Revelations Part 1 (Evil Is The Watcher-word)

Buffy sat on a couch in the Bronze, watching the world go by, people dancing, laughing and generally being happy. Normal stuff.

The club was crowded tonight; Dingos were playing and they were proving as popular as ever. Buffy was here with her friends and, having managed to snag a table from the masses, Buffy told them she was getting a drink. But in reality she really wasn't in the right frame of mind to party and she didn't want her moping killing the mood. The only thing she was killing tonight was time until her patrol with Giles. And also vampires.

Patrolling with Giles, it didn't really have the same ring to it as patrolling with Faith. That was something she was missing very much.

'See Buffy. See Buffy mope. See Buffy act like a crazy person just because she hadn't seen a certain slayer in almost two weeks.'

11 days to be exact. 11 days that had involved torching sewer monsters, battling vampires, watching her Mom devolve into brat pack mode again and sitting her SAT's, also again.

And still no sign of Faith.

Buffy had come home early from the Homecoming dance to find a concerned Mom asking about the 'secret slayer mission' that Faith was being sent on by Giles and whether Buffy was also going. She then went on to criticize Giles teaching methods and how she just didn't understand the whole Watcher/Slayer dynamic.

Buffy had tiredly pled ignorance and went upstairs to discover one of Faith's bags and some of her clothes were missing. Her dress just left discarded on the bed, she'd been and gone. Faith had left to go walkabout, as she'd often done in the past, although before Buffy had never known any particular reason why she'd taken off.

This time she did, one ill-advised kiss and a freak-out later Faith had decided that the mature thing to do was take off and play truant- she was a rebel after all.

Buffy sighed and took a sip of her drink; she knew that her heart wasn't going to be in tonight's slaying at all. She didn't even know what her heart was doing these days; it wasn't really reliable.

But Buffy knew that somehow this was all Faith's fault, going and kissing her without even asking, there was an etiquette to these things, involving long looks and first dates and witty...

'Just substitute patrolling for dating and maybe some misread signals and bam, Faith kissage.'

Buffy looked up, suddenly aware of her Willow and Xander standing there.

"That's some deep thinking, right there." Xander said to Willow as he looked down at Buffy.

"Very statue-like," mused Willow, "Hey, maybe she's keenly scanning the Bronze, y'know, for vampires."

"I doubt it, Will. Vamps couldn't breathe in here it's so crowded."

Willow smirked. "They don't actually breathe."

Xander waved his hand dismissively. "You know what I mean. Hey, maybe she's wondering why 'fat chance' and 'slim chance' mean the same thing."

Buffy rolled her eyes at them. "Stop it, you guys. I was just...hey, actually why is that?"

Willow sat down across from Buffy and regarded her. "So, what were you doing?"

"I was...getting a drink, like I said, and then I sat down. Then I spaced out. That's the story so far." Buffy shrugged her shoulders. "No drama here, really."

"So, you wanna strut your stuff on the dance floor?" Xander glanced over his shoulder, "Or, well you could at least bob your head to the music, it's kind of poky over there at the moment."

"Ooh, we could pretend it's like a mosh pit," Willow said brightly, "except I'm not exactly sure what you do in a mosh pit..."

Cordelia made her way through the crowd, frowning in annoyance as she joined them. "Can I just say I liked this place before it got popular."

Willow looked at her. "You can, you have and I'm sure you will again in the future."

Xander put his arm around Cordelia. "It's a burden being a trend-setter, hon."

"Don't I know it," Cordelia looked around at everybody. "What are we doing anyway, is Buffy still moping?"

Buffy protested. "I'm not moping, I'm just...reflective. Reflective Buffy."

Cordelia wasn't buying it. "Just because your bestest new slaying pal goes off and decides to get a life of her own, your nose gets all out of joint."

Willow was a bit more sympathetic. "Its okay, Buffy. I miss her too."

Buffy put down her drink and sat up. "Guys, for the record, I'm fine. So Faith takes off when she feels like it, sure it'd be nice if I could do anything like that but I can't. I get to be the responsible chosen one."

"Yeah, we have responsible chosen one and tough, rebellious chosen one. Now all we need is there to be three other slayers and you can all wear matching outfits, in different colours. And you can all have unique and easily identifiable character traits." Xander quipped.

Willow frowned at Xander. "How is that helping?"

"Heh, sorry...but we know she's gonna come back right, I mean we've all made her feel sort of welcome." Xander gave Buffy a searching look, "Why'd she even take off anyway?"

"Maybe Faith killed her boyfriend too." Everyone looked at Cordelia, "What, it happened once already, right? Could totally happen again."

Just then Oz came over and took Willow's hands. "Hey."

Willow smiled up at him. "You made it through the groupies okay?"

"Well I won't lie, it was harsh. I might've left a couple of layers of skin behind - those girls are hazardous." He bent nuzzled her hair, "Worth it though."

Buffy looked at her friends, back and forth between her two groups of friends. Two couples actually, all looking at Buffy and her lonely group of one with pity. And with that Buffy suddenly found her motivation to hit things, Giles was going to be so impressed by the amount of violence she was going to inflict, he might even clean his glasses in some sort of sympathetic gesture towards the vampires who were going to die tonight. She wouldn't even need...

"Faith." Willow said in surprise as she spotted the brunette swaggering over to them.

Faith just grunted. "Yeah, what's up?" She looked at Buffy and gestured over her shoulder, "Time to motivate."

Buffy tried not to gawp at the sudden appearance of the other slayer. "Huh?"

Faith looked exasperated. "Come on, G's expectin' us."

"Have fun on your travels?" Xander asked.

Willow looked between Buffy and Faith curiously. "Yeah, Faith, where did you get to anyway?"

"Tell ya later," Faith watched as Buffy hurriedly grabbed her jacket and hat before walking back the way she came.

"See you guys later." Buffy said as she followed Faith through the crowd. "Faith, wait up!"

Buffy made her way out into the alley in time to see Faith pausing to put on her jacket. A denim one over a white t-shirt, plus tight leather pants, her slaying outfit.

"How did you find me?"

"Went to your place to drop off some stuff and said hi to your Mom, then I rang Giles to tell him I was back. He said you were probably here," Faith smirked at her, "not exactly a head scratcher, B."

"Okay, next question, where the hell have you been for the past two weeks?" Buffy gave her her very best scowl, the one she'd been practising with a lot.

"I took off for a while, so what? After all the fighting at Homecoming I needed to get some, y'know. And this guy at the Fish Tank knew about a party in L.A so I went." Faith shrugged. "Hellmouth isn't the only place that things needed killing, B. I did my thing, birds gotta fly, fish gotta swim, slayers' gotta slay. I figure you had things covered here so...L.A had plenty of targets."

Buffy felt her anger deflate a little. "But, you just took off without saying anything. I was worried." Faith snorted in disbelief. "I was."

"Buffy, you took off for three months and didn't tell anybody where you were goin'; don't think you should be getting on my case about this."

Buffy couldn't believe her. "That was different. The whole thing with Angel...I had to get away."

"Right, away from your friends, your Mom, your Watcher, everyone who gives a damn about you, fallin' over each other to help you." Faith rolled her eyes as she walked a way, "Musta been real rough."

Buffy ran after her. "You have no idea what you're talking about. Having to kill someone you love isn't in the same league as...what happened between us."

Faith frowned and stopped to look at her. "Huh?"

Buffy folded her arms. "Nice try, Faith. You ran off because we...you kissed me."

Faith shook her head as she turned away. "Just horny, is all. You were too, but being a tight-ass you got all freaked out 'cause you were kissing a chick. Bet you've spent all this time stewing in your own juices, still can't admit that slaying makes you..."

Buffy made a face. "It does not! God, would you just stop with the imagery..." Buffy touched Faith's shoulder so she faced her again. "I'm trying to talk about something that happened, okay? I...handled it badly, and I didn't want to leave things that way. If you hadn't run off..."

Faith looked bemused. "Wow, Buffy. I hate to burst your bubble, but kissing you didn't exactly linger in the memory, 'kay. Too busy actually having fun to wring my hands over some dumb-fuck thing you blurted out. I came back here to slay, that's it. So, you wanna keep Giles waiting go ahead. Me, I'm done."

With that Faith turned and sauntered off towards the cemetery, leaving Buffy more than a little hurt.

That's not exactly how Buffy imagined their reunion happening, she'd pictured some apologising, a hug maybe, then they'd go and get ice cream.

'And the sun would always shine, and the birds would sing, and everything would be great forever and ever. Stupid brain.'

She exhaled heavily and tried to calm down. This was just Faith being defensive, lashing out and acting like nothing happened, shutting Buffy down when she tried to talk about it.

Well, if she wanted to play things that way, fine. Buffy could wait; be patient, get her to open up again. Then they could kiss and make-out. Damn it, what was wrong with her? Make-up, just the make-up part.

Hesitantly, she put on her ski-cap and hurried after the other slayer.

"Good evening, Faith, so nice of you to join us." Giles paused as he saw Buffy lagging behind. "Buffy."

Giles was dressed appropriately for the surprisingly chilly evening, and had armed himself with a thermos of tea.

"Okay, G. Just point us at the vamps and we'll get dusting." Faith seemed as eager as Buffy had been to dish out some violence.

"I though we'd start over at Restfield, see if we can't work on your co-ordination."

Buffy nodded. "Lead the way." Giles did just that and Buffy walked into step next to the other slayer. "So, apart from oodles of sex, what else did you do in L.A?"

Faith seemed to relax a little at Buffy's conciliatory tone and smiled a little. "Just killing evil things y'know, some vamps, a Vahrall demon, and a mime over on South Beach- nothin' special."

"Sounds fun." Buffy said, allowing a smile of her own, "Well, you missed the return of Ethan Rayne; guess it sucks to be you."

Faith looked bummed for a second. "Aw damn, he come back for Halloween?"

"Nope, this time is was cursed candy. All the grown-ups suddenly started acting like teens. Scariest. Thing. Ever."

Faith smirked at the thought. "All the grown ups, huh? Even..." She gestured at Giles as he walked in front of them.

"No, thank god. I made sure he didn't get any of it. Back in his youth Giles was kind of...wild. It would've been ugly." Buffy was very thankful she'd managed to stop Giles and her Mom...reuniting, a definite improvement on before.

"Wild, huh?" Buffy saw Faith look Giles over speculatively before grinning. "Yeah, I could see that."

Buffy's eyes widened. "You did not just check out Giles." She hissed.

Faith nodded. "Sure did."

'This again.' Buffy shuddered slightly. "But he's...old and he's our Watcher, which adds an extra layer of icky."

Faith sneered a little at the other girl. "Geez, lighten up, princess. I've banged guys older than him 'fore, plus he's your Watcher, not mine." Her voice was uncharacteristically tinged with bitterness.

Buffy didn't know how to respond to Faith's sudden change in tone or what she'd just said, a knot formed in her stomach. "I, uh, didn't know you felt that way..."

Faith just shrugged like it was nothing and fell silent.

"Faith..."

Giles interrupted. "Right, here we are girls; there's been an unusual amount of vampire activity in this area making it entirely suitable for our purposes." He turned to regard them both. "Two active slayers will give us a rare opportunity to hone and perfect both your techniques..."

Faith interrupted. "Got one, this sucker's mine!" Faith ran passed Giles as a vampire appeared around a nearby mausoleum. Buffy spotted another one, growling as he flanked them to the right.

"Watch and learn, Giles." Buffy quipped as she raced over to the vamp. She saw Faith slam full tilt into hers, knocking him to the ground before grabbing him and throwing him bodily over a nearby stone bench.

Meanwhile Buffy dodged a couple of aggressive punches from her opponent, countering with a low kick to the leg followed by a fiercer roundhouse to the side, keeping the vamp on his toes. The vampire spun and managed to catch her across the face with a lucky punch before moving in close to grab her shoulder. Buffy let him try, before seizing and wrenching his wrist one way and then the other, using the momentum to fling him to the ground.

She snatched a look at Giles to see him sitting and watching; content to pour tea from his flask, a few metres away Faith grabbed her vampire's leg as he tried to kick her before flipping him over, she sure didn't lack for strength.

Buffy saw her vampire rise and barrel towards her, she ducked and used his momentum to drive an elbow into his stomach and then another into his face, spinning into a double roundhouse to finish him off, leaving him in a daze.

Relieved, Buffy pulled a stake, pushed her opponent so he was back to back with his fellow vamp. Just like last time, she jammed her stake in as Faith did the same and the two vamps were gone.

Buffy smiled in triumph and raised her hand to high-five Faith "Synchronised slaying." but the other girl ignored it and turned away.

"You're gonna leave me hanging?" She protested.

Faith shrugged as she walked over to Giles. "Whatever. So, G how was that?"

"Sloppy." Another voice spoke from the darkness. 'Oh, no. Not now. This just redefined sucky timing.'

From behind the bushes stepped Gwendolyn Post. Mrs. Holding a stopwatch as she regarded the two slayers. Giles looked on, slightly baffled.

She looked at Faith and spoke in clipped tones. "You telegraph punches." Then at Buffy. "Leave blind sides open and, for a school night's slaying take entirely too much time. Which one of you is Faith?"

Faith just stared at her defiantly. "Depends. Who the hell are you?"

'Bad news. Really bad news.'

They had all made their way from the cemetery to the school in relative silence, the two Watchers walking ahead of them and Faith staring antagonistically at the back of Mrs. Post. Who in turn had spoken in hushed tones to Giles so that the two girls couldn't hear what was being said.

That knot that had formed in her stomach since Faith had come back seemed to have doubled in size; the friendship between her and Faith was really shaky at the moment and didn't need interference by some primping witch. Buffy would have to stop this, just tell Giles to check her credentials or references or whatever and then Faith and her can get to fight over who gets to kick Her Majesty's ass on the way out of town.

Although for now Buffy just sat in the library watching the evil Mrs. Post sweep about like she owned the place, running an evil, critical eye over Giles prized book collection. Giles was leaning and nervously cleaning his glasses. Faith stood by the table, arms crossed as she glared at the older woman.

"I'm telling you I don't need a new Watcher! No offence, lady, I just have this problem with authority figures. They end up kinda dead." That said she then sat down next to Buffy and slouched.

Buffy vaguely wondered why Faith was so anti-Watcher when she'd just told Buffy how much she resented the fact that Buffy had Giles, did she really think he was that cute? The girl made no sense.

Mrs. Post turned to face Faith as she finished poking about. "Duly noted, and fortunately, it's not up to you." She then looked at Giles, "Mr. Giles- where do you keep the rest of your books?"

Giles seemed nonplussed as he put on his glasses. "I'm sorry, the rest?"

"Yes, the actual library." She paused for a moment. "Oh, I see."

Giles got defensive. "I assure you, Mrs. Post, this is the finest occult reference collection..."

"...this side of the Atlantic." Mrs Post finished, "I'm sure. Do you have Hume's Paranormal Encyclopaedia?" She gazed coolly at Giles who just looked down at the desk.

Mrs. Post walked back and forth behind the two slayers before she continued dryly. "The Labyrinth Maps of Malta?"

Buffy looked pleadingly at Giles. 'Slap this bitch down.'

"It's on order." He muttered.

Mrs. Post mercilessly continued. "Well, I suppose you have Sir Robert Kane's Twilight Compendium?"

"Oh, uh, yes." Giles flailed around looking for it, "Yes, yes I do." He eagerly showed it to the woman, Buffy had never seen him lose his dignity so fast. This lady was good, scary good.

Mrs. Post smiled condescendingly. "Well of course you do." She walked stiffly past him. "I have been sent by the council for a very important reason. Faith needs a Watcher. I am to act in that capacity, and report back."

Faith leaned forward. "Excuse me, Mary Poppins; you don't seem to be listening..."

Giles interrupted her, trying to regain some authority. "Now, Faith, if the council feels you need closer observation, then we'll all, of course, cooperate."

Mrs Post regarded him coolly. "The council wishes a report on the entire situation here, including you."

"Why, is the council suddenly worried about Giles' tiny library? We've managed fine so far." Buffy said, trying not to sound too mocking.

Even so, Giles seemed surprised by her outburst. "Buffy..."

But Mrs. Post wasn't finished. "Yes, I supposed 'managed' is an apt description, as would be 'muddled through somehow'. The council is concerned that operations here seem somewhat haphazard. Sloppy even." Post regarded Faith, "Faith, sit up and pay attention."

To Buffy's surprise Faith did so, looking a little chastised. Giles subtly gestured for Buffy to do the same but she just ignored him.

Post continued. "And we cannot afford to be careless, especially now. A demon named Lagos is coming here, to the Hellmouth." She gestured at Giles, "Mr. Giles, an illustration of Lagos, if you please."

"Oh, ah, yes..." Giles hesitantly started to search amongst his books, Buffy almost winced.

Post allowed a small smile. "Perhaps later. Lagos seeks the glove of Myhnegon. No record of this glove's full power exists. We do know that it is highly dangerous, and cannot fall into the hands of the demon. Lagos must be stopped."

Giles looked up from his books. "What do you propose?"

Post gave him a withering smile. "Well, if its not too radical suggestion, I thought we might kill him."

'Ouch, another intellectual bitch slap.' Post continued, "I suggest two slayers for a coordinated hunt. We believe the glove to be buried in a tomb somewhere, so Lagos will be headed for the cemetery."

"There is more than one in Sunnydale." Giles commented.

"I see. How many?"

"Twelve," Buffy piped up. "But Giles makes sure we know them all like the back of our hands. So patrolling them shouldn't be a problem, right Faith?"

The other slayer just scowled at her and Giles looked a little puzzled.

Mrs Post gave them that infuriating unflappable smile. "Very well, we shall just have to take them one at a time." She spoke directly to Giles, "Anything in your books that might pinpoint the exact location of the tomb would be useful, but then we cannot ask for miracles."

By now Giles just looked exasperated.

"We'll begin tomorrow at sunset," She nodded her head in the direction of the library doors, "Faith, with me please."

Buffy watched Faith meekly follow Mrs. Post as she left. And since Faith never went anywhere meekly Buffy decided that Post must be using magic. Or some strange British mind-control device they use for...pacifying the natives or whatever.

Giles took off his glasses, he looked a little dazed. "Well. That was bracing."

Buffy nodded. "Like a hurricane or a bomb blast is bracing. Can I kill her?"

Giles smiled slightly. "Best not. The council might take a dim view of that."

"But I bet we'd get points for initiative, right?" Buffy leaned forward, "Seriously, we should get the council on the phone and check her out."

Giles seemed perplexed by that suggestion. "I don't see any reason why that's necessary. After all she came here to warn us. Unless you're suggesting that this is some kind of unorthodox test." Giles shook his head. "No Buffy, we mustn't waste any time with formalities."

"But maybe she's lying about something else? Maybe she has an agenda or an interior motive?"

Giles regarded her dryly. "I think you mean ulterior motive."

Buffy frowned. "Whatever, we just need..."

Giles interrupted her sharply. "Really, that's enough Buffy. Mrs. Post is here to act as Faith's Watcher, and has also delivered us a warning we would be foolish not to heed." He stood up and scratched his forehead, "You should go on home, I clearly have a long night ahead of me."

Buffy knew that she was being dismissed and she couldn't push Giles any harder without making him suspicious. She decided to change the subject, "Hey, uh, anything on the whole wish thing, Angel coming back and stuff, it's been a couple of weeks..."

Giles nodded distractedly. "Yes, quite. Well, let's see, I've, uh, I've narrowed down the search quite extensively, ruled out several cursed objects that cast powerful glamour's, dream imps or vengeance demons- they don't work through dreams and their motives are quite different." He hesitated, "If you can remember anything else that could help..."

"I'll rack my brain, see if anything pops loose." Buffy decided this wasn't the best time to mention her body art, but since her own fumbling research into the subject had led her to a book about remote tribes of pigmies, she probably did need Giles' help.

She said goodnight and left him to his books.

Faith was sitting on the front step when Buffy got home.

"Your Mom's gone to bed and I don't have a key." She shrugged as she explained.

"Yeah, I'm sorry about that. I forgot how late it was." Buffy stepped up to the front door and got her keys out. She felt Faith get up and move behind her.

"So, how didja sneak in and out all those times without your Mom knowing 'bout it." Faith's husky voice made Buffy's stomach flip-flop a little, she'd missed her more than she thought.

"Oh, just snuck out of my bedroom window and across the porch roof. Very ninja." Buffy make a shushing motion as they entered, "You hungry? We could probably grab something in the kitchen."

"Sure." Faith followed Buffy down the dark hallway and into the kitchen, she then slid onto on a stool while Buffy slapped on a light and opened the fridge.

Buffy took out a pot of vanilla yoghurt and a big bowl of leftover carbonara and pushed the latter towards Faith. "Pour in half a cup of water, stir and nuke for two minutes, and voilĂ , pasta goodness."

Faith took the bowl with a grin. "You're a regular iron chef."

Buffy sat on one of the stools and watched the other slayer move about as she ate her yoghurt. Yum, it did tend to taste nicer after slaying, no denying it.

'That's just because of the brush with death thing; last meals on death row probably taste nice too. No way Faith is on the money about the whole slaying sitch.'

The microwave hummed quietly in the dark as the pasta rotated, Faith impatiently tapped the counter with her fingers.

Buffy found herself thinking about all the times she snuck in here alone, past midnight after an evening of slaying. Sitting in the dark as she quickly ate something before bed. It was always so lonely, so quiet. The rest of the world, her Mom, friends, everybody, switched off all their worries and got a few blissful hours of sleep while she sat in the dark, thinking that her life would always be like this. Sitting there alone, doing her slayer duty in secret, Buffy felt left behind as the rest of the world moved on oblivious.

But now, with Faith, it was the two of them, like they were sharing something secret, eating and talking and laughing and it was the world that was missing out, because they weren't here to see it.

Faith sat across from Buffy and dug into the bowl with a fork, smiling widely like it was some big luxury and not just leftovers. Pursing her lips Faith lightly blew on the steaming pasta before popping some into her mouth and chewing with delight, moaning softly.

Before she could stop herself Buffy blurted, "I missed you."

Faith stopped chewing and stared at Buffy with an unreadable expression.

Buffy swallowed a little nervously. "About what I said, I...wasn't worried about you; I know you can take care of yourself. But I missed you, like, all the time you were gone. I guess that's why I was mad at you. I mean, um, I just wish...actually no, I just wanted us to argue and shout and then be friends again. I didn't want you to go away, and I'm really sorry about what I said. Every day I felt bad about it. So, um, sorry, again."

Buffy stopped and stared down at her yoghurt. Great, instead of joking and banter and fun, now Faith was gonna run off again or sneer at Buffy and tell her to grow up, or loosen up, or do something upwards.

Moments ticked by, was the kitchen clock always that loud?

Buffy heard Faith shift a little. "Listen B, I'm gonna finish this upstairs, 'kay. Maybe I'll see you in the morning." She heard the other girl get up and head for the kitchen door.

'Well, that was pretty humiliating. No wonder I'm so limber, I spend a lot of time sticking my foot in my...'

"I missed you too, B." Faith had stopped at the doorway and had turned to look at her, "It just...hurt, what'cha said, even if you didn't mean it."

Buffy met her eyes. "I didn't. I promise."

"Anyways, I didn't like being gone so long. Kept missing you and your dopey friends..."

Buffy smiled. "Their the dopiest, but they do grow on you."

Faith blew out a breath and shook her head like she was going crazy. "I'm gonna go, try out my new bed. 'Night."

Buffy watched her go, a bubble of happiness forming in her chest. She actually felt better now than at any time since Homecoming night, Faith was back, they were okay. Not great but okay. And tomorrow, Buffy would try a different approach; if Giles wouldn't help her then she was sure Angel would. After all he fetched the glove last time, and Buffy was pretty sure he even knew how to destroy it. Mrs. Post wasn't getting her hands on the glove of...the magic mitten any time soon.

Buffy carefully parted the curtains and stepped into the mansion interior, pausing slightly to let her eyes adjust from afternoon sun to the gloom of Angel's home. A flicker of movement from the fireplace caught her attention as she moved forward.

She stopped as she saw a bare-chested Angel, moving slowly, purposefully and gracefully as he trained. Firelight played across his pale skin, his motions smooth and steady as he slowly came to a stop. He bent his head as if exhausted but then stiffened and looked up at her.

'Busted.' "Um, hey," Buffy said with an awkward wave, "That looked...you're looking good. I-I mean..."

"I'm getting stronger," Angel finished, walking over to the sofa and hurriedly putting on a shirt. "It helps...with the pain, lets me focus." He turned towards her, shirt still open, "How have you been, Buffy?"

'Mainly...sexually frustrated. But I guess you'd know something about that.'

Buffy shook those thoughts from her head. "Fine, I, um, brought you some liquid lunch." She shrugged off her backpack and took out a paper bag. "See, Sunnydale has a delivery service for everything..."

She finished lamely as she walked over and offered up the bag.

Angel reached over and took it before sitting down on the couch. "So, how are things... in general? Your boyfriend?"

Buffy frowned. "My boyfriend? Oh, um, that...it's kind of over, actually. Turns out he wasn't so solid, he dumped me."

Angel nodded in sympathy. "I'm sorry." He said it softly, like he meant it. He put the bag of blood to one side and stared into the flickering light of the fireplace, to Buffy it seemed that he was trying to avoid looking at her.

Buffy looked at him curiously. "Are you? Sorry, I mean?"

He didn't look at her. "I want you to be happy, that's all."

Buffy stopped herself getting drawn in to all this again, so close but yet always separated, no matter what she did.

She sighed as she sat on the sofa next to him, being near him was still a comfort if nothing else. "Well, I am happy, in general. Took my SAT's last week, think I aced them. They underestimated me and that was their fatal mistake."

Angel glanced over questioningly. "SAT's?"

"School exams, see what college I'm going to get into, or if I tumble spiralling down into the fast food job category."

Angel's lips curled slightly. "But you did well?"

"Yeah." Buffy decided to get to the reason she visited, "Listen, I have news of a slay-ey variety and I might need your help, so..."

Angel looked at her steadily. "Anything I can do, I will."

She met his gaze. 'Oh, boy...' "So, the last few weeks there's been a new Slayer in town. She was called after Kendra...after what happened. She's American, from Boston."

Angel nodded softly. "Why did she come here?"

"Well her Watcher died and she heard about me, I guess she got curious. She turned up and became my new patrolling buddy."

"That's good." Angel's eyes seemed to look right into her, "I worry about you. About not being there to help, I'm glad someone is."

Buffy found herself smiling happily. "Yeah, Faith has been a big help for a while now. She's kind of complicated but fun, in an unstable kind of way."

Angel was watching her closely, his face expressionless. "Faith? That's her name."

Buffy smiled. "I know. What is it with Slayers and unique first names? She's nice though."

"Does she...Have you told her about me? I understand if you haven't..."

"I did tell her." Buffy reassured him, "She doesn't get it...I'm not sure she gets relationships in general and having one with a vampire..." Buffy shook her head, "And I'm pretty sure she won't like you. But she's not going to accidently slay you if you pop out for snacks or... you know what I mean, whatever you go into town for."

"That's...reassuring." Angel said straight-faced, "Oh, and doughnuts. Jelly ones. Hell doesn't have them."

Buffy laughed a little. "That's something priests should mention in their sermons more often." This was nice; she was having a conversation, an actual conversation with Angel. Minimal tension and very few longing glances.

"So, how can I help?"

"Oh, right. We got told by Faith's new Watcher about a demon coming to town looking for an all-powerful artefact, like something out of D&D. The demon's called a...Lagos, or his name is Lagos, some confusion there."

The name caught Angel's attention, as Buffy knew it would. "Lagos. I remember them from...a long time ago, used to be a lot more of them around in those days. Pretty rare now, they don't crop up in civilized areas much, too caught up in their own feudal wars." He looked in concern at Buffy, "If it's here then that means this artefact must be powerful, Buffy. Be careful."

"Two slayers, double the fun, remember? Or maybe it's half the fun...Not that there is much fun to be had by killing a demonathing." Buffy refocused, "Anyway, he's looking for the Glove of...I wanna say mini-golf, but that probably isn't right. Could you ask around? See if you can turn up anything?"

Angel nodded grimly. "As soon as the sun goes down I'll go, I might have a few ideas where to start."

They stood up together from the couch, suddenly a lot nearer than they'd been sitting. Buffy felt how close Angel was, how tall and solid and...She looked up at him; he was gazing into her eyes.

Still staring she said. "I really have to go."

Angel nodded and raised his hand to her face, brushing away a strand of hair. "You'll be careful?"

Buffy nodded and took a step back. "I'm very cautious nowadays." She tried to keep her voice firm.

Angel stepped away, picked up the container of blood and moved over to the dying fire. Embers cast shadows on his sombre face. "You should go."

Buffy turned to go before stopping. "And another thing...Faith's Watcher, her name's Gwendolyn Post. I don't like her and I don't trust her." She looked at Angel who gave her his patented penetrating look, "If she comes near you... just don't turn your back on her, okay."

Angel gave her a small, sad smile that made Buffy feel like her heart was breaking and melting at the same time. "I'm very cautious nowadays."

Buffy smiled sadly before leaving.

'Girl with a purpose, channel all this frustration into killing a big, stupid demon and then burn the glove as Little Miss Stuffy looks on, horrified. Then, maybe I'll feel better.'

A bored Buffy and Faith walked lazily through cemetery number six, but Maple Wood was as dead as Buffy remembered it; Lagos must be at the next one.

Faith cracked her knuckles. "Man, wish this guy would show himself already. I'm gettin' kinda antsy, y'know?"

Buffy was staring at her hand thinking about using a different nail varnish; this stuff came off too easily. "Not really, he'll show eventually. Angel said that these guys aren't big on subtle, I'll save my strength 'til then."

Faith looked at the other girl speculatively. "So you and Angel just talk shop now, huh? Must be weird, chatting with your ex."

Buffy nodded absentmindedly. "It's a little weird, granted. But he does have info, he can help. And I can't let personal stuff get in the way."

"Gotta say, I'm a little curious 'bout him, I mean I haven't even seen the guy." Faith smirked, "He lives in that big mansion over on Crawford, right? Maybe I'll stop by sometime, just to sneak a peak, y'know?"

Buffy didn't rise to the bait. "Go ahead. I've told him about you so I don't think he'll mind." She looked at Faith, "Anyway, how did you treat your exe's?"

"Dropped 'em to the curb and ran, B." Faith said scornfully. "I tell ya I've had a few shockers." She counted off on her fingers, "Ronnie. Deadbeat. Steve. Klepto. Kenny. Drummer. Eventually I had to face up to my destiny as a loser magnet. Now it's strictly get some and get gone. You can't trust guys."

Buffy smiled at the other girl's cynicism. "Well, Faith, guys are kind of everywhere. You can't have dated all of them. And I've even read about some nice ones."

"Yeah, that's why they call it fiction, Buffy. It ain't real."

Buffy persisted. "But still, girl like you has a lot of options."

Faith stopped and looked at her. "What d'ya mean, 'a girl like me'."

Buffy came to a stop and shrugged awkwardly. "I mean, you're smart, funny, and beautiful. Guys would probably throw themselves to the vampires, hoping you'd rescue them. If they knew vampires existed, of course."

Faith frowned at that and started walking again, not saying anything for a while. "You really think I'm smart." She sounded unsure.

Buffy decided not to poke fun. "Yes Faith, I think you're smart, when you want to be. I think you have lots of good points, some of them not so obvious."

Faith smiled and wiggled her eyebrows."And some pretty obvious ones too." She pulled back her jacket and gestured to her tight top and pants, the vulnerability having vanished.

Buffy looked her over and shook her head. "You're impossible."

Faith laughed a little huskily. "Hey, that's pretty good. Nobody ever said my tits were impossible before."

Buffy reddened. "That's not what I meant."

Faith grinned at Buffy's discomfort as they made their way on to Main Street, and nudged her shoulder. "Hey, thanks anyways, just as long as you ain't bigging me up so we can go on some double date thing. 'Cause like I said I don't date anymore."

