Charmed: The Faith Chronicles

by Brenna's Urbangirl Projects

Faith Lehane was born in Boston to a drunken mother and absentee father, or so she had believed for 17 years. Then she was called as the Slayer and things took a turn for the worse when she accidentally killed the Deputy Mayor. The Watcher's Council learns of the death and tries to return her to England. She manages to escape and in so doing finds out that she had been adopted

4. Chapter 3: Good Bad & Cursed

Chapter 3: The Good, The Bad & The Cursed

February 15, 2001 – Thursday

Abandoned Ghost Town

Somewhere outside San Francisco, Faith sat in the passenger seat of Piper's Jeep, her heart racing with anticipation. She couldn't help but feel a mix of nervousness and excitement as they waited for Victor Bennett, her grandfather. The old ghost town around them seemed to mirror the uncertainty she felt inside.

Faith sighed softly, her emotions a whirlwind. She had just started getting used to calling Prue 'mom.' The idea of family had always been elusive to her, but now it felt like she was on the cusp of something meaningful.

The moment arrived when Phoebe spotted her father's car and rushed out to meet him. Faith watched from the Jeep; her palms slightly sweaty. As Victor stepped out of his car, the weight of the unknown hung in the air.

"Hey, Dad!" Phoebe's voice held a hint of emotion as she embraced her father, her eyes glistening with happiness.

"Hello, Phoebe," Victor replied as he returned the hug. His curiosity was piqued when he noticed the presence of another person in the Jeep. "Who is that?" he inquired, his brow furrowing in confusion.

Phoebe's smile widened as she gestured for Faith to join them, a mixture of pride and apprehension in her expression. Faith, feeling a surge of emotions, climbed out of the Jeep and approached the small gathering.

"Dad, this is Faith," Phoebe introduced her niece, her voice tinged with warmth and a hint of protectiveness. "Your granddaughter."

"Granddaughter?" Victor's eyes widened in astonishment and disbelief. The revelation left him utterly perplexed.

Phoebe sighed, a complex mixture of emotions welling up within her. She decided to bend the truth a little, not wanting to overwhelm her father with the full extent of their family's magical history. "Prue had her when she was sixteen," she explained carefully, her tone a delicate balance of truth and fiction. "Prue gave Faith up for adoption because she didn't think Grams would let her keep Faith."

Faith, standing beside them, felt her heart ache at the incomplete story. She understood Phoebe's decision to shield Victor from the magical truth, but it didn't make the situation any less emotional for her. She knew that someday, the full story would come to light, and she was prepared for that moment. For now, she held onto the hope that this reunion would be the beginning of something beautiful, something she had longed for her entire life.

"No offense," Victor began cautiously, his gaze briefly flickering toward Faith, "but how do you know she's Prue's?"

Phoebe met her father's questioning gaze head-on, determination in her eyes. "Her date of birth coincides with the time Prue ran away," she explained, her voice steady. "Also, Prue herself confirmed that she had a daughter." She took a deep breath, knowing that the next revelation might be the most challenging for her father to accept. "Besides, Dad, Faith has powers... Charmed powers."

Victor's brows furrowed deeper, a mix of surprise and uncertainty on his face. He contemplated the gravity of Phoebe's words. After a moment, he sighed, realizing the truth of the situation. "If you all are sure," he conceded, his tone tinged with resignation.

"We are," Phoebe affirmed, relieved that her father was willing to take their word for it. "And that is why Faith is here, to meet you. It was Prue's idea."

Victor, his initial skepticism giving way to a sense of acceptance, reached out and pulled the brunette Slayer into a warm embrace. It was a moment filled with a mixture of emotions, from surprise to joy, and Faith, although somewhat taken aback by the sudden affection, couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. "Well Faith, it is a pleasure to meet you."

"Thanks," Faith replied, her voice filled with gratitude as she exchanged a fleeting glance with Phoebe.

Phoebe, sensing that Faith might need some space to process everything, decided to steer the conversation back to their purpose. She knew there was much to discuss. "Alright, Dad, spill it," she said, her tone turning more serious. "What are we doing here?"

"What, can't a father spend a little quality time with his daughter?" Victor asked with a hint of playfulness as he released Faith from their embrace. "Especially after all the time we've been apart."

Phoebe chuckled; her father's charm still very much intact. "Alright, I take after you, okay," she admitted, her smile warm and teasing. "I've inherited all of your tricks, especially your fine art of fibbing."

Victor raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. "I don't know what you're talking about." He decided to shift the topic to avoid the impending discussion. "Tell me a little bit more about this Leo fellow anyway. How did he and Piper meet?"

"Oh, it was a couple of years ago at the house. He was our handyman," Phoebe explained, her eyes twinkling with amusement. She noticed Faith biting her lip to suppress a laugh, knowing that Leo's 'handyman' act was just a way to keep his true identity as a Whitelighter hidden until it was the right time.

Victor's expression shifted to one of surprise. "Piper's marrying a handyman?" he asked incredulously.

Phoebe chuckled, realizing she had some explaining to do. "Well, no, he isn't really a handyman. Wait, you do know..." Her voice trailed off, uncertain if her father was privy to Leo's status as a Whitelighter.

Victor interrupted her; his tone serious. "All I know is he's a nice enough guy who seems to know the big bad secret. Trust me, it's a lot better for a mortal to know he's marrying a witch before the wedding instead of after. Wish I had."

Faith, intrigued by the conversation and Victor's candidness, couldn't help but chime in. "You really wish you had known about Grandma Patty beforehand?"

Victor's gaze shifted to Faith, contemplating the question for a moment. Just as he was about to respond, a noise emanated from one of the nearby buildings, causing him to tense up.

"What?" Victor asked, his instincts on alert.

Faith, recognizing the sound, couldn't help but grin as she casually addressed her grandfather. "Slayer senses are tingling," she quipped, aware that Victor had no idea about her being a Slayer. "It's a long story."

"Yes, I do," Victor replied firmly, his desire for knowing the truth evident in his eyes.

But before the conversation could progress further, Faith's heightened senses picked up another sound, causing her to instinctively tense up. Victor, noticing her sudden shift in demeanor, questioned her, "What?"

"Slayer senses are tingling," Faith repeated, realizing she had momentarily forgotten that Victor had no knowledge of her being a Slayer. "It's a long story."

Victor's confusion deepened, but before he could press for more information, he turned to Phoebe, seeking answers. "What is she talking about? Does she get premonitions like you, or whatever you call it, Phoebe?" He hesitated for a moment, then let out a sigh. "Alright, I confess. I brought you here hoping maybe you could give me a little bit of your help, Phoebe. I just didn't know how to ask."

Phoebe's expression grew serious as she looked from her father to Faith and back again. "Magical help, Dad," she began carefully, her voice tinged with concern.

"Well, this place seemed like such a good investment," Victor began, his tone tinged with regret. "Too good, actually. Made me think that all the stories were true."

"Maybe we should bite," Faith suggested, her Slayer senses still on alert. Her instincts told her that there might be something more to this ghost town than met the eye.

Phoebe turned her attention back to her father, her curiosity piqued. "What stories?" she inquired, eager to understand the mystery that had brought Victor here.

Victor leaned in, as if sharing a secret. "Ghost stories," he explained in a hushed tone. "Something's been keeping people from investing and razing this place for over a hundred years."

Phoebe's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "So, what, you wanted me to do a little supernatural inspection?" she asked, her skepticism clear in her voice.

Victor nodded, looking hopeful. "Well, yeah," he admitted. "I thought you could do a little Feng Shui on the place and maybe see if there's anything going on."

Faith couldn't help but chuckle at the mention of Feng Shui. "You do Feng Shui, Aunt Phoebe?" she teased.

Phoebe grinned at her niece but then turned back to her father with a sigh. "No," she confessed, shaking her head. "I don't do Feng Shui. And even if I did, Dad, I can't always get a premonition when I want to." She was about to delve deeper into the complexities of her powers when a sudden noise interrupted their conversation.

Both Phoebe and Faith's heads snapped in the direction of a nearby building, their instincts on high alert. Phoebe's face mirrored Faith's concern as she asked, "Faith, did you hear that?"

Faith nodded, her gaze focused on the source of the disturbance. "Yeah," she confirmed, her voice low and cautious. "You too?"

Phoebe swallowed her apprehension and nodded. "Yeah."

Confused by their reactions and unable to hear the sound they were referring to, Victor looked between them with furrowed brows. "Heard what?" he asked, feeling out of the loop.

Faith took a step forward, her senses heightened and her instincts kicking in. She heard the unmistakable sound of a glass bottle being smashed, and it sent a shiver down her spine. "Aunt Phoebe?" she said, her gaze locked on the building.

"I heard it," Phoebe affirmed before turning her attention to her father. "You didn't hear that, I assume?"

Victor, still puzzled, repeated, "Hear what?"

Just then, both Phoebe and Faith's eyes widened as they witnessed a bizarre scene unfolding down the street. A cowboy was forcibly ejected from a building by another man, their confrontation escalating quickly.

"You're a dead man, Bo," the man who had thrown the cowboy declared menacingly.

Phoebe's voice quivered with concern as she turned to Faith. "Faith, can you see them?" she inquired, her eyes locked on the strange spectacle.

Faith nodded, her gaze fixed on the two men in the distance. "Yeah. And my question is how."

Phoebe shrugged, unable to explain the sudden manifestation of Faith's sight. "Maybe you have my powers?" she suggested, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

"See who?" Victor repeated, growing increasingly bewildered by the events unfolding before him.

Phoebe, however, paid no attention to her father's confusion as she and Faith approached the two men involved in the altercation. She called out to them, concern in her voice. "Hey! Hey, what's going on?"

The man, who had been threateningly addressing Bo, responded with a chilling warning. "Nobody crosses Mr. Sutter," he declared before striking Bo in the face.

Bo was sent flying back and, in a strange turn of events, went right through Phoebe. He scrambled to his feet and fled just moments before the man fired a shot at him. In the blink of an eye, both men vanished into thin air, leaving Phoebe and Faith standing there, bewildered and shaken.

Faith was about to comment on the bizarre encounter when she noticed a trickle of blood from Phoebe's lip. "Aunt Phoebe, your lip is bleeding," she pointed out with concern.

Phoebe dabbed at her lip with a handkerchief, her expression a mix of surprise and amusement. "I wouldn't buy this place, Dad," she quipped, her voice tinged with irony. "Really, really bad Feng Shui."

Halliwell Manor

Prue descended the stairs, her curiosity piqued, and her gaze landed on the dining room table. Something immediately caught her attention, and she turned to her middle sister with a puzzled expression. "Uh, wait a minute. We have one too many place settings."

Piper, who had been setting the table, responded confidently. "No, we don't."

Prue furrowed her brow, counting in her head. "Okay, uh, you, me, Leo, Phoebe, Faith, and Dad. That's six. We have eight."

Piper's response was unexpected, and it left Prue momentarily stunned. "So?"

Prue couldn't let it go and pressed further. "So, who are the seventh and eighth for?" she inquired, her curiosity driving her need for answers.

