light. Her time alone will seem as eons. 'Til the day that the Light is returned to the land of Man."

Chris stopped reading from the scroll and took another sip of water. He looked around at all of those at the table until his gaze rested upon Buffy and Faith. They looked a little shell-shocked and he supposed that he would too if someone had read to him his life. He wet his lips before her spoke to them.

"At first, when I received the scroll, you two had not even been born. And, up until Buffy, no Slayer had ever cheated death. And even when Kendra came along I still wasn't certain that the scroll spoke of you Buffy, but when Kendra died and Faith came along well I started to think that it may be you two that the scroll spoke of. I truly began to believe it was you two the scroll spoke of, though, to be honest, for your sake Faith I had hoped that it was not. And for a brief moment it looked like it wasn't, but I don't want to dig up old wounds that have long been forgiven and healed. Let me just say I wasn't one hundred percent certain that it was you two until the day you were to face Glory in the final battle and you two finally declared your love for each other. That night the final bond between the two of you was forged and I with my Immortal eyes could see the Soul Thread that connected you to each other. It was just the day before your declarations of love to each other that I had passed on the duties of being Chronos to my son.

"The last paragraph of the scroll I just read did not happen, at least not in the way the scroll had originally written it, there was a part that came immediately after it. I will read it to you later and it is the whole or at least part of the reason I am now reading to you this scroll. Only you were supposed to die Buffy and Faith would have stayed behind for all of the reasons that she has already told you. It was the reason the Fates had been bringing her to their domain, so that she would have all the choices and their consequences in front of her that night with Glory. She was the only one that could have stopped you from doing what you did. In a sense, she held the same power as the Key or rather Dawn did. Had she prevented both of your deaths, the barriers between the dimensions would have fallen and chaos, mayhem, evil would have ruled throughout all of our domains, this one included. Three months after your death Buffy, Willow, Tara, Anya and Xander would have brought you back from the dead. Or so that was what the scroll had written and one of the possibilities that the Tapestry of Life showed." He stopped and turned his gaze to Faith locking his blues eyes with her confused dark chocolate ones.

"This possibility was hidden from you Faith." He smiled softly at her, his eyes apologetic, then continued, "However, as I said none of this happened, and when you both died at the hands of Glory, my son and I both thought that we had been wrong. That was until two days later your earth time, when the scroll began to write between what I read to you just now, and the part that was already written that I have yet to read. So now, I will read that which the scroll wrote when you both were thought killed by Glory's hand.

"As man can change his destiny so can those who should not be a part of this world's destiny interfere in the destiny of man. So has happened to the destiny of the two Chosen and for them to be returned to the path of their destinies others will have to take a stand. As is now fated the blind shall see, and Fate must show Evil all the paths it can take. Evil must take the Beast by the hand. The Chosen must see through the mask of Evil and remember. Evil must sow the seeds of doubt. Those that were blind must see. The Key to unlock the secret is in the memory of the night from the past. Once this is done, Evil must decide whether to drop his Mask. Fate must look upon it all and decide to take a stand. And at that moment Time will lend a hand."

Chris stopped again and now he looked at Luc and the Fates.

"It is here that you all played a role, had you all not decided to take a hand in getting the Slayers back none of this would have happened. Once you decided to break the rules and directly interfere, Atropos, that was where we, or rather Crow, needed to give to you what you did not know you had in order to defeat Glory. This was why he spoke to you, Clotho and Lachesis, and told you what to bring to the Mansion. The very first Chronos placed what were very ordinary swords, a ribbon and the spell scroll in the Radiance Room eons ago. And to answer your question, Willow and Tara, as to why the Spell that was used seemed to be tailor made for the nine of you, that is because it was. The parchment the scroll is written on is from a piece of this scroll, so the spell wasn't written until that day. And with the transformation of the scroll, so too were the swords and the ribbon transformed to meet the needs of the spell Amalgamate. Which means to unite or join together, which was needed in order for the spell to work. Even so, with all of the players in place, there was more that was newly written and out of our hands, or rather Crow's hands and I will read that now.

"A bond that was once broken must once more be made. Free Will must be restored. Evil must be taken down by the Beast's hand. The Light of the Chosen must merge with her power and teach it the way of the Light. The Dark of the Chosen must make the ultimate sacrifice. The Fated will lead the way. The nine must wait for the sign. The Chosen must release the hate to bring about the Radiance of Light. Then the Nine can send the Beast to her now preordained Fate. Then the Light of the Chosen can help the Dark of the Chosen to heal and merge with her power.

"That is the end of the newly written part of the scroll, the next part is what was originally there and here too we, or rather Chronos, Crow, was to take a hand and lead you, Buffy and Faith, to the Incarnates, because the time had come for them to once more get involved with the Fate of Man." Chris took another sip of water then continued to read from the Living Scroll.

"And now Time will take the two Chosen by the hand and lead them to where they can begin to understand the nature of their powers. The Lovers from the time of Eve, The Maiden and The Siren, and the man of War will train the Chosen in the ways of combat, valor and strength. The Fallen will teach them the many faces of evil and what lay within the Gray. The Crone and the Mother will show them the ways of meditation, tranquility, inner strength, and of the true nature of the bond they share. The Earth will teach them how to heal. And all within this Realm will teach to them that which makes them unique. For the Chosen's power is of the same in the mortal realm as that of the Immortal realm. These teachings will be learned by all the Chosen's and the Chosen's families as well. As those within this realm and those within the Chosen's realm all take up the mantle of Warriors for the Light, as all will be need in the fight as The End of Days draws high."

Chris fell silent, careful to keep his eyes from moving further down the scroll to the rest of what was written on the scroll. Only those that had worn the mantle of Chronos knew that the Living Scroll reached farther into the future than any could imagine, but like all else within the scope of all their different dimensions, not even the Living Scroll was written in stone. He heard the last few lines written upon the Living Scroll within his mind anyway and he knew as he looked at his son that he too was hearing them.

' Time will stay silent and remain the guardian for the Living Scroll until it breaks its silence, as the Raven, Phoenix, Manticore and Griffin spread their wings and take flight, when the time comes for them to wear the mantle with the Chosen and join in the fight as Warriors of the Light as The End of Time draws nigh.'

"So what... basically, what all that just said is that me and B are gonna be trained by all of you. As well as Soul-boy, Junior, X-man, Red, Blondie and everyone else. Cause like me and B are these kick-ass Warriors for the Light and pretty much on the same level as you guys. Only we can still die, can't we? So when do we get to learn how to do that fading thing?"

"Yes Faith you pretty much summed it up, except you don't get to do the fade thing."

Faith pouted for a second about not being able to fade, then shrugged her shoulders.

"It's cool anyway... So why didn't ya just say that instead of reading that old long ass piece of paper, Snow?" Faith asked Chris, having decided that his nickname would be Snow because of his pure white hair. Faith smiled at everyone at the table, they were all looking at her a little dumbfounded, tact definitely wasn't one of her many skills.

"Snow?"

"Don't worry about it mate, she gives everyone nicknames. Hell the little git calls me Junior and I'm old enough to be her great-grandfather..."

"She does, doesn't she? That's my little woman for you..."

"B you so did not just call me that..."

"I sure did. My little woman! Isn't she cute...?"

They all started talking at once as the Slayers continued to squabble. They all sat around the table chatting well into the night, until finally someone noticed that both Crow and Dawn had fallen asleep in their chairs. Buffy and Faith half dragged, half-held Dawn between them as they said their goodnights.

When they got back to the cottage, they helped the more asleep, rather than more awake Dawn into the nice little rollaway bed that was right next to their bed that Lilith had laughingly provided them with.

They crawled into bed grumbling about having to wear shorts and t-shirts for the next seven days to sleep in, rather than their usual birthday suits. They snuggled into each other, then both leaned towards each at the same time and they kissed softly, tenderly goodnight. They fell asleep listening contently to each other's purring.

xxxxxxxxxx

She was in that in-between place that her mate had been taking her to every morning for the last few weeks. For once, she had woken first. She carefully moved out from under her mate and rolled over onto her side facing her. She slid her hand under her mate's t-shirt, completely forgetting why they were both wearing clothes as she decided to bring her mate with her into this place, bring her to her.

Her hand unconsciously started to trace over the almost invisible scars that she knew where high up on her mate's shoulder. Scars from her childhood, scars that he had recreated for her, for them both. Her fingers ran gently, soothingly, tenderly and with all of her heart, she wished she could caress both them and the hurt that came with them away. Her fingertips moved down of their own accord to the other scars that were on Faith's lower back and buttocks, soothing them too. Then continued along over the rest of her silky smooth back to touch with love all the other scars she knew were there, both visible and invisible. The one she wanted to remove with every fiber of her being she could not reach while her mate lay upon her stomach, it was the one that she herself had given Faith, the jagged knife scar that ran along Faith's abdomen.

Her touch changed from that of soothing to sensual, running along her mate's side, to brush the outside of one breast. She moved in closer to Faith, snuggling into her intimately, careful not to lie on top of her. She nudged Faith's hair away from her neck with her nose then with just the whisper of her mouth placed feather light kisses along it. She inhaled deeply the musky, sweet scent that was Faith. It flowed through her, in her, a part of her now, just as Faith was a part of her, would always be a part of her.

She ran her tongue delicately along the shell of her mate's ear then teasingly bit the lobe. She opened her sleep heavy eyes and they were drawn like a moth to a flame to her mark on Faith's pulse point. Her mouth was drawn there of its own volition and Buffy could not have stopped it even if she had a mind to. She kissed it softly, then harder, sucking upon the flesh around it, ensuring that the mark would not fade. That same primal desire from yesterday rising up fiercely in her, she ran her tongue reverently over the teeth marks, then with the daintiest of touches she bit down.

