Disclaimer: I own zippo. Script belonging to David Fury and Jane Espenson. And all ultimately to Joss Whedon. There, I am taking no credit. Except for my own dialogue and Tuscany.

LIFE SERIAL part 3

"So construction didn't go well?" Tuscany asked Buffy in the first normal conversation they had had.

"Well it would have. Except for the demons. And the nasty guys. And that black van. I've seen it twice already."

"And it had a Star Wars horn?"

Buffy nodded, "Yep!"

"Cool!" She received a weird look from Buffy so she quickly said, "I went through a phase."

"I thought that was phases was strictly teenaged boys," Buffy smirked.

"Now there's a common misconception," Tuscany grinned.

Buffy laughed. Tuscany was turning out to be funny and witty. She could be a good friend. But she wasn't just going to be a friend Buffy realised. She was her sister. Buffy's good mood abruptly dimmed as she was reminded, yet again, of the half in her sister. She had heard Dawn attack her last night and at the same time she felt sorry for Tuscany she felt oddly satisfied. Buffy didn't like that satisfied feeling and she could only imagine how Tuscany must be feeling right now but she had her own issues to deal with.

"Ok Giles wanted me to spar with you. To test your training," Buffy said shortly and pushed ahead of Tuscany and started down the steps to the basement. A look of hurt appeared on Tuscany's face. Things had been going so well just then. She wondered what she did wrong.

Buffy faced her half sister. For some reason it had never registered that she was also the slayer. Buffy knew that she had to see it with her own eyes. Sure she had been told that she kicked Spike across the supermarket but it wasn't the same.

"Ok I'm not much with professionalism and fancy names. It's simple I attack you, you defend yourself and we fight. Ok?"

"Ok," Tuscany answered and brought her hands up in front of her. Buffy ran at her and sent a flying kick towards Tuscany's head. Buffy was holding back. Just on the off chance Tuscany had lied about being a slayer.

She hadn't.

Tuscany used the momentum of Buffy's kick to wrap her arm around Buffy's leg and clasp it to her body she brought her own leg up to kick Buffy swiftly in the stomach. At the same time letting go of Buffy's leg. Buffy went back into the wall.

"So much for holding back," Buffy muttered. She pulled herself quickly to here feet. Tuscany didn't wait for Buffy to attack but ran at her instead. She launched herself into a roundhouse kick, which Buffy ducked. She stood up to punch Tuscany twice, hard, in the nose. She tried for a third hit but Tuscany seized Buffy's fist, turned on her heel and yanked Buffy over her shoulder in a slight variation of the shoulder throw. Buffy landed on her feet.

Tuscany was good. But not better than her. She ran at her half-sister again and cracked her elbow across her face. The same move Tuscany had done to Spike. Buffy continued the assault with an elbow to the solar plexus. Tuscany doubled over but tried to throw a swinging punch. It never contacted. Buffy placed it in an arm lock and used it to make Tuscany double over properly this time. She kneed her in the face and brought her knuckles down in a chop to the back of the neck. Tuscany went down. Buffy heard her say a nasty little word starting with F.

Tuscany knew she was never going to be as good as Buffy and had come into this as a learning experience but Buffy was annihilating her with no regard to the fact that they were related or Tuscany even had the ability to feel pain. Her mind flashed back to Spike the other day when he had told her that Buffy would accept her. Well it looked like it wouldn't happen before Buffy had beaten her to a bloody pulp.

Tuscany wasn't going to take that lying down. She would fight till she was a bloody pulp. She used her legs to kick Buffy's out from under her. She rolled on top of Buffy and punched her in the face. She stood and kicked the older slayer in the gut. Buffy grunted. Tuscany moved back and let Buffy stand. That was the whole idea of sparring.

Buffy noted that her sister's eyes were filled with determination now. Buffy tried a snap kick, which was blocked. Tuscany attempted a punch to Buffy's throat but Buffy grabbed her arm. Whilst keeping a grip on the arm Buffy turned and brought her arm up to smack Tuscany across the head with her elbow again. Tuscany brought her hand up just in time to stop it.

The sisters broke apart again, neither one of them having landed a hit. Confidence was beginning to leak into Tuscany's eyes. It annoyed Buffy. Over confidence annoyed Buffy. She had seen it in Faith and Faith was closer in slayer years the Tuscany was.

Buffy attacked with greater speed and passion. She landed hit after hit on Tuscany, whose strength was fast fading. Buffy landed a hit on Tuscany's side, which made her yelp. She jumped back and lifted her shirt slightly. Buffy was confused; she hadn't hit her that hard. Then she saw the large bruise and Buffy remembered instantly that a car had recently hit Tuscany. Buffy held up her hands.

"Lets leave it for tonight," Buffy said, "We'll pick up another day." She started up the stairs.

Tuscany spoke and her words froze Buffy, "good fight, Big Sis."

"Don't say that," Buffy whispered, "I'm not your sister."