Buffy sighed. "Nope, they are plenty of couples around already. All my friends for example, thanks to me they're problem free." Buffy decided to change the subject onto something a little less depressing, "So, what did you and Miss Post talk about last night?"

Faith shrugged. "She wanted to know a little about what I did back in Boston, what I'd killed, how much training I had and stuff." Faith stepped off the sidewalk to swing round a tree. "Plus, y'know, she wanted the skinny on what was going on here. You, your buds and Angel."

Buffy froze and her eyes widened. "You told her about Angel? What did you say?"

Faith looked a little confused. "Just the basics, y'know, vamp cursed by gypsies, got all guilt ridden. Went bad again and now he's back 'cause of somethin' you did. What's the prob?"

"So, pretty much everything." She scowled at Faith, "You shouldn't have done that, Faith. The stuff with Angel is private; I don't like strangers knowing about any of it."

Faith gave Buffy a bemused look. "What's the big deal; she's a Watcher, Buffy. They like to know stuff, it gives them their jollies. Anyway, she's heard of Angel, he's, like, famous, or somethin'."

Buffy cursed inwardly, if Post knew Angel was a vampire and tried to take the glove then who knows what could happen, what might change. Okay, she just wouldn't leave her alone. Kill demon guy, take glove, what could Mrs. Post do? Apart from fill Faith's head with lies...

"Faith, listen. You shouldn't trust her, okay? She kinda gives me the wiggins, it's...hard to explain."

Faith stood there and crossed her arms, she raised an expectant eyebrow. "Try."

Buffy tried to find a way to explain that sounded sane and that wasn't a total lie. She gestured helplessly. "Just instinct, I guess."

Faith looked suspicious. "Whatever. It's not like I dig her either, you wanna keep secrets, fine." The brunette looked around, seemingly annoyed, "Look, we're oh for six tonight. Let's blow this off."

Buffy shook her head. "I don't think that's a good idea. Shady Hill's pretty close. C'mon, you haven't even hit anything yet..."

Faith sighed heavily. "Fine, one more and then I'm leavin' your ass and goin' for some ribs, understand?"

Buffy smiled happily, "You won't be disappointed."

"Yeah, yeah."

Buffy couldn't tell if Faith's sulking was for real or if she just didn't feel like talking anymore. The brunette walked next to her, kicking the occasional pile of leaves and punching her fist into her palm, Faith just grunted at any attempt that Buffy made to start another conversation.

Buffy gave up after a while, deciding to concentrate on looking out for Lagos, pretending that a seven-foot tall demon in medieval garb would sneak up on her in the dark. Shady Hill was pretty opulent as cemeteries went; lots of gabled mausoleums, wrought iron fences and stone statues. Buffy more often that not found herself admiring a creepy piece of gothic architecture rather than talking to the pretty girl next to her.

'I hate my life.'

Suddenly the sound of stone grating on stone cut through the night and an impossibly large stone lid slammed to the ground in front of the two girls. Faith, startled, looked up ahead to see Lagos a few metres away. His back was to the two of them as he busily ransacked and ripped through a tomb, looking for something.

Buffy touched Faith's arm and whispered quietly. "See what a little patience gets you? We'll come at him from two sides, try and keep him off balance..."

"Screw that." Faith said before rushing forward before Buffy could stop her and leaping up to fly kick the demon in the back.

Lagos grunted and turned in confusion; Faith grabbed his shoulder and laid into him with a heavy backhand- forehand smash, before punching him in the gut and slugging him in the face, finishing off by kicking him in the side, seeming to pour all her frustrations into pounding him.

Lagos didn't even seem to react to the strikes, simply grabbing Faith by the throat and hurled her back into the wall of a nearby mausoleum. Buffy rushed passed the downed slayer at Lagos, drawing his focus. She kicked low, slamming her heel against his knee and punched him in the jaw, then ducking a clumsy grab.

To her left she saw Faith struggle to her feet, her face contorted in anger. Buffy kicked low again, aiming for Lagos' groin, but instead caught his leg. His sweeping arm came down and managed to glance against her thigh, the power of it still enough to send her tumbling to the ground.

Still confused Lagos turned his attention to Faith as she rushed him again. Drawing back an arm to haymaker him, she ran straight into a massive fist on an upswing that caught her in the gut. Faith was lifted off her feet and hurled to the ground in pain.

Buffy came up and at Lagos again, going low once more and kicking him in the leg before booting him between the legs. She watched as the demon doubled over, exposing the large axe strapped to his back, with a grin of triumph Buffy quickly reached to grab it.

That proved to be a mistake.

Lagos, still doubled over, turned towards Buffy, moving so the axe managed to elude her grasp. Realising she was too close, Buffy tried to back off but an elbow from the demon crashed against the back of her neck. She dropped to the ground and tried to scramble away but before she could he swung an arm down that slammed against her face. Pain pierced her skull and bursts of light formed behind Buffy's eyes as she felt him grasp her by her coat and neck, pick her up and hurl her through the air.

Buffy saw flashes of the moon overhead, grass, and the wall of the mausoleum as she hurtled towards it. Buffy threw up her arms to cushion the blow but something smashed into her legs, knocking them skyward. She heard Faith grunt and then she went cart-wheeling to the ground, her head slammed awkwardly into something hard.

Buffy dimly heard Faith call her name in alarm before the world fell away and blackness swept in.

Buffy arose from unconsciousness to sounds of combat, she could hear Faith screaming. "You don't touch her! You hear me you bastard!" Buffy managed to lift her head up, feeling an incredible weight dragging her down, like her skull was tied to the ground.

She saw Faith and Lagos fighting, the dark-haired slayer punching and dodging the demon, her fists flailing against him. Buffy saw Lagos briefly on the defensive before blocking and grabbing Faith's arm, hauling her into the air, twirling her around like she weighed nothing before smashing her down into the empty tomb with a bone-jarring crunch. Roaring in frustration the demon then stalked away from the two of them, seeming oblivious to its victory.

Buffy lay there, her arm reached out and touched rough stone; the tomb lid which she'd landed on.

One hand came up to feel her head, touching wetness which she assumed was dew from the grass before pulling her fingers back. Blood. Ow.

Buffy managed to sit up, ignoring the throbbing pain that spread across the side of her head.

'That...could've gone better.'

"Buffy!" The blonde slayer looked towards the tomb as Faith stood up, one hand pressed to her side. "Buffy, shit are you alright?"

Not waiting for an answer she swung her leg over and hopped out of tomb, leaning for a moment against a tombstone before making her way over.

Buffy got onto her hands and knees, making enormous effort to ignore the fun spinning effect that it had, before pushing herself upright.

"Jeez, Buffy, take it easy. You had a bad landing." Faith put an arm around her and helped her to her feet.

Buffy groaned. "We need to work on our...not getting hit. Plus we need more weapons, more than none at any rate. Like grenades, grenades are under-rated..."

She and Faith made their way a short distance before leaning Buffy against a solid tombstone, Buffy gave it an appreciative pat.

Faith took a step back, a little out of breath. "Just rest a minute, okay?"

"I'm fine...but be honest, is there a huge dent in my head? Is it big? Could I maybe hide it with a comb over or a hair pin?" Buffy gingerly fingered her head, "Or is it so bad I'll need to wear hats all the time? I have some nice hats."

Faith looked at her speculatively. "I sure hope you ain't concussed, babbling away like this."

"Your bedside...graveside manner is impressively bad, Faith. You're like the anti-Patch Adams."

Faith smirked uneasily before turning away and holding her side. "I'm guessin' you're fine."

Buffy gently grabbed the other girl and turned her closer. "Hey, you're hurt..."

"Just got the wind knocked out, nothin' broke. No big." Faith said, squirming a little as Buffy put a hand gently against the other girl's side.

"What's wrong?"

Faith grimaced, almost embarrassed. "Nothin'...just a fight like that, uh, gets me goin', y'know."

Buffy, realising what the other girl was saying and how close they were quickly dropped her hand away. "Oh! Um, sorry, I didn't mean to touch...I mean, I'm glad your okay."

Faith was staring at Buffy, seemingly trying to gauge her reaction, eyes drifting searchingly over her face, eyes, then lips before her gaze roamed downwards, taking in her red coat that had parted just enough to show off her clingy purple top. Faith's eyes stayed there for a moment, her expression changing a little, her lips, suddenly dark and inviting to Buffy's eyes, curled into a smile. Her mouth opened slightly so Buffy could see her tongue press against her top teeth. Faith's dark eye's lifted to meet Buffy's, they seemed larger than before and hadn't seemed as dark or torrid or gorgeous.

Buffy was aware of how close they were to each other, Faith's taut body inches from her own. That scent from Homecoming drifted into her senses, with it the smell of leather and some vague flowery aroma.

She felt flushed, almost feverish. Her head, still throbbing, seemed to dull as her senses concentrated on the girl in front of her. Faith's long, dark hair that Buffy had the urge to run her hands through, the slim band of skin visible between Faith's jeans and top, Faith's shoulders, bare of any bra strap, which meant only in thin tight top between Buffy's hands and Faith's...

"Faith..." Buffy murmured, her hands going to the other girl's hips, sliding along the pockets before digging into her belt.

"B..." Faith's voice was part lust part uncertainty as one of her hands cupped Buffy's chin and tilted her face upwards.

And then they were kissing, Buffy pulled the dark-haired girl closer and met Faith's eager mouth. This wasn't Homecoming, a sweet romantic kiss that came from a moment of tenderness. This was frantic, hard, almost bruising. Clashing tongues and roaming hands as they wrapped around her other. Buffy moaned, her body seemed to hum with need, she was already wet with desire and when Faith's thigh pushed firmly against her centre she gasped loudly in appreciation.

Faith's hands spread open her coat and cupped Buffy's breasts with surprising softness, her thumbs tracing a pattern over the material, rasping against the stiff sports bra underneath. Buffy's hands went to the other girl's hair and pulled back, her mouth moving forward to suck the silky softness of Faith's neck. Faith moaned in pleasure, her own hands leaving Buffy's chest and reaching round to cup her ass.

"Fuck...B."

"Uh-huh..." Was all Buffy could respond with, she seemed to have lost all reason. All that mattered was touching Faith, letting her know how she'd missed her and wanted her so she wouldn't dare go away again. Her hands ran down Faith's body, fingernails scratching over cloth and hands trembling slightly as she put them on Faith's chest. Buffy cupped a little hesitantly, feeling warm, firm flesh under her palms and finding the sensation incredibly erotic.

Faith murmured appreciation into Buffy's hair, her mouth lowering to kiss and nibble exposed neck, sucking on her pulse point, teeth scraping sensitive flesh and making Buffy feel light-headed.

Faith grunted as she lifted Buffy up sat her heavily down on the tombstone, leaving her mouth level with the blonde girl's heaving chest. She nuzzled Buffy, her mouth kissing through the material of her top, teeth occasionally nipping through the material.

Faith's hands went to Buffy's hips and drifted under her shirt, nimble fingers glided against hot skin as they travelling slowly upwards.

But Buffy was having trouble; her head hadn't really stopped hurting, just fading in and out with the pleasure of the moment. She wanted to continue, in this moment the clarity was stark, she wanted this, Faith, now. But not this way, not while she was sore and possibly concussed.

Buffy cupped the sides of Faith's head and gently pulled her away. "Faith, wait, just stop. I can't..."

Faith paused and then pulled away suddenly, her face angry. "'Dammit, Buffy!" Without looking at her Faith tore her hands loose from Buffy and turned away.

But by doing that Buffy lost her precarious balance on the tombstone and toppled backwards with a quiet gasp, she grunted as she landed hard on the ground. The jarring impact made waves of pain and dizziness course through her head; she rolled onto her side and huffed out a groan.

"Faith...Ow...you didn't need to..."

But the graveyard was quiet all of a sudden; Buffy only heard the soft thump of boots running off.

...go and run off, again."

Slowly Buffy sat up again, trying to spot which way the other slayer had run off, but she saw nothing.

"Well, so that...happened."

Revelations Part 2 (The Magic Mitten And Other Important Stuff)

"Angel?" Buffy called out as she reached to fully open the French windows. She hesitated. She really didn't feel a hundred per cent, but if Angel had managed to get the glove again she needed to know tonight. Buffy would feel a little better about letting Lagos get away if she could give Giles some good news in the morning.

Buffy glanced around; saw Angel in front of the fireplace as he looked up from a book. He saw her and his face turned to concern; dropping the book he hurried over. "Buffy!"

Buffy tried to wave him away. "I'm okay, really, it looks worse that it is...I hope."

Angel gently took her by the arm, his other hand going to the side of her head. He led her over to the sofa and sat her down softly. "Take it easy. Was it Lagos?"

"Uh-huh, little rusty on the dismount...I don't understand, I beat him the first time." Off of Angel's frown, "I mean, um, I've faced one of those guys before...before I came to Sunnydale. Beheaded it and everything. No big, and now I have a big head."

Angel was peering at her wound. "What happened to Faith?"

"She's fine, a little beat up though. We, um, decided to split up after."

"She left you alone like this?" He sounded angry.

"Angel don't, she didn't...I'm fine, really. A band-aid with a little cartoon character on it and I'm good."

"I have some clean towels and fresh water. Give me a second." Angel stood up and left.

Buffy lowered her head onto her hands. "I wouldn't say no to an Advil."

She waited for him to return, her mind still a little foggy, and her body still buzzing from kissing Faith. Also the...everything else that happened with Faith.

'I find Faith attractive. Me. Attracted to Faith. Faith the slayer who tried to kill me last year. Faith, who doesn't date at all. Faith who is a girl, with girl-parts, really nice girl-parts... Ugh, this is crazy. A crazy lesbian fantasy dream caused by a blow to the head. Except... Except that it's real and I don't have the first clue about how to deal with it, any of it. I just need...'

"Angel..." She murmured as he touched her shoulder, He didn't answer, just pressed a cold, wet towel against the side of her head. She winced at the sensation but the fog began to clear.

His voice was soft with concern. "There's not much blood now, just a little swelling. But head wounds can be dangerous..."

"I know." Buffy opened her eyes to look at him, seeing his love, his warmth. "But I don't taste anything funny or have any floaty feelings. It's just sore, getting better now, though." She allowed a small smile.

They stared at each other for a long time and it was like always, as though the world had gone away; it was just them and the night. A girl and a boy and her head wound. His face, so handsome and sombre, that softened every time he saw her like she was the most important thing in the world, slowly leaned closer to hers.

Buffy realised what exactly was going to happen just moments before it did. The kiss was soft; Angel's lips were cool, familiar and comforting. Buffy embraced him, automatically putting her arms around him as she rose up and he held her close. The thoughts that had been racing through her head minutes ago dissipated, she felt his strong arms on her waist as the kiss deepened.

This was simple, a simpler time when Buffy knew what she wanted, knew how Angel felt about her and how that had made her feel.

But she knew that was illusion, a child's view of love, because they couldn't ever be, not like she wanted. With that realisation her mind seemed to awaken and Buffy pulled back. Angel's face was a mirror of her own, confused and guilty.

"Buffy...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..."

'First Faith, now Angel. I've really gotta control myself.'

Buffy stepped away breathless, she shook her head. "I-I didn't exactly try and stop you, Angel. But, I...you know we can't."

Angel nodded a little shakily.

Buffy took a breath before adding. "And...I have to tell you, there might be someone else..."

"But you said you and Scott...?" His voice was unsure.

"Not Scott, somebody... new. It wasn't something I was even expecting, not in a million years. But they... they're special to me."

Angel looked at her steadily.

Buffy didn't look at him. Should she really tell him when she wasn't even sure herself? She knew there were feelings there, denial could only go so far, but still saying it out loud, admitting it to someone made it real. Undeniable.

"It's Faith." She said softly, her eyes went to his as part of her inwardly cringing.

Angel blinked, looked nonplussed for a moment. "Faith...the other slayer?"

"Uh-huh." Buffy squeaked.

"But, she's... Faith would be a girl." Buffy heard the undertone of hurt and confusion in Angel's voice.

Buffy nodded weakly. "Nothing gets past you, huh?"

Angel scratched the back of his head. "Is it...when did this happen?"

"Mostly, this past few weeks but...confirmed about an hour ago." Buffy shrugged awkwardly, "You and her really have the same idea about TLC."

"Well, that's...new, like you said."

Buffy gaze left him; she didn't like looking at his pain. "Angel, I don't know what the hell I'm doing. I'm just trying to be honest." She smiled sadly, "I love you...I think I'll always love you. But we can't be together, and Faith makes me feel..."

She sighed. "You know, come to think of it you actually have a lot in common. You're both complicated, um, with mysterious pasts. You've built up lots of defences to stop other people getting in. You've both gone through stuff- badness, I'm sure of that. And I want to get to know her, to find out what she's like under all that cynicism and distrust."

"You're in love with her." Angel stated simply.

Buffy shook her head and looked at him. "I don't know...I really hope not. I just started out wanting to be her friend, share the whole slayer burden thing."

Angel gave a sad smile in sympathy. "And now what do you want?"

"That's the important thing." Buffy blinked, "Actually the important thing is the glove. Did you...?"

Angel nodded and gestured to a nearby table. Buffy recognised the bundle of wrappings as she stepped closer.

Angel moved with her and unveiled it. "The glove of Myhnegon. Found it in the Von Hauptmann crypt."

"As family heirlooms go it's fairly freaksome..." She peered closer, remembering how dangerous this thing was.

Angel gently stopped her. "Don't touch it. Once the glove is put on it can never be removed."

Buffy nodded. "I remember, and anyway it doesn't even go with anything I own so..."She looked down and Angel dropped his arm away, "So that's the glove safe. I'll tell Giles in the morning, he could use some good news. I better get home, thanks for the wet towel and the...um, just the wet towel."

Buffy moved away from Angel, casting one last look back at him as she left the mansion and headed home.

"So we are, again. Along with my lunch." Mr. Platt put down his coffee and frowned at Buffy, although he seemed more exasperated than annoyed.

Buffy gave her best innocent smile as she stood in the middle of his office. "Well, isn't it, like policy to always be on call for students and their...problems?"

"No, I believe that's doctors." Platt said dryly. "Buffy, I'm very happy to see that you've been staying out of trouble and that your grades and class attendants are both up, but..."

"But I might be going off the rails. Y'know, going from being a good student and then falling into a bad student, um, gorge. You have, like a duty to help me." Buffy tried not to look too desperate, "Please?"

The man sighed. "You've got five minutes. Convince me."

"Uh, okay." Buffy sat quickly and tried to get her thoughts in order, "Well, there are girls and then there are also guys. And some guys like other guys, which is cool, y'know. And also there are girls who might like other girls."

She paused. Platt merely raised an eyebrow.

"But, usually when you decide which you...not that it's a choice, I mean not usually..." Buffy scrunched up her face, "I might've kissed a girl."

"Faith." Platt said flatly, he didn't seem surprised.

Buffy raised her eyebrows. "Um, yeah. Yes, how did you know?"

"It doesn't matter Buffy, what exactly has you worried?"

"Well, the whole 'kissing -a -girl thing' kinda threw me. How come you're not thrown? Are you still irked? With me coming in here? At least now you see it's an emergency."

Platt leaned forward and steepled his hands. "Buffy the last time you were in here you were talking about Faith, and also the time before that. I could see pretty well even then that you'd developed a bond with this girl, a friendship. Sometimes these things grow in ways we don't imagine."

Buffy clasped her hands nervously. "But, what does it mean?"

Platt seemed thoughtful. "Let's see if I can't make a few educated guesses before I answer. You and Faith, you have a lot in common; you see the world in the same way. You sometimes both feel like outsiders and nobody gets you, but she understands things about you that nobody else can. She came into your life at a difficult time; maybe helped you see another side to things, a lighter side. How am I doing so far?"

Buffy shifted a little. "Um, pretty good actually. You could go pro..."

Platt sat up straighter and stared at Buffy. "Buffy, having feelings for somebody the same sex as you isn't as freaky or as weird as you think. And I'm not talking about throwing any labels around or maybe having a crush on a teacher. Liking or loving somebody can be about a lot of things that resist category. It can be about two people connecting on some level."

"How do I know if what I'm feeling even is even real?"

"Well, I'm pretty certain you're not the kind of person who comes to a councillor willingly over an innocent kiss, am I right? Your instincts tell you this is something else, something serious. Put it this way, when you think about Faith, what do you feel, honestly? How would you feel if she went away? Or started dating somebody you both knew?" Platt smiled gently, "The murky world of teenage hormones can be difficult, Buffy. Trust your instincts, talk to Faith, open up to her just a little and see how she responds."

Buffy nodded slowly as she let his advice sink in. He hadn't seemed surprised by her confession, being a councillor and all. Maybe she'd been giving off more signals than she realised? Maybe she always had?

What about Faith, had she felt like this the first time around, had feelings for her? That might've explained the way she went of the rails last year.

'After all, love makes you do the wacky...'

Buffy smiled at the councillor. "Thanks, Mr. Platt. I think I'll do that. Um, and again sorry for the crazy-Buffy-stoppage."

Mr Platt nodded and picked up his coffee as she stood up. "Good luck with the soap opera."

Buffy left his office and checked her watch; she'd avoided Faith this morning, wanting to get all her feelings straight, or as straight as they can be when they were about another girl.

'Heh, I made a funny. My head must be feeling better. '

Her friends were assembled in the library, grouped round the table when Buffy entered, they all looked pretty unhappy. She had a brief flashback to the 'intervention' from last year and her stomach swooped nervously. "Hi, guys."

Giles looked at her, his eyes tired, but he frowned as he noticed her injury. "Buffy, are you alright?"

Buffy approached, gesturing to her head. "It's a scratch really, next time Faith and I should have weapons. Where is Faith anyway?"

"With Mrs Post, training I believe." Giles commented, adding dryly, "They'll both be joining us later...when I have something more concrete to report."

"Well, how about this for solid, I got the magic mitten. So Miss Post can suck it."Buffy thought about it, "And also Lagos."

"Hey, score one for the good guys. More importantly this group of good guys." Xander said. It was obvious from all the tension that despite working hard they'd all made little progress.

Willow leaned back tiredly. "We cracked the books and got nowhere, we don't even know what this glove does."

Cordelia grumbled. "What does that even mean? You can't crack books, they're made of paper."

Oz looked pointedly at the closed books where Cordelia was sitting. "I think it means opening them, so mystery solved."

Giles walked around the table towards Buffy. "Yes, Cordelia, the marathon session of forty-five minutes you put in really was going above and beyond." He addressed Buffy, "Are you sure you're alright?"

Buffy smiled at his concern. "Peachy. Way better than Lagos is gonna be."

Giles asked more pointedly. "And the glove is where, exactly?"

"Angel has it." Buffy said softly, "He's keeping it safe for us at the mansion."

Giles still tensed at the mention of Angel but he simply nodded. "Good, I might have found a way of destroying this glove but until then it's imperative that you and Faith locate Lagos. As long as he's loose..."

Their soft conversation was overridden by Cordelia's complaining voice. "Why is everyone picking on me all of a sudden?"

"Karmic cycle?" Willow muttered, but loud enough for everyone to hear.

Cordelia huffed and looked pointedly at Xander, whose eyes widened comically. "Uhh... "

Buffy decided to interrupt. "Guys, take a break okay. Will, could we talk?" Buffy gestured to the stacks.

Willow nodded and stood. She seemed worn down and weary from all the research, her shoulders slumped. Buffy followed her up the steps and put an arm on her shoulder. "You look beat; Giles shouldn't work you guys so hard. You're getting kinda cranky."

"Well, Mrs. Post has got him all British and competitive, and also cranky. He's like super-Watcher man all of a sudden." Willow looked in sympathy at Buffy's head, "And you need our help, this demony guy is really dangerous."

"This, a tombstone did this. If Faith and I had just..." Buffy sighed, "There's a whole bunch of 'Faith and I' stuff."

Willow leaned against a wall and slid down to hug her knees. "Are you two having slayer-issues? Do you need to vent? 'Cause, Buffy, I'm not sure I'm in top form right now..."

Buffy shook her head as she knelt down beside Willow, lowering her voice a little. "This isn't a bitch-fest, don't worry. But, I kinda need your opinion about stuff, things..."

"Oh, things..? Things I can do, I have great knowledge of things." She gave Buffy a 'seriously' look.

Buffy ran a hand through her hair. "Alright, alright. Give me a break; I'm having an uncomfortable time with things. There's all this confusion and worry and, okay, excitement, I won't lie."

Willow seemed to perk up a lot at the thought of gossip. "What is it? Does it involve Angel? Because Buffy, its okay if you slipped, maybe got excited. Just don't be getting him excited, y'know?"

"It isn't about Angel, at least not directly." Buffy swallowed. "It happened last night, after Faith and I fought the...anyway things got intense during the fight and then after, we were recovering and then..."

Willow leaned forward curiously. "And then?"

"We kissed." Buffy rushed to get it out, "And not just friend kissed, it was making-out, second base, trying to deny each other oxygen kissing."

Willow's eyebrows shot up, she blinked for a couple of seconds before leaning her head back so it thumped against the wall. "Ow," She said dully.

Buffy grimaced before reaching out and patted Willow's knee. "Sorry. Are you okay?"

Willow shook her head and smiled in bemusement at Buffy. "You kissed Faith? Wow, I mean, wow. I- I knew you two were getting along but...Oh; maybe it was because you bumped your head. That can change your personality, but only temporarily. Or maybe you got amnesia and forgot you were a girl and I'm not handling this very well am I?"

"Better than I did." Buffy sighed, "I kissed her at Homecoming as well, Will."

"You did, when?" Willow asked and then seemed to think about it. "Was it when you were being hunted? No, because that would be crazy..."

"Here, in the library after everything. I didn't get to the dance and...I don't know what happened, we ended up kissing."Buffy felt like a weight was being lifted, finally telling someone about all the crazy stuff was so liberating.

"That's why she went away, isn't it? You two got all smoochy and then something happened?"

"Yeah, my brain freaked when I remember what gender I actually like."Buffy shook her head at the memory, "I messed up and hurt her and she blew me off for a couple of weeks."

Willow nodded in sympathy. "Well, to be fair, the whole gender thing is usually important, as things you like about a person go. So, is it a slayer thing, you think? Between the two of you?"

"I really don't know, and I'm no way I'm gonna ask Giles. Can you seriously imagine that?" Buffy asked, "I've tried and all I keep seeing is me holding two Barbie's up and making them kissy face in front of him, and then he's all shaking is head and not understanding."

Willow giggled. "I think Giles would be a bit more supportive."

"And what about Faith? Does she even think about me in that way, y'know, with the holding hands and dating and smooching? Or is she 'get some and get gone?'

Willow regarded the blonde kindly. "Buffy, have you tried asking her, I mean talking to her and being honest and stuff?"

"Well, no...but after the kissing she keeps on running off. It makes it kind of hard to have a discussion when all I've got to talk to are dust trails."

"That's tricky." Then Willow grinned excitedly, "Ooh, but tonight, you'll both be out looking for Lagos, right? You'll be all stakeout-y. And you know what happens on stakeouts?"

Buffy brightened. "Wait, I know this one. Donuts and thermos's of coffee?"

"No, you talk about your feelings, bond, and then smoochies."

"Okay, I think we've watched different cop movies. Or maybe you're thinking of that one with the dog, where he slobbers all over Tom Hanks?"

Willow mock scowled. "You're being all avoid-y, Buffy. If you like Faith this is the perfect time to tell her, third time's the charm. No more blowing off. Or slobber."

"Alright," Buffy pouted, "I'll bite the bullet, whatever that means." She then gave Willow a smirk, "Y'know, I didn't think you'd be all...well, this supportive. Thanks Will."

"Please, after spending most of last night staring at creepy demon books I welcome any human interaction." Willow gave Buffy's shoulder a pat, "Besides, I'm all about being there for my newly-gay best friend."

"I'm not...gay!" Buffy hissed, "Not, um, that there's anything wrong with that. I'm just not, 'cause last night I kissed Angel. Does a gay girl do that?"

Willow's eyes widened comically. "You kissed..? After kissing..? Oh, Buffy, that's...a very complex life you're leading."

Buffy was about to defend herself, eloquently explaining to Willow everything that happened last night, when she heard Giles' voice carry over. "Mrs. Post, how unexpected, and may I add quite well-timed."

Buffy quickly got to her feet as Mrs. Post said something she couldn't hear. She and Willow headed round the stacks to the top of the stairs to see Mrs. Post, hair down so she looked less school-ma'am evil and more lightning-throwing evil.

The Watcher stood, looking coldly over Giles and the gang's researching efforts, to one side stood Faith, her hands in her pockets. The dark-haired girl looked unhappy, Buffy guessed that being around Mrs. Post would have that effect on anyone.

Still Buffy found herself smiling at the sight of the other slayer, Willow was right, time to take the initiative. If Buffy could have anything with Faith, she was going to find out tonight.

Mrs. Post smiled haughtily at Giles. "Well, it is nice to see you have your best...children working on this particular problem."

"They've all worked hard." Giles smiled patiently, "And call me haphazard but I like to use all resources at my disposal."

"Quite so, have you yielded any results?"

"Um, possibly." Giles motioned towards his office before addressing everyone else. "Everybody, I think we've done more than enough for today."

Mrs Post walked over to Giles as Cordelia got up and hurriedly left. Xander rushed to follow, Cordelia giving him a sharp look as she exited the library. Faith, ignoring everyone, went over and slouched in one of the chairs.

Buffy hurried down the steps towards her but was intercepted by Mrs. Post. "Buffy, I just wanted you to know that Faith told me all about last night's...encounter."

Buffy wasn't sure if her mouth dropped open. "Um, she did?"

"She told me that the fight went poorly because of lack of coordination. If she hadn't been so reckless..."

"Oh, the fight!" Buffy nodded in relief. "Yeah, that was the thing...from last night, of course."

Mrs Post smiled patiently. "Yes, quite. In future I have instructed Faith to defer to you in those situations. As the voice of experience that seemed the most sensible precaution in avoiding another blunder. I trust you will exercise your authority wisely?"

Buffy nodded. "Oh, sure. Team player, that's me. I'll take good care of Faith...with the slaying, just the slaying."

Mrs Post blinked a couple of times at Buffy's puzzling behaviour before turning and joining Giles in his office.

Buffy shook her head before crossing over and sitting down opposite Faith, didn't want to spook her after all. "Hey."

Faith glanced over and grunted. "Hey."

Out of the corner of her eye Buffy saw Willow talking to Oz, but also sneaking glances at the two slayers as she did so.

Buffy leaned forward to catch Faith's eye. "So, what did you do today?"

Faith thought about it. "Just training, y'know. Kicking, punching, stabbing, getting ready to kill some vamps."

Buffy nodded in understanding. "Or in this case, a demon."

Faith gave her a penetrating stare and then smiled sweetly. "Nah, actually. I was pretty much thinkin' about killing vamps."

Buffy nodded slowly, thinking she was missing something. "You feeling okay?"

That smile again. "Five-by-five. You know me, B. I heal up good."

"That's a relief, I..."

Just then Giles and Mrs. Post exited his office. "Mrs. Post and I are looking into the possibility of destroying the glove. We have some research to attend to but in the mean time. Buffy, Faith, you will go over to the crypt in Restfield and keep watch. When Lagos comes to collect it..."

"We kill him." Faith said simply, examining her fingernails, "I'm down with that."

Mrs. Post nodded in tacit approval. "Excellent, collect any weapons you require and return here when you've dispatched the demon. Mr. Giles and I will travel to the Crawford mansion when we have the particulars of the spell. We will then destroy the glove."

"Is there any reason for us to stay?" Willow asked, gesturing at herself and Oz.

Giles gave her an encouraging smile. "No, I think you've performed above and beyond, Willow. You can go."

That would leave Giles and Post alone together. Again. "Wait, Will. Didn't you say that you were onto some big, Lagos breakthrough? Up there?" Buffy gestured back up at the stacks and stared pointedly at the redhead.

Willow looked questioningly at Buffy as she tried to read the other girl's look. "I did? I...mean I did. That's...I forgot, I should probably...stay? Stay and look for demon weaknesses. I'm almost onto something." She gave Oz and apologetic look, but he seemed to guess that something was up and just nodded stoically.