It came to her through their bond, the white-hot fury of passion and love her biting of the mark caused Faith even in her sleep. She bit a little harder wanting to feel that rush from Faith again.

"B..." Faith moaned waking to the intense feeling Buffy's mouth and teeth wrought as they nipped and sucked upon the mark Buffy had given her just yesterday.

Her hips bucked involuntarily into the mattress and suddenly she wanted to know if her mouth, her teeth upon the mark she had given to Buffy would cause the same reaction in Buffy. She moved swiftly despite her sleepy state. Before Buffy knew what was happening Faith had turned and latched her mouth possessively over the mark she had given her. Buffy's whole body arched into Faith's at the touch, she stifled her moan in Faith's neck. She arched into Faith again when Faith scraped her teeth along the mark and this time Buffy couldn't stifle her moan of desire.

They were both reeling from the feelings they were getting from each other through their bond. The urgency was there to touch, to express with hands, mouths, tongues, bodies that which words could never express. They had found their safe haven with each other again. There was still fear floating around in the edges of both of their minds, but both had learned to listen to the other through their bond. They had developed absolute trust in each other not to go where the other was not ready to go. And the need to be together like this after so long had taken a hold of both of them again just like it had yesterday. The need to erase all of his touches from each other's skin, the painful memories, the horrific sights, the agonizing screams, the anguished moans and replace them with their own loving touches, memories, sights and sounds was all they knew right now.

They sat up together hands eagerly reaching out to pull the clothes from the other's body. Their only thought to feel the warmth of each other's skin against their own, until Faith's eyes fell on the empty rollaway bed next to theirs.

Buffy was oblivious, she started to tug at Faith's t-shirt, wanting her with a passion that obliterated everything, and anything in its path. "Baby... please help me... need to feel you... need to touch you..." Her voice a low pleading whisper.

"Dawn..."

"What?" Buffy asked as she started to run her hands up under Faith's t-shirt, until Faith grabbed them and held them still.

"B, Dawn's here 'member?" Faith told her in a voice that was husky with desire.

Buffy just groaned and dropped her head onto Faith's shoulder, and Faith just pulled her closer and held on to her tightly. Both Slayers tried to calm their breathing and their bodies, a little bit amazed now that they were awake that their desire, their passion could be so hot, so fierce from only those few touches.

"Warning..." Dawn yelled from the other side of the kitchen door. "I know you guys are awake, I can hear you. So, whatever you're doing stop, 'cause I'm commmminnn-gg in there."

Both Slayers groaned, then Buffy mumbled against Faith's shoulder, "Welcome to hell week baby..."

xxxxxxxxxx

By dusk the third day of Dawn's stay with them, both Slayers began to think that they really were caught up in some warped version of the movie 'Hell Week.' If they had to listen to Dawn bring up their hickeys one more time they were going to throttle her. Not to mention that Dawn had gotten quite creative and inventive about using the words 'Come in,' in just about every other sentence.

Faith had a pounding headache from the constant bickering of the two Summers' sisters. Dawn had been awful clingy with both of them since she had gotten here despite all the constant taunting and bickering. The reasons for the clinginess were floating around the edges of Faith's mind. The thoughts though, couldn't fight their way out through the sledgehammer that was beating a steady tempo on her brain.

"B, I'm gonna go inside for a little while. Do you mind?" Faith worriedly nibbled her bottom lip; they had invited most of the Immortals and Crow of course over for a BBQ. And now, all she wanted to do was go lay down, she felt a little guilty. But she hadn't been sleeping well the last three nights and the headache had seemed to make its way into her eyes now as well. She had been trying to block Buffy from feeling it and blocking her just seemed to be making the headache even worse.

Buffy and Dawn were trying to set up the volleyball net when Faith asked her question after she finished bringing out the food from inside. Buffy had been about to just say okay, when something about Faith's tone made her stop what she was doing and turn around to look at Faith.

"Stay here Dawn, I'll be right back." Buffy walked quickly over to Faith. "You okay Fai?" Buffy's eyes quickly scanned Faith's face, she could see the lines of pain etched on her face and her eyes were a little bloodshot.

"Just a headache, bad one. Think I just want to lay down for a little bit, maybe take a nap. I'm kinda tired."

Buffy reached up and gently stroked the side of Faith's face, "You haven't been sleeping too good the last few nights." She smiled a little at Faith's surprised look, "Yes, I know. How did you think I knew to cuddle you at just the right time?" Buffy saw the 'I should have known better,' look come over Faith's face. "Go lay down for a little while, Dawn and I can finish ourselves. And stop blocking me! It's probably only making the headache worse."

"Thanks, B." Faith whispered and dropped her blocks; she turned to go and stopped at Buffy's gentle touch on her arm. Buffy leaned up into her and kissed her so softly that had Faith's eyes not been open she would have thought that she had just been kissed by a butterfly.

xxxxxxxxxx

"Is Faith okay, Buffy?" Dawn's voice trembled just the slightest bit.

"Yeah, she just has a headache. She's going to take a nap. She's been getting them on and off since we got back from Glory's domain. She gets them when she doesn't sleep well or she's stressed. Lily thinks they will go away after more time has passed. Sort of a side effect from being there."

She instantly regretted saying as much as she did when she saw the guilt flash across her sister's face. She had spoken without thinking, both she and Faith had gotten used to not hiding the aftereffects of their stay in Glory's hell during their time spent at the cottage. Now she had not only alarmed her sister, but had managed to bring the guilt back up to the surface. As she looked at her sister, she couldn't help wonder if Dawn had really ever rid herself of the guilt in the first place. Or if Dawn had lied to her the day of the Joining ceremony. She knew for herself that the guilt wasn't so easy to let go of, it still reared its ugly head from time to time and she knew that the same thing happened to Faith as well.

Dawn felt like her sister had just punched her in the gut. The familiar taste of guilt rose up in the back of her throat; she had been living with the guilt since the night on the tower. She had lied to her sister the day of the Joining, not wanting to add an additional burden to her sister and Faith's already overburdened shoulders. It didn't matter to her that the Living Scroll had predicted her sister's death, Buffy had beaten prophesies before, she could have this time too. No matter how hard she tried, Dawn could not shake the guilt that all of this was her fault. Even now, that she could see that things were a thousand times better between the Slayers'. Even though they were finally, after all the torturous weeks after they returned from Glory's domain, moving once more back to the way they were, the guilt was still there.

More guilt had been added to her frail shoulders after they had disappeared the night of the Joining. They didn't know that she had seen what had happened before Clotho had faded them away. They didn't know that she had overheard some of their conversations about what had been done to the two of them when Glory held them captive. She knew on some level that they were trying to shield her, trying to protect her, but there was a part of her that believed deep down the Slayers', that all of them blamed her for what happened. Blamed her because it should have been her that died that night, she was, after all, not really real. It didn't really matter though, because if in fact they did blame her they could never hope to equal the amount of blame that she placed upon herself.

The guilt had been festering, eating her up alive. There were only two people who could ever understand what she was feeling and they were the last two people she could ever talk about it to. On some level, she knew she should, but on a deeper level, she was terrified that despite what the Chosen Two said, they really did believe she was to blame. Instead, she just let the guilt slowly but surely eat away second by second, hour by hour, day by day, all that she was.

There were moments when she briefly forgot about the guilt, like when she first arrived here. Moments that she almost forgot about what had happened to her sister and Faith. Pretended that it was all just a bad nightmare, that none of it had happened and for the last few days seeing Buffy and Faith together, playful, loving, laughing, giggling, being how they were before, she had almost convinced herself that it really all had been just a bad dream. But what her sister had just told her so casually had broken, shattered that illusion and slammed the guilt right back into her with just as much, if not more force than when they had first returned from Glory's hell.

"Dawn I..." Buffy was cut off by Mars as he joined them to help finish putting up the volleyball net.

"For a Slayer you're awfully slow Giiiizmoooo..."

Buffy shot Mars daggers with her eyes, she hated when he called her that, she only liked it when Faith called her that, though she would never tell Faith that. The rest of the Immortals made their way over and before long, they had a heated extremely competitive volleyball match underway.

Dawn covertly watched her sister from the other side of the net, happy to see her smiling and laughing. She couldn't help notice over the last few days how comfortable and relaxed both Faith and Buffy were with the Immortals, especially Lilith and Clotho. In a lot of ways Lilith and Clotho were exactly like Faith and Buffy, right down to the warped sense of humor that all four of them seemed to share. She missed having them around though, it wasn't that she didn't like Willow and Tara, but what she really needed was the Slayers'. She didn't say anything to anyone about it, she knew that they needed this time to heal.

Needed to have the responsibilities of being Slayers at least for a little while lifted from their shoulders so they could concentrate on taking care of, helping each other to work through and get past what had happened to them. All on her own over the last few days she had come to the same conclusion that Lilith and Clotho had, that Buffy and Faith needed to be young, carefree, just be themselves, be with just each other, to help start the healing process. And without anyone having to tell her, she innately understood that the day she had arrived Buffy and Faith had just really started to get past and to move on with their lives and truly start to heal together from what happened to them in Glory's hell. She wasn't sure how she knew, maybe it was the state of the cottage or the silly grins they had been wearing, as well as every other adult, she just knew. Her being here certainly didn't help. It was just another thing she now felt guilty about, intruding on their time here, because she knew that neither of them would ask her to leave.