Buffy ran up the stairs. Tuscany didn't cry. She didn't bite her lip or react to what Buffy said. She had felt it necessary to remind Buffy that they were related and she wasn't going to disappear just because they wanted her to. She just sank to the floor exhausted. Buffy was a brilliant fighter.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Where's Tuscany?" Anya was demanding Giles, "You brought Buffy but no Tuscany. She liked money. I liked her. She could work here."

"Anya, she did mention she doesn't like retail," Giles said soothing the ex-demon. Buffy couldn't help but smile at the flustered Anya.

"So what's your point? Where is she?" She looked expectantly at Buffy. Truth was, Buffy didn't know where Tuscany was. They hadn't spoken since last night and the next she had seen her; Tuscany had been walking out the door.

"I suppose I can make do with you," Anya said looking Buffy over distastefully.

"Thanks," Buffy said sarcastically at the same time Giles snapped, "Anya."

"You'll be wonderful, Buffy," Giles assured her.

"Yeah. This is going to be great," Buffy inserted an amount of false perkiness into her voice, "You know I've always been interested in, um, retail."

She approached the table and her eyes widened at the amount of books, "Uh ... is this all research, or just some kind of stress test for the table?"

"I just want to be thorough. This ... time anomaly, and then the, the demon attacks could be completely unrelated events, but if they're not ... you might be in some danger," Giles had picked up a mug of tea and was sipping from it.

"So situation normal than," Buffy allowed the humour in the voice.

Anya bounded up then, "Let's review."

Buffy groaned inwardly.

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Tuscany entered the dojo. The only one in Sunnydale. She didn't know what she was expecting. Dirt and grime perhaps. Not the clean, ordered place she stepped into. She wondered if the Scooby's knew about this place. Had ever bothered seeking it out? Probably not. They wouldn't have needed to. Not like Tuscany needed to.

There was a lesson going on. Lots of kids around a mat, listening avidly to three black belts in front of them.

"Can I help you?" A voice asked from behind. Tuscany spun around and came face to face with a woman that came up to about her shoulder. She looked sweet and innocent and nice and she had a black belt around her waist.

"I need a job," Tuscany said straight out. When she wanted things, Tuscany wasn't one to beat around the bush. The woman seemed shocked by her forthright request.

"You aren't American."

Tuscany shook her head, "Australian."

"You have a working visa?"

Tuscany nodded.

"That I could see?'

Tuscany blushed and shook her head.

The woman sighed. "My name's Karen. Sensei Morris on the matt. I need someone. Lets see you teach tonight."

"That was easy," Tuscany said surprised, "You know nothing about me."

"We're short teachers. Wait till after the senior lesson tonight and then we'll get to know each other. I assume you know martial arts?"

"Which branch do you teach?"

"Karate," Karen answered

"I can do that," Tuscany was self-assured. She'd just have to tone down the slayer strength.

Karen pushed a suit into her arms, "put it on."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Tuscany was sitting in Karen's office after the lesson. It had been fun. She had taught and enjoyed teaching.

Karen walked in, "Do you even have a black belt? No wait don't answer that. You're good enough to be one and I am desperate."

She slapped a piece of paper on the desk and pushed it towards Tuscany who picked it up, "what's this?"

"Lessons you'll teach," she slapped another piece of paper on the table. Tuscany picked it up as well. It was a check. She sent a questioning look at Karen.

"For tonight. Now I can't pay you much but I think you're desperate too."

"You still don't know anything about me," Tuscany pointed out.

"You're not a murderer. That's enough for me," Karen said. She reached her hand across the table for Tuscany to take. They shook hands.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Tuscany could believe her good luck. Nothing had ever been that easy, especially not getting a job. It was dark and late by the time she had gotten out of the dojo. Karen and her had spent ages talking about martial arts. She liked Karen. She was a bit like Anya, blunt and told you what she was thinking but she had mastered the human vocabulary to do it without offending.

Tuscany heard a noise. She slunk into the shadows. She couldn't believe it when she saw Buffy and Spike come into view. Spike's arm was around Buffy's waist but it wasn't a sexual thing. It was more to stop her falling flat on her face.

Buffy was dead drunk. Tuscany sniggered. She couldn't help herself. It was obvious Buffy didn't drink often because she was all over the place. Spike was having trouble keeping her upright. Suddenly Buffy slumped forward and Tuscany knew she was out cold. Spike rolled his eyes. That's when Tuscany walked out in the opened.

Spike spun to meet the threat if he had to. Anything jumping out of the shadows was usually a demony thing. He relaxed when he saw Tuscany.

"Convict, what are you doing out?"

"Patrolling, slayer… it's what I do," Tuscany replied not taking her eyes off Buffy.

"Yeah," He noticed Tuscany's gaze, "Rough day. Demon. Black van. Kittens"

"Oh," Tuscany comprehended, "want some help?"

"Yes."

