DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Buffy The Vampire Slayer stuff belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers and all Xena stuff is the legal property of MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. Okay, a subtext warning isn't really necessary, but I'll add it for the most prudent (yeah, right) people's sake. There is just a little of subtext in this story, so, if this kind of stuff is illegal where you live, if you're under 18 or you find the notion of two women making love offensive, you should reconsider before reading. This is a Buffy/Xena crossover story.

Demons
By Kristjan Brezovnik

A demon somehow managed to escape from Hell, a big, ugly and dangerous-looking one. Buffy and Faith definitely didn't like that and they tried to send him back, but the demon had obviously more brains than your average demon and he escaped.

"Damn demons," Faith panted. "Can't they stay in Hell?"

"Then we'd be out of a job," Buffy said.

"Like that's a bad thing."

"No, not really," Buffy agreed. "Let's go tell Giles."

Faith nodded and they went to their Watcher.

"Any luck?" Buffy asked when she came to Giles the next day.

"As a matter of fact, yes."

"You know how to get rid of it?"

"Yes, I do."

"I'm glad when research is that fast."

"There's just one problem," Faith said, half lying in a lounge chair.

"Two actually," Giles corrected her.

"What?" Buffy asked.

"Well, according to the book, a portal has to be opened in the center of five elements. One, we don't know where that is, and two, you can't open the portal."

"Maybe I can," Willow said. "I've been reading my book of spells and there's one that opens a portal straight to Hell."

"Are you sure you can do it?" Buffy asked.

Willow hesitated for a moment.

"Yes," she then said determinedly.

"Good. Now all we need to do is find the place."

"Charmed," Xander suddenly remembered.

"What?"

Xander looked at her.

"Charmed. You know, the three witches? Their house is in the center of five elements."

"Yes!" Willow suddenly remembered. "Giles, do you have a map of Sunnydale?"

"Yes," Giles said and left to fetch it.

"Will?" Buffy asked.

"Trust me," Willow said and spread Giles' map. "A pencil."

Giles quickly fetched one and Willow concentrated on the map. She marked the five elements and then gently drew diagonals. She studied the star and made another star within the first star's pentagram.

"Uh-oh," she then said.

"What?" Buffy asked.

"Guess where the spot is?" Willow said and looked around. "Right where the Master used to be trapped."

"Oh," Buffy said, remembering the vampire.

"You up to it?" Faith asked her.

Buffy looked at her.

"Yeah, sure."

"Good." She looked at Willow. "When will you be ready?"

"I have to get the ingredients for the spell. One hour?"

"Okay. Buffy and I will go check the place and then we'll meet you back here."

"Okay."

When dusk approached, the three girls went to the place where the vampire Master used to be trapped. Buffy and Faith did most of the manual work preparing the place for the ritual. When they drew the pentagram, everything was set.

"Will?" Buffy asked.

"I'm ready. I'll hide and wait for you."

"Okay. See you later."

"Be careful."

"Aren't we always? Faith asked.

"That's debatable," Buffy said and Faith grinned.

They looked for the demon and he fortunately wasn't hard to find. Obviously glad to be out of Hell, the demon went on a rampage and the two Slayers could hear him from far away and saw his trail from even farther away.

"Hey, ugly!" Faith called and threw a stone at him, hitting him in the head.

The demon turned and roared.

"Get some mint!" Faith taunted him.

The demon glared at her for a moment, but when he saw that she was alone, he decided to attack her. He started toward her and Faith started to back off, pretending she was scared. The demon fell for it.

Slowly, she led the demon into a trap. When it seemed as though the demon was starting to have second thoughts about whether to follow her, she persuaded him that he should by attacking him for a few moments and then quickly getting out of reach again.

As they got to the sewer entrance, Buffy joined her and Faith pretended as though she had sprained her ankle. Buffy supported her and they disappeared into the tunnels. The demon fell for it and followed them, but the two Slayers were always just out of his reach.

Finally they reached dead end and they went to the far end of the room and pretended to be scared. The demon roared and strolled across the room, ready to kill. But just when he stepped into the pentagram, Willow came out of her hiding and started to chant. The demon roared, surprised, as he bumped into and invisible wall. He turned to locate the source and he growled when he spotted Willow. Willow chanted and the Slayers soon noticed that she had apparently chosen another spell.

But the demon had other plans and they most certainly didn't include going back to Hell. He started chanting back and Buffy and Faith could see that it was obviously straining Willow as she tried to counteract his spell.

Suddenly a portal opened and a whirlwind started to sweep everything in reach. The demon jumped right through as Willow tried to stop him. The spell-casting weakened her and she was starting to get drawn to the portal. Buffy tried to get to her to help her, but was drawn to the portal herself. Faith tried to stop her, but she slipped and got drawn toward the portal as well.

"What is that?" Gabrielle asked when she noticed a strange occurrence in mid air not far from them.

"I don't know," Xena said and stopped Argo.

Suddenly three people, girls, came through and fell to the ground, screaming.

"Shit," Faith said as she sat up.

"What happened?" Buffy asked and also sat up.

"Don't know, but it gave me a headache," Faith said and rubbed her temples.

"Will?" Buffy said, concerned, when she saw Willow lying motionless on the ground. "Willow?"

She checked her pulse.

"Is she alive?" Faith asked.

"Yes. She's just unconscious."

They heard noise behind them and they turned.

"I didn't know it was Halloween," Faith said, seeing the two women with a horse.

"Who are you?" the taller woman, Xena, asked.

Buffy and Faith looked at each other.

"I'm Buffy, this is Faith and this is Willow," Buffy introduced them.

"Buffy, what kind of name is that?" the smaller woman, Gabrielle, asked, curious.

Buffy gave her a sharp look.

"I've heard all the jokes, so cut it out," she said.

"Where are we?" Faith asked.

"Just outside Corinth."

"Corinth?" Buffy asked, surprised. "But that's in Greece."

"Yes," Gabrielle confirmed, confused.

Buffy and Faith looked at each other, also confused.

"Now, either you're speaking English or we're speaking Greek," Faith said.

"We're speaking Greek," Gabrielle said.

Buffy and Faith looked at each other again, confused.