She continued to covertly watch Buffy right through the five games, the fifth being the tiebreaker between the teams. Her heart leaping with joy each time she saw her sister smile or heard her laugh. For the first time Dawn could ever remember Buffy was just Buffy, the Slayer mantle had been lifted from her shoulders at least for a little while. Dawn couldn't stop her own laughter and smile of joy when her sister jumped up and down in glee when her team won, much to Mars' warrior ego's shame.

They all walked back over to the picnic table, grabbing something cold to drink from the coolers on the way. They sat around chatting and laughing at Mars who continued to grumble that Buffy's team had somehow cheated. Apparently, the Incarnate of War did not like to lose. Someone suggested maybe they should start up the fire pit and Mars volunteered, brushing off the offers of help.

"Maybe I should go wake Fa..." Buffy stopped mid-sentence, her head cocked to one side as if she were listening to someone whispering in her ear. Her face fell; she jumped up from the picnic bench and took off towards the cottage. She was nothing more than a blur.

Dawn watched in horror as a look that was all too familiar washed over her sister's face. Those who had been at the Mansion when the Slayers' had first returned from Glory's Hell had become well acquainted with that look and Dawn felt her stomach contract painfully, knowing what was to come. Then Buffy moved so quickly that for half a second Dawn thought she had imagined it, then she was off and running after her sister towards the cottage. She almost stumbled and fell when she heard the Faith's anguished scream, a sound Dawn had prayed she would never hear again.

They were all blurs, it all happened within a second. Mars took off running after them, a sword suddenly appearing in his hand. He ignored those shouting at him to stop and was taken down by Luc from out of nowhere. Clotho had grabbed Lilith before she had a chance to go running after the golden-haired Slayer and her sister. Crow found himself stopped by the ancient one, Atropos. And Lachesis was given the task of stopping the thunderous force of Lily, Mother Nature.

"Let go of me you stupid ass... I have to help them... help Faith..." Mars growled at Luc, trying to dislodge him as he heard Faith cry out again.

"Calm down you old warhorse," Luc told him, Mars just growled in response and kept struggling to get loose. "You can't help..." Luc grasped Mars' face and forced Mars to look at him, "Mars, listen to me. She's having a nightmare about there. If you go in there you will only make things worse." Luc got up off Mars and they both cringed as they heard another scream come from the cottage.

He watched the helpless look cross Mars' face and knew exactly how he felt. He had, they all had, felt the same way for those first few weeks after the Slayers returned. It was a sound he had prayed to the Creator that he would never have to hear come from either of the Slayers ever again. He ran his hand through his hair, his own guilt over the part he had played in what happened to Faith and Buffy, eating away at him.

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Dawn stopped her headlong rush after her sister just inside of the cottage doorway. She stood with her arms wrapped tightly around herself, silent tears falling freely down her face as she watched the two women that meant more than anything and anyone else in her life clinging to each other on the bed. She listened as her sister tried to calm Faith, whispering to her softly, assuring her that they were safe, home. That nothing could hurt her, that Glory and Johnny were dead. She watched as Faith ran her hands over Buffy as if to reassure herself that Buffy was real, as her tear-filled eyes looked up into Buffy's equally tear-filled eyes, as she laid her head against Buffy's chest listening to her steady, strong heartbeat. And Dawn felt the guilt rise up in her so fiercely that she couldn't breathe, she was drowning in it and it felt as if it were holding her head underwater and at this moment in time, she had absolutely no desire to try and survive.

"I'm sorry... I'm so sorry..." She whispered in a choked sob and then turned and ran from the door, away from the others towards the stables.

Luc helped Mars back up to his feet. He watched Dawn as she stood huddled, holding herself against the doorframe of the cottage. When she turned to flee, for an instant he saw her face and in that instant came understanding. He had seen that look staring back at him from his own reflection in the mirror every day since he had given Johnny to Glory. They had all assumed that the Slayers had helped and convinced Dawn to get over her misplaced guilt, they all had been wrong. He saw Atropos start to move to follow the youngest Summers' girl, he silently reached out to his mate through their bond letting her know that he was going to follow Dawn. As he moved quietly and quickly to follow, he saw out of the corner of his eye his mate stopping any of the others from following as well.

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He stood quietly right inside of the door to the stable and watched Dawn. She was standing in front of Obsidian and Sol's stall. Shortly after the Slayers arrival here, they had convinced Lilith and Clotho to make a double stall so that the stallion and his mate need not ever be separated. The stallion and the mare were softly nuzzling the young girl as if they understood and felt her pain. Somehow, Luc had not a doubt that they did, there was a connection, a bond between the Slayers' and the horses, just as there was a connection that ran deeper than blood, which ran back through time itself between the Slayers and Dawn. She shared with them a part of their Slayer mystical energy, just like Buffy and now Faith because of their Soul-Thread, shared a part of the mystical energy that made Dawn the key. And Luc knew, though neither of the Slayers knew it yet, that Sol was pregnant with her first foal and according to Lily the colt was to belong to Dawn just like Dawn was to belong to it. The colt Sol was to give birth to had already revealed its name to Lily, and his name was to be Tyro. The name Tyro's meant a beginner or novice in learning something and it was as apt a name for both the colt and the young woman who would help to raise and care for him.

"Hey, Dawn..." He called to her softly, not wanting to startle her or the horses.

"Go away Lucifer..." Dawn snarled, she didn't bother to turn she knew it was him. She was surprised that he didn't call her by his nickname for her, she liked when he called her that. If she hadn't been so upset right now she would have laughed at the absurdity of liking a nickname given, of liking period, the man who was feared by even the most fearless of men, the Prince of Darkness himself.

Luc ignored her and moved closer, Obsidian tossed his head and brayed a warning at Luc. The Devil and the black horse whose sire was Luc's stead, stared at each other, then the young stallion nickered softly. They had reached a silent understanding for Dawn's sake and Luc knew that Lily had somehow had a hand in it. He placed his hand lightly on Dawn's shoulder; she reached up quicksilver and angrily pushed it off.

"Are you fucking deaf? I told you to go away. And don't touch me!" She hissed, and couldn't help think, 'Whoa channel Faith much?'

"Deaf no, stubborn yes. But then again, that seems to be something our little extended family all seem to be famous for. And obviously something you've learned from both Slayers." He wanted to just drag her into a hug but he decided against it, he felt both anger and guilt coming off her in waves.

Dawn spun around facing him, she was angry and felt guilty about that too. Because it wasn't him she was angry at, it was them, her sister and Faith. And, after all they had been through because of her, how could she possibly justify being angry at them? But she was and it just left her feeling confused, more angry and even more guilt ridden then she already was. She opened her mouth to say something, only nothing would come out, instead the tears started falling again.

Luc watched the conflicting emotions crossing her face. His heart went out to her; he knew this was something that he could not help her with in any real way. This was something she needed to resolve with both Buffy and Faith, for now though he could just be here for her. Get her to calm down, because he doubted whether either Slayer would be in any condition, after Faith's nightmare, to handle this.

"It's okay Dawn. I understand, it's hard, I know. The guilt and the anger, it's confusing. And I know that I am a poor substitute for Buffy and Faith, but at least for right now I will have to do. I know you won't believe me but none of this is your fault. It is no one's fault and being angry at them, believe it or not is a normal reaction."

He opened up his arms to her; Dawn didn't move she just stared at him. She wanted to, needed to, but she couldn't, until he finally whispered, "Come here Little One."

Dawn launched herself at him, his soft endearment for her breaking her paralysis. In all the time since Buffy and Faith had returned from Glory's hell only they and he knew what she felt. And since the Slayers had been staying here within the Incarnates' domain only he had noticed that she was still feeling all these mixed emotions. Willow, Tara, all of them, just assumed everything was all right. They didn't notice her fake smiles or the false tone of her laughter. Didn't notice the sorrow and loneliness that seemed to surround her. Didn't notice that she seemed to alternate between being happy and angry at the drop of a hat.

Luc just gathered her up tightly in his arms as she cried against his shirt, his own tears falling unnoticed by him with hers. He soothingly stroked her hair, cooing to her, and made a silent promise to himself that he would see her through this, would see all of them, Buffy, Faith and Dawn through this. More than anything, he wanted these children of his heart to move past this, to see all the things that made them and the world such a beautiful place to live in. He wanted all of their todays and tomorrows to be filled with laughter and joy.

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Faith was still holding Buffy, taking comfort in her arms, the nightmare had faded and she was just basking in the warmth of her mate. She listened to the steady heartbeat and the soothing purr coming from deep inside of Buffy that had and still gave her such comfort and filled her with warmth and love.

Buffy held onto Faith taking comfort in the feel of the Dark Slayer's arms as well. It had been two weeks since Faith had one of these types of nightmares. They both still had nightmares but the intensity of them had lessened over time. Though, Faith more frequently than she did, still had the kind of nightmare that left her completely disoriented, awake and stuck within the nightmare realm of Glory's Hell. Usually Buffy woke her before they had gone this far, the bond between them was so strong now and Buffy was so in tune with what Faith was feeling even while they both slept that she would wake and then wake Faith almost the second after the nightmare started.

Buffy shifted slightly on the bed and winced, a soft 'Ow!' escaped before she could stop it.

"B?" Faith gently detangled herself from Buffy; she twisted on the bed so she was facing her. She saw a little grimace of pain cross Buffy's face. When Buffy had first tried to wake her from the nightmare, she hadn't known it was her and she had lashed out. "B, are you hurt? I didn't hurt you did I? I didn't... I..." The thought that she might have hurt Buffy twisted her stomach up in knots.