Piper hesitated, her gaze shifting slightly, and she finally revealed the truth. "One is for Buffy," she admitted. "She's currently upstairs with Leo, working on identifying her powers. And the other is maybe, um, Mom." She noticed the look of surprise on Prue's face. "What?" Piper asked defensively. "It's my wedding. At least she could be here in spirit, if nothing else."

Prue's initial surprise gave way to understanding, and she couldn't help but appreciate Piper's sentiment. She pulled her sister into a warm embrace, conveying her support. "Yes, she can be," Prue agreed, her voice filled with affection.

Just as the conversation about the extra place settings and the spirit of their mother was settling, Buffy made a dramatic entrance. She materialized with Leo in a swirl of fiery flames, a spectacle that left everyone in awe.

"Wow, that is so cool," Buffy exclaimed excitedly. "And you think that is only one of the powers I retained?"

Leo couldn't help but chuckle at Buffy's enthusiasm. "Yes," he confirmed, his eyes sparkling with amusement. He turned to looked at the dining table. "Wow, looks great. When do we eat?"

Piper, however, interrupted the moment. "Leo, can't you see we're having a sister moment?" she chided her fiancé.

Leo immediately recognized his misstep and offered an apologetic smile. "Oh, sorry," he said, realizing he and Buffy might have intruded. "Do you want us to go?" He motioned toward the stairs, indicating that he and Buffy could give them some space.

Piper, however, had other plans. "No," she insisted. "I want you to help. This is your rehearsal dinner too, you know."

Prue, always one to engage in conversation, turned her attention to Leo. "So, Leo, you nervous?" she inquired with a playful grin. "I mean, only one more week before dum, dum, dum-dum."

Leo chuckled at the suspenseful sound effects Prue added. "Well, as long as no demons come bursting through that door, until then, I am fine," he replied with a light-hearted shrug, knowing that in their magical world, anything was possible.

As Prue, Piper, Leo, and Buffy were engrossed in their conversation, they were suddenly interrupted by Faith's voice coming from the area of the front door.

"Mom! Aunt Piper!" Faith's excited voice called out.

Startled, the group turned to see Victor and Faith flanking Phoebe as they walked through the front door.

Piper glanced at Leo with a playful grin. "You had to jinx it," she teased, referring to his earlier comment about demons bursting through the door.

"Buffy?" Faith, her eyes wide with surprise, took in the presence of Buffy. It was a moment of unexpected joy for her. Even though they had talked over the previous week on the phone, this was the first time since Faith had left Sunnydale and moved in with her family that she had actually seen Buffy.

"Surprise," Piper announced with a smile. "I invited her down, Faith."

"Wow," Faith said, a little shocked but undeniably happy that Buffy had made the trip.

"Of course, I had double intentions of inviting her. First because she is your friend and I believe you like at least one friend at my wedding. Right?" Piper continued, her playful tone earning a nod of agreement from Faith. "Also, because both of you need to start your training. We need to identify your power, Faith, and of course Buffy needs to learn to control hers."

Faith, intrigued by the idea of training alongside Buffy, couldn't help but ask, "So, you do have one then?"

Buffy grinned mischievously before demonstrating her power. She disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames and reappeared a second later. "Leo thinks that might not be the only one I retained."

Faith's eyes widened with awe. "I think that one looks wicked," she admitted, clearly impressed by Buffy's newfound abilities.

Prue remained persistent, her concern for her sister evident as she pressed for an explanation. "Uhm, can we get back to Phoebe for a moment?" she interjected, directing her attention toward the Slayers. She then turned her gaze to her baby sister. "So, what happened?"

Phoebe attempted to brush off the issue, insisting, "Oh, it's nothing, I'm fine. I just need an aspirin."

Piper, however, gave her niece a pointed look that Faith had come to recognize as a signal to tell the truth. It was a look that carried the unspoken message: 'Tell me the truth.'

Faith couldn't ignore the plea in Piper's eyes, and she decided to reveal what had transpired. "Victor wanted Aunt Phoebe to get a premonition on this ghost town we met him in," she began, her voice steady. "We got a lot more than that. We saw, I think, real ghosts."

Buffy, upon hearing this, couldn't help but groan. "I really don't want to be possessed again," she admitted, her voice filled with trepidation. She noticed the raised eyebrows of the others, prompting her to explain further. "Last March, a ghost was seeking forgiveness for killing the love of his life. At one point, he even possessed me before finally getting the forgiveness he craved."

Phoebe took over the explanation, elaborating on the ghosts they had encountered. "Anyways, the ghosts, we believe, were two cowboys who were in the midst of a bar fight. One of them was named Bo," she recounted. "I didn't catch the other's name." She turned to Faith, who shook her head, indicating that she hadn't either.

"I think I speak for both myself and Aunt Phoebe that we think the one we didn't catch the name for was the bad guy," Faith declared, her intuition leading her to that conclusion.

Victor, feeling responsible for the unexpected supernatural encounter, let out a sigh as he addressed his youngest daughter. "Sweetheart," he began, his voice tinged with regret, "I never would have asked you to meet me there if I had any idea," he said apologetically.

Phoebe, however, quickly reassured her father. "It's fine, Dad," she soothed, offering him a warm smile. "Really, don't worry about it."

Leo, noticing Phoebe's injured lip, reached over, intending to use his healing powers to mend it. "Here, let me take care of that," he offered.

But Phoebe gently batted his hands away. "No, I'm alright," she informed the Whitelighter. She then turned her attention to her father, suggesting a proactive approach. "Dad, why don't you go to the porch and get those town files," she proposed. "You know, maybe there's something in them that can help us."

"Alright," Victor acknowledged before heading back outside to retrieve the town files.

Phoebe turned to Prue, Piper and Phoebe. She took a deep breath before revealing the secret she and Faith had learned. "Dad doesn't know that Leo is a Whitelighter."

Both Prue and Leo were taken aback by this revelation, their expressions reflecting their shock. "What?" they exclaimed in unison.

Faith, who had already been filled in on this secret, chimed in, recalling her own initial reaction. "That was my reaction," she admitted, offering sympathy to her mother and Leo as they processed the news. "On the ride home Aunt Phoebe explained about Grandma Patty and her Whitelighter."

Piper, feeling the weight of her decision to withhold this information, admitted, "Yeah, I've been meaning to tell him, but considering Mom had an affair with her Whitelighter, I didn't think he'd be really receptive to the idea." She offered her explanation, her voice tinged with a sense of vulnerability and regret.

Buffy couldn't help but express her surprise. "Wow," she said, glancing at Faith. "Makes our problems seem to pale in comparison."

Faith nodded in agreement, a small smile forming on her lips. "I know," she acknowledged. "At least we have a chance to fix ours."

"True," Buffy agreed, sharing a moment of understanding with Faith.

Leo, still processing the impending revelation to Victor, couldn't help but express his worry. "Piper, he's going to kill me when he finds out," he admitted with a sigh of regret.

Faith, who had experienced firsthand Victor's reaction to the revelation of her Slayer status, chimed in with a rueful smile. "Probably you and me both, Leo," she remarked, drawing the attention of everyone in the room. "He heard me mention the Slayer bit."

Buffy, recalling her own experience of revealing her Slayer identity to her mother, couldn't help but cringe at the memory. "Yeah, that's not going to be an easy conversation," she agreed, her voice tinged with regret. "I remember when I told Mom. She didn't take it well."

Curious, Leo looked at Buffy, prompting her to share more about that difficult time. "What did she do?" he inquired.

Buffy let out a sigh as she delved into her past. "I was going to fight Angel and she told me if I left, not to come back," she confessed. "I know now that she didn't mean it, of course. But I reacted badly. I ran away from home back in May and didn't come back till..." She glanced at Faith, a sense of understanding passing between them. "...till a few weeks before you arrived in Sunnydale."

Just as the conversation was getting heated, Victor returned through the front door, carrying a box full of files. He seemed somewhat skeptical about the potential usefulness of the documents. "Just a lot of investment stuff and background info," he admitted. "I don't see how it's going to help you find out what happened."

Phoebe, however, was quick to interject, her split lip serving as a reminder of the unusual encounter. "Well, you're the one that called it a ghost town, and since Bo fell through me and I ended up with the same split lip that he had," she pointed out.

Prue, always one to approach things pragmatically, added her perspective. "I think Faith is right, sounds like a ghost to me," she said.

Leo, having a more supernatural understanding, countered the idea of ghosts. "It can't be a ghost," he argued. "Ghosts don't bleed."

Piper, however, decided to redirect the conversation, her meaningful throat-clearing indicating the presence of her father. Leo quickly corrected himself, acknowledging Victor's cluelessness in regards to his status as a Whitelighter. "Ahem," he cleared his throat, then added, "I mean, so I've read in books. Obviously, it's not my area of expertise."

Victor responded with a warm smile directed at his future son-in-law. "Mine, neither," he agreed. "What do you say we let the supernatural stuff to the pros and go grab a bite?"

"I don't know, Mr. Bennett," Leo hesitated, glancing at each of his charges, but before he could make up his mind, Prue and Piper shared a knowing smile.

Prue gave Leo a friendly pat on the back. "Oh," she chimed in, her tone filled with camaraderie.

"Victor, please," Victor insisted, addressing the Whitelighter. "It's time you called me Victor, son. Come on." He then turned his attention to Faith. "And I would prefer Grandpa if you don't mind," he offered kindly, extending an understanding gesture.

Faith, feeling a mixture of emotions, pinched the bridge of her nose, a sign of her internal conflict. While she had almost immediately started referring to both her mom and aunts as mother and aunt, it still felt somewhat strange to her, given her life with the Lehanes. She candidly admitted her feelings to Victor. "Give me time," she requested, her voice filled with hope. "While I am used to calling Prue, mom, and Piper and Phoebe aunt, it still is a little weird at times. Is that okay?"

Victor nodded in agreement. He could sense that something had happened in Faith's life that made it difficult for her to form connections and embrace her newfound family fully. "Sure," he said, his voice filled with empathy as he looked at his granddaughter. "You take your time." He offered her a small, comforting pat on the arm before turning to lead Leo out of the door.

As the door closed behind Leo and Victor, Piper couldn't help but let out a sigh of resignation. "Great," she muttered, her tone filled with a hint of humor. "Now I'm dead."

Prue interjected to steer the conversation back to their primary concern. "Alright," she said, taking charge. "Why don't we just focus on Phoebe and try to figure out what happened. I'll get the book." With purpose in her steps, she started heading for the stairs.

Piper, following close behind Prue, added with a wry smile, "I'll get it. And maybe a drink."

Meanwhile, Buffy chimed in with a suggestion, her concern for the situation evident. "You don't mind if I use your phone?" she asked. "I want to call Giles and see if he and good old doofus can't help out from their end."

Prue, amused by Buffy's term, raised an eyebrow as she inquired, "Doofus?"

Faith quickly filled in the details, explaining, "That new Watcher I told you about, Mom."

Prue, now understanding the context, remembered the earlier conversation. "The one that wanted to ship you to England?" she clarified, to which Faith nodded in agreement. Prue then looked at Buffy with a determined expression. "Which you and I should talk about. I want to find out from someone other than just Faith what all went down."