"Guess this is a Star Trek thing," Faith shrugged. "They all speak English," she explained, seeing Buffy's confused look.

"Oh."

"Where did you come from?" Xena asked.

"Sunnydale," Buffy said.

"Where is that?"

"In California."

"And where is that?"

Buffy glanced at Faith, confused.

"In America."

"And where is America?" Xena asked, getting slightly annoyed.

Buffy stared at her, confused, and then glanced at Faith.

"What year is it?" Faith asked.

"Faith?"

"According to which count?" Gabrielle asked.

"Never mind, just tell me who's the big cheese around here."

"Cheese?" Gabrielle asked, confused.

"Who's the major power."

"Oh. Well, the Romans are strong."

"The Romans?" Buffy asked, confused.

"Yes. Caesar…"

"Caesar!" Buffy and Faith said in unison, astonished, and looked at each other.

"Yes."

"Oh, brother," Faith said and rolled her eyes.

"Are you going to share your discovery with us?" Xena demanded, slowly losing her patience.

Faith grinned.

"It seems we're over two thousand years from the future," she said. Xena gave her a blank look. "Hey, don't look at me, I have no idea how that's possible."

Willow moaned and stirred.

"Willow?" Buffy asked.

Willow moaned again and slowly opened her eyes.

"Buffy?"

Buffy smiled.

"Yes. How do you feel?"

"Like somebody dropped a planet on my head. I have the mother of all headaches," she said and grabbed her head.

Buffy helped her sit up and Willow moaned again.

"Easy," Buffy said.

"Tell that to my head," Willow groaned.

"Do you have any water?" Buffy asked Xena and Gabrielle.

"Yes," Gabrielle said and retrieved a gourd from one of the saddlebags. "Here."

"Thanks," Buffy said and opened it.

Willow took a few sips and then wetted her face.

"That felt good," she said and took a few more sips.

"How's the headache?"

"A bit better. I can think straight again."

"Good," Buffy said and returned the gourd to Gabrielle.

"Where are we?" Willow asked, confused, when she looked around.

"Greece."

"What?" she asked, surprised, and looked at Buffy, who nodded.

"Yep. And apparently we're over two thousand years in the past."

Willow blinked.

"You're kidding, right?"

"Nope."

Willow thought about it.

"So that's what he was doing."

"What do you mean?" Buffy asked.

"The demon. He was chanting something, but I didn't know what. Apparently he redirected the portal into the past. He attacked me when he went through and I lost control."

"So that's how we got here."

"Yes."

"And why do we speak Greek?" Faith asked.

Willow looked at her, puzzled.

"What do you mean?"

"They speak Greek and we understand each other."

Willow turned around.

"Wow. Who are they?"

Buffy and Faith also looked at them and raised their eyebrows in expectation.

"I'm Gabriele and this is Xena," Gabrielle introduced them.

"No way," Buffy said and Faith started to laugh.

"Are you sure we're not in Last Action Hero?" she asked Willow.

"What's so funny?" Gabrielle asked, confused.

"You're Gabrielle?" Buffy asked. "From Poteidaia? A bard and an Amazon Queen? And you have a sister, Lila?"

Gabrielle stared at her, completely confused.

"Well, I'm not an Amazon Queen, but I am a Princess. How did you know that?"

"Oh, I guess we're still in the first season," Faith quipped and laughed again.

Buffy looked at Xena.

"And you're Xena, the Warrior Princess? Bad girl gone good?"

"Yes," Xena confirmed.

"You're from Amphipolis? And your younger brother was killed by… by…"

"Cortese," Willow supplied.

"Yes, Cortese."

"Yes," Xena said, confused and alert, not liking the fact that three complete strangers knew so much about her.

"I thought it was a fictional show," Faith said.

"Apparently not," Willow said. "Cool."

"Guess they must've found the Xena Scrolls."

"Freaky much?" Buffy said.

"Okay, who the Tartarus are you?" Xena demanded, finally losing her patience.

"We told you," Faith said.

"And we're supposed to believe that?"

"Like I care."

Xena sent her a serious don't-mess-with-me look.

"I know," Willow suddenly remembered. "I know something that not many people of this time know about."

"What?" Buffy asked and Willow whispered something into her ear. "Oh."

Willow got up and Buffy and Faith as well.

"Come, Xena, I'll tell you," Willow said and walked away from the group.

Xena raised an eyebrow, gave Gabrielle Argo's reigns and followed her.

"What's that all about?" Gabrielle asked, confused.

"Don't worry, you'll found out soon," Buffy said. "Xena will tell you when she's ready, so don't bother asking her."

"B?" Faith asked, raising an eyebrow.

"What? Oh."

She whispered into Faith's ear.

"Oh."

"So, what is this thing you know?" Xena asked, curious, when they were out of Gabrielle's hearing.

"Solan," Willow said.

Xena paled, astonished.

"What do you know about him?" she demanded.

"He's your and Borias' son and you gave him to Kaleipus because you didn't want him to become a target for your enemies. I assume Gabrielle doesn't know about him yet."

"No."

"Well, don't worry, she'll like him." Willow smiled. "And he'll like you too. A lot."

Xena was quiet for a few moments.

"How do you know all this?"

Willow shrugged.

"I'm from the future. There we have this thing called television, which is sort of like a theater. And there's this show, Xena - Warrior Princess, which is very popular. It's about you, obviously. I'm guessing here that someone found Gabrielle's scrolls. Will find."

Xena thought about it.

"And why are you here?" she then asked.

"Some demon escaped from Hell and we were trying to send it back."

"Demon?" Xena asked.

"Yes, a big, ugly thing."

"How big?"

Willow thought.

"About three meters, if not even taller. He has such long arms that I'm not sure whether he is two legged or four."

"Does he have red scaly hide and three horns on his head, two at the front, one at the back?"

"Yes," Willow said, "that's him!"

"And black eyes with yellow pupils?"

"Yes! Yes!" She turned around. "Buffy, Faith, we found our demon!"

"Where is he?" Buffy asked.

Willow looked at Xena expectantly.

"He went up north."

"How long has he been here?" Willow asked.

"About six days," Xena said. "Why?"

"Just curious. I suggest we move," Willow said and started to walk back to her friends.