Giles nodded distractedly before turning to Mrs. Post. "Well, we should get started then."

Faith got up and went to the weapons locker while Buffy quickly made her way over to Willow.

"So, what is going on, exactly?" Willow asked plaintively.

"Just keep a lookout and don't trust Mrs. Post. Don't leave Giles alone with her; I think she's up to something."

"I'll stay too, keep you company." Oz stated. Willow looked relieved.

Just then B Faith called over. "Yo, B. You wanna move your scrawny butt and pick somethin' while the night's still young?"

Buffy gave Willow and Oz a long-suffering smile before walking over to Faith, who'd armed herself with a hooked club and was busy tucked a couple of stakes into her jacket.

Buffy wandered over, grabbing a sharp-looking axe and a dagger she turned to the other slayer. "See, quick and easy. Let's go."

Without saying anything Faith left, with a last look at Willow Buffy followed.

Buffy and Faith sat outside the tomb on opposite ends of a nearby stone bench; their weapons propped up close by. Night had descended a little while ago but the air was still warm. The night was also quiet; the occasional rustle of night-time creatures, non-supernatural ones that is, was the only activity Buffy had noticed. Buffy was also noticing Faith, who, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees, had spent the last fifteen minutes staring at the ground, rolling a stake between her fingers.

Even in repose Faith was beautiful; Buffy didn't understand how she hadn't realised that before. Dark eyes, sexy smile, dimples, pouty lips and wavy dark hair, and those were just the above the neck features. Of course Buffy had noticed those things before, but last night's events had changed her...perspective, was that the right word? Whatever, it meant that this stake-out was a little bit more interesting, and that was fine with her.

"So, shouldn't we be hidin' or somethin'. 'Case this guy actually shows?" Faith said grouchily. Buffy figured that Faith resented the fact Mrs. Post had put Buffy in charge of her.

"Lagos isn't exactly subtle. He wants the glove he'll come head on for it. He already beat us once; I doubt he'll try anything subtle."

Faith just grunted in reply.

Buffy moved her legs so she sat aside the bench and looked at Faith more directly. "So, um, last night?"

Faith shrugged. "Yeah, like I told Mrs. Post, I screwed up. Let the guy take us out one at a time."

"Mrs. Post is too hard on you. We were just unlucky." Buffy replied before adding coyly, "And that's not what I meant."

Faith didn't reply. Probably because she thought Buffy was in denial or repressing. "You know, you never asked about my head. It's better by the way."

Still nothing, Faith looked like she was trying to bore holes into the ground with her stare.

"I could've done with someone to, um, maybe kiss it better."

With that Faith looked up sharply at Buffy, the blonde girl smiled shyly.

Faith looked annoyed. "Yeah, well I figured you had that part all covered."

Buffy felt her smile drop. "Huh?"

Faith got up and walked over to the crypt entrance. "Y'know can we just not do this, okay? I'm sick of your games."

"Games? Faith the only reason I wanted us to stop was because of my head." Buffy found herself reddening a bit, "I was...really into it and then you go storming off and left me alone."

Faith looked around, her face in shadow. "I didn't." She said simply.

"What? Yes, you did Faith, I remember and I stopped imagining things that didn't happen when I was like, eight."

Faith sighed. "I mean I started too, then I realised you were still hurt, with the head and everything so I headed back." Faith began pacing a little ways away from Buffy. "But you were headed off somewhere, so I thought I'd just...watch your back, make sure you got home okay."

'Oh, no...'

"And I didn't say anything right away because I thought I was pretty stupid, runnin' off and then comin' right back. So I stayed back, and saw where you went."

Buffy felt a sick feeling develop in her stomach as she realised what Faith was saying. "So, what, you were spying on me?"

"No! I...I just, saw you go to that mansion and lost sight of you so I followed. Heard talkin' and peaked in." Faith crossed her arms and looked at Buffy, "Figured you were in safe hands after that."

Buffy straightened around and looked at Faith. "Listen Faith, what you saw..."

Faith stopped her angrily. "Ain't none of my business. Things with exes start up again all the time, believe me I know from experience."

"Angel and I...kissing him was a mistake..."

Faith smirked derisively. "Seems t'me you're makin' a lot of mistakes lately, B. Maybe y'should try keeping your mouth shut."

Buffy felt herself getting angry. "Yeah, so, why do you care all of a sudden?" Buffy stared accusingly. "Didn't you say it was just us 'getting worked up' or 'horny' or whatever little rationalization you're using this week?"

Faith shrugged. "I ain't ration...whatever, and I don't care." She said defensively.

It was Buffy's turn to snort in disbelief. "Then you won't care that the only reason I kissed Angel was because I got so worked up rounding the bases with you that I couldn't think straight."

Faith stared at Buffy. "Bullshit."

Buffy stood up and stepped closer to the other girl. "No, its not. I felt something when I kissed you, and it wasn't just physical, it was amazing." Buffy tried to catch Faith's eyes again. "You know that too."

Faith turned away. "All I know is it ain't over between you an' soul-boy. That's all I need to know."

Buffy grabbed Faith by the arm and pulled her around hard. "Dammit, Faith!"

"Don't touch me!" Faith snarled, pulling her arm loose and raising a fist in warning.

"Buffy!" Willow and Xander burst into the clearing, panting for breath. Willow looked in alarm at the two slayers before Faith quickly dropped her arm.

"We've got trouble." Gasped Willow, "Has Lagos been here?"

"I'm guessing not with the...sparring you two were gonna get into?" Xander remarked.

Buffy ignored him. "No, no sign of Lagos, Will. Why?"

Willow looked worried. "Because the Lagos demon can hone in on a magical signature, something about the species means they have a way of sensing powerful magicks by proximity and can track their...vibration or something. Apparently it's like an inner-ear thing."

Buffy nodded as it dawned on her. "That means..."

"He can track it." Faith finished, "If the dude's already been here he could be on his way to the mansion right now while we're here doing jack."

Buffy shook her head. "That's not possible, nothing's changed since..." Except that Lagos had faced two slayers this time. He'd gotten away, sure, but maybe facing the both of them had made him more cautious, or more determined to obtain the glove, and he'd come and done some searching before they got here.

Buffy raced to the entrance of the crypt, opened it and peered in, hoping to see everything undisturbed. Instead she saw stone fragments scattered over the floor and a couple of holes in the wall where Lagos had pulled open the reliquaries. But it was also clear that the crypt hadn't been completely searched, meaning...

Buffy ducked out of the crypt. "He's been and gone, but recently I think."

Buffy turned to Faith, all drama forgotten for the moment, "We need to warn Giles, now." She glanced at Willow and Xander before grabbing her axe and taking off at a run through the cemetery, Faith hot on her heels.

Buffy had that feeling again, the terrible sinking feeling that things were spinning irrevocably out of control. Like one of those common nightmares of hers where everything went wrong at once and she'd be gripped by the chilling certainty that if things just stopped for a moment, if she could think, then she could see the solution to the problem and fix everything, forever.

Now Faith, Post, Lagos, Angel. All of them whirled in her head as she raced to within sight of the mansion, seeing the front doors still intact and hearing no demonic roars or screams.

Buffy and Faith entered through the front doors almost simultaneously, and were greeted by the same shocking sight. Giles lay on the ground, unmoving, his head in a pool of his own blood. A vicious looking mace and a broken crossbow lay discarded across the floor. Mrs. Post was slumped against one wall, dishevelled and hurt, but obviously alive, her eyes were blearily open. Over her stood Angel, his demonic face showing, a crossbow bolt jutting from his wounded shoulder.

"Angel!" Buffy cried out, she froze, her eyes going back and forth towards Giles' prone form and Angel.

Faith also froze, but only for an instant. "Mrs. Post?" She then glared at Angel. "I can't believe how much I'm gonna kill you!"

Buffy caught her arm. "Faith, wait!"

Angel looked momentarily confused, and then agitated. "She attacked Giles, tried to..."

Faith snarled angrily and shoved Buffy hard to one side, surprised the blonde slayer fell to her knees.

"Bullshit!" She rushed at Angel, weapon up and ready and swung at him. Angel backed up and managed to dodge away from her attack, he instinctually lashed out with a foot to kick Faith's weapon out of her hand.

Faith barely stopped, barrelling into Angel and backhanding him hard across the face, following up with a hard left before reaching out and grabbing the crossbow bolt in his shoulder and yanking. Angel cried out as the bolt tore free from his flesh. Faith grabbed his shoulder, spun and bodily threw him across the room, Angel crashed down face first and dazed near the French doors. Faith made her way over, gripping the crossbow bolt like a stake as she moved closer, eyeing where to jab the stake. But she hesitated, and Buffy managed to move around and get in a defensive stance between her and Angel. "Faith listen, please..."

"He's turned, Faith." Mrs Post rasped wearily, "She still loves him, that's why he attacked us."

Buffy glared at the downed Watcher. "Shut up! She's lying, Faith. I would never do that. You know that."

Faith stared at Buffy, unsure before glancing at her Watcher.

Mrs. Post straightened up, her voice steadying and gaining a measure of its usual assurance. "She's blinded by love, no matter what the cost. Trust me, Faith."

'No, this can't be happening again!'

Buffy, realised she was still holding her axe, lowered it, she could feel Angel begin to stir behind her. "No, Faith. Stop, think. We can figure this out."

Faith, looked back and forth between the two of them, the bloody bolt still in her grip, her face twisted in indecision. Mrs. Post stood up fully now, her face triumphant, and Buffy saw Xander and Willow appear as they scrambled over to Giles.

"Great, gang's all here, how much worse can it get?'

Faith looked up at Buffy, eyes narrowing. "Lying bitch!"

And then everything got worse.

Revelations Part 3 (Post-Slayer Depression)

For one terrible moment Buffy thought that everything would repeat itself exactly as before, that Faith would attack her because Mrs. Post had wormed her way past her defences, again. Because Faith believed that her Watcher would never lie to her, again. And maybe because Faith thought Buffy and Angel had had sex again. Well, that was new.

But then behind them the French windows exploded inwards, a rain of shattered glass burst around them and Lagos appeared, stooping slightly to enter the mansion, his axe held aloft in one massive fist. He roared as his gaze travelled across the two girls and his lumbering came to a stop.

Buffy, her mind whirling, twisted to face him. She took a step back so she was next to Faith and raised her axe cautiously. She glanced at Faith, not knowing which way the other slayer was going to jump, which demon she was going to try and slay.

Angel, on his knees and still injured, snapped a look over his shoulder and rose to get way, but he was hurting and Lagos was swifter, grabbing Angel by the back of the neck and effortlessly tossing him through the air. Angel slammed heavily against the wall next to the fireplace, where he crumpled to the ground.

Anger flared as Buffy stepped forward to attack but Faith grabbed her arm to stop her. "This time we've gotta have a plan, B."

Buffy looked at her with cold determination. "The plan is 'I kill him and keep his head as a door-stop', you wanna help?"

"That's a goal, it ain't a plan." She then shoved Buffy hard to one side as Lagos brought his axe down between them, its blade biting into the ground. Faith, weapon-less, dodged to one side and smashed him in his face with her fist before stomping on the back of his knee with all her strength. She then jammed the crossbow bolt into the back of his leg, driving it in as deep as she could, Lagos, roaring in pain, batted her away before stumbling to one side.

Faith rushed over to Buffy and helped her up, her hand snaking around and across the blonde girl's stomach. Buffy's eyes widened in surprise but before she could object Faith pulled back holding Buffy's dagger in her grip.

"Need me a better weapon." She said with a smirk.

"But, I thought..."

"We take care of Lagos then we deal with that lying bitch, 'kay?" Faith's eyes were alive and flashing, but Buffy saw a glimpse hurt there and maybe a silent apology.

Buffy simply nodded and straightened up as Lagos came towards them slowly, almost cautiously, favouring his left leg and hefting his axe back to strike at them.

"I draw him out; you flank him and stab him somewhere low and painful. I'll finish him off." Buffy murmured to Faith quietly and she nodded. They broke apart as Lagos lumbered closer, Faith going right and Buffy twirling her axe to get the demon's attention. "Isn't it embarrassing when two people bring the same weapon to a fight?"

Lagos just grunted round his tusks and swung his axe like he was hewing logs; Buffy nimbly dodged to one side, her return blow hitting him square in the shoulder and scraping against armour without finding purchase. Lagos didn't react, simply arcing his blade back and up to try decapitate the blonde slayer. Ducking under the blade Buffy brought her axe clashing down on the haft on his weapon to deflect it away before punching her axe head into his face. Lagos barely staggered, instead trying to cut Buffy off at the legs, but his blow was slow enough for her to jump over and she skipped back from his reach. He came at her like a linebacker, axe raised high over his shoulder, using his size and reach to try and pen her in against the wall.

Buffy searched for a weak spot but saw only solid demonic muscle and chainmail, maybe his neck but she wasn't the tallest...

Buffy swung the axe low at Lagos' legs and he swept his leg backwards and leaned forward to avoid it. Buffy changed her momentum mid-swing, which had been feign, and jabbed her axe upwards at his face. But Lagos had seen it coming, and jerked his head back as he brought his own axe around against Buffy, who only just managed to bring her axe back down to block it, the haft of her weapon splintering on impact and she was knocked hard back against the wall.

Buffy barely dodged a second swing that gouged a vicious furrow in the wall above and sent a shower of stone chips spilling over her.

Lagos methodically brought his axe back again before suddenly bellowing out in anger and pain, he dropped his axe as one of his clawed hands went between his legs, and the other reached out as he tried to balance as he staggered to forward. But his left leg wasn't working and, unable to support his immense weight, it folded under him as he crashed to his knees. Buffy jumped back to avoid the collapse, before seeing her opening and stepping forward, swinging her axe at Lagos' now exposed neck with all her strength. Just like before the blade cleaved through tendons and muscle without even slowing and his head flew off, bouncing across the floor.

The body slumped over sideways, revealing Faith and her cocky grin. "Nicely diverted, B."

"Actually that was me fighting for my life, but thanks for the timely-ness." Buffy looked down at the dead demon, "I don't really want to know where you stuck that knife, do I?"

Faith was about to reply but was interrupted by Mrs. Post.

"Tar chugam a chumhacht Myhnegon!" She recited as she held her arm, now encased in the glove, above her head. Buffy heard the rumble of thunder as a storm quickly gathered overhead.

'Oh, not good.'

Buffy saw that beyond Mrs. Post both Willow and Giles had disappeared but Xander was getting up off the floor, rubbing the side of his head.

Faith was staring up at the sky-light as dark clouds gathered. She looked at Buffy hesitantly. "What's going on?"

"Faith," Mrs. Post lowered her hand and addressed her slayer, a gleeful smile twisting her features, "A word of advice. You're an idiot!"

"Yeah, and you're dead." Faith growled in reply before started towards the woman but Buffy grabbed her arm.

Mrs. Post raised her arm again. "Tar frim!" She cried and the sky-light shattered, lightning slashed down, drawn into the glove, energy and light dancing around her arm as the air suddenly became thick with the metallic stench of burning ozone.

Mrs. Post turned again and raised her arm like a gun, pointing at Faith. "Tar frim!"

Buffy slammed into the other girl and they both went down hard and skidded across the polished marble floor. A bolt of lightning tore through the air above them and blasted a hole in the wall. Buffy landed on top of Faith, their faces inches from each other. Despite everything, Buffy froze for an awkward moment before quickly rolling off the other slayer. Buffy then stuck her head up to see Mrs. Post turn and point her arm again, this time at a still dazed Xander, his face frozen in confusion.

"Tar fr..!" Mrs. Post started to call out but Angel rushed in from the side and punched her in the face, sending her tumbling. "That's for shooting me! I hate that."

Mrs. Post rolled and was up in almost an instant, the power of the glove that was running through her was obviously making her more durable, but Angel was already running for cover, Xander close behind him.

Mrs. Post wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, she was still smiling. "There's nothing you can do to stop me now. I have the glove, and with the glove comes the power!"

"Great. She's monologing." Buffy looked over at Faith, "Can you draw her fire?"

Faith nodded. "You bet your ass I can." She got up and dashed for cover; Mrs. Post spotted her and lashed out. "Tar frim!" The bolt exploded a meter or so from where Faith had been, she leapt over the sofa, rolled and came up on the other side of Mrs. Post in a crouch. The former watcher turned and pointed her raised arm at the dark-haired slayer.

Buffy tore off the splintered handle of her axe, leaving half the haft intact and turning it into a fairly balanced throwing axe. She hefted it and drew her arm back.

"You might wanna work on your aim, like this!" She threw the axe in a spinning arc, the blade rushing through the air to catch Mrs. Post just below the shoulder and slicing clean through. The severed arm dropped to the ground.

Mrs. Post screamed in pain, although it seemed from the sound that it was her soul and not her arm had been severed. Lightning struck down from the heavens again, coiling around her body as she was consumed by flames, her eyes glowed hotly as she burned to ash in an instant. Incinerated, leaving only the metallic ozone smell and a wiff of burnt flesh.

Faith stood up as Angel and Xander came out from behind cover. Buffy even saw Willow emerge from the beyond the front door, looking around wide-eyed. Buffy looked over the mess, dead Lagos plus head, broken glass, smoke and small fires everywhere, Buffy shook her head out of her daze.

To Willow she asked. "Giles, is he…?"

"He breathing, and groaning, and alive." Willow stated simply. "What happened?"

"Buffy was right about everything." Faith replied bitterly, "Mrs. Post was evil."

Xander looked at Angel. "Y'know I would've gotten out of the way in time…so don't be thinking I owe you of anything."

Angel shrugged. "I didn't even know you were there." He said dryly.

Buffy moved to the front doors. "We need to get Giles to hospital quickly. Angel..?"

"I'm fine, go."

"Okay, Xander, you come with me. Faith?"

She didn't answer; she was staring at where Mrs. Post had been. The adrenaline had worn off, the battle won and things were suddenly far less simple.

"Faith?"

"Yeah, B. What?"

"Go home; tell Mom I'm taking Mr. Giles to the hospital and not to freak out if I'm home late."

Faith nodded dully and headed out the shattered French windows, Buffy wanted to go after her, to say something comforting, but that would have to wait. Giles needed help now.

"Well, my suspicions to her ill-intent were first aroused when she bashed me in the head with a mace." Giles said dryly as he sipped some tea, "As indicators go, it was rather a strong one."

He was sitting in the library, having spent the previous night in hospital. Buffy, Willow and Xander were also there. Willow had brought him some doughnuts and Buffy noticed that Giles seemed far perkier and healthier in an environment surrounded by books. Or it could just be the sugar.

"So, she got kicked out? They changed the secret password or hand-shake or whatever?" Buffy asked.

Giles nodded slowly. "She was…expelled for the misuse of dark powers. I could've sworn there was a memo."

Xander chipped in. "Yeah, and your filing system is usually so good, didn't you win a belt or something for that?"

Giles regarded Buffy with embarrassment. "It appears that I owe you an apology, Buffy. I should've listened to you."

Buffy just smirked. "Well, duh. And let your slightly misshapen head forever be a reminder."

"How did you know, anyway?" Asked Willow, "I mean, she was so convincingly bitc…I mean, watcher-like, it was a pretty good fake-out."

"It was because she drank coffee, wasn't it." Xander nodded knowingly, "And she didn't spell color with a 'u', dead giveaway."

Buffy shrugged. "I get invited to a frat party, there's a giant demon snake there, an old friend from Hemery turns up, he tries to feed me to vampires, Mom's new boyfriend, evil robot. Excuse me if I'm just a little wary of strangers by now. 'Trust but verify' is the Summers family motto. Either that or 'I've got the wiggins', whichever." Buffy sat up on the table and looked at her friends, "The most important lesson you should all learn from this is that I am always, always right."

"Here, here." Replied Xander with a grin.

Giles mused. "Yes, and as much as I'd like you to stay so I can bask in the glow of your brilliance, don't you do have classes to attend?"

Xander patted him on the shoulder. "We're going, anyway we just came by to wish you well, and to add that you'll be keeping the 'most likable Watcher we've actually met' award, so kudos."

Buffy waved the others off. "You guys go; I've got some slayer-related stuff to talk through with Giles."

Willow turned to Xander. "Time to let the jelly doughnuts work their magic."

Xander raised his eyebrows as he walked with her. "Magic? As in..?"

"Metaphor magic, Xander." She shook her head, "the only way I could make any pastry more magical is if I made it float. And moving food is not something a man with a head injury needs."

Xander smiled and nudged her as he pushed open the library doors. "No, but I feel an idea for a new Halloween game coming on. Like bobbing for…"

Buffy smiled fondly as she watched them go. 'Luckiest slayer ever.'

She turned to Giles. "Hey, look at us, matching head wounds."

"Yes, all things considered this situation could've ended rather more badly than it did."

Buffy nodded as she thought of Faith, about how things went the first time, how Buffy had never really gotten around to even caring for the other slayer. Would things be different now? Buffy had spent some of the night with Giles in hospital and she'd come home to find Mom a little frantic, for Giles' sake. But Faith had gone to bed, so Buffy hadn't gotten to talking to her about anything yet.

More damage control, but at least this time around there had been something to actually damage, something that Buffy could try and repair and rebuild, and that all started here.

"You had something you wished to discuss, Buffy?" Giles enquired softly as she came out of her thoughts.

"Um, yeah. I wanted to say something really, it's kind of important." She looked at Giles, "This whole thing with Mrs. Post has put a lot of things in perspective, slayer stuff." She gestured to where her friends had just left, "I'm…very lucky, not with the whole Chosen one deal, but with my friends… who actually care about me, despite all the danger I put them in."

Giles shifted to interrupt. "Buffy…"

She held up a hand. "I'm very glad of them, I love them. And I'm very thankful to have you as my Watcher. Actually I don't think 'thankful 'really covers it that well but…I wouldn't have ever gotten this far without you."

Giles, smiling in self-conscious pride, was touched.

Buffy stared at him and flatly stated. "And that's what pisses me off."

Giles blinked in surprise.

"You are the only Watcher in history to have two slayers, you've spent a couple of years helping me be the best…helping me to survive. What about Faith? What does she get? She loses her Watcher in some horrific…I don't even want to ask she what happened, but it hurt her. And then she comes here and, okay she lies about it, that's bad. But she ends up just getting passed off like she's nothing."

Giles flushed in anger or annoyance, Buffy couldn't tell. "Buffy…"

"No, y'know what, I'm right on this." Buffy stood up and walked around anxiously, "You have no idea how hard it is being a slayer, how lonely and confusing it is. You have all this power and…bottom line, a slayer needs her Watcher. Faith needs a Watcher too, now more than ever. She needs to feel that she's not alone, hell, like she's actually wanted here. And since the council doesn't give a crap that means it's up to you."

Giles seemed to deflate a little. Sighing, he took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "I have only just gotten you back, Buffy."

Buffy paused. "What?"

Giles straightened and looked at her, he looked tired again. "Last summer, I genuinely thought I'd lost you. You ran away from everything, your responsibilities…it felt like I failed you, somehow. I didn't make you resilient enough to keep being the slayer."

Buffy softened, and smiled at him sadly. "That was always my fault, I failed me, I took off because I had to…I didn't know how to deal with everything. It wasn't the right thing to do, and it was in no way you failing at being a Watcher, Giles."

Giles shook his head in slight puzzlement. "You do seem different now, so much more grown up."

"Isn't there some parable or story about how wise people are just people who learned from all the mistakes they made?"

Giles smiled gently. "So you're wiser now?"

Buffy shrugged. "All I know is that Faith has the potential to go either way. She has a real chance to become a good slayer, maybe even the second-best in all of Sunnydale." Buffy looked at Giles solemnly, "She needs guidance, and the best person I can think of to guide her is you."

"Thank you, Buffy."

Buffy relaxed a little. "Well, it's not like there's a lot of competition. Maybe Oz? He does have the whole Zen thing going for him." She paused and smiled, "I do mean it though, give Faith some attention, please? Forget about me and make her your slayer, just for a while. She'll complain and grumble but she'll thank you in the end, like I'm doing now."

Giles sighed. "I've rather ballsed this up, haven't I?"

Buffy smirked. "I'm gonna go and find that out, do some damage control. She if she'll even talk to me. Now rest up, you've got some serious Watcher-ing to do when you're all better."

"Well, it seems you wear wisdom rather well, Buffy." Giles remarked.

Buffy walked over. "I'm oh-so very mature. Donut tax!" She sang out as she grabbed a jelly from the box and backed away grinning. "What, I'm not saying I won't ever need a Watcher again. Bye!"

Giles could only shake his head as he watched her leave.

Buffy took a deep breath; never had her own hallway seemed so intimidating. Mom was out at the gallery but Faith's boots were by the door which meant she was still here, which was good, and meant Buffy could finally talk to her in private. Which she was just about to. Now.

'C'mon, I verbally chastised Giles, I can do this. Actually, I can't believe I chastised Giles, yay me.'

Buffy didn't bother knocking; she just grabbed the handle, took a deep breath and opened the door, pausing before moving inside. Faith was sat on the bed, in raggedy t-shirt and cut-off jeans, going for the relaxed trailer-trash look. The brunette glanced up from a magazine, her face tense as she watched Buffy enter. Buffy looked Faith over, no ugly facial bruising this time, which was a big plus. But Buffy saw that Faith had packed her backpack, it sat at the end of the bed, ready to go.

"Hey."

Faith didn't say anything, just looked glum.

"So, how are you?" Buffy asked, knowing what the other girl was going to say.

Shrug. "Five-by-five."

"Huh, someday you'll have to tell me what that means." Buffy said lightly, "Can I, uh… do you want anything."

Faith looked at her pointedly. "Lock for my door, maybe?"

Buffy sighed. "Sorry, I just…I wanted to see how you were. Of course, this is your room and if you want me to go I will."

"Well, now you come to mention it…"

"Just wait, Faith. I wanna talk first."

Faith rolled her eyes. "Oh, goodie, 'nother talk."

Buffy gulped. This wasn't going well. Perseverance. That was word of the day, or of the now anyway. "Look, Gwendolyn Post, she fooled everyone, she was a lying, evil, scheming person…"

"But you knew already, didn't you? Somehow she couldn't fool you, 'cause you're always right." She scowled at Buffy, "You're so perfect."

Buffy frowned in puzzlement. "I'm not…I never said I was perfect." 'I just said I was better than you…'

Faith shook her head. "I don't even know what I'm still doin' here. I shouldn't…"

Buffy stepped to the foot of the bed. "You're here because you're my friend and you're the slayer."

Faith smiled bitterly. "Try lookin in the mirror, you're a slayer. You've got plenty of friends…"

"I kissed you." Buffy interrupted. "Just…don't act like this, like there's nothing here. You're dismissing everything."

"'Cause it doesn't matter." Faith said bitterly. She sat up and glared at Buffy. "See the thing is, Buffy. You're the one who's got the Watcher, the friends, the little boy-toy, the Mom who doesn't drink or slap you around, the nice house and the perfect little fucking life. That's real. That's what matters." She shook her head, "I'm just gonna go."

Buffy recognized the words and the bitterness, the jealousy, all that raw emotion. But here, in front of her it wasn't evil Faith with her pleather and boyfriend stealing; this was just all hurt and disappointment that Buffy had ignored because it wasn't convenient.

"You're not going anywhere yet."Buffy stated, "Not until you've listened. You want to know how I knew Gwen Post was evil, how about because I've been doing this since I was fifteen. Three years, Faith. Three years of trusting my instincts, three years alone. Giles says some slayers don't even last that long. You've been doing this, what, maybe six months? And you know what, I wish I'd been half as good as you at six months."

Faith stopped halfway off the bed, her bare feet on carpet, staring at Buffy questioningly.

"I mean it, when you fight its like you channel all that energy and emotion and use it to beat the bad guys. That's what a slayer needs to win, and you have that instinct, I'm not sure I do. Or I have to work at it at least."

"But we're going on about how perfect I am, right? So where do I start?" Buffy found her anger building as she continued, "My mom? I had to lie to her about everything that mattered since we got here, all my problems, my life in danger every single night. And when she found out what I was she freaked. Who wouldn't, right? So I ran off, I couldn't deal and ran and left my friends to clean up the mess, little Miss Perfect, remember? Falls in love with a vampire, sleeps with him and then watches as he tears up the town, while she stands by and does nothing because she's still in love with him."

Faith seemed unsure. "Buffy…"

Buffy shuddered as she calmed a little and wiped at her eyes. "The point I'm making is my life isn't perfect, Faith. It might seem to be compared to yours, but it's not. I worked to get the friends I have, and I know how lucky I am to have them. But, y'know what, they're your friends too now, Willow and Xander and Oz and Cord…uh, and Oz."

Buffy shook her head, "You might think you're better off alone or that being alone is enough to get by, but its not. I know from experience that alone is never better." Buffy moved closer and sat on the bed next to Faith, still looking at her, "And I promise you won't be, because you'll always have me."

Faith looked at her, her eyes wide and Buffy saw that she wanted to believe her, but she closed them and sighed. "So, I'm what now, your charity case?"

Buffy frowned at the other girl. "That's not fair, Faith. You're saying that if I don't care it must be because I'm a spoiled princess with this perfect life, and if I do care it's because I pity you. It couldn't possibly be because I like you, and missed you like crazy when you were gone, or that I admire the way you embrace this crazy life we were forced into. Like you…own it, like you were always meant to be what I…struggle with so much."

Faith looked at her warily. "You don't know anything about me."

"I'd like to," Buffy countered, "I have these feelings, like nothing I've…I was confused at first, about you, about everything. But I want to get to know you better."

Faith snorted weakly. "You wanna date, B? I told you I don't date."

"You don't date losers, I know. Newsflash Faith, I'm not a loser. I'm kind of a catch, at least on my good days."

"Never seen you on a bad day, B." Faith said softly, before frowning, "This is crazy, we can't…this can't work. No way."

"Why not? Tell me that." Buffy asked. She hesitantly put a hand on Faith's arm; Faith flinched but didn't pull away.

"You're with Angel." She stated sullenly.

"We kissed once, it was a mistake, and we both knew it. It's not happening again." Buffy lightly squeezed her arm, "I already told him that I have feelings for you."

Faith looked at Buffy, her features contorted with warring emotions. Hope and fear in equal measure registered on her face. "You don't know what you want…I'm not what you want." Her voice was filled with harsh self-recrimination.

"I know what I feel, and I think I know how you feel. You're scared to believe that this," Buffy gestured between the two of them, "Could be real. You'll take on a demon three times your size without flinching but this, you're frightened of."

"Screw you," Faith said, but there was no power behind her words. The walls she had built up were cracking. There was silence for a few moments; Faith ran a shaky hand through her hair and kept on glancing at Buffy nervously. "I…don't know how to do this, if I can be what…you want."

Buffy leaned in and gently kissed Faith on the lips, a soft, tender and comforting kiss. The brunette sighed into Buffy's mouth and Buffy smiled. She tilted her head back and grinned at Faith. "I'd say that was a pretty good start."

Buffy's hand slid down Faith's arm and clasped her hand, finger intertwined. Buffy looked into Faith's eyes, hoping the other girl would take a chance, the same chance Buffy herself was taking.

Faith glanced down at their held hands, the anxiety on her face fading slightly. "So, uh, what happens now?"

Buffy's heart soared at Faith's implied acceptance. "I don't know- you're the first girl I've ever dated." She caught the other girl's gaze again, "But no pressure, okay. We take things slow and maybe find something we both like doing, and do it together."

Faith smirked cockily. "I got a couple of ideas…"

"I said take things slow, Faith." Buffy rolled her eyes, "But we can continue doing some stuff…" With that Buffy pressed forward and her lips met Faith's again, the brunette girl responded with a bit more heat this time and Buffy pulled away after a minute or so, out of breath.

Faith's mouth widened into a grin, flashing dimples and all. "Not bad, now you ain't gonna run off again, right?"