"No baby you didn't hurt me..." Buffy smiled gently at Faith and softly stroked the side of her face. "I ah... well... I kinda hurt my shoulder when I... well, I ah..." Buffy turned her head and jerked it towards the front door.

"Oh shit Giz... You broke the front door..." Faith and Buffy both stared at the front door, which was once again hanging haphazardly by one hinge. Faith sucked her lower lip into her mouth to keep herself from giggling, it was funny, but it wasn't funny at the same time. A quiet snort of laughter escaped her anyway.

"It isn't funny..." Buffy looked at Faith and gave an internal jump for joy seeing the laughter sparkling in her eyes. A little giggle escaped her as well.

"You're right B it isn't..." Faith put on her best serious face, only to burst out laughing. "I'm thinking maybe we should have all the doors here and at the Mansion changed to the swingin' kind. What ya think B?"

"Ha ha Faith..." Buffy grabbed Faith by the hand and pulled her up off the bed. She wrapped her arms around Faith's neck, leaned up, and gave her a light tender kiss. "You ready to go outside now?" She asked her softly.

Faith smiled widely at Buffy, leaned down and gave her a hot, open, wet kiss as an answer. "I'd rather stay in here with you." She leaned her forehead up against Buffy's.

"So would I but we do have company and considering how noisy you are, we would wind up having our guests knocking down the walls trying to save us like Gran and Kiddo did the other day. My little screamer you..." Buffy smirked at Faith as she moved out of her embrace and started towards the door. Faith just watched her, liking how Buffy's ass looked in her shorts.

Before Buffy walked outside, she turned her head and looked over her shoulder at Faith, her eyes mischievous, and asked her, "Cummmminnnn... Fai?"

"Oh you so didn't... You're gonna pay for that Giz..."

"Gotta catch me first my Little Woman..." Buffy called back and took off running, Faith hot on her tail.

Faith scooped Buffy up and kept right on running towards the picnic table and the food. She hopped over the bench and sat them both down, keeping Buffy on her lap. "Caught ya B..."

"You caught me a long time ago Fai..."

"And you me B..." Both Slayers groaned, this was too cheesy for even them.

"We're getting way too mushy for even me Fai..." Buffy laughed then buried her head in Faith's neck giggling, Faith promptly joined in.

"And me..." Lilith smirked, then reached under the table, "Oh and here's the toolbox, everything you need to fix the front door is in there." Lilith plopped down the large toolbox on the table.

"But... how come you fixed..."

"The bathroom door was a freebie, a one shot deal. From now on, you have to live by the same rules as us. You break it, you fix it." Clotho told them with the same smirk on her face that Lilith had.

"Oh that's so not fair... We don't get to fade, we can't wave our hands and do magic... Elder..." Faith whined.

"Oh don't Elder me child..." Atropos watched with a chuckle as both Slayers tried to give her their best puppy dog eyes. She was almost ready to give in when Mars started bellowing from the fire-pit asking what everyone wanted to eat.

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Dawn woke an hour or so before sunrise. Two full days had passed since the night she had cried her eyes out against Luc's comforting chest until there were no more tears. They had rejoined the party after he had faded them back to the cottage that belonged to himself and Atropos so she could wash her face, fix her hair and compose herself. It was with relief that she saw Buffy and Faith laughing and acting like a couple of teenagers when they rejoined the little BBQ. Before Luc had faded them back to the Slayers' cottage, he had elicited a promise from her that she would talk to Buffy and Faith about what she was feeling before she left and as of yesterday, she still had not said a word.

It still amazed her a little that they could laugh, that the two of them managed to find the humor in everything. She supposed, it was one of the things that had helped them survive Glory's hell. By rights, the two of them should be jaded, bitter and cynical, but they weren't. They were loving, carefree and so full of laughter and life, they humbled her a little. She knew, she remembered for the longest time Faith had been that way, but even back then there were times when Faith had been with her that she saw glimpses of the Faith that had been holding her sister on her lap the night of the BBQ. It was that Faith, she knew, that her Mother had seen too and now finally Buffy and the rest of the world got to see her as well. For that, Dawn was eternally grateful.

She sat up on her rollaway bed and looked over at them on the bed. Their backs were to her and they were spooning, Faith behind Buffy, an arm thrown protectively around her. Dawn had noticed over the last five days that they always slept cuddled in one way or another with each other. The sheets were always a tangled mess around their feet, and Dawn was pretty sure that they never slept in clothes and only were now because she was here. Usually they required little sleep, almost always they were awake before her, but here they seemed to sleep longer and she had to wonder if sleeping wasn't part of their healing process as well.

She envied them she realized suddenly. They had each other to turn to, to wipe away their tears, soothe their fears, smile with, laugh with, kiss, hold, love. And she, who did she have? No one, there wasn't anyone for her, Buffy used to be there for her and Faith had been too for a while, that was until they had found each other and then they both had forgotten about her. She had become secondary, neither of them, certainly not her sister, was there for her anymore. To hold her when she was frightened, happy, sad, lonely and she was angry at both of them, but she realized mostly at Faith for taking her sister away from her. Some part of her knew this was irrational, that in her mind she was blaming Faith for all the real things that were bothering her, making her feel guilty, angry as a way to avoid them. She got up from the bed quietly and made her way to the kitchen; she looked back at them so peaceful, so close and felt the guilt and the anger fight for dominance within her.

She put on a pot of coffee and wondered if they would be getting up soon. In the five days that she had been here, they hadn't gotten up once to watch the sunrise. In fact, now that she thought about it, Willow had told her the last time they had watched the sunrise was the morning when they all, except her, had stood in front of the Magic Shop. That last sunrise they had watched had herald the day that brought forth the night they had tried to defeat Glory and rescue her. The day that their world had come crashing down around their heads in a way that none of them had seen coming. She still rose every morning to watch the new day come in but she hadn't heard any promises being brought forth since that morning she had shared her first sunrise with Buffy and Faith and had told them; 'I figured it was time I joined in the family tradition.' She didn't expect that this morning would be any different.

Dawn made her way to the bathroom while the coffee was brewing. She threw on a pair of jeans and a sweater. She went back into the kitchen, performed a quiet search and destroy mission for a hot thermos for the coffee. Usually she just sat up in the bed and watched the sunrise through the window of the cottage but today she wanted to be outside by the lake. She also wanted to give the Slayers, despite all the conflicting emotions running through her, some time alone. She knew they would wake shortly. They might not rise from the bed to go watch the sun's ascent into the morning sky, but they still woke up each morning before the sun rose. She had heard them whispering, softly kissing, not realizing that she was already awake every morning since she had gotten here. She quickly scribbled a note telling them she would be at the stables and would be back when it was time to leave for Lilith and Clotho's. The couple had invited the three of them over for breakfast last night and had already granted them permission to enter into their property. With a whispered sigh, she left the note on the nightstand by the bed then Dawn let herself out of the cottage, taking one last look at the slumbering Slayers.

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She slowly woke, her body spooning her mate's. One arm under her mate's neck, the other wrapped possessively around her waist, hand up and under the t-shirt, they were both forced to wear while Dawn was here, gently cupping one firm breast. Her face buried between the pillow, Buffy's neck, and her own arm. She inhaled deeply the unique scent that was just simply Buffy and it filled and surrounded her. She lifted her head from its burrowing place and softly laid it partially on top of and next to Buffy's.

She rubbed the palm of her hand lightly over Buffy's breast waking her nipple, which began to poke insistently against her palm. She placed soft kisses on the back of Buffy's neck, sneaking her tongue out for a quick taste. She felt Buffy push back into her further and knew she was awake.

"Morning..." She whispered softly for Buffy's Slayer hearing only. Right now, she was too comfortable to turn around to find out if Dawn was still sleeping and if she was, she didn't want to wake her.

She missed the little morning ritual they had fallen into since coming here. Missed waking and staying in that in-between place, missed slowly waking Buffy and bringing her there with her. She wanted more than anything to make love with Buffy now that they had finally gotten passed the last barrier. She wasn't stupid, she knew that they would be haunted by the memory of Glory's Hell and what happened to them there forever, but the more they moved away from letting it control their actions, emotions, who they were alone and together, the less power it had over them. In a way, she was afraid that by them having to control their desire for one another so soon after re-finding, reaffirming it with each other it would just make the fear in her grow strong again, regain its foothold in her soul.

Buffy tipped her head back, leaning it onto Faith's shoulder. She softly hummed, murmured under her breath a husky morning back. She pushed deeper into Faith's warm body, arching her back to bring her breast more firmly into the warm hand that was cupping it. Faith's breath against her ear and neck like the caress of a sensual rolling breeze. She loved waking like this i with her. Before the day, their life, anything, anyone, intruded. It was just them, warm, safe, loving, right, together, like it should be, how Buffy always wanted it to be. It was selfish she knew, but she didn't care. These few minutes in the morning before the world became real were just hers and Faith's and she didn't want to share them with anyone else. She didn't think it was too much to ask, there was so much of themselves, their time that they gave to the rest of the world every day, she thought they deserved, should be allowed to have these few precious minutes each day.

Faith moved her hand down to Buffy's stomach and pulled her to her even tighter, silently cursing the t-shirt and shorts that were keeping the warmth of Buffy's skin from her own. She ran her hand in light, little circles over Buffy's stomach. She smiled and moaned softly when she felt Buffy turn her head and start planting soft little kisses on the inside of her arm. Her tongue coming out to delicately trace and taste, sending desire whipping straight though every part of Faith.