Buffy, understanding the need for clarity and communication, readily agreed. "Of course," she said.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"What did you have Phoebe tell, dad? You know about Faith?" Piper asked as she flipped through the Book of Shadows.

"I told Phoebe to lie," Prue confessed, her voice quivering with guilt. "That I consented to give Faith up at birth. I knew he wouldn't take it well if he learned that Grams had done it without my consent and then erased our memories of her."

Piper could sense the turmoil in her sister's heart, and her own expression grew somber. "Have you remembered anything other than giving birth to her?" she wondered, her voice filled with empathy.

Prue's shoulders slumped as she opened up about her fragmented memories, her words tinged with a mixture of longing and sadness. "No," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She met Piper's concerned gaze, tears glistening in her eyes. "I remember giving birth to her and I remember holding her in the hospital. But it gets hazy after that. Maybe Grams' spell had personal gain consequences," she mused, her tone heavy with uncertainty. She shrugged, trying to mask the pain that lingered beneath the surface. "I don't know. I can ask her next week when she comes down to officiate your wedding."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Buffy sat by the phone, her expression a mix of impatience and reluctance as she waited for Giles to return her call. This tedious research was not her favorite part of being a Slayer. Faith, her fellow Slayer, approached, breaking the silence in the room.

"Mom and Aunt Piper are looking through their Book," Faith said, trying to engage Buffy in conversation. "So how are things with your mom?"

Buffy couldn't help but let out a heavy sigh. "I'm still grounded," she admitted, her voice carrying a sense of acceptance mingled with regret. "Not that I'm really complaining. After all, I know I'm responsible for what I did."

Faith interjected, her voice firm with a touch of concern, "But you were under a spell. She can't—"

Buffy interrupted, resolute in her decision, "I insisted on taking the punishment, Faith. Yes, I was under a spell, but it was still me. On some level, it was still me. So, I'm okay with being grounded. Mom let me come down primarily to learn to control my powers. And she said my grounding will be over the day before Piper's wedding, so I can be here for that. But till then, it's school, patrol, and home. No Bronze, no shopping, and I only see Willow and Xander at school or if they wind up going with me on patrol."

Faith shifted beside Buffy, her concern for her friend evident. "Is Red and Xan mad at me?" she asked tentatively, a hint of worry in her eyes. "You know, about... everything that happened?"

Buffy considered her words carefully, her gaze softening as she addressed Faith's concerns. "Not as much as they were before you left," she reassured her fellow Slayer. "But I explained things to them, and hopefully, when they see how you're doing now, they might come around."

As Faith answered the ringing phone, a sense of anticipation filled the room. She greeted Giles with a warm smile in her voice, "Halliwell Residence, Faith speaking."

"Faith," came Giles' voice from the phone, immediately shifting the tone of the conversation.

"Hey, G-Man," Faith responded, her smile fading as she tried to keep things casual.

"I wish you wouldn't call me that," Giles replied, a hint of exasperation in his voice.

"Sorry," Faith said, slightly sheepish as she held the phone between her and Buffy, who leaned in to listen. "Habit. People I like or respect always got nicknames like that. So, what do you got?"

Giles didn't dwell on the nickname, understanding Faith's intentions. "I found records on the town that Buffy called about," he informed them, his tone growing more serious. "Or rather what records there were, as all record-keeping stopped in 1873."

"What?" Buffy asked, her surprise evident in her voice. "How is that possible, Giles?"

Giles cleared his throat before explaining, "From what I've learned, the town, I believe, was cursed into a time loop to relive over and over a certain series of events until the loop was broken."

Faith furrowed her brow, contemplating the implications. "Why would they be stuck in this loop?" she wondered aloud.

Giles considered the question and offered a thoughtful response, "Possibly some form of great evil or maybe some great injustice happened."

Buffy let out an exasperated groan, a hint of humor in her voice as she remembered a popular television show from her younger years. "So, we have to right whatever went wrong?" she asked, her tone filled with a mix of resignation and determination. "Great, now we're Sam Beckey."

"Sam Beckey?" Giles asked, clearly puzzled by the cultural reference.

Faith stepped in to clarify, her explanation bringing recognition to Giles' face. "Sam Beckett was a character from an old TV show," she elaborated. "He jumped back and forth through time fixing whatever had originally gone wrong."

"Ah," Giles replied, understanding the reference now.

"Thanks, G-m..." Faith began, then immediately corrected herself, "...Giles." She ended the call before turning to her fellow Slayer. "Our world just keeps getting weirder and weirder, doesn't it?"

Buffy nodded in agreement, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Yeah," she said. "Well, we should go tell your mom what we found out."

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Phoebe's face displayed a mix of realization and determination as she processed the information shared by Faith and Buffy. "So that is probably why this is happening to me," she concluded, her voice tinged with a sense of purpose. "Our job is to right the wrong."

Prue, growing increasingly concerned about her sister's condition, urged, "Yeah, well, we better do it before your symptoms get any worse." Just then, the doorbell rang, interrupting their conversation. "I'll…" Prue made a move to answer it but was preempted by Faith.

Faith swung open the front door to find a man standing there, holding a bouquet of flowers. The man's expression shifted from curiosity to mild annoyance as he glanced at Faith. "The Halliwells do still live here?"

"Yes," Faith replied, somewhat taken aback by the man's demeanor as he pushed his way past her. Her frown deepened as she watched him intrude further into the house.

"So is Phoebe home?" he asked, his tone impatient.

Faith's reaction was swift and fierce as she spun around, delivering a roundhouse kick that sent the man, Cole, flying across the room. He crashed onto a small table, causing a commotion that drew Phoebe, Prue, Buffy, and Piper to the scene.

Phoebe rushed over to Cole, her voice a mixture of concern and bewilderment. "What the... Cole, what...?" She trailed off, trying to make sense of the situation.

"Phoebe, hi," Cole greeted her with a disarming smile as he extended the flowers he had brought. Phoebe pushed the flowers away, still perplexed by the sudden turn of events.

Prue, always ready to take charge, posed a series of questions. "Okay, three questions," she began. "Why did you attack him, Faith?" She then turned her gaze to Cole. "What the hell are you doing here? And do you have some kind of death wish?"

Faith pointed at Cole, emphasizing the threat he posed. "Demon," she declared, then pointed to herself and Buffy, "Slayers," and finally back at Cole, "Dead demon, mom."

"Mom?" Cole questioned; his surprise evident.

"Yes, mom, Cole," Prue snapped, her tone indicating that this was not the time for explanations. "It's complicated, and you don't get to know the details. Now, answer my question."

Cole shifted his gaze from Faith and Buffy to Prue and finally to Phoebe, his expression determined. "I told Phoebe last week that I wasn't giving up on her, and I meant it."

Piper, visibly surprised, couldn't contain her curiosity. "You talked to Phoebe?" she asked, her eyes fixed on her baby sister. "He talked to you?"

Cole nodded, acknowledging the conversation. "Uh-huh."

Faith, still trying to piece together the situation, voiced her confusion. "I'm confused."

Prue echoed Faith's sentiment, looking at her baby sister with a mix of disbelief and concern. "You said he was alive. You never said anything about him being back."

Phoebe stepped in, feeling the need to clarify her stance. "It didn't matter because, as I told him," she interjected firmly, "I don't want anything to do with him anymore." Her words held a finality that left no room for doubt.

Buffy couldn't help but roll her eyes as she exchanged knowing glances with Faith. "Seems like I'm not the only one that falls for guys that I'm not supposed to," she quipped, her tone lighthearted.

Faith chuckled in agreement, the shared experience creating a moment of camaraderie. "Yeah."

Amid the confusion and tension in the room, Cole sought answers. "Okay, how are there two of them?" he questioned, his gaze shifting between Buffy and Faith. His demon half had been warning him about the presence of two Slayers in the room.

Faith snapped back, her patience wearing thin. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Prue intervened with a stern look at Faith. "Faith, later," she admonished before turning her attention to Phoebe. "Well if that is the case, Pheebs." Prue raised her arm to gesture at Cole, but Piper intercepted the movement.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Piper exclaimed, drawing Prue's attention. "I just set that table," she reminded her elder sister, a hint of annoyance in her voice. "We don't have time to buy a new one before dinner."

"I'm not going to use my powers against you anyway," Cole informed them, his voice earnest as he hoped to gain some favor. "In fact, I'm never going to use them again, ever. It keeps me from being evil."

Prue was quick to dismiss his claim, her skepticism evident. "No, you will always be evil; you're a demon," she scoffed, her stance unyielding.

Buffy nodded in agreement with Prue's assessment. "She has a point," she added, her tone echoing Prue's skepticism.

Faith, ever ready with a witty remark, couldn't help but interject with a smirk. "That's a turnaround," she said, looking at Buffy. "When Angel was the demon in question..."

"Half-demon," Cole interjected, eager to clarify his nature before the conversation could veer off in another direction. "My human half..."

Buffy raised an eyebrow, exchanging a puzzled glance with Faith. "Human half?" she echoed. "I didn't know demons could have a human half. Did you?" Faith shrugged, equally perplexed. "I know they can look human since vampires do after all when not in gameface. But that's a new one for me."

Cole continued, "...can suppress it if..." But before he could finish his thought, his attention was drawn to Phoebe's injuries. Concern etched across his face, he interrupted, "Phoebe, you're hurt. What happened?"

Phoebe, still harboring resentment toward Cole, snapped back, "You know what, Cole? It's none of your business. So, why don't you do yourself a favor and just get..." She couldn't finish her sentence as she was suddenly pulled into a premonition.

A man stood pointing a gun at Bo as he pulled the trigger.

"Aunt Phoebe?" Faith exclaimed, catching Phoebe as she fell into her arms. "Buffy, help me."

Buffy wasted no time and joined Faith's side, ready to assist. "Where do you want her?" she asked.

Faith made a quick decision. "Couch," she directed as they carefully lifted Phoebe and moved her to the couch.

Prue, Piper, and Cole followed the two Slayers as they carefully placed Phoebe on the couch. Concern etched on her face, Prue asked her injured sister, "Phoebe, what happened?"

As Faith and Buffy examined Phoebe, Faith's hand came into view, covered in blood. Alarmed, she immediately issued a command to her mother. "Mom, call for Leo. Now!" she ordered, her voice urgent.

Confused by the sudden urgency, Prue questioned, "Why?"

Faith held up her blood-covered hand, her voice trembling as she relayed her suspicions. "I think Aunt Phoebe has been shot," she informed her mother.

"Leo!" Prue called out, her desperation evident.

After a momentary pause, Leo finally orbed into the room. His expression shifted from confusion to anger when he spotted Cole. "What the hell are you doing here?" he demanded of the demon, clearly unaware of the events that had transpired.

"Forget about him, Leo," Prue insisted to the Whitelighter. "Phoebe's been shot."

Leo's surprise was evident as he rushed to Phoebe's side, concern etched across his face. "Shot?" he asked, his voice filled with alarm. "How did that happen?"

