Author's Note: The final scene of this chapter has a transphobic character bullying Buffy. Since such things can be triggering for those of us who are trans, I would recommend stopping at Faith's last scene with the Mayor if you have a problem with such things.


Chapter 38: Enemies

March 15, 1999 – Monday

Restfield Cemetery

Faith hurried through the cemetery looking for her girlfriend. She found Buffy and Elizabeth patrolling halfway through the graveyard. "Hey, Little D."

"Wrong person," Elizabeth informed Faith. "My name is Elizabeth."

Faith looked toward her girl with a raised eyebrow. "Huh?" was the one word she could think to say.

"Do you remember Cordelia's wish?" Buffy asked.

"Of course," Faith said. "The one where you committed suicide and Kakistos killed me. Why?"

"I'm the Dawn from that world," Elizabeth informed Faith, who fell in step with her and Buffy. "Your successor."

"Okay," Faith said with a raised eyebrow. "I have so many questions. The first would be, how?"

"The demon… or rather ex-demon who granted Cordelia's wish lost her powers when it was reversed," Buffy explained. "So, she conned Willow into trying to get them back. Except the spell didn't go the way she wanted. Instead of bringing back her powers. It brought back something else. Elizabeth and a vampire, Willow's counterpart."

"So, if she's here," Faith said nodding toward Elizabeth, "that means the vampire…"

"Was sent back to her world," Buffy answered. "Given what Dawn remembered of Elizabeth's life. Elizabeth didn't want to go back just to die. So, when we sent Vamp Willow back, Elizabeth stayed. Wesley even made some calls and got her a birth certificate and everything."

"Well it's nice to meet you, Elizabeth," Faith said as she smiled at Dawn's twin.

"It's nice to meet you too, Faith," Elizabeth replied. "I just want to say I'm sorry what happened with…"

"I wouldn't, Elizabeth," Buffy interjected knowing that Elizabeth was about to bring up the death of Faith's Watcher, Diana. "That's kind of a touchy subject for Faith."

"Sorry," Elizabeth apologized as her hand went to Faith's back and she rubbed it in soothing circles.

Faith closed her eyes at the motion. "She's got the same tricks your mom uses."

"Well who do you think Buffy and I learned them from," Elizabeth asked with a small chuckle.

"How are you handling me not being with you?" Faith asked Buffy as Elizabeth removed her hand from her back.

"It's…" Buffy said as an unseen, an ominous shadowy figure rose up behind the three of them. "Elizabeth! Duck!"

Elizabeth dropped to the ground as Buffy and Faith punched the shadowy figure full in the face sending it crashing into a tomb wall. All three of them whipped their stakes out as Buffy and Faith pinned the demon to the wall.

"Ow!" he cried. "What are you, nuts? Going around punching people."

"People?" Buffy asked with a raised eyebrow.

"So, what, I'm a demon that makes it okay?" he wondered as Buffy and Faith pulled back their stakes ready to strike.

"Wait," Elizabeth said and Buffy and Faith looked back at her. "I've dealt with this demon back in my world. He had some good information." Buffy and Faith nodded as they lowered their stakes. "Talk fast, Skyler. Or I will let Buffy and Faith stake you."

"How'd you like to get your hands on the Books of Ascension?" Skyler asked looking at the three of them.

"Never heard of 'em," Buffy admitted.

"Books of Ascension. Very powerful works, and I am not talking about the prose," Skyler informed them. "They deal with some dark stuff, and the Mayor would hate it if someone got ahold of them before he... you know."

Elizabeth, Buffy and Faith glanced at each other and then turned back toward Skyler. "Before the Mayor what?" Elizabeth asked.

"Hey, read 'em and weep," Skyler said refusing to put all his cards on the table. "That's all I got to say. Tomorrow I get the books. Meet me here. If the price is right, I give the Books to you."

"We're not looking to trade with a demon," Faith informed him.

"Yeah, well, Skyler always wants cash," Elizabeth informed the brunette Slayer before turning back to Skyler. "How much?"

"Five large, for the whole set," Skyler answered.

"So, you can buy… and I'm guessing here, skin care products?" Faith quipped.

Skyler shook his head. "Plane ticket out of the Hellmouth before it's adios, Slayer Loco. So. Five Gs. What do you say?"

"I think 'Die, fiend' kind of sums it up," Faith said before looking at Buffy and Elizabeth. "Wouldn't you two say?"

While the three of them were distracted Skyler bolted.

"Let him go," Elizabeth said as Buffy and Faith looked at her with raised eyebrows. "I know the places he likes to stay. Like I said I dealt with him back in my world. Besides I wouldn't mind knowing about this Ascension thing."

"I have to agree with Elizabeth," Buffy said. "Anything that can pin the Mayor down would be cool." She looked toward her girlfriend. "That said you should mention them to the Mayor. If it has something to do with him, he's going to want to keep them out of our hands."

"So, if he orders me to kill the demon and get the books, we know that they are valuable to his plans," Faith said in understanding.

October 11, 1996 – Friday

Summers Home, Los Angeles

Buffy and her nine-year-old sister, Dawn, sat on Buffy's bed. Buffy looked nervous but determined, while Dawn wore a curious and concerned expression. "Dawn, there's something important I need to talk to you about," Buffy said softly. "It's about who I am."

Dawn's eyes widened with concern. "Rutherford, what's going on? You seem different lately."

Buffy took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "I've been doing a lot of soul-searching, Dawn," she said tentatively. "And I've come to realize something about myself. I'm transgender."

Dawn's eyes widen in surprise, trying to process the revelation. "Transgender? But... what does that mean, Rutherford?"

"It means that the gender I was assigned at birth doesn't align with who I truly am," Buffy said gently. "I've always felt like a girl, Dawn, even though my body said otherwise."

Dawn took a moment to absorb the information, her expression softening. "So, you're saying you've always been a girl, but you had to fight against your own body? That must be so hard."

Buffy nodded, gratitude washing over her. "It is," she said, her eyes glistening with tears. "I struggled for years, trying to figure out who I was and where I belonged. But now, I'm finally embracing my true self."

