For hours that night after discovering the Hellmouth, Faith tossed and turned in her bed, unable to sleep, unable to shake the feeling that she was being followed, that something out there was watching her. It was nearly four in the morning when she gave up on sleep and headed downstairs to make a pot of coffee. She wasn't surprised to find Buffy already sitting down at the kitchen table. She said nothing to her, only nodding in her general direction as she walked over to the coffeemaker and poured herself a cup from the half a pot that was left.

"Can't sleep either, can you?" Buffy asked softly as Faith leaned against the counter and took a sip of her coffee. "I can't...this is crazy, but I can't get rid of that feeling that..."

"Something is there?" Faith said as she waited for Buffy to answer. "It's fucked up how finding the Hellmouth has wigged us both."

"I'm not wigged, I'm just..."

"Scared?"

"No!" Buffy sighed as she got up from the table. "Something doesn't feel right, Faith. You and I both can feel it. Giles and Willow can too, and the others...I don't know if they know that they're feeling it, but I know they are."

"You are definitely wigged, B."

"It's not just this whole thing that's bothering me," Buffy said as she poured herself a fresh cup of coffee and kept her back to Faith. "It's what Xander said to me earlier."

"What did he say?"

Faith didn't have to see Buffy's face to know she was blushing furiously. Instead of doing what she'd normally do and force it out of Buffy, she just waited for the moment to pass. Whatever Xander had said to Buffy had definitely been bothering her and despite the fact that she now was desperate to know what he'd said to her to cause such a reaction, she knew she'd find out sooner or later. She had a momentary flash of nervousness when she thought that maybe Kennedy had talked to Xander and told him about her feelings for Buffy. She quickly composed herself as Buffy turned to look at her, her cheeks just barely flushed as she looked at her.

"What?"

"Aren't you gonna tell me what he said to you, B?" Faith asked, smirking when Buffy shook her head no. "That bad, huh?"

"Not bad just...unexpected," she shrugged as she looked away from Faith quickly. "I...I don't want to talk about it, okay?"

"Sure, whatever."

"I know I brought it up, but..."

"Whatever, B. It's not a fucking big deal that you don't or can't talk to me. Whatever it is it doesn't matter."

"You are right, though. This whole thing has gotten me wigged, the Hellmouth thing, not the thing with Xander," Buffy said quickly. "I don't know about you, but I'm used to restless nights and tonight just feels different than what I've gotten used to."

Faith knew all too well what she was getting at. She'd felt it since they found the Hellmouth and it'd only gotten worse by the time they'd gotten back to the house. She'd always felt restless and it wasn't just a Slayer thing. She never knew what it was like to just relax, to sleep without a care or single worry in the world. She was always on guard, ready for whatever would pop out from the shadows. She wanted to talk to Buffy about everything; she wanted to hear Buffy tell her she felt those same things, thought the same things as she did during those restless nights. They weren't there yet, at least not on that deep level of sharing. They were working on it, though, and Faith could admit that much without admitting she would literally lie down over a pit of fire just for Buffy.

It was thoughts like those that were going to end up with her in trouble and with feelings she thought she'd buried and stored away years ago. She couldn't help but stare into Buffy's eyes and search for some of the answers to the questions she feared to ask. The heat between them for just a split second was intense and Faith felt burned as she quickly looked away. She was losing whatever was left of her self-confidence and she wasn't sure what was going on or why she was suddenly acting like a schoolgirl with a crush. She blamed it on the events of the last couple of weeks, on coming back to Sunnydale to help them in the fight, on Robin and the mix of feelings she'd had for him even from just their quick rumble and tumble in Buffy's bed that one night.

But it was more than just the events of the last couple of weeks. It was her whole life and everything led to this one moment, this one small revelation she'd been avoiding since the day she first met Buffy years before. She couldn't let this get to her and ruin any little bit of a chance they had at finally having an actual friendship. Of course the other side of her, the side that revelled in the darkness, had to ask her why she even cared, why she even wanted a friendship with Buffy and the others. She was battling her inner demons, the light versus the dark—or the gray versus the dark, really, since she didn't have much 'light' inside of her.

"Are you okay?" Buffy asked. "You keep kind of..."

"I'm fine."

"How's your arm feeling?"