"Time to kick some ass," Faith said and put her sunglasses on.

"What's that?" Gabrielle asked, curious.

"What?" Faith asked, confused.

"That thing on your face."

"Oh, these," Faith said and took her sunglasses off. "Sunglasses. Wanna try?"

Gabrielle took them, looked at them for a few moments and then put them on.

"Wow," she said, surprised and excited, as she looked around. "This is great!" She took them off. "Xena, look at this."

Xena took the sunglasses, looked at them and then put them on. She looked around.

"Interesting," she said.

"She doesn't get excited very often, does she?" Faith said to Gabrielle, who smiled.

"Depends," she said.

Xena took off the sunglasses and gave them to Gabrielle, who gave them back to Faith. Faith put them back on.

"What is that?" Gabrielle asked when she saw Buffy unzip her jacket.

"This? It's a zipper," Buffy explained and demonstrated.

"Wow. That's so practical."

"Yep."

"Let's go," Faith urged.

"Oh, yes," Gabrielle said and started to walk.

The others followed her.

On the way, Gabrielle and Willow started a conversation and Willow told her all about Buffy, Faith and herself and how they fought the demon. Xena quietly listened, curious, and eventually suggested they stop in Corinth and buy the stuff Willow needed, weapons for Buffy and Faith, and a map.

While Xena went to look for a map, Gabrielle led Willow around as she searched for the herbs. Buffy and Faith quietly followed them and looked around curiously. They smiled when they noticed that Willow picked up haggling.

When a group of young men approached them, Buffy and Faith knew they were trouble and they prepared for a fight, but when one of them touched Willow, who was just in the middle of haggling, Willow looked at him, surprised, and waved her hand. The man was thrown across and his friends quickly ran off, having enough brain to realize that it wouldn't be good to mess with Willow.

Buffy, Faith, Gabrielle and just about everyone else stared at her, surprised.

"Looks like Willow's going bad," Faith finally spoke and grinned.

"I… Eh… Well, it was an accident, I didn't mean to hurt him like that, it was purely unintentional and…" Willow started babbling.

"It's okay, Will," Buffy interrupted her, smiling.

"You think so?" Willow asked.

"Absolutely."

"Yeah, way to go, Will," Faith agreed, grinning.

Willow turned away, slightly uncomfortable, and both Buffy and Faith laughed when the seller quickly gave in.

"Okay, I have everything," Willow said, embarrassed.

"Good," Faith said and turned to Gabrielle. "Where can we get weapons?"

Gabrielle thought.

"This way."

She led them to a blacksmith and there the Slayers each chose a dagger and a short sword.

When they got to the place outside Corinth where they were to meet Xena, Xena was not there yet and so Buffy and Faith used the time to practice with their new weapons. Willow and Gabrielle used the time to exchange more stories.

"Hey, there goes Xena," Buffy said in the middle of the fight and stopped.

Faith pouted, but also stopped.

"Any luck?" Buffy asked the Warrior Princess when she got closer.

"Yes," Xena said and dismounted. She took a map and spread it on the ground. "We're here," she said and pointed at a spot. "And the spot we're looking for is here."

"How do you know?"

"I asked around. There are the remains of what an ancient temple dedicated to Chaos."

"And it's just on the right spot?" Buffy asked.

"Yes, the same distance from the five elements. And that's not all."

"What?"

"The demon is here."

"You think he's going to the temple?"

"Yes, judging from what Willow said."

"Then we better hurry."

"Yes."

After several hours of walking they heard roaring.

"Sound familiar?" Faith asked.

"Too familiar," Buffy said. "Let's go."

Everyone started to run.

"Who the hell is she?" Faith asked when they saw the demon and the woman fighting him.

"Callisto!" Xena and Gabrielle said in unison, surprised, when they recognized her.

"She's Callisto?" Willow asked.

"Yes," Xena confirmed.

"Xena, Gabrielle, you attack him from the front and distract him! Will, Faith and I are going behind the demon! When I say now, you push him!"

"How?" Willow asked, confused.

"You're a Wiccan, aren't you?"

"Oh. Oh! Right! Gotcha!"

"Good!"

Xena and Gabrielle charged the demon and Buffy and Faith tried to get behind him.

"Hello, Xena," Callisto said in a sing-song voice when she saw her.

Xena didn't bother to respond and she attacked the demon instead. Unfortunately for Buffy and Faith, the demon knew that they represented the greatest danger, even though he had obviously found out by then that Callisto was immortal. He turned toward them and they found themselves between the demon and the abyss.

"We're gonna have to do it anyway!" Faith called.

"Yes! Okay, Willow, on three! One! Two! Three!"

The two Slayers sweep kicked the demon while Willow concentrated. Xena added additional push by jump kicking the demon. The demon roared as he lost balance and fell off the cliff.

"That ought to hold him for a while," Faith said as she took a deep breath.

"Yeah," Buffy agreed.

Callisto immediately turned to Xena and Gabrielle.

"Hello, Xena," she repeated in a sing-song voice. "Hello Gabrielle. Any new husbands since the last one I killed?" she asked and Gabrielle's face became serious and sad.

"Freaky much?" Buffy said and looked at Faith.

"Definitely season two now," Faith said.

Callisto looked at them.

"And who might you be, hmm?" she said and looked at Willow.

"I'm Willow."

"Faith," Faith said when Callisto looked at her.

"Buffy."

Callisto frowned.

"What kind…"

"Don't even go there," Buffy warned her and Callisto grinned.

"How did you get out of the Labyrinth of the Gods?" Xena asked and Callisto looked at her.

"I convinced some morons that my daddy would pay handsomely if they rescued me," she said, putting on an innocent look.

"Labyrinth of the Gods?" Willow asked. "So you're, like, immortal?"

Callisto looked at her.

"Yes."

"What a waste of immortality," Faith said and Callisto glared at her.

"What is that supposed to mean?" she demanded.

"That you're crazy, blondie. Get a life."

Callisto immediately attacked her, furious, but Faith deflected her blows. Buffy was immediately by her side.

"Hey, you mess with her, you mess with me," she said threateningly and Callisto gave her a psycho look.

"And me," Willow added and stepped closer.

Callisto looked at her, stared at her for a few moments and then smiled.