Dawn leaned closer to Buffy. "You know, Rutherford, I love you no matter what. And I'm proud of you for finding the courage to be who you truly are."

Buffy smiled through her tears, a sense of relief washing over her. "Thank you, Dawn," she whispered. "Your acceptance means the world to me. It's scary, though, because I worry about how others will react."

"We'll face those challenges together, Rutherford," Dawn said supportively.

Buffy took a deep breath, feeling a newfound strength within her. "You're right, Dawn." She pulled her sister into her arms, and they shared a warm embrace, their bond growing stronger in the face of this newfound truth.

March 16, 1999 – Tuesday

Streets of Sunnydale

"Penny for your thoughts," Elizabeth said as she and Dawn flanked Buffy as they walked down the street heading for their respective schools.

Buffy smiled, appreciating her new sister's concern. "I was just thinking about when I told you that I was trans," she answered wistfully.

Dawn put a hand on Buffy's arm, offering comfort. "It was a brave thing to do," she said softly. Elizabeth nodded in agreement. "And we love you no matter what," she added with a warm smile.

"I know; you have always been there for me," Buffy whispered gratefully.

City Hall

The Mayor paced back and forth in his office before Faith. "And what exactly did this demon look like?" he asked.

"Demonic," Faith said trying to keep it vague enough so he wouldn't send someone after the demon like he had tried to do with Willow.

"And you say he has the Books of Ascension, or will soon, and he was willing to… sell them?" he asked.

Faith nodded. "That's what I said."

"Hmm. You know what I wish? I wish that you would pull your hair back," the Mayor said suddenly changing the topic.

Faith looked at him, she kept her face expressionless so he didn't expect that she hated the idea. She knew how Buffy liked the way she kept her hair.

"I know, fashion isn't exactly my 'thing,' but gosh darn it, you've got such a nice face," he continued. "Can't understand why you hide it."

"Yeah, sure, whatever," Faith said dismissively. "It's just a matter of time before this demon guy spills," she said bringing him back to the demon and the books. "Then Buffy and the Super Friends are gonna…"

"You worry too much for a girl your age," he chided her. "That's unnecessary stress. Luckily, I have just the thing." He walked over to a cabinet and pulled out a jug of milk and poured it into a tall glass. He then turned to face her holding the glass out to her.

Faith looked at the milk like it's radioactive. There was no way she was drinking anything he gave her.

"First, load up on calcium," he instructed. "Then, find this demon. Kill the heck out of him, and bring the books to me."

"And if Buffy gets to him first?" Faith asked.

"Oh. Well, frankly, I don't like to think about that," he answered as he looked at her pointedly. "I like good, positive, 'up' thoughts. If you failed me in that way..." he searched for the right words. "Well, replacing Mr. Trick was chore enough." He smiled at Faith when he saw her eyebrows hit her hairline. "Oh, don't worry. And drink up. There's nothing 'uncool' about healthy teeth and bones."

"I don't do milk," Faith lied. After his thinly disguised threat she definitely didn't want to drink anything he offered her.

"No?" he said with a raised eyebrow. Then he smiled. "Oh. I know what you want." He pulled a box of powdered chocolate from the cabinet and stirred some it in before offering the glass to her again. "Drink up."

Faith, looked at him and reluctantly took the glass and drank the chocolate milk.

"There's my girl."

Sunnydale High School

Wesley paced the library in front of Buffy, who stood next to Willow and Xander. Behind them, Giles stood by his office door, leafing through a thick old book. "And you said this demon wanted cash?" he asked. "That's very unusual."

Giles nodded. "Demons after money. Whatever happened to the still-beating heart of a virgin?" he asked. "No one has standards anymore."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "He said the books were worth the price."

"So, what does this ascension mean?" Xander wondered, looking toward Giles.

Giles took a deep breath before answering. "I'm not sure..."

"Not really a common term in demonology..." Wesley agreed.

"Ooh! Ooh!" Willow said excitedly. "The Merenshtadt Text! I think the section on genocide has something about ascension."

Buffy smiled. "Wow. We have a winner."

"And more importantly, two losers," Xander added with a chuckle.

"Where did you find that volume?" Giles asked the redhead.

"In the top of your book cabinet, with the stuff you try to keep hidden," Willow replied as Giles scowled at her. He then walked into his office to retrieve the book.

"Hidden?" Xander asked. "Any engravings I should know about? Frolicking nymphs of some kind?"

Willow rolled her eyes. "No, just magic secrets Giles doesn't think I'm ready for."

Giles returned with the book, flipping through the pages.

"Anything?" Buffy asked.

Giles nodded. "Yes, quite. There's reference here to the journal of Desmond Kane, pastor of a town called Sharpsville. dated May 26th, 1723. Tomorrow is the ascension. God help us all.' That was the last anyone heard."

"Of Kane?" Wesley asked.

"Of Sharpsville," Giles corrected. "The town more or less disappeared, it seems."

Buffy's eyes widened. "So, this ascension is possibly not a love-in."

"I think you'll want to meet with this demon, Buffy," Giles said looking at the blonde Slayer.

Buffy nodded. "Yeah. Anybody got five thousand dollars?" she asked as Cordelia walked through the library doors.

Cordelia looked at Wesley quizzically. "Can I ask something important?"

"Cordelia?" Xander said, raising an eyebrow. "Important? Let's start calculating those odds, people."

"What are you doing Friday night?" Cordelia asked Wesley.

"As always, my sacred duty as Watcher prevents me from..." Wesley answered. "Why?"

"I have to write a paper. For English," Cordelia replied, flashing him a smile. "And you're English, so I thought..." Everyone looked at her, slack-jawed. "What? Is it so wrong to get an insider's perspective?" She turned back to Wesley. "I study best in a good restaurant. Around eight-ish. Think it over." She turned and walked out of the library.

Wesley tried to hide his joy as everyone stared at him.

"And on the day the words 'flimsy excuse' were redefined, we stood in awe and watched," Xander said.

"Right," Wesley said, getting back on topic. "Books of Ascension. Mayor. Slaughter. Bad. Tell you what: Why don't we try to find this demon sooner rather than later? Perhaps persuade him to lend us his books free of charge."