"Like new, why?"

"Well," Buffy smiled as she put her mug down on the counter, "I was thinking we could get a few hours of training in. Just you and me, kind of like old times but not."

Faith shrugged nonchalantly, thinking for a moment, debating whether or not it was a good idea to take Buffy up on the offer to train together. It would only add fuel to the fire she was feeling inside of her, the fire that was just waiting for a spark to come roaring to life. She rubbed her forehead slowly, still thinking about it. They did need to train on a regular basis and despite the fact that it was early morning, she could already feel her muscles just aching for a good couple of hours of sparring. She nodded her head, fighting back the smile as Buffy's eyes lit up, her own fire sparking to life as she grabbed onto Faith's arm and pulled her towards the basement door.

"Jeez, B. If I would've known you were so enthusiastic about training..."

"Are you going to finish that?" Buffy asked as they walked down the basement stairs together. "And for your information, F," she paused, playful smile dancing over her lips as she turned to look at Faith while backing up towards the mats, "I am not enthusiastic about training in general, I'm just looking forward to having the chance to kick your ass without, you know, actually kicking your ass."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah."

"You get off on kicking my ass, Twinkie?" Faith asked, winking when Buffy blushed a little at the words. "Totally knew ya had some..."

"Just stop it, Faith," Buffy said firmly, holding back the laughter as the two spread out on the mats and began to stretch out slowly. "You are infuriating, you know that?"

"Yeah, you told me that the other night. Besides, B, I can't help it. Razzing you is like the Olympics of teasing."

"Very funny."

"Seriously, it's too easy sometimes."

"Well don't get too used to it, Faith. I'll find a way to get you back."

"Oh yeah?" Faith laughed, finding this much too fun to let it go. This playful banter was something she'd missed and from the look in Buffy's eyes, even just for the split second that Buffy allowed it to be shown clearly, she knew Buffy had missed it too. "You really honestly think that you can get me back? Bring it, B. Always did love a challenge."

Faith could feel that fire burning in the depths of her soul as she and Buffy began to circle one another. They hadn't had the chance to really spar one another and now that they did, Faith was growing excited at the opportunity to just let loose with someone who could easily match her strength and speed. It started off slowly; a kick here, a punch there, each one blocked with ease no matter who was on the receiving end. It wasn't a fight to the death, it was just two of them training, testing each other's reflexes. This went on for what felt like hours before they stopped, both of them sweating and out of breath, listening to the sounds of the others in the house beginning to start their day.

Faith could only sigh out in relief as she sat down on the mats before laying back. She closed her eyes as she stretched out her body, every inch of her tingling and feeling completely alive. Buffy was laid out on the mats a few feet away from her and neither of them spoke, too busy trying to catch their breath to think of saying a word to each other. Faith turned her head and opened her eyes, staring at Buffy as she lay there and concentrated on taking deep breaths to control her rapid breathing. She could hear Buffy's heart racing and she could almost feel the rapid pulse mixed with her own. It made her shiver and shudder for reasons unknown to her.

Buffy turned her head and looked over at her, a lazy smile forming over her lips as she took in a deep breath. Faith knew, in that moment, she'd never seen Buffy look quite the way she did now. She looked beautiful, as she always did, but there was something more there, something deeper. Faith tried to push those thoughts out, finding it harder as their eyes met and locked in a long, intense gaze. Something was definitely happening and Faith, being the coward she now knew she was quickly becoming, was too afraid to question it. Whatever moment they were sharing was shattered as soon as the basement door opened. Buffy was up and on her feet before Kennedy made it halfway down the stairs.

"Have you two been at it all morning?" Kennedy asked as she tossed them each a bottle of water.

"Pretty much," Faith replied as she slowly sat up and looked over at Buffy. "Neither of us could sleep, ya know how it is."

"You both couldn't sleep either?" Kennedy sighed as she sat down on the weight bench. "Willow thought I was just restless. She didn't believe me when I told her something is completely off about this whole thing."

"So it's not just us," Buffy said quietly as she looked back and forth between Faith and Kennedy. "There is definitely something going on. I don't like it."

"What do you think it is?" Kennedy asked. "I don't like this any more than you do, Buffy. Giles doesn't know anything, Willow doesn't believe me...she said I'm probably just feeling the energy from the mystical barriers around the Hellmouth, but I think it's more than that."