"Where's my sweet morning breath kiss?" Faith gently nipped Buffy's earlobe when she finished murmuring her question.

The shudder that husky voice caused in her rippled down from her neck to her toes. She could listen to Faith talk in that low, raspy, husk forever and it would always elicit the same response in her. She turned onto her stomach and nibbled her way up the arm that had served as her pillow throughout the night. She buried her nose for a few precious seconds into Faith's neck, inhaling deeply the scent that was just Faith; in the same way, that Faith had only minutes before inhaled the unique scent that was just her.

After what felt like an eternity, Faith finally felt those soft lips pressing against hers. The kiss was slow, airy, a mere mingling of breath, mouths and souls. It was these types of kisses, like the just-because touches that made Faith feel cherished and loved. They asked for and demanded nothing more than just the touch, just the knowing, and that was more than enough. They spoke to her in volumes, they told her with absolute certainty the depths of Buffy's love for her and solidified the knowledge that no matter what, she and Buffy would be together, belonged together, were truly soul-mates.

When the kiss finally ended, Faith stayed with her eyes closed. She smiled softly when she felt Buffy's fingertips tracing the contours of her face, her touch delicate, loving, sensuous, warm. Slowly she opened her eyes to find Buffy's hazel-gold eyes staring into hers and Faith thought she just might melt.

"Sweet enough?" Buffy continued memorizing the planes of Faith's face with her fingertips while she waited for her answer.

"Always. You know..." Faith trailed off, her eyes lowered slightly suddenly shy. A part of her laughing at how ridiculous it was that she still had or even had these moments where she grew shy around Buffy. Maybe it was because of the harsh life she had that made her feel stupid or inept when it came to being soft or speaking what was in her heart. Or perhaps it was the horrific way she had learned not to open herself up to anyone, or allow herself to be vulnerable. Whatever it was, it made her hesitant and shy when it came to speaking what was in her heart.

She took a deep shaky breath, her voice came out low and ragged, "...you're the only one who has ever kissed me like that. The only one I've ever made love with. You make me feel special in a way that no one ever has before. You were one of my secret wishes I made in the morning before the sun rose; a wish that I never, ever thought would come true." She kept her head and her gaze lowered, afraid even now to look up into Buffy's eyes. Afraid she might see rejection or that Buffy would think she was being stupid or silly. She knew better, but she couldn't shake the insecurities that had been a part of her, her whole life. She knew she wasn't good at this, she wasn't the flowery or pretty word type, she was uneducated, harsh, crass, crude and expressing herself still didn't come easily.

Buffy slid her hand down to under Faith's chin and gently lifted her head up; she waited patiently for Faith to raise her eyes up to hers again. When she finally did, Buffy could see the fear, the vulnerability in those dark eyes and not for the first time she cursed the two people that put that look in her eyes. She wanted to erase that look, those harsh lessons that caused those insecurities in Faith to rise up still after all this time, all they had been through together, all that she knew Faith knew. That despite the fact that Buffy knew Faith had not a doubt that Buffy loved her, was her eternal mate, that what she felt for Faith was unconditional, nonjudgmental, Faith still expected to be hurt by her on purpose and maliciously.

Buffy knew she couldn't promise to never hurt Faith's feelings, but she could promise not to do it with clear intent or just because she knew she could. She had done that once that night long ago in the Magic Shop and she would rather end her own life than ever do that again. She knew it would take time for Faith to move past this, and what happened in Glory's hell had only served to reinforce all of what happened to Faith when she was a child. For now all Buffy could do was keep on chipping away at the insecurities that had ruled Faith's whole life until one day with a lot of love that wall of insecurities crumbled to nothing more than dust.

"You, god Faith, you make me feel special too. Special in so many ways, I would need hundreds of lifetimes to tell you them all. I'm glad, more than glad that I could make one of your secret wishes come true, I can only hope that I can make them all come true for you. And there is never, will never be anyone else I ever want to share these types or any kiss with ever again. And no one has ever made love to me the way you do." She slowly began to smile a soft sigh escaping her as she watched the fear and the vulnerability fade from Faith's eyes.

Buffy leaned in and gave Faith a hot, demanding, so not sweet, but a, I want you now, morning kiss. They leaned back from each other gasping. Their world narrowed down to just the two of them and the feel of the hot caress of the other's breath upon their face. Buffy's eyes turned decidedly impish and more gold.

"Yup... for a beginner at making love, you're not half bad..." She leaned in and quickly nipped Faith's bottom lip when Faith arched an eyebrow at her comment. "Hmmmm... with a little practice who knows..."

Buffy found herself rolled onto her back before she even finished speaking, the impish glint now in Faith's eyes. She watched as Faith slowly lowered herself down onto her. Faith's hands sliding underneath her shoulder blades then up to behind her neck to finally bury themselves in her hair. A soft kissed was first placed on the tip of her nose. Then Faith's mouth was hovering over one of her eyes and she was forced to close them, and then a soft kiss was placed on each one of them as well.

She had to bite her bottom lip to remain quiet as she felt Faith's body slide up hers to place another soft kiss upon her forehead. She continued to bite her lip as Faith slid the length of her body back down and then Faith's teeth were gently tugging her bottom lip loose. Faith's warm tongue ran over the length of it soothing away the little indentation from Buffy's teeth. She squirmed a little as she felt whispered kisses being placed along her mouth and over her jaw, down to her neck. One of Faith's hands traveled back down drawing delicate patterns over the back of her neck. Right now, more than anything Buffy wished they had been granted the power to fade themselves, because more than anything she wanted with a passion to be somewhere alone with her mate. She shivered again as she felt Faith's warm lips and breath caress up the side of her neck until her earlobe was gently nibbled.

"Practice sounds good to me. I'd practiced twenty-four hours a day if you want me to B..." Faith whispered low, with longing into Buffy's ear. She wanted, in the worst way, to make love with Buffy, it was consuming her the desire was so strong.

"…And I'd let you practice twenty-four hours a day Fai..." Buffy turned her head towards Faith and kissed her tenderly, "But right now we have a house guest. Speaking of which... Dawn you awake?"

Both Slayers' turned their heads towards the rollaway bed and were surprised to find that Dawn wasn't in it. Faith lifted her head a little, sniffed the air, then smiled.

"Don't know why I didn't notice before, but I smell coffee. Seems Gamin woke before us again," Faith sat up straddling Buffy's thighs and pulled her up to her, catching her in a tight hug, she whispered in her ear, "If I can't have you I guess I'll just have to settle for coffee. A poor substitute at best, hell not even close..."

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Faith was surprised that Dawn wasn't in the kitchen. She made another pot of coffee when she saw the machine was off and the coffee in it turned out to be cold. Buffy was still in the bathroom.

The coffee finished brewing and neither Buffy nor Dawn had appeared yet. She busied herself fixing a cup of coffee for herself and Buffy; she idly glanced at the clock and saw that they needed to get ready soon. They were expected at Clotho and Lilith's in a little under an hour for breakfast. Taking small baby steps so she wouldn't spill the coffee, she carefully carried the two large mugs of coffee over to the table, a waitress she would never be. She sat down and waited for Buffy and Dawn, she started a drum cadence with the two spoons on the tabletop, impatient as ever and bored sitting there by herself.

"We need to get moving we have less than an hour 'til we need to be at Gran's..." She started as Buffy came through the swinging door, then trailed off as she looked up and caught the wicked, down right evil look that Buffy was giving her as she walked, no, stalked towards her from the door. "B? Where ah... where's Dawn..." Faith squirmed a little in her chair she knew that look, knew what it meant.

"Looks like Dawn's went for a walk and won't be back until it's time to go for breakfast... So... mrpf"

Buffy never got to finish, the second she was within arm's reach of Faith, she was pulled forward, lifted, set down so she was straddling Faith's legs and the rest of her sentence swallowed by Faith's mouth.

Any earlier thoughts Faith had about making slow, passionate love to Buffy were totally annihilated when Buffy took control of their kiss and completely devoured her mouth in a heated rush. Faith slid down in the chair while they kissed, drowning in the velvetiness of Buffy's tongue caressing her own. She felt Buffy's legs come up to surround her waist and she broke away from the kiss gasping for air. She rested her head back against the top of the chair and was rewarded by Buffy latching onto her arched neck. Her hands found the bottom of Buffy's t-shirt and she started to tug it up, she stopped when Buffy refused to stop attacking her neck.

"B... let me..." Faith gave up trying to talk when she felt Buffy's hands on her breasts. She arched her back thrusting her breast into those knowing hands. Her breathing hitched up a notch then went into complete overdrive when Buffy bit down on her mark on her pulse point. Her whole body bucked at the touch and a trail of fire blazed down her body straight to the junction between her legs. "OH CHRIST!"

Buffy sat back a little, brought her hand up and pushed Faith's t-shirt to the side so she could look down at the mark she had given Faith on her pulse point. She ran her finger gently over it, tracing the upper and lower teeth marks. They should have been gone by now even if she had broken the skin and granted almost every day she had bitten it again, but she had only broken the skin that once. She looked closely and realized that underneath the indentation from her most recent bite, the original bite when she had broken the skin, five days before, had scarred. There was no way it should have scarred, not with their Slayer healing.