"I think Faith and Elizabeth might be useful in the persuading part," Buffy said.

"I imagine so," Wesley agreed. "Where is Faith, anyway?"

"Probably at home," Buffy lied.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Buffy!" Willow rushed up behind her best friend in the hallway.

"Hmm?" Buffy said as she stopped and turned to face Willow.

"I got an email from Faith," Willow said after making sure there wasn't anyone close enough who could overhear. "She said the Mayor wants this demon dead. She also said that he threatened her life if she didn't bring him the books."

"Not good," Buffy sighed. "Why is it that evil seeks to ruin every relationship I have?"

Willow looked at her sympathetically. "Maybe it's because they know how much you care about the people in your life. They want to hurt you by hurting those closest to you."

Buffy nodded, feeling a sense of frustration and helplessness wash over her.

Creekside Apartments

"How do you want to handle this?" Buffy asked Faith and Elizabeth as they walked toward Skyler's apartment door.

"Maybe good cop, bad cop?" Faith suggested.

"Skyler has never been the kind of demon who is intimated by good cop, bad cop tactics," Elizabeth informed them.

"I think we should try a different approach," Buffy suggested. "We know the Mayor wants him dead. Maybe he will be willing to work with us knowing that?"

"Worth a try I guess," Faith said with a shrug.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Skyler was packing a suitcase sloppily and fast when he heard a knock at the door. Skyler walked over and opened it to find Buffy, Faith, and Elizabeth standing there. "Hey! Slayer, er, Slayers. I wasn't expecting company; give me a minute and I'll have the place tidied up for..."

"Skyler," Elizabeth said, cutting him off. "Would you give up the books if it meant your life?"

Skyler's expression changed to one of confusion. "What do you mean?"

Buffy stepped forward. "Faith here is undercover in the Mayor's office," she explained. "When he found out you have the books. He ordered Faith to kill you, and if she doesn't bring him the books, he's threatened to kill her."

Skyler's eyes widened in realization. He walked over to the refrigerator. He flipped on a light switch, and a single bare overhead lightbulb flickered on, illuminating five heavy volumes of cracked, leather-bound ancient tomes. "Original editions and everything. Great condition: a little worn on the spine; slight foxing; otherwise, perfect."

Faith walked over to the table and flipped through the books.

"So," Elizabeth said. "How much do you value your life, because we either take those to the Mayor or he kills Faith for failure to bring them to him and then sends someone to kill you."

Buffy's Dreamscape

Buffy stood amidst the shelves of the Sunnydale High Library as Faith walked towards her, a mischievous grin on her face. Buffy's heart skips a beat; her eyes are fixated on Faith's captivating beauty. "Hey, B," Faith said. "Are you ready for our date tonight?"

Buffy nodded, a warm smile spreading across her face. "Definitely, Faith. I can't wait to spend some quality time with you."

Faith took Buffy's hand and pulled her closer. "Good," she said, her voice low and husky. "Because I have got something special planned."

Buffy's heart raced with excitement as she leaned in to kiss Faith. Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed through the library. Buffy and Faith exchanged worried glances as the Mayor stepped out from behind a bookshelf, a wicked smile curling on his lips.

"Well, well, well," he said. "What do we have here? A slayer and her little double agent."

Buffy's heart sank as her worst fears became a reality.

Faith stepped protectively in front of Buffy; her eyes filled with determination. "You won't lay a finger on her, Mayor. We're stronger than you think."

The Mayor chuckled. "Oh, my dear Faith, you underestimate me," he said with a smirk. "I've known about your little game for quite some time." He pulled out a wicked-looking knife, the blade glinting ominously in the library's light.

Buffy's breath caught in her throat as Faith squared off against the Mayor. "No!"

But her voice fell on deaf ears as the Mayor and Faith engaged in a fierce battle. Faith's agility and strength are impressive, but the Mayor's experience and dark magic make him a formidable adversary.

As Buffy watched in horror, the Mayor managed to land a devastating blow, plunging the knife deep into Faith's side. Faith gasped in pain, her eyes widening with shock.

"Faith!" Buffy screamed. She rushed forward, but her movements felt slow, as if she were trapped in molasses. She reached out, her hand just inches away from Faith's trembling form.

"Buffy, I love you." Faith whispered, and with those final words, she collapsed to the ground, her life force fading away.

Buffy screamed, tears streaming down her face, as everything faded into darkness.

March 17, 1999 – Wednesday

Summers Home

Buffy jolted awake; her body drenched in sweat. Tears stained her cheeks as she took in her surroundings, finding Dawn and Elizabeth beside her bed and Joyce standing in the doorway.

"What is it, Buffy?" Dawn asked in concern.

"Are you okay?" Elizabeth added.

Buffy took a deep breath and wiped her tears. "I had a nightmare," she said, her voice still shaky. "It felt so real."

Joyce walked over to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Do you want to talk about it?" she asked softly. Buffy nodded, grateful for the support of her family.

"I dreamt that the Mayor had found out that Faith was undercover and killed her," Buffy said, her voice trembling. "I couldn't save her. It was like I was frozen in place." The room fell silent as everyone processed Buffy's words.

Finally, Elizabeth spoke up. "It was just a dream, Buffy. Faith is safe and sound."

"But," Buffy said. "It's not the first time I had dreams that came true. I dreamt the Master would kill me, and then he drowned me. I dreamt that Angel would die, and then he turned."

Dawn and Elizabeth exchanged worried glances, knowing that their sister's dreams sometimes held prophetic significance.

"What can we do?" Joyce asked, looking at her daughters.

"Maybe Faith's undercover mission should come to an end," Dawn suggested. "Get her out of there before he does find out."

"But we need information on what he's up to," Buffy countered. "We can't just pull her out without a plan. Maybe I should talk to Giles and see if he has any ideas on how to keep Faith safe while still gathering intel."