"It's definitely more than that," Faith said under her breath. "I could feel it long before we even got here."

"Feel what?" Buffy asked her as she went to sit on the mats near her. "What did you feel, Faith?"

"Pure evil. I don't know how to describe it, but I just know if it feels this way it can't be anything good. We might have to figure this one out ourselves."

"Looks like," Buffy sighed as she took a sip of her water. "You don't think it's...the First, do you?"

"We beat the First," Kennedy cut in. "How could it be back if we just..."

"We beat it, but we didn't kill it. You can't kill evil; you can only momentarily derail it."

Faith just lay back on the mats, listening to the two of them come up with their own theories of what was really going on there with the Hellmouth and why they were all feeling that uneasy restlessness since coming upon the seal the night before. Faith was still itching for more, her muscles aching yet craving to be pushed that much further. That familiar burn in the pit of her stomach took over and she groaned softly as she leaned up on her elbows. She was finding it next to impossible to take her eyes off of Buffy, watching her as she and Kennedy continued to talk.

She stood up and left the two of them down there alone to talk while she allowed herself to be lured upstairs by the smell of freshly brewed coffee. She grabbed a mug and poured herself a cup before joining Giles and Willow at the table. They were going over the books spread out on the table and she glanced at the one closest to her, raising an eyebrow when she couldn't read a single word on the page.

"What are you two researching?"

"Spells," Willow said with a soft smile. "We're trying to figure out what kind of mystical barrier has been set up around the Hellmouth. It's very strong. I've never felt anything quite like it before."

"You don't think it has anything to do with the way we're feeling? I mean here I thought it was only me feeling restless with all the energy I can feel around here, but it's not. Buffy and Ken are feeling it too and it's only gotten worse since last night."

"Are you unable to sleep?" Giles asked tiredly, looking over at her for a moment before closing the book he had open in front of him. "Do you feel as if you are riddled with endless energy and yet at the same time you feel drained?"

"Pretty much," she nodded. "Do you know why we're feeling like this? Cos I gotta tell ya, G, after me and Buffy found the seal last night, it's just gotten worse."

"Worse how? Please explain," he said as he removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose. "It is imperative that we know all we can to further help us with whatever it is we are dealing with."

"After we found the seal and were on our way back to find you guys, I don't know, it just felt like something was there following us, watching us. Whatever it is, it's kept me awake all night. I feel drained and yet at the same time I feel like I can go out there and kick some ass. I just get this feeling that something is wrong. Buffy and Ken are downstairs discussing this right now, trying to figure it out for themselves."

Giles pulled a thick book from the bottom of the pile in front of him and furiously flipped through the pages. Faith sighed as she sat back on the chair and sipped her coffee, watching as Willow just stared at her long and hard for a moment before she reached out and stopped Giles from flipping through the pages.

"Ghosts of the past," Willow said softly. "That's what it is."

"Are you sure?" Giles asked, letting out a soft breath as his hands trembled slightly.

"Ghosts of the past?" Faith asked, looking at both of them as if they'd lost their minds. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

"It's rare, a phenomenon of sorts. I've read of this before. Only a very few Slayers ever experienced it, and then only if they'd been to more than one Hellmouth. The details are scarce, but I believe that after Sunnydale and being inside the Hellmouth, being near another one so soon has brought on this phenomenon."

"Is it dangerous?"

"Not if you don't let it get to you," Willow cut in. "They aren't actual ghosts, you know? More like...Giles, help me out here."

"Ghosts of your subconscious trying to bring out the demon inside of you. As you know the Slayer is..."

"I've heard this all before," Faith said as she stopped him from continuing. "So these 'ghosts' are just like our subconscious then? Can't be too bad."

"I've explained it poorly," Giles said softly as he took a few deep, steady breaths. "There is actually no one way to explain what you are experiencing and what you will continue to experience."

"Will it go away?"

"Unfortunately, no."

"Fuck," Faith muttered as she stared down into her mug before she took a sip. "Is it gonna be dangerous for us, though? I mean, I know what my subconscious is like. You all do. I don't want to go back to that."

"You won't," Willow said as she offered her a sweet smile. "You won't because none of us will let that happen again."