Faith watched Buffy's face as she delicately traced along her mark on her neck. She had been wondering when Buffy would realize that they weren't going away. That the mark on her neck and on Buffy's had scarred. Sometimes Buffy could be so oblivious. She wondered if Buffy had noticed that the mark Angel had given her had faded, that it was now a very faint scar. It was almost as if Angel's mark had faded when it had acknowledged the presence of Buffy's true mate mark, the one that Faith had given her. She further wondered if this happened because of them merging with the source of what made them Slayers. The part of them that was primal, feral, needing to claim, to possess, to mark each other as mates. And somehow their bodies, their souls, the Slayer in them accepted, knew that they were soul-mates and had instead of healing the mark, turned it into a scar.

She had been afraid to say anything to Buffy. A part of her fearing that Buffy would deny the meaning of the mark and she loathed the part of herself that was still insecure, that knee jerk reaction of expecting to be rejected or denied by Buffy. She knew that it wouldn't happen. She truly deep down in her soul knew that she and Buffy were forever, that if what happened in Glory's Hell couldn't tear them apart, nothing could. But being there had just reinforced all of her old insecurities and had brought to the forefront once again the need to run before she could be hurt or rejected, just like she had the night of the Joining. She fought it back almost every day and as she stared at Buffy's face, something became clear to her. It wasn't fear of rejection, or getting hurt that was making her scared, not really, it was part of it sure, but what truly scared her was that she needed Buffy, needed her as much, if not more, then she needed air to breathe.

And in the space of those few minutes Faith learned another lesson about life and love. Just like asking for help didn't make you weak or shameful, wasn't something to be embarrassed about; there was no shame or weakness in needing someone. And deep down she knew that Buffy needed her just as much as she needed Buffy.

"B?" Faith questioned softly, she took a deep breath, trying to compose her thoughts and figure out how to ask, to say everything that had just gone through her mind. The thoughts scattered into the wind when Buffy tore her gaze away from the mark and looked deeply into her eyes. She saw wide-eyed wonder, vulnerability, need, love and so many other things in Buffy's hazel-gold eyes it rendered her speechless.

Buffy stared into Faith's eyes and saw all the same things she was feeling reflected back at her in Faith's eyes, including fear. She continued to delicately, reverently trace along her mate mark on Faith's pulse point. She didn't need a mirror, didn't need to touch her own neck to know that Faith's mate mark on her neck had scarred too. The fear in Faith's eyes was telling her that she already realized this, realized or at least partially realized the meaning behind the mate marks and was afraid of her reaction, afraid that she would reject her or reject what the mark meant.

Buffy had to wonder if she hadn't deep down wanted the mark she had given Faith to scar, to in some way take away the power of the other marks on Faith's body that had been forced upon her with hatred. Hadn't wanted hers to represent the complete opposite of the other marks, represent commitment, eternal love and the fact that the mark didn't fade told her that Faith wanted the same thing, otherwise the mark Buffy had given Faith would have healed, Faith's Slayer healing would have seen to that.

"You know..." She began hesitantly, still trailing her fingers over the mark on Faith's neck, a little afraid that maybe she was reading too much into this. She closed her eyes for a brief second and then opened them to stare deeply into Faith's again and saw the same fear she was feeling echoed there. "It's not going to... the bite mark, my bite mark it scarred. It..."

"I know B..." Faith reached her hand up without breaking her gaze from Buffy, her own fingertips unerringly finding her mark on Buffy's neck. "Just like the one I gave you did..."

"Do you know what these, the marks, mine, yours are, mean?" Buffy asked Faith quietly, still staring intently into her eyes, as they both continued delicately to trace the marks they had given each other.

Faith didn't respond and as Buffy continued to hold her gaze she could see and feel the fear lurking both in their bond and in Faith's eyes. Faith watched as Buffy gave her a soft loving smile and she couldn't help but to return it.

"Vampires call it a scarring mark or a claiming mark. It's a mate mark Faith. But you knew that already didn't you?" Buffy watched as Faith just nodded silently to her, then watched as Faith's eyes briefly flickered to the other side of her neck to where the scar from Angel's bite was. She saw confusion in Faith's eyes and a lot of fear, but even more love. What surprised her most though was she saw and felt no doubt coming from Faith about them, their love, or Buffy's love for her.

She ran her hand up the side of Faith's neck, softly stroked her face and just let her hand lay gently against Faith's cheek. She smiled a little as Faith leaned into her touch and she felt the warmth of Faith's love flow through her. She brought her other hand up to her own neck where Faith's fingers were still stroking along the mark on her neck and entwined their fingers.

"You want to know about the mark from Angel don't you?" Again, Faith just nodded silently to her.

Faith was holding her breath waiting for Buffy to answer her. Was it possible that Buffy was soul-mate's with more than one person and that she had just chosen her over Angel? She didn't doubt for a minute what Buffy felt for her, she had made a promise to Buffy that morning after the Joining ceremony in the kitchen that she would never doubt the depth and breathe of Buffy's love for her ever again. And much to her own surprise she found that she didn't even have a second, no not even a millisecond of doubt. This was right, what they were together, who they were together, them being together this way, lovers, best friends, mates, soul-mates, everything, all of it, was right. And she knew it with every cell, every part of her, her mind, her heart and her soul and no one and nothing would ever be able to convince or tell her differently ever.

"Angel's mark is and isn't the same thing. Because for it to truly be a claiming or mate mark both people have to claim each other. And I never claimed, or bit Angel hard enough to break his skin or leave my teeth marks. I never wanted to, I never thought about it. Before you ask, it had nothing to do with his being a vampire either. I wasn't afraid of his blood, a bite like that and that amount of blood could not turn me. We both know that... I don't know why it scarred, teenage romantic notions but I know, without even having to look, that Angel's mark is faint, almost faded away to nothing." Buffy paused and took a deep breath she was rambling. "And what happened with us, it happened, I... it... I don't... it just felt right somehow... Like a part of me needed to claim you as mine in a very primitive way." Buffy hesitated and started to blush. "Almost like I needed the rest of the world to see it and a part of me wanted it to replace, erase Joh... his marks or claim on you with my own... I'm selfish I... I just... and, Faith, the marks they wouldn't have scarred if we, if I didn't want it to. If I didn't believe with everything inside of me that you and I... that we're soul-mates."

They just stared at each other, neither saying anything for long seconds. Buffy watched as the confusion and the fear faded from Faith's eyes, until just the love for her blazed hotly in those dark-chocolate-emerald eyes. They burned a path right into her soul and filled her with such intense love and warmth that her breath caught in her chest and her heart started racing a thousand miles an hour. Faith's eyes claimed her in a way that no mark ever could and as she continued to stare into Faith's eyes, she felt through their bond all the same things being echoed back to her from Faith.

Faith struggled to find the words to express what she was feeling. She didn't think there were any, in any language that ever could. Anything she said would pale in comparison to what she was feeling, what she knew Buffy was feeling for her.

"It was right... felt right... I felt the same need to make that claim on you. I didn't mean to bite that hard but once I did and I realized I broke your skin a part of me... A part of me reveled in it... thrilled to it... outright purred in satisfaction and something was unleashed inside of me when I felt you mark me in return. Like everything I was, all of me, the parts of me that were disjointed, the Slayer in me all merged. I feel you in a way now, feel connected to you in way that goes deep down inside of me to my soul. It's stronger, the bond we share... I don't know how to explain it any better. I don't think there are words for it... I just know that nothing can ever separate us, could ever change how I feel about you. And every second I spend with you what I feel for you just grows stronger, larger, more. I love you B it's as simple as that and I will beyond even death."

"You... God, you, you're so beautiful, you don't even know how beautiful, how precious. I would have to be stupid not to feel the same way for you as you do for me." Buffy paused, and felt like she was seeing right into Faith's soul. She smiled so softly, her eyes reflecting her amazement, her awe of Faith and what they shared. "...And, I'm not stupid. I feel the same way, Faith, about you..."

They leaned in towards each other. They shared but a whisper of a kiss. It was, they both realized more intimate than any other touch they had ever shared, as they slowly explored each other's mouths with growing passion, with love, as they shared each other's breath and fell into the warm embrace of the other's arms and souls around them.

And had anyone happened into the kitchen in those minutes while they were kissing they would have seen the swirling white and blue mist of the combined, but separate aura's of both Slayers as the very essences of them, their souls danced in joy as it surrounded them.

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Faith watched Dawn through half-lidded eyes as they trained together. Something was off; Dawn hadn't been acting like herself for the past few days. It had been nagging her before the BBQ and she hadn't be able to put her finger on it then and for the last two days that nagging feeling had just gotten worse. Something was telling her she should know what it was. So why was it eluding her?

She was listening with half an ear to Mars as she and Dawn sparred. She could barely hear him since he was in a different room training Buffy with Lilith and Clotho's help. Mars was in rare form today dishing out more than his usual barrage of insults to Buffy as she took on both Lilith and Clotho at the same time. Neither Slayer took his insults to heart it was just his style, he was brisk, abrupt, rude, crude, funny as hell and one hell of a warrior and teacher. Actually all three of the Immortals were excellent teachers; they were all versed in different types of combat, from martial arts to weapon's masters. Buffy and Faith had learned more from them in the weeks they had been here then they had learned from both of all their previous trainers, including Angel, combined. And, now it seemed according to the Living Scroll all them were to be trained by them.

Even Dawn had learned, improved over the last five days under their tutelage. Right now, she and Dawn were fighting with Staffs. Obviously, Dawn couldn't beat her, but after six days Faith noticed that Dawn seemed to have a natural ability with the staff. It was almost as if the staff was just merely an extension of Dawn herself. Faith was more than convinced that in time Dawn would be able to beat both she and Buffy when it came to staff fighting, Slayers or not. She had told the Immortals the same thing and much to her surprise they all agreed.

