AN: Thank you for the reviews. Sorry it has taken so long for me to update. BTVS doesn't belong to me.
Lilith had showered and dressed after her mental breakdown and made her way to the Magic Box. After entering, she went straight to the back hearing Buffy and Faith sparring. She walked in to see the blonde do a leg sweep from the floor causing her brunette opponent to fall to the ground. Buffy took the advantage and rolled to straddle Faith with her right fist raised back. The two stared at each other for a bit before the newly arrived teen cleared her throat causing both to jump up from their previous position. Faith smirked at her clone as she walked over and threw her arm over the young brunette's shoulders, whose eyes held a hint of annoyance.
"Ah, you finally grace us with your presence." Faith said jokingly.
"Only 'cause someone unplugged my clock." Lilith grumbled as she bent her knees threw the arm off her shoulders and pulled Faith into a headlock. "Not so funny now."
Buffy watched amused as the older brunette grabbed her capture by the knees and extended her back effectively picking up the clone. Faith had a cocky smirk on her as she tossed Lilith over her back and took off before the other landed running after her. The older brunette would dodge every attempt at a grab from the youngest slayer, who wore a more determined look with every miss grab. The blonde grabbed the unsuspecting Faith from behind and laughed as Lilith tackled both to the floor.
"I am the victor." The teen exclaimed in celebration.
"Only 'cause B helped you." Faith sulked playfully but then burst out laughing as well as the other two.
Not long after that, the trio went their separate ways. Buffy went to see Riley while the other two had appointments. Buffy knocked on her boyfriend's door, smiling when the soldier answered. Riley looked surprised at seeing the blonde on his doorstep as she had been distant with him since he walked out of her house after their argument a couple weeks ago. Riley moved out of the way and gestured for her to enter.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Riley asked.
"I came to see you, of course." Buffy answered with a small smile.
"Oh, sorry, it just after our last conversation you seem to not want me around." The former soldier explained with a slightly upset tone in his voice.
"I want you around, Riley; you just don't understand what is going on." She replied getting defensive.
"Then tell me." Riley insisted desperately.
"I… I don't know if I can. It's just… This feels so much worse than anything I have ever dealt with before and I don't know if I can do this with you right now." Buffy freaked.
"Really, well then why show up here at all? You can't do this with me maybe you should just go then." He pointed to the door in his anger then turned and walked out of the room.
Buffy walked dejectedly into the Magic Box. Seeing the gang gathered around the table looking worried, the blonde panic about what could have happened while she had been away.
"What happened?" Buffy asked as she approached the table.
"Giles sold dangerous magic items to the demon you've been after." Anya bluntly explained and the blonde slayer stared at her watcher with disbelief.
"I'm sorry, Buffy." Giles apologized. "But we have figured out what she may be planning to do. I think she is going to transmogrify a snake into a demon."
"Okay, so I will head to the Zoo. Inform Faith and Lilith when they get back. Have one of them pick up Dawn from school if I'm not back by then." She ordered as she made her way to the door.
Once the other two had returned, the gang filled them in and Faith took off after her blonde counterpart. Little while later, the two elder slayers returned with Buffy hanging on to Faith to help keep standing. The gang rushed over to help the two slayers and asking them what happened. After explaining and bandaging them up, they explained about what happened in the Zoo and the now human sized king cobra roaming around town.
Later that night, the snake demon burst into the shop through the window and stopped right in front of Dawn. It raised its head as the slayers attacked it and swatted Buffy over the counter, Faith onto the table, and Lilith into the display case at the top of the stairs. Catching sight of the screaming Dawn, its eyes flashed and it took off back out the window. As it was leaving, Lilith tried to stall it by grabbing its tail but had to let go as her shoulder impacted the window display ledge, leaving Buffy and Faith to run after it.
The snake had almost made it all the way back to the mansion before the two caught up with it. Buffy jumped on its back and attempted to choke it with a chain she had picked up while Faith fought it from the front. The snake started swinging wildly and it caught Faith in a swing sending her into a nearby tree. The blonde held on as it tried to get her off its back but it started to weaken and eventually collapsed. As Buffy relaxed, the beast through her off itself but before it got too far the blonde jumped on it again and struck its head. The creature rolled onto its back and the slayer above it continued to beat it until nothing was left. A shaky looking Faith approached the still fighting woman and pulled her off the unmoving creature.
"It's dead, B. It's dead and Dawn secrete is still safe." Faith said as she pulled Buffy into a tight hug and the blonde broke down in her arms for the second time that day.
AN: Please review and tell me what you think. Sorry again it took me so long to update.