"Thanks," Faith smiled back at her, finding it oddly comforting to hear that coming from Willow.

It reminded her of the drive from LA to Sunnydale, the things they'd talked about and the way that Willow just seemed to forgive her, just like that, for all the wrong and the bad that had happened in the past. She could never see herself being friends with Willow, they were just far too different, but just for a moment, a fraction of a second there, she knew that they had one shred of common ground between them.

"If you are going to sit here with us, you might as well make yourself useful." Willow handed her one of the lighter, thinner books. "Don't worry, it's in English. Mostly."

"Great," Faith laughed as she took a few sips of her coffee and ignored the look Giles gave her when she tossed the book haphazardly on the table in front of her and slouched further in her chair. "What? I don't do research. I am a Slayer. I do the ass kicking thing, not the book thing."

Willow rolled her eyes as she got up to get herself another cup of coffee. Faith just chuckled softly as she made herself comfortable in the chair and glanced down at the book Willow had given her. It was one of the Watcher's diaries, she recognized that much, and the date on the first page was almost a hundred years ago. She shrugged as she picked up the book and quickly read through the first page. There was no name, just dates and certain events written down. The parallels between what happened over a hundred years ago and what had happened throughout her time as a slayer were extremely close to being exactly the same.

She skimmed over the scribbled writing, every other word barely readable with the faded ink against the yellowed pages. The slayer that had been written about, she'd been alive for nearly ten years. That much Faith could pick up on. She'd been to three Hellmouths, beginning to hear voices with her relocation to the second one, along with the feeling of being watched. Faith groaned as she closed the book when it ended abruptly, the rest of the pages blank aside from an address written on the last page.

"Well, we're definitely not the first to feel this," she said under her breath, mostly to herself even though she knew that Giles and Willow were listening to her. "How'd you get most of these books? Didn't they all get swallowed up with the rest of Sunnydale?"

"Unlike everyone else, I was prepared for the worst to happen. I had every text I had shipped out days before the fight began," Giles replied. "Unfortunately, just like everyone else, I neglected to pack other necessities."

Faith laughed as she grabbed her nearly empty mug and stood up slowly. "Hey, we all make mistakes, right? Can't always do everything perfect first go around. I'm living fuckin' proof of that."

"Indeed you are," Giles smiled warmly at her as she made her way to the coffeemaker and poured herself a fresh cup. "I know it has only barely been two weeks since Sunnydale, but how are you holding everything together, Faith?"

"Honestly? I'm just barely managing to get through each day here, y'know?," she sighed as she leaned against the counter, feeling slightly uncomfortable talking to Giles. Willow was staring at her, but she didn't let it get to her. "I should probably call Angel later, touch base with him. I'm sure he'd just love to know the deal with everything here."

"You mean about the Hellmouth? I've already talked to him," Willow said as she looked back at Giles. "We talked to him I should say. He did ask about you."

"Oh yeah? What'd he say?"

"He wanted to know if you were all sane-girl now and not all grr-argh again," Willow chuckled uneasily as she quickly looked away from her. "Of course I told him everything was great, peachy even, but I don't think he believed me."

"Yeah, why would he, right?" Faith said softly as she shook her head. "It's not like it fucking matters. He's helped me out. Got the ball rolling on the whole redemption deal. It's all up to me to keep it going. Figure I've been doing okay so far."

"You've been doing wonderfully considering the circumstances, Faith. You should be proud of how far you come in such little time." Giles had a genuine smile across his face as he just looked over at her. She smiled right back at him, wishing she was the type to randomly hug others at moments like this, but she wasn't and she was glad that they both knew it too. "Now, as for this phenomenon you've been experiencing, if anything changes and if it gets worse, I need for you to immediately inform one of us."

"Will do," Faith nodded and took a sip of her coffee before stifling a yawn. "I'm gonna get some sleep, or at least try. Don't wake me unless, y'know, apocalypse is coming, or we're under attack, or whatever."

"Faith, don't joke about those things!" Willow hissed at her. She wore a pained look laced with traces of fear, something Faith had only ever seen once before, and it brought back memories, slivers of flashbacks she'd rather just forget. "Never joke about those things when we're living on a Hellmouth, especially one that, from what I can tell, is far higher on the evil scale than Sunnydale ever was."

