A/N: Wow! I cannot believe I got this out! This chapter ended up being sooooo much longer than I thought! In fact, I didn't even intend to split this episode into two chapters, but alas, that's how it turned out. No matter, no matter, I guess...after all, you guys don't mind extra chapters, do you? :D

Random Disclaimer: (I don't own Buffy).

Me: (stern glare) Okay, now, behave guys.

Buffy: Why? She's totally on my turf.

Faith: (scoffs) I don't see your name on it.

Wesley: (nervously) Um, girls, can we not fight?

Buffy and Faith: No.

Angel: (seriously) I don't want to break up a fight.

Me: (jerks thumb in Angel's direction) I'm with him.

Giles: (frowns) But you've already written their fight...

Me: (scandalized glare) Ssshhhh!

Eye of the Beholder Chapter 20

Buffy sat glumly in the library. The 'oh wonderful and awesome Faith' had left with her friends, completely forgetting Buffy's existence. Though Willow had offered to help her study for her tests, Buffy had declined, not really feeling the already nonexistent urge to study. Angel could help her later, or Wes.

"Well, what do you think?" Wesley asked as he showed off yet another leather jacket. It had really only taken him about two weeks to lose the three-piece suits, and Buffy was thrilled. Suits were nice, but there were only so many pinstripes Buffy could take.

So, when Wesley had showed up one day in jeans and a leather jacket, Buffy had praised him, and continued to joke with Angel that it was the influence that had caused Wesley's fashion change. Angel continued to deny it, but Buffy was a firm believer in brotherly love and its influences.

"You're like his older brother," Buffy had explained to him. Angel had looked at her pointedly and Buffy had amended. "Okay, you're like his older, older, way older brother that's completely awesome and cool."

"Nice, Wes," Buffy approved. "What's this? Jacket number ten?"

"Lord, no!" Wesley shook his head. "What use would I have for ten leather jackets? This only makes three, which is hardly a disreputable number."

Buffy thought about it, before nodding in thoughtful agreement. "Yeah, I have two."

"You have one," Angel corrected. "The other one is mine."

"You gave it to me," Buffy retorted with a smile. "It's mine. No take backs."

"So…" Wesley said casually as he sat down at the table and flipped through an open book. "What do you, um, think of Faith?"

Buffy glared pointedly.

"Ah," Wesley nodded. "She's a little…"

"Crazy? Unhinged? Ticking time-bomb?" Buffy threw out. "Or how about cool and badass and adventurous?" she continued. "That seems to be what everyone else thinks."

"Buffy," Angel chided gently, but Buffy wasn't having any of it.

"Uh uh," she shook her head. "The whole 'youth and beauty' thing with Giles was creepy enough, but the way she looked at you," Buffy directed her attention at Angel, who raised his eyebrows. "Even though I completely understand," she continued. "But I didn't like the way she looked at you, either."

"What?" Angel asked innocently, even though he wore a smug smirk.

Yeah, he'd known that Faith had been checking him out. He'd had woman checking him out for two-hundred and forty-five years. He knew the look…but a jealous Buffy was cute—adorable, even.

"Oh, come on, Angel," Buffy said dubiously. "She was totally undressing you with her eyes!"

"This bothers you?" Angel couldn't help but egg her on.

"Yes!" Buffy fumed, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're mine," she declared firmly and Angel finally allowed himself to grin.

"Uh, can we not have this conversation?" Wesley asked. "I really don't want to talk about how desirable Angel is."

Angel's playful mood was shot down in flames with that sentence.

"See ya, Wes," Angel said as he rose, clapping the Watcher on the back soundly, causing the Watcher to wince slightly.

"Could you not do that?" Wesley muttered as Buffy too rose from the table to follow Angel. "I swear you do that on purpose."

Buffy smirked as she took Angel's hand, "See ya Wes."