Faith's Apartment

Buffy had suggested after getting the books that Faith take them straight to the Mayor. She wasn't too thrilled that the Mayor had threatened Faith. When the Mayor saw the books, he was so pleased that he had sent her on another assignment. She was to give Angel a moment of true happiness to rip Angel's soul from him and reawaken Angelus. Faith of course then went and told Buffy. They set it up for Faith to return to the Mayor and feign failure and see what he would do next.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Faith sat on the bed, with a sullen expression plastered on her face as she watched the Mayor pace in front of her. "There's no need to convince me," he said. "I'm sure you gave it your level best. I just don't understand what that boy could be thinking."

Faith shrugged her shoulders, avoiding eye contact with the Mayor. "Try Buffy Summers," she said, knowing that Buffy wasn't, in reality, in love with Angel any longer but with her. "Like in the big fat one-track way."

"Don't be discouraged," the Mayor replied with a chuckle. "You're a bright, young, energetic girl with a whole life ahead of her, and I won't tolerate brooding. So you couldn't give him one moment of true happiness."

"I was thinking more along the lines of a long weekend, but okay," Faith answered, wishing she could have a long weekend with Buffy. She missed being able to spend time with her girlfriend. But since she had gone undercover, their relationship had temporarily taken a pause. Faith knew that her mission was important and she couldn't risk blowing her cover, but it didn't make the separation any easier. She hoped that once everything was over, they could pick up where they left off.

"And he spurned your advances," the Mayor continued, interrupting Faith's thoughts. "So be it. There's more than one way to skin a cat, and I happen to know that's factually true. We want to take Angel's soul away." He walked over to the window and looked out. "If you can't do it by giving him happiness... well, by golly, we'll just have to do it in the most painful way imaginable." He turned back to Faith and smiled.

"And how do you plan to do it?" Faith wondered.

Sunnydale High School

Giles walked out of his office, somewhat beleaguered. "Find anything?" Wesley asked, looking up from a book he had been going through.

Giles shook his head. "A six-course banquet of nothing. With a scoop of sod all as a palette cleanser."

Wesley raised an eyebrow. "I've had no better luck. There must be something about this Ascension, somewhere."

Giles let out a sigh. "Perhaps I should contact the Council and run a search through the main branch-"

"No," Wesley disagreed. "I don't—it should be I that... The Council isn't entirely aware that I'm letting you work for me... with me," he corrected himself. "I don't think they'd be very happy with the idea of the two of us collaborating."

"I'm not about to burst into glorious song about it myself," Giles replied. "But why don't you give them a call."

"I think the most expedient plan," Wesley said as Buffy walked through the doors, "is to get the Books of Ascension themselves. Buffy, you and Faith or Elizabeth must find that demon. And soon."

"I'll get Faith and go back to the scene and see if we can track him," Buffy assured him before glancing at Giles and mouthing, 'We need to talk.'

Giles nodded in understanding. Something had occurred with Faith, and since Wesley didn't know Faith was undercover in the Mayor's office, it was something that Buffy couldn't say in front of Wesley.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Buffy?" Giles called out as he followed her down the hallway away from the library. He had made an excuse to Wesley about needing to check something in the teacher's lounge.

Buffy stopped in her tracks and turned around with a solemn expression. "Faith and I know where the demon was," she said. "The Mayor wanted Faith to kill him. So, in exchange for the books, we gave him bus fare. Told him it was that or the Mayor was going to have him killed."

"And the Books of Ascension?" Giles asked with a raised eyebrow.

"The Mayor threatened Faith's life if she didn't bring him the books," Buffy answered sadly, worry for her girlfriend evident in her voice.

Giles sighed heavily, his concern for Faith mirroring Buffy's. "You did the right thing, Buffy," he said. "Faith's life is more important than those books."

Buffy took a deep breath, gathering her courage to share her dream. "Giles, I had a dream last night, and it was...terrifying. Faith...she was killed by the Mayor, and I couldn't do anything to stop it."

Giles looked at Buffy, his brow furrowing with concern. He took off his glasses and wiped them absentmindedly, contemplating Buffy's words. "Dreams can often be a manifestation of our deepest fears, Buffy," he said. "It's understandable that the recent events with the Mayor have left you on edge. But we must remember that dreams are not always prophetic."

Buffy clasped her hands together, her gaze determined. "I know, Giles, but this dream felt different. I've seen the Mayor's cunning firsthand, and Faith's involvement with him... it worries me. What if there's some truth to it? What if she's in danger?"

Giles looked at her, his expression gentle but resolute. "Buffy, it's crucial to discern between dreams and reality. We can't act solely based on the fears conjured within our minds. However, I understand your concern for Faith's well-being. Perhaps it's time we gather some information, discreetly, of course, and ensure her safety."

Buffy nodded, grateful for Giles' guidance. "What do you suggest, Giles? How do we find out if Faith is truly in danger?"

"I believe we need to observe the Mayor's activities more closely while keeping a close eye on Faith as well," Giles replied. "If there's any indication that she's at risk, we'll take appropriate action."

Buffy's eyes light up with determination. "Let's do it, Giles. We won't let anything happen to Faith. She's too important to me."

Giles smiled softly, his trust in Buffy evident. "I know, Buffy. You care deeply for her, and your instincts have proven reliable time and again. We'll work together to ensure her safety and uncover any potential threats."

"Thank you, Giles," Buffy said appreciatively. "Your support has always meant everything to me. Being trans, I couldn't have made it this far without you."

Giles nodded, his expression warm. "You've faced challenges that most people can't even imagine, Buffy. Together, we can overcome any challenge that comes our way."

Buffy nodded, a newfound determination shining in her eyes to protect those she loves. "Let's get to work, Giles. We won't rest until we're sure that Faith is safe."

They exchange a determined nod, the weight of responsibility driving them forward as they prepare to face the dangerous road ahead.

Streets of Sunnydale

Buffy and Faith returned to Skyler's apartment to make sure the demon had left and to ransack his apartment in an attempt to make it look like Faith had killed Skyler just like the Mayor had wanted and then disposed of the body. That way, if the Mayor checked, there would be no evidence to the contrary.

When they left the apartment, Buffy took a deep breath. Her eyes were filled with a mixture of worry and love as she turned to face Faith. "Faith, there's something important I need to tell you. Last night, I had this really intense dream, and it scared me. It was about the Mayor and you."

