Willow's face was still a little green but after trying and failing to cover it with face powder she decided to just go with the environmentally friendly look. It wasn't like everyone hadn't already seen her looking like Kermit's twin sister. She shuddered at the thought of being related to her nemesis – talking frogs shouldn't be allowed to live.

Nearly everyone was in the kitchen. Kennedy and Oz were tidying up what was left of the mess from the day before while Buffy was banging cupboards and taking her frustration out on her spare ingredients. Xander was standing off to one side, trying not to get in the way as he sipped from a bottle of beer. Some things didn't change.

"Hey, Will, you're up!" he called cheerfully. "Feeling better?"

Okay, some things did change.

She smiled, wary, not used to such enthusiastic greetings lately. "I guess so."

"Great. I've got a job for you."

"You have?"

"Yup. I think Buffy might be a lost cause but could you please do something about the tension between these two before the room explodes?" He waved his beer between Kennedy and Oz.

She frowned. That wasn't what she was expecting and not something she wanted to deal with. She was even surer of it when they both turned to her expectantly, like all she had to do was wave a magic wand and make it all better.

Oh, she probably could do that again now. She forced herself not to follow that train of thought – but where was the teleport-y sneezing when you actually needed it?

"Why all the tension?"

"He wants to bring his giant mutt in here," Kennedy explained.

"Oh." If her ego was honest, she hadn't been expecting that either. "So?"

"He freaks Goorzie out."

"He's been on his own in the training barn all afternoon," Oz said. "If he can't come in, I'll have to take him home."

Kennedy waved. "See ya."

Ignoring her, Willow smiled. "Of course he can come in. He shouldn't spend Thanksgiving out there alone."

Kennedy glared. "He really scared Goorzie earlier, Will, and she has more right to be in here than his stupid dog does."

"Did you try properly introducing them?" Xander asked. He shrugged when they turned to him. "You know, like with cats and dogs. Fido meet Whiskers, Whiskers meet Fido – no more scratched puppy eyes or broken china in my aunt's house."

"You think it's that easy?" Kennedy obviously didn't.

"We won't know unless we try." Willow wondered why she had added the 'we' in that sentence because it had sounded almost like she was volunteering herself to help.

"So let's try." Oz handed his dish cloth to Xander and walked to the back door.

"Fine but when it doesn't work your dog stays in the barn." Kennedy took hold of Goorzar's paw and joined him.

They both looked to Willow.

"Oh boy."

They could hear whining from halfway across the lawn. The baby demon scaled Kennedy's body to her shoulders, gibbering nervously.

Oz went in first, fending Ralph off as he excitedly jumped up and encouraging him deeper into the barn as Willow flicked on all of the overhead lights. After they were all in Willow pulled the door closed so that Goorzar couldn't escape.

Kennedy stood just inside the door with her arms folded. "This isn't going to work."

Willow sighed, looking from Goorzar – who looked petrified – to Ralph – who was sitting behind Oz's legs, and whining – and started to doubt it herself.

"Perhaps if I hold her," Oz began.

"No," Kennedy said simply.

Willow ran a hand over her face. She didn't feel sick at all now, but she was still too tired for this. "Okay, why don't we try it the other way around? Kenny, you make a fuss of Ralph?"

Kennedy hesitated but eventually said, "No" again.

"You don't like dogs?" Willow asked in surprise. Kennedy always seemed like a dog person.

"No, I do. Just…" Kennedy glanced at Oz and then looked away.

Willow had had enough. This had stopped being about Goorzie. It was about Kennedy's attitude and she wasn't giving in to it. She had been to hell and back in the last forty-eight hours and all she wanted now was for everyone to play nice so that she could go inside and relax. Food would be good too. Her appetite had finally returned and her stomach was reminding her she hadn't eaten much of anything for a day at least.

She mustered up her tried and tested resolve-face and aimed it at Kennedy.

"I'll take Goorzie." She held her arms out, but the demon wouldn't come to her willingly. "You'll have to give her to me."

Kennedy stared at her for a moment and then turned away. Willow thought she was going to leave but instead she walked around the far side of the trampoline and started to whisper to the demon on her back, giving her a little pep-talk.