Buffy shook her head slowly. She looked up at Faith through her eyelashes, "I'm not going…"

"Buffy!" Her Mom called as the front door closed, "Honey, what do you and Faith want for dinner?"

Buffy groaned and softly bumped her forehead against Faith's shoulder, the other slayer chuckled huskily. "Sucky timing strikes again, huh?"

Buffy smiled and quickly leaned forward, kissing Faith briefly on the lips. "To be continued." She said before rolling off the bed, "Coming Mom!"

She stopped at the doorway to look back and gave Faith a shy smile. Faith, who had in one conversation gone from being a combative slayer to being…, what? Girlfriend?

To Buffy surprise the idea wasn't a scary one, actually the opposite was true. She was excited more than she ever would've thought.

But still lingering problems remained, like should she tell Giles. Not yet, not until things between them were more solid. Tell Mom? No, no, a thousand times no, not until a long time had passed, and then it would be from minimum safe distance. Like a phone call or a letter. Tell Xander? Probably, just to see the look on his face…

Lover's Walk (First Date Jitters)

Willow stared wide-eyed at the piece of paper. "Fourteen Eighty? Buffy you kicked ass!" Everyone else standing nearby in the quad looked a little shocked at Willow's outburst. Buffy just smiled proudly.

Willow looked sheepish. "Okay, so academic achievement gets me a little excited."

Xander was clearly impressed. "Buffy that's amazing."

"It does seem as if I knew what the questions were gonna be ahead of time...but that's crazy." Buffy tried not to look to smug.

Cordelia reached out and took Buffy's results. "Let me see that." She stared at it, frowning in academic jealousy.

Oz regarded Buffy thoughtfully. "Scores like that, you can apply pretty much anywhere you want."

Willow looked pleased. "This could, like, change your whole future."

Buffy nodded, she was thrilled about doing even better than before, way thrilled in fact. Ever since Faith had turned bad the last time she'd never really given much thought to the future. Now all those opportunities were opening up to her again, it was making her head spin.

"Someone's having deep thoughts. Isn't this a time to kick back and celebrate?" Xander asked.

"I don't know, my future...I didn't really think about it before, y'know? Ever since last year's career fair I've just put it all out of my mind, mainly 'cause of all the assassination attempts..."

Cordelia beamed in delight. "Well I think it's great. Now you can leave and never come back." She paused at their looks, "Well, I mean that in a positive way! Get out of Sunnydale, that's a good thing. I mean what kind of moron would ever want to come back here?"

Willow squeezed Buffy's arm. "Well, if it's too much to take in now, you could take some time and think it over during our 'doing something'.

"Yeah, the something that has yet to be determined. But it'll be something date-like." Xander said brightly, "Hey, if you and Faith could make-out, I-I mean make it, that'd be great."

Cordelia glared at Xander, who just shrugged apologetically. Willow smiled and shook her head at Buffy.

Buffy, pretending to ignore Xander's comment, frowned. "I don't know, first dates are supposed to be more, um, intimate, right? Getting to know someone a little better? That'd probably easier with less someoneelse's around."

"Like less someoneelse staring." Added Cordelia pointedly, Xander tried to look innocent and failed.

Willow took a different view. "Well, on the other hand it could be a good 'easing in date', y'know? No awkward silences or, um tensions. It's just a triple-date with zero pressure."

Xander chimed in. "Yeah, think of it as a 'celebrate going to college' thing, that's what I'm doing."

"And which colleges will accept you, exactly?" Snarked Cordelia.

"Hey I could go to college if I wanted. Colleges still need janitors, right?"

"I think in college they call them custodians." Oz remarked.

Cordelia scoffed. "Right, that's so much better."

Xander leaned close to Cordelia. "I thought all girls love a man in uniform."

She put her hand up. "Excuse me? Overalls are not uniform; they're things you wear so you don't get yucky stuff on anything else, including girlfriends."

"Hey, in that case I could be a handy man instead." Xander mused then raised an eyebrow to Cordelia, "Would you have any use for a handy man, Miss?"

Cordelia's frostiness seemed to warm slightly as she smiled. "Well, now that you mention it, there might be something wrong with my car..."

Xander looked eager and held out his arm. "Lead the way."

They left as Willow handed Buffy's results back to her. "I guess it's up to us to decide the dating activity then. Any thoughts?"

"Maybe a movie, that's pretty safe, right?" Buffy sighed, "That's even if Faith can get free, Giles is working her pretty hard at the moment, which is... good, y'know. It's what she needs."

Although Buffy was beginning to think it had turned into a subtle form of revenge on Giles part, since apart from a few snatched conversations in the mornings, supervised trainings after school and the long goodnight kisses they got to share; Buffy and Faith had barely spent any time together. But Giles couldn't know about their new status, so it was probably all in Buffy's head. Not that it made it any easier.

Buffy sighed. "Anyway, it's not like I have any great ideas in the whole 'first date' department. I usually just show up with clothes on, which is something I rarely get wrong."

Willow nodded in sympathy. "I guess these are uncharted territories for you as far as dating goes, but the main thing you have to remember about Faith is that... she's coming this way."

Buffy followed Willows gaze to see Faith striding across the quad towards them, in the process getting quite a few appreciative looks from male students. Wearing tight jeans, bright red t-shirt and a denim jacket, she was definitely distracting.

She smiled easily as she approached, giving Buffy the once over as she did so. "Hey, B."

Buffy smiled widely. "Hey."

Willow, shaking her head at Faith's obliviousness to everyone else, piped up. "Hey, Faith. We were all just admiring Buffy's big brain."

After a moment Faith blinked. "Her big what?"

"Um, what she means is, um, we all got our test scores today. I did good." Buffy said shyly.

"Not so much with the verbal today, though." Teased Willow.

Buffy narrowed her eyes. "Willow, didn't you have that thing, the thing that was now. And not here."

Willow gave a little wave before going to join Oz.

Buffy regarded the other slayer. "So, um, Giles is still keeping you busy, going all mentor on you?"

"Yeah, he's a real Mr. Miyagi all of a sudden." Faith rolled her eyes good-naturedly, "It's wicked dull but I guess he's keepin' an eye on me post...Post, y'know. 'S cool."

Buffy nodded. "It's just the gang are thinking of some kind of celebration, maybe tomorrow or the day after. If you could get Giles to give you a break, you could join us...me. I'd like that."

Faith's smile widened, she bit her bottom lip and stepped closer, Buffy looked down and pushed some hair behind her ear self-consciously, aware they were very public and now getting kind of couple-y. "What kind of celebrating?" Faith's voice was low and husky; in Buffy's mind she made the word 'celebrating' sound dirty.

Buffy shrugged. "Open to debate, probably something public we could do as couples, like...mini-golf."

Faith seemed to think it over. "But that probably won't take all night, right? We could slip away after, catch up a little..."

Buffy looked up at her through her eyelashes. "That sounds nice; we have a lot of, um, catching up to do."

"Oh, hours." Faith smirked; she took one of Buffy's hands and leaned in close.

Buffy glanced around uncomfortably before clearing her throat nervously. "Don't you have Giles-ey things to do?"

Faith also glanced around, noticed the few curious looks they were getting, before letting go of Buffy's hand and gently punching her on the arm. "Right, can't keep G waitin', makes him grouchy as hell and since I gotta ask him a favour... so," She walked past Buffy murmuring, "See ya tonight."

Buffy watched her go with butterflies in her stomach, maybe the easing in first date was a good idea, otherwise she got the impression that Faith would just jump her as soon as they were alone, and Buffy wasn't entirely sure she would stop her if that happened.

The next day Willow was grinning at her as they sat at lunch together. "You've got it bad."

Buffy was stabbed her jello absentmindedly, she frowned at her friend. "Huh? What's bad? I've got something?"

"Yep, the hots for a certain bad girl." Willow said as she drank her soda, "It's so adorable."

Buffy shifted a little in embarrassment. "It sure doesn't feel adorable; don't adorable puppy feelings usually have a 'U' rating? This feels more...PG-13 at least, and one time it got all up in 'R' territory."

Willow gulped her drink and looked surprised. "That's...kind of a quick escalation, isn't it?"

"You're telling me."Buffy paused to push her plate away, she was in talk mode, "But maybe it's just because we haven't spent any quality time together this week, y'know? All that absence makes the heart go...somewhere? I mean, the last significant contact I had with Faith, I was blocking her patented 'Axe kick of agonising pain', which, by the way, she telegraphs way too easily, so I call it the 'axe kick of the entirely lame'. She totally hates that."

"Okay, firstly, l I think it's scary she names her 'slayer moves' and "It's 'makes the heart grow fonder', silly." Willow looked at her seriously for a moment, "Buffy...don't take this the wrong way, but..."

Buffy looked worried. "What wrong way, what's up?"

"Do you think this might be a slayer thing...or maybe a magic thing?" Willow held up her hand, "I'm not saying its not, y'know, real. But it seems pretty intense, pretty fast, maybe there's a supernatural angle."

The thought had crossed Buffy's mind once or twice since the two slayers had gotten physical in the cemetery, like maybe it was a slayer thing. But this, all of this, felt real, not forced, to Buffy. The warm, good feeling she got when she thought about Faith and the somewhat more intense feelings she had gotten when Faith looked at her before going to bed last night. Knowing she was across the hall, probably thinking about Buffy herself, had led to some intense dreams.

Buffy shook her head. "No, Will, I just think...I'm just excited, like I was when I was with Angel. It's different, but similar. Boy, you'd think with S.A.T scores so high I'd be a bit more articulate." She smiled at her friend, "Maybe there is a slayer part to this but that's not all of it, or even most of it. It just is."

Willow nodded in understanding before saying. "Oh, and Oz suggested bowling, for our date, what do you think? Is it casual enough to calm your hormones?"

"Bowling? Y'know, I've never actually bowled before. That could be fun, except...wh-what if I'm really bad? I can't be a massive dork in front of Faith, not on out first...

"Breath, Buffy. This is why, as a group, there's no pressure. We hang out, rent some shoes, and get some food and then..." Willow paused and held up a clenched fist, "I will crush Cordelia beneath my heel, at least here's hoping."

Buffy sat with Giles in the library, as he eyed the paper with her test scores. "Buffy. This is remarkable."

"It's a good thing I'm not offended by all the surprise faces that everyone keeps showing me." Buffy remarked, "I'm entirely brainy...mostly."

"Yes...quite." Giles paused, a little tongue-tied, "I-It's just with all, um, the other duties, being a slayer..."

Buffy smirked as she surveyed his camping gear. "I'm teasing. And impressed, but you know that the Lost World is fiction, right? You can't just walk there with all this stuff."

Giles was nonplussed for a moment. "What? Oh, my gear? No, no. These are basic necessities."

Buffy was doubtful. "Yeah, if your a survivalist. I know they don't have that many actual wild things in England, but you shouldn't over-compensate, America really isn't that dangerous. A few big cats, that's it."

"Yes, very droll." Giles handed her back her test scores, "Here, I suspect your mother will want to put this on the refrigerator."

Buffy popped the paper in her handbag. "Yeah, she saw these scores, she squealed out like she was possessed."

Giles looked at her dubiously. "I've been on the Hellmouth too long. That was you using a simile, correct?

"Yes. She was happy. Like me at in a shoe store happy." Buffy continued, "She started going on about college, maybe going somewhere a little less Hellmouth-y."

Giles frowned as he walked over to the book cage. "Buffy..."

Buffy looked at him carefully. "I said I'd talk it over with you first, mull over the possibilities."

"She may be right." Giles said softly.

"How do you figure? I mean, I'm the slayer."

"These scores are an opportunity, Buffy. You could go on to get a first rate education." He regarded her kindly, "I'm not going to ask you to ignore your calling, but you do need to look to your future. And with Faith here, it may be that you could move on, at least for a time."

Buffy thought that the news would make her happier. "So, what does that mean for Faith? Does she just get stuck here?" She wondered.

"As you pointed out not too long ago, Buffy, both you and Faith have an equal stake here. Perhaps it's time that Faith takes on some more responsibilities."

Just then Faith swaggered in, face lighting up when she saw Buffy. "Hey there, B. You seen Giles around?" She walked over to the table, her eyes running admiringly over Buffy. "He said he wanted to see me, but if he ain't here..."

Buffy eyes widened and Giles coughed slightly as he emerged from the book cage. "Ah, Faith, you're here."

Without missing a beat Faith turned to him. "So if B's here I'm guessin' it's for a little one-on-one training." She turned and looked at the table piled with equipment and bags, picking up a compass she squinted at it, "'less you're havin' some lame-ass yard sale? What's all this crap?"

"My equipment." Giles replied pointedly as he snatched the compass away, "I'm going out of town for a few days. There's a clearing in Breaker's woods, the site of some fascinating Druidic rituals. Well, it's a retreat of sorts."

"Cool, I here those hippie-type chicks put out more anyways."

"And I've already warned him about cougars..." Buffy put in with a smile.

"Yes, one does live in hope." Giles replied sarcastically, "Nonetheless, while I'm away I want you both to keep up with your training, no shirking of responsibilities." He looked more at Buffy when he said that, which was unfair, she was totally the good one.

Buffy did her best wounded innocence face. "We'll be good, really. Better than good, diligent, that's the word. Right?"

Faith smirked. "You bet."

Buffy and Faith were half-heartedly patrolling on the way from school to Buffy's house. Faith walked backward to talk to Buffy, as was her want, and made a face at her. "Bowling?"

Buffy nodded. "What's wrong with bowling? It's fun. Well, I'm guessing its fun."

"Well, it's just... it's not that sexy, B."

"Well, have you got any better ideas?"

"I dunno, play some pool maybe, or go watch a movie." She grinned widely, "Popcorn and makin' out in the back row sounds about right..."

Buffy looked dubious. "Maybe we could work up to that. And besides, this is something everyone already agreed about."

"Yeah, also the 'everyone else' being there...it's kind of a drag."

Buffy frowned at the other girl. "I thought you were okay with it."

"Well, with Giles goin away an' all...now we can do anything we want. We don't have to pretend it's a celebration thing."

"Who's pretending, all of us haven't hung out in forever. It'll be fun, I promise."

"I dunno, being around you and not being able t'touch you...that's gonna be hard."

Buffy blushed at the heat of Faith's gaze. "Okay, down girl. It's not like it's a picnic for me either. Ooh, picnic, that's an idea.

Faith wrinkled her nose but didn't say anything.

"...For another time." Buffy rolled her eyes in exasperation, "Please, would you stop being such a baby about this."

"I'm not." Faith grumbled.

"You stick your bottom lip out any more I'm gonna trip over it. Here, lemme get that." Buffy stopped and cupped Faith's face. She tilted it up and pressed her lips against the other girl's soft mouth. When Buffy felt the firm push of Faith's tongue, she pulled away, laying another soft kiss on Faith's pouty lower lip. "Better?"

"Li'l bit." Faith breathed out like she trying to calm down, "Y'know, I told you this wasn't gonna be easy for me, B. I'm new to the whole taking it slow shit."

"Is that an apology?" Buffy asked softly.

"No, it's a whasit? A disclaimer, buyer beware and read the label. All that crap."

Buffy pretended confusion as she looked over the other girl. "Hmn, I don't see any label."

"Well, yer just gonna hafter wait to see it, I'm all for taking it slow these days."

"Carnegie Mellon has a wonderful design curriculum. And Brown University's History programme is...you like history, right?"

"Mom, do we have to do this now? And is there some reason you want me on the other side of the country?"

Her Mom gave an apologetic smile. "Sorry, it's just...I'm excited for you to have the life that you want. You should be at a good-old fashioned college, with keg-parties and boys. Not here with Hellmouth's and vampires."

"You've gotta be the first Mom ever to actively encourage drinking and partying. What next, sign me up for 'Girls Gone Wild'?"

"Buffy..."

"I know, Mom, I get that you want me to get out and have a normal life, but I do have to think of other things, responsibilities..."

Her Mom nodded understandingly. "Yes, of course, but I spoke with Mr. Giles, and he said that Faith..." Joyce paused to lower her voice, "That Faith could take over for you, at least for a little while. She loves the slaying, she can stay here and battle...evil things. It's perfect. I mean honestly, is there anything keeping you here?"

Just then Faith walked in, paused a second, before speaking up. "Hey, Mrs. S, you need me to set the table or anything?"

"Oh, thank you, Faith. That's very thoughtful. I hope you girls are in the mood for casserole."

"Uh, sure. You know me, easy to please." Faith smiled quickly before walking back into the living room.

"I promise I'll think about it mom, just not right now." With that Buffy reached into the cupboard and grabbed some plates before heading after Faith. She found her placing cutlery around the table.

"Uh, Faith..."

"D'ya eat casserole with a spoon?" She asked.

"Um...what?"

"Casserole, its got gravy and stuff in it, so you'd want a spoon, right? No knives though, maybe a fork?" Faith was staring thoughtfully at the silverware.

"Faith, about what my Mom was saying..."

Faith glanced up and smirked. "Yeah, college, huh? Hope they have vamps wherever you end up, otherwise its gonna be wicked boring."

Buffy nodded awkwardly. "Well, it's not like anything's decided yet, there are still a lot of options."

"Sure, whatever. Want my advice? Not Boston, 'cause I can't say I miss it much. I remember my Watcher said there's maybe a Hellmouth in one of those middle states. Iowa or Ohio or somewhere." Faith looked down at the table again, "But I'm guessin' you'll want to leave all that stuff behind, right?" She said softly.

Buffy felt a lump in her throat. "Faith..."

Faith nodded to herself. "Y'know what? I'm gonna go with forks, just looks better like that."

Buffy sighed as she listened at her door. Dinner had been weird; Buffy had never seen Faith be so quiet. She'd been polite when asked something, but other than that she hadn't spoken at all, probably because Buffy's Mom had been listing colleges like she'd just memorized their stats.

Buffy, like an idiot, just sat there nodding and listening, not really knowing how to shut her Mom up.

'Well, maybe I could've tried "Hey Mom, you know how the normal college experience involves sexual experimentation, well, surprise, I started a little early!"'

Right. And that would've meant the meal ending with Buffy doing the Heimlich manoeuvre as her Mom choked on casserole pork, and then possibly Faith getting kicked out.

The truth was Buffy didn't know what she wanted. The options were there, all over again, rolling over in her mind, the possibility of a fresh start somewhere else. Faith could act as the slayer in charge, and Buffy could try the whole 'normal life' thing. New place, new friends and no Angel, it sounded scary, but also exciting. This should be what she wanted more than anything, it just meant leaving Sunnydale and abandoning Faith, at least that's what it felt like.

Buffy, hearing quiet footsteps, opened the door and casually went out into the corridor, then acted all nonchalant when she ran into Faith. "Oh, hey. Are you done in the bathroom?"

Faith, clad in the ragged white t-shirt and boxers she usually wore to bed, shrugged and mumbled. "Sure."

An awkward beat. "So, about tomorrow..."

"You wanna call it quits." Faith stated like it wasn't even a question.

"What? No!" Buffy hissed, before taking Faiths arm and tugging her into her room, "I'm looking forward to it. Like, really. The whole getting to, um, spend time with you thing, I want to..." Buffy trailed off vaguely; did she really have to decide things right now? Couldn't she just wait and see if the whole Faith and her thing would actually work out or if it was just hormones or chemistry or even magic? Why was she suddenly second-guessing the way she felt?

"Oh..." Faith scratched her arm absent-mindedly, "Okay, I guess if ya still wanna..."

Buffy, setting aside of her confusion for another time, looked at Faith. "I do. I just... I was thinking we could meet up at school, do a bit of training, y'know. Then change and head out for the bowling. I'll tell Oz he can pick us up in his van." She reached out and her fingers brushed Faith's own. She smiled a little and caught the other girl's eyes.

Faith's lips curved into a small smile. "Sure, I'll be there."

Buffy stepped gingerly round the stain on the marble floor. "Still got some cleaning up to do I see?"

Angel chucked another log into the fireplace and stood up, wiping his hands. "What can I say; domestic chores aren't my strong suit." He turned to her and shrugged slightly, "Besides, it turns out Lagos is one of the point one percent stains that most products can't get out."

Buffy took off her rucksack and set it down. "Yeah, sorry about that. On the bright side, the place smells nicer. Very...alpine fresh."

Angel nodded and then saw the brochures in her hands. "What are those?"

"My future, according to Mom." Buffy sat and fanned them out on the table, "Colleges, lots of them, kind of an intense proposition."

"Where you want to go?"

Buffy laughed lightly. "I have no clue. Mom's just so pumped, but I think it's a reaction to the whole slayer thing."

Angel nodded. "She wants you to get out."

"As fast as I can. Somewhere I can be normal, this is my big chance..."

Angel sat down near her. "You don't sound too happy about it."

"Well, she has a point, but I'm not so sure. There are reasons to stay too."

He looked at her searchingly. "Such as?"

Buffy shrugged uncomfortably, not looking at him. "Nothing you want to hear..."

"Buffy, if we can't be together, then we can at least try and be friends. Can't we?"

'That's the question...' "Sure, I guess."

Angel regarded her for a long moment before changing the subject. "You look nice." He said softly.

Buffy looked down at her herself. "What, this old thing? I'm gonna practice with Faith later."

Angel's brow creased. "How are you both doing, after everything?"

Buffy smiled uncomfortably. "Angel, do you really want to know about our problems?"

He just looked at her steadily.

Buffy sighed. "Okay, well, she's a big part of my conflictiness. Why I'm not sure about going or staying. She's realising that I might leave when we're just starting to..." Buffy stopped hesitantly.

"It must be difficult for you both. I know...if I was her, I wouldn't want to stand in your way."

Buffy sighed and stood up; talking about this with Angel wasn't going to help. "I should probably get going. I just stopped by to see how you were, not...I'm just going to the normal thing and take out my frustrations...on Faith, which sounds counter-productive I know, but..." She stopped as she realised Angel was hesitantly trying to say something.

His expression faltered a little. "I'd like to meet her, Faith. Properly. In a situation where she's not trying to kill me."

"You want to meet her?" Buffy felt her stomach knot at the thought. In her mind the whole Angel/Faith relationship was something to be covered up and never even partially repeated. Them meeting and talking seemed like it would be...bad. Seriously bad, "I...I don't know. I'd probably have to tie her up, um, so she wouldn't attack...that being the reason for that." She looked at him a little worriedly, "Angel. I really can't see it going well. Why would you even want to?"

Angel smiled slightly at her uneasiness. "I'm curious about her; she must be pretty special if you think so much of her."

"Because I 'like'like her even though she's a girl," Buffy wondered, "Well, look at it this way, maybe it's you; like you've spoiled me for all other guys."

Angel looked at her stoically.

"Good spoiled, not bad spoiled. Like a princess, not, um, like fruit." Buffy clarified, "It's a compliment."

"Thanks. I think."

"I'll talk to her, Angel. I mean, she is kind of curious about you so maybe...just don't expect too much."

"My expectations are usually very low." He remarked dryly, "It comes with the whole gypsy curse."

Buffy smiled a little sadly. "Well, I'll see you."

Angel watched as she left.

Buffy always liked the school like this, after the janitors had cleaned up and gone home leaving nothing but clean, open spaces in which to fight in. Clearly she was damaged.

Buffy laid the two pair of fighting clubs on the table, deciding that Faith needed to practice a little more with two weapon fighting. Whenever they tried to do it with Giles around he got all distracted and complained that it looked too much like something called Morris dancing, whatever that was.

Buffy rolled her neck and stretched, content to do warm-ups until Faith arrived. Start with some gymnastics and then some cardio, damn Giles for hiding all her music. Buffy breathed out slowly before springing forward into a hand-stand that turned into a double-flip, then a cart-wheel, winding up with a couple of high kicks to finish off any imaginary vampires. Very tall vampires.

"Nice goin' grasshopper, now shake yer pompoms!" Faith sniggered.

"Gah!" Buffy yelled as struggled to remain balanced, "Will you not do that, I could've... easily floored you."

"Wouldn't complain." Faith said as she walked over dressed in workout clothes. Cut-off jean shorts and a Motor City t-shirt that left a band of skin showing above her waist, Buffy tried not to stare.

Buffy turned and walked back towards the table. "So, I reckon we've got an hour or so to train before we go and join the others for bowling fun. I figure we could do something light, like with these..." She turned around to find Faith standing very close to her, arms crossed, giving her a decidedly dangerous smirk.

Buffy's smile faltered a little. "You still what to bowl, don't you?"

"Yep, I even rented Kingpin this afternoon while your Mom was out. Y'know, for the research. Plus Vanessa Angel." Faith reached forward and grabbed the two clubs Buffy was holding, "Y'know, I always dreamed of you handing me somethin' long and cylindrical and then sayin' 'use it on me', B." She said smiling indecently.

Buffy reddened. "Um, I'm not really sure how to respond to that." She turned around to grab the other pair of weapons, "Instead, I think I'll just attack you..." There was a clatter as Faith tossed the clubs onto the table either side of Buffy and her hands were suddenly on the blonde girl's hips.

"Attack me, huh? That could have potential." Faith's voice was a low sexy burr, close to Buffy's ear. Buffy felt the other girl press against her back, her hands sliding down to squeeze Buffy's butt through her training pants. "Damn, with an ass like this I shoulda known you were a cheerleader."

"Uh, Faith, w-we're, um, we really should training. We told Giles..." Buffy didn't know how she got so flustered so fast.

"We are trainin', B. We're gonna be covering dexterity," Faith's hands slid up and round to Buffy's taut belly, "reflex response," She slid her hands to cup Buffy's breasts, causing the blonde girl's breath to hitch, "And breathing exercises." Faith kissed the side of Buffy's neck, her lips lazily following the line of Buffy's neck, up to her ear and then leaning forward to kiss her cheek. Buffy turned her head and Faith smiled as she pressed her mouth against Buffy's.

And somehow Buffy, who had genuinely wanted to train and be the good slayer, found herself leaning back against Faith, her head turned to meet the other girl's kisses. Faith's assured hands cupped and squeezed Buffy's breasts, making the other girl squirm and make little breathy moans into Faith's mouth. Buffy's breath grew ragged as she pulled a way slightly, all the sensations proving a little overwhelming. Her body seemed all of a sudden to thrum with desire, nerves taut and sensitive with need, and Faith seemed to know where to touch or kiss.

Faith's hips ground insistently against Buffy's backside, her hands moving from her chest, fingers gliding down her body to the top of top of her pants, fingertips secreting themselves under the elastic as Faith searched for access. Buffy put her own hands downwards, over Faith's and pulled them up slightly, hoping the other girl would take the hint.

Instead Faith suddenly moved her hands to Buffy's waist and spun her so they were facing, her eyes sliding over Buffy's form, drinking in her form.

"Fuck, you look hot." Faith growled, as she moved her head to Buffy's neck, hot breath tickling before her moist mouth sucked against Buffy's skin.

"Everyone's...a fan." Buffy groaned weakly, tilting her head back to allow Faith more contact, the brunette kissed down her neck to the slopes of her breasts, lips brushing against tender flesh.

Buffy gasped louder as Faith's thigh bumped between their bodies, firm muscle shifting solidly to find her moistening centre. Faith's hands went to Buffy's hips and drew her closer even as she pushed the both of them back against the table. Buffy found herself perched on the edge of the table, Faith's breath mixing with hers as she sought out Buffy's lips again. Faith's hips tilted and her thigh pressed more insistently, rhythmically rocking against Buffy's crotch. Buffy's body shuddered as she moaned into Faith's mouth, every jolt seemed nerve-shredding. She could feel pressure mounting, her body buzzing, she'd never felt this overwhelmed, wet and turned on before.

'What am I doing?'

Buffy moved her head back from Faith and swallowed hard. "Faith...stop, we shouldn't...I'm, uh, getting..."

"Huh?" Faith's eyes were unfocused with lust, she smiled lazily. "That's kinda the idea, B..."

Buffy put her hands on Faith and pushed her away. "Please, just stop a minute. We shouldn't...

"What's up?" Faith pulled back, her voice was a mixture of concern, desire and uncertainty.

Buffy huffed a weak laugh. "We're going on a date tonight and I'm here pretty much ready to...have a happy right here."

Faith tilted her head and smirked. "So?"

Buffy smacked her arm lightly. "So, we're supposed to be going slow. I thought you were okay with that?"

Faith's smirk faded to a frown. "But that was before the college stuff, right? I mean you'll be leaving town eventually, so what's the point in waiting?"

"I don't know what I'm doing in the future, okay? That's the point."

Faith stepped back. "Yeah, sure. Look I get it; I'm not stupid, okay? You've been real friendly and nice since I got here hoping that you can go off to college; make sure you've got the town covered. It's cool, but don't be holdin' out and pretending this is some big romance."

Buffy just stared at her. "Is that what you think? That I've been playing you?"

Faith shrugged, her mouth a tight line. "Way of the world. I'm used to it by now, everyone wants somethin'.

"How could you think..?" Buffy shook her head, "I'm not like that, okay? I meant everything I said to you, about us."

Faith looked doubtful. "'Til you go to college, anyway. Listen, B, it's cool, you don't hav'ta get all uptight about it." Her smirk returned, "Y'know I'm not gonna go evil if we screw around, right?"

Buffy flinched at Faith's words even if they had been lightly said. She just stared coldly at Faith. "Real nice, Faith."

Faith already looked like she regretted saying that last part. She looked uncertain. "Aw, damn. Buffy, I'm sorry okay... I told you I wasn't good at this stuff."

"Well, you weren't lying." Buffy grumbled and pushed off the table, moving passed Faith to grab her backpack, although the thought of a bowling date didn't really appeal to her anymore. Maybe she could accidently drop a bowling ball on Faith's foot. Or head.

"Buffy, just stop. C'mon, please." It was so weird to Buffy's ears to hear Faith's voice pleading this way that she stopped and turned, still glaring.

"Okay, good, you've done that...So, I'm sorry about the Angel stuff, alright? Way outta line, I know. You just...you made me mad, messin' with me like this. All these...I don't know what's goin' on with you, in your head and it's screwing stuff up."

Buffy sighed, her eyes softened slightly and then the library doors burst open and Cordelia and Xander quickly entered, looking worried. "Buffy, you're still here. We've got a big problem."

Buffy frowned. "Guys, what's wrong?"

"Willow and Oz are missing."

'Oh god... Spike.'

"Oh god, Sp...sure they're in trouble? I mean are you sure?" Buffy said flustered.

"Well, Oz's van's missing. He was supposed to pick us up. Plus one of the school labs is a real mess." Xander, his soft eyes were hardened with worry; "I think there was a fight."

"And it's not even a wolf-moon-thing, y'know." Cordelia said anxiously.

Buffy quickly followed the two of them to the chem lab with Faith in tow. Just like before there was a mess, spell components were all over the place.

'What was Willow doing?' "Guys, look around, see if you can see anything?"

Faith's gaze travelled over the mess. "Maybe it was a spell, like they got turned invisible or somethin'"

"Then we'd still be able to hear them," Buffy said vaguely. How could she have been so stupid as to forget about Spike? She'd been so wrapped up in her thing with Faith, she'd put her friends lives in danger. Well, actually Spike had and this time he was definitely getting staked.

"Spike." Buffy said firmly, "The only vampire I know who leaves that stink behind."

Xander lifted his head up. "I don't smell anything, just...evil church."

"Spike? That's bad. He's...bad." Cordelia worried, "But why would he take them? Wouldn't he just kill them or something?

"Hey!" Xander snapped, "Willow's fine, she's just fine, okay."

Cordelia nodded. "Maybe wants one of them for something. Like, maybe he wants Oz because... he's in a band?"

"Or maybe he's putting together the Universal Monsters collection and needs a werewolf." Xander replied sarcastically.

"Y'think?" Cordelia frowned.

Buffy shook her head. "More likely he wants Willow, for some witchy stuff, maybe a spell." She turned to the two of them, he wanted them safe not crawling around some factory, "Listen, go and find Giles, he's up in Breaker's woods, there's a retreat near a clearing."

Xander thought about it. "I don't think I know it."

Buffy turned to Cordelia. "Find it on a map. It's a forty-five minute drive so get moving."

"I can't just leave!" Xander snapped in frustration.