She shrugged and finished off her coffee, letting out a sharp breath as the still-hot beverage burned slightly on the way down. She passed Buffy and Kennedy on her way up to the stairs and she muttered a half-assed goodnight before she took the stairs two at a time and went straight to her room. She debated whether to have a shower, but a sudden wave of exhaustion hit her as she stripped from her clothes and flopped down onto the bed.

It was hard to let go of the thoughts running through her mind and hard to fall asleep when all she could hear was the voices downstairs and the ones in her head, fighting for dominance and fighting for her attention. She pulled the covers over her completely, burying her face into the pillow as she tried to drown out the voices, all of them. Sleep came eventually, but her mind was riddled with nightmares of the past, her childhood, and parts of her time in Sunnydale. She kept waking up, trying so hard to control her dreams, wanting nothing more than to just be able to sleep for more than an hour at a time.

The afternoon slipped by and she did nothing but toss and turn until dusk fell. She gave up, throwing the covers off of her as she stared up at the ceiling in the dark room. The dull ache between her legs started as soon as she heard soft whimpering moans coming from Buffy's room. She raised an eyebrow when she realized what Buffy was doing and she couldn't stop her hands from roaming over her own body. She'd gotten the release she'd needed after the fight against the First and its army, but as far as she knew Buffy hadn't. She groaned softly as she deftly slipped her fingers over her soaked pussy, throwing her head back as she closed her eyes and listened as Buffy's moans echoed her own.

"Fuck," she panted under her breath as she circled her overly sensitive clit, her senses now hyper aware of the soft sounds in the next room. She could hear Buffy breathing heavily, sighing out contently as she fucked herself slowly.

She spread her legs further, sliding a single, solitary finger deep inside her hot, wet hole, every inch of her body pulsating with every rapid beat of her heart. She bit her lower lip, feeling so close so soon. It was never this quick for her, but she wasn't exactly complaining as she ran her free hand over her stomach and up to her breasts, rolling a semi-hard nipple between her fingers as she thrust a second finger roughly inside of herself. She couldn't stop the moans that slipped out and she bit her lip harder as she felt the first waves of her orgasm begin to build.

"Oh god," Buffy moaned softly, her voice thick and husky, traveling through the thin walls and sounding as if she was right there next to her.

Faith let out sharp, panting breaths as she listened to the soft moans coming from Buffy. She knew if she could hear her clearly that Buffy could, without a doubt, hear her too. She slowed down, holding her breath and waiting, hearing Buffy take in a sharp, deep breath as she let out a strangled moan. They both stopped as the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs broke whatever trance they'd both fallen into and Faith ran her fingers down her stomach slowly, listening as a door shut down the hallway. She waited for Buffy to continue, finding it impossible to hold back the moan as she heard Buffy gasp softly.

Her mouth was dry, her body growing rigid as white hot pleasure shot through her body. Never had self-gratification been so satisfying for her, only ever having succumbed to it when she was too tired or too injured to find a willing partner. She could feel herself getting closer with every thrust of her fingers deep inside and she circled her clit with her free hand, letting out a primal moan as she let herself go. Buffy was right there with her and for a moment she could almost feel the pleasure Buffy felt mixed with her own.

She lay there with her fingers buried deep inside her cunt as she struggled to catch her breath. She heard shuffling in the other room and the sound of a zipper being pulled up. Seconds later the door opened and she heard Buffy descend the stairs. She groaned softly as she got up from the bed, her legs shaking as she pulled on her clothes, her fingers feeling weak as she buttoned up her jeans. She'd barely slipped on her boots when she heard footsteps coming back up the stairs and she nearly jumped when she heard the soft yet insistent knock on her bedroom door.

"Faith, are you awake?" Kennedy asked softly. "We're having a meeting before we head out on patrol. You better be awake."

Faith chuckled softly as she walked to the door and opened it. "I'm awake, Ken. What's this about a meeting?"

"Just...a meeting? I don't know, Giles told me to come and get you," she shrugged as Faith stepped out into the hallway and closed the door behind her. "Were you sleeping all afternoon?"

"Yeah. Didn't sleep last night."