With a gentle tug on her hand, Angel pulled Buffy away from the evolving Watcher and towards the exit. Giles appeared in the doorway, and the two of them made eye contact for a moment. Since coming back from London, Angel and Giles hadn't said much to each other. They'd seemingly come to a silent understanding. If Angel stepped out of line, he was dust. This line was determined by Giles, who had not been kind enough to share where exactly he'd drawn said line. So, Angel was just focused on not doing anything stupid.

Angel gave the Watcher a slight nod, and Giles returned it before stepping out of the doorway and allowing Buffy and Angel to pass. They walked quietly through the halls of the school before reaching the doors. The cool night air felt nice, and Buffy smiled slightly as she and Angel began to head in the direction of one of the many graveyards in Sunnydale.

"This really sucks," Buffy kicked an unfortunate rock in her path, sending it skidding further ahead along the sidewalk.

"What, Faith?"

"Who else?" Buffy retorted. "Faith did this, Faith did that," she said in a childish, whinny voice. "What's so great about her?"

"Why does she bother you so much?" Angel asked, tugging on her hand to bring them both to a stop.

"Because she's so—so," Buffy sighed exasperatedly. "She's messing everything up! Things were just getting back to normal, and now it's all about Faith…"

"Don't you think we've had the spotlight on us long enough?" Angel raised his eyebrows.

"I didn't mean it like that," Buffy shook her head frustrated, once again resuming their walk towards the graveyard. "I mean…I just…it's like they're forgetting about me."

"Faith isn't going to take your place," Angel said softly as he read into her statement. "You're irreplaceable."

"You're supposed to say that," Buffy replied, even though she did feel a little better. "But maybe I'm being a little immature," she admitted after a moment.

"Maybe," Angel agreed with a slight smile.

"Besides, I doubt half of what she said was true," Buffy said dubiously. "I mean really? Wrestling naked with an alligator?" she shook her head as they entered the graveyard.

Silently, yet completely in sync with each other, Buffy and Angel wove between the tombstones, each of them gripping a stake tightly. A loud snap caused the hunters to turn around and come face to face with two hungry vampires.

"Okay," Buffy smiled. "I've had a long day, and I'm a little cranky. Just a warning."

Apparently, the vampires weren't too keen on listening.

The vampire closest to Buffy launched himself at her and the Slayer neatly side-stepped the direct attack, spinning and then kicking her opponent in the back of the head. Angel had immediately been on the offensive, punching the remaining vampire in the face twice before having to duck a punch from the vamp.

The two vamps were easy enough to handle, and they were dust in relatively little time. Buffy ambled over to Angel and casually brushed off some dust from his coat. Recognizing the look in her eye, Angel felt a smile pull at his lips.

"You know, Faith was right about one thing," Buffy smiled as she placed both her hands on his chest. "Slaying does make you hungry and horny."

Angel's smile morphed into a smirk. "I can help with that."

If Buffy had thought that the first day of the Faith Invasion had been bad, the second day at school was even worse. It was Faith, Faith, and more Faith. Faith did this. Faith said that. Faith, Faith, Faith. Willow had even almost called her B.

It didn't help that the next night at dinner, also with Faith, her mother had taken a shining to the dark headed Slayer too.

"I like this girl, Buffy," her mom had said when she'd gone to the kitchen to get Faith another soft drink.

"She's very…personable," Buffy had admitted as she'd climbed up on a stool. "She gets along with you, my friends…and look, now she's getting along with my fries," Buffy noted as she looked back at the table.

"Buffy…" Joyce chided.

"Plus she was making eyes at Angel," Buffy added pointedly, as if the fact alone was an excuse enough for her dislike. "This whole thing is creepy."

And not only had her mother defended Faith, but she'd even suggested that Buffy let Faith take over Slaying! So not going to happen…

At least Wesley, Giles, and Angel were on her side; although, Buffy thought that Wes had simply sided with her because Faith scared him.

Faith didn't scare Buffy. No, the blonde Slayer was not scared of her dark haired counterpart. Perhaps threatened was a better word. Buffy didn't want Faith to come in and steal her thunder. She didn't want to lose anything, whether it be her friends or like last night, her fries. Maybe it was petty, maybe she was being too insecure, but it was how Buffy felt. Angel's reassurances helped, though it was at times like these when Buffy wondered how he put up with her and her seventeen year-old dramatics.