"If she starts to freak out get her to bounce. It'll distract her."

Kennedy handed Goorzar over. The demon grunted and made quiet squealing sounds of displeasure, but when it was clear she had no choice her long arms clung tightly to Willow's neck. She rubbed her back soothingly, trying to get her to relax the almost asphyxiating hold.

"Oh, but don't tell Buffy about it," Kennedy added as she kissed Goorzar on the forehead. "Auntie Buffy doesn't like you touching her toys, does she?"

"Atie Buvvy, bad gurl," Goorzar rasped, making Willow chuckle.

"Okay, here goes." Kennedy walked briskly towards Oz and dropped to her knees. "Hey, Ralph, here boy."

The big dog peered around Oz's waist and whined. Willow held Goorzar firmly as she began to get anxious.

Kennedy was getting frustrated with slapping her thighs, calling out 'here, boy' and holding her arms out to a dog who refused to stop hiding. Oz eventually had to kneel down too and half-drag Ralph out from behind him.

"Ralph, meet Kennedy. Offer your paw."

The dog whined but held up his right paw.

Kennedy stared at it. "Am I supposed to…?"

"Yeah."

Kennedy took the paw in her hand – it was actually bigger than her hand – and shook it gently.

Goorzar's watchful stare was intense but she was being quiet and still. As Kennedy leaned forward to rub her hand up and down the dog's chest and neck, she began bouncing lightly on her haunches. In seconds she was gibbering and grunting and trying to break free of Willow's arms.

"Get on the trampoline with her," Kennedy said without looking around.

Kicking off her sneakers she clambered inelegantly onto the trampoline. It wasn't easy keeping hold of the jumping baby at the same time. Once upright she took both of Goorzar's paws.

"Hey, sweetie, bounce with me."

Goorzar did as she was told, reluctantly. She still craned her neck at an awkward angle so that she could stare anxiously at Kennedy and Ralph, obviously terrified the big beast was going to eat her Mommy if she turned her head away. It only took a few bounces though before her usual exuberant nature took over and worried grunts were replaced with happy hiccups.

Soon she was bouncing higher than Willow, tucking her knees up to her chin every time she soared into the air; making a sound suspiciously like 'wheee' but with more g's and h's.

Laughing, Willow let go of her paws to just watch. Goorzar did a gleeful double somersault up near the barn roof. Ralph was on his back in front of Kennedy's knees, long legs sticking straight up and his tongue lolling from the side of his mouth as she rubbed his tummy.

Oz smiled. "Okay, I think they're comfortable."

Willow grinned. "Now or never."

Kennedy nodded, still less enthusiastic. "Goorzie, come meet Ralph."

The demon was too busy bouncing to respond.

"Goorzar!" Kennedy called in a very mom-like tone that made Willow hide a smile.

Goorzar stopped bouncing and stared at Kennedy.

"Come say hello."

Willow disembarked and took her paw again; tugging on it gently until the demon hopped down. Goorzar's steps became increasingly reticent despite Kennedy's encouragement.

Ralph abruptly stood up, shaking himself, and Goorzar froze, orange eyes going wide.

"Sit!" Oz commanded quietly.

Ralph did so. All the same Willow had to drag Goorzar the last few steps. She transferred her paw to Kennedy's hand and then she knelt down on the other side of Ralph.

Ralph whined. Goorzar looked stricken. Willow held her breath, waiting for it to end in bloodshed.

Kennedy pulled the demon onto her lap and said quietly but firmly into her ear. "Goorzie, shake hands with Ralph."

Goorzar held up both paws in a confused manner and Willow thought for a second Kennedy's attempt to show off the demon's skills was about to backfire. Goorzie was a smart cookie though.

"Ralph, offer your paw."

He obeyed and Goorzar – whimpering and really not understanding why she was putting herself in so much danger – gingerly reached out to take it in one of hers.

It was a charming moment and all three of the humans shared smiles and sighs of relief.

As the dog whined and tried to pull his paw away it became less sweet, because Goorzar wouldn't let him. A tug of war followed.

Oz was obviously trying to stay cool despite the fact that his dog was about to get his leg pulled off but he looked as worried as Willow had ever seen him.