"And just what can you do, hmm?" she asked playfully.

"This," Willow said and Callisto suddenly found herself floating in the air.

She threw her dagger at Willow, but Faith intercepted it. That, however, was enough to distract Willow and Callisto fell to the ground, but managed to land on her feet.

"What are you?" she asked, confused.

"A Wiccan."

"What's that?"

"A witch."

Callisto stared at her, confused.

"Who are you?" she then asked.

"We're from the future," Willow said, causing Callisto to raise an eyebrow.

Callisto thought for a moment, still upset by Faith's insult. Strange things were happening lately, but if they were from the future, that would explain the insult, because Faith would know how her life would turn out. And then there was the demon.

"What was that thing?" she asked, deciding to let Faith off the hook for now.

"Some demon," Willow said. "He escaped form Hell and we're trying to send it back."

"Hell?"

"Tartarus."

"I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the demon's gone," Gabrielle reported after she took a look.

"Damn," Buffy said, went to the edge of the cliff and looked down.

"He probably hid in one of those caves," Willow said.

"Yeah."

"Then we better go to the temple and wait for him there."

"Mhm."

"You wanna come along?" Faith asked Callisto.

Callisto glared at her.

"And just why should I? Saving the world is not my thing."

"Yeah, I know," Faith agreed. "Yours is wasting your life."

Callisto gave her a furious look.

"Callisto," Xena warned her and Callisto looked at her.

"You expect me to take insults from her?"

"It's her opinion of you."

Callisto threw a furious glance at Faith and walked away. She wanted to kill Faith for insulting her, but the knowledge that she was from the future and obviously knew what would become of her kept her form doing so.

"That was easy," Gabrielle said, staring after Callisto, confused.

"Whatever," Faith said coldly and both Buffy and Willow looked at her, confused.

"Let's go," Xena said and they moved on.

"You know," Buffy said after a while, "when we get back I'll tell Xander to get me a couple of bazookas."

"Why do you need a bazooka?" Faith asked, confused.

"For the demons that can't be killed. I'm tired of getting my ass kicked."

"What's a bazooka?" Gabrielle asked, curious.

"It's sort of like a catapult only much smaller and much deadlier."

"Oh."

"Having a bazooka right now would be good," Willow said. "We could blast this demon like you did the Judge."

"You did what?" Faith asked, surprised.

"She blew up the Judge."

"You serious?" Faith asked with disbelief.

"Yeah. Right in the middle of the mall," Buffy said sheepishly.

Faith started to laugh.

"You should have seen Angel's and Drusilla's faces when they saw her with a bazooka," Willow said with a smirk.

"I'll bet," Faith said with a grin.

"But the clean-up sucked," Buffy said and wrinkled her face, remembering the aftermath.

"I guess it's all part of the job," Willow said.

"Yeah, I guess so." She thought. "Perhaps we could use a bazooka on the Mayor."

"You think so?" Willow asked.

"Sure, why not?"

"Sounds good, but we'll probably need more of them."

"I'm sure Xander would love to help out," Buffy said and grinned.

"Yeah," Willow grinned back.

Faith, on the other hand, became quiet after she heard Buffy's idea. Sure, she worked for the Mayor now, but a part of her still felt attached to the Scooby Gang, even though she resented Buffy.

They walked all day, only stopping in a small village for lunch.

"There's Callisto," Willow noticed in the evening when they decided to make a camp for the night.

"Mhm," came from Xena.

"Are we gonna stay at her camp?" Buffy asked when she noticed that Xena led them straight to Callisto.

"Perhaps."

As they approached the camp, Buffy noticed that Gabrielle was getting more and more nervous.

When they got close enough, Callisto looked up thoughtfully.

"Can't live without me, Xena?" she teased.

"May we stay at your camp for the night?" Xena asked, ignoring Callisto's remark.

Callisto pretended to think.

"Okay," she allowed and grinned. "Better have me where you can see me, hmm?"

Xena didn't respond and she tethered Argo while the others took a seat around the camp fire, as far away from Callisto as possible.

"So, Gabrielle," Callisto said conversationally as she sharpened her sword, "how long did it take your husband to die after I ran him through with my sword? Hmm?"

Gabrielle gasped at the painful memory. She fought the pain for a few moments, then got up and quickly left.

"Pathetic," Faith said.

"Excuse me?" Callisto asked, surprised.

"I said it was pathetic," Faith repeated.

Callisto looked at Buffy and Willow to get some information, but they both stared at Faith, confused.

"You really should watch your mouth, little girl," she said threateningly.

"Or what, you gonna kill me? But of course, it's the only thing you can do, blondie. Pathetic."

Faith got up and left.

"Callisto!" Xena warned Callisto, who had also gotten up and wanted to follow Faith.

Callisto glared at her.

"Nobody calls me pathetic, Xena, and especially not blondie." She thought for a moment and then grinned. "But don't worry, I will teach her a lesson," she said.

"Don't even think about it," Buffy said and got up.

Callisto looked at her, her head cocked.

"My, aren't you heroic," she said. She thought for a moment. "Okay, I promise not to touch her," she said, smiling an innocent smile.

"Like you need to."

Callisto grinned.

"Okay, then I promise that we will only talk and that I won't try to kill her."

"You won't try, you'll just do it. I think Hell will freeze over before you remain calm at what Faith might tell you."

"My, how smart you are," Callisto said mockingly. "Listen, I have to talk to her, because if she calls me pathetic one more time, I will kill her."

Callisto left.

"No, I'll go," Buffy said when Xena started after Callisto.

"She's dangerous," Xena said.

"I know," Buffy said.

"Need help?" Willow asked.

"I hope not. But don't worry, you'll hear me yell if I need help."

Willow smiled.

"Okay," she said and Buffy left.

Faith walked for a while and then stopped. She was confused and she didn't understand why she was suddenly so upset. She knew it had to do with Callisto, but she didn't quite understand why. She sighed and thought.

She remembered how Buffy and Willow backed her up when Callisto attacked her. For a moment she was angry with them, but then she realized that they didn't back her up because they would think she couldn't handle Callisto but because they were her friends. She felt weird. She had hoped Buffy would be her friend, but then she started to believe that she wasn't and she resented her many things. The Mayor offered her something that reminded her of a family and she had accepted that, even though she knew the Mayor was evil.