A sly smile pulled at Buffy's lips as she thought about how Angel had ended one of her little rants the night before. She'd stormed into his apartment after the dinner and patrol with Faith, complaining about how Faith called her "B" and how her mother had gone over to the "dark side."

Buffy had planned on saying more, but suddenly Angel's lips were on hers and she really didn't think about much else after that.

Yes, Angel definitely had his ways.

"What are you smiling about, B?" Faith asked as they turned down another street, which the dark-haired Slayer noted that they'd already patrolled earlier in the night. "Didn't we, um, do this street already?" she asked.

"Funny thing about vamps," Buffy began as her eyes scanned the alley for threats. "They'll hit a street even after you've been there," she continued to explain. "It's like they have no manners."

Faith noted how Buffy hadn't answered her first question, but decided to hash that out later. "Mhm," she agreed. "You've been doing this the longest."

"I have," Buffy was quick to point it out.

It hadn't taken Faith long to realize that Buffy was an easy target to pick on. She was quick to defend herself from any perceived threat, and it was fun to see what made her tick. In reality, Faith wanted a friend. Someone who understood, someone she could relate to—but she was finding that harder and harder the more she learned about Buffy Summers. Willow and Xander and the rest of the Scoobies wouldn't shut up about her. How cool she was. When she did this, how she did that, what bad guy she killed where…it was Buffy, Buffy, Buffy all the time.

And Angel…Faith had to smile a little at the mental image in her head of the tall, dark, badass-looking vamp. Angel was definitely the hottest thing on legs she'd seen, alive or dead. There was really only one turn-off though, and it was major—Angel looked at Buffy like she was an angel, complete with a little golden halo.

It was Buffy, Buffy, Buffy, Buffy all the time. How was Faith supposed to compete with that? The goody-two-shoes, always-does-everything-right-Buffy…Faith wondered if she should bow down with the rest of the Scoobies and pledge her allegiance.

However, even with all of this, Faith still wanted a friend. She was haunted by memories, memories she didn't like to think about. They terrified her both during the day and at night. She was never rid of them. If, somehow, she mangaged not to think about him during the day, she would always dream about him at night—relive everything. Seeing her Watcher die over and over—the one true friend Faith had thought she'd ever had. Seeing his face, sneering, uncaring, evil.

Faith just wanted someone to connect with, but it seemed like she and Buffy were on two completely different levels.

Shaking her head a little, determined to bring back her feisty persona, Faith remembered Buffy's quick agreement about how she'd been doing this the longest. Time to see what made Buff tick. "Yeah, maybe a little too long."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Buffy snapped, exactly like Faith had hoped she would.

"Nothing," Faith shook her head, easily keeping the smile off her face. She was a great actor, the best.

But Buffy wasn't going to let it go. "You got a problem?"

Faith grinned and spread her arms wide, a gesture both placating and taunting at the same time. "I'm five-by-five, B, living entirely large," she said grandly. "I'm actually wondering about your problem."

"Well, I may not sleep in the nude," Buffy began though she realized that she did—a lot. But Faith didn't need to know about her sex life. "…or rassle alligators…" she continued with barely a pause.

"Well maybe it's time you started," Faith interrupted. "Cause obviously something in your bottle needs uncorking."

Faith remembered what Xander had told her about how Angel had gone evil for a while, and how Buffy had to fight him—almost having to kill him. Faith thought that Xander had been about to tell more, but Willow had shown up and immediately redirected the conversation, giving Xander what Faith knew to be the 'shut up' look.

Maybe Angel was the problem. It had to suck that they had the all powerful love and couldn't, well, act on it.

"Is it the Angel thing?" Faith asked.

Buffy's eyes narrowed. "What do you know about Angel?"

"Just what your friends tell me," Faith shrugged as if it were no consequence. "Big love, almost had to kill him—must suck having him around all the time, and you can't, you know," Faith made a crude gesture with her hands. "Work it out."