Prue, her patience wearing thin due to the urgency of the situation, snapped back, "There's no time to explain. Can you heal her?"

Leo nodded and immediately placed his hands over Phoebe's wound, ready to use his healing powers. However, to his growing dismay, nothing happened. There were no golden rays of healing emanating from his hands, and Phoebe's condition remained unchanged.

Piper, concerned for both her sister and her father, couldn't help but inquire, "Where's dad?" She feared the answer but needed to know.

Leo's frown deepened as he grappled with his powers failing him. "Seething probably," he answered, his frustration and worry mounting.

Cole was the first to notice that Leo's healing powers weren't working, and he didn't hesitate to voice his concern. "What's the matter, Leo?" he asked, his tone filled with urgency. "Why isn't it working?"

Leo, frustrated and bewildered, shrugged helplessly as he withdrew his hands from Phoebe's wound. "I don't know. Phoebe, you have to tell me exactly how this happened," he implored.

Phoebe struggled to recall the sequence of events, her voice trembling as she recounted, "Um, I don't... I don't really know. I had a premonition, and I felt Bo get shot, and then I came out of it."

Faith, visibly worried for her aunt, pressed for answers. "Leo, can you heal her?" she asked urgently.

Leo met Faith's gaze with a heavy heart. "No," he replied somberly, locking eyes with Phoebe. "Because, Faith, your aunt wasn't the one that was shot. Bo was."

Confusion swept through the room as Buffy held up Faith's blood-covered hand, revealing the truth. "What are you talking about?" Buffy asked, her voice filled with concern. "Phoebe's bleeding."

Leo's explanation shed light on the unusual connection between Phoebe and Bo. "I know, Buffy, but it's more like a psychic echo," he clarified. "Phoebe is linked to Bo somehow. Whatever he feels, whatever happens to him happens to her."

"Which means Bo must be magical too," Cole proposed, looking at Leo for confirmation. "The only way they can be linked is through their magic."

Leo nodded in agreement. "I agree," he admitted.

Cole's next idea focused on the solution. "We have to find Bo," he declared. "Heal him. It's the only way."

Piper, providing crucial information, delivered a sobering reality. "Well, he's been cursed into a time loop along with the rest of the town," she informed Cole. "And we don't know how to get there, let alone where there is."

Cole pondered the information for a moment before offering his own insight. "Well, it's got to be a parallel plane existing in the same physical space as the town," he suggested, considering the possibilities of their predicament.

Prue's skepticism was evident as she exchanged a glance with Buffy. "You know, I don't think that we need any demonic input right now," she stated firmly.

Buffy concurred with Prue, her stance unwavering. "I agree."

Cole, determined and willing to help, didn't back down. He met Prue and then Buffy's gaze with a steady look. "If I can help save Phoebe's life, you sure as hell do," he countered, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.

Leo intervened, raising his hand to signal that it was time to listen to Cole. "We're listening," he informed everyone, seeking a way to resolve the crisis.

Cole began to explain his plan as he paced back and forth. "Look, I move through different planes all the time," he revealed. "It's how I've been hiding from the Source. Shouldn't be any problem to shimmer into Bo's plane and bring him back here so you can heal him."

Piper, still cautious, reminded Cole of his previous claim. "You said you don't use your powers anymore," she pointed out, wanting to ensure they had all the facts.

Cole's smile hinted at his confidence in a solution. "Shimmering isn't a lethal power," he reassured them.

Phoebe, ever resourceful, offered a suggestion. "Why don't you just take Leo with you, and you can heal Bo there?" she proposed, hoping to find a way to save Bo without any unnecessary complications.

Leo, however, quickly pointed out the complications of that plan. "I can't. I'm not allowed to work with a demon," he reminded them, emphasizing the limitations placed on his actions.

Prue was ready to step in. "Fine, I'll go," she agreed, but Faith had a different plan in mind.

Faith intervened, explaining her reasoning. "No, Mom," she argued. "Buffy and I will go. We don't know if your powers would be affected, and you might need them. Our Slayer powers might not be affected. If two of us can be Slayers when there's only supposed to be one, then it stands to reason that maybe we can keep them in the past as well for the same reason."

Prue sighed, recognizing the logic in Faith's argument. "Alright," she conceded, trusting her daughter to handle the situation as best they could.

Piper, always concerned for her family's safety, couldn't hide her unease at the idea of either her sister or her niece, let alone Buffy, going with Cole. "Prue," she said, her voice tinged with worry.

Prue was resolute in her decision, determined not to leave matters solely in Cole's hands. "I don't want to leave this up to him," she explained. "Besides, Faith has a very good argument."

Piper, still anxious about the potential risks, voiced her concerns. "Well, okay, what if something goes wrong, and both Faith and Buffy get stuck in the time loop and they don't get back before midnight?" she asked, seeking reassurance.

Prue, however, had a different concern that weighed more heavily on her mind. "It's not the time loop I'm worried about," she confessed.

Buffy, though uncertain about the situation, offered a potential solution. "I don't know if I can do it," she admitted. "But I could try bringing Faith and me back if the worst could happen."

Cole, intrigued by the possibility, questioned, "How?"

Buffy's smile lit up the room as she demonstrated her newfound ability. She disappeared in a swirl of fiery flames and reappeared a moment later, leaving Cole wide-eyed and astonished. "That's an upper-level demonic power," he remarked, his curiosity piqued. "How did you get it?"

Buffy's response was matter-of-fact. "I killed a demon for it while I was under a spell that briefly turned me into a warlock," she explained. "Anyways, I haven't fully mastered it yet. I've only managed a couple of times to disappear and reappear in the same spot, and to disappear from the attic and reappear down here."

Prue, eager to get the plan in motion, redirected their attention. "Anyways," she interjected, "Piper, why don't you and Leo go to the town, see if you can find anything there to help break the curse. And I'll stay here with Phoebe."

Phoebe, appreciative of the effort and wary of the potential for conflict, chimed in with a request. "Play nice, you three," she urged, casting a glance at Faith, Buffy, and Cole.

Cole, understanding the gravity of the situation and the potential consequences, reassured them, "Believe me, I do not have a death wish, and I know that even if I managed to do anything to one of them, the other would take me down quickly." He then turned to Faith and Buffy, extending his hands. "Got to hold my hands."

Cole, keenly aware of the tension, assured everyone, "Believe me, I do not have a death wish, and I know that even if I managed to do anything to one of them, the other would take me down quickly." He then turned to Faith and Buffy. "Got to hold my hands."

Buffy, feeling the weight of the situation, couldn't help but express her frustration. "This already sucks," she groaned as she and Faith joined hands with Cole and he shimmered out with them.

Pocket Dimension – Ghost Town

Cole shimmered in with Buffy and Faith, and they found themselves in the ghost town that was noticeably different from the one Phoebe, Faith, and Victor had visited previously. This one was populated with people.

"Oh, wow," Buffy exclaimed, taking in the surroundings. "It worked."

Cole couldn't help but smile at Buffy's reaction. "You doubted me?" he teased.

Faith chimed in with her own skepticism. "Yeah, well, for all we know you were going to take us..." She was interrupted by the sound of a gunshot, causing Cole to react swiftly by pinning them against a wall.

"Welcome to the Wild, Wild West," he said, his voice laced with amusement.

Buffy, curious about Cole's history, asked, "Were you alive during this time period?"

"No, I was born around the turn of the century, well after this period," Cole answered Buffy's question.

Faith wasted no time in asserting their roles and priorities. "Alright, just so we're clear," she told Cole firmly, "Buffy and I are the ones in charge here. You're just our ride."

Cole couldn't help but roll his eyes, recognizing Faith's assertiveness as reminiscent of her mother's. "Fine with me," he conceded. "What's the plan?"

Faith began outlining their strategy. "Find Bo," she stated as their primary objective.

Buffy chimed in, emphasizing a crucial aspect. "Lay low," she added, echoing Faith's sentiment.

Cole, unimpressed by the simplicity of the plan, couldn't help but scoff. "That's a plan?" he remarked, clearly expecting more elaborate instructions.

"Yeah," Faith agreed with a hint of challenge in her tone. "You got a better one?"

Cole appraised Buffy and Faith, his mind working on a different approach. "Maybe, but first, I think we better find something a little less conspicuous to wear," he suggested, recognizing the need to blend in.

Buffy, always ready for action, inquired, "What did you have in mind?"

Cole's gaze settled on a grim scene unfolding nearby, where a couple of cowboys were dragging a dead man out of a building. "Nothing you're going to like," he admitted, gesturing towards the unfortunate sight.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

A half-hour later, Buffy, Faith, and Cole sauntered into the rustic saloon, seamlessly blending into the Old West atmosphere with their carefully chosen period attire. Cole and Faith exuded the rugged charm of cowboys, their clothes a harmonious dance with the time-worn ambiance of the saloon, while Buffy, standing out in her elegant dress, added a touch of femininity to the rough-and-tumble setting.

"Still think you should have worn that pretty, little red dress drying on the line," Cole remarked, casting a teasing glance toward Faith.

Faith, her eyes rolling with playful exasperation, retorted, "You can ask B; I don't do dresses."

A chuckle escaped Buffy's lips as she observed the banter between her companions. "Not entirely true, Faith," she chimed in. "You wore one, once."

"In all the time you've known me, have you ever seen me wear a dress any other time?" Faith countered, her voice carrying a hint of challenge.

"No," Buffy conceded with a fond smile, her gaze shifting briefly to Cole. "Except for the one time I've seen Faith in a dress, she has worn nothing but a jacket, leather pants, and a t-shirt or tank top. Faith, when it comes to clothes, is the complete opposite of me."

"Now remember," Faith interjected, her tone firm, as she aimed to steer the conversation back to their mission, "we're not getting involved. We don't know if these people will be reinserted into our dimension or if they will live out the rest of their lives here. So, minimal impact."

The trio continued their stride toward the worn wooden bar, the atmosphere of the saloon enveloping them like a cloak of the past. The bartender, a weathered figure with a keen eye, awaited their drink orders with a quizzical look.

"What'll it be?" he inquired, polishing a glass with a rag as they approached the bar.

Buffy and Faith exchanged glances, deferring to Cole, who took charge of the libation decision. "Whiskey," he declared, his voice carrying a confident edge, "three glasses and leave the bottle."

The bartender nodded in acknowledgment, his hands adeptly reaching for the bottle and the necessary glasses. As the amber liquid cascaded into the glasses, he couldn't help but pose a casual question, attempting to engage the mysterious trio.

"Passing through?" he inquired, his gaze shifting from one face to another, curiosity etched in the lines of his weathered expression.

"Maybe," Cole replied cryptically, his eyes scanning the dimly lit surroundings of the saloon as if searching for unseen threats.

The bartender continued pouring the whiskey, his grizzled features carrying a hint of genuine concern. "Maybe if you're not, you ought to consider it," he suggested, his voice carrying a weathered wisdom. "Things are getting pretty dangerous around here. Friendly advice. Wet your whistle, get back on your horses, and move on as fast as you can."

Curiosity etched across Buffy's features as she leaned in, prompting her to question, "What's so dangerous?"