Buffy grabbed his arm and looked Xander in the face. "Xander, this is me. Trust me; I know what I'm doing. I will find Willow and Oz and make sure their safe, and Spike will not last the night."

Xander's mouth set into a grim line, but he nodded and turned and left with Cordelia.

"Where do we start lookin'?" Faith asked, "The creep could be anywhere."

"First off I want to check in on Mom, make sure she's alright." Off of Faith's puzzled look, "Last year I sort of...invited Spike into my house. I was trying to save the world, okay? He, um, sort of helped."

"Looks like it didn't take, huh?"

Buffy nodded in agreement. "C'mon."

Buffy quietly opened the front door and heard Spikes' voice mocking. "You're a very bad man!"

Angel, his voice angry and frantic, "Joyce, you can't trust him. Invite me in!"

Buffy glanced at Faith and raised a finger to her lips before swiftly and silently moving towards the back of the house as Spike continued to taunt. He really liked the sound of his own voice.

"...Yeah? You and what army?"

Buffy grabbed Spike's shoulder and slammed him back on the counter. "That would be me."

She pinned Spike down and without looking said. "Angel, why don't you come on in."

Angel, glowering dangerously, entered the kitchen.

"Oh, no." Her Mom backed away, horrified. Buffy's really should've gotten around to telling her about Angel's return... "Faith, stop him."

"Its okay, Mrs. S, Angel pulls for the good guys now."

"He does?"

Buffy glared down at the blonde vampire. "You shouldn't have come back, Spike. Especially not to my house."

Spike looked defiant and coldly stated. "I do what I please."

Buffy's Mom was looking at them all in uncertainty. "Okay, I'm confused again."

Spike made a grab for Buffy's neck but Angel seized his arm and slammed it down hard on the counter.

"What have you done with Willow and Oz?" Buffy asked coldly, although she was pretty certain of the answer.

If Spike was surprised by her knowledge he didn't show it. "That's right, I took the little witch. She's gonna do a little spell for me."

Buffy's Mom was disbelieving. "Willow's a witch?"

Buffy picked up a wooden spoon. "I don't think so? 'Cause I'm guessing there at the factory, right Spike?"

To her surprise Spike just raised an eyebrow. "Do me now and you'll never find her, her dog-boy neither.

Buffy heard her Mom ask. "Willow has a dog as well?"

Faith chuckled. "Nah, that's Oz, he's a werewolf."

"Faith!"

"It's not my fault you don't tell her stuff, maybe if you did she wouldn't be makin' hot chocolate for evil dead here."

Buffy lessened her grip and backed up, suddenly unsure. Spike just smiled smugly.

Then Angel grabbed him and pulled him up close, snarling. "Where are they?"

Spike wrestled out of his grip, his mouth twisting in contempt. "Doesn't work like that, peaches, and when did you become all soul-having again, I thought you outgrew that."

Buffy scowled at the vampire. "So we're just supposed to trust you?"

Spike leaned back on the counter, relaxed. "Worked for you once, didn't it? She does my spell, I'll let 'em both go. You can tag along if you like, bring your poof an'all. But get in my way, bad things happen and you end up killing your little pals."

Evidently satisfied, Spike glanced curiously over at Faith, who just glared flatly back at him. "Got yerself a new playmate there, slayer?"

Buffy flushed a little at that. "What's that...supposed to mean?"Luckily Spike didn't notice.

Faith walked up to Spike and Buffy was struck by how oddly similarly they held themselves, the same confident swagger in their body language. Faith cracked her knuckles. "William the Bloody, right? Yeah, I heard all about you, how B couldn't get enough of kickin' your sorry ass all over this burg, till you did the smart thing and ran off." She leaned forward and sniffed, "Whatcha been doin', cowering in a whiskey barrel for the past few months?"

Spike sneered at Faith as he told Buffy. "Bint's got a mouth on 'er, whoever she is."

Faith just smiled. "Name's Faith, the vampire slayer."

Spike complained angrily. "Oh, bloody hell! Another one? This whole bleedin' town's always crawling with slayers. Like lice, you are."

Faith leaned closer. "Stupid talk, Willie, seein' as everyone in this kitchen wants you dead."

Buffy's Mom spoke up. "Well, actually I really don't understand any of this."

Spike allowed his anger to fade." Bluster all you like, but I've got, well the technical term is leverage, so I think I'm safe." He sighed contentedly, "Right, I'm off. Come if yer comin'."

With that Spike left, Buffy stood there in frustration, she really didn't want to have to play this little part again. She just hoped Willow and Oz were safe wherever they were. But at least with Faith along things would be a little easier, she glanced between Angel and Faith who had both watched and quietly seethed as Spike had swaggered out.

Easier but probably more awkward.

The four of them walked out of the alley onto Main Street, judging by body language both Faith and Angel wanted nothing more than to severely pummel Spike until he stopped talking, which he was doing at the moment.

"...I just need a few supplies, and then I'll take you to..." He stopped and suddenly staggered to the side.

Faith smiled in glee. "Well, look who's sobering up."

Buffy glanced disparagingly. "Looks like he's havin' a little 'morning after the night before' moment."

Faith snorted and glanced at the sky. "Yeah, morning without the sun, pity." Buffy saw that that comment got a side-long look from Angel. She guessed he didn't want his first meeting with Faith to go down like this, then again neither did Buffy.

Spike clutched his head. "Oh, leave off. It's horrible. I wish I was dead."

"Hey, with three of us, we could actually form a line." Faith pulled out a stake and stepped closer.

"Oi! Back off!" Spike went into a combat stance.

Angel stepped into her path before Buffy could. "Faith, don't, we still need him."

Faith gave Angel an antagonistic look before Buffy pulled on her arm. "Angel's right, as long as he's got the hostages..."

"Right, right. Got it, just not used to being close to a vamp I couldn't stake before." Another look passed between Angel and Faith, but Faith just shrugged and stayed close to Buffy.

Spike watched all this with interest, a small smile playing over his face.

Buffy glared at him. "You wanna get moving, we don't have all night, emphasis on you."

"Right you are then." He turned and wandered along before stopping again, his features twisting into melancholy. He ran his hand up a street light, "Oh, God..."

Angel was exasperated. "What now?"

"I remember...I found it for her right here, on a leash. The sweetest, most delicate little thing...Puppies were Dru's favourite..."

"I think I'm gonna heave." Grumbled Faith impatiently, stubbing her toe against the curb.

Buffy tried to move things along. "Spike, no more reminiscing about your 'good ol' days'."

Spike snorted. "We had plenty of good ol' days. Decades of 'em, you couldn't imagine...I'm getting her back."

Buffy, in an oddly intimate exchange, shared a look of quiet exasperation with both Faith and Angel, before Spike strode up the sidewalk towards the closed off Magic Box.

Police tape crossed the front of the store as Buffy walked in and tore it aside. Signs of another death, maybe somebody she could've saved this time round, if she'd tried. Stupid.

"William's bloody handy work..."

Spike shrugged. "Yeah, well...customers always right and all that."

He handed her a list, Buffy looked and recognised Willow's writing, "Essence of violet, Angel?"

"Right." Angel walked to one of the back shelves and scanned it.

"Cloves, Faith?"

"You got it." Eying Spike she went round the counter to start looked.

"Runic tablets. Spike can get the rat's eyes."

Spike sighed to himself. "I used to bring her rats... with the morning paper...

Buffy rolled her eyes but decided to keep quiet this time, her eyes searched for tablets. Maybe they could actually get this done without...

Faith couldn't resist. "Geez, we get it already, love's bitch...She's really got you whipped, huh?"

Spike sniffed and turned to her. "Yeah? You'd know I suppose."

Faith shook her head, still looking at jars. "Guess again, Willie."

"I'm not guessing, you've been making moon eyes at the slayer for the better part of an hour. And I thought I was pathetic..."

"Screw you!" Faith suddenly hopped over the counter, pulling her stake and lunging at Spike. Buffy managed to get in her way and grab her arm.

"Faith, don't." She looked into the other girl's eyes and spoke softly, "Don't listen to him, okay?" She pushed Faith's arm down gently and smiled reassuringly at her.

Spike's face went from puzzled to incredulous. "You have got to be sodding kidding me, I come back to this town and Angel's...he's turned you into a girl-loving carpet-muncher!" Spike chortled in delight, "That's bloody priceless! So what, you keep the big poofter around for the odd weekend, is that it."

Buffy turned and glared at him. "You're twisted, Spike. You don't actually have any clue what love is."

"Oh, I'm twisted? You're the one who's got these two trailing around making googly eyes at you."

Buffy had had enough of this. "That's not...Angel and I, we're just friends. We've talked it through and agreed."

Spike, sneering at them, wasn't convinced. "Oh, you've agreed, have you? Well, that's just fine 'cause you've talked it through." He continued, his voice cracking with emotion, "Love isn't like that, it's not tidy or neat or reasonable, it doesn't obey rules. It's in your guts, you can't get rid of it, you make yourself crazy; tear your bleedin' heart out trying to fight it. But you, you think you can just decide." He shook his head, "Even I'm not that bloody stupid."

He turned away from all three of them and grabbed a jar off the shelves. "Gotcha. Eye of rat."

Buffy glanced at both Faith and Angel; neither would look her directly in the eye. Angel's jaw was clenching so hard she could see a twitching neck muscle. Faith's eye had suddenly got that hard and cynical look to them.

'I really hate it when Spike mouths off, usually because he has a point...'

After they finished in the shop they walked quickly away from the store, trying to distance themselves from the sullen air that had coalesced around them. Buffy distracted herself by concentrated on her surroundings, on the lookout for large groups of hostile vampires she pulled away from the others.

"What's your hurry, luv?" Spike said, needling her.

"My hurry is the very intense desire to see you gone from my life, again."

"Afraid of a few home truths are we?"

"You leave her alone." Faith growled.

"You like 'em all protective don't you, slayer. Yank their leash and they come running..."

Spike didn't finish before Angel grabbed his shoulder and slammed a fist into his face, knocking him to the ground.

Spike flipped to his feet to face the other vampire, and smiled. "Yeah, 'course you're just friends..."

"Spike. This a bad time?" A vampire appeared behind him, grinning. And suddenly Buffy saw others closing in, about a dozen surrounding them.

"Lenny." Spike said jovially, his face smirking, "How're you been."

The other vampire showed a fang-filled grin. "Better since you left. You should've stayed gone."

Spike looked him up and down. "Is that right?"

Angel and Faith were looking around at the assembled group; Buffy could swear Faith looked happy about it.

Buffy sighed. "Do we really have to do this; he was just about to leave."

Spike sneered at Lenny. "This pissant used to work for me!"

Faith dropped her bag and pulled a stake. "I'm kinda in the mood to hurt somethin'"

Lenny waved his arm at them. "You three can walk away."

Spike glanced at Buffy. "I die, your chums die."

"Looks like we're staying." Buffy grumbled.

"Not for long." Lenny grinned, and then attacked.

Buffy was faster, kicking him in the chest and punching her way free of the group, trying to get some space in which to fight. She looked to see three vampires backing Spike up towards a parked car, a couple driving Angel down an alley and another three trying to pile on Faith.

Buffy was a blur of frenetic motion, spinning kick after kick at any vampire coming near, concentrating on knocking them to the ground and moving clear. One snarling vamp grabbed her shoulder and hauled her up, throwing her clear over a wall onto the patio outside the Espresso Pump, two of his growling buddies leaping the chain to cut her off.

Buffy flipped to her feet and kicked out, sending one flying back against the wall then ducking the punch of another before leg sweeping him. She grabbed a propped up broom, snapped it and drove the jagged end into the chest of one vamp before leaping over the wall to help Faith.

She saw the dark slayer duck low and punch one vampire in the gut so hard that his legs flew out from under him, he fell and slammed hard into the road. Faith spun and delivered her spinning axe-kick to another vamp running at her, leaving him floored and dazed.

Yet another seized her from behind and pulled her back, a third laying a couple of heavy punches to her ribs before he was kicked away. Faith slammed her head back, before grabbing the vampires arm, twisting it, and throwing him over her shoulder. She staked him when he hit the ground.

Buffy kicked out at a vampire to Faith's side and staked him as he sprawled against the wall. Buffy watched as Angel struggle with his three vamps, knocking them all off there feet as he desperately tried to keep them at bay.

"Faith, help Angel." She gasped as she caught two vampires with the same roundhouse.

Faith grunted and ran towards the other fight, announcing her presence by driving the face of a surprised vampire into the side of a building, before throwing another against a parked car. She chucked a stake to Angel. "Try using that, 'might help."

Spike was now on top of the parked car, as before, as was content to take vamps one at a time, stopping briefly to stake one with a fence post it had unwisely wielded at him.

Buffy noted that Faith being here was making a real difference, four vamps staked and another one unconscious, the vampire were getting more cautious in their attacks. Lenny, the leader, charged Spike and they both went flying off the top of the car and through the front of the Magic Box.

Buffy turned as she shoulder threw a bruised and bloody vampire to the ground to see Angel and Faith simultaneously punch the same vampire as he charged at them. He landed heavily and Faith made an 'after you' gesture before Angel punched the stake downwards. Another dusted.

One downed vamp slammed a barrel against Faith's back, knocking her down, before lashing out at Angel, driving the weakened vampire back. Buffy ran to his aid, smacking the broken handle across the vamps face, before twirling it and jamming it point end into his back.

And just like that they were running, scattering to the alleys as they realised just who they were facing. Two pissed off slayers, a cursed vampire and...

"Now that was fun!" Spike roared as he kicked himself free of the shop window. He regarded the others, "Oh, don't tell me that wasn't fun. God! It's been so long since I had a proper spot of violence..." He shook his head, "Really puts things in perspective."

Buffy helped Faith up from the ground; she looked wearily at Spike, still winded from the fight. "Perspective, as in..?"

"Dru wants the old me, the one that doesn't do team ups. "He waved his hand dismissively at Buffy, "If I want her to love me again, I've just gotta be the man I was...Instead of all this weeping and crawling. I've just gotta find her, wherever she is, tie her up and torture her, 'til she likes me again." Spike puffed up his chest, "Right, I'm off."

"Spike! My friends, where are they?"

"Oh, right, almost forgot. There at the factory." Off her disbelieving look, "One hell of a poker face, slayer, especially when I'm hammered."

"I...violently dislike you!" Buffy said through gritted teeth.

"Oh, there fine. No harm done, not compared to what you're doin' here." Spike paused, "Y'know... loves a funny thing." He mused, before walking away, damage done.

Buffy looked questioningly at Angel and Faith. "Are you two...?"

"I'm fine."

"Five by Five."

'Yeah, damage done.'

Buffy visited Angel the day after, she felt like she had to clear the air between them. And now, standing in the mansion looking at him, that air was thick with tension.

He stood there, his shoulders tense. "Your friends, Willow...they're fine?"

"Oz has a headache, he's quieter than usual, but other than that they're both fine." In fact Willow had been awkward and guilt ridden around Buffy, confessing to her that Spike must've gotten the love spell idea from Willow after she visited the Magic Box.

"I was just gonna do a kinda love spell detection spell on you, just to check...that's why I needed your hair comb, um, which I stole, by the way. Sorry."

Buffy was so relieved that Willow was safe she didn't really care, her thoughts about everything Faith related had been so mixed up lately that the only way she could figure them out was to talk with Faith. But first...

Buffy sighed. "All things considered it could've been a lot worse..."

"I'm leaving." Angel said. His voice was rough.

"...What?"

Angel looked at her, his eyes full of sorrow. "What Spike said, he was right. I...I can't be around you, I've tried and it just confuses things, for the both of us..."

"But, Angel..." Buffy paused; this was always going to happen. Angel could never be in her life, not like she wanted. She was just being selfish. "When will you go...and where?"

"I don't know. Soon, probably. It'll be easier, I'm sorry, Buffy."

"You don't ever have to be sorry, what we had...I'll miss you, but if it's too difficult... I love you, Angel."

Angel looked at her, like he looked at her on graduation night, in the swirling smoke and sirens, like he was saying goodbye all over again.

"Buffy, I..."

Buffy stepped forward. "Before you leave, come and tell me and then you can say what you want to say, okay?"

Angel nodded and turned away. "When I know more, I'll tell you."

Buffy felt all that sorrow and aching regret like it was yesterday, she wanted it gone but at the same time, she didn't want to lose any memories of him, of Angel- her first...everything that mattered.

But Angel was the past, now Buffy had to decide her future.

Buffy found Faith in the back yard, sitting on the porch and drinking a soda, her eyes fixed on the fading light of dusk.

Buffy smiled. "Hey."

Faith tried a smile, but it faltered a little, she looked down at the ground. "Hey."

Buffy sighed. "I'm sorry."

Faith shrugged; looking so much like a lonely little kid it made Buffy's heart ache. Buffy never knew she could feel so strongly for two such different people.

Buffy sat down next to Faith, but didn't look at her. "I haven't been straight with you about stuff, I've been too mixed up...but that's really just me not being able to make choices. Indecisive Buffy."

Faith didn't say anything; she just looked like she was bracing herself for whatever Buffy had to say.

Buffy pulled the pamphlet out of her pocket. "I'm going to college next year, the very exotic and expensive UC Sunnydale. Five miles away." She pushed the pamphlet so Faith could see it.

Faith's brow furrowed and looked at Buffy. "B, y'don't hav'ta do this for me..."

Buffy put her hand on Faith's arm. "I don't have to do anything, that's why it's a choice. I told you I'd always be here and I meant it. No arm-twisting or guilt or anything."

"What about your Mom?"

"Mom wants me happy, and normal-ish, not thousands of miles away, we talked yesterday. She's happy that I'm taking charge of my future, that's it."

Faith looked down at where Buffy was touching her. "But, I still don't get it."

"Simple. I don't want to go away. My Mom's here, my home and my friends." Buffy tilted her head to look at Faith, "My girlfriend..."

"Angel..." Faith murmured.

Buffy shook her head. "Despite the name, he's not a girl...and he's leaving, some time soon. And, y'know what, that's actually for the best. I hope he's lucky enough to find someone else, like I did."

Faith seemed to fight to keep from smiling; her eyes looked a little teary. "Don't be goin' all sappy..."

"Too late." Buffy leaned forward and kissed Faith gently on the lips, before remembering where she was and pulling away slightly. "Sorry, I just don't know where Mom is."

Faith nodded and blinked rapidly before saying. "So, Giles has given me a day or so to chill, on account of me kickin ass last night. He's very grateful."

"Aren't we all." Buffy replied dryly, "So, I was thinking, tomorrow night, we should go see a movie together."

"Seriously?" Faith said brightly.

"I, of course, will get to pick the actual film."Buffy said airily.

Faith sighed. "Knew there was a catch, stuck watching some chick-flick."

"It may or may not be a romantic comedy with Hugh Grant in it, you don't know."Buffy said before leaning over, "But I wouldn't worry, 'cause you're buying the popcorn...and picking where we sit."

Faith grinned widely, her eyes sparkling. "Meaning..?"

Buffy bit her bottom lip. "Well, all Hugh Grant movies are the same nowadays..."

Amends: Part 1 (Christmas Presence)

"I'm guessin' this is where slayer strength comes in handy." Faith said as she watched Buffy with amusement.

"Your guess would be right." Buffy settled the heavy parcel down on the sidewalk as she adjusted her shopping bags over her shoulder. They were both standing out on Main Street, crowds of enthusiastic Christmas shoppers flowing around them. A few days before Christmas and people, including Buffy, were out looking for last minute gifts. To Buffy it gave Sunnydale that normal small town feeling for once, evil stopping out for the holidays.

The sky was cloudless and inky black, the air was warm, and from a nearby shop window a television weatherman blared out that still more warm weather was still to come.

Buffy sighed as she tried to get a good grip on the parcel. "You could help y'know; gain some Buffy-brownie points?"

Faith held up her hands. "Hey, I've done the whole trudging about with Christmas shopping last week. What were you doing then that was so important?"

"That would be school, Faith."

Faith shrugged as she smiled. "Overrated."

"Not for this girl. Anyway, I have to put a lot of thought into my presents; each one is carefully selected for my friends." She pulled out her crumpled shopping list and looked at it.

"You ain't seen what I've bought you yet. Very special."

Buffy looked up. "Ooh, is it a pony!" she asked excitedly.

Faith made a face. "Or could be you're gonna be disappointed."

Buffy picked up her parcel again and managed to balance it as she considered the other slayer, "Uh, look, Faith, I don't want you to feel you have to go all out to impress me or anything. I know you don't have much in the way of...well, um, stuff..."

"Well, see, that's were you're wrong, B. I've got plenty of dough, Giles gave it me. It's like a slayer allowance or somethin'."

Buffy furrowed her brow in scepticism. "Giles gave you money? For being the slayer? Seriously?" She pouted, "That's so not fair! The only thing he's ever given me is... the occasional lecture. Ooh, he and I are gonna have a long talk."

"I dunno, he said it was a...dis-cretionary fund? Or somethin'like that anyway. Gives me enough to buy some gifts and give Joyce some ready cash for puttin' me up."

"And for putting up with you."Buffy added before she realised what Faith had said, "And, since when is it 'Joyce'? That's totally weird."

Faith shrugged uncomfortably. "Yeah, see, me and your Mom, we kinda did the bonding thing, and she said I should call her that. Is that cool?"

"Uh, yeah, of course, totally cool. Bonded when?"

"Hey, all those decorations didn't just appear in your house, y'know."

"I know that...the magic Christmas Elves put them there, right? You saw them?"

Faith grinned at that. "No, we, y'know, talked as we did stuff...Your Mom's a good listener."

Buffy frowned at the implication that she, therefore, wasn't a good listener. She wondered what Faith and her Mom talked about together. Fashion? Politics? Maybe they talked about Faith's life before Sunnydale.

The other slayer had mentioned it to Buffy only in the scantest of detail when Buffy brought up the subject. And while Faith was ready, way ready in fact, to get physically intimate with Buffy, she was hesitant to open up and be specific about her life pre-slaying.

But Buffy wanted to know more about Faith's time in Boston, the good and, she suspected, the large amount of bad that the other girl had experienced.

'Well, Christmas is the time for sharing, so here's hoping Faith decides to.'

Faith reached over and grabbed the shopping bags, and lifted them off Buffy. "Here, I'll be all charitable."

Buffy was grateful. "Aw, look who's got the Christmas spirit."

"Nah, I'm just hoping to get a reward later." Faith looked over Buffy's shoulder, "So, what's next?"

Buffy stared at her list as she started walking slowly along. "Okay, I've got Giles' tie, Xander's funny wall calendar and Mom's burgundy sweater and this Greek statue-thing she wanted for the garden. I just need to stop at the Magic Box and get..."

Suddenly Angel was standing before them both. There was a pause as they all stared awkwardly at each other.

"Angel..." Buffy said. She hadn't seen him since...he'd told her to leave him alone. This could be tense.

He glanced between the two of them. "Hi."

Faith's Christmas spirit was obviously still apparent. She smiled widely. "Hey there, big guy, whatcha doing out? Gonna get a big-ass tree for that mansion of yours? Some twinkly lights to put up?"

His eyes flicked between Buffy and Faith, he looked anxious. "Couldn't sleep."

"Know whatcha mean, December ain't supposed to be this hot, huh?"

Angel nodded distractedly, still looking at Buffy.

Buffy smiled tentatively at him. "Are, um, are you okay?"

"I'm all right. You?

Her smile widened. "Uh, good... all good."

Faith nodded as she looked between them both. "I'm good too, 'case you were wondering."

Suddenly Angel was staring elsewhere, passed them both, his expression changed to one of disbelief, like he'd seen a ghost.

"Angel? Is something wrong?" Buffy asked, before realising that it was that time of year again. The time for The First, the evil ghost of Christmas past.

Faith looked to where Angel was looking. "Yeah, what's the prob?"

Angel didn't answer. Shaken, he simply turned and walked off away from them, pulling up the collar of his coat and merging with the crowds.

"Y'know, your ex just totally blanked me, B. Not cool."

"Yeah, weird..."

"So just like that he bailed? Maybe seeing you and Faith together got him all upset." Willow said.

Buffy walked over to the lockers with her friend, Xander listening close behind. "I don't think so, that was just all uncomfortable and then this happened. Maybe I'll mention it to Giles; I've got to talk to him anyway."

Xander chipped in as the two girls opened their lockers. "Are you sure he'll care? Giles and Angel have a, well I was gonna be all euphemistic and say history, but really isn't all that torture and murder stuff gonna cloud the issue."

Buffy sighed. "I know that Xander, but we'll all just have to be super-professional, that's all. I mean, I'm doing what Angel wants, the whole distance-y thing. But this is slayer stuff, there's no agenda or personal baggage."

"Well, maybe Angel's just got the holiday blues; everybody gets them, nobody wants to be lonely at Christmas." Willow said thoughtfully.

Buffy fetched out some books from her locker before closing it. "I was kinda hoping for a nice quiet vacation, y'know. I want this Christmas to be special, and not just for me, for Faith. I'm not sure how many good experiences she's had of this time of year."

"Yeah, it's probably really cold in Boston."Willow said, then brightened, "So at least it's gonna be all warm and cosy for her. Outside, that is."

Xander walked next to Buffy as they moved towards the lounge. "So, do you and Faith have anything special planned? Just so you know I'm asking this as a friend, minimal panting."

Buffy smiled as she shook her head slightly. "Tree. Nog. Roast beast. The usual stuff that I tend to take for granted. Plus an excess of gifts." She turned to Willow, "What about you?"

"Well, being Jewish I see through the whole Santa smoke screen, to the true meaning of Christmas."

"Good will to all mankind?"Xander asked.

"Spending time with my boyfriend!" Willow said giddily, "My parents are going away, so Christmas Eve he's gonna come over and hang out, but in a romantic way.

"Rub it in why don't you." Xander remarked, shaking his head, "I finally get a chance to spend Christmas with my girlfriend, then she up and decides to jet off to Aspen. For skiing, because rich people have to invent new ways to kill themselves."

Willow patted his arm sympathetically as they sat down in the lounge, before craning her neck to see any sign of Oz; while Xander looked across at Buffy thoughtfully as he hugged his bag. "So, have you, y'know, told your Mom about the whole you and Faith thing?"

"Nope, the way I figure it Christmas is a time of celebrating and togetherness and hiding truths from family members. Faith and I are gonna be all subtexty." Buffy sighed, "It's not like there's anything really serious to tell, just yet. Just kissing and...are you sure you wanna here about this?"

"In lots of different ways and on all possible levels." Xander nodded as he leaned forward, before pausing and glancing about, "Unless Cordelia's around, then I'm so very indifferent, but in a friend way."

"It's just; she doesn't really open up that much."

"Open up what...I-I mean, in what way?" Xander stuttered.

Buffy shrugged. "Personally. She doesn't talk about herself that much, just gives short, non-helpful answers about her past and stuff. But I think she's opening up to my Mom...so maybe it's just me, maybe she doesn't feel she can trust..."

"Hey, wow, that's not...I bet it's not even like that." Xander put up a hand to stop her before considering, "Listen, Faith is all about image, right? Acting all tough and sexy and cool and..."He paused as he seemed to drift off.

"Xander." Buffy said pointedly.

"And I'm back."Xander shrugged an apology, "The point is maybe she doesn't want to say anything that might change things between you, like the way you see her. Maybe she thinks you'll think badly of her or something."

"But I wouldn't, I wouldn't ever think that. That's...that's crazy logic, I already told her I want to know stuff."

Xander nodded in understanding. "There is some crazy in her thought process, but Faith isn't really big with the vulnerability. You need to find a way to draw her out of that shell of hers; didn't she say that she's new at all this relationship stuff, right?"

Buffy nodded as she thought about it. "I guess."

"So, go all 'show and tell' on her. And I don't mean that in a pervy way."

Buffy smirked. "What pervy way is that?"

"Any way my mind can make it. What I'm saying; push. Show her that you really want to know stuff about her, find common ground, then go for it."

Buffy's smirk blossomed into a smile. "How did you get all insightful?"

Xander gave her a lop-sided smile. "The thought of you and Faith together just naturally inspires me; I want you crazy kids to make a go of it."

"Inspires you?" Cordelia spoke up after walking over, obviously overhearing, "Really. In what way?"

"The way...they, uh, fight all those," Xander looked around, "Dark forces and stuff, really gets me here." Xander softly thumped his chest.

"If I didn't know better I'd think the idea of two slayers touched a bit lower." Cordelia replied with false sweetness.

Buffy decided to come to her friend's aid. "It's my fault Cor, I asked for some advice. Xander was just helping and being a good friend."

Cordelia shook her head in exasperation. "What a surprise, more 'advice'. You never make it easy do you, Buffy? You can't just date the normal boy, no; you have to date the tortured, angst-y vampire or the poor, damaged chick. It's all about drama and getting attention with you."

Buffy looked at her wide-eyed. "No, it's really not."

"Whatever. Seriously, if you have to try this hard all over again, do you really think it's worth having?" With that Cordelia turned and walked off.

Buffy and Xander shared a 'where the hell did that come from' look before Xander gave her an apologetic grimace and went after his girlfriend.

Buffy folded her arms and scowled. "And she wonders why I didn't buy her a present this year."

Willow gave a sympathetic pout. "Oh, she's just cranky and jealous because Xander's being all attentive...not in a wrong way though, just friendly."

Buffy blew out a breath. "I suppose I should try his advice, least I can do after getting him on the outs with Her Majesty. And that was very 'Christmas spirity' of you, seeing things from her point of view."

Willow rolled her eyes good naturedly. "Hello, still Jewish. Chanukah spirit I think you'll find. Not so much of the giving and receiving."

Oz came and stood next to her. "That's a shame, 'cause I was gonna give you a hug."

"Ooh, in that case I'm all about receiving." She said as he put his arms about her and she sighed contentedly.

"Much as I'd like to linger and bask in a couple-y warm glow, I really need to go and see Giles." Buffy stopped as she saw that Willow was oblivious at the moment, "So I will now go."

Willow managed to wave a little lazily as Buffy left. "Bye-bye."

Giles looked up from the counter as she entered. "Ah, good morning, Buffy. Have you anything to report?"

Buffy nodded slyly as she wandered over. "Yes, Faith and I had a very interesting evening doing some last minute shopping." Buffy said, "We chatted and all sorts of facts came up."

"Good, good." Giles nodded distractedly, leafing through a book, "You didn't get me another dreadful tie, I hope?"

"No, I..." Buffy paused, "…You didn't like the tie I got you last year?"

"Have you ever observed me wearing it? He asked dryly.

"No, but your old, it's not like anybody actually notices what you wear. Also, I'm not that predictable. You'll be really surprised at my, um, actual gift. And anyway, how come you're giving Faith money?"

Giles looked up from what seemed to be a particularly fascinating page. "What? Oh, yes, I thought given Faith's circumstances she could use a little discretionary money to aid in her living expenses."

Buffy looked triumphant. "Ha, I knew you'd deny it, but Faith said…wait? What? What living expenses, she's living with me, where's my expense?"

Giles adjusted his glasses. "Since taking a more active role in Faith's tutoring I therefore requested an additional sum for expenses, sundries and what have you from the council. It seems after the embarrassment with Mrs. Post they were only too happy to comply." He looked at Buffy's puzzled face, "Buffy, you have always had a stable home life, so I thought it best to channel you're, ah, remuneration towards more practical things; weaponry, equipment, research materials and such…"

"You spent my money on books? But that money was clearly destined for…way more important things. The shoes alone… wait, how much are we talking here?"

"Well, the payments have varied over the years but given current living standards in the United States…about four hundred dollars a month."

"Four hundred dollars?" Buffy tried to imagine her improved wardrobe, "Wait, why are you just getting the money now?"

"Well, it's really only meant for a Watcher with a fully active slayer to invest in, so they can look after them. Plus there is an awful lot of paperwork to fill out. Actually, I was sure I'd be denied it. The council can be extraordinarily tight-fisted when the mood takes them." Giles sighed as he explained, "Faith approached me about the possibility of getting a job and how it might possibly interfere with her instruction in future. She said she wished to contribute more meaningfully to the running of Joyce's household. I thought this a more elegant solution, given how much ground Faith has to make up in regards to training."