Buffy stared at Faith uncomprehendingly for a few moments. Had she really just suggested that Buffy was so uptight because of sexual frustration? Buffy thought about adamantly denying it, but that would prompt an impromptu interrogation into her sex life that Buffy really didn't want to share with Faith. It also struck Buffy odd that Faith didn't know that Angel's soul was anchored…and for some hidden reason, Buffy didn't bother to correct her.

"I've got an idea," Buffy said dangerously as she stepped closer to Faith. "How about from now on we don't talk about Angel or anything else in my life," she offered. "Because it's my life."

"What are you getting so strung out for, B?" Faith asked, her blood already beginning to sing as it recognized the potential for a fight.

Okay, if Faith called her "B" one more time, Buffy was going to scream. "Why are your lips still moving, F?"

"Did I just hear a threat?"

"Would you like to?"

Faith grinned. "Wow. You think you can take me?"

"Yeah," Buffy replied confidently, thinking of multiple ways she could beat the crap out of Faith. However, all those thoughts flew out the window when she looked over her sister Slayer's shoulder and saw the vamps headed their way. "I just hope they can't," Buffy finished before shoving Faith aside as the first vampire attacked.

Buffy punched the vamp in the gut, sending him flying back. Out of nowhere, another vamp charged at her and swung a vicious fist towards her face. Barely ducking in time, Buffy managed to avoid the hit. She and the vampire traded blows for a moment, neither of them able to make any headway. Then, Buffy faked left and threw a wicked right hook that nailed the vamp in the face, sending him sprawling.

Seeing a slight break in the fight, Buffy looked up to see how Faith was faring. That turned out to be the wrong thing to do as it resulted in a fist connecting to her cheek. Buffy stumbled with the force of the blow, and then tripped over the vamp's outstretched leg, falling to the ground and landing awkwardly on her shoulder.

Wincing at the bruise she knew was forming, Buffy looked up to see that Faith had slammed a trashcan over the vamp's head and had thrown him into some plywood. Buffy was jerked back to attention at the sound of a hungry growl. Looking up towards the sound, Buffy was only just able to roll out of the way of the oncoming attack by the vamp she'd knocked down first.

Rolling to her feet, Buffy picked up the stake from the ground and promptly dusted the vamp, barely registering the demon exploding into dust. Again, Buffy was about to turn and see how Faith was doing, but a rough hand grabbed her shoulder and spun her around, throwing her into a wall. Fighting back the pain, Buffy got her feet quickly and just in time to kick the vampire that had leapt towards her.

"My dead mother hits harder than that!"

Buffy heard Faith's words, but didn't have time to turn her head as another vamp appeared out of the woodwork. Buffy ran at him, gaining momentum, before launched a punch that hit the vamp square in the jaw, dropping him to the ground. The vamp struggled to his feet, but Buffy promptly flipped him over her shoulder.

Buffy looked up at Faith as she saw another vamp out of the corner of her eye. "Faith! Stake him already and give me a hand!" she demanded as she realized Faith was still beating on the first vampire they'd seen.

A growl alerted Buffy to the danger to her right, but Buffy didn't have time to defend herself. Her next thought was that she was flying through the air. Buffy landed on the cold pavement hard and groaned, especially when she felt the heavy weight of one of the vamp's pin her to the ground. Appparently, her original attacker and a newbie had joined forces against her.

The aching in her shoulder was steadily growing worse, and Buffy fought to ignore the fire that seemed to burn her shoulder. Buffy glanced around her, looking for anything she could use as a weapon. She saw a two by four a few feet from her and began to reach towards it.

"For Kakistos we live! For Kakistos you die!" the vampire proclaimed as Buffy continued to claw for the two by four.

"Faith!" Buffy screamed as the vampire continued to advance on her.

The vampire that was on top of her began to lean in, as if to bite her, and pure panic lit Buffy's veins. Forgetting the two-by-four completely, Buffy began to struggle against the vampire that was on top of her. She was not getting bitten by a vampire. Something inside her told her that it was wrong on so many levels. The obvious was that it was disgusting and a sure way to die. Another reason, a more subtle reason, was that Buffy knew it was wrong for this vampire to bite her. She was Angel's. She could only be bitten by Angel.