Today though, Dawn was distracted, indifferent, sluggish, and Faith knew from her own experience just how dangerous that was even if they were only sparring. They circled each other and with a flick of the staff and not using any of her Slayer strength, Faith managed easily to knock Dawn's staff from her hands for the umpteenth time in the last hour.

"Dawn! You need to pay attention, you're gonna get hurt or get someone hurt. That's the millionth time today I knocked the Staff out of your hands without even trying! Christ!" Faith snarled, her tone curt, she was aggravated that she couldn't figure out what was going on with Dawn and cranky on top of everything else.

"Well... you should know all about that Faith!" Dawn snarled back at the Dark Slayer.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Faith could almost physically feel the anger radiating at her from Dawn and she hadn't a clue where it was coming from.

"Getting other people hurt 'cause you aren't paying attention or just don't give a shit." Dawn hissed, her eyes flashing red-hot anger. Misplaced she knew, but the words were escaping her without her consent and she knew she wasn't going to be able to stop them.

"What?" Faith saw the storm brewing in Dawn's eyes and she shuddered when she realized that it reminded her of the same type of storm that was unleashed on her the day Hurricane Buffy made her presence known at the Magic Shop.

As she stared intensely into Dawn's eyes, she saw something else lurking in the murky fury there. Guilt, intense all-consuming guilt and Faith recognized it because she had seen that same anger and guilt in her own eyes for years and then again when she and Buffy were held captive in Glory's Hell and the weeks following their escape. Now she understood what it was that had been eluding her, she had been refusing to see that haunted look she knew so intimately in Dawn's eyes. And she felt her own guilt, which she had thought she had gotten past, rise back up in her; struggling to find it's foothold on her soul once again. She fought it down, sought to destroy it as she mentally tried to prepare herself for the rage she knew Dawn would be directing her way. But nothing could have ever prepared her for what did come out of Dawn's mouth with a deadly aim that would have put Artemis the Greek Goddess of the Hunt to shame.

"You... You're good at hurting other people. Look what you did to everyone when you first came to Sunnydale. You couldn't even protect your own watcher. Then you came to us and tried to destroy everyone. You tried to kill everyone, even my Mom who never did anything to you, who tried to help you. Then you killed someone 'cause you weren't paying attention out on patrol. So don't tell me about paying attention. How many people died 'cause you didn't want to do your job and be a Slayer like Buffy. Huh Faith?"

A part of Dawn's mind was screaming in horror at the words that were spilling from her mouth. She was turning it all on Faith, laying it all at her feet. Yes, those things had happened. No, they weren't right. But, even as young as she was, she understood the how and the why's behind what happened. Yet still she couldn't stop her mouth from running off on its own. She even knew that if Buffy or anyone else had dared to say any of these things to Faith she would be the first to defend her, the first to stand up for Faith, the first to try to protect her. So what was she doing? Why couldn't she stop herself?

"I... I..." Faith stuttered, but she couldn't get anything else out. Her mind was reeling, she knew where this was coming from, understood it. She had lashed out many times in her life, she was well acquainted with trying to redirect the blame, the guilt she had carried with her on someone else. She knew Dawn didn't believe or mean what she was saying. Even so, she was still reeling from the stinging words, every one of them true and they hurt her beyond anything imaginable. And because they were all true there was nothing she could do but just listen to them, there was no defense for them, nothing that would ever change the truth in them or make them right. She felt the tears gathering, she fought them back and she waited because she knew Dawn was far from done.

"What? Can't think of anything to say? The truth hurts, doesn't it? Then next thing we know, poof, all of sudden you're not bad anymore, you're good and you come back after getting redeemed." Dawn sneered, wanting more than anything to just cover her mouth with her own hands and stop the words, but they just kept coming. "And what happens? You steal Buffy away and I get left alone. Mom's dead and Buffy's too busy with you to notice anything else. She forgot about everything, everyone, including Glory. And when Glory comes after us, where were you? You weren't even there to help, just like you weren't before with Adam and 'cause Buffy was so busy with you none of us were ready for her when she did come. You promised me, us, that you would never let Glory hurt me, any of us. Why weren't you there Faith like you promised?"

Dawn heard herself as if from far away, as if someone else possessed her body, her mouth and she was just an observer. She watched, as the hurt grew larger in Faith's eyes, as she tried to keep back the tears, watched as one escaped anyway and trailed slowly down Faith's face. Watched as the staff fell from Faith's lifeless fingers, hearing it hit the floor dully.

"I'm... I'm sorry... I... Gamin..." Faith whispered, she felt like Dawn was ripping her heart out as she echoed, said aloud all the thoughts that had spun around in her own head, all the months they had been held by Glory, and with each word Dawn spoke the guilt started to build a place inside of her once again.

"I DON'T BELIEVE YOU! You don't care, if you cared you would have never let Buffy die! You would have stopped Glory! Where were you that night? Why did you leave me up on the tower? Why? Why didn't you help Buffy beat Glory? WHY DID YOU LET HER DIE?! WHY? WHY FAITH? YOU SAID YOU WOULD PROTECT HER! YOU LIED!" Dawn took a deep breath, her throat raw from screaming. Faith reached out a hand towards her and she slapped it away, her anger rising up hotly once again.

"Then you followed her and broke your promise again! You promised her that if anything happened to her you would take care of me! YOU LIED AGAIN! YOU BOTH LIED AND I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! DO YOU HEAR ME! I HATE YOU BOTH FOR LEAVING ME! BUFFY WASN'T SUPPOSED TO DIE! YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO DIE! I WAS SUPPOSED TO DIE! ME! NOT BUFFY! NOT YOU! ME! AND I HATE YOU BOTH!"

Faith reached out towards Dawn again, ignoring her own pain, hurt and Dawn's slapping hands. She tried to pull her into a hug. Dawn twisted away from Faith, her arms and legs lashing out at Faith as she screamed to her of her hate of both the Slayers. Faith just let her arms fall uselessly, helplessly, to her sides allowing Dawn the freedom to release all the fear, guilt and anger she had been holding inside the last few months. A part of herself believing again that she deserved this for all she had done and for all she hadn't done as well.

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Buffy was laughing at one of Mars' little insult tirades. She was laughing because he so reminded her of Faith when Faith went off on one of her tirades. He sputtered, paced, threw his hands around and generally ranted before he calmed down and actually said what it was that needed to be said. He was damn cute when he did it because she knew it came from a good place, because just like the other Incarnates he loved her and Faith like they were his own family. It just endeared him more to both the Slayers' and they loved him in return because of it.

She turned her attention back to Lilith and Clotho and mentally thanked the Goddess that they were on the same side. She would never actually want to meet them in battle; they were both quick as greased lightning, focused and lethal. She bent her knees and shot herself upwards and into a back flip over the top of Clotho's head as they came at her from either side, pulling what Mars' laughingly called her Xena move. A move Faith had actually taught her. She landed easily, gracefully behind Clotho; her feet had barely touched the ground before she threw a snap-kick at Clotho's back sending her flying into Lilith.

Lilith and Clotho regained their feet quickly and both came at her at once. She waited until they were close enough then executed a spinning, double roundhouse, hitting Lilith first then Clotho. She sidestepped away from them and crouched back down into a fighting stance again, waiting for them.

Then everything warped into slow motion. She felt the pain, the anguish come to her through the bond, then she heard the screaming, the words at first not making any sense. She just knew Faith was hurting and that it was Dawn who was hurting Faith. She spun around and took off running for the other room, not needing to share a bond with her sister to know that her sister was hurting just as much as Faith.

"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?" Buffy screamed as she ran into the room. She skidded to a halt right next to Faith and her sister, blinking her eyes, not sure if she was actually seeing what she was seeing.

Faith was standing unnaturally still, her head bowed, her bottom lip caught between her teeth which were a hairsbreadth away from biting through the scar she and Buffy both had from the their time spent in Glory's Hell. Her hands balled into tight, painful fists at her sides. Blood pooling in her palms from her own nails digging into her flesh.

She was waging a silent war within her mind. The darkness that she thought she had conquered was rising up within her with a fury from deep inside. She was afraid to move, afraid to speak, afraid that it would win the war. She understood what Dawn was going through, understood where all this was coming from, but it didn't stop the hurt her words were inflicting deep down in her soul. Didn't stop the beast within her wanting to rise back up and lash out in retaliation at another person who claimed to love her once again hurting her. And the darkness within her wanted to unleash upon Dawn all the hurt, pain and anger that had been unleashed upon her for most of her life.

It was taking all of her willpower to stay still, to not revert to the person she was after that night she had accidentally killed Allan Finch. She struggled to find her center, repeating in her head for the first time in a very long time the mantra that Angel had taught her what felt like years ago, 'I control me. The darkness, the rage, DONOT control me!'

Dawn was a whirlwind of flailing arms and legs as she kicked and punched, screaming how she hated Faith over and over again, beating Faith up with her words, fists and feet.

Buffy moved quickly, grabbing her sister from the side around the waist and dragged her a few feet away from Faith. Dawn started to struggle against her, her arms and legs still lashing out. Buffy let out a yelp when Dawn elbowed her hard in the side.

"Dawn cut it out right now!" Buffy hung onto her sister until her struggling ceased.

"Let me go," Dawn hissed through clenched teeth, her rage still strong, still hot and deep down she knew it was so wrong. But it owned her right now and she couldn't break from its grasp. She looked at the Dark Slayer who was standing motionless in front of her, with cold eyes. She needed a scapegoat for it all and Faith was it.