The bartender, maintaining a veneer of cryptic amusement, smiled at Buffy, his eyes holding the weight of untold tales. "It's nothing to concern your pretty little head about."

An unexpected frown etched across Buffy's face, her patience wearing thin. Stepping menacingly towards the bar, she was not one to tolerate being patronized. The term 'little' struck a chord within her, awakening a defiance that was always ready to challenge perceived slights.

"Lay low, remember?" Cole's whisper carried a note of caution, a subtle reminder of the delicate nature of their mission.

Faith, always attuned to Buffy's sensitivities, responded in kind with a hushed whisper, "Better let her. One thing B hates is being called little."

Buffy's eyes narrowed at the bartender. "You were saying?" she growled, her voice a low, ominous rumble.

The bartender, sensing the shift in atmosphere, quickly reevaluated his choice of words. He looked directly at Buffy, recognizing that though she might be of average height for a woman, her demeanor radiated a formidable presence. The dress she wore, a seemingly incongruent choice for a warrior, only added to the illusion she crafted—an intentional misdirection designed to catch others off guard.

"There's some trouble between a powerful man in town..." The bartender hesitated for a moment, then continued, realizing the gravity of the situation.

"Sutter?" Faith interjected, her sharp instincts already piecing together the puzzle of local dynamics.

The bartender's eyebrow raised; a silent inquiry etched across his weathered features. "How do you know about Sutter?" he wondered; his curiosity piqued by Faith's apparent familiarity with the town's brewing troubles.

Faith couldn't resist a self-assured smirk. "B's not the only one who knows her way around a bar fight," she retorted, a glint of mischief in her eyes. "Now tell us what's going on."

The bartender, gauging the urgency in their expressions, nodded reluctantly. "One of Sutter's men just got killed, and now there's going to be hell to pay," he explained, the weight of impending trouble hanging heavily in the air. As he spoke, the saloon doors swung open, and three imposing figures entered, with Sutter himself following close behind.

The atmosphere in the saloon shifted palpably, tension rising as gazes turned toward the newcomers. Buffy, ever vigilant, leaned in to whisper to Faith, "Any of them look like the guy you and Phoebe saw?"

Faith shrugged, her eyes narrowing as she studied the approaching trio. "Didn't get a good look at the one attacking Bo real good," she admitted, uncertainty lingering in her voice. The uncertainty, however, did little to quell the readiness etched on both Slayer's faces, their senses attuned to the impending storm.

"Where is he?" Sutter's voice sliced through the air, a demand that echoed off the saloon walls, compelling the patrons to shift nervously in their seats. His eyes scanned the room, seeking the elusive target of his ire. "Just so you know, I've already taken the liberty to print up the evening edition." With a dramatic flourish, he held up a newspaper, the headline glaring ominously: "Half-breed to Die at Sundown." A twisted satisfaction gleamed in his eyes. "Just so you know how serious this is. All the news that's fit to print."

The atmosphere tightened, anticipation thickening as Sutter's gaze locked onto a woman in the crowd. "You know where your little brother's hiding, now don't you?" he accused, his tone dripping with menace.

Cole blinked, momentarily thrown off by what his demonic senses were telling him. He turned from the woman to Buffy and Faith, his expression caught between confusion and realization. "What?" Buffy questioned, sensing the shift in the dynamics.

"Slayer," Cole responded, his voice low and measured. "She's a Slayer."

Confusion painted Faith's face as she grappled with the revelation. "That doesn't make sense. B would never have been called if there was a Slayer still alive."

"Unless," Buffy interjected, her gaze shifting toward the woman now under Sutter's scrutiny, "whatever made us Slayers thought she was dead when she, like the rest of the town, was caught in this time-loopy thing." T

"Even if I did, I'd never tell you," the Slayer defiantly declared, her unwavering gaze locking onto Sutter. "I'm not afraid of you, Mr. Sutter."

Sutter, a sinister chuckle escaping his lips, leaned back with a smug satisfaction. "Well, if you were smart, you'd be. Of course, your kind are not, are they?" His condescending tone hung heavy in the air; a poisonous reminder of the prejudice ingrained in his beliefs.

"Hold it," Cole interjected, his hand outstretched to halt Buffy's instinctive move toward Sutter and the fearless Slayer. "Plan is not to get involved."

"I haven't seen Bo, Mr. Sutter, I swear. Not since he took off," a man hastily spoke up, desperation etched across his face as Sutter's piercing gaze shifted toward him.

"You know, you lie to me again, Cal, and I'll do worse than this," Sutter warned, a malevolent grin stretching across his face as he held up a menacing whip. Without hesitation, one of his menacing henchmen drove a knife into Cal's hand, a cruel display of the brutality that awaited those who dared to defy Sutter's authority.

Buffy wrenched herself free from Cole's restraining grip, her Slayer instincts propelling her into action. In a swift movement, she surged forward, pushing Sutter's henchman away from the wounded Cal. Her hands deftly tore the hem of her dress, and with practiced ease, she fashioned an improvised bandage around Cal's injured hand. The intensity of her anger radiated as she shot a snarl at the assailant. "What is wrong with you people?" she seethed, the question hanging in the charged air.

Sutter, with a perverse appreciation for the spectacle unfolding before him, couldn't resist a lecherous comment. "Well, well, well. What do we have here?" he sneered, his eyes shamelessly trailing over Buffy's figure.

Cole exchanged a resigned glance with Faith, who sighed in response to Buffy's predicament. "B?" Faith called out, her voice tinged with concern.

"Lady," Sutter addressed Buffy with a twisted sense of superiority, locking eyes with her. "I don't know who you are or where you come from, but you obviously don't have the slightest idea who you're dealing with."

Buffy rolled her eyes in response to Sutter's grandiose declaration. "Oh, please," she retorted, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "You know how many..." she began, almost saying "vampires" before catching herself, "...people have said that to me."

"I usually don't hit women…" a man began, attempting to assert a twisted sense of chivalry as he started toward Buffy.

Faith, unimpressed and unyielding, cut through the feeble excuse with a swift retort, "Then you're in luck. I don't have the same problem." With confident grace, she closed the distance and delivered a precise strike, sending the man sprawling to the ground. In one fluid motion, she relieved him of his gun and pivoted, now facing another threat – a man holding a rifle.

Behind her, the ominous click of a rifle being cocked caught Faith's attention. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw that Cole had somehow acquired a rifle of his own. "Drop it," she commanded, her gaze firm and unwavering.

"We'll deal with you three later, after we take out Bo," Sutter snarled at Buffy, Faith, and Cole, his voice dripping with a venomous promise.

"This isn't over," one of Sutter's men threatened, his eyes narrowing on Faith, who still held his gun. "You and me, we got a score to settle."

"One of you knows where he's at," Sutter declared, his tone a menacing undercurrent. "And if you don't tell me, I'm going to burn this town to the ground looking for him." With that ominous proclamation, Sutter and his men turned, exiting the saloon with a swagger that bespoke impending chaos.

"So much for laying low," Cole remarked with a resigned sigh.

"Yeah," Faith and Buffy agreed in unison, the weight of the impending storm settling upon them like an unwelcome omen.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"I never expected there to be other Slayers," Isabel confessed, her voice tinged with surprise and a hint of concern, as she, Buffy, Faith, and Cole emerged from the dimly lit saloon. "Or that they would be working with a demon."

Buffy, ever the pragmatist, took a moment to explain their unusual alliance, her words cutting through the night air. "It's against our better judgment," she said, her tone reflecting the weight of the decisions they had to make. "But he was essential for this mission."

Faith, always one to get straight to the point, didn't waste a beat. "So, what's Sutter's deal?"

Isabel's gaze darkened, her expression mirroring the ominous atmosphere surrounding them. "He's in tight with the railroads," she revealed. "He came here a couple of months ago, promising to bring the tracks through and make it more than just an old mining town."

"In exchange for what?" Faith questioned; her skepticism etched across her features.

"A piece of everything. The mines, the bank, the newspaper," Isabel disclosed, her voice carrying the bitterness of a town betrayed. "When folks started resisting, his boys took over. At first, everybody stood up to them, but after they killed the sheriff. Cowards."

"Why's Sutter after your brother?" Cole inquired, his voice carrying a mix of concern and curiosity.

"Because Bo wouldn't back down," Isabel explained, a determined glint in her eyes. "He's like me, a fighter. He just fights other things than the forces of darkness. Anyways, he kept on fighting, trying to get everybody to take back the town."

Faith exchanged a knowing look with Buffy as the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. "So, he knows?" Buffy asked, her gaze shifting to Isabel.

Isabel nodded solemnly. "He was there when I was called. Refused to let me fight alone, despite my Watcher's objections to the contrary."

"Isabel, we know that Bo is injured," Faith stated gently. "We know that he's been shot. We can help you, but you have to trust us."

"I do," Isabel affirmed with unwavering trust. "Bo said you'd come."

"How's that again?" Cole queried, his brow furrowing with a mix of skepticism and intrigue.

"Bo, he saw it in one of his dreams," Isabel clarified, a subtle smile playing on her lips. "He said that three strangers, two of them Slayers and one a demon, would come, so, um, I knew."

Buffy's confusion was evident as she sought to make sense of the revelation. "But you said he doesn't fight the…," she started, trailing off, puzzled by the idea that Bo, who didn't actively engage in the battle against darkness, would possess such foresight.

"He doesn't," Isabel reassured, a touch of pride in her voice. "Well, no more than to help me, of course. His gift is why I am the longest living Slayer on record. He inherited it from our father, who was a great medicine man. His name was Soaring Crow."

"Was?" Faith inquired, sensing a deeper layer to the story.

"He died when my very first vampire attacked us," Isabel explained with a hint of sorrow in her eyes. "When we moved here, my Watcher didn't want Bo talking about his gift. He said the secret had to be protected. Besides, magic is considered evil in the white man's world."

Buffy nodded in understanding, a shared experience etched in her expression. "We know what you mean. Our Watcher drilled the same thing into us."

Isabel gestured for them to follow. "Come. I'll take you to Bo. Come," she said, leading them toward four horses tethered nearby.

"Where'd you get the horses?" Cole wondered, a note of skepticism in his voice.

"I told you. I was expecting you," Isabel replied with a wry smile, her confidence in the strange events unfolding evident.

As they prepared to mount the horses, Cole couldn't help but voice a suggestion born from his pragmatic nature. "You know, I still say we eliminate the threat first, kill Sutter. Probably break the curse anyway."

Faith, however, remained cautious. "We don't know that would work," she cautioned, a sense of uncertainty underlying her words.

"I agree, which is why we need to get to Bo first," Buffy added, her voice firm and resolute.

Abandoned Ghost Town

"I don't know what we're supposed to be looking for," Piper exclaimed, her frustration evident in the crease of her brow and the exasperated tone in her voice. She and Leo trudged through the dilapidated streets of the abandoned ghost town, their search yielding nothing but eerie silence.

"Well, we got to keep looking, find something that might help us break the curse," Leo reassured Piper, determination etched on his face as he scanned their surroundings for any clue. His words carried a sense of urgency, a reflection of the weight of the situation they found themselves in.