Buffy began to struggle anew, but the vamp's teeth kept getting closer and closer to her neck. Then, suddenly, the vamp was gone.

Angel growled furiously at the vampire, and made quick work of him, dusting him in seconds. Meanwhile, Buffy had picked up the two-by-four and whacked the other vamp over the head. Angel quickly staked that vamp too.

Under any other circumstances, Angel and Buffy would have immediately gone to each other. However, the moment was ruined by the sound of Faith still beating on the same vampire, having yet to stake him.

Before Angel could haul Faith off the vamp, Buffy was there and yanked Faith back. She staked the vamp, and then turned on her heel, punching Faith in the face. "What the hell was that?" Buffy demanded angrily.

Faith dabbed at the blood on her lip. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about you leaving me out to dry!" Buffy growled. "Our job is to slay demons, not beat them to a bloody pulp while their friends corner me!"

Faith debated hitting Buffy back, but she glanced at Angel and thought better of it. At the moment, she didn't think it would take much to have Mr. Badass decide to snap her neck, and however hot Angel was, Faith wanted to live. So, Faith just shrugged, "Gee, B. Thought you could handle yourself," she said casually before walking off, not looking back.

Buffy watched Faith leave, and the moment the dark-haired Slayer was out of sight, Buffy sagged against the alley wall. Angel was right by her side in an instant, and Buffy leaned into him as he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her close.

"She has major problems, Angel," Buffy sighed quietly.

"Yeah," Angel agreed. "And if she's not careful, someone's going to get killed."

The next day at school, Buffy immediately went to the library, intent on venting to at least one of her Watchers. Well, in her heart, Giles would always be her Watcher. Wesley was more like her really, really, really nerdy friend who liked to act like a Watcher. The thought lightened Buffy's mood considerably, and when she entered the library she found that a small smile had graced her lips.

However, that smile became an all out grin when she saw her favorite person in the world sitting at the table with Wes, talking quietly over a very old book they were both studying. Neither looked up as she approached, but that was okay with Buffy. This way she got to listen to the soft lilt of Angel's old Irish brogue as he read from the book...in Gaelic. Apparently, they had a system. Angel would read it as it was in Gaelic, before giving Wesley the English version, who would then scribble it on a legal pad.

When Buffy reached them, she slid her hands over Angel's shoulders and wrapped her arms loosely around neck, examining the old writing in the book. "That's the sexiest thing ever," Buffy whispered in his ear so low that Wesley couldn't hear.

Angel glanced up at her and smirked, "Túdéarfainn i dtús báire álainndomhan a sheachaint, Muirnín. Tá mé chomh doirte sin duit."

Buffy smiled softly, "Aw, that's sweet."

Wesley frowned. "You have no idea what he said, Buffy," he pointed out. "How can you know?"

Buffy looked at Wesley like he was missing the obvious, which, he was. "Wes, something that sounded that pretty couldn't not be sweet."

"Oh," Wesley said lamely, seeing Angel's smug smirk. Maybe I should practice an Irish accent? Wesley thought to himself. Perhaps Angel could give me dating advice…

"Buffy?" Giles appeared behind them, looking at her questioningly.

"Did you find out about Faith's Watcher?" Buffy asked both Giles and Wesley, remembering their conversation earlier in the hallway.

"Ah, yes," Wesley said as he took off his glasses as Giles took the legal pad, immediately examining the translations. "As it turns out, Faith was not truthful."

"She lied," Giles picked up where Wesley left off. "Her Watcher is dead."

Buffy frowned at this news. "What about the kissing toast guy?" she asked.

"Kakistos," Angel, Giles, and Wesley corrected at the same time, though Angel was the only one who didn't look slightly annoyed. He was actually fighting a smile. He knew Buffy messed up the names on purpose.

"Whatever," Buffy managed to keep the smile off her face. "They have to be connected. Faith shows up? Kakistos shows up right after? Yeah, I don't think so. I don't believe in coincidences, or leprechauns," Buffy added as an afterthought.