Her thoughts were interrupted by footsteps. She turned and saw it was Callisto.

"What do you want?" she asked her coldly.

Callisto cocked her head.

"You obviously know me, but you still dare to insult me," she said, curious.

"Yeah. So what?"

"Why?"

"Because you're pathetic."

Callisto was furious, but she restrained herself.

"And just why am I pathetic? Hmm?" she asked.

Faith stared at her for a few moments.

"Your parents loved you, right?" she then asked and Callisto looked at her, confused.

"Yes," she said guardedly.

"Tartarus and Elysian Fields exist, don't they?"

"Yes."

"Do you miss your parents?"

Callisto frowned.

"What is your point?" she demanded.

"Do you miss them?" Faith insisted.

"Yes."

"Do you want to make them proud and be with them after you die?"

Callisto stared at Faith, completely confused.

"Yes."

"Well, you certainly aren't doing anything to prove that," Faith said coldly. "Remember how your mother reacted when you met her after switching bodies with Xena?"

Callisto was completely confused. How did she know about the body switching? More importantly, how did she know about her mother's reaction? And what the Tartarus was the point here?

"So what's your point?" she asked again, irritated.

"You had a loving family and you know you could be with them after death, but you're not doing anything about it."

Callisto was angry now.

"So?" she asked threateningly.

"My dad left when I was little and Mom, well, she's a drunk and she beat me. It's highly unlikely we'll ever be together again, in this world or the next. Not that I'd want to." She paused. "You have a chance that I'll never have and you're wasting it."

Callisto stared at her, understanding now why she was being insulted.

"You're either very bold or very stupid," she said.

"Get a life, blondie," Faith said.

Callisto growled and attacked her furiously. Faith easily deflected the blows.

"That's enough!"

Both Callisto and Faith turned, surprised. It was Buffy.

"You again," Callisto said, annoyed. "You don't think your friend can handle me?" she teased.

"Oh, she can handle you, but you're a good fighter and I don't want her to be all beaten up when we go against the demon." She paused. "And we could also use your help."

Callisto laughed.

"My help? And just why should I help you, hmm?"

"Because it's a challenge?" Buffy suggested.

Callisto considered.

"Perhaps," she said.

"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, we need to talk."

At that Faith started to leave and Callisto laughed.

"Doesn't look like she wants to talk," she said.

Buffy gave her a sharp look and went after Faith.

"Faith, wait!" she called, but Faith ignored her and kept walking. "Damn it, Faith, wait!" she said and ran after her. "Now stop!" she demanded when she reached her and stopped her. "We need to talk," she said, but Faith looked away. Buffy sighed as she thought about how to make Faith talk. She decided to start herself. "You know, when you first came to Sunnydale, I was jealous. I mean, you were so cool and independent and you fought well. Everyone was talking about you." She paused. "I'm not jealous anymore, but I am worried about you." Faith looked at her, surprised by the confession. "I have a feeling you're constantly running away," Buffy continued. "I mean, you're my friend, our friend, and we try to include you into our activities, but we're not quite sure whether you like that or not. Sometimes you're nowhere to be found and then you come, help out, and disappear again. But what scares me most is your recklessness, especially after you killed that Mayor's aide. I'm not saying you should turn yourself in, but you did kill him and it was wrong. You should be more careful." She paused for a moment. "I don't want to lose you like Kendra."

Faith stared at her with mixed emotions. One on hand, she appreciated what Buffy said, it meant a lot to her that Buffy cared about her and considered her her friend, but on the other, she was now working for the Mayor and he took care of her like she was his own and he appreciated her. But Buffy's little speech brought back the feeling of friendship she had felt toward the fellow Slayer and made her alliance with the Mayor seem wrong.

"Look," Buffy interrupted her thoughts, "I can't force you to tell me what is troubling you, but I want you to be careful. And if you decide you want to talk about it, you can always come to me."

She smiled briefly and left Faith all confused.

"How did it go?" Willow asked when Buffy sat next to her.

Buffy sighed.

"I don't know," she said and started to think.

Faith remained in the forest for a while, thinking, still caught in the conflict. She finally had enough of wondering around and decided to return to the camp.

She silently approached the camp and she was about to join the others, when she heard Willow and Buffy talk about her. She stopped and listened.

"You know," Buffy spoke after a while, "I'm worried about Faith."

"Why?" Willow asked, curious.

"Well, I know now why she keeps insulting Callisto, but I can't help to think that there's more."

"What do you mean?"

"She's angry with Callisto because Callisto has a chance to be with her family after death and she's wasting it. And you know Faith's family is, well, nonexistent."

"She has us."

Buffy smiled briefly.

"Somehow I don't think that's enough," she said. "I think she needs more than that. And we didn't exactly behave like a family after she killed that aide." She paused. "I think she's afraid."

"Of what?" Willow asked, confused.

"Of allowing herself to care, she doesn't want to be hurt again." She paused. "Remember how scared she was when she first came to Sunnydale and was forced to face Kakistos?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I've noticed she became more and more distant, like she's building a wall around herself. Especially since she killed that Mayor's aide. It worries me."

They both thought for a few moments.

"What can we do?" Willow then asked. "I mean, we tried to include her in our activities, but she comes and goes and you never know what goes on in her mind."

"I know," Buffy agreed and thought. "You know, I've been meaning to ask her to move in with me and Mom."

"Are you serious?" Willow asked, surprised.

"Mhm," Buffy said, nodding. "Or she can move in with Giles, although he doesn't strike me as the parental type."

Willow smiled at that.

"Yeah," she agreed. "So why didn't you ask her?"

"I wanted to, several times, but you know Faith, always the smart ass."

"Yeah," Willow said, smiling. "What about your mom, would she accept Faith?"

Buffy grinned.

"You kidding? She gave me Faith as a good example a couple of times."

Willow laughed.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. She likes Faith." She thought for a moment. "I'll ask Faith when we get back," she decided.

Faith was completely surprised by the conversation and the conflict in her became even stronger. She hesitated for a while and then returned to the fire, ignoring everyone.