Faith's brow furrowed; her concern was evident as she reached out to hold Buffy's hand. "What happened in the dream, B? You can tell me anything."

Buffy took a moment to collect her thoughts, searching for the right words to convey her emotions. "In the dream, the Mayor found out that you were a double agent. He killed you, Faith. I couldn't save you, no matter how hard I tried."

Faith's grip tightened on Buffy's hand, her expression a mix of sympathy and determination. "Buffy, I'm so sorry you had to go through that. But it was just a dream, remember? I'm right here, alive and well. You saved me before, and you'll continue to do so."

Buffy nodded; her eyes filled with gratitude for Faith's understanding. "I know, Faith. But it felt so real, like a warning. And that's why I talked to Giles about it. I had to do something."

Faith's curiosity piqued, she leaned in and gave Buffy her full attention. "What did Giles say?"

Buffy took a deep breath, her voice filled with a mixture of determination and concern. "He reminded me that dreams aren't prophecies, but he also acknowledged our situation. He said we need to increase surveillance on the Mayor and be prepared in case he becomes suspicious of you."

Faith's gaze never wavered, her trust in Buffy evident as she spoke. "I trust you and Giles. We'll face this threat together, just like we've faced everything else. We won't let fear control us."

Buffy's eyes brightened, relief washing over her as she leaned into Faith's comforting presence. "Exactly, Faith. We won't let fear consume us. We'll stay vigilant, communicate openly, and take the necessary steps to keep each other safe."

Faith's smile beamed with unwavering love and determination. "That's why I love you. We're a team, and we'll face anything that comes our way. We'll protect each other, no matter what."

Buffy leaned in, resting her head against Faith's shoulder and finding solace in their unwavering bond. "I love you too, Faith. Together, we can overcome anything. Our love is stronger than any darkness."

City Hall

The Mayor sat at his desk, holding out a little candy dish filled with mints. "Mint?" he asked the shaman who sat across from him. When he received no answer, he sat the dish down. "I didn't think so. Well. Scheduling a man of your talents is quite the chore, I'll tell you. Between the chanting and the sacrifice." He stretched his back. "My golf game is shot. But. Here you are. You know why I've summoned you?"

The shaman silently nodded.

"Can you do it?" the Mayor asked as the shaman nodded again. "Need anything from me?"

The shaman silently shook his head.

"You're not much of a people person, are you?" the Mayor asked.

"You have risked great danger by calling on me," the shaman answered. "The deadliest magics are needed to rob this creature of its soul."

The Mayor nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Big job, all right," he said.

"And so it shall be done." The shaman bowed his head in acknowledgement.

"That's just swell," the Mayor said. "Say, sure you don't, uh..." He shook the dish, tempting the shaman. "Low calorie..."

Sunnydale High School

Buffy sat with Willow, trying to concentrate on her book, though she was clearly distracted. "Are you okay?" Willow asked, noticing Buffy's lack of focus.

Buffy sighed and shook her head. "Yeah. I can't stop thinking about the Mayor threatening to kill Faith if she didn't bring him the books, and my dream where he actually did."

Willow placed a comforting hand on Buffy's shoulder. "That's terrible. What are you going to do?"

"Well, I told Giles that Faith gave him the books and about the dream," Buffy answered. "We're going to step things up to see if we can find out what the Mayor's plans are so we can get Faith out of there safely."

Willow nodded understandingly. "That's a good plan. We'll all be here to support you and help in any way we can."

"Till then, the Mayor gave Faith another assignment," Buffy said. "Now he wants her to try and turn Angel. I told Giles, and he supposedly has a plan to keep that from happening, though."

Willow nodded, relieved. "That's good. We can't risk Angel turning evil again. And, Buffy. Me, Xander, Dawn and Elizabeth all have yours and Faith's backs. We'll be here to back her up if anything goes wrong."

Crawford Street Mansion

Angel stands alone in the mansion, tending a roaring fire. As he heard the door open and close, he turned to see: "Faith."

"Did Buffy tell you what was going on?" Faith asked, removing her leather jacket and tossing it onto a nearby chair.

Angel nodded. "She paid a visit after school let out," he said. "She said the Mayor was wanting you to turn me."

Faith nodded in confirmation. "Yes," she said. "Giles set it up with this shaman to perform a little light show to make it look like you turned in case he's magically watching. Then you, pretending to be soulless, and I will go back and see if we can't get information out of the Mayor."

Angel looked skeptical. "And what if the Mayor sees through the ruse?" he asked.

Faith shrugged. "Then we improvise," she said with a grin. "But I have a feeling this plan will work." She glanced toward the shadows. "You ready?"

"Yes," the shaman answered.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"What do you want?" Angel demanded looking at Faith. She had gone over the basics of what she intended to say and he had come up with possible replies.

"Look, I'm not so good at apologies," Faith said. "Mostly because I think the world's out to screw me, so I'm generally more owed than owing, you know? But I've been thinking about last night, and I want you to know: I'm really sorry."

Angel's expression softened as he listened to Faith. "All right," he replied.

"No," Faith countered. "it's not all right. Yeah, I was freaked and needed somebody, but you're with Buffy. I should know better."

"Okay," Angel said. "Faith. I know what you're going through. And how hard it can be. It's important to have someone who's been where you are, who understands what you're going through." Gently, he took Faith by the shoulders. "I want to trust you."

'It's Kool-Aid,' she mouthed as she took a vial of red liquid out and whipped it at him. As the vial shattered against his chest, she took a step back as the shaman stepped out of the shadows. "Yaa shayTann, inna nafsak Laa tatba'uk ba'd. Yaa Rufukayl al-'aZim, shattit Nafsah fii anHaa'I 'I-'aalam al-arba'a."

"Faith," Angel said as he pretended to try to move. He had to make it look real if the Mayor was watching. So, he made it look like he was frozen.

"I wanted to do this the old-fashioned way, but hey. Your loss. Luckily, I've got some tricks Buffy don't know yet."

"You don't have to do this," Angel said.

Faith nodded. "I know, but it's fun. Relax. It'll be over soon."