Piper sighed heavily, the weight of uncertainty settling in her chest. "Like what?" she mused with a tinge of frustration. "There's nothing here but spiders, lizards, and that stupid old crow." The desolation of the ghost town mirrored the hopelessness she felt in her quest to save her sister.

Leo's gaze softened, his eyes meeting Piper's with a mix of empathy and determination. "Oh, come on, let's keep looking," he urged, his voice a gentle encouragement in the face of adversity. "After all, we got a rehearsal dinner to get back to." His attempt to inject a hint of normalcy into the dire situation was both comforting and a stark reminder of the life they were fighting to preserve.

Piper shook her head, her frustration turning to resignation. "There's not going to be a rehearsal dinner or a wedding if we don't find a way to save Phoebe," she confessed, her eyes darting towards the saloon where a crow ominously perched on its roof, as if eavesdropping on their desperate conversation.

"What is it?" Leo inquired; sensing Piper's gaze directed at the saloon.

"Faith and Phoebe said Bo got into a fight in a bar, right?" Piper questioned; her eyes fixed on the saloon as if trying to piece together the events that led them to the eerie ghost town. "So that would be the saloon."

Leo nodded in agreement, a hint of anticipation in his expression. "Makes sense. It's a western."

"So, it's always the saloon," Piper remarked, a touch of sarcasm coloring her voice as they crossed the threshold into the dimly lit building. Determination etched on her face, she walked purposefully behind the bar, scanning the area for any clue that might unravel the mystery.

"Hankins Nerve Tonic, calms raw nerves," Leo observed, picking up an old bottle and examining it with a wry smile. "Think I should bring a bottle back for your dad?"

Piper shook her head, a humorless chuckle escaping her. "I don't think that'll do it. There's nothing, there's nothing here. Great brainstorm, huh?" The frustration in her voice mirrored the dead-end they seemed to have reached in their search.

"Actually," Leo interjected, his eyes narrowing in on a remarkably well-preserved newspaper from a bygone era, "I think it was. Look."

Piper walked over to Leo, her eyes widening as she picked up the aged newspaper, its brittle pages rustling in the eerie silence of the saloon. "Half-breed to die at sundown?"

"On that same date, 1873," Leo confirmed with a solemn nod. "Read who's going to die."

"Bo Light Feather," Piper whispered, a chill running down her spine as realization struck. The urgency of their mission heightened with the ominous revelation, and the weight of time pressed heavily on their shoulders.

"We've got to find a way to warn Faith, Buffy, and Cole that they don't have until midnight," Leo urged, the urgency in his voice matching the gravity of the situation. His eyes scanned the room, seeking a solution amidst the shadows that seemed to tighten around them.

"Which means neither does Phoebe," Piper said with a heavy sigh, her shoulders slumping under the weight of the impending deadline. The reality of the situation hung in the air, a stark reminder that every passing moment brought them closer to a fate they desperately sought to avoid.

Halliwell Manor

Prue positioned herself protectively next to Phoebe, offering a reassuring presence as she leaned against her sister. The atmosphere in the living room was thick with unspoken emotions. Victor entered the room, his caring eyes immediately sensing that something was amiss.

"Thanks, dad," Prue expressed her gratitude as Victor handed her a glass of water. She took it graciously, glancing at Phoebe before gently nudging her sister. "Slowly."

Curiosity etched Victor's face as he observed a peculiar expression on Phoebe's countenance. Concern laced his words, "What is it?"

Phoebe hesitated, a mixture of fear and a desire to shield her father from the harsh truth playing on her face. "It's nothing," she replied, attempting to downplay the severity of the situation.

Prue, however, was having none of it. "What is it?" she pressed, her concern for her sister overpowering any inclination to keep secrets. "Now is not the time to be protecting Dad."

Victor, sensing the gravity of the moment, affirmed Prue's sentiments. "I have to agree with Prue," he said, his voice filled with paternal concern. "I didn't come back into your lives just to be kept in the dark. I'm your dad; you can tell me anything."

The weight of Phoebe's hidden fears finally became too much to bear. Trembling, she started to unravel the painful truth that had been tightly concealed within her. "I'm dying."

"What?" Prue's voice quivered with worry as she absorbed the weight of Phoebe's revelation.

Phoebe met her elder sister's concerned gaze, attempting to articulate the indescribable sensation coursing through her. "I can feel what's happening to me," she confessed, her eyes revealing a depth of vulnerability. "It's like a... something that you can feel deep inside of you. I can't explain it."

Determination flashed in Prue's eyes as she refused to let despair take hold. "Piper, Faith, and I are not going to let that happen," she declared, her commitment to protecting her sister unwavering.

Victor interjected with a solemn promise of his own. "I am not going to let that happen," he asserted, standing alongside his daughters in solidarity.

Just as the tense exchange unfolded, Leo and Piper materialized in the room in blue and white orbing lights. Piper's concern was palpable as she immediately inquired, "How is she?"

Victor exchanged a meaningful glance with Prue, silently conveying the gravity of the situation. In an attempt to shield Piper and Leo from the full extent of Phoebe's condition, he chose his words carefully. "She's going to be fine," he assured, a mixture of conviction and reassurance in his tone.

"Is she?" Piper's concern deepened as she directed her gaze toward her older sister, seeking assurance in the midst of the unfolding uncertainty.

Prue hesitated for a moment, the weight of the situation evident in her eyes. "He's right," she conceded reluctantly, acknowledging Victor's earlier assurance.

Piper wasted no time, recognizing the urgency of their predicament. "Okay, we have to hurry," she declared, her mind already racing with the impending danger. "We found out Bo dies at sundown; except I don't think Faith and Buffy know that."

Leo interjected with a potential solution, his gaze shifting toward Phoebe. "But we have an idea how to let her know," he explained. "Phoebe, if you're getting visions from Bo, maybe he can get one from you."

Phoebe furrowed her brow, a mixture of confusion and curiosity playing on her features. "I don't understand," she admitted.

Piper took charge, offering a simple yet crucial explanation. "Phoebe, if you can will yourself to get a premonition about Bo's death," she clarified, "he might be able to see it too. Then he can tell Faith, Buffy, and Cole that they don't have as much time as they think they do."

"But I thought you said you couldn't always get premonitions when you wanted," Victor inquired, a note of concern in his voice as he sought clarification.

Prue nodded in agreement. "She can't," Prue confirmed. "Well, she hasn't been able to before, anyways." Her gaze shifted toward her youngest sister, a mix of encouragement and urgency in her eyes. "Doesn't mean you can't, though. You have to try."

Phoebe felt the weight of everyone's expectations resting on her shoulders. A surge of determination flowed through her, spurred by the gravity of the situation. She took a deep breath, the room hushed with anticipation, and focused on the newspaper Piper handed her. With a sense of purpose, Phoebe pressed it against herself.

Pocket Dimension – Ghost Town

"Any idea what we should say to him?" Cole inquired, walking alongside Faith and Buffy as they followed Isabel toward Bo's hideout, the tension palpable in the air.

"We're not going to say anything," Faith asserted, her tone firm and decisive. "Buffy and I'll do the talking."

Cole sighed, a sense of resignation in his voice as he couldn't escape the consequences of his past actions. "You know, it wouldn't kill you to be nice to me," he remarked, acutely aware that Prue had likely informed Faith about his actions leading up to Phoebe's fake vanquish.

Faith chuckled, a sardonic edge to her voice. "Really," she said, the skepticism evident. "It's funny you should say that, considering how many times you actually tried to kill my mom and my aunts."

Cole attempted to defend himself, pleading for understanding. "That's all in the past, Faith," he countered, hoping to convey a genuine change of heart.

"Yeah, after all this is done, you need to leave us alone," Faith declared, her resolve unwavering. "Otherwise, Buffy and I'll do to you what Mom, Aunt Piper, and Aunt Phoebe couldn't do, which is slay you."

"Then that's what you both are going to have to do because it's the only way you or them are going to keep me away from Phoebe," Cole asserted, his voice resolute despite the underlying tension.

As they approached Bo's hideout, Isabel turned and surveyed the group, sensing the palpable strain between the Slayers and Cole. "Are you guys ready to go in?" she asked, her keen Slayer instincts detecting the brewing conflict. "Uh, something wrong?"

Buffy attempted to downplay the tension, offering a casual explanation. "No," she assured, a tight smile on her face. "Just Slayer-related stuff. Trying to keep our pet demon on his leash till we're done and don't need his help any longer."

"Pet demon?" Cole scoffed, his eyes rolling at the seemingly belittling term. Nevertheless, he followed them as they entered the small building before them, the air charged with a mix of anticipation and unease.

As they stepped into what was once a church, Faith couldn't help but voice a concern. "Is it okay for you to be in here?" she wondered, her Slayer instincts questioning the appropriateness of the setting.

Cole, however, dismissed the worry with a nonchalant response. "Yeah," he replied, his knowledge of demonic sensitivities evident. "Only demons physically repulsed by the notion of being in here are vampires. For me to not be in here, there would have had to have been gargoyles outside."

"Gargawatsits?" Buffy questioned, her expression a mix of confusion and amusement. "You mean the stone statues?"

Cole nodded, his tone matter-of-fact as he provided a brief explanation. "That's when they are asleep. They wake to ward off evil."

As Isabel guided them toward a corner, the sight of Bo holding a cloth against his wound was enough to elicit concern. "He's very weak," she informed the group. "I tried to pull the bullet out, but it's in too deep." She turned toward her brother. "Bo. Bo. How are you doing?"

Bo's attention shifted to Buffy, Faith, and Cole, a mixture of confusion and skepticism etched on his face. "What's the matter with you?" he demanded of his sister. "Who the hell are they?"

Isabel stepped in to ease the tension. "It's okay," she reassured him. "They've come to help."

Faith chimed in, reminding Bo of the premonition. "Just like in your vision, remember?" she said, trying to establish a sense of familiarity and trust.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Bo retorted, a defensive edge to his voice.

Isabel stepped forward, her eyes conveying a mix of concern and determination. "Bo, I told them," she explained to her brother.

"Too much, apparently," Bo remarked, the weight of his secrets now exposed. "We don't need your help. Just leave now."

Faith, undeterred by Bo's resistance, stepped forward to address him directly. "Bo," she began, her voice firm yet empathetic, "Buffy and I are Slayers like your sister. And my aunt gets visions like you; she had one of you getting shot, alright? We're here to help you."

Cole, standing at the periphery, added his voice to the plea. "And help her," he emphasized, emphasizing the interconnected nature of their mission.

Bo's skepticism remained unwavering. "It's a trick. Sutter sent you. I know he did," he declared, his mistrust evident as he pulled out a knife, ready to defend himself against what he perceived as a potential threat.

"No, they stood up to Sutter," Isabel persisted, a fervent determination in her voice. "You should have seen it."

But Bo remained adamant, his anger escalating. "Just get out of here!" he yelled, a mixture of fear and frustration evident in his eyes.

"We're not going anywhere," Cole asserted, his tone unwavering despite the hostility in the air.