Willow and Buffy observed her for a few moments, but Faith stared at the fire, ignoring everyone. Willow then noticed that Gabrielle was writing something and she went to her.

"Hey," she said as she sat beside her. "What are you writing?"

"A story. I mostly write down Xena's adventures, but I also make up some."

"Xena scrolls!" Willow said, excited. "Or should I say the Scrolls of Gabrielle." She grinned when Gabrielle gave her a confused look. "It's a long story."

"Tell me," Gabrielle said, curious.

"I don't know," Willow said hesitatingly. "Well, I guess I could, since it doesn't concern you directly. Okay, here's how it goes."

They reached the temple the next day and Willow examined the situation. Callisto, Buffy and Faith sat down and waited, Xena went on the lookout for the demon and Gabrielle curiously observed Willow. Willow made a plan and prepared for the spell.

"Need any help, Will?" Buffy asked.

"No, it's okay," Willow said.

"Okay."

Xena soon returned.

"It's coming," she reported.

"Okay, everybody, you know the plan," Willow said. "Xena, you'll stand over there."

Xena looked and nodded.

"And this is going to work?" Callisto asked, skeptically.

"Yes," Willow said. "You just make sure he's inside the circle. Then step on the circle and relax. I'll do the rest."

"I can see him," Faith said.

Everybody looked.

"Okay, hide," Willow said. "Gabrielle."

Gabrielle nodded and went to the other side of the circle, ready to play the bait.

The demon soon noticed her and slowed down, wary of a trap. Gabrielle kept her back toward it and secretly observed Xena for the sign. But the demon was fortunately loud enough and she could hear it before Xena was supposed to warn her. She turned, opened her eyes wide and screamed. She started to back off and the demon fell for it. The moment it was in the circle, Gabrielle got up and ran to her position. The demon ran after her, but then it noticed the other women and it stopped. It recognized Willow and it quickly started to chant.

"Quickly!" Willow called.

Buffy, Faith, Callisto and Xena took their positions and relaxed, and Willow started to chant. A vortex opened and Buffy and Faith wondered who had opened it. They got a bit worried when Willow's eyes changed and she started to chant faster.

The demon suddenly shrieked and a moment later, it was sucked through the vortex. The vortex then closed, but Willow kept chanting, and a few moments later, a new vortex opened. Willow's eyes then cleared and she shook her head.

"Okay, time to go," she said.

"Where?" Buffy asked.

"Back home."

"Through that?" Faith asked and nodded at the vortex.

"Yes. Come on," she said and approached the vortex.

"Thanks for helping us!" Gabrielle called.

Willow waved at her.

"No problem," she said and entered the vortex.

Buffy and Faith followed her, Faith glancing at Callisto one last time.

Callisto stared at the vortex until it closed and then left.

"Are we going after her?" Gabrielle asked when she saw Callisto was leaving.

"Yes," Xena said.

"Wow, that was fun," Buffy said when she exited the vortex.

"Yeah," Willow agreed.

Buffy looked at Faith to make sure she was okay.

"How much time you think has passed?"

"I don't know," Willow said. "Let's go to Giles."

"Yeah."

Faith sighed and followed them.

"Giles?" Buffy said as they entered.

"In here," Giles said from the kitchen, and the girls headed there.

"What day is it?"

Giles looked at her, frowning.

"Monday. Why?"

"Still the same Monday? I mean, we weren't missing, like, a week or something?"

"No," Giles said, puzzled.

Buffy and Willow relaxed.

"Good," Buffy said, relieved.

"Why? What happened?"

"Well, you know that demon we were chasing?"

"Yes."

"We found it. Willow started the spell, but the demon started a counter spell and we were all sucked into the past. To Greece."

"Really?" Giles said, fascinated.

"Yes," Buffy said, excited. "And guess what, we met Xena and Gabrielle and Callisto."

Giles frowned.

"Who?"

"Xena! The Warrior Princess. Don't you watch TV?"

"Eh, well…"

"Anyway," Buffy continued, "we trapped the demon and Willow sent it to Hell. Then we came back. But since we spent a day there, I thought that a day had passed here as well."

"Oh."

"Oh, do you know how come we understood them?"

"Who?" Giles asked, puzzled.

"Xena, Gabrielle and Callisto."

"You understood them?"

"Yes! We all spoke Greek. I think. Anyway, the point is we understood one another."

"Oh. Well, I… I will have to look it up."

"Okay. I'm going home to take a shower."

"Me too," Willow said.

"Faith?" Buffy asked when Faith said nothing.

"Yeah, me too," Faith said.

"Are you going on patrol later?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know. Maybe."

"But you're coming to the Bronze, aren't you?"

"Probably."

"Okay. We'll see you later then."

"Okay."

After Buffy and Willow told the gang what had happened, there was a brief silence.

"Now that explains Buffus the Bacchae Slayer," Xander then said and Willow chuckled.

"Nice to know I'm a historical person," Buffy said with a smile.

"Only nobody's going to learn about you at history," Willow said.

"That's not necessarily a bad thing."

"Speak for yourself," Cordelia said.

"What's not necessarily a bad thing?" Angel asked as he arrived.

"Angel," Buffy said and smiled.

"Hey."

"We were just telling the guys about Xena."

"Xena?" Angel asked, puzzled.

"Yeah. Will, Faith and were sucked into the past."

"Speaking of Faith, I have some bad news," Angel said slowly.

"What?" Buffy asked, worried.

"She's working for the Mayor."

"What?" Buffy said, shocked. "How… How do you know?"

"I saw her carry the Box of Gavroc to the Mayor."

"What box?"

"The Box of Gavroc. The Mayor needs it."

"Oh."

"Great, like a crazy Mayor wasn't enough," Xander said. "I thought Faith had changed." He frowned. "I mean… Okay, I don't know what I mean, but I was kinda hoping that she got over her psychotic phase."

Buffy was hurt and furious. She had wanted to ask Faith to come live with her, but then she had found out that Faith was working for the Mayor. She had tried talking to her for the past few weeks, but Faith started avoiding her ever since Buffy found out that Faith worked for the Mayor. And every time she thought things couldn't get any worse, they got worse. First, Faith had held Willow hostage, then she committed another murder, a professor, and now she had poisoned Angel. When Buffy found out that the only cure for Angel was the blood of a Slayer, she had decided to make Faith contribute to Angel's health. But Faith was not home. Buffy decided to go look for her and then return to Faith's new apartment if she wasn't successful.