Buffy finally let her sister go. She took a long look at her little sister and didn't recognize her. Dawn's eyes were mere slits and filled with so much anger that Buffy involuntarily took a step back away from her. Her mouth was pulled back in a snarl, her chest heaving from her exertion and pure rage radiated from Dawn in waves.

Buffy turned and moved the few feet that separated her from Faith. She gently grasped one of Faith's forearms and got hit with an echo of such intense conflicting emotions it actually made her knees weak.

"Faith?" Buffy whispered softly.

Faith growled low, it rumbled out of her chest a mixture of both hurt and warning, much like a cornered animal would. She still didn't trust herself to move or speak and all she could hope was that Buffy would understand.

"Faith, are you okay?" Buffy asked helplessly, she started to reach out again towards her but stopped. Realization of what the actual conflict going on inside of Faith was, finally coming together in her mind. She didn't know what to do and she felt her own anger rising quickly to the surface. She whirled around to face her sister.

"What the hell happened here, Dawn? What the hell did you say to Faith?"

"Nothing that wasn't true. Nothing she didn't deserve. This! All of this! It's all her fault!" Dawn hissed at her sister, the rage still refusing to release its grip on her.

"What the hell are you talking about, Dawn?"

"What am I talking about? You dying! What happened to you in Glory's Hell. You leaving me and then leaving again. All of it, it's all her fault. None of this would have happened if she wasn't here, if she hadn't come back. You're too busy fucking her to noticed she hasn't changed at all. She's still the same psycho she was before. What happened to you is all her fault and I hate her. I HATE HER AND I HATE YOU!"

Buffy stood dumbfounded as the hateful, hurtful words rolled off her sister's tongue. She felt the rage boiling up in her, white-hot and she wanted to hurt Dawn like Dawn was hurting Faith, hurting her. The rage was quickly gaining control over her and she knew if she didn't rein it in she would hurt her sister. She took a half step towards Dawn, her hands balling into fists.

"ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY, DAWN?! YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING! HOW DARE YOU?!" She moved forward as she screamed at Dawn until she was standing toe to toe with Dawn and with her last word, she shoved Dawn hard.

Faith finally lifted her head and she watched the two sisters square off against each other. Then through her own turmoil, she felt the rage rise up in Buffy. She knew that rage, she had lived with it for a long time and now Buffy knew it too. She watched as Buffy shoved Dawn and Dawn stumbled and fell to the ground, the sound of her body hitting the mat loud and ugly in the now silent room. Still she stood immobile trying to control her own rage, her own darkness that threatened to make things ten times worse than they already were.

Dawn looked up at her sister, not believing that she had actually pushed her. Her own rage still in control of her, she sneered at Buffy ignoring the small voice in her head that was yelling for her to stop. Her own fear, guilt, and yes, even anger pushed her on.

"I HATE YOU! BUT I HATE HER EVEN MORE FOR WHAT SHE DID TO YOU, FOR TAKING YOU AWAY FROM ME, FOR WHAT SHE LET THEM DO TO YOU! FOR YOU LEAVING ME AGAIN FOR HER, LEAVING ME FOR SOMEONE WHO IS NOTHING BUT A CHEAP FUCKING WH..." Dawn started to rise from the floor her words trailing off as her sister stepped towards her and raised her fist.

Buffy took another half step towards her sister as she began to rise from the floor screaming her hate at her, screaming her hate for her and Faith. She pulled her fist back intending to strike Dawn and stop the spiteful words that were spewing from her mouth.

Buffy's raised fist was what finally broke the spell that was holding Faith captive, immobile and silent. She couldn't let it happen, couldn't let Buffy hurt her sister. She knew Buffy wasn't seeing what was going on, she was only hearing the words Dawn was saying, she wasn't seeing the meaning or the hidden truth behind them.

Buffy wasn't seeing the frightened, lonely, guilt-ridden girl that Dawn truly was. Faith was, though. She had been that young girl for most of her life. She knew Dawn was looking for someone to hurt her as her punishment for what had happened to the Slayers during their stay in hell. Punish her because of the guilt she was unfairly placing upon her own frail shoulders. Guilt, that the Slayers had never truly helped her get past.

They all needed to heal from this and what had been done to them had left them blind to how all of this affected Dawn and they had left her alone with her own demons to try and deal with something that even the oldest amongst them had a hard time dealing with. They had forgotten about the one person in both their lives who meant just as much to them as they meant to each other. They had left her alone and scared and she was lashing out in the only way she could to get their attention.

"BUFFY! DON'T!" She moved up quickly behind Buffy and watched as her raised fist stopped its descent. She gently put her hand on Buffy's arm and slowly lowered it back down to her side. "Don't do this," she whispered hoarsely.

"I don't care... She has no right Faith... No right to say those things. You've never been anything but good to her. Never did anything but love her... It's not right..." Buffy hissed between clenched teeth her eyes never leaving her sister's.

"She's hurting, B."

"Fuck you Faith! I don't need your help." Dawn snarled from the floor still unable to let go of the rage. She wanted someone to hurt her, she deserved it, everything that had happened to them was her fault.

Faith ignored Dawn as she felt Buffy tense up again, felt the rage grow hot again through their bond. She started to talk to Buffy as if it were just the two of them.

"What happened to us has hurt her too. She blames herself and she wants someone to hurt her to take away that guilt. I know. I was her. I know how she feels... She needs you, B... She thinks she's lost you. She thinks she's alone, has no one. Don't let her push you away. Don't let her make the same mistakes I did. Don't let her do this to herself or to you. You know what she is feeling; you went through the same thing too. You need to help her, like you helped me."

Faith let go of Buffy's arm, she stepped back and looked down at Dawn. Their eyes locked for the first time since this had started. The war in her head still raged, but she was winning, the pain Dawn's words had caused still hurt, would for a long time and for the briefest second it all showed in her eyes.

Dawn felt the rage drain quickly from her as she stared into Faith's eyes. Her own eyes grew round with horror at what she had done; she felt her whole body flush with shame and guilt. Then in the blink of an eye the pain was gone from Faith's eyes and for the first time Dawn was treated up close and personal to the steely gaze, countenance that Faith had worn as a shield for most of her life and shown to others, but never, not once, until now to her. Great wracking sobs rose up in her as she realized the damage she had just done.

Buffy watched almost unemotionally as her sister started to cry. She could feel the hurt coming from both Faith and from her sister. How had all this happened? How had things gone this far? How did it all spin so out of control again? How could the damage that had been done today ever be repaired? She was torn between comforting her mate and her sister and she didn't know what to do. The decision was taken from her hands.

"Go to her B, she needs you now more than she ever has." Faith whispered, urging Buffy with her words and through their bond.

Buffy sunk down to her knees in front of Dawn, who looked at her through her tears, eyes wide with horror, fear, shame, loneliness and guilt that was endless. Guilt that was just as deep and horrendous as the guilt that both Slayers had felt over not being able to protect the other from what had happened to them. She pulled Dawn to her, holding her tightly, cooing to her and whispering soothing words as Dawn cried out her anguish.

Faith slowly walked backwards as she retreated from them towards the Immortals who stood hovering by the door, silent from shock and sorrow. She couldn't help right now, despite her understanding of what Dawn was going through, the need was still within her to lash out and she knew it wasn't her that could help or that Dawn needed right now. This time was for the sisters, this time was for Dawn and Buffy to start down their own path towards healing. Today was not the day to start the healing between Dawn and herself or the three of them together.

"Fade them back to the cottage... please." Faith whispered to all three Immortals. She waited until Dawn and Buffy were gone then she turned around to face the Immortals. "I need to spar..." she hissed knowing she didn't need to offer an explanation to any of them. "Who's game...?" she asked them with a feral smile.

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She stood with her hands on her hips staring down at the three sprawled Immortals on the floor in front of her. Her whole body shone with a fine coating of sweat, though she wasn't the least bit out of breath. A few drops of sweat made a slow trail down her neck to disappear into the neckline of her sleeveless shirt. Her hair was plastered to her head; her eyes sparkled with amusement and suppressed anger and pain. The feral grin from earlier was still playing around her lips.

"So who's ready for round five?" Faith laughed at the stunned look on their faces, they hadn't a chance against her right now and they all knew it.

That didn't stop Mars from rising up from the floor with as much dignity his bloody, beaten body allowed him. He returned her feral smile and winced in pain when his split lip broke open again. He knew she didn't miss the wince when she quirked an eyebrow at him. He chuckled in amusement.

"A woman after my own heart... And a beautiful woman at that... You and I... are you sure you're not interested?" He teased Faith, wiggled his eyebrows at her suggestively, then smiled again, hiding the pain, the protectiveness he felt for her behind it.

"I wouldn't let Gizmo hear you say that..." Lilith chucked, "I imagine she would rip you limb from limb!"

"Don't I know it... I would if I were her. 'Sides they are family and that would be just... What is it that mortals say... ah yes... EWWW..." Mars chuckled again and reached down to help both Clotho and Lilith up to their feet.

"Are you all done joking now?" Faith watched them, the rage was still there and she needed to release it. This time though she was going to take it, own it and use it to her advantage.

The three Immortals stood facing her; she crouched down into a fighting stance. She stretched out a hand towards them palm up and wiggled her fingers at them, encouraging them to come and get her. She let out a low growl as they all came at her at once, then laughed as she flipped over them and landed gracefully behind all three of them.

"Kickin' your asses is so much fun!" Faith laughed, the feral grin once more gracing her face as the three startled Immortals turned around to face her with growls of their own.

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to be continued in XXXI- Promises - Part 2