DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Buffy The Vampire Slayer stuff belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. All other characters that appear belong to me. 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. There is some subtext in this story. If this kind of stuff is not legal where you live, if you're under 18 or if you don't like the notion of two women being in love, then you should find something else to read. This is set during Another Point of View, right between when Mrs H tries to kill herself and when she is back to her new self. You normally don't see this on Twice In a Lifetime, but I felt like writing it. Some of the dialog is from the Buffy episode Faith, Hope and Trick.

New Memories
By Kristjan Brezovnik

She drove the dagger into her chest and gasped. Kakistos looked at her, surprised.

"No!" Faith screamed, shocked.

Kakistos pulled the dagger out of the wound and looked at it.

Faith screamed and ran toward Kakistos. Kakistos dropped Mrs Spencer in order to defend himself against the crazed Slayer. Faith pounded on him with all her might, but it barely showed. She managed to kick the dagger out of Kakistos' cloven hand, but the other vamps started to approach. Faith got distracted and Kakistos managed to score a heavy hit. Faith was thrown to the ground and she landed on something. She felt what it was and discovered that it was Kakistos' dagger. She picked it up and got up, dusting two vamps in the process. She attacked Kakistos again and managed to slash him across the face.

Kakistos screamed, enraged, and covered the wound. Faith used the opportunity to stake him, but nothing happened. She tried again, but this time Kakistos caught her hand.

"You'll pay for this, Slayer," he screamed, nearly breaking her hand.

Faith tried to kick him in the face, but he blocked her. Faith changed her momentum and used the other leg to sweep him off his feet. They fell to the ground and Kakistos was forced to let go of her. Faith quickly got up and backed off, scared. She looked at Mrs H, but she appeared to be dead.

"Get her!" Kakistos roared.

Faith looked at the vamps and then started to run for her life. She ran until she lost sight of the vamps and then hid. The vamps were right behind her, but they missed her. Faith waited in her hideout for a while, trembling, and then took the long way back to Mrs H.

When she got there, there was no sign of vamps, but Faith waited for a few minutes just to make sure. Then she quickly ran to Mrs H and dragged her body into the alley, between two trash containers.

"Faith."

Faith jerked, startled.

"Mrs H?" she asked and tears started to run down her cheeks. "You're alive," she said, relieved.

"I'm dying."

"I'll call 911."

Mrs H grabbed Faith's hand.

"It's too late."

"No, I can…"

"Faith," Mrs H interrupted her, trying to sound strong. "It's too late." She coughed. "I'm sorry I have to leave you… this way." A tear slid down her cheek. "It wasn't… your fault. There was… nothing you could've… done."

"But if I…"

"Faith," Mrs H interrupted her again. "Stop… blaming yourself. I'm proud… to have been your… Watcher. Promise you'll… go to Buffy."

"But…"

"Promise."

Faith sobbed for a moment.

"I promise."

Mrs H smiled and closed her eyes.

"Mrs H?" Faith asked, worried.

"Still… here," Mrs H said and opened her eyes. She coughed. "Faith, don't forget to… cry."

Faith bit her teeth.

"Oh," Mrs H remembered." Kakistos… Use a… bigger stake."

Faith frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Bigger…" Mrs H started to repeat, but died in mid sentence.

"Mrs H?" Faith asked again. "Mrs H!"

She tried to feel her pulse, but there was none. She fought her tears for a few moments and then hugged Mrs H's body and started to cry.

She almost didn't notice two vampires who were sneaking up on her. She noticed them at the last moment and she turned around, sweeping one off his feet. The other jumped over his comrade, but she kicked her in the knees and she went down as well. She kicked the first one in the stomach again and then staked him. Then she kicked the other one in the knees, bringing her down again. She continued with a kick to the face and a stake through the heart.

The vamps taken care of, she looked back at Mrs H. She stared at her for a few moments, reluctant to leave her body lying in the alley, but she knew that other vampires would soon approach.

"Thanks, Mrs H," she said and ran away.

She hid for a while, taking the long way home. When she finally reached the building, she entered and observed the outside for a while, trying to spot any possible pursuers. She didn't see any, so she finally went upstairs.

"Faith!" Mrs Spencer said, worried, when she what Faith looked like. "Are you…" She trailed off when she noticed that Faith had been crying. "What's wrong? What happened?"

Faith shrugged, not looking at her.

"Nothing."

Mrs Spencer came closer.

"Faith, talk to me, please."

Faith looked at her and Mrs Spencer could see that she was scared. Faith sobbed a bit and tears came to her eyes again.

"Mrs H is dead," she said.

"What?" Mrs Spencer said, shocked. "What… What happened?"

A few tears trickled down Faith's cheek, but she quickly wiped them.

"She… She killed herself."

"What?" Mrs Spencer said, surprised. "Why?"

Faith sobbed.

"To protect me," she said and burst into tears.

Mrs Spencer quickly hugged her. Faith tensed for a moment, but then she hugged her back. Mrs Spencer quietly held her, glad that she was given another chance with Faith, even though the occasion was anything but happy.

After a minute or two, Mrs Spencer gently led Faith to the sofa in the living room and they sat down. Faith laid her head on Mrs Spencer's shoulder and Mrs Spencer held her until she calmed down.

"Let's take care of your cuts now," Mrs Spencer said when she