Buffy thought about it, it was sweet that Faith had wanted this just so she could give some money to her Mom, Faith hadn't mentioned that part. "Oh, I mean, in that case I guess… its okay. It was just a surprise that's all, slayer wage. I didn't even know."

"I didn't think it pertinent. Now to matters more occult in nature, I've discovered some insights into your," Giles made a gesture to her neck, "marking."

Buffy felt a nervous tremor at the change of subject. "You did."

She had told Giles about her tattoo shortly after he returned from his aborted camping trip, making out that she'd only just noticed it, which was only a small lie, really. Giles, being more curious than concerned, had asked Buffy if she had any memory of receiving it, and she'd truthfully replied she hadn't. Giles had then made a copy of it and said little more, just gone all research-y.

"What's the what?" She asked.

"Well, as far as I can determine the markings in the symbol are a blend of Sumerian, Hebrew and some demonic symbols, perhaps all related to an older, common ancestral language."Giles looked over his notes, "Most of the symbols seem to translate as 'wish-granter 'or 'giver'. Only I can't seem to find any more corroborative evidence in my research."

Buffy looked at her Watcher wide-eyed. "Demonic language doesn't sound overly comforting?"

"Oh, demonic symbols aren't uncommon in some magics; they usually denote some specific purpose for a spell. In this instance it would be, uh, division or shift of self or the alteration of spirit or, as in your case, reality distortion."

Buffy gestured with her hands. "Whoa, back up for a sec, be kind, rewind."

"If this is some wish-granting entity… demon, then it would grant wishes in a variety of ways, depending on the wisher. Division or shift of self would be if you'd asked for eternal life or um, physical prowess perhaps, there would be a shifting, a balance would be struck. One thing for another."

"Like, you wouldn't get anything for free?"

Giles nodded. "Yes, magic is about balancing forces, about altering them in your favor. I'm a little…fuzzy on the specifics, but I am certainly thankful you didn't ask for eternal life."

Buffy nodded as she followed. "What was the other, um, 'alteration of… spirit'?"

"Hmn, yes. That would be if you'd wished for…somebody to fall in love with you, or that you were irresistibly, charmingly charismatic so that individuals would do anything you say."

"Which leaves..?"

"Reality distortion; affecting other people, time-travel, dimensional manipulation…bringing somebody back from a hell dimension."

'Time-travel…' "That's the one, so what's the deal. I mean this demon wants something, right? It's like you said, one thing for another."

Giles shook his head. "I wouldn't worry excessively, Buffy. All my research so far indicates reality distortion requires an awful lot of power, this demon wouldn't be after your soul, or anything so…prosaic." Giles regarded her kindly, "I haven't finished my research yet, but it shouldn't take long. Wish-granting demons are few and far between and they don't usually operate this…secretly. I'll have more answers before long." Giles paused pensively.

"There's a big but coming, right?"

"Well, demons, even harmless balancing ones, do everything for a reason. By expanding this much power I suspect that the focus of this 'spell' might not be on you…but on Angel."

'Or Faith.' "Oh, interest is very bad, right?"

"Interest is…interest. But we should be prepared for the fact that it might not be a benevolent force that's focused on Angel," Giles paused as he took off his glasses to clean them, "You might, um, have to monitor him a little more closely."

Buffy sighed. "Oh, Faith's gonna love that." She saw Giles somewhat confused look, "Um, she's not thrilled about Angel…in general, nothing specific. She just follows the 'vampire slayer' byline pretty closely."

Giles nodded. "I'll talk to her…"

"No, that's okay. I'll explain the sitch to her, we're good." Buffy wasn't going to worry about Angel, at least not like that. She could take out the First's goons no sweat, and she was 'monitoring' Faith pretty closely anyway, so…

But why would a demon be interested in Faith? Because she was the slayer? Or maybe because she could turn and become…no, that wasn't Faith anymore. She'd changed… actually she'd never done any of those things.

No, whatever caused this; it had to be a good thing. Things were better, her friends, Faith and her, everything that mattered. Whatever schemes this demon planned, it was going to fail.

Buffy nodded to herself determinedly before turning to Giles. "No problem, we'll just keep an eye on Angel. Oh, and… my Mom and all of us, we're having Christmas Eve dinner at my house, if you'd like to come, you'd be welcome."

Giles smiled in surprise. "Oh, well, yes, I-I'd be happy to come. Please, um, do tell your mother I'll bring a bottle of something appropriate."

"Well, okay then." Buffy was still a bit cautious about Giles and her Mom being around each other, but a bottle of wine wasn't magic band candy, so she thought they'd both behave themselves. Probably.

Buffy walked through the rows of Christmas trees while Faith raced on ahead, surprisingly giddy for, well, anyone really, never mind Faith.

"Do you want to get one with snow on it? It'd be very Christmassy." Her Mom gestured to one of the fake-snow covered ones.

Buffy looked around. "I think those are just for display. And what's with Faith, she's acting all hyper? Has she been at the sugar again?"

Buffy's Mom looked at where Faith had run to. "Just excited. I don't think she's shopped for a Christmas tree before."

Buffy decided to press her Mom. "What, they don't have them in Boston?"

"Yes, but I don't think they had them in her house." Her Mom sounded solemn, before turning to Buffy, "Listen, honey, we should make a real effort to make this Christmas special for her…give her some good memories…"

Faith called over. "Hey, we gotta get this one! It's huge, it'll look great with a whole shi- uh, ton o' lights on it." She waved at them, "Over here…"

Buffy glanced at her Mom's saddened face as the two of them made their way slowly over to where Faith was. "Look Mom, I know you and Faith have been talking. What exactly did she say?"Buffy asked.

"Oh, Buffy, I don't want to betray and confidences. It's just…well, some people just aren't meant to be parents, that's all. And their children pay the price. But Faith, the way she talks about it…it's as if growing up like that's just one of those things that happens to everyone." She looked at Buffy, "But now she's with us we have to take good care of her, okay?"

She paused to put on a big smile as she got closer and looked at the tree Faith had chosen, she asked cheerily."It's a little big, isn't it?"

Faith's smiled as she looked back at the tree, tilting her head as she tried to judge whether it would fit. "Maybe a little, but it's perfect. C'mon, it's all bushy and…" Faith ran her hands across the tree fronds, "…feels real nice."

"What do you think, Buffy?"

Buffy nodded. "Pretty much perfect…but, I'm gonna look over here, make sure we cover the whole grounds, y'know." Buffy wandered through the tree yard towards the back of the lot to where a collection of dead, brown, skeletal trees huddled together against their lush surroundings. Yep, still very creepy.

One of the dealers came over to her. "Bunch of 'em just up and died on us. Don't know why. If you want one I can make you a hell of a deal."

Buffy gave him a look. "No, thank you."

Buffy heard her Mom call out. "Honey, over here, Faith's found another perfect one."

Buffy watched the guy shrug and wander off, pointing at the trees she warned, "I'm gonna get back to you."

Faith gave a last grunt as she adjusted the tree in the pot stand, "Is it straight yet?"

Buffy tilted her head as she watched Faith down on all fours; the girl was made for leather pants. "Huh? I...uh, I'm just checking to make sure…"

Even with her head getting poked by pine needles Faith still chuckled. "I know what'cha checking, blondie."

Buffy coughed slightly as her Mom walked back into the room. "Okay girls, I'm popping out for some last minute groceries. Oh, Faith, that looks just perfect. It's just the right size."

"Is it tilting any?" Faith said, getting a little frustrated.

"Straight as an arrow, now you two can decorate while I'm out. Have fun."With that she was gone before the shops closed.

Faith carefully backed up so as not to knock the tree and then got to her feet and turned. A little red-faced she blew out a breath. "Never can tell if anything's totally straight these days."

Buffy smiled innocently. "I don't know what you mean. I'm just…a perfectionist, I want my tree to look its best."

Faith smirked and crossed her arms. "Is that right? Oh, yeah, and since I picked it, that makes it my tree."

Buffy gestured to the boxes of decorations piled next to the sofa. "Go ahead then, I'll just sit right over here and watch you stretch…and reach…and bend as you decorate." Buffy gave her a coy look as she went and sat on the couch, "Y'know, just to make sure you're doing it right."

Faith gave her a dimpled grin as she followed Buffy over. "Hey, I don't wanna be selfish here; maybe we wait till your Mom gets back. Do it all together."

Buffy gave an exaggerated thoughtful look. "But Faith, however will we pass the time until then."

Faith didn't answer, just fell onto the couch next to Buffy and pushed herself against the other girl. Her mouth met Buffy's, her tongue pushing against the other girl's lips. Her hands ran through blonde hair, teasing at the strands before she pulled back, breathless. "Damn, you are so…hot."

Buffy blushed a little. "You're pretty easy on the eyes yourself."

Faith, in a very un-Faith-like way, stroked Buffy's hair as she gazed at her. It seemed to Buffy like her eyes were trying to take in every detail and commit it to memory.

Buffy was a little unsure. "Hey…you okay? Weren't we, um, about to do something?"

"Yeah…" Faith leaned in and kissed Buffy again, softly and sweetly, her hands curling down Buffy's back, caressing the warmth of her lithe muscles as her hands descended.

Faith's hands went to Buffy's hips and with a deft roll she pulled Buffy up and around onto her lap, her mouth never leaving Buffy's.

The blonde girl squeaked in surprise and pulled away slightly, "Oh, Faith, you're so strong!" she giggled.

Faith seemed more content in this position, hands running over Buffy's hips and butt, grasping as she shifted her hips upwards and stretched to kiss Buffy's neck. Buffy wrapped her arms round Faith's head, fingers tangling together, drawing the other girl as close as she could.

"Faith…" Buffy moaned as the other girl's teeth softly nibbled at her skin, hot breath against flushed skin. Faith almost growled into Buffy's throat as her hands cupped and massaged Buffy's ass, causing delicious friction to build between Buffy's legs, and spreading warmth to form across her abdomen, her stomach muscles rolling and clenching in response.

Faith's mouth moved slowly up from nuzzling the nape of Buffy's neck to her jaw, her tongue finding and again pushing against Buffy's soft, yielding lips and tasting the warmth of her mouth.

Buffy never thought she could get used to kissing a girl, not as heatedly as this, but Faith's mouth seemed to suck the breath from her, leaving her dizzy and light-headed. The brunette was intoxicating in a way different to anything Buffy had experienced before.

Faith's tongue stroked against Buffy's own as her hands came round between them, plucking against the material of Buffy's shirt, her hands deftly finding the buttons and undoing them.

Faith pulled back again from the searing kiss, seeming as breathless as Buffy, her hands finished undoing Buffy's shirt and parted it, pushing the fabric away and revealing Buffy's bra-clad breasts. Faith's heated gaze travelled across Buffy's golden skin, causing a tremor to pass through the other girl. Faith leaned forward slowly, her warm hands gently gliding up and down Buffy's quivering sides, her heated mouth kissed Buffy's sternum before licking down her chest, into the valley between her breasts.

Buffy gasped as Faith's warm, wet tongue glided across her skin, coating her with saliva before Faith's mouth nudged against the lacy material of her bra. Teeth grazed against white gauzy fabric as Faith took a straining nipple into her mouth, closing her lips tightly and sucking hard through the material. Buffy gasped at the sensation as she arched her back, her hips unconsciously rolling and grinding down against Faith's lap.

Faith's hands reached round behind Buffy, fingers tracing up her spine before reaching her bra clasp.

"Wait!" Buffy froze on Faith's lap before pushing the other girl away gently.

Faith groaned in frustration. "C'mon, B. I'm barely on second base here."

"I know." Buffy said breathlessly, "Just…could we move this upstairs. I don't want to be scrambling for my bra when Mom comes back."

Faith seemed to smile in relief."Oh, okay."

She watched as Buffy rolled off her lap and stood up, not bothering to button up her top Buffy made her way to the foot of the stairs, before looking over her shoulder, "Coming?"

Even when slaying vamps, Buffy had never seen Faith move so fast.

Buffy ground her head back into the pillow, arching her back slightly and groaning. What had she said to Angel that time? Spoiled like a princess? Now she knew what she'd meant.

Faith was hovering about her; face inches above Buffy's breasts, one hand gently tracing and squeezing the outside curves as she slowly lave one with her tongue, unhurriedly exploring silken skin with lips, teeth and tongue. Slowly working her way upwards and around until the tip of her tongue grazed softly against Buffy's aching aureole.

Buffy was moaning softly now, her arms curling back behind her so Faith could have full access. She never knew that you could feel this way just from...kissing and she'd never thought of her breasts as this sensitive. Faith's tongue seemed tireless though and that thought alone made Buffy tremble slightly with arousal.

Buffy let out a small disappointed whine as Faith let her tongue miss Buffy's aching tip and instead move to her other breast, her hand still kneading and caressing her abandoned mound. Faith started over, lips and teeth nibbling, stiff tongue lapping against sensitive flesh.

"...Faith, uh..."

Faith's voice had never seemed sexier. "Yeah, B?"

"...please?"

"Hmn?" Buffy could see her cocky smirk without even looking.

"Could you, um..?"

Buffy felt Faith's breath against her nipple and suddenly her mouth covered it at once, a hot wetness that made Buffy jerk stiff as her breath caught in her throat. Faith's tongue lashing the little nubbin, while her other hand seized the girl's other nipple and gently rolled it between her fingers. Buffy gasped, her hands roughly tangling in Faith's hair, fingers running through luxuriant tresses as she tried to keep Faith's mouth on her as long as possible.

But soon, too soon, Faith pulled away, moving up to kiss Buffy on her quivering lips, her tongue snaking into Buffy's mouth to taste her before reluctantly withdrawing. She looked into Buffy's eyes and, smirking, wiggled her eyebrows.

Buffy was wide-eyed. "That was...God..."

Faith chuckled huskily before flipping herself over and settling next to Buffy. "Close enough, told you B, I've got mad skills."

Buffy's skin was humming, her panties were…indecently wet and Faith hadn't even touched anywhere near… there. 'Okay, my mind is officially blown; I'm now…hetroflexible, definitely.'

Buffy turned slightly to Faith, her hand sliding across the other girl's top. Faith had remained clothed whilst they'd been making out, but Buffy figured that after that she needed to do something in return. Besides, she was curious, it'd been a while since she'd seen another girls' breast, and if Faith's looked half as good as they'd felt…well, she hoped to match Faith with pure enthusiasm.

Faith's hand stopped her as it roamed towards the bottom of her shirt.

"Hey, I just wanna return the favor…"Buffy said softly.

Faith turned so she was on her side and looked a little apologetic. "Sorry B, can't let you."

"But why, I mean, I don't want to be someone who just, y'know, is all selfish. I want to…" Buffy reddened slightly, sex talk was still fairly new to her, "I mean, I want to try and make you, um, feel good."

Faith seemed to smirk at Buffy's slightly inept 'sexy talk'. "Hey, we're takin' it slow, right? And that's all good, but, y'see, if you start doin' something to me…I'm probably gonna lose it completely and you're gonna hav'ta fight me off."

Buffy looked at the other girl searchingly. "But, y'know I want to, right?"

Faith smiled widely. "After all I did just then, you damn well better." She poked the blonde girl's stomach. "An' just so you know I'm countin' the days before I get to kiss you a lot lower down." Her eyes drifted downward, before she returned her gaze to Buffy and, still grinning, touched her tongue to her top lip.

Buffy leaned forward and kissed Faith gently, reaching over to cup her cheek. "I know, I just want to wait until it's…right."

Faith nodded, her eyes amused. "I know, you don't wanna round the bases all at once. I'm down with that."

"Okay, good…hey, wait a sec. I know how it works with guys, the bases and everything. Kissing, groping, then…um, oral and then the 'home run'. But how does it work with girls?"

"Like I'm the expert? I dunno, B. I just know what my version of a home run is."

Buffy smiled a little shyly. "Which is?"

Faith gave Buffy a suggestive smile. "If ya real lucky, I'll show you someday." Then she leaned in to kiss her again.

Buffy was dreaming, but everything seemed more vivid, the smell of cigar smoke, the clink of delicate glasses and distant music. Buffy remembered this place, a sumptuous Victorian house at Christmas, filled with the murmur of quiet conversations, gossiping and laughter, lit by muted gaslight. Buffy turned around seeing the scene just as before, in the dimness away from the gathering, under the stairs, Angel pulling a maid closer.

'Cry out. Call for help. I'm sure mistress will believe your behavior beyond reproach.'

The maid pleading. 'Please…'

Angelus smiles cruelly. 'Come, make a scene! Shall I?'

'No!' She is close to tears.

'No.' Angelus repeats firmly, 'We shall be as quiet as mice. No matter what.'

The maid looks horrified as Angelus' demonic features are revealed. 'Please…My son…'

'Oh, he'll make a fine dessert. 'With that he draws he close and bites her, drinking deep. He pulls back as he finishes, and looks startled as a horrified Buffy looks on.

Buffy awoke with a gasp, sitting up in bed; the vision had been as vivid as before. To see Angel acting like that, so cruel and monstrous, still brought jagged reminders of her seventeenth birthday and all the horrors that followed.

Faith had awoken too, sitting up a little groggily; she frowned and put a hand on Buffy's shoulder. "Buffy, hey, are you alright?"

Buffy and Faith had had a try at the whole snuggling thing that night, with Faith sleeping on top of the covers, the Boston girl saying she was used to a much cooler Christmas and could sleep better like this. This also led to less temptation for the both of them, making it more like a sleepover. With your hot girlfriend. Down the hallway from your Mom.

Buffy shook her head and got out of bed. "I had a dream. Angel's in trouble."She grabbed a pair of pants and stepped into them.

"Wha..? Where are you going? To his place? It's like… two in the morning. Oh, yeah and how the hell d'ya know?"

Buffy pulled on her jacket. "I had a dream, Angel was there. Something's after him."

Faith frowned for a moment before rolling out of bed, "I'm comin' too."

They both dressed with quiet urgency, before sneaking down the stairs and out into the Sunnydale nighttime. Faith gave Buffy a few questioning looks but otherwise remained silent, just following the blonde as she walked determinedly across town to where they had bought their Christmas tree.

Finally Faith caught Buffy's arm. "Hey, how 'bout you tell me a little somethin' about what's goin' on. What are we walkin' into?"

"Okay, so I had this dream, with Angel in it. It was some time in his past, back when he was soulless, a killer. It was his memory, Faith, and I was there, a witness. I think someone is casting a spell on Angel, I saw robed, priesty guys with major scar tissue where there eyes should be, they were there too."

"And they hang around a tree shop because, what? They love their evil pine-fresh?"

Buffy shook her head. "In the dream, things, living things died near them, plants withered to nothing, it reminded me of something I saw. I'll show you." Buffy turned and kicked out, breaking through the locked chain-linked gate, she then stormed inside. She moved purposefully through the trees to the grouping of dead undergrowth, grabbing an axe along the way.

Buffy waited as Faith caught up. "Whoa, wicked creepy."

Buffy gestured to the trees. "Translation, evil guys are nearby, causing this to happen. Get ready to punch something."

Faith wiggled her fingers and smiled. "You know me, B. Born ready."

With that Buffy raised the axe above her head and brought it down hard against the dry, dead ground. Again and again the axe head chopped into the soil, dislodging dusty, caked earth that dropped away into a subsiding hole. Soon the hole was wide enough for the two girls to gain access, Buffy passed the axe to Faith as she dropped down into the musty cavern, pausing to let her eyes adjust to the gloom.

Buffy breathed softly and strained her ears, trying to pick up any sounds of chanting, or cheesy diabolical laughter, whatever. Faith dropped silently behind her but stayed quiet, letting Buffy take the lead.

The blonde slayer started forward, ducking to avoid the occasional dead root jutting from the ceiling and stepping over the odd rock that lay strewn on the floor. Buffy's eyes adjusted as the passageway widened into a large cavern, a hefty flat rock lay at its' centre and a few bones and candles lay scattered about. Other than that the area was empty, no chanting, stinky candles or evil priests.

'What the hell…'

Buffy walked around the area; obviously people had been here and then left. Maybe she was too early, if she came back later…

"Did you really think it would be that easy?"

Buffy spun to see Miss Calendar step forward from the shadows, smiling coldly.

"You?"

"I'll admit, I half expected this. You jumping the gun and trying to spoil my plans."

Buffy frowned. "What are you..? What's going on?"

Jenny walked around her, her ethereal form barely disturbing any dust in the chamber, but Buffy still felt her…it's presence, like an oiliness in the air that seemed to cling to her skin, her nostrils, even her eyelashes, making her feel unpleasant. "I told you before, little girl. I am beyond anything you can begin to imagine," The Calendar creature shook her head mockingly, "You thought you could just sweep in here and best me."

Buffy took an uncertain step back. "You…remember? How is that possible?"

Faith spoke up from further back. "Uh, Buffy, who are you talkin' too, there's no one here."

"I told you, I am everything, everywhere, in every thought. But you didn't listen, too busy with your dumb little quips. Well, this time things are different." Jenny looked at her in mock sympathy, "That's what you wanted, right? You wanted things to be different, well, now you'll get your wish. In spades. Bye, now."

And with that, 'Jenny' vanished.

Buffy looked about, feeling a chill race up her as she realized she was facing The First again, but this time, on it's terms.

Amends Part 2 (First Things...Second)

Buffy and Faith stood in Giles office, the Watcher was sat at his desk as he looked at the two girls. "You had a dream about Angel?"

Faith gestured at Buffy. "Not me, her. Angel ain't really my type."

"And, for the record, I was IN Angel's dream. There were things there, details I couldn't possibly know about. It was Angel's past, his memories. And I got sucked in." Buffy had rarely felt this agitated; zero sleep and lots of caffeine had made her jittery.

Giles leaned back in his chair, his face doubtful. "I'm not sure how that's feasible..."

"I saw other things in my...his dream. These people, creepy looking monk-priest guys." Buffy handed Giles the crude sketch she'd made last night after coming back to the house, "Their the one's working some kind of spell on him, he's in trouble."

Giles sighed. "I know. I've seen him." He looked at Buffy, "He wanted to know why he was back."

"Did you tell him, about the wish I mean? I know we don't know for certain but it's a possibility, right? It could give him some answers."

He shook his head. "He ran off before we could discuss anything. I think his torments are no longer restricted to when he's asleep."

Buffy gestured to sketch of the bringers. "Then we find these guys, stop them. I mean, there has to be a way."

Giles put down his glasses and gestured out to the library. "Well, I've already made a stab at looking. But this may give us a new direction."

"Well, then let me help. You said maybe something had plans for him. That means this could be my fault. Faith can help too."

Faith raised her eyebrows. "Hey, don't drag me into this..."

Buffy frowned at the other girl. "Why not?"

"Hey, gals gotta know her strengths, right? The whole book thing..."

"Fine, then go home. Giles, we have work to do." With that Buffy moved out of his office and went over to the desk.

Faith followed her. "Hey, B, where's the fire, 'kay. You have some freaky dream, went to some empty cave and now it's all wicked tense. Am I missing somethin'?"

Buffy turned. "Look, I know you don't really like Angel, I shouldn't be surprised that you're less than eager to spend Christmas vacation in a musty library."

"That ain't...yeah, I know I'm not Angel's biggest pal, in fact I've got a few good reasons for not liking him. But, you explain to me why this is so important and I'm onboard."

"It's important because he's in trouble and I still care what happens to him, even if we aren't together." Buffy was too tired and worried for this, and she couldn't even tell Faith the truth. "And while we're at it, what exactly are these 'few good reasons', huh, Faith?"

Faith folded her arms defensively. "I dunno, how 'bout; he's a vampire?"

"Reformed."

Faith snorted at that. "Fine, then how about this; he loved you, screwed you, broke your heart and then tried to kill you. There, that's a whole bunch more."

Buffy scowled. "Fine, you get to be President of The We-Hate-Angel fan club."

"Actually, that would be me." Xander answered as stood by the door, "I've got the pin and everything to prove it... So Angel's in trouble? Uh, you need any help?" He walked in, shrugging at Buffy's look. "Hey, I can all noble and self-sacrificing, 'tis the season, after all."

Buffy's expression softened as she smiled at Xander. "Thank you."

Giles exited the office with books in hand. "Excellent, let's get started. Xander 'The Black Chronicles', Buffy, you take the 'Diary of Lucious Temple', an acolyte of Acathla and an expert on demons. You can skip the passages about his garden, unless you're keen on growing hearty beets." He handed the books out and paused to regard Faith. "Are you staying?"

Faith looked at Buffy for a long moment and then shrugged off her jacket. "Looks like."

"Excellent. Here's DuChamps' 'Treatises on Dimensional Vortices', it goes into dimensional weak spots and such."

Faith grimaced. "Got any pictures in it?" But she still took it and walked to the steps before sitting down.

Buffy turned to Xander. "Is everything okay between you and Cordelia?"

Xander smiled a long-suffering smile. "Put it this way, I kept up the Harris Christmas tradition of arguing and bitter recrimination, only without the alcohol."

Buffy winced sympathetically. "I'm so sorry, Xander. It was my total bad."

He shrugged. "Not your fault, Buff. We just need a little break, and by that I don't mean Cordelia having an accident while skiing. We'll make up when she gets back, so actually this is the most fun I've got planned. Hey, who else can claim that pathetic a social life?"

Willow came in, arms swinging. "Hey, guys! What are we doin'?"

'The First knows that this has all happened before? How is that possible? Did the First grant the wish? Or does it know what did?'

Buffy's head had been tiredly whirling these questions around in her head for hours now and she still didn't know what to do. She just stared helplessly at an open book written in Middle English, trying to work out how anybody thought it was helpful to talk about demons in flowery language and long verse. Stupid Middle English, she much preferred End English. Or American even.

Angel was in serious danger, hell, maybe they all were. Angel's turning evil or even his death was what The First wanted before, but now?

Buffy had to tell Giles something, ask him questions about all the possibilities. But tell him what? That Faith had gone evil in some other timeline? Buffy just couldn't bring herself to do that to her, Faith deserved the fresh start, another chance. Giles looking at her sideways all the time...would be a strain on their new relationship.

But Buffy had to tell Giles something about the time-travel/do-over aspect, that she'd done this before and knew it was the First. Or maybe she could fake a prophecy dream? They were always pretty vague though, no specifics. Maybe she could point Giles in the right direction...

Head feeling fuzzy from so many thoughts Buffy stood up and stretched her legs. Walking over to the steps, Buffy watched as Faith traced a line from a book with her finger, unconsciously mouthing out a particular word. "So, um, how are you doing?"

Faith looked up from her book. "Well, I learned that, before today, I didn't really know what being 'bored to death' really meant. Guess I was just foolin' myself."

Buffy smiled slightly. "Oh, anything else?"

Faith blew out her cheeks. "Nothin' useful." She threw down the book, "Beets." She said in disgust.

Buffy put a foot up on the steps and lowered her voice. "Um, Faith, I'm sorry about freaking out earlier..."

"B, you've been freakin' out since last night at the cave, okay? Y'think I didn't notice? Talking to thin air, getting all worked up, then coming home and wanting to sleep on your own, keeping me at a distance. I know your not telling me everything."

"Faith..." Buffy sagged as she moved forward and sat down next to the other girl, "You're right, okay. I-I totally freaked. In the cave there was this thing, like a ghost, but I could see it. I don't know why you couldn't. This thing claimed it was behind what's happening to Angel...it really scared me."

Faith hesitantly put a hand up and stroked the back of Buffy's head. "So you gotta tell Giles, right? Sounds like a lead."

"This thing...spirit, whatever, it made itself look like somebody I knew, a woman who, uh, she died last year. Angelus killed her when he was on his rampage. This woman...Giles knew her; he was in love with her. I just don't know what I should do. I don't want to upset him...

Faith nodded. "Hey, y'know me, not the best thinker, I'll follow your lead. But, if it were me, I guess I'd trust my Watcher enough to let 'em try and cope with the truth, y'know." She gently leaned Buffy's head against her shoulder, "This thing's really got ya shakin', huh?"

Buffy closed her eyes and sighed into Faith's neck. "I'm just really glad your here."

Faith chuckled softly, her voice low and husky. "Better than tryin' t'kill me right?"

Buffy froze, her eyes snapped open. "What?"

"I mean all this, actually taking the time, just t'get to know me, instead of just turning on me like that. You were my only friend, B." Faith's voice was light, but there was an edge to it, "Hey, that reminds me, I got your present." Faith's hand appeared as she twisted around next to Buffy; it was holding the knife Buffy had used on her, still bloody.

"Right here." Faith buried the blade in Buffy's stomach.

Buffy jerked awake, gasping, a hand clutching at her tummy.

Willow, sat next to her, turned with a concerned look. "Buffy, are you alright? You dosed off for a moment."

Buffy let out a shaky breath. That dream...it had been so vivid, so real. And the pain, the look in Faith's eyes as she stabbed, had been so familiar.

"I'm fine, Will. Just a-a nightmare."

Willow fiddled with her notepad. "Was it an Angel-y nightmare, with those priest-guys getting a guest spot?"

"Um, yeah, I-I really need to talk to Giles." Buffy got up and quickly hurried over to his office, glancing at Faith as she passed. The dark-haired slayer was still sitting on the steps reading over a book, as Buffy passed she looked up and frowned at Buffy.

'Maybe the First is sending me dreams now, or maybe...that was just a regular nightmare.' Buffy shook her head, 'But Faith does know I'm hiding something...'

Buffy entered Giles' office and closed the door behind her; Giles looked up, his face tired. "Buffy, have you found something?"

Buffy paced back and forth in front of him, wringing her hands nervously. "Um, yeah. I-I think I have info...It might help, just...just don't be angry, okay?"

"What?" Giles took off his glasses and scratched his forehead, smiling in his best 'bemused father' expression.

"This thing, the thing that's doing this, it's called the First. As in the First Evil. Like Original Coke only with more of the evil and less, um, soda."

Giles, still confused, nodded. "Oh, well, I know of the theory. Not everyone has heard of this First, ah, even fewer believe it even exists. What makes you so sure?"

"I didn't, um, tell you everything about the wish. It wasn't really an 'Angel coming back from hell' wish exactly. It was more of a 'repeat the last year of my life' wish. I've kinda..." Buffy cringed, "Done all this before."

Giles looked up, startled. "You've...You mean to tell me you're reliving this last year, because of the wish you made?"

"Uh-huh. Like Groundhog Day, only it's only the once so far. I-I mean I'm a little fuzzy on some of the details, but the main stuff I'm getting right...this time round."

"Well, that's...surprising." Giles thought about it, and said flatly. "So that's why you told all of us about Angel when he returned. You knew it was going to happen. And you knew about Ethan Rayne and the band candy. And about Mrs. Post..."

"Giles, I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I didn't think I'd have to...I mean I probably would've eventually, y'know, but...Look, I'm in real trouble here."

Giles, still trying to gather his thoughts, looked at her. "What kind of trouble?"

Buffy ran her hands through her hair. "The First totally knows about the repeating thing, I went to try and stop it like the last time and it knew I was there. It totally psyched me out and then left. Poof."

Giles stood up. "Well, I, uh, I suppose that should be our priority then. The First may very well take a different tack, but we must assume for now that its focus will still be on Angel." He looked levelly at Buffy, "What is...was the First's plan for Angel?"

"It's trying to convince him that it brought him back. It, um, wants him to turn evil again, give in and become Angelus."

Giles digested this silently. "Then I think its best that you stay away from him." His next question was more pointed, "Why did you make this wish in the first place, Buffy? It's very important you tell me the truth."

Buffy hesitated for a moment, and then lied. "Angel. He, uh, he died. He was poisoned...and he, there was no cure to help him. It was very slow and painful...and when he was dying I just wished...that I did things differently. With him."

"I see. And, ah, when was this exactly?" Giles asked, but Buffy knew what he was really asking.

Buffy couldn't help but let some coldness creep into her voice. "Well, if you're asking if I survived my surprise eighteenth birthday party, the answer is barely."

