"Buff, Buffy...wake up."

Buffy's eyes opened slowly only to be hit by the sunlight. "Aack. Turn off the light."

Willow swatted her best friend's leg. "Get up sleepy. Why'd you sleep on the couch?"

Buffy looked around groggily. "Didn't mean to. Fell asleep watching t.v. last night."

"Anything good?"

"Did you know every channel is the BBC?"

"Really?"

"Far as I could tell," Buffy smiled, "but admittedly I wasn't really paying close attention."

"REALLY? Details...please..."

"First answer me one question. Was that you and Kennedy giggling in the hallway last night?"

Willow's only response was a blush. Buffy rubbed her eyes, "Thank God."

"So, c'mon...Did something happen?"

"Maybe."

"Exciting?"

"Oh yeah."

"Well?"

"We..."

"Yeah?"

"Talked."

"Oh." Willow's tone did little to hide her disappointment. "Talking is good. What did you talk about?"

"Not a damn thing! My lips hurt though."

"Really?"

"Oh yeah! She's an amazing kisser. Such softness. Seriously, we kissed, talked, kissed, snuggled. I guess I fell asleep. Wonder why she left?"

"Probably didn't want to disturb you. As your best friend I am obligated to ask..."

"First base only. No nakedness and no boob touching."

"Baby steps then. You okay?"

"Fine, why?"

"Ummm, you kissed a girl several times last night."

"I've kissed a girl before."

"WHAT? WHEN? WHO?" WIllow practically yelled.

"Faith."

"I'm sorry, did you just say FAITH? When the hell did that happen?"

"It didn't. I just thought that would freak you out."

Willow let go of the breath she was holding. "Well, good job."

"I'm not freaked out Will. It's kind of exciting."

"How do you date someone from another planet or realm or wherever?"

"Dunno. We aren't exactly dating yet."

"What is it you want?"

"Everything so far that I haven't had. No cursed souls, no little man complexes, no poets who can't see the light of day..."

"Well, when you put it that way..."

"Just, somewhat, I don't know...normal."

"Her relatives are blue. She can disappear at will, and there was something about energy balls."

"Normal enough. But speaking of abnormal, where's your pet dog?"

"Buffy..."

"Sorry Will. Seriously, I will stop. Where's Kennedy?"

"In bed still. Her muscles are aching."

"Good job Will!"

"Ha! Hardly. How do you feel?"

"Other than sleepy, just fine."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Guess I am made of stronger stuff."

"Right...Lenara coming back with Zaz tonight?"

"Yeah, assuming your girlfriend can move. Tell her to take some midol for her cramps."

"Buffy..."

"I know, I know. I really will work on being nicer to Kennedy. It's just hard you know. If it wasn't for you, I probably would never talk to her. I don't really like her all that much. But I know you love her, so I will try. It was just so much easier with Tara."

"I know. But Kennedy is a good person too."

"On a different note, I was thinking about calling Angel. I figure he'll want to know about everything going on, and about Druscilla."

"Think he'll care about her?"

"Hard to say. I mean she was soulless and evil. But she was a big part of his past with Spike and Darla."

"Calling him today?"

"Yeah, probably."

"Need some time?"

"If you don't mind."

"Sure. You'll be okay?"

"I'll be fine. Go rub Kennedy's cramps out."

Willow hugged Buffy and then proceeded up the stairs. Buffy sat still for a moment. Wonder what time it is in LA? Not that it matters. Angel doesn't exactly sleep much. Buffy picked up the phone and dialed her old flame. It rang a couple of times before a familiar voice answered.

"Angel? It's Buffy. Is it too late or too early?"

"It's both. You ok?"

"Yeah, there's some stuff going on here though. I thought you would want to know about it." Buffy recounted the entire story, conveniently leaving out the more intimate parts. Angel listened quietly until she finished.

"So, Druscilla's dust?"

"Yeah."

"Ok."

"You alright?"

"Fine. Dru was evil. Unfortunate, but that's just it."

"I figured I should tell you."

"I appreciate it. Got a plan? Need some help?"

Buffy considered the offer. Angel's help hadn't always been welcome, but it was always there for the asking.

"No, I think we're okay. Just wanted to give you a heads up on the Blue Man group. Black robes means trouble. And they are much faster than you."

"And you."

"No. Sort of right now, but we're working on that. Kennedy and I are getting stamina lessons."

"Ok."

"Just be aware that they are attracted to strong magic. And probably a hellmouth area. Keep your eyes open."

"Will do Buffy. Be careful."

"Always, and you too." Buffy hung up the receiver. Well that wasn't so bad, as far as talking to exes goes. There was a time when talking to Angel was very hard. For a long time, Buffy wondered if she was supposed to be with Angel. But their past was too muddied, and it did not seem that they were destined to be together now.

"Hey..." came a soft voice from nearby.

Buffy snapped out her thoughts to see Lenara standing in the kitchen.

"Too soon?" Lenara asked.

Buffy smiled. "Not at all. Although the disappearing thing is a little unsettling."

"Sorry."

"It is fine."

"I wanted to come back and talk to you before we were surrounded by other people."

"Okay," Buffy replied. Here we go.

"Last night, I had fun."

Buffy silently cursed. Shit. Fun. Wonder what that means.

Lenara smiled. "I hope you did too."

"I did, but?"

"But?"

"But..."

"But nothing. I can't deny how attracted I am to you."

"That's good."