Faith had also made a decision, she wanted to end it once and for all. She knew she'd blown her chance with Buffy and she fell deeper and deeper to the dark side. But she had finally realized that she needed to stop herself, that it had to end.

"Faith!" Willow said, surprised, when Faith came to the mansion.

"What are you…" Xander started as he moved to stop her, but Faith knocked him out.

"Xander…" Willow started, but Faith also knocked her out.

Faith then went to the bed. She hesitated for a moment and then took Angel's hand. Angel opened his eyes.

"Buffy?" he asked weakly.

"No, it's Faith," Faith said. "Remember, the one who poisoned you?" She slapped him. "Come on, snap out of it!" she said and hit him again. "I poisoned you, remember?"

Angel morphed into his vamp face and attacked her. They rolled to the floor and Angel sank his fangs into Faith's neck.

Willow was the first to come to. She was confused for a moment and then remembered Faith. She quickly got up and froze when she saw Angel drink Faith's blood. But what was even more surprising was that Faith was obviously letting him. And she was obviously fighting her instincts really hard, judging from the current state of the whatever the metal object in her hand once used to be. When she saw Faith's body go limp, she realized that she would die if Angel didn't stop.

"Angel!" she called and ran to him. "Angel, stop!"

Angel jerked, surprised, and stopped drinking. He looked at Faith, confused, and then at Willow.

"Willow?"

"How are you?" she asked.

"I'm fine."

"And Faith?"

Angel felt her pulse.

"She's still alive."

"What happened?" Xander asked when he woke up and saw Faith on the floor.

"Angel drank her blood," Willow explained and turned back to Angel. "We have to get her to the hospital."

Angel hesitated for a moment and then nodded. He got up and picked up Faith.

"Will?" Xander asked, confused.

"I'll explain later. Wait here and tell Buffy that Angel's okay and that Faith is in the hospital."

Willow ran after Angel, leaving the confused Xander behind.

Faith was surprised when she found herself in her old motel room. She felt weak.

"Hello, Faith."

Faith jerked and turned around. She was surprised when she saw who her visitor was.

"Callisto."

Angel Callisto smiled.

"Yes."

"What do you want?"

"I want to thank you."

"What for?" Faith asked, confused.

"For telling me that I was wrong."

Faith was confused for a moment.

"Oh."

"I didn't listen then, but I did later."

"So?"

Callisto smiled.

"You want to die," she said.

"Yes," Faith admitted.

"It is not your time yet."

"Says who?" Faith demanded.

Callisto smiled.

"You have to go back to redeem yourself," she said and Faith turned away. "You are afraid," Callisto continued. "You are aware of what you have done and you are afraid of what your friends would say."

"I have no friends," Faith said bitterly.

"You do. Have a little faith."

Faith turned at the pun and glared at Callisto.

"Very funny," she said.

"It was not intended to be funny," Callisto said seriously. "You have good friends, but you have to give them a chance and you have to trust them." She smiled. "Everything will be okay. Trust me."

Faith stared at Callisto as she disappeared. When she was gone, Faith started to hear noises and voices and she realized she was waking up. She sighed, she didn't look forward to meeting her… friends.

"Buffy," Willow said when Buffy and Xander came to the hospital.

"How is she?"

"She's fine. Doctors say she will live."

"Good. Angel?"

"He's fine. He's in the room with Faith."

Buffy went into the room.

"Angel."

Angel turned.

"Buffy."

"Are you okay?"

"Yes."

Buffy looked at Faith.

"What happened?" she asked.

"She saved my life."

"I think she wanted to die," Willow said.

"What do you mean?" Buffy asked, surprised.

"When Angel drank her blood, she didn't fight him, she just let him drink her blood."

"She's waking up," Xander noticed and everyone looked at Faith.

"Leave us alone," Buffy said after a few moments and everyone left. She went closer to the bed. "Faith?" she asked and took her hand.

Faith moaned and slowly opened her eyes. She looked around and was relieved that only Buffy was in the room.

"How do you feel?" Buffy asked. "Faith?" she asked when Faith didn't immediately respond and only removed her hand. "Look, we need to talk and I'm not leaving until you explain everything."

Faith looked away, thinking. She felt bad about what she had done to Buffy. She knew she owed her an explanation, but she just didn't know where to begin. She glanced at Buffy, who was patiently waiting, but she didn't see any anger on her face, only concern. It confused her, she didn't understand how Buffy could still care for her.

"Why do you care?" she asked, curious.

Buffy sighed.

"Because you're my friend, Faith."

"Even after all I've done?"

"Yes."

Faith sighed and thought.

"You know why I started to work for the Mayor? Because he let me do anything I wanted and he never criticized me. Well, except hygiene. He treated me like I was his daughter and I liked that." She paused. "I was jealous of you. When I became a Slayer, I finally had a chance to be somebody, I was needed. But when I came here, all everyone talked about was you. And I felt excluded."

They were quiet for a while, both thinking.

"The only reason they spoke more about me than you," Buffy said, "was because I was here longer, I go to school here and people know me."

"Yeah, I figured that one out," Faith said.

"And we did try to include you, but we just didn't know how to treat you. We still don't. You always keep to yourself and you never talk about your personal life." She paused, thinking. "You expected Angel to kill you?"

Faith looked away.

"Yes," she said quietly.

"Why?"

Faith sighed as she thought about it.

"After you talked to me, in Greece, I started to think. I also overheard your conversation with Willow and I slowly realized that what I was doing was wrong, but I didn't know how to get out. And I wanted to stop working for the Mayor, but then you found out and I didn't know what to do." She paused. "I didn't kill that professor, he's still alive."

"Really?" Buffy asked, surprised.

"Yes."

Buffy thought.

"And Angel?"

"I knew you hated me and I didn't want you to have any regrets," Faith explained, avoiding Buffy's eyes.

"You are my friend, Faith, and even though I was angry with you, I would still miss you."

Faith bit her teeth, it meant a lot to her that Buffy still cared.

"I'm sorry," she said after a few moments of courage gathering.