Giles visibly flinched and looked away from her, shaken. "Oh, uh, um, yes, of course. You, ah, should go on home Buffy, it's getting late. I need to digest the implications of what you've told me...and I'll also look into the First's practices; see if I can't uncover some leads." He put his glasses back on, "I-I trust you managed to best the First last time?"

"Yeah, but I only found it then because with those bringer guys, living things like plants don't grow near them. Total dead zone. We might have to try something else." Buffy thought about it, "Hey, these bringers have to cast a spell, so that the First can, uh, appear and mess with people's heads and stuff, right?"

Giles nodded. "I believe so, from what I've read The First is incorporeal, it's a force that transcends all realities and dimensions. It has to be focused to, ah, use a measure of its full power."

Buffy nodded. "Right, so we don't track the priests, we track the spell. I mean, it's got to be powerful right? Condensing evil probably isn't easy, and again I find myself thinking of Original coke."

"It is an avenue I'll explore." Giles picked up a book and looked out the window, "Buffy, you're advice to me about Faith..."

Buffy shook her head. "Is what I told you last time...sort of. Look, don't worry about Faith. Angel's the one in danger."

Giles sighed. "Very well...Buffy, I-I am glad you decided to tell me."

Buffy smiled at her Watcher. "I still trust you, Giles. That's why I'm telling you, okay?"

Giles cleared his throat awkwardly as Buffy left. She walked carefully over to the steps, Faith was fighting sleep, eyelids flickering open and closed as he struggled with her book.

"Um, Faith?"

Faith jerked to attention. "Huh? What? I'm good, what's up?"

Buffy smiled slightly. "Giles has found some answers about what's doing this. He's told us to go home; we'll have some more stuff tomorrow. And I think our time can be better spent doing other things."

Rubbing her eyes Faith smiled happily as she looked Buffy up and down. "Read my mind, B."

"That's so not what I meant." Buffy replied as she blushed, "But tomorrow we can hit the streets, look up some old friends. Maybe find something."

It was a long shot heading for Willie's place, but who knows, the bringers had upped sticks and moved, maybe somebody had seen where they'd moved to. It was worth a try and Buffy liked the thought of doing something to take her mind off Angel troubles. Still, she did feel better, telling Giles had been the right thing, he knew what he needed to know and that was enough.

Xander wandered over. "Hey, what are you girls talking about? Anything naughty?"

Faith raised her eyebrows. "I wish."

Buffy flapped a hand at Faith. "Actually, we were thinking of trying to find out info the old-fashioned way. If you're not busy tomorrow you could join us." Buffy ignored Faith's annoyed look, it would be harder for her to try anything if she had an audience. At least Buffy hoped so.

Xander bobbed his head. "Sure, watching you and Faith hit people for fu...I mean, to find stuff out, sounds like a blast."

"Cool, stop by our house around eleven and we'll be ready." Buffy reached over and took Faith's hand, "Come on, take me home."

Buffy and Faith left the library; Giles watched them go with a thoughtful look.

Buffy lay in bed, covers pulled down, a hand gently stroked her skin. She opened hers eyes and Angel was sitting there, his fingers gently intertwined with hers. Then, without really knowing how, they were against each other, Buffy sat on his lap on the bed, tentative kisses turning to heated ones. She felt his strong arms around her, his fingers sliding across silky night clothes to gather in her hair.

His lips were just like she remembered, cool until she warmed them with her own, his mouth taking in her breath, his skin brushing against hers. Buffy found herself removing his clothing, her hands on firm marbled muscle, fingernails absently tracing patterns as their lips broke away.

Angel's eyes lovingly swept over her, his mouth a soft smile of remembrance and longing. His hands removed her silken pyjamas so that they were skin against skin.

And then she was on top of him, moving against him, taking him into herself. Forgetting everything but the pleasure of being with Angel again, of fitting together perfectly, of knots of desire ebbing and building within herself. Her longing for him was still there, buried, perhaps fading but now it seemed as strong as ever.

They rolled so Angel was on top, his weight solid and firm on top of her, making her feel safe and protected. His waist moving against hers, hips sliding against the insides of her thighs so she didn't know where she ended and he began, there was just heat and pleasure and tenderness building with increasing speed towards a precipice which would sweep her into blissful oblivion.

And then he bit her, teeth and sharp pain and then weakening, dizzying pleasure flowed from her neck as he drained her of life...

Buffy's eyes widened as she awoke to Faith shaking her. "Buffy, wake up, you were moaning."

Buffy sat up blearily on her elbows, her face flushed. The dream had been so real, like a blend of crystal clear memory and an intense daydream fantasy. Her skin still tingled with the memory of Angel's touch; the feel of him on top of her...If Angel was feeling anything like she was then they didn't have much time.

Buffy blinked as sunshine lazily streamed through the windows, she looked at her bedside clock, which read seven o'clock. A whole day stretching out for them to find the First, she hoped it was enough.

Faith leaned over on the bed, concerned. "B, y'okay? You were kinda breathing heavy, bad dream?"

Buffy sat up and wiped at her face with both hands to hide the tinge of redness. "I'm fine...I just...the dream was a little intense."

"Intense? As in not bad? As in...Oh." Faith's lips tightened into a hard line as she frowned.

Buffy swallowed nervously. "I think I was in another one of Angel's dreams."

"And he was dreamin' about you?" Faith asked deadpan, before muttering, "Undead bastard."

"Faith! It's... not him doing it okay, it's not his fault."

Faith rolled off the bed, clad only in boxers and her white tee she stared down at Buffy. "Why are you always defending him, huh?"

Buffy sat up, still a little confused from the dream. "Because he hasn't actually done anything wrong, Faith."

Faith knelt down on the bed, gesturing helplessly. "Okay, so not now, but all those bad things he did back then...I mean that shit's gotta still matter, right?"

Buffy nodded. "Of course it matters. What he did, it affected who he is now. He did bad things, and now, with the curse, he can make amends, y'know. Do good things."

Faith looked down at the bed, shaking her head slightly. "S' weird, hearing people talkin' about a soul y'know, like its some kind of magical cure-all, no more badness. I met plenty of people with souls who weren't nice at all."

Buffy looked sympathetic. "I guess... a soul doesn't really mean 'good', but it does mean having the choice to do good or do evil. I mean I've seen Angel and I've seen Angelus... Angel without a soul. It's like their two different people. Angel has the ability to make that choice; I just want to give him the chance to do something with it."

Faith didn't say anything, just stared down at the bed.

Buffy reached over and took her hand. "Do you want to talk about the 'not so nice people'?"

Faith, swallowing a little nervously, glanced at Buffy, her eyes guarded. "It's no big."

"Faith, if you don't want to talk about it, that's okay. But if something upsets you, well, I'd want to know. I care about you…and if you feel bad, then I feel bad for you."

Faith frowned. "I don't wanna upset you."

Buff's other hand reached up and cupped Faith's cheek. "If you're fine, then I'm fine, we don't have to talk about anything. I'll go and make us some breakfast and you can go and have a shower, okay?"

Faith seemed to be internally wrestling with something before replying. "Y'know it's funny. I usually hate Christmas…things always go wrong around Christmas."

"Oh. Um, how is that funny?"

"It's just…" Faith shrugged, "'Things change, last Christmas was the last time I spent any time with my Mom, and her boyfriend, Gable." The way Faith spat out that name almost made Buffy wince. "The Christmas before that I broke up with Ronnie, really kinda badly. And the Christmas before that I lost my virginity." Faith sighed bitterly, "Basically Christmas means brace yerself for a crappier year than the one that's gone before and… I really shoulda just kept my mouth shut."

"No, Faith, I'm glad that you're…I mean not about the actual stuff that happened, it sounded pretty rough..." Buffy winced at her own words, could she sound any lamer? Maybe if she came out with some stupid clichéd advice or something. She paused, "All the stuff that happened to you, I'm sorry that it happened but I want to know about it. Because I guess... I want to know about you, why you're the person I like so much. Do you get that at all?"

Faith looked at Buffy, her eyes searching her for any sign of insincerity or lying.

"Anyway, last Christmas was different, right? This year you became a slayer, a totally righteous killer of evil things; you ended up in California which is warm and sunny- all the year round apparently. And you met me, so think how much better next years gonna be."

She squeezed Faith's hand in reassurance; the brunette squeezed it back fiercely and smiled. "Pretty good."

"Man, I thought I knew about all the dives in Sunny D, how'd I miss this?" Faith wrinkled her nose as she looked round.

"Yeah, just get a load of that ambiance." Xander paused as he felt something, "Oh, but on the plus side; air conditioning."

Buffy walked over to the bar, Willy looked up from cleaning a glass and called out to her. "Hey, it's the SLAYER! What brings THE SLAYER down here?"

Buffy watched as a couple of the bumpier headed clientele made a hasty exit through the back. Faith glowered and pulled a stake. Buffy shook here head slightly. "We're not here for that."

Buffy looked at Willy as he stood behind the bar. "How you been, Willy?"

Willy smiled genially at them. "Keeping out of trouble, as God is my witness. So, w-what can do ya for, couple of drinks?"

Faith nudged Xander's shoulder and reached into her pocket. "You want anythin', I'm buyin'."

Xander nodded. "Thanks, I'll get a..." Buffy looked pointedly at him, "A...nice cool glass of water. Heh, it's hot outside."

Willy nodded. "You got it." He reached under the counter for a glass. "Anything else?"

"No." Buffy said firmly, "We're looking for three priests. Call themselves the bringers."

Willy eyebrows went up. "Priests, huh? Well, we serve all denominations here, none of that prejudice stuff."

Faith leaned against the bar. "Yeah, we saw the clientele on their way out. But these guys ain't the pope; they got a no-eyes kinda deal."

Willy shook his head. "Doesn't ring a bell."

"Well, how about I ring that bell for you?" Xander menaced before seeing Buffy's look, "Does the, uh, threatening come now?"

"Maybe you shouldn't play bad cop, Xand." Faith said, putting a hand on his shoulder as she spoke to Willy, "Look, these dude woulda been holed up in town 'til recent, then they woulda moved in a hurry."

"Somewhere underground." Buffy added, "They would be making a lot of scary people very nervous."

Willy slid a glass of water over to Xander and thought about it. "I'm not sure...I don't really want to say anything that would get me into trouble."

Buffy smiled sweetly. "You realise I'm planning to skip the threatening portion of this exchange and get straight to the violence."

Faith looked at Xander. "See that, that was a good threat." She placed her hand on the bar, "That sure looks like a nice glass of water, Willy. What's that gonna set me back? Fifty bucks?" Faith moved her hand slightly to reveal a few crumpled bills.

Willy's eyes lit up; as snitches go he was pretty cheap. "Well, I might know somethin'..."

Faith slid her hand a little closer, and looked expectant.

"There's been migration outta some of the hills to the south, there's a lotta caves up there and it's usually fairly quiet, 'cept recently. That's all I know." Faith narrowed her eyes, "Hey, my ass is on the line for telling you that much. If I knew more, I'd say."

Faith pulled her hand back, leaving the cash, which Willy quickly scooped up. "Pleasure doing business."

"Thanks, Willy." Buffy turned away to leave, at least they had information to start somewhere, just not much.

Willy looked at Xander. "Hey, you did great by the way. I was very intimidated by you."

Xander gave a pleased smile. "Really? Thanks."

"Come on." Faith led him out the door.

Willy called after them. "Hey kid! Merry Christmas."

The three of them stepped outside; the heat fell on them like a blanket. Xander turned to Faith. "You were awesome! That thing, the thing with the money, real noir stuff."

"Yeah, back in my motel the only channel my box would play had non-stop, black and white gangster movies." Faith shrugged, "Guess something stuck. Hey B, what's up?"

"Just, as leads go it's pretty thin. The caves in those hills go on for miles." Buffy leaned against the wall, "We need more to go on and... I don't know what to do."

Faith scratched the back of her head. "Hey, Giles will come up with somethin', it's what he does."

Xander agreed. "Caves are something, a kind of vague something but still..." Xander looked at his watch, "Look, I think the best plan is to deck the halls with boughs of holly. We're getting towards the eve, might as well try and make something resembling merry."

Faith squeezed Buffy's shoulder. "C'mon, you're Mom'll be lookin for you."

Xander looked into the middle-distance. "And Uncle Roary will be well into the sherry by now. Don't wanna miss that." He looked at Buffy. "We'll find the bad guys, sooner or later."

Faith took a couple of steps back. "Look, I'm gonna go and tell Giles, see if this helps with all that detectin'. You guys head home."

Buffy took Faith's arm before leaning in close and kissing her, and then she tilted her head back and smiled. "Thanks, I'll see you later."

Faith smirked before walking away, a bounce in her step. Xander watched her go, "Y'know I think if you two did that in front of me more often it might motivate my brain a bit more. I might be struck by inspiration."

Buffy gave him a look. "Careful that's all that ends up striking you, Xander." She smiled slightly as they walked away from the bar together, "Seriously though, thanks."

Xander gave a dismissive wave. "Don't mention it. Well, actually, mention it as often as possible. In front of everyone. In fact, while you're heaping me with praise, if you could also bring up my manly physique, that'd be a plus. Not compulsory, but..."

Buffy nodded. "I'll talk to Faith, maybe we can work something out."

Buffy was trying to put the finishing touches to the tree, twinkling lights, baubles and ribbons decorated it. Buffy had taken her time so Faith could help but the other girl hadn't shown up yet. Buffy tried not to worry, they had time yet. She just hoped Giles found something soon.

Buffy's Mom walked into the living room. "So, that's the turkey done, the nog prepared and...Oh." She walked over a put another log into the fireplace.

"Oh, yes, nothing like a roaring fire to keep away the blistering heat." Buffy commented.

"Oh, come on, it's lovely." She looked around, "Maybe I should turn the air conditioning on? And where is Faith, she hasn't put any presents under the tree."

Buffy shrugged. "She said she hid them somewhere in case we tried to sneak a peak."

Her Mom smiled as she reminisced. "Well, honey, it's not like you haven't tried that before..."

"Oh, come on, I was like seven then. And it was Dad's fault for saying he'd bought me the Barbie Dream Car plus accessories. What was I supposed to do?"

"He never could keep a secret..."

And then the front door opened and Faith stepped inside, her face smiling but a little apprehensive. "Um, hey. Sorry I'm late."

Buffy smiled. "Hey back, but where were you? I ended up doing the tree, so if you don't like it, tough."

Faith was apologetic. "Sorry I'm late...just got caught up with G...uh, Mr. Giles. He's gonna be a little late; he's going over to Willow's house to get her to help with some research stuff, mojo. But he said he'll come by later."

Buffy's Mom nodded in understanding. "Well, that's okay I suppose. More food for you girls, although I swear I don't know where you put it all."She turned to Faith, "Would you like some nog?"

"That'd be great, but just a sec, I'm gonna get yer gifts...Their in the basement."

Buffy rolled her eyes playfully. "Y'know, there is such a thing as excessive hiding."She looked at Mom, "I should get mine, their just upstairs in my closet."

Buffy moved cautiously up the stairs, if Giles was at Willow's did that mean they were going to cast a spell? She should probably ask Faith a little later, all the normalcy of Christmas prep had dulled her nerves but she still expected something bad to happen. But, so far, no more dreams, either sexy or utterly terrifying. And no more appearances by the First, maybe it really was just all talk.

She walked into her bedroom and opened up her closet, and then the door to her room slammed shut, revealing Angel. He looked confused, like he was delirious, for a moment it seemed like he didn't know where he was until his eyes fixated on her.

Buffy was startled. "Angel..."

Angel seemed unsteady; he was swallowing compulsively, his voice trembling. "Buffy...I..."

Buffy took a couple of cautious steps back, she raised her arms placating. "Angel, look its okay, I know what's happening. something's doing this to you."

Angel's voice cracked slightly. "I had to see you...I keep on having...seeing things."

Buffy nodded. "I know. But their not real. It's something evil, um, manipulating you. You just have to control yourself."

Angel closed his eyes like his wrestling for control. "I saw you...with her."

Buffy frowned. "Who? Angel you're not..."

"Faith." Angel's voice was suddenly firm, with an edge to it, "You and her...she was on top of you. On the bed...I saw things..." His voice trailed off.

'Oh, God...' "Angel, please. You have to stay calm. The First is trying to confuse you."

Angel moved forward, his expression suddenly predatory, like Angelus. "You're the one who's confused; fooling yourself with her...showing yourself to her...You should be with..."He stopped; unsure, looking off to right a little.

Buffy's eyes widened in alarm. "Angel, please just let me help you."

Angel grimaced and grabbed at his head like he was in pain. "Just leave me alone!" He dashed to the open window and threw himself out into the night.

Buffy's door burst open and Faith came in. "What the hell?"

Buffy was shaken. "Angel was here, Faith. He's slipping. We need Giles' help now."

"Fine, I'll go."

Buffy shook her head. "No, you...you go to the mansion, keep an eye on Angel. Don't get near him. I'll go to Giles and find out if he's got any answers, 'cause we need them now."

"You want me to play watchdog with Angel? What about Joyce?"

Buffy thought for a second. "I'll get Giles and Willow to come back here after and keep a lookout for my Mom. Now go."

Faith nodded as she grabbed her jacket off of the door. "Watch your back."

"You too."

Buffy got to Willow's house to find smoke billowing out of the front window. Alarmed, she raced to the front door and hammered against it. The door opened and Oz stood there with a slightly bemused smile. "Sad to say this isn't my weirdest Christmas."

Buffy heard Willow wailing. "My Mom's table cloth!"

Giles was busily trying to keep his head. "Oh, Willow do calm down...it's only a small, um, fire."

Buffy moved passed Oz into the Rosenberg living room to find Giles pouring a vase full of flowers and water over a small flickering fire on Willow's coffee table that was covered with a crude map of Sunnydale. "What happened?"

Giles, looking a little red-faced, adjusted his glasses. "Hello, Buffy. Our, um, locator spell backfired."

"Emphasis on fire." Willow said glumly as she looked at the mess, "And that's the azaleas gone too."

Giles looked anxious as he waved away a little smoke. "Buffy, what are you doing here? Is, ah, everything alright?"

"It's Angel, he's slipping. The First has got him seeing...um, all sorts of things." Buffy finished awkwardly.

"And we have nothing." Willow replied helplessly before looking at Giles, "I told you locator spells are too tricky, I'm not that powerful."

Giles tried to be patient. "And as I told you, Willow, this map is enchanted to aid in such clairsentient magics."

Willow folded her arms as a reproof. "Well, you need a refund then, mister."

"Guys," Oz said leaning forward and pointing at the map, "Check it, 'cause I'm thinking, 'Here Be Dragons'."

The map had seemed to resist most of the attentions of the fire, except for a small burnt spot the size of a match head on the southern part of town, in a crevasse between two hills.

Buffy examined the burn, tracing it with her finger. "That could be something...but its miles from here."

Oz spoke up. "Not for my van, I could get us there in under an hour."

Buffy looked at him before nodding. "Okay, but you stay in the van and lock the doors, this thing is dangerous." She looked at an apprehensive Willow, "I promise I'll leave your boyfriend like I found him, but we have to move now."

Buffy turned to Giles. "Could you look after my Mom? I've got Faith out keeping a close eye on Angel but I'd feel better if Mom wasn't alone, if you could come too, Will."

They both agreed as Buffy and Oz moved quickly out to his van, to Buffy sunrise had never seemed so imminent.

Oz stopped the van and turned on the cab light. "I think we're here. So, you bring any weapons?"

Buffy sighed. "I always forget that. Are there any back there?" She gestured over her shoulder to the shadowy depths of his van interior.

Oz thought about it. "Only a couple of kicking amps and a few e-strings, they can be pretty nasty."

"I think I'll stick to the 'kick it to it stops making noises' plan of attack."

Oz nodded. "If it works."

Buffy got out of the van, quietly closing the door and was grateful to the clunk sound as Oz locked it after her. Buffy glanced at the map in the half light of van's interior glow. Oz had reckoned that it could be an old mine or maybe an Indian cave, whatever it was Buffy would know it when she saw it. Chanting, candle light, creepy, evil vibe, all that would give it away.

Buffy jogged away from the van, cutting through dry, crackling bushes that clung to the hillside, peering through the gloomy shadows caused by the ominous trees that stood sentinel –like. She searched, conscious of the minutes ticking away, of the night draining slowly into the ether. She didn't truly know if the clouds and snow would arrive this time, if what had caused them the first time had been some higher power, or Angel's willingness to want to change, to be better. She didn't want to chance it, rely on a miracle at your peril was something...someone probably said one time. Someone famous? Jesus, maybe, and if he hadn't then he definitely should have.

Buffy was beginning to despair of ever seeing any clue when she saw it, a large crack in the wall of the hillside, like an old dried up waterfall. Overhead, perched on top was a dying cankerous tree, wilting more than the winter chill...well winter, would account for.

'Gotcha, "nothing shall grow, above or below", maybe flowery verse isn't so bad.'

Buffy quickened over to the opening and paused, letting her eyes adjust from the weak moonlight to the inky darkness of the underground. She should've really brought a torch. Maybe she should invest in a utility belt with a torch, a couple of stakes, a few snack bars, and a yo-yo for when she got bored waiting for vamps to wake...

Then she heard it, an echoing of chanting, sound funnelled up and towards her by the slopes of the passageway. Buffy hastened forward, fingertips grazing both walls as she made her way inside, shoes treading softly on powdered dirt. She saw flickers, small blades of light stabbing the dark as the cave widened out and dropped away. She found herself standing on a raised mound of smoothed stone; the ground surrounding it was soft, like the silt of a sandbank. Kneeling upon it, with patterns drawn around them in the dirt and candles and fetishes scattered about were three robed figures, still oblivious to her presence.

Buffy announced herself. "This is the crappiest self-help group I've ever seen. What happened, the rest of the cultists not show up?"

The three stopped and turned as one and Buffy jumped off of the raised stone at them, bringing her leg up to strike one in the chest as she did so. She felt something, a bone; give in his torso as he flew backwards without a sound, landing in a heap.

Another stood and swung a club at her, she caught it, twisted it from the priest's grasp before backhanding him into a wall and bringing the club down hard on his head. She turned to see the third figure standing behind her at where the cave narrowed, his sightless eyes looking up as he suddenly swung his staff upwards in a high arc. It struck the passage with an echoing sound and Buffy heard the harsh sound of grating stone, and then thunderous noise as boulder sand rocks rained down all around them.

The priest was crushed in an instant, ground down into a wet paste by a stone that slammed across the opening , a few rocks bounced inward and struck Buffy as she quickly turned away, hitting her shoulder and the back of her legs as she dived for cover. Pebbles and billowing stone dust coated her as she buried herself as low as she could, hands over her ears.

Before long the rumbling thunder became deafening silence, Buffy blearily raised her head, feeling red patterns of pain across her back and down her left leg, she pushed herself up before realising that her leg was immovable, jammed under a large wedge shaped stone, and the only source of light now came from high above her in the cave's ceiling, where weak beams of moonlight managed to dimly illuminate the cavern around her.

"Hmn, that looks like it might have to come off."

Buffy turned as best she could to see Miss Calendar, the First standing by the cave-in, looking at her trapped leg in mock sympathy.

Buffy grunted as she pulled on her leg, she didn't feel pain, a slight numbness, maybe, but she was able to move her knee backwards and forwards a little. She would be able to free herself.

"In a few hours." The First said, "And it will certainly help when the sun comes up so you can see better..." The First crossed over to her, her arms folded. "I think I just spotted a flaw in that plan, since after sunrise, things...won't be so urgent now, will they?"

Buffy managed to push herself to her hands and knees and looked at the First. "This? This is your plan? Which particular Saturday Morning Show did you rip this one off of?" Although in reality she could feel the cold sweat of panic seeping in. Even if Oz came running and somehow found a way to her, she didn't have that much time...

The First 'sat' down on a nearby rock, seemingly oblivious to her two dead priests lying around. "In fairness, the Lone Ranger used dynamite. My bringers lack that sort of finesse. Still, effective enough, don't you think?"

"The snow..."

"That's right, the magical fairy-tale snow that appeared. Hmn, that is a factor." The First pretended to think, "But let's suppose for a moment that somebody, say, a certain Boston girl was on hand to...speed up the process."

Buffy's face twisted. "No, she wouldn't."

The First looked incredulous. "Oh, wouldn't she? Angel wants to die, and Faith loves killing things, we both know all about that. If Angel were to attack Faith in some sort of...well, gosh, maybe a jealous rage? Then she would defend herself without question, and I don't know if it's escaped your notice but she doesn't really like the guy. As positive qualities go you don't really value 'stable' very highly, do you?"

"Screw you!" Buffy said, using her anger to pull hard at her leg, she felt stones rattle and dislodge but she didn't break free.

The First stood and stepped closer. "Angel will be dead by sunrise. Your Christmas will be his wake. But don't take my word for it. Watch." With that it reached out and pressed a single intangible finger against Buffy's forehead.

She found herself standing on the familiar hillside, looking out over to the town. Angel was standing there, his broad back to her. Buffy felt an immediate wave of relief. She could explain and tell him what was happening. "Angel!"

He didn't move, didn't tilt his head, he stayed standing with his hands in his pockets, waiting to die.

Buffy moved over, her hand reaching out to grasp him, shake him, but, predictably her fingers went right through him with no resistance. Buffy stepped back, her hand to her mouth. The First was going to make her watch him die.

"Angel."

Angel stiffened before turning slightly, his features set in a frown. "Faith, what are you doing here?"

"Faith, please, help him!" No luck, Faith ignored her too.

Faith shrugged as she stepped closer, though still keeping her distance. "B wanted me t'keep an eye on you. Make sure you ain't gonna do anything stupid, pretty sure this qualifies..."

Angel dismissed her. "Go, leave me alone. You don't want to be here for this."

Faith seemed amused. "I don't, huh? I dunno, maybe I shoulda brought some popcorn."

Buffy looked at Faith. "Faith, this isn't the time for stupid jokes. Get him inside!" 'If she is joking...'

Angel should his head in defeat. "Do what you want. I don't care."

Faith stuffed her hands in her pockets and looked down at the town. "Doncha wanna say goodbye to Buffy first? Seems kind of rude not to."

"I shouldn't go near Buffy, not again."

"Because that's what that First thing wants right? Smart plan. I'm thinkin' this is a bit extreme though, y'know? Weren't you gonna just leave town?"

Angel's voice was filled with sorrow. "The...First, whatever it was, it wasn't haunting me. It was showing me the truth, what I am. Leaving town won't change that."

Faith sounded unsure. "You mean what you used to be?"

"And forever shall be." He said, before tilting his head, "I can smell the sunrise, it won't be long now."

Faith sighed as she grabbed his shoulder and pulled. "We ain't got time for this martyr crap, just come on already."

Angel shrugged her off angrily, knocking her arm aside. "Don't interfere!"

"Screw you!" Faith wound up and punched Angel hard in the side of the face. He grunted, took it and swung a fierce backhand that swatted Faith away. The brunette tumbled in the grass before rising up and drawing a stake.

Angel gave a harsh laugh. "Good plan, Faith. Stake the vampire who wants to die." He shook his head and turned his back to her. "Idiot."

Buffy watched as Faith's face turned angry, she weighed the stake in her hand and looked at Angel's back, clearly tempted.

Buffy begged the other slayer as she saw what was coming. "No, Faith, please. Just don't, please."

Faith looked at her stake one last time before, reluctantly tossing it through the air, down over the hill to disappear into the grass.

Buffy almost gasped in relief, her hands were trembling so she clasped them together. She watched Faith step closer to Angel, saw the vampire tense up.

"You missed." Angel said dryly.

"Yeah, well, might as well try the talkin' thing that Buffy loves so much."

"Don't bother. We don't have anything to say to each other."

"Buffy's the reason you're back ya know. She made some ditzy wish and you came back from hell."

Angel turned to her, his face unreadable. "And now she's with you." His voice was rough with bitterness.

"Only 'cause she can't be with you. You know that, I know that and so does she."

Angel shook his head in frustration. "And that makes it better how exactly."

"Man, and you call me the idiot. Look at you, ever since I arrived in this burg Buffy been real broken up that you were gone. She wants you to live, man. She thinks you're worth it."

"Then she's wrong."Angel snarled.

"Why, cause some evil thing wants you to join its team. Who d'ya think is giving it to you straight?"

Angel's face contorted in anguish. "It wants the killer in me, I can't do that. I won't. And I can't fight it anymore."

"Why, 'cause you think you're weak? Buffy sent you t'hell, dude."

Angel jabbed a finger angrily at Faith. "And I should've stayed there. I've always been a weak man, that's the truth the First showed me."

Faith sighed in frustration and ran a hand over her face. "You don't get it, do you? Buffy sent you to hell. Hundred years of hell and you came back...and you shoulda been crazy or psycho or somethin'. Hey, I thought you would be, but Buffy never did, she knew, just knew, that you'd be the same guy. Even Giles said it'd hav'ta be somebody pretty badass to survive somethin' like that."

Angel stayed silent, just shook his head.

"Well, not those exact words...but pretty much the same meanin'. Y'know you're looking at this all wrong right? But I think I get it. This curse you got, it's like when I got called. It gives us a choice, gives us the power to kick-ass, beat the bad guy, make a difference, however it works. But it's tough too, I get that. Choice can be...like a burden, tryin' t'do the right thing. And Buffy makes that so much easier, don't she."

"She does." Angel said softly.

"She makes you forget about all the bad stuff in your life. Like there's just you and her. Makes it clearer."

Angel looked at Faith as if seeing her for the first time. "You love her."

Faith shrugged. "'S not the point, the point is punching your own ticket is pussying out anyway you look at it. Nobody is gonna remember you doing this as being all brave. This is just giving up, being afraid of making choices. Even bad ones." Faith looked at Angel, "You came back for a reason, so you could make choice. Between what you are and what you can be. You do this, no more choices. Ever."

"I'm not a good man, Faith." Angel said softly.

"Then, I dunno, try t'be." Faiths smirked, "Or go out and save somebody who is a good guy. Apparently B thinks they exist, I'm not so...sure."

It was snowing, soft, gentle flakes floating around them both, stark against dark clothing and hair. They both looked up, astonished as the sun failed to appear, the clouds stayed dark and the Sunnydale residents had their flurries of snow.

Buffy felt like crying, Faith had done it, she'd done the 'talking thing', being more heartfelt than Buffy knew she could be, and maybe somebody other than Buffy had been listening.

Angel smiled as he continued to look around, slightly dumbfounded. He looked searchingly at Faith. "Why did you...I mean, you didn't have to help me."

Faith snorted and lightly punched his arm. "Don't mention it. Hey, you're all noble and stuff; you probably woulda done the same for me, right?"

Faith held up her hands to catch snowflakes. "Man, enough of this cheesy hallmark stuff, ya wanna get a beer?"

Angel looked surprised. "I don't know, Faith. Buffy could be..."

"B's kicking ass, trust me, and I ain't waiting around. Come on, we totally bonded. And I know a place that serves vamps and underage girls..."

And just like that Buffy was back in the cave, no snow, no lights of the town. Just her and the First.

The Calendar-thing folded her arms and sighed. "Well, that was disappointing." She seemed mildly put out.

Buffy grunted as she pulled her leg free with a groan of pain, hesitantly standing and putting her weight tenderly on one foot to look the First right in the eye. "You lose. Again. Now get the hell out of my town."

The First shrugged. "This, with Angel? It's just a game, something to pass the time. What I saw there was far more interesting."

Buffy glowered at her. "You leave Faith alone!"

The First smiled and Buffy felt a small shiver down her spine. "I'm all about balance, sweetie. And two slayers just...rankles me. But I think it's all going to work itself out. After all, you did exactly what I wanted."

Buffy frowned. "What are you talking about?"

The First didn't answer directly. "It's strange, don't you think that the most powerful hate is born out of love. All that jealousy and passion. Not to mention betrayal. It all burns so fierce."

Buffy shook her head. "Faith...that's not her anymore, she wouldn't betray me."