Tuscany stepped forward and they both placed one of Buffy's arms around their shoulders and placed their's around her waist. Tuscany was shooting looks at Spike. He looked good. She almost dropped Buffy to hit herself. She shouldn't be thinking those things. Any way it was obvious from the devotion in his eyes he was all Buffy's man. Just being close to her was killing him. And seeing that was making Tuscany jealous. They walked in silence till they got to the Summer's house.

"I'll take her from here. I doubt you'll be a fave if you walk in with drunk Buffy," Tuscany told Spike.

"Never was a favorite anyway but I'll take that offer, Convict. Thanks for the help."

"No probs," Tuscany dismissed his gratitude. He was nice to her. That's all that mattered. Tuscany took all of Buffy's weight and Spike made a move to leave. She was almost up the stairs and to the door when Spike called after her.

"Tuscany!"

"Yes?"

"She'll wake up with a splitting head in the morning."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Buffy didn't make it till morning. Almost immediately after they got inside Buffy woke up and threw up. Tuscany barely dodged.

"If you were anyone but my sister," Tuscany threatened under her breath.

Giles rounded the corner, "we've been looking for her." He was worried.

"What did you do to her?" Dawn demanded angrily.

Tuscany lost patience for Dawn right then, and snapped, "Tied her up and poured mass amounts of alcohol down her throat out of spite because everything is MY fault."

Her cynicism made Dawn take a step back and narrow her eyes. Giles ignored the sibling rivalry.

"We have to get her upstairs."

"Quickly. I'm about to puke," Buffy murmured. Tuscany and Giles exchanged eye contact before Tuscany said urgently,

"Move!"

They just got her into the bathroom and over the toilet.

"I'll get her some water," Giles said as Tuscany applied the full-nelson and held her hair back. They both made a face as Buffy retched violently again.

"You get that water," Tuscany said turning back to comfort Buffy, "That's right. Get it all up."

Spike should have been more careful. Should have known Buffy couldn't take the alcohol. Buffy finished vomiting.

"You done?" Tuscany asked.

"I'm done."

Tuscany waited five seconds more before leaving. She wasn't exactly the person Buffy wanted around while she was throwing up. She almost bumped into Giles with the glass of water.

Tuscany wandered downstairs. Tara had a bucket of water and was cleaning up the vomit.

"Wanna hand?" Tuscany offered. Tara shook her head and smiled. The smile disappeared when she turned back to the mess on the floor.

"You brought her home. That's enough."

"If you're sure?" She double-checked and Tara nodded, "I'll get the bathroom then."

Tuscany remembered the check half way up the stairs. She pulled it out quickly. A little crumpled but relatively undamaged. Tuscany was relieved.

She rounded into the hall and crashed into Buffy who clutched her head.

"Sorry," Buffy said. She was holding a check too. Tuscany handed hers to Buffy. Buffy's eyes widened.

"I can't accept this."

"You're broke and you're my sister," Tuscany said simply. Buffy opened her mouth but Tuscany held her hand up to stop her.

"Don't! I know what you'll say. You need this. Think of me as a paying guest."

"Where did you get this?"

"Got myself a job at a dojo," Tuscany informed her.

"You got a job? Why?"

"Because I need the money to find a place in Sunnydale."

"What?" Buffy said shocked.

"It's not working. Me. Here! Not working," Tuscany shrugged.

"Well what did you expect Tuscany?" Buffy defended herself, "That you'd instantly be accepted. We'd be going on sister picnics."

"No I'm not stupid. But I didn't think civility was a stretch of the imagination," Tuscany snapped.

"I don't wanna argue. Not now," Buffy's hand went to her head.

"Take it easy next time you drink with Spike. Ok?" Tuscany told Buffy.

"Am I the big sister or are you?" Buffy demanded quietly.

"We aren't sisters remember," Tuscany referred to what Buffy had said the night before.

"Well it looks like we are," Buffy sat down heavily on the edge of the stairs. Tuscany sat next to her.

"I just need to take things slow. The resurrection and then you," Buffy was pleading the woman… her sister to understand.

"I understand," Tuscany quietly said.

"I didn't react well to finding out that Dawn hadn't always been part of my life. If that's any consolidation."

"It's not but thanks anyway," Tuscany joked.

"Be patient with Dawn. She'll come round."

Tuscany wasn't sure her but she nodded anyway.

"You should stay here still…. Please stay," Buffy insisted.

Tuscany was going to decline but when she saw it meant something to Buffy she smiled, "Ok."

Buffy groaned and clutched her head again, "Hit me if I drink again."

"For sure," Tuscany agreed with a wide grin.

"I'm going to bed now and I expect to see you in the morning. But not bright and not early," Buffy added in after thought. Tuscany smirked again. She stood up and made her way down the stairs.

Buffy called after her, "Did you really like Star Wars."

"Shut up," Tuscany whined.

"Geek," Buffy told her.

"Loser!"

"G'night, Tuscany."

"Night Buffy."

Buffy moved back to her room. She was more at peace with herself. They weren't best friends but they had acknowledged their blood. And that was a start.

AN: nothing to say except review, please review.

MD666