The shaman's voice deepened and became many as flashes of light began to appear at the edges of the mansion. "Yaa ruuh idhhabii! Yaa Nafs idhhabii! Utrukii Ayyaah wa-'trukiih MaHruuman wa-ajisan!"

The incantation reached a crescendo, and the flashes of light swirled, came together, and entered Angel's body violently.

Angel's whole body shuddered as lights explode out of his body. He fell, trembling, on the floor. The shaman withdrew back into the shadows. She approached Angel's racked, quivering form.

Angel jerked his head up, baring fangs, and looked right at her with dead eyes, devoid of humanity. His face was vampiric, baring fangs, and he looked right at her with dead eyes, devoid of humanity. His face was vampiric. As he stood, he grabbed Faith, pulled her close, and kissed her hard, full, and long on the mouth.

When Faith came up for air, Angel winked at her to let her know he was still his normal, souled self.

"Thanks so much," he said as he hit her backhanded across the face. She convincingly fell to the floor. "Good to have the taste of Slayer back in my mouth. It's like cigarettes, you know? Just when I thought I quit…" He sent a kick to her ribs, pulling it just enough not to actually make contact.

Faith gritted her teeth, trying to hold back the pain. She knew Angel was just playing his part, but it didn't make the blows any less real.

"No, really. Don't get up," Angel said as he walked around, arms wide. "Oh, it is good to be back in Sunnydale. Nice climate, plenty to eat, no tortured humanity to hold me down."

Faith stood, pretending to sneak up on him.

"But you know what bothers me?" Angel asked. "You don't seem to be getting the big picture here, Faith. Now, I don't know why you turned me..." He grabbed her head, jerking it back, exposing her throat. "But let me tell you. I'm just glad you did." He went in to bite her when Faith brought up her knee as if she was going to knee him in the groin. He let go, and she sent a roundhouse kick, knocking him back.

"I've got my reasons," Faith answered as she drew two stakes.

"Let me guess. You summoned back the true Angelus because... you need a new boy toy?" Angel asked as Faith narrowed her eyes. He knew that was below the belt since Faith was dating Buffy, but he had to play the part if the Mayor was truly watching. "Sorry," he said, working the apology into what he said next. "It doesn't work that way." He attacked lightning-fast, and they exchanged blows.

Faith dodged his attacks and countered with a roundhouse kick, knocking him back. "You want to be smart? You listen to me," she said.

"Funny thing about vampires, Faith," Angel replied with a small chuckle. "We don't establish meaningful dialogues with Slayers."

"Not how Buffy tells it," Faith said as Angel flinched. 'Sorry,' she mouthed as Angel nodded, showing there were no hard feelings. He motioned for her to continue their little playacting. She kneecapped him and flipped him.

Angel landed on the ground with a crashing thud as Faith scrambled on top of him, her stakes held high. "I should have known you'd like it on top," he said with a chuckle.

Faith briefly closed her eyes as she dislodged the mental image of her and Buffy having sex with her on top. "You want to listen or you want to die?" she asked when she opened her eyes.

"I'm all ears," Angel said, holding up his hands in surrender.

Faith lowered her stakes. "Last time you got like this, Buffy kicked your ass all the way back to Hell. Want to do better this time?" She asked as his face morphed back to normal. "Good boy. Now all you've got to do is play nice, call a truce, and I can hook you up with the real power in this town. Interested?"

"Very," Angel agreed.

"Then get ready to meet the new boss," Faith replied.

Streets of Sunnydale

Angel walked with Faith down the street, heading for City Hall. "Sorry," he said apologetically. "I could see I hit a couple of nerves back there."

Faith shook her head. "It's not your fault. We've just been dealing with a lot lately."

They continued walking in silence for a few moments before Angel spoke up again. "Is there anything I can do to help?" he asked sincerely.

"Buffy told me that she had dreamed that the Mayor killed me," Faith answered hesitantly.

Angel nodded in understanding, remembering dreams that Buffy had told him about. "Does she feel it was prophetic?"

Faith nodded. "Yes," she answered. "She said that in the dream the Mayor discovered I was working undercover and that I was a double agent."

Angel's expression turned serious as he considered the implications. "We need to be careful then," he said. "We can't let the Mayor catch on to your true allegiance."

Faith nodded in agreement. "I know," she said. "But it has Buffy worried that she's going to lose me. And with her being trans..."

"She's worried that if she loses you, she loses someone who supports her," Angel said in understanding.

Faith nodded again. "Exactly. And I don't want to let her down, but I also can't blow my cover, not till we have information on what the Mayor's plans are."

Angel placed a reassuring hand on Faith's shoulder. "I'll talk with Giles and Buffy, see what I can do to help. In the meantime, maybe you can find ways to show your support for Buffy without arousing suspicion."

Faith smiled gratefully at him. "I can see why Buffy fell for you."

Angel chuckled. "I think it had more to do with my brooding and mysterious persona."

Faith laughed, feeling a bit of the tension lift from her shoulders.

Sunnydale High School

"Our enemy has us at a disadvantage," Wesley said with a frown. "We seem consistently to be one step behind him. Now he has the Books of Ascension. We need to take definitive action."

"You have the greatest voice," Cordelia said as she smiled at Wesley. "Have you ever thought about doing books on tape?"

Xander rolled his eyes at Cordelia's comment. "Way to focus, Cordy."

"Yes, let's stay on track," Wesley agreed. "We'll need everyone working together here. Where is Angel?" he asked, looking at Buffy.

Buffy shrugged. "I don't know," she lied. "I went to the mansion; he wasn't there."

"And Faith?" he questioned.

"I haven't seen her either," Buffy said with a glance at Giles. "What do we do?"

Giles cleared his throat. "Buffy, I think you should try to retrieve the Books of Ascension," he said. "Try the Mayor's office, but be damned careful. Don't confront the Mayor; we don't know a thing about him."

"I'll look for Angel and Faith," Elizabeth offered, knowing from Buffy's plan that Faith and Angel were likely at the Mayor's office gathering intel on the Mayor.

Buffy nodded in agreement. "Good idea, Elizabeth." She glanced back at Giles. "I'll go home and stock up on weapons. Slip into something break-and-enterish."