"True," Giles agreed.

"About the coincidences or the leprechauns?" Buffy needed clarification.

"Oh, the fact that coincidences do not exist," Giles replied as he sat down at the table beside Wesley and across from Angel.

"What about the leprechauns?" Buffy asked immediately. "I was right about that too…right?"

Giles thought for a moment, "As far as I know."

Buffy looked to Wesley, wanting a second opinion. Wesley looked up, slightly wide-eyed. "Oh, no, leprechauns are completely fictitious…as far as I know."

Simultaneously, all of them turned to Angel.

Angel looked uncomfortable. "Uh…so what are we going to do about Faith?" he changed the subject.

Buffy sighed. "I'll have to talk to her." The bell rang then, signaling everyone that school was out. Buffy gave them all a little wave before turning to leave. "I'll see you guys later."

As she walked out the door, she ran into Scott. "Hi, Buffy," he smiled shyly.

"Oh, hey," Buffy smiled politely; glad that Angel wasn't behind her…he really loved scaring Scott a little too much.

"Um," Scott hesitated, seeming to look behind her to see if Angel was there. "Is that guy you're always with your boyfriend?" he asked quickly.

Buffy giggled, but tried not to make it sound patronizing. "Yeah," she informed him with a kind smile.

"Oh," Scott nodded. "Yeah, I, uh, thought that he was, because you know…he, um, kinda looked like he wanted to kill me, ya know?"

"He's…" Buffy tried to be diplomatic. "Protective," she decided.

Suddenly, Scott's eyes grew wide as he stared over her shoulder. "Bye, Buffy," he said quickly before scampering away.

"Can you stop doing that?" Buffy asked, not turning around to look at Angel. "He's scared of you."

"That's the idea," Angel answered as they began to walk down the hall to the nearest sewer entrance.

"You avoided the leprechaun question," Buffy pointed out, causing Angel to sigh as he dropped down into sewer.

"Yeah," he agreed as he reached out for her.

Buffy jumped into his arms, the result causing their faces to be within inches of each other. "Are leprechauns real?" she asked.

"You know, technically, they're just Irishman," Angel replied, deftly avoiding the question.

"You're Irish," Buffy replied with a smile. "Does that mean you're a leprechaun?"

Angel grinned. "Nah."

"No?" Buffy asked before finally closing the distance between them and kissing his lips. "That's too bad," she smiled when she pulled away.

"You need to get to Faith," Angel said as he set her on her feet.

Buffy frowned. "You're not coming with me?"

"This is between you and Faith," Angel replied. "It's a Slayer thing. She needs you."

"Where will you go then?" Buffy asked as they walked.

"Try and track down Kakistos."

"So what brings you to the poor side of town?" Faith asked casually as she began to fold some clothes.

"Cloven guy," Buffy said casually, though her eyes were serious, her hands on her hips. "Goes by the name of Kakistos?"

"What do you know about Kakistos?" Faith asked lowly, but with a lilt of panic in her voice that Buffy didn't miss.

"He's here," Buffy told her dark-haired counterpart, reading the true fear in Faith's eyes. Buffy wondered if Faith's badass attitude was just a smokescreen to hide her past and her fear.

"What he do to you?" Buffy asked, knowing that this was personal.

Faith began throwing clothes into her bag. "It's what I did to him, alright?" she answered quickly as she continued to pack.

"And what was that?" Buffy asked as Faith tossed her bag on the bed. "Faith, you came here for a reason. I can help," she offered earnestly.

"You can mind your own business," Faith snapped, causing Buffy to raise her eyebrows. Faith might not be quite as tough as she was trying to seem, but she was still stubborn…and scared. "I'm the one that can handle this."

"Yeah, you're a real badass at packing," Buffy retorted. "Is this something you're just going to dump on me?"

"You don't know me," Faith replied quickly. "You don't know what I've done, what I've been through," she continued on defensively as she headed towards the door. "I'll take care of this, alright?"