Bo's gaze fixated on Cole, suspicion and accusation intertwining. "I know that look. Sutter's got it too," Bo accused, his eyes piercing through Cole. "You're evil. I can sense it."

Buffy, sensing the gravity of the situation, stepped forward. "Alright, then look at us," she urged, attempting to appeal to reason. "You can't say…"

Isabel, however, interrupted, introducing a new layer to the unfolding drama. "Actually, he can," she interjected, her words cutting through the tension like a blade. "Your Watcher didn't tell you the origins of the First Slayer?"

"No," Faith affirmed, her expression reflecting both candor and caution.

Isabel continued with the revelation; her voice weighted with the gravity of ancient secrets. "The First Slayer was imbued with the essence of a demon. Bo can sense it in us as well," she explained, offering a glimpse into the mystical forces that connected them all.

Bo, his skepticism momentarily overshadowed by curiosity, looked at Buffy and Faith. "You two are truly Slayers?"

"We are," Buffy confirmed, her tone steady and sincere. "We can't tell you where we're from or how we exist with your..."

Bo's gaze shifted to Isabel, seeking confirmation in her nod. Isabel, without uttering a word, took decisive action. She crossed the room and retrieved an iron candelabra, its design reflecting a time when such objects had practical uses beyond mere decoration. With purpose in her movements, Isabel approached Faith and Buffy, holding out the metal object.

Buffy accepted the candelabra, her Slayer strength evident as she effortlessly bent the arms that held the candles. The iron yielded under the force of her grasp, reshaping to her will. She then handed the altered candelabra to Faith, who, in turn, bent it further, fine-tuning the metal with a precise touch.

"The first thing we need to do," Faith declared, setting the candelabra down with purpose, "is get that bullet out of you. The thing, though, is how."

Buffy's mind worked quickly, recalling the tidbits of information they had gathered. "Leo said your mom had telewatsit," she remarked, searching for a term that would adequately describe the power. "Maybe you do too?"

Faith considered the possibility, a thoughtful expression crossing her face. "Possibly," she acknowledged. "We have yet to find out my power. You could possibly have it too, though."

Buffy, intrigued by the prospect of unlocking a latent ability, questioned, "How do you figure? All I got was one power so far."

"Leo said you might have gotten more than that," Faith revealed, her tone carrying a sense of optimism.

Buffy, open to exploring the potential within herself, nodded decisively. "It's worth a try," she said, determination in her eyes. "What do I have to do?"

"Concentrate," Cole suggested, his voice steady as he guided Buffy through the process. "Picture the bullet in your mind, picture pulling it out of Bo with just your mind."

Buffy, determined and focused, knelt down beside Bo. "This could hurt," she warned, preparing him for the potentially intense experience. As she followed Cole's instructions, a palpable tension filled the room. Slowly but surely, the bullet floated back up and out of Bo's wound.

Bo's agonized scream filled the air as the extraction took place. The pain, both physical and emotional, surged through him, a visceral reaction to the supernatural force at work. Unbeknownst to them, as the bullet was expelled, Bo found himself forced into a premonition, a harrowing glimpse of Sutter whipping him before ultimately shooting him in front of Isabel.

In the aftermath of the painful ordeal, Bo's expression shifted. Despite the searing pain, a newfound belief took root. "I believe you," he uttered, the words carrying a weight that transcended the physical.

Halliwell Manor

"It's okay, you're okay," Piper reassured Phoebe, her voice a calming presence as Phoebe cried hysterically. "Take a deep breath."

Through choked sobs, Phoebe managed to share the distressing vision that had unfolded before her eyes. "I saw what they're going to do to Bo," she confessed, her voice laden with the weight of the premonition. "It was horrible!"

Prue, ever pragmatic, considered the broader implications. "Do you think he saw it too?" she wondered.

"I know he did," Phoebe affirmed, the pain evident in her words. "I felt him. Nobody did anything. They didn't help him. Nobody did anything."

The room fell into a heavy silence, the gravity of the situation sinking in. Victor, concerned for his daughters and the unfolding events, sought guidance. "So, what do we do now?" he asked, a sense of helplessness in his voice.

"We wait," Prue replied, her expression resolute. "It's up to Faith, Buffy, and Cole."

"Oh, so now I'm supposed to trust a demon and a total stranger alongside a granddaughter that before today I knew nothing about?" Victor's anger reverberated through the room, his frustration palpable.

Leo, understanding the gravity of the situation, stepped forward to address Victor's concerns. "You know, as much as I hate to say this, Cole loves Phoebe," he explained, his words carrying a weight of sincerity. "He took a huge risk to come here and try and prove himself to her, and he will do whatever it takes to save her life."

Phoebe, sensing the skepticism in her father's eyes, added her voice to Leo's reassurance. "He's right," she affirmed, her tone carrying a vulnerability she hadn't openly expressed before.

"How can you be so sure?" Victor demanded, still grappling with the idea of trusting someone with a demonic past.

"Because he loves me as much as I love him," Phoebe admitted, laying bare her feelings in a moment of vulnerability.

Prue, too, contributed to the defense of their newfound allies. "And Faith has demonstrated in the last couple of weeks that she too will do anything for this family," she asserted, her gaze steady. "And from what Faith has told me, Buffy doesn't know how to quit. You can be sure that they will do everything to make sure that Phoebe does not die."

Pocket Dimension – Ghost Town

"You learn fast," Isabel complimented, her eyes softened with a mix of pride and awe as she observed Faith confidently handle the gun she had taken from one of Sutter's men earlier that day.

"Thanks," Faith replied, her voice tinged with a hint of disbelief and a touch of gratitude. "Though I never expected to be using a gun. Crossbow, stake, bow, sure, gun, no."

Isabel shared a knowing nod, her expression briefly carrying the weight of memories and the understanding that life often demanded unexpected adaptations. "Neither did I," she admitted, her gaze flickering with a mixture of resilience and vulnerability. "But I learned quickly that you have to do what you must to protect yourself."

Their conversation hung in the air, suspended between moments of camaraderie and the looming threat that surrounded them. The room was charged with an unspoken tension when Cole, vigilant at the window, abruptly interjected with urgent news. "Sutter's men just showed up," he reported, his voice laced with genuine concern. "We better get Bo out of here."

"What?" Isabel exclaimed, her eyes widening with a mix of shock and fear. "How did they find us?"

"We must have been followed," Cole suggested, his mind already racing to formulate a plan. "I'll shimmer him back to Leo, then come back for you three."

"No," Buffy said firmly, her stance unwavering as she rose from her position next to Bo, whom she had been tending to while Isabel instructed Faith on using the gun. The gravity of her refusal hung in the air, a silent declaration of her determination.

"What do you mean, no?" Cole demanded, a note of urgency cutting through his voice. "He dies, Phoebe dies."

"I know," Buffy replied, her gaze piercing and resolute. "And I know that I don't want Faith to lose any more family." She turned her eyes directly to Faith, a shared understanding passing between them. "Like your Watcher."

Faith's mind involuntarily drifted back to Diana, her former Watcher, and a heavy sigh escaped her, carrying the weight of unspoken sorrow. The memories were painful, and she rarely allowed herself to dwell on what Kakistos had done to Diana. But Buffy's words resonated, digging into the depths of her emotions, reminding her of the profound loss she had experienced. Diana had been as close to a mother as Faith had ever known, especially before meeting Prue.

"It'll save Phoebe," Cole argued, the urgency in his tone escalating as he emphasized the critical nature of the situation.

Buffy nodded in acknowledgment, her expression a mix of compassion and determination. "Again, I know. But there's more than just Phoebe's life on the line here. We have to break the curse by sundown; otherwise, this entire town is doomed to repeat the same day over and over again."

"Are you seriously telling me you're willing to sacrifice Faith's aunt's life for a town full of cowboys?" Cole's voice cut through the tension in the room, his disbelief and urgency palpable.

"Like I just said, I don't intend for Faith to lose any more family," Buffy explained, her words carrying the weight of a decision made with the consideration of a broader responsibility. "Besides, I can't just walk away from this."

"Neither can I," Faith added, her tone resolute and supportive. She stepped forward, her gaze locking with Cole's. "And if you truly want to prove you are good, especially to my mom and my aunts, you won't either."

The room held a charged silence as Sutter's men called out from outside, their demands echoing through the walls. "We know you're in there, Bo. Come out with your hands up and nobody gets hurt. What's it going to be, Bo?"

Amidst the pressure of the imminent danger, Cole turned to Buffy, a question etched on his face. "Alright, how do we break the curse?"

Faith interjected, her focus unwavering. "Don't know," she said, her honesty cutting through the uncertainty. "But I think Buffy will agree that it hinges on keeping Bo alive."

Bo shook his head, his eyes carrying a weight of acceptance. "No, it doesn't. The curse isn't about me or about Sutter. It's about them. The townspeople who stood there and watched me die. The only way is for me to give myself up."

Isabel couldn't hold back her cry of desperation. "No."

"It's okay, Isabel," Bo reassured, his gaze gentle as he looked at Faith. "Have faith."

Faith couldn't help but laugh at the pun, a fleeting moment of humor amidst the somberness of the situation. The play on words brought a bittersweet smile to her face.

"And they'll kill you," Cole said, his concern etched across his face.

"Maybe. This curse came from my father's people," Bo explained, a sense of clarity in his voice. "I understand that now. It's meant to heal, to teach the townspeople to act without shame. I have to give them that chance."

"Helping them to save you saves themselves," Buffy said, her understanding resonating through her words.

Bo, embracing his fate with a deep breath, opened the door. White doves, a symbol of peace, fluttered out as he raised his hands in surrender.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Sutter's men rode into town, a cruel procession dragging Bo behind them. Dust billowed in the air, echoing the solemnity of the moment. Not far behind them, Faith, Buffy, Cole, and Isabel rode with determined expressions, their eyes fixed on the unfolding scene.

"I want you all to see what happens when people cross me," Sutter declared as Bo was led before him. With a disdainful gesture, Sutter shoved Bo to the unforgiving ground.

"No!" Isabel's anguished cry cut through the air as she instinctively moved towards her brother. "No!"

"Don't!" Faith urged, her strong grip restraining Isabel. "He knows what he's doing."

Bo rose from the ground, his resilience shining through, and Sutter, reveling in his sadistic power, began to whip him. The harsh crack of the whip echoed through the town, a painful soundtrack to the injustice being perpetrated.

"What's the matter, boy?" Sutter taunted. "You too stupid to scream? I want you to beg for mercy."

As the brutality unfolded, Buffy couldn't stand idly by. She began walking back and forth in front of the townspeople, her voice carrying across the tense air. "What are you people doing? Look at him. He has the courage to fight Sutter for all of you. You can't just stand there and watch him die. You have to do something! You can take him down!"

"Sutter can't take all of you out," Cole added, his voice carrying a sense of urgency as he witnessed Buffy's efforts to rally the crowd into action. He moved forward, stepping alongside Buffy, determined to lend his voice to the call for resistance. "You need to do what's right!"