The First nodded thoughtfully. "Interesting. You thought I was talking about her...Well; this has been good, catching up and all. But we're done here." The First turned away, walking over to the centre of the cave before adding, "Oh, and before I forget, I am looking forward to seeing what happens to you, how you'll end up. Because, sweetie, it won't be pretty. He has a hook in you soul now and soon he's going to start tugging. Then the fun begins. Because the last time he got free, kingdoms fell, thousands died, including slayers. You won't last long, not alone. And that's the slayers lot, always..."

And like that it was gone, and Buffy was alone.

Buffy suddenly felt cold and hugged her arms to her sides, shaking her head she began looking around for a way out. But the First's voice lingered in her head; it knew what had made that wish. A 'He'. Not much to go on, and some other stuff, fairly apocalyptic sounding. Of course maybe it was lying, trying to scare Buffy as revenge for sucking at the whole manipulation thing. Both Angel and Faith were better than that, both finer people than either of them knew. But Buffy knew that, she had seen it in both of them, even after seeing them at their worst. And she was going to tell Faith what she thought of her, tell her what she'd seen just then on that hillside. Thank her for saving a good man from his own guilt.

When she got out of this stinking cave, that is.

"Buffy!" Oz's voice echoed down from above.

Buffy stopped, moved to the centre of the cavern before calling upwards. "Oz! Oz! Um, I'm sort of trapped here!"

"Yeah... I've been calling down there forever, and nothing. But then I heard you moving. Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I was out of it for a while...but I'm good. But, even with slayer legs, I can't jump that high."

"Hang on..." Suddenly a black cord descended and landed in a coiled heap near Buffy. "Climb on up."

Buffy took hold of the rope, it felt like electrical cord. "Is this...if I tug on this hard is an amp gonna fall on my head?"

Oz's voice sounded dryly amused. "Slapstick's out of season, Buffy...Do you know it's snowing up here? It's...a little bizarre."

Buffy wrapped the cord around her hands and began to haul herself towards the top of the cavern. "Yeah, well you're not gonna believe what caused it..."

Amends Part 3 (The Gift That Keeps On Giving)

Buffy stepped out of the bathroom to see Faith walking out of her Mom's room, Faith smiled as she closed the door behind her, "Your Mom's totally out of it, tucked her in no prob."

"You could've just left her; she would've just woken up on the sofa eventually, no big." Buffy rolled her eyes kindly, "I've haven't actually seen her get like that since we lived in L.A. Back then she and Dad used to come home in a cab all tipsy and sleepy almost every Saturday. I think she's lost her tolerance."

"Yeah, she pretty much finished off all the red stuff that G left behind. Not surprised she's a little out of it." Faith padded down the hallway towards Buffy, wrinkling her nose at the other girl, "'Sides, I've had to do it plenty of times with my Mom, and your Mom swears way less."

Buffy nodded a little uneasily, when Faith mentioned her home life in that way she often wondered how to react. To act all sympathetic might be seen as patronizing or pitying, Faith didn't like that. Should she smile and laugh maybe? That just seemed snotty and unpleasant. Instead Buffy gestured vaguely to the bathroom. "Um, I'm all done, if you wanna..."

Faith's face broke into a wide smile as she slid her arms around Buffy's waist and pressed up against her, leaning in to kiss her, pouty lips capturing and languidly tasting Buffy's mouth before the brunette leaned back. "Just checkin' you cleaned your teeth like a good girl." She said smirking as she nodded, "Minty fresh."

"You know that's not usually how it's done, right?" Buffy said lightly, "Anyway, you still taste like cookie dough fudge ice cream, so stop tempting me and get brushing."

"You got it." Faith's hands gave Buffy's butt a quick squeeze before she broke away to give Buffy an appraising look, "And, y'know, since your Mom's out of it we can..."

Buffy made a shooing motion. "Go on, quick. I have another present to give you." Off of Faith's look, "An actual present, not a 'code-word' present."

With that she walked across and into her bedroom, made her way over to the dresser and started giving her hair the obligatory fifty brushes before bed that, in her opinion, left it nice and shiny.

Buffy smiled contently, she couldn't have asked for a better Christmas holiday, after Oz had driven her back into Sunnydale they'd arrived home to find a relieved Mom, Giles and Willow. Buffy had delivered the good news; that the First was gone and that Faith had managed to save Angel. Then they'd all stepped outside to enjoy the falling snow, which seemed like a gift to the entire town, most people were stood out in their front yards all pleased and bewildered by the changed weather.

Mom had invited Willow and Oz to stay for dinner since there was plenty of food to go around, and

an hour or so later Faith had arrived back home to join them. After dinner they'd relaxed and exchanged a few small gifts. Buffy had forgotten to get Giles anything other than the tie she'd already chosen, but he didn't seem to mind. Then Buffy had wished her friends a happy holidays before they all had headed out home.

Christmas Day had, in some ways, been even better, waking up to pancakes and orange juice before sitting down for the opening of presents by the tree. Mom and Buffy pretty much knew what they were getting each other. Mom had bought Buffy a very cute pink top she'd been wanting for about forever and also 'gifted her' a gorgeous pair of earrings from her own collection.

But it was Faith that made it all special. Buffy had seen the delight the other girl had had as she'd torn into her presents. Smiling widely at the new plush leather jacket that Buffy's Mom had bought her, the one that Buffy had helpfully pointed it out a few weeks ago, and she had also been touched by the drawing kit Buffy had gotten her, complete with a book about how to hone your artistic abilities.

Faith in return had bought Buffy's Mom a gorgeous amber necklace which she'd loved, before presented Buffy with a small shoulder bag, crammed with stuff. Faith explained that it was a 'late night slay kit', for patrolling with. Inside there was a thermos for hot chocolate (or Irish coffee, Faith said...), a chunky pink flashlight with easy grip handle, a pair of binoculars that looked like army surplus, a side pocket filled with strawberry flavoured chewing gum, which was a sometimes habit Buffy had had ever since her Hemery days, plus a few little bags of cookies.

Buffy didn't know how expensive the whole lot was, but it didn't matter. It was so thoughtful that she'd fought to urge to kiss Faith right there and then. But wisely she'd held off and just given her a hug and a heartfelt thank you. The kissing could wait until... well now, actually.

Buffy finished off brushing and quickly changed into her powder blue silken pj's before removing the wrapped box from under the bed and propping it up against its edge. She was a little nervous, not because she wondered if Faith would like her gift, she knew she would, but the gift still made her a little uneasy. Buffy had bought it a conscious effort to begin to erase all the 'bad Faith' memories and replace them with good ones; hopefully this would be a good start.

Faith walked back in the room as she was undoing her jeans, she turned from shutting the door and stared in surprise at the present. "Jeez, B, that's huge! What didja get me?"

Buffy smiled shyly and patted the bed next to her. "Open it and fine out."

Faith eagerly made her way over and sat down next to Buffy, picking up the present and putting it on her lap. She ran her hands over the shiny wrapping paper, savouring the anticipation as she did so. Buffy could see Faith's mind ticking over, tryin to work what it was, and enjoying the expectation and excitement that came with something simple like opening a present.

"I don't think its clothes or anythin'...and it's not some big-ass book. It's like...something in a box?"

Buffy smirked at Faith's deductions. "Yes, Faith, it's a box. How did you know?"

Faith was too happy to respond, too busy fingering one of the corners of paper. "Y'didn't hav'ta get me anything else, B. This's already been..." She paused and swallowed before looking at Buffy, "This has been really great, I mean...the best."

Buffy nodded and put her hand of Faith's shoulder. "Mine too. Just perfect."

Faith nodded a little shyly before tearing into the package, tossing away handfuls of shiny paper before staring at it wide-eyed.

"Um, d'you like it?"

Faith stared at the compound bow Buffy had bought from the sporting goods store that the two of them had broken into last 'year'. She'd remembered how Faith had loved it, enjoyed playing around with it...and how she'd used it to hurt Buffy.

"This is awesome...this is the kick!" Faith flipped the box open and brought out the bow, her eyes running admiringly over it as she grinned widely. "Sweet! I'm so gonna kill somethin' with this!"

Buffy felt her tummy flop a little uneasily but ignored it. "Well, I was thinking that you're a pretty good shot and, um, you could give me some pointers sometime."

Faith looked at Buffy and nodded. "No sweat. This is so cool, B. Thanks." She leaned across and gave Buffy a quick kiss before standing up and fiddling with the bow.

Buffy stared at the other girl before tucking her hair back nervously. "Uh, Faith, I, uh, I wanted to tell you something."

Faith nodded distractedly as she closed one eye and looked down along the bow sight. "Un-huh, cool. What?"

"It's about what happened with the First, when I was, um, in the cave."

Faith stopped what she was doing and looked at Buffy. "Did somethin' happen? Are y'okay?" She sat down again and put the bow gently to one side, "Look, if the First said somethin' to you, that's what it does. It lies. I told Angel that."

Buffy shook her head at the other girls concern. "No, that's not...In the cave it, The First, it used its power somehow...it showed me what happened on the hillside. I heard, saw everything."

Faith frowned, unsure, before looking away. "Oh, uh, right...Look, I wasn't really gonna stake the guy, I mean, I was tempted. And I know I hit him, but..."

Buffy interrupted. "I don't care about that, Faith. But what you said to Angel, all of it...It was so genuine and really beautiful. I realised that... you're beautiful, inside. That whatever happened to you in the past doesn't matter to me." Buffy touched Faith's cheek, stroking it softly, "And I want you to know that I whatever you say, whatever you want to tell me, you'll always be special to me. Okay?"

Faith seemed not to know what to say for a moment, before shrugging "...He was just being a dumbass." Faith said awkwardly, but she glanced at Buffy's face, her eyes open and soft. "And I remember what you told me, 'bout choices. So, it was like you were helpin' too, y'know?"

Buffy nodded and smiled before laying her head on Faith's shoulder. "Tell me something about you that I don't know."

Faith still seemed a little wary. "Like what?"

"Like...Ooh, I know, what was it like when you got called? Where were you, what were you doing?"

Faith seemed to think about it for a long time before shrugging. "Uh, right. Well, it was last May, early, I'm damn sure of that. I was having dinner with Diana; I was staying at her place by then..."

"Hey, so your Watcher found you before you got called? I didn't know that."

"Yeah, I'd been stayin' with her for a couple of months; she kinda pulled some strings and got me outta..." Buffy felt Faith tense a little, "...uh, well it was kinda like a hospital, nut house...care home for wayward kids called the Belmont Centre."

Buffy straightened up and looked at Faith. "You were in a care home?"

Faith sighed. "Yeah... I guess I had kind of a temper and...blackouts and stuff. Listen, can we save that for another time?"

Buffy nodded. "When I was first called...I told my parents everything, about slaying, vampires, the whole deal. And they completely freaked and...I ended up in a mental institution." Buffy saw the other girl's surprise, "It was only for about a week and then I stopped talking about it all, so they let me go. Mom did the repression thing and never said another word about it".

Faith looked pained. "Jesus...I didn't know."

Buffy shook her head. "My friends don't even know, I never told them. It's something I like to pretend never happened, but I get it, your situation." Buffy smiled and poked Faith lightly in the ribs, "Anyway, this is supposed to be your story, so what happened when you got called."

"Uh, okay, so we were sitting there talkin, or she was talkin' and I was off in my own head. And then I felt different...like charged up or... flooded all of a sudden, I guess. Miss Dormer had laid out the whole deal, how I was a 'potential' or whatever, but I didn't get it till then, I didn't think I had a shot at being the 'one'. "

"And then I suddenly had all this power, my blood was rushin' and my head was all crowded and noisy...it was real intense." Faith paused, before adding softly, "I got really scared, like I was gonna have a panic attack, but I remembered these breathing techniques this guy I trained with had showed me...and I guess I calmed down some after that."

"It was for me too. Intense and scary, I mean." Replied Buffy, "But I just thought it was some puberty thing. Becoming 'a woman' or something, it's not like my parents gave me the facts of life speech."

Faith chuckled softly before continuing. "Anyways, that night I had the dreams. Seeing girls dying over and over again, some getting bit or stabbed or munched on by demons...Then I saw you."

"You saw me? Really?"

"Yeah, you were in this crappy old church or crypt or somethin', wearing a real pretty white dress that showed off your rack." Faith laughed as Buffy lightly elbowed her, "Anyway, this butt-ugly guy bit you and dumped you in this pool of water."

Buffy shivered at the memory. "That was the Master. The first time we fought, well, it wasn't much of a fight."

"Then I saw the library, y'know, fighting going on all around, and this black chick's fighting with this 'porcelain doll' type vamp, and she does this weird stare-y thing and every thing faded to black. Then I woke up...realised what I was."

Buffy smiled at the other girl. "Faith the Vampire Slayer."

Faith grinned a little proudly. "Yeah, that's my story, been kickin' ass ever since."

Buffy gave her a sceptical look. "Okay, well then what about the first vamp you ever dusted. Didn't you fall on your butt just a little?"

Faith made a face. "Well, okay, first vamp got lucky and Miss Dormer had to save my ass...But then I went on and dusted two that night, no sweat. It was a blast, and Miss Dormer said I was a natural. It was like I was born for it, the way it made me feel." Faith thought about it, "But, really that wasn't the first vamp I killed. The first one I killed was before I even got my powers, so..."

Buffy raised her eyebrows playfully. "Okay, how did that happen?"

"It was back a few months before I'd met Miss Dormer, I was stayin' with this crappy foster family, the Jones. Real religious types. Me and I whole bunch of other kids were in their care, they had us doin' chores, workin' on church flyers, that kinda thing. They weren't bad, exactly, kinda stern, but really not as bad as most people, or so I thought." Faith shifted a little as she remembered, "Anyways I got close to this other girl there, Jess, and she says that they have a lotta turn over, kids moving on all the time, to other places, 'cause the Jones are just that giving, y'know. And Mrs Jones is all sulky and sad 'cause she lost her son a while ago. But...well, I read some people pretty well, and this chick's definitely hidin' something, so one night I creep outta my room and see her sneakin' about round the door to the attic. Their locked attic, see?"

Buffy felt a sinking feeling in her stomach. "Oh, no..."

Faith's voice got a little colder and a tremor ran through it as she continued. "And the next day I manage to nab her keys while she's in the garden, and I go snooping upstairs with a flashlight, with Jess keeping watch. And what do I find? They got their friggin' kid chained up like an animal, and he sees me and starts beggin' and pleadin' for me to help him escape, to get the keys and get him outta here. And I almost do it, but the keys are on this ring that has a cross on it and the kid freaks and hisses when it gets near him." Faith paused to let out a shaky breath, "So, anyway, I figure he's not telling me everything, and that there's somethin' up, when Jess comes bursting in saying Mrs Jones is coming. That's when all hell breaks loose and this kid...this vamp jumps me and nearly chokes me t'death, takes a nibble outta me as well. But I manage to kick him away while Jess and Mrs Jones are freakin' out, and I'm tryin' to pull myself up to get away. But instead I pull this tarp away from the window, sunlight comes in, kids face gets twisted all demonic-like and he...just bursts into flames."

Buffy was looking at Faith now, seeing her sorrow and anger as she recalled the events.

"Turns out Mrs Jones had been feeding troublemakers to her son t'keep him alive, and covering it up with her hubby. They thought he was some sort of...zombie, like damned or somethin'. But they still loved him." Faith shrugged, "After that, I was outta there, took Jess with me. We dropped out of the system, I guess, just crashed on people's sofas for a while. Couldn't go to the cops, could we? Who's gonna believe us, a couple o' kids talkin' about demons...so we just ran."

Buffy reached over and stroked the other girl's hair. "Faith, I'm so sorry for what happened to you."

Faith forced a smile. "Hey, I'm five-by-five, here. I survived, and bagged my first vamp."

Buffy caught the other girl's gaze and held it. "So, you've always been fearless, huh? I can't imagine going through anything like that."

"Yeah, least I learned that people can be just as bad as vamps. Worse even. A good lesson t'have."

"Just some people. Most people aren't like that, Faith. Those...Jones were just scared, crazy people, they did terrible horrible things, but it's complicated."

"Hey, I get that some people aren't like that, maybe. But most...I dunno, B. Most people, you've gotta be wary. Y'can't go trusting blindly."

Buffy sighed and nodded. "Okay, how about this. I won't trust blindly and you don't think the worst of everyone. Deal?"

Faith smirked and shook her head. "Fine, B. Just so you know I'll always watch yer back."

Buffy smiled at that. "So, um, your friend Jess, what happened to her?" Buffy asked.

"Lost touch with her after I broke up with Steve. I kinda left his place, where we were staying at, without sayin' goodbye t'her. A while later I ended up in Belmont and that's all she wrote."

Buffy thought for a second. "Steve...that's the Klepto, right?"

Faith nodded distractedly. "Hey, that reminds me, I gotta present for you, too. Kinda too personal to give you in front o' your mom, y'know."

Buffy smiled in surprise. "Cool, it's better to receive than to give, that's my motto."

Faith got up and left the room, Buffy heard her voice. "Well, this present ain't exactly gonna change your mind." Buffy heard her laugh.

'Too personal? This has got to be jewellery then, right? Like a bracelet or necklace or something...hope it's not too expensive, then I might not be able to wear it. Mom might notice...'

Faith came back in holding something behind her back, a sly smirk on her face, before sitting down next to Buffy and handing her a box. If it was jewellery it was probably a necklace or something because the box was the wrong shape, maybe seven inches long and a few inches wide. It wasn't wrapped, just a simple box with a lid, and not too heavy. Buffy wasn't one for savouring the suspense so she immediately took the lid off and peaked inside.

And frowned.

The box was mainly stuffed with tissue paper, but lying nestled in the centre was a metallic cylinder about five inches long and one inch around, like a marker pen. It was black, with quite pretty bright pink stencilling across its surface in the form of flowers. Still frowning Buffy reached in a picked it up, and held it lightly, looking for a cap you could remove or middle part you could twist, like a lipstick or a mascara stick or some other sort of make-up...

She paused as she noticed near the base there was what looked like a button sticking out, but nothing else to indict what it did. Buffy glanced at Faith who was biting her bottom lip and smiling in excitement. "Y'like it?"

Buffy gave an unsure smile. "Uh, sure...it's very, um, pretty. What is it?"

Faith rolled her eyes in amusement. "Gee, B. You really are vanilla. It's a vibe."

"A vibe..? A...as in a..?" Buffy's eyes widened in shock and she quickly dropped the object onto the bed, "You bought me a...sex toy for Christmas?" She hissed.

Faith grin got wider. "Yeah, B. I got it L.A from this high-end kinda shop, full of kinky stuff. I asked the assistant for one that a beginner could use easily. Y'see, it's only really got one button, it's small, quiet, waterproof and...very powerful." Faith's eyebrows rose, "What's the problem?"

Buffy was staring at the toy like it was a snake. "I just...it's not what I was expecting, when you said personal I thought you meant... romantic."

Faith's smile faltered a little. "Hey, this can be plenty romantic, okay? Just depends on what you do with it."

Buffy shook her head. "Okay, not romantic exactly, but maybe more...thoughtful." She knew she was being silly and maybe even a little insensitive, but really, what had Faith been thinking?

Faith gestured to the vibe. "I was thinkin' of you when I bought it. It's got flowers on it."

Buffy almost snorted at that. "That's not exactly what I..."

Faith gestured. "I'm not finished, 'kay. It's just... like every time we make out and get a little physical, y'know," Faith wiggled her eyebrows a little before her face got more serious, "You get really worked up, like the other day. And I don't want you gettin' all, y'know, frustrated and stuff and then rushin' into somethin' if you're not ready to. This way you can take the edge off, without me being there, so we can...take our time or whatever. However you want it." Faith stared awkwardly down at the bed.

Buffy blinked. "Oh." That was actually...kind of sweet, in a very Faith way, "Well, um, thanks, I guess."

She picked up the toy and looked at it. It was very pretty, and not at all intimidating. When Buffy thought of things like this, which wasn't often, she usually pictured silly giant rubber things in a variety of stupid colours. Not exactly a turn-on...but this looked like it had been designed by somebody who understood that things had to look sexy if you weren't going to feel silly using them. It was even sort of stylish. She could probably keep this in her purse when she, actually no, bad thoughts. Bad, bad thoughts.

Faith, who'd been quiet as Buffy had been examining her gift, shifted off of the bed. Obviously disappointed she gestured over her shoulder. "Anyway, I'm gonna get some sleep. Do what y'want."

Buffy sighed. She didn't understand how a girl could be so tough and confident and yet still very fragile, even after what Buffy had told her, and then what Faith had shared with her, opening up just a little bit. Yes, there was darkness there; she'd obviously led a tough life...childhood. But Faith was also strong and fearless and so genuine in the things she did that all it did was make Buffy like her more. Maybe she needed another sign, something else to indicate that things had changed between them, had become more special, more intimate.

Buffy spoke up as the other girl turned to leave. "Wait, Faith. Uh, how does this thing even work anyhow?"

Buffy didn't realise Faith even had an exasperated look until that moment; she could teach Giles a thing or two. "There's just the one button, B. I'm pretty sure you can figure it out."

Buffy shifted a little apprehensively, her face already feeling a little red, she wasn't usually the kind of girl to do this. "Well, uh, maybe if you, um, stayed to watch? That'd be okay, so you could be sure that I liked, uh, my present. "

Faith turned to look at Buffy, her face unreadable. "You serious?"

Buffy laughed a little nervously. "Hey, it's not like I've done this before...I mean, I've done it before, but not with, um, an aid-thing." Buffy's blush deepened as she babbled, "...Not that I do it all the time, obviously, like some big freak."

Faith's smile returned as she sat back down next to Buffy and leaned over to kiss her. Buffy sighed into Faith's mouth as the other girl's lips worked against hers. Faith's hand reached up to cup Buffy's chin, before pulling back slightly. "You really like it, huh?"

Buffy caught her breath. "It was just a surprise, that's all. And I'm, uh, a little nervous."

Faith gave her a sultry look. "Just relax and take your pants off." Her hand brushed a golden lock of hair away from Buffy's face as eyes swept down Buffy's form. Buffy felt a not unpleasant nervous tremor travel through her as she stood up and, after placing the vibe on the bed, reached and hooked her fingers into her waist band. Buffy bit her bottom lip as she slowly drew her pyjama pants and her panties down her legs and kicked them to one side.

She let out a nervous breath, feeling the air against her legs and the bottom of her nightshirt brushing against the top of her thighs. She looked to see Faith had also gotten up and was removing her jeans.

"Uh, Faith, what're you..?"

Faith gave her a heated look, before smiling. "Just gettin' more comfy, figured you wouldn't want to be the only one half naked."

Buffy swallowed. "But, just to watch, right?"

Faith tilted her head slightly. "Well, you're still gonna be doin' all the naughty touchin', I'm just gonna help out a little."

Buffy wasn't sure about that. "Faith..."

"Trust me, B. I've done somethin' like this before. You're gonna love it."

Despite her nervousness Buffy found her curiosity perked. "Done something like this before? When?"

Now, wearing nothing but her white tee and black panties Faith made her way over to the bed. "Tell ya later." Faith settled onto the mattress, back up against the head of the bed, she spread her legs a little and patted the space between them. "You sit here." Her eyes were such a mixture of mischief and hunger, for a moment Buffy wondered if she'd made a mistake, if Faith was going to push for something that she wasn't ready for. But Buffy decided to trust her, after all, Faith had been all set to leave her alone a few moments ago, Buffy had asked for this.

Before she lost her nerve Buffy moved closer and crawled onto the bed on her hands and knees, feeling her top drift up over her butt to leave it bare as she did so. She just managed to remember to grab the vibrator on her way passed, clutching it in one fist as she move closer. Feeling more than a little vulnerable Buffy awkwardly knelt between Faith's legs, in the spot the other girl had indicated. "Um, so now what?"

'I really have to work on my sexy, bedroom talk.'

Faith gave her a slow, easy smile before leaning forward and giving her a soft reassuring kiss, her tongue gently grazing Buffy's lips like a silken promise. "Just relax, turn around and lean back against me, okay?" Her voice, still husky with arousal was soft and comforting, Buffy felt her nerves settle.

Buffy sat back on her haunches before quickly scooting around so her back was to Faith. Shifting backwards a little she felt Faith's arms on her shoulders as they gently stopped her and then pulled her back slightly. Buffy felt her shoulder blades press against Faith's chest, the other girl's breathing against her right ear. The outside of her thighs pressing against the inside of Faith's, and most of all Buffy was very aware that her butt was lightly pushed up against Faith's abdomen, Buffy relaxed a little and tried to stop clamping her legs together.

Buffy felt Faith's arms wrap around her middle and pull her tighter as the brunette propped her chin on Buffy's shoulder. "'Kay, now lift your knees so that your feet are flat on the bed."

Buffy did as she was instructed, lifting and spreading her legs slightly so her feet were flat on the mattress, her knees pointing upwards. Her nightshirt had ridden up and spread as well, Buffy felt her bare butt flat against the cool bed covers. Looking down she could see a wisp of blonde hair visible between her legs, she felt Faith's breath hitch. "Jesus...you are so sexy."

Buffy's breathing was warm and shivery; she brought the vibe up for both of them to see and then paused. "So...I just click the button?"

"Yep, click it once for setting one, then again for the next, and again for the strongest. Fourth click turns it off. Easy as pie."

Buffy gave a nervous huff. "And what kind of pie would that be...actually forget I said that."

Faith reached out her hand to gently grasp the wrist with which Buffy was holding the toy. She deftly clicked the button at its base and the vibe suddenly came to life, not making a sound, just pulsing slightly, not even as powerful as an electric toothbrush. Buffy adjusted her grip so she was holding the toy by its base; experimentally she pressed the tip against the top of her thigh. Pleasant ticklish ripples leapt across her skin, she squirmed a little and moved the tip away.

Buffy felt Faith's husky burr close to her ear as she still kept a light hold of Buffy's wrist. "See, setting one's just ticklish."

"So I see." Buffy replied, having never done anything like this before she was wondering what to do next. Should she just...plunge in? God, but that sounded inappropriate. Maybe she should...

Just then Faith took a firmer grip of Buffy's wrist and quickly moved both their hands down to run the vibe across the top of Buffy's thigh, from just below the knee in a quick downwards sweep. Buffy gasped a little in surprise.

Without stopping Faith brought the vibe down between Buffy's thighs before slowly and gently trailing it up her leg, Buffy watched her skin shimmer slightly as Faith drew a couple of lazy patterns on her tanned thigh, then took the vibe away and held it up in front of them both. "So, you wanna try setting two?"

Only a little hesitantly this time Buffy clicked the bottom button with her thumb, the pulsing became a low hum, similar to those hand-held electric fans some people carried in the summer. Buffy felt Faith's lips against her neck as she gently guided Buffy's hand down again, pressing the toy against Buffy's soft inner thigh. The buzzing sensation was more powerful, less ticklish this time. Buffy felt warmth gather between her legs not just at the feeling but at the building anticipation. She watched as Faith gently guided her wrist down, turning so the nose of the toy disappeared out of sight beneath her shirt.

Buffy gasped as the mild sound seemed to transform in an instant to powerful jolts of pleasure, the tip traced downwards along the outside of her pussy, before teasingly pulling away. Buffy bit her lip to try and stifle the groan of disappointment, she could feel sweat on her forehead and between her breasts. Faith's left arm was still on her waist, hand stroking her stomach in small circles, shifting the material around and across sensitive skin. Buffy was aware of her buttocks slick against the bed, her nipples straining against her silken top, the gentle tremors of pleasure as Faith's mouth nipped and kissed behind her ear.

"You okay?" Faith's voice seemed rich with arousal and more than a little mischief.

Buffy was breathless. "Uh-huh, more please."

This time, more by Buffy's own impetus than Faith's she moved her wrist back, her left hand drawing the bottom of her shirt away so she could she what she was doing. Her eyes took in the dampness of her curls, the way her pussy glistened with dampness. Gently she ran the vibe around the outside of her opening, the light buzzing sending pleasant tingles to her centre, up her spine to wrap her brain in pink fog.

When she had touched herself in the past, it hadn't been like this; she never really lingered or took her time. It was always tinged with a little guilt, now she was enjoying it, taking in each new sensation as it happened.

Faith's breath shuddered against Buffy's neck as she drew the slick vibe upwards and pressed it firmly against the top of Buffy's opening. The small jolts of pleasure came faster now and quickly grew more intense; tremors that had mildly pulsed through her now became more jagged. Buffy felt her body coiling and tightening with tension, all the while as pulses of pleasure rippled through her being. She felt her toes curl, Faith's left hand strayed up to grab her breast and roughly massage it, her lips moving to kiss Buffy's ear as the blonde girl's head rolled back.

And just as the tension seemed to become unbearable, as it seemed that she would break the bed her muscles were tensing that much, she unwound. Blast after blast of feeling rolled over her, assaulting her senses. Starbursts exploded in brilliant colours behind her eyes as her body twitched and jerked against Faith. Dimly she realised she was moaning into Faith's mouth, the other girl's lips clamped over hers, she gasped against the other girl, her legs clamping together on both their hands.

The vibe continued to buzz incessantly against Buffy's centre and almost without warning a second orgasm washed over Buffy, rippling over her raw nerves, weaker than the first but no less beautiful for it. Buffy found herself murmuring Faith's name against her mouth, her tongue pushing against the other girl, her body twisting around for more contact, her free hand coiling into Faith's mane of hair. Buffy found herself giggling breathlessly with euphoria as she kissed Faith, her body seemed wrung out and alive at the same time, her senses seemed magnified as she took in the smell and taste of Faith.

For her part Faith was kissing Buffy back just as fiercely, her breath coming in ragged pants as she nuzzled down Buffy's neck, her hands gliding and caressing over Buffy's quivering form. Buffy pushed the other girl back firmly against the headboard, her mouth kissing Faith's throat as she adjusted herself, getting one knee under her and swinging her other trembling leg off of the bed.

"Faith...Faith...God, that was...incredible." She raised her head to look the other girl in the eye, "That was beautiful."

Faith stared back, her brown eyes wide and vibrant. "That was...wicked intense, B. You were...that was perfect."

Buffy nodded a little sleepily and snuggled against the other girl, marvelling not for the first time how natural it felt to have another soft, feminine body to lie against. She felt Faith run her fingers through her, very mussed, hair. And even those gentle touches were setting little sparks of inside her brain.

'And we didn't even try setting number three...we...' Buffy shifted a little, "Faith, you didn't even...I mean that was all me, and..."

Faith gave a lop-sided smile. "Hey, I had a pretty good time too, the way you were grindin' back against me; I had me a moment, okay?"

Buffy smiled shyly. "Oh, okay." She wanted to say more; in the after glow her mind seemed to be realising that her feelings for Faith were...really intense. That fact was more than a little scary, things seemed to have happened so fast but at the same time they had progressed perfectly naturally.

'Who knew that orgasms interfered with deep, intelligent thought?'

Faith nudged her gently. "Hey, you gotta scrunch over; I'm half off the bed here, and my legs goin' numb."

"Sorry." Buffy adjusted herself so Faith burrow down next to her and put her arms around her, soon they were in the 'spoons' position. "Uh, and thanks again. Y'know, for the gift."

Faith murmured. "Yeah, Merry Christmas, B. Hey, maybe next time, you'll get t'see me use it."

With that she gave Buffy a quick kiss and settled against her, Buffy feeling the other girl's breathing settle into a rhythm. Listened to the soft thrum of her heart, and the occasional murmur from her lips, and she knew, just knew that she was falling in love with her. This wasn't just passion, or sex, or a slayer thing. It didn't matter that Faith was a girl. All those things were swirling round in Buffy's head but they didn't disguise the fact that she'd felt like this only once before, the feeling like two people were just meant to be.

And to think, if not for this wish she would never have known, she just would've carried on with her life, alone. The First was wrong, had to be wrong, or had been lying. Anything that caused this wasn't evil, it didn't make any sense.

But still its voice, cruel and twisted, stayed with her. Reverberating inside her.

'I'm looking forward to seeing what happens to you, how you'll end up. Because, sweetie, it won't be pretty...'