"Like you took care of your Watcher?" Buffy threw out casually, seeing Faith's back stiffen at her words. Her hand paused on the doorknob, and slowly she turned back around to face Buffy, her face sad.

"He killed her, didn't he?" Buffy guessed sympathetically.

"They don't have a word for what he did to her," Faith growled angrily.

There was a beat of silence that was interrupted by a knock on the door. "Oh, what now?" Faith groaned as she looked through the peephole, seeing her manager. Unthinkingly, she threw open the door.

Big mistake.

Kakistos' hand shot out and grabbed Faith by the neck. "No!" Faith choked out, trying to squirm out of her captor's grip.

And that's when Angel showed up. He punched Kakistos in the temple, causing the old vampire to roar in outrage, though he let go of Faith. "Buffy, shut the door!" Angel ordered as he and Kakistos squared off.

Buffy thought about arguing, but knew that Angel was buying herself and Faith time to escape out the back. Hating herself and what she was about to do, she slammed the door and grabbed Faith's hand, practically dragging her into the bathroom.

"Come on!" Buffy urged as she towed an almost hysterical Faith behind her.

"No! No!" Faith panicked.

"Scream later, escape now!" Buffy ordered before she and Faith climbed through the window.

As she and Faith dropped to the ground, Buffy froze as she heard a distinct growl of fury that she knew was Angel. That wasn't what had made her stop though. It was the fact that she could hear the masked pain in the sound. Hesitating only a second more and trusting that Angel could take care of himself, Buffy grabbed Faith's hand and ran.

They ran without looking back until they reached a fork. Buffy took the left fork, dragging Faith along after, though the Slayer seemed to have gathered her wits and was now keeping up with Buffy fine. Seeing an old warehouse, Buffy broke through the glass and she and Faith took the time to catch their breath.

"We're okay," Buffy assured them, though her mind wondered if the same could be said for Angel. "What happened?" she asked as she turned to face Faith, who was still wide-eyed and panicky.

"Faith, what happened?" Buffy repeated again. Apparently, Faith had not gathered enough wits to think straight, just run.

"I—I was there when he…when he killed her," Faith explained with a shaky breath. "H-he was going to do the same to me, but I—I got away and I ran."

"Faith, first rule of slaying: don't die," Buffy enlightened. "You did the right thing," she assured the dark-haired girl. "You didn't die. Now, do the math—one of him and two of us."

Faith looked past Buffy, shaking her head. "No."

"Yes."

"No," Faith shook her head vehemently, her eyes wide as she stared at something over Buffy's shoulder. "No!"

Buffy turned and went pale at the sight of the dead people on the floor. "This is his place," Faith realized.

"He drove us here," Buffy finished the thought, her mind drifting to Angel once more. Was he alright?

A vampire appeared at the entrance, the real entrance, not the one Buffy had created by barreling through the window. He growled menacingly, and Buffy turned around and ran towards the end of the building, dragging Faith along behind her once more. Buffy heard two other vampires join the third and give chase. Knowing that it was time to fight them, Buffy looked around for anything she could use against them. Spotting a bucket on the floor, Buffy stuck her foot in it and spun, hurling it at the vamps. It hit one of them in the face, causing him to drop to the floor.

Buffy didn't give the other vamps a chance to defend themselves. Quickly, she delivered a roundhouse kick to one vampire's temple, and then punched the remaining vamp in the face twice in quick succession, sending him flying back over a table. Buffy jumped on the table and then rolled so that she kicked the vampire in the back as he tried to get to his feet.

Another vampire appeared and Buffy picked up a crowbar, swinging it like a baseball bat and hitting the vamp in the neck, sending her attacker to the ground in a heap. Buffy looked over to see that Kakistos had showed up and was advancing on Faith—though Buffy was proud to see that he was sporting three nasty gashes on his shoulder, and Buffy could tell that he had a broken nose.

Angel.

"Faith!" Buffy called to her sister Slayer. "Don't die!" she reminded her as she threw the crowbar.