Kennedy wrapped her fingers firmly around Goorzar's forearm. "Let go, baby!"

Goorzar did so, but only so that she could jump up and down, gibbering excitedly. Ralph jumped in the air too – nearly knocking Oz over – before falling into a crouch. He growled, she hiccupped. Then she launched herself at him. They rolled over once – Willow had to dive out of the way – before the demon landed on top.

Kennedy jumped up. "Get him off of her!"

"How? She's on top of him."

Willow watched the two animals, well beings anyway, fighting. This could be bad, seeing as she had suggested it was a good idea. Actually it had been Xander's idea, so why wasn't he out here chaperoning?

After watching them for a minute she tilted her to one side. Ralph was growling, Goorzar was grunting and there was a lot of paw-play and head-butting but no actual biting. As Kennedy and Oz tried to find the best way to separate them, Willow started to chuckle.

"This isn't funny!" Kennedy glared at her.

"They're just playing!"

Ralph broke free and started running. After a little chase Goorzar landed on his back, bowling him over and over.

"That's not playing!" Kennedy said, starting towards them.

Goorzar got away this time. She bounded across the training barn and leapt up onto the weights bench. Turning, she gibbered down at Ralph. He whined for a moment before backing up and taking a running jump at the bench. Squealing, Goorzar bolted. Ralph sailed straight over and then the chase was back on. They did another circuit of the barn before Ralph caught her and they started all over again.

Oz half-smiled. "Maybe they are playing."

It went on for another five minutes before Ralph flopped down in the centre of the room, panting hard. Goorzar sat close, poking his belly and jaw to get him moving again. Finally she gave up and lay down with her head on the broad expanse of his chest. She threw an arm back comfortably, her favourite way to sleep, and accidentally slapped a big paw over his eyes. Ralph shook his head, dislodging it, and her thick hairy fingers reached out to gently hold his floppy ear instead.

Just like that, they both fell asleep and silence fell over the training barn.

"Okay." Kennedy said eventually. "So, that's one of our problems solved."

The three of them turned to look at each other and the silence grew awkward.

Buffy turned the roasting potatoes over with some tongs and then shoved them back in to the oven with a clatter. She did the same with the yams, managing to make even more noise.

Xander looked up from where he was preparing the latkes as per Willow's note card instructions but quickly looked down again when he caught Buffy's angry eye.

"I was worried about those three killing each other out there but now I think I'm more worried about you killing us all in here."

Buffy glared at him but said nothing as she started slicing the calabaza.

"Um, what?" Giles looked up from mixing ginger into the peas, carrots and onions. "Oh, yes, quite. Buffy, is there perhaps something troubling you?"

"Yes! My girlfriend is a sex mad maniac!"

"Oh, man, that sucks!" Xander enthused sarcastically.

Buffy narrowed her eyes at him. "I think I preferred it better when you were hardly speaking to me."

"Too bad." Xander shrugged, grinning cheerfully. "I'm feeling a hundred percent more optimistic about life since we voyaged through time and space."

"Yeah, right. You're just trying to annoy me."

"No, see, I'll prove it to you. Throw something at me."

Buffy threw the ladle at him.

He reached out but misjudged it by a few centimetres, catching it with the back of his hand instead of his palm. He knocked its trajectory off-kilter and winced as it bounced off of the top of Giles' head and fell to the floor behind his chair.

Buffy laughed now it was Giles' turn to glare at him.

"Oops." Xander apologised, feeling his enthusiasm slip, but he spoke as if it hadn't. "But see how optimistic I was about it. That's progress."

Giles' glare softened to a weary smile. "Or it could be the four beers you've had since our return."

Xander had been about to pick up his current bottle for a celebratory swig but changed his mind. "It's a holiday, Giles, live a little."

Giles looked around as if to check they were still the only three in the room. "We need to discuss your. . . situation."

"My situation is fine," he said, trying to keep his voice upbeat.

"No, its not," Buffy said automatically, although it was muffled by the fact that her head was deep in the freezer.

Xander wanted to go over there and slam the door on it. He sighed instead. "I think today's been eventful enough."