"Feeling better now, aren't you?" Kennedy asked, a small smirk forming over her lips as they headed for the stairs. "You know, I still say you two need to fuck. I'm sure it'd get rid of that tension you both are feeling."

"What the fuck are you talking about?" Faith nearly growled as she grabbed Kennedy by the collar of her shirt and stopped her from walking down the stairs. "Seriously, Ken. You need to fuckin' drop it. It's never gonna happen, so get that into your head, okay?"

"You think you two are the only ones that can feel each other? Because that's not true. I can feel you two, just a little, and I do know what you two were just doing. Pity you don't have the guts to just take her the way you and I both know she wants to be taken."

"You need to shut up. I told ya already that it's not gonna happen."

"Are you a coward? I heard you had this saying once," Kennedy chuckled as she pried Faith's tightly clutching hands off of her shirt. "Want. Take. Have. You don't live by that philosophy anymore?"

"It's a fucked up philosophy that got me into nothing but trouble. I don't live by that anymore and I don't plan to start again."

Kennedy only laughed as she headed down the stairs. Faith sighed and followed her down to the living room where the others were waiting. She stood by the couch, listening as Giles spoke of the plans for patrol that night and letting her eyes drift over to where Buffy sat on the far end of the couch. When their eyes met, the telltale blush that crept over Buffy's cheeks before she quickly looked away told her so much more than words ever could. Buffy had heard her just as she'd heard Buffy and despite the apparent embarrassment of the whole situation, she just knew Buffy had enjoyed their little experience.

Faith licked her lips slowly, fighting back the smirk that was dying to escape when Buffy looked back over at her, her fingers nervously fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. She hadn't heard a word that Giles was saying, her mind conjuring images she'd spent far too long fighting off. She couldn't fight them any longer, not after what had just transpired between them. The ache between her legs was growing as she let her eyes drink in Buffy, not caring that Kennedy stood next to her, grinning like a fool because she knew she was right. Faith knew she was right, yet there was no way she'd ever let those words slip past her lips. She wouldn't give Kennedy the satisfaction.

It was impossible for her to tear her eyes away from Buffy's as they just stared at one another. She'd give anything to know what was going through Buffy's mind right then despite how much it scared her to consider what she could possibly be thinking. She shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans as she blinked and tore her gaze away from Buffy's, trying with all that she had to pay attention to what Giles was saying. She could feel that ever familiar buzz, the one coming from Kennedy just a little dimmer than what she knew she felt coming from Buffy. It made her sigh out softly, her lips suddenly drier than they were after a night of heavy drinking. She said nothing as she walked out of the living room and into the kitchen.

Whatever was happening to them, to her, was pulling her to the depths of places she'd never been before. It was taking her thoughts on a joyride, playing with her, taunting her, dangling what she knew she could never have. What only existed in the fantasies she struggled not to let take over every thought of every waking moment of the day. She pulled out a bottle of water from the refrigerator, slamming the door shut as she closed her eyes and twisted off the cap.

"We're heading out," Buffy said as she walked into the kitchen, startling Faith from the trance she'd fallen into with her thoughts.

"Great, give me a minute," Faith replied softly as she lifted the bottle to her lips, taking a deep breath before she took a sip. "Where we headed to tonight?"

"Were you not paying attention?"

"Not really," she chuckled softly before she downed the rest of the water and placed the empty bottle on the counter. "Still half asleep here."

Buffy said nothing more to her, only raising an eyebrow as she turned and walked out of the kitchen. She followed Buffy out to the front hallway, grabbing a stake and the knife she'd had her eye on before. Kennedy and Buffy were talking quietly, going over the route for patrol. She only picked up on bits of it, figuring out from the things they were saying, or lack thereof, that they'd be patrolling the neighbourhood around the Hellmouth to see if they saw any strange activity despite the mystical barrier that surrounded those four blocks.

Faith stayed behind the two as they walked towards the Hellmouth neighbourhood. She kept trying to push out all the thoughts she had, the fantasies of Buffy she was afraid to even think with her so close, and failed continuously as her eyes swept over Buffy from behind. There was no denying the fact that Buffy was the epitome of sexy. No other woman had ever gotten under Faith's skin the way Buffy had. No other women invaded her thoughts and caused her to question everything she'd done to her in the past. Her time spent in prison had resulted in endless hours of being trapped within the confines of her own mind and it produced a lot of answers she just didn't want to hear.