Lenara grinned again. Then she began fidgeting with her locket. "But I need to be honest with you."

"Ok," Buffy replied. This is it.

"I'm not entirely sure who I am."

"Sorry?"

"I mean, I'm Lenara. And everything you know about me is true."

"But..."

"But I'm not sure who I was before that."

"I'm confused."

Lenara sighed. "I had a whole other life before this one."

"Reincarnation?"

"No, yes, well, sort of."

"Still confused sweetie."

"My grandmother told you her story about about the family, but there's more to mine. My mother fled after my father died. At some point thereafter I was born. I was gone from Pellin for about 20 some odd years. I reappeared in my grandmother's bedroom one night, nothing more than a ball of light. My grandmother created this body for me, but she feared restoring my memories too soon."

"Why?"

"I was already overwhelmed. I had no idea who I was or where I had been."

"But your memories..."

"Could tell my whole story, I know. And I have seriously considered opening the locket where it's all stored. I just can't. When I got to Pellin they had just really got into the thick of things with Savon. Helping them became my sole focus. Training toook priority."

"And now?"

"I told myself that I would wait for Savon to be dealt with."

"Who knows how long that might be though?"

"I know. But I am scared. My grandmother thinks that my mom's magic concealed us. That would only break with her death."

"But why then would you only be a lightball? It doesn't make sense that you wouldn't be corporeal when you went back."

"I have no idea. But I..." Lenara began to get choked up.

Buffy crossed over to Lenara. She hugged the slightly taller woman. "It's okay. When you are ready you will know."

"Thanks. I think it will be soon, but just not now."

Buffy pulled away slightly. "Think you will look completely different?"

"Probably, but who knows? I think it's funny that I am not blue. No matter how hard my grandmother tried, my body rejected the hue. Probably because I was born here."

Buffy was shocked. "In England? How could you possibly know that?"

Lenara laughed. "No idea about England. But definitely Earth. It's just something Nessa knows."

"Think she peeked at your memories? It'd be hard not to. After all, I'd want to see my family if I could."

"She says she didn't, and I believe her. I know she's anxious to know though. But she doesn't really push the issue, so..."

"What if you have family here still? Grieving someone who has been lost is terrible. But if there was a chance they were out there..."

"You lost someone close?"

"My mom. She died."

"I'm sorry."

"Brain tumor. Just found her one day. Very sad, but she looked..." Buffy's eyes began to well up.

"Buffy, we don't have to talk about this if you don't want to."

"It's okay. I still miss her. And Tara too."

"Tara?"

"Willow's soul mate. They met in college and Tara helped Willow develop her magical skills. But Willow had some issues with it, and they split for awhile. They got back together, but she was killed by someone trying to kill me. It drove Willow to a very dark place."

"I can imagine. How did she cope?"

"Definitely not well at first. She killed the guy responsible. And although we tried to help her, she turned on us as well. She saw us as an obstacle to her revenge and eventually tried to destroy the whole planet."

"Damn."

"Xander saved her."

"Xander?"

"Willow's best friend since they were little. It took time, but we moved on from it. Then she met Kennedy." Buffy rolled her eyes.

Lenara giggled a little. "You really don't like her do you?"

"Not really. But I promised I would play nice in the sandbox. She's just so different than Tara was."

"But Willow loves her."

"I know. Please don't remind me."

"What about you? I mean, I've told you what I can about myself. And you still haven't explained what a Slayer is or does."

"Here is the really short version ok?"

"Okay."

"Used to be there was only one. The Slayer was responsible for battling demons and vampires, and various other uggos. That entails hunting alone, ALOT. In order for a Slayer to be called up, so to speak, the current one had to die. Which I have, but Willow brought me back. And Xander once with CPR. Anyways, we got into a really hairy situation and Willow did some awesome magic and now every girl that had the potential became an active Slayer with full on powers. We saved the world again. The end."

"Wow. That was quick."

"There are a lot of details in between but for now that is the summary. Can we talk later?"

"Yes of course. I'll go."

"That isn't what I meant."

"Oh."

Buffy leaned in to kiss Lenara. "Stay. And not talk."

Lenara smiled. "I can do that."

But just before their lips met they were interrupted by Giles clearing his throat. "Sorry, come back later?"

Buffy eased away from Lenara. "It's okay. It's your house. By the way, I've been thinking about this arrangement."

"And?"

"I think Willow, Kennedy, and I should get our own place. We are probably cramping your style severely. And I'm sure the late night giggle fests are no fun for you."

Giles smiled. "I could do without those. But safety wise I think it's best you remain here."

"Remain, nearby though. I think if we lived close that would be fine. Stones throw so to speak."

"You want me to start looking around?"

"No. I am going to get cleaned up and then Lenara and I are going to grab Willow and Kennedy and get out of your hair today."

"You're family. You know that right? You can stay. Really."

"I know. But you have your 'bird' and we'll be close by." Buffy looked up at Lenara. "C'mon. Let's go tossle Willow and Kennedy. If Kennedy can walk. Apparently her trainer didn't talk to her about breathing exercises. She may not move."

Lenara seemed concerned. "You want me to show her?"

"Hell no! Let her suffer one day. But maybe show her tonight, just skip the lessons that came after that, alright?"

Lenara laughed, "I'll try. What if she won't open her eyes though?"

Buffy nipped Lenara's lips. "Willow's problem."

A/N: Leave a review. It takes so very little. And a little goes a long way...