Faith caught it, but before she could swing it, Kakistos punched her hard in the face, which sent Faith hurtling back into a wall of wooden beams, causing them to topple and fall around her.

Buffy moved to help, but a vamp appeared behind her, and she was forced to deal with it. Gritting her teeth, Buffy spun and kicked the vamp in the chest before sending a quick punch in his way. However, he managed to block and they continued to dance around each other. Buffy growled in frustration as she fought the vamp, hearing Faith screaming in the background. She had to help her.

And then the vamp was gone, dust.

Angel gave her a quick grin, looking slightly worse for wear, but he was still standing. "Go," he ordered. "I'll take care of the rest," he said, motioning to Trick and another vamp that were trying to sneak out.

Buffy didn't need any more encouragement.

Buffy ran up behind Kakistos and kicked him in the back of the knee, causing his leg to buckle slightly. Buffy spun him around to face her and went to backhand him, but Kakistos blocked it. Not hindered in the slightest, Buffy spun and backhanded him with her left hand instead.

Buffy drove her stake into his chest, but it didn't reach his heart, unable to penetrate his thick skin. Growling, Kakistos grabbed Buffy by her hair and threw her away from him, but Buffy wasn't going down that easy. She pulled herself to her feet and punched Kakistos in the face. Again, she staked him…and again, she couldn't puncture his heart.

Kakistos grinned and grabbed her by the head, throwing her down. "I guess you need a bigger stake, Slayer!" he mocked.

And then there was a giant beam protruding from his chest. He stared at it for a moment, shocked, before exploding into dust. When the dust settled, Buffy saw Faith breathing hard and looking harried, but she was still standing victorious.

Angel appeared then, sporting a nasty cut above his eye. Seeing Buffy's look, Angel waved off her concern. "I'm fine." He glanced at Faith and then Buffy. "I'll head home."

"You don't have to—," Buffy began, but Angel gave her a knowing, wise smile.

"Yeah, I do. You two go celebrate," he said before turning and disappearing into the darkness.

Buffy watched him go before turning to Faith. "Hungry?"

Faith grinned. "Starved."

Hours later, after eating more than their friends could possibly believe, Buffy and Faith had parted ways. Faith was headed back to her motel room, and Buffy said goodbye to Wesley and Giles and the Scoobies before leaving as well.

But Buffy didn't go to her house.

Instead, she went to Angel's apartment.

Buffy didn't knock. They'd gone way past that stage. In fact, Buffy practically lived in the apartment as more and more of her clothes seemed to make their way into his dresser. Buffy opened and closed the door soundlessly, her eyes scanning the dark room. She could see Angel's form in the bed and Buffy quickly shed her clothes and pulled on one of Angel's shirts.

Buffy climbed into bed beside him, knowing that he was awake though he didn't move. Buffy scooted closer to him and rested her chin on his shoulder. "Hi."

"Hi," Angel replied, and Buffy could hear the smile in his voice.

"You didn't have to leave you know," Buffy told him. "I know you were being all wise and stuff…but I missed you."

Angel looked back at her. "You and Faith needed some time to yourselves."

"It still wasn't right without you there," Buffy shook her head. "It doesn't seem like anything's right if you're not with me."

Suddenly, Angel rolled so that he was hovering over Buffy. "Really? I was wondering if it was just me."

Buffy reached up and brought his head down to hers, kissing him softly for a moment. "What did you say to me earlier?" she asked as she remembered the scene in the library. "What did it mean?"

Angel smiled, before quoting, "You are the most beautiful woman in the world, sweetheart. I love you so much."

Buffy had a silly grin on her face before reaching up to kiss him once more. It was a slow, languid kiss, full of love, and when Buffy finally had to come up for air, she was still grinning. "I knew it'd been something sweet."

Well, there we go! Changed just a few things. When I originally saw the episode, I really wanted to punch Faith...hence Buffy punching Faith. :D

And Faith doesn't know Angel's soul is anchored! Question is...will she find out eventually? Funny thing is, I haven't decided yet! lol

Next episode is...Amends...oh, boy...

Lots of love,

ArthursCamelot