She pulled her pack of cigarettes out of her jacket pocket, sighing as she lit one and inhaled deeply. Buffy glanced back at her, shaking her head slightly as she turned and continued walking ahead of her next to Kennedy. They were talking about plans to arrange a workable patrol schedule, that much Faith picked up on as they continued walking down the quiet, empty streets. She kept looking behind her as well, unable to shake the feeling of being watched yet again. It made her skin crawl and the Slayer inside her awaken. She needed a fight, some action, something, anything to get rid of the growing tension that just didn't seem to want to go away.

Sirens blared off in the distance as the three of them got closer to the Hellmouth. Aside from that, their footsteps against the pavement, and the breeze that picked up, there was nothing more to be heard. It made her uneasy. A city as big as Cleveland shouldn't be so eerily quiet. They came to a stop just outside the abandoned store and stood there, each of them looking in a different direction for any signs of movement from within the shadows that surrounded them.

"So, do we stay here and do the stakeout thing, or what?" Kennedy asked quietly as Faith sat down on the curb and finished her cigarette. "I vote for the stakeout thing."

Faith chuckled softly as Kennedy sat down next to her. "Yeah, the stakeout thing. Sit here like sitting ducks and hope something comes out and tries to eat us. Perfect fucking plan, Ken."

"There isn't anything else we can do," Buffy said as she sat down on the other side of Faith and let out a soft sigh. "Giles wants us to monitor the activity around here. The only thing we can do right now is to stay right where we are."

"It's gonna be a long, boring night," Faith said with a laugh as she flicked her cigarette away, watching as the embers scattered over the pavement.

Faith looked over at Buffy just out of the corner of her eye and found herself smiling a little as Buffy stretched her legs out in front of her and let out a soft grunt of frustration and boredom. Kennedy got up and began pacing near them, but Faith wasn't paying a speck of attention to her. All she could feel was Buffy next to her and the warmth radiating off of her as Buffy's hand easily reached for her own. Such a small gesture that came out of nowhere and it made her heart race as their fingers intertwined. She couldn't figure out just why Buffy wanted to hold her hand, nor could she figure out what made her do it.

She wasn't sure if what she was feeling was only what she herself felt, or if she was feeling what Buffy felt at that moment as well. In the last eleven days since the fall of Sunnydale, everything was gradually changing between all of them. Old and new friendships were being established, new bonds being formed, and something was transpiring between the two of them, something that neither of them seemed to be fighting, nor pushing away as they had before. She didn't want to think of just what it was that was happening between them, as it felt too surreal for it to really be happening.

But it was happening and there was something more there, something just waiting to capture them both and send them on an adventure of discovery together that seemed to have been a long time coming.

She looked over at Buffy, waiting until the moment their eyes met before she smiled at her, watching as something she thought was desire flashed through Buffy's eyes. She tried to convince herself that what she was seeing didn't really exist, instead being a product of her own wishful thinking. In her mind, this wasn't happening and she tried harder to convince herself she was still in her bed and dreaming, fantasizing as she had in moments of weakness when being alone got to her head. Buffy smiled back eventually, giving her hand a gentle squeeze before she let go.

Faith turned her head away from Buffy, breaking the intense eye contact they had for those few short minutes. She closed her eyes as she held her breath, still trying to convince herself that this was all a dream. Either that or she'd stepped into an alternate universe where things like this were possible.

She knew that being on a Hellmouth, anything was possible and that it could play tricks on one's mind. With the things she'd been feeling since they'd arrived there, she couldn't banish the nagging thought that this was one way whatever evil was there lurking in the shadows had of playing with her very soul. It was pushing her to the edges of whatever sanity that she'd managed to hold onto over the years, waiting for that moment to give her that final push to allow that darkness in her to take over.

And in her world, the darkness always won. Eventually. She had to fight it harder this time, not wanting to lose what she finally had now. A place in the lives of those she'd betrayed, of those she was learning to love in the tiniest of ways, a place in a family they were building amongst themselves. She couldn't lose it and she had to find the light to lead her on, to make her want to fight with everything she had to keep from succumbing to the darkest parts of her soul.