Cordelia rolled her eyes as she glared at Buffy. "Excuse me, I believe Wesley is running this meeting."

"That's quite all right," Wesley told the cheerleader before turning toward Willow. "Willow?"

Willow cleared her throat before speaking. "It's all bad news. By the time I got through the encryption, the files were empty. He must have seen me coming," she said.

Buffy nodded, knowing that Faith, while undercover to gain the Mayor's trust, had ratted out Willow's attempt to hack into the Mayor's computers.

"What about the Hall of Records? Go to the source," Xander suggested.

"Good idea," Wesley agreed. "There must be information on the Mayor there."

"Wesley, why don't you take the group there and start looking," Giles suggested.

Wesley nodded. "Right."

"I'm in Wesley's group!" Cordelia said this excitedly as she moved beside Wesley.

"There's just one group," Giles informed her.

"Yes, and I'm in it," Cordelia replied as everyone started for the doors.

"Anyone mind if I skip the trip? I'd rather cruise town, and keep my ear to the ground. And I think five's a crowd."

Cordelia nodded in agreement. "It really is."

"If anyone finds out anything, they check in with me," Giles said as everyone nodded in agreement.

"I'll drive," Oz offered.

"They all liked your plan," Willow informed her boyfriend as she, Wesley, Cordelia, Oz, and Xander walked out the doors.

"Do you think the plan is working?" Elizabeth asked her sister and Giles. "That Faith and Angel are getting the needed information?"

"I believe so," Giles replied. "But we must remain cautious and vigilant. We don't want to give away our hand too soon."

Elizabeth nodded in agreement, knowing that the fate of their town rested on their success in stopping the impending apocalypse. She glanced toward Buffy. "Do you want me with you? Two Slayers are better than one."

Buffy smiled and shook her head. "No, if the Mayor is watching. He might become suspicious of Faith if you're with me. And you remember my dream where Faith was killed because he learned she was undercover?"

Elizabeth's expression turned serious as she recalled the dream. "Right, we can't risk that happening. But please be careful, Buffy," she said, looking her older sister in the eye. "I don't want to have to tell Dawn that I lost you again."

Buffy put a reassuring hand on Elizabeth's shoulder. "I'll be careful, I promise." With a final hug, she headed out the door.

Elizabeth glanced at Giles. "Tell me you have come up with a way of extracting Faith," she pleaded.

Giles shook his head. "I'm afraid not, Elizabeth. It's a delicate situation, and we don't want to jeopardize her safety or blow her cover." He paused for a moment before continuing, "But I do have a few ideas that we can explore in the coming days."

City Hall

Faith stood next to Angel as the Mayor paced around him, inspecting him. "So? Can I keep him?" she asked.

The Mayor chuckled. "Let's just take things step-by-step for the moment. Now then. Angelus. May I call you 'Angel?'"

Angel shook his head. "Actually, I was thinking more along the lines of you calling me 'Master.'"

The Mayor raised an eyebrow, considering Angel's request. "You know, Angelus, 'attitude' may get you attention, but courtesy wins respect. I am the one responsible for your new attitude."

Angel nodded, acknowledging the Mayor's words. "That's why I'm here," he said as he picked up and fingered a deadly-sharp letter opener from the Mayor's desk.

The Mayor's eyes flickered to the letter opener and then back to Angel. "No trouble with the transition? No side effects?"

Angel shrugged. "I had a soul; now I'm free."

The Mayor smiled. "That's terrific. Poetic, too. Not that I read much poetry. Except for those little ones in Reader's Digest. Some are quite catchy."

"Hey, I don't mean to rush things here, but are you getting to anything like a point?" Angel asked with a raised eyebrow.

The Mayor chuckled. "Kids today. Rush, rush, rush. The point, Angel, is that you're a powerful young man. Good for Faith. And there just may be a future for you here in Sunnydale." He leaned forward, his eyes once again drawn to the letter opener. "I see you're admiring my letter opener."

Angel shrugged. "Actually, I was thinking of stabbing you through the heart with it."

"Please do," the Mayor replied.

Angel and Faith glanced at each other. Was this their chance to take out the Mayor?

The Mayor nodded and smiled reassuringly.

Angel whipped the letter opener across the room with deadly accuracy. Instead of piercing the Mayor's heart, it pierced the Mayor's hand when he moved it in the way. "Nice shot," the Mayor informed him as he removed the letter opener. Suddenly, his hand healed itself, revealing that the Mayor was not an ordinary human being.

Angel and Faith exchanged looks of shock and realization.

The Mayor wiped the letter opener off with a wet wipe and set it down. "You see, I'm what you might call 'impervious.' Can't be killed or harmed in any way. And that's just a cornerstone in my plans for this great town of ours come Graduation day."

"Can't be killed, but you don't like germs?" Angel asked as he waved at the wet wipe.

The Mayor shivered. "Eeugh, awful things. Unsanitary. But my question is, now that Faith has brought you back, what are your intentions?"

Angel exchanged a glance with Faith before answering. "Well, gee, sir, I thought I'd find that Slayer who's giving you so much trouble and torture, maim, and kill her."

The Mayor chuckled. "Fine! It's nice to hear you're not one of those 'slacker' types running around.

today. Torture Buffy. Killing her is fine, but make it a slow one."

Angel smirked. "My favorite kind."

"Wonderful," the Mayor said. "We don't want a replacement Slayer anytime soon. They can't all turn out like my girl Faith. Have fun!"

"Let's do it," Faith said as she and Angel started for the door.

Summers Home

Joyce opened the door to find Angel and Faith there. "Faith, Angel," she said as she smiled at the duo. "What brings you two here?" Joyce asked, stepping aside to let them in.

"We're here to see, Buffy," Angel replied. "Is she home?"

"Is it about the Mayor?" Dawn asked as she came up beside her mother.

"Hey, Little D," Faith said as she wrapped her arms around Dawn. "Yeah, it's about the Mayor. We got information."

"She's upstairs," Joyce informed them.

"Mrs. S., I love what you did with your hair," Faith said appreciatively.