"Understood." Giles finished his mixing and took the saucepan over to the stove. "But sometime soon, I think."

"Sure, whatever." He pushed the latkes away and picked up his beer after all.

"So, I'm glad we helped Ralph and Goorzie be friends, but I'm kinda tired now." Willow tried to back away to the door.

"Willow, we can't go on like this." Kennedy's words kept her rooted to the spot.

"Like what?"

"She's right," Oz said softly.

"About what?"

Kennedy sighed. "You have to choose."

Willow bristled at being put on the spot. "I thought you already chose for me."

"I didn't mean to!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means I thought you were breaking up with me and I. . .I accidentally pre-empted you and now we're here. I don't know what that means for us, for the future. Whether it means anything at all. But I didn't break up with you! I'd never break up with you."

Wow. Okay. She hadn't seen that coming either. What was it with people surprising her today? A side effect of the spell maybe? Or just a result of her trying to shut herself off from everybody for weeks on end.

She found herself automatically turning to Oz to see what he would say.

He was looking down at the dog and demon sprawled out together, having the kind of snuggles she herself wanted, although less with the hairy.

"I've always loved you, Willow. I'll always love you."

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Kennedy grit her teeth.

Oz hadn't finished though. "But I made some mistakes."

"So did I," she said softly.

He nodded. "I don't want to make anymore and I think walking away from you again would be one." She clenched her eyes shut and he went on. "But making you unhappy would be a bigger one."

Willow re-opened her eyes and the love in them must have been apparent because Kennedy cursed quietly and turned away.

Willow's heart went out to her but she had to do what was right. "Kennedy, I'm sorry, but could you leave us please."

Kennedy turned back to her, stunned tears in her eyes, and then without a word she left the training barn. Goorzar awoke immediately and sleepily followed. Ralph stood up, shook himself, and with one look at Oz followed the demon out.

Willow sighed heavily and sat down on the weights bench, patting it for Oz to take the place next to her. He did so, smiling.

"I love you too, Oz. . ." Willow began one of the hardest conversations of her life.

Oz's smile slowly slipped away.

Buffy was taking serving bowls to the kitchen table when Faith hobbled into the room. She was feeling better, slayer healing already kicking in to dull the worst of the pain. Plus the mix of alcohol and painkillers had helped.

It still hurt to move, mind. Her stomach only gave her trouble when she stood up or sat down, despite the fact that if the slice had been half an inch deeper her guts would have been spilling out onto the forest floor. Her leg and groin were another matter, aching every time she moved, but the smell of the food had been too good to resist.

Buffy glanced over but didn't say anything. Kennedy was sat at the far end of the table and didn't even bother to look up. Xander and Giles both greeted her readily though.

"Hey, Faith. Nice of you to join us." Xander stood to offer his seat when he realised she was limping but she pushed him back into the chair, taking the opportunity to lean on his shoulder for a moment.

"What, and miss the promise of B's special meal?"

Buffy looked like she wanted to say something but changed her mind with a sigh.

"How are you feeling, Faith?" Giles asked.

"Like I got into a knife fight with an angry midget, but I'll live I guess."

She slowly made her way around the table to get a beer from the fridge. Buffy passed her, trying to carry three full bowls at once, and Faith gave her a hand. She took the one that seemed to be giving her the trouble and set it on the table herself.

Buffy gave her a stoic nod.

Jeez, that didn't even get her a forced thank you smile? Shrugging it off, Faith went to get her drink and came back to the table.

"Sorry I didn't dress right for dinner." She was wearing loose sweat pants and a t-shirt. "Most of my clothes are kinda…"

"Slutty?" Buffy still didn't look at her. "Yeah, we know."

Faith sighed, digging deep for patience. She knew she'd brought this on herself, even if she honestly hadn't meant to piss her off. Buffy had opened up, spilled her fears, obviously trying to push things forward for the two of them and Faith had. . . well, she had tried to do the same. She'd said stuff! Big stuff for her to say! But then Buffy hadn't seemed to get it, and it was too hard, and the painkillers were making her woozy and, dammit, she'd only been kidding about the sex. . .mostly. Now Buffy was doing her big, dramatic scorned chick routine again and they were right back at square one.

