Was it a dream? Weeks had gone by since Faith snuck into Buffy's window. Everything happened so fast. Buffy held onto fragments of that night. How Faith's caress made her heart race. How Buffy felt ashamed for biting Faith's neck. She never knew that animalistic part of herself. And how could she do that to Faith? Knowing that's how slayers always die. By the fangs of a Vampire sunk into their necks.

Buffy had forgotten how Faith's lips tasted and the rush of her touch. She focused so much on what went wrong that night. To make sense of Faith leaving so fast and never coming back to finish what they started. Buffy let the small moments of ecstasy slip from her mind.

It was replaced with thoughts of "What did I do wrong… where has she been hiding?" Sunnydale isn't that big of a town. Buffy patrols the cemetery daily, she expected to run into Faith there again. Buffy even went back to that crypt Faith was snooping through on her patrol routes. She went through it herself. Nothing but a bunch of bones in coffins. No etchings on the crypt wall to indicate a mystical presence. Buffy's slayer instincts never picked up on anything being important about the crypt, other than it's the one Faith was searching through. And going back there was the only way to feel close to her again.

Buffy decided that enough time had gone by for her to end her chase for Faith. Willow had been begging Buffy to go to the bronze with her to take a break from patrolling. So Buffy slapped on a tight white t-shirt a leather jacket and pants with a pair of Nikes. Just in case she had to start kicking ass later in the night. Vampires always attacked people in the alley at the Bronze.

Oz's band was rockin the stage as Buffy strolled in. She saw Willow sitting at a table alone, watching her boyfriend and approached her.

"Hey Willow"

"Buffy, I'm so glad you came out!"

"Wait, why would you say that to me?!"

"You know because you're out .. With me here, at the Bronze. Are you okay? You got a little defensive over a simple statement."

"Sorry, my head is all over the place lately."

"Oh, because of Faith?"

"No! No, it's the mayor, graduation, and I guess Faith but she's like not all I think about."

"I didn't say that. I was just asking because you know, you guys were close and now you're not so that might be hard I guess..."

Buffy was struck that Willow could tell Faith being gone bothered her. Or that she cared at all since Willow and Faith butted heads constantly. Then Buffy remembered the reason Willow cared and said "You're right it's hard sometimes. But having you as a friend makes it easier."

The two exchanged smiles.

Suddenly the electricity of the Bronze cut out. People panicked and fled. Buffy knew instinctively an attack was afoot. "Willow, here take my stake, try to find Oz and get out of here. The big bad is on its way. I can feel it in my bones." Willow took a deep breath and grabbed the stake buffy pulled from her jacket. Willow almost took off in the darkness, but then she turned back and asked "What about Giles? Should I get him for help?"

"I don't know how many times I have to tell you guys that I fight better alone. I end up having to save you anyway. No Giles, Let me handle this."

Willow hugged Buffy tightly and then ran to find Oz.

Buffy scanned the room. Nothing but a liminal space it seemed. A familiar and dazzling scent passed through Buffy's nose. She took a deep inhale and her guard dropped momentarily. Buffy felt a tap on her shoulder. She whipped around to see… nothing.

"Show yourself, scaredy cat! Or are you too much of a coward for a fair fight?"

Still nothing. Not a sound or a creature in sight. Then a POP came from the bar. The sound of champagne being uncorked and then poured into glasses.

"You're paranoid B. It's just you and me. Come have a drink."

Buffy stormed over to the bar

"Where have you been? I've been going crazy since that night. I mean we almost… I don't even know what we almost did. Then you ran?"

"You'd rather Joyce see? I thought I'd save us the headache of being caught with your pants down."

Faith laughed and pushed one of the champagne glasses toward Buffy.

Buffy's face expressed complete seriousness. "You could have come back." Buffy pushed the glass back to Faith. Faith looked down then back up and sighed. "You're right. I just couldn't. I was… scared. I still am."

Faith took one of the glasses and chugged the champagne. Buffy reached out to grab Faith's hand and held it in hers. She rubbed her thumb in circles over the top of Faith's hand.

"I'm scared too. You've consumed my thoughts."

Buffy felt Faith's hand start to shake. She held it tighter in fear of Faith slipping away again. Faith's lips quivered, her eyes filled with tears. Her words came out shaky "No one has given a shit about me my whole life. Why do you B? After all that I've done. I don't deserve it."

Faith was about to pull away when Buffy lifted her hand to caress Faith's cheek. Faith leaned into Buffy's hand. Buffy felt Faith's tears and wiped them away with her thumb. Faith kissed Buffy's hand. Then Buffy's eyes filled with tears. All Buffy could muster through the tears was "No one gets me like you do."

Faith grabbed Buffy by the back of her head and pulled her in to kiss over the bar. Their tongues danced against each other's. They whimpered and moaned, sending shockwaves through their bodies. Then Faith backed off and said "Can you meet me at my old motel room tomorrow night? Tell Joyce and Giles you're patrolling or something and then we can be alone. What do you say B?"

Without hesitation Buffy said "Yes!"

"Good. I gotta jet now. I'll catch you tomorrow night B. I can't wait to finish what we started."

Faith disappeared into the darkness of the Bronze. Buffy was left behind again. She decided to go home and take a cold shower. Buffy would call Willow later and make up some type of big bad as a cover.