"Thank you, Faith," Joyce said appreciatively. "I thought I'd try something new. Uhm, Faith, please tell me that with this new information, you're coming home."

"Soon, I promise, Mrs. S.," Faith promised as she and Angel made their way up the stairs to Buffy's room. "Hey, babe."

Buffy smiled as she looked up from her weapons bag. "Faith," she said as she rushed over and pulled her girlfriend into her arms. "Tell me you've got information."

"We did," Angel said.

"From what we learned, the Ascension is going down on Graduation day," Faith said as she returned Buffy's embrace.

"And he's apparently impervious to harm of any kind," Angel added.

"Yeah, Angel threw the Mayor's letter opener at him. It pierced his hand, which healed almost instantaneously when he removed it," Faith concluded.

March 18, 1999 – Thursday

Sunnydale High School

The lights in the library were low, casting eerie shadows as Giles faced the shaman. "The task is finished," the shaman said.

"Yes," Giles said. "Thank you for the light show you put on."

The shaman nodded. "This restores the balance between us, Rupert Giles," he replied. "My debt to you is now repaid in full. Do not call upon me again."

Giles nodded in understanding. "I won't. Peace with you."

"And with you," the shaman replied before fading into the dark.

Giles turned to Wesley, Elizabeth, Dawn, Buffy, Willow, and Xander, who had been watching curiously. "His debt to you is repaid," Willow asked in awe. "What did you do?"

"I introduced him to his wife," Giles explained.

"Well, I, for one, protest," Wesley said. He had finally been told about Faith's undercover assignment, reluctantly. "You have one Slayer in a dangerous situation that could get her killed. Without informing me," he said petulantly. "I'm telling the Council."

"You will do no such thing," Buffy snapped as she glared at Wesley. "You will do nothing that will harm Faith."

"Especially when she has helped us get information about the Ascension," Giles added. "If you tell the Council, they will pull her, and then we lose one avenue of information. We need her to continue to be a double agent for us."

Wesley sighed, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Fine," he said finally. "But I still don't like being kept in the dark."

"I understand your frustration, Wesley," Giles replied. "But this is a matter of trust. We need to trust each other if we're going to defeat the Mayor and save the town."

"And as it is, I don't trust you," Buffy said, glaring at Wesley. "After all, you tried to have the woman I love shipped off to England when you learned of what she did. I'm willing to work with you. But if you push me any further, you will find yourself going back to the Council battered and bruised."

Wesley's face paled at Buffy's threat, but he nodded in understanding.

"Graduation Day..." Willow said as she brought the discussion back to the topic of the Ascension. "That's a big, scary un-fun."

Faith's Apartment

"From where I'm sitting," the Mayor said as he looked at Faith, who sat on the bed. "It's the batting average that counts. So, you lost some friends."

Faith had told him that Buffy and Angel had played her. She wanted out of there, but Giles had said he was working on a way to safely extract her. Until then, he wanted her to see if she could get any more information from the Mayor.

The Expresso Pump

Buffy sat with Elizabeth, Dawn, Xander, and Willow at a table in the bustling coffee shop, sipping her latte. They had been quietly discussing Faith and how they were going to safely extract her.

At a nearby table, a group of people started whispering, casting glances in Buffy's direction. One person in the group, Jason, stood up and approached Buffy with a confrontational demeanor. "Hey, you!" he snarled at Buffy. "What are you doing here?"

Buffy's heart raced as she braced herself for what she knew might come. "I'm just having coffee with my friends and my sisters, like everyone else."

Jason sneered at her. "Coffee?" he said mockingly. "You think you belong here? You're not fooling anyone, freak!"

The people around them begin to stare, creating an uncomfortable tension in the air.

"I have every right to be here," Buffy said, trying to stay calm. "I'm just trying to live my life." The tension in the air grew thicker as she stood her ground, refusing to back down. She knew she had to stand up for herself and show Jason that his hurtful words wouldn't bring her down.

"Living your life?" Jason said, spiteful. "You're a disgusting freak of nature. You don't belong in our world."

Buffy's eyes welled up with tears, but she refused to let them fall. "I am who I am, and your words won't change that. I deserve respect, just like anyone else."

The coffee shop fell silent, the weight of the moment hanging in the air.

"Respect?" Jason sneered. "You're not even a real girl. You're just a deluded freak trying to play dress-up."

The surrounding patrons exchange uncomfortable glances, unsure of how to react.

Buffy's heart sank as she felt the sting of discrimination. She took a deep breath and calmly replied, "I am a real girl. I am valid, and I deserve to be treated with dignity and kindness," she said as Dawn and Elizabeth rested their hands on her arms in comfort and support.

Willow, finally having enough of the way Jason was treating her friend, glared at him. "That's right," she agreed. "We should all be accepting and respectful towards each other. Our differences make us unique and beautiful."

A few others in the coffee shop begin nodding, showing their solidarity.

"Love is love, and everyone deserves to be treated with compassion," Xander added.

"The problem I have is with people like you," Dawn said as she looked from her sister to Jason, "who think it's acceptable to bully others for who they are. It's none of your business, and it certainly doesn't give you the right to be cruel."

"Buffy is mine and Dawn's sister," Elizabeth added. "And we love her for who she is. She's brave, strong, and deserves to be treated with dignity. Your ignorance and intolerance are not welcome here."

The atmosphere shifted as more people lent their voices to support Buffy.

Jason gritted his teeth. "Fine, have your little group of freaks. But don't expect the real world to accept you."

Buffy held her head high, surrounded by her friends, her sisters, and her newfound allies. "I won't let your hatred define me," she said with determination. "I am strong, and I will continue to fight for acceptance and equality," she said as the coffee shop erupted in applause.


Author's Note: While this is the only complete chapter I have currently, I do have a few scenes for future chapters done. For example, there is a discussion between Buffy and Faith about gender reassignment surgery, and in that same scene, Buffy proposes. There is one with their wedding. There is one where Buffy is approached to be a model. And a few more.

Also, a flashback scene was added to Doppelgangland where Slayer Dawn/Elizabeth is explaining to Giles and Wesley why she chose the name Elizabeth.