The atmosphere in the town square hung on a precipice, tension mounting as the realization spread among the townspeople that the time for passivity had passed. The crowd, initially paralyzed by fear, began to stir, their eyes darting between the unfolding brutality and the impassioned pleas from Buffy and Cole.

"You cannot just stand by and let this happen," Faith asserted, her voice cutting through the air like a rallying cry. The bartender, having overheard the commotion, stepped into the saloon doorway, eyes wide with a mix of fear and uncertainty.

"Stand up to him! Don't be scared!" Faith's words were a challenge, a call to the dormant bravery that lurked within each person present. The townspeople exchanged glances, a silent communication passing between them. The oppressive weight of fear began to lift, replaced by a growing sense of collective determination.

"Nobody crosses me," Sutter declared, his voice dripping with menace as he pulled out his gun, aiming it at Bo, who stood defiant despite the imminent threat.

Just as tension reached its zenith, the saloon door swung open, and the bartender emerged, resolute in his stand against Sutter's tyranny. With swift precision, he leveled his rifle, taking aim and shooting Sutter's gun out of his hand. "I think you just ought to leave Bo alone, Sutter," he stated firmly, his eyes unwavering.

Sutter's anger flared, and he shot a venomous glare at the bartender. "You just signed your own death certificate."

However, Cal, undeterred, unholstered his own gun and aimed it squarely at Sutter. "If you want to kill Bo, you're going to have to kill me too."

Buffy, Cole, and Faith observed the unfolding standoff, their expressions a mix of anticipation and readiness. The power dynamic had shifted, and the townspeople, once paralyzed by fear, now stood united against the oppressive force that had held them captive for too long.

As if on cue, every single one of the townspeople, fueled by newfound courage, drew their own guns, pointing them defiantly at Sutter. The once quiet town square now hummed with the collective determination to defy the tyrant who had long held them in his grip.

Amidst the growing rebellion, Isabel ran to her brother, concern etched across her face. "Are you okay?" she asked, her worry palpable. Before Bo could respond, Sutter, desperate and enraged, seized Isabel by the hair, her cry of pain echoing through the air.

"Anybody comes after me and she's dead," Sutter threatened, his gun menacingly aimed at Isabel, who stood frozen with fear.

"Now can we do something?" Cole whispered urgently to Buffy and Faith as Sutter leaped onto a horse and rode toward the edge of town.

"Oh, yeah," Buffy agreed, her eyes gleaming with determination. She darted down a nearby alleyway and vanished in a swirl of fiery flames. Within moments, she reappeared on the horse behind Sutter. "Hey, how you doing?" she taunted with a smirk. Leveraging her Slayer strength and newfound telekinesis, Buffy telekinetically hurled Sutter to the ground.

Sutter, disoriented but defiant, struggled to stand and attempted to flee. However, before he could make his escape, Faith's stern voice cut through the air. "Sutter!" she called out, her gun leveled at the man. In a desperate move, Sutter drew his own gun, pointing it menacingly at Faith. Without hesitation, she fired, the gunshot echoing through the twilight air, and Sutter crumpled to the ground.

Bo, Isabel, and the townspeople, who had caught up with the unfolding scene, watched with a mix of relief and astonishment. Faith turned to Bo, a triumphant smile on her face. "I don't think Sutter's going to be a problem anymore."

As the dust settled, Bo couldn't help but wonder about the curse. "What about the curse?"

Buffy, joining the group with a confident stride, looked out at the horizon where the sun was setting in a blaze of colors. "It's a beautiful sunset, isn't it?" she remarked, her tone carrying a hint of mystery. "I don't think there's been one quite like it in over two hundred years."

The significance of Buffy's words hung in the air, a testament to the resolution of a centuries-old curse. The once ominous sunset now symbolized the breaking of a spell that had haunted the town for generations, a moment of liberation bathed in the warm hues of the evening sky.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Cole and the cowboy, their unresolved tension simmering in the dimly lit saloon, faced each other in a standoff. The air crackled with anticipation as Cole, determined to settle the score, aimed his gun at the cowboy. However, to his dismay, a click echoed through the room, revealing an empty chamber.

"Looks like you're out of bullets," the cowboy taunted, a malicious grin spreading across his face. "I'm going to enjoy this. See you in hell."

"Been there, done that," Cole retorted, a defiant smirk playing on his lips. In an instant, an energy ball formed in his hand, crackling with supernatural power. With a swift and practiced motion, he flung the energy ball, its trajectory unerring as it collided with the cowboy, ending the tense standoff.

The cowboy crumpled to the ground, defeated, and the saloon fell into an uneasy silence. The remnants of the supernatural clash lingered in the air as Cole, catching his breath, surveyed the scene. However, before he could fully process the outcome, a voice cut through the stillness from behind him.

"Once a demon, always a demon," came Buffy's unmistakable voice. Cole turned to face her and Faith, finding them standing in the doorway, expressions a mix of relief and acknowledgment.

Halliwell Manor

"So, where are they?" Victor asked, his concern palpable as he, Prue, Phoebe, Piper, and Leo anxiously waited for the return of Buffy, Faith, and Cole.

"I don't know, unless they didn't make it out," Leo voiced, a hint of worry coloring his words.

"Don't even say it, don't even think it," Prue interjected, her tone firm and resolute. The mere suggestion of the possibility that her daughter might not return sent a shiver down her spine.

Just as the atmosphere in the room grew heavier with the weight of uncertainty, a sudden swirl of fiery flames heralded the arrival of Buffy and Faith, followed closely by the shimmering appearance of Cole.

"Finally," Piper breathed out with a sigh of relief, her eyes reflecting the anxiety that had gripped them during the wait.

"What took you so long?" Victor questioned, his eyes narrowing as he looked at his granddaughter. "We've been worried sick."

"Sorry, we had a few, uh, loose ends to tie up," Cole explained to the concerned faces of Victor, Prue, Phoebe, Piper, and Leo.

"Are you okay?" Faith inquired, her eyes scanning Phoebe's face with genuine concern.

Phoebe's smile was both reassuring and genuine as she hugged her niece. "I'm great. Thank you." Her gaze shifted between Buffy and Cole. "All of you."

Leo, his curiosity piqued, joined the conversation. "And the time loop?"

"Broken," Buffy declared with a sense of finality. "They will never have to live through that horror again."

A collective sigh of relief swept through the room; the weight of the time loop's curse lifted. The knowledge that the town and its inhabitants were now free from the perpetual cycle of agony brought a sense of closure and accomplishment.

"So then, um, where are they?" Victor questioned; his worry still evident.

"They didn't revert back into our world," Faith shared with a solemn tone. "So likely, they are living out their lives in that dimension."

Leo, sensing the weight of the situation, offered a bit of advice to Victor. "Don't think about it too much, Victor. It'll just give you a headache."

Victor nodded, appreciating Leo's attempt to ease the complexity of their current reality. The idea of loved ones existing in a different dimension presented a challenge to grasp, and for now, it seemed best to focus on the present.

"Okay, um, anybody up for a rehearsal dinner?" Piper suggested, trying to shift the mood and redirect their attention. She looked at the table that was still set, a reminder of the celebration that had been temporarily put on hold.

"Absolutely. I'm starving," Phoebe exclaimed, eager to embrace the distraction and the prospect of a joyous occasion.

"Well, I am definitely H and H," Faith chuckled, injecting a bit of humor into the moment.

"H and H?" Victor questioned; his curiosity piqued.

"It's a term that Faith came up with," Buffy admitted, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "Slayers, after they slay a vampire, tend to be hungry and horny."

"Yeah, Slayers have two primary itches that need satisfying after a workout like that," Faith added, her candidness causing a momentary discomfort for her grandfather, whose cheeks colored in embarrassment at the explicit revelation that Slayers experienced both hunger and a craving for sex after battling demons.

"Oh god," Piper groaned, rolling her eyes playfully. She shot a glance at her eldest sister. "I shouldn't have invited Buffy. Faith's Slayer metabolism was bad enough on the food bill," she teased as they all headed for the dining table, the humorous banter lightening the mood.

As the group made their way to the table, the atmosphere shifted from the supernatural complexities they had just faced to the more mundane, yet relatable, realm of dinner preparations and family dynamics.

"Well, I guess I should be going," Cole suggested, sensing the awkwardness of the moment.

"Yeah, that would probably be a good idea," Prue agreed, her tone a mix of amusement and relief.

However, before Cole could make his exit, Phoebe walked over to him, taking his hand in hers. "You're not going anywhere," she declared with a determined smile,

"Phoebe, I don't want to cause any trouble," Cole voiced his concern, a hint of apprehension in his tone.

However, Phoebe, determined and unwavering, silenced his objections with a tender kiss. As their lips met, the room discreetly averted their gazes, allowing the couple a moment of privacy amidst the familial gathering.

"You're staying, and that's that," Phoebe asserted after breaking the kiss, her eyes locking with Cole's in a silent assurance that he belonged with them.

"Alright then, shall we?" Piper suggested, breaking the brief pause that had followed the intimate exchange.

"Yeah," Cole agreed, a smile playing on his lips.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Later that evening, the weight of the past bore heavily on Buffy's shoulders as she took a deep breath, preparing to share a troubling and painful chapter of her and Faith's history with Prue. The living room was bathed in a soft glow, the atmosphere serious and contemplative, setting the stage for a difficult conversation.

"So, about Faith..." Buffy began, her voice carrying a somber tone that hinted at the gravity of the revelation. "There's something you should know. A while back in Sunnydale, she... well, she accidentally killed the deputy mayor."

Prue, though surprised by the revelation, took in the information with a sigh of understanding. Her compassionate nature shone through as she absorbed the weight of Faith's past actions. "Faith told us that you both had been fighting vampires and that when he came out of the shadows, she believed he was another vampire," she recounted, her voice reflecting empathy for Faith's harrowing situation.

Buffy nodded in acknowledgment, appreciating Prue's ability to see beyond the surface and understand the complexities of the situation. "Yeah," she confirmed. "That's what happened."

As Buffy continued with the story, she delved into the aftermath, explaining how Faith had grappled with the consequences of her actions. Wesley, the new Watcher at the time, had proposed taking Faith to England to face judgment from the Watcher's Council. Prue listened attentively, her concern deepening for Faith's well-being with each passing revelation.

"That was when she broke loose, stole the truck they were supposed to take her to the airport," Buffy continued, her voice steady but laden with the weight of the narrative, "and found her original birth certificate with you listed as her mother. That's when it finally hit her, what she had done."

Prue's heart swelled with empathy and understanding as she absorbed the weight of Faith's struggles. Buffy's words resonated, providing a glimpse into the depth of Faith's journey and the burden she had been carrying.

"I was there as she wrote the letter to Giles explaining everything. She hoped by finding you, that maybe she could turn her life around. And from what I've seen here today and from what she has said over the last week over the phone, I can see she has," Buffy shared, her voice carrying a mix of admiration and hope. The sincerity in Buffy's words painted a picture of Faith's determination to confront her past and seek redemption.

A sense of hope permeated the room as Buffy continued, "Because she has what has kept me alive. Family and friends. Because they give me something to fight for, a reason to live. You, Piper, and Phoebe give Faith something to fight for. A reason to live."