Maybe they really weren't cut out to be more than they were right now, which wasn't much of anything really, and that really sucked. And not only because it made Buffy right.

"I was gonna say tight. Didn't want them pulling on my bandages." She took her usual seat at the table, between Buffy and Willow. Not that Willow was there right now. "Red still feeling too sick to join us?"

"No, she's with Oz," Kennedy said quietly, speaking for the first time.

Ah, that explained the red eyes then. She decided to leave that conversation alone.

"So, B, I'm surprised you managed to pull this off so fast. Was half expecting to come down to a stack of take out boxes, yunno?"

"I did offer to order pizzas," Xander said, he was already heaping food onto his plate while everyone else was waiting for Buffy to take her seat.

Buffy shrugged. She still didn't look directly her way, but she did answer. "It's not the fancy special meal I planned exactly, but hopefully it'll be okay."

"It smells awesome."

Buffy didn't acknowledge that as she set the final dish down near the head of the table. "Would you carve, Giles?"

Faith's eyes went wide as she looked at what was on the big plate. First of all, it wasn't what she had been expecting, and second of all, how were you expected to carve it exactly?

"Wasn't there like a giant turkey taking up beer space in the fridge?"

Buffy glared at her. "Do you know how long a turkey takes to roast?"

Faith shrugged, honestly having no idea.

"Besides, I think a pixie stole the recipe; or possibly a troll. Either way, I don't have it."

Faith nodded. "Wasn't that your Mom's recipe?"

Buffy nodded, shrugging at the same time. "It's no big deal."

Faith got the impression it was though.

Willow and Oz came in the back door then, saving Faith from trying to pursue the subject and probably messing it up. She glanced over, half expecting them to be dishevelled from screwing but no one looked that tense after riding the happy train.

Willow walked across the kitchen, eyes trained on Kennedy until she dropped into her seat next to Faith and then she looked down at the table top.

"Sorry we're late."

"You're not late," Buffy said, managing to find a smile for her at least. "We're just about to start."

"Is Ralph in…?" Oz trailed off as he spotted the dog curled up in Goorzar's box with the little demon using him as a pillow.

Faith smiled. It must have been a miracle that got those two all cosy with each other.

Oz was still standing by the back door. He didn't seem to know what to do. His face didn't give a lot away but he kept glancing from Willow to Kennedy to Ralph.

It wasn't Faith's place to invite him to sit his ass down, but Xander took care of it.

"Hey, Oz, Buffy ditzed on the rations. You better grab some food before it's all gone."

"No I didn't!" Buffy griped, a small smile on her face. "I made plenty for all of us. See, Oz?"

"White meat or dark, Oz?" Giles smiled warmly at him.

As Oz came closer to the table, smiling as he saw what Giles was carving, Faith could tell what they were doing. It was the Scooby pep rally. They didn't know what was wrong, but they could see Kennedy had been crying, Willow looked like she wanted her chair to swallow her up and Oz was. . . being unusually fidgety as he eventually took the spare seat between Giles and Xander. They were looking out for one of their own, pulling him comfortingly back into the fold.

Faith felt jealous, and she could admit it was probably irrational because they had given her a home and all, but. . . back in the day, when it would have mattered so much to her, she'd never been given this kind of treatment. Okay, maybe those first few days, but not when she'd really needed it.

Willow perked up ever so slightly when Oz sat down. Helping herself to vegetables and chuckling with Giles over the meat.

Kennedy looked even worse though. Everyone's special treatment of Oz making her hunch deeper in on herself. For the first time Faith realised they really weren't all that different, both on the fringes of this tight-knit family. Both only here because they loved someone who was on the inside.

"Hey, Ken, want one of the yams," Faith asked at a counterpoint to the other conversation, holding the dish out to her.

"No, thanks, I'm not that hungry." Kennedy didn't even look up as she pushed some peas and carrots around her plate.

"Have one anyway." Faith stood, trying not to wince as she leaned across the table to fork one onto Kennedy's mostly empty plate. "Give you something else to play with."