Buffy smiled, surprised and glad.

"I forgive you, Faith." She thought for a moment. "You know, I've been meaning to ask you this quite a few times, but I never got the chance." She paused. "Would you like to move in with me and my mom?"

Faith looked at her, surprised.

"You… You mean that? Even after…"

"I forgave you, Faith. And you need all the support you can get. You can move in with us, if you want."

"I…"

"If you overheard my conversation with Willow, you know why I think it would be a good idea."

Faith thought. She was moved and happy but also uncertain.

"I'd like that, it's just…"

"Then we're settled," Buffy said firmly. "Oh, I forgot to ask, how do you feel?"

Faith grinned.

"Lousy. It's getting better."

"Good." Buffy thought. "And what are you going to do about the Mayor?"

Faith sighed and thought.

"I don't know. Pretend I still work for him?"

"You sure you can handle him?"

Faith nodded.

"Yes." She thought. "Bazookas won't be enough," she said, "you'll need something stronger."

"Then I guess I'll have to send Xander shopping."

Faith grinned.

"Yeah." Her face became serious as she thought of something. "I want to be the one to pull the trigger," she said.

"You sure?"

"Yes. I need to do it."

"Okay."

They were quiet for a few moments.

"Could you send the others in? I need to… apologize."

"Sure," Buffy said, went to the door and called the others in.

They all looked at her expectantly, but Buffy just stepped aside and looked at Faith. They grasped that Faith wanted to say something and they looked at her. Faith hesitated for a few moments, nervous.

"I… I want to apologize," she then spoke, trying to meet their eyes. "For betraying your trust and for poisoning you, Angel. I'm sorry."

Angel, Willow and Xander all looked at Buffy, surprised.

"She means it," she said and they all looked back at Faith.

"Faith apologizing," Xander said. "I'll have to get used to that."

Willow threw him a warning glance, but he didn't see it.

"Apology accepted," she said and smiled briefly, still wary of Faith.

Angel hesitated for a moment and then nodded.

"I forgive you," he said.

Xander stared at his friends for a few moments and then shrugged.

"Why not? You are forgiven," he said, trying to make everybody smile, but failing miserably.

"Xander," Buffy spoke, breaking the silence that followed the apology, "we need bigger guns."

"How much bigger?" Xander asked eagerly.

"Enough to blow up the school," Faith said and everyone looked at her, surprised. "He's gonna be huge," she explained. "You know what that professor discovered. When the Mayor is fully grown, he will be about as huge as that demon from Hawaii. We need to blow him up."

"She's on our side now?" Xander asked and Buffy and Willow gave him warning looks. "What?"

"Yes, she's on our side, Xander," Buffy said.

"Just double-checking." He thought. "I'll need a van or something."

The Graduation Day finally came and Faith stood with the vampires ready to attack the unsuspecting attendees, or so the Mayor thought. Faith listened to his speech and realized that she hated the Mayor. In spite of all that he had done for her, he was a monster and he had to be stopped. And his speech, it was so hypocritical. When she saw that the change had started, she prepared herself.

"Wait for my signal," she told the vampires and went outside the hiding place.

Outside, she waited for a while, but when the eclipse started, she smashed the shutters, letting the sun into the hiding place, killing those vamps who were too close. The vampires roared, enraged, but they couldn't strike back due to sunlight. Faith used that and attacked them.

When darkness finally came, not many vampires were left alive, but Faith had also suffered some wounds. The moment the sun was gone, the remaining vampires ran out to warn the others. Faith followed them and joined the Slayerettes and the students.

When she saw that Buffy was facing the Mayor, she ran to Giles and Willow.

"Buffy just ran into the building," she reported.

"Then we better be ready," Giles said and stepped aside.

Faith looked at the trigger mechanism and took a deep breath. She slowly approached it and ran her hand over the top. When Buffy came crashing out of the building, Faith glanced at her, hesitated for a moment, and then pressed. A few moments later, the school became history.

When Buffy came to them, they were all staring at the fire.

"Well done," she said.

Faith looked at her, but she saw that Buffy was serious.

"Yes," she said.

"So, how about we go get your stuff now?"

"What do you mean?" Faith asked, confused.

"You're moving in with me, aren't you?"

Faith was surprised. Although Buffy had invited her, she didn't really believe it.

"Oh. Yes."

"She is?" Willow asked, surprised.

"Yeah. Didn't I tell you?"

"No."

"Oh. Well, she is." She turned to Giles. "Giles, we need your driving skills and your… car."

"Yes, of course," Giles said, still staring into the fire.

"I still don't believe it," Xander said as he and Cordelia came to them, followed by Angel. "We've survived high school."

"Yeah," Cordelia agreed.

"Come on, Giles," Buffy said, "let's go."

"Ah? What? Where?" Giles asked, confused.

"To Faith's place."

"Why do you need me?"

"Haven't you been paying attention?"

"To what?"

Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Faith is moving in with me and we need to get her stuff from her place to mine."

"Oh. She is?"

"Yes. Now, can we go?"

"Yes, of course."

"Need help?" Xander asked.

"No," Faith said. "Buffy and I can manage. I'll just take my old stuff and sell the rest."

As Faith lay in her new bed that night, she realized she was happy. She wasn't as happy as she would've been with her mother and father, but she was definitely more happy that she was when she was with the Mayor. Buffy and her friends had forgiven her and she was given a chance to make up for what she'd done. And on top of it all, Buffy and Angel had split up and Buffy was paying more attention to her. And there was also Mrs Summers. She liked Mrs Summers and it was obvious Mrs Summers liked her. And although Mrs Summers treated her not unlike the Mayor, there was one big difference about them. Mrs Summers was good and she set the limits as to what Faith was allowed to do and what she wasn't, while the Mayor had been evil and he didn't care what Faith did, as long as she served his purpose.

But what was more important, she felt safe, knowing that she had friends who really cared about her. And on top of it, Mrs Summers had agreed to become her legal guardian, which meant she now had a family. Unfortunately, that meant going back to school. She sighed at the thought. But then, she thought and her face brightened, she would be the number one Slayer there since Buffy would be going to college. She took a deep breath and decided it was time to go to sleep, demons would have to wait until the next day.

The End