Kennedy looked up with the ghost of a smirk before staring desolately at her dinner again. As Faith sat back down she caught Buffy's eye and the blonde actually smiled at her, a real nice smile too, before touching Faith's arm briefly on the way to grabbing a Jewish potato cake thing.

Okay, being nice to Kennedy earned her smiles. Maybe this was the way she had to learn. She wondered idly what she would have to do to Kennedy to earn her sex, but completely quashed that thought immediately just in case Buffy read it in her eyes.

"Okay, who wants white and who wants dark?" Giles finally asked the table as he stood up to dish out the meat.

"Well, I try to stay kosher on holidays," Willow said, holding her plate out first. "So I guess I'll take some burger."

Giles tilted the dish and pushed a cut up quarter-pounder onto Willow's plate. "Next?"

Faith held her plate up. "White."

Giles forked a couple of sliced bacon rashers onto her plate.

"Is bacon really white meat though?" Buffy asked. "I mean, its kinda red."

Giles looked down at the dish as if unsure. "But pork is white," he ventured.

"But Buffy's right," Xander said as he scooped both half a burger and some of the bacon onto his own plate himself. "It is red, and fatty, and delicious."

"Whatever colour it is," Oz said, motioning for Giles to choose what to put on his plate. "Meat is always good."

His zen moment was broken by Kennedy mumbling around a mouthful of yam, "Says the werewolf."

Several people, not including Oz, looked at her with mild displeasure and it was only Faith snorting with laughter that broke the sudden tension.

"Girl's got a point. Bet you are a bit of a meat connoisseur, right Oz?"

He just smiled.

The rest of the meal passed pleasantly enough, probably because it was mostly silent. Every now and then she shared an awkward look with Buffy. She ate plenty and it all tasted great. She could have had third helpings easily but by the time she went looking all but a few peas were left.

She excused herself from the table so that she could go outside and burp, figuring Buffy wouldn't consider it a compliment if she let loose at the table. She sat at the picnic table to have a cigarette while she was out there.

She'd barely lit it when Kennedy came out and joined her. "Those things will kill you."

"I'm down to like four a day, give me a break."

It was true. Being here gave her enough distractions and working most days meant she didn't even think about having a smoke until after six. It was an addiction though, and a good meal like that one practically begged for a smoke afterwards.

"So what are you doing out here in the cold if you don't want a cig. Not going to bed already, are ya?"

Kennedy shrugged nonchalantly. "Just needed some air."

Faith nodded. "You wanna tell me what went down between you guys earlier?" Kennedy looked down at the table top and she quickly added, "Not trying to pry. Just here if you wanna."

"Since when do you care?"

"I don't," Faith said honestly. "But maybe us outsiders have to stick together."

Kennedy looked up at her with tears in her eyes.

"Doesn't mean I suddenly like you. I still think you're an ass." Faith clarified. "But I'm here. So if ya wanna talk. . . "

"I don't."

The silence after that lasted long enough for her to flick one cigarette away, ignoring the clean ashtray on the table, and light another.

"She chose him," Kennedy said quietly.

"Didn't look like they were that much together to me."

"They probably didn't want to rub it in my face." Kennedy half chuckled, half sobbed.

"Didn't look like that to me either."

"Yeah well maybe you weren't looking as hard I was."

"No, maybe not." Faith took a hard drag on her smoke, blowing it out slowly. "But I was probably more neutrally observant."

Kennedy huffed in annoyance. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Faith was already growing bored of this game. If Kennedy wanted to talk, fine, she'd listen, but this dragging info from her was a chore she couldn't be bothered with.

"It means if they'd been screwing I'd have been able to tell, and I don't think they were."

"Oh, so you have sex telepathy now?"

Faith smirked. "No, but I wish I did. I'm saying they ain't boinked today and I don't think they're likely to boink tomorrow. They weren't screaming togetherness in there. Surely you could see that too?"

Kennedy shook her head, still staring down at the bench top. "Oz told her he loved her and then she asked me to leave. What would you make of that if it was Buffy?"

Faith shrugged, which was a better, more mature, answer than saying she would tear Oz limb from limb.

Kennedy dropped her head into her hands and Faith patted her awkwardly on the shoulder a couple of times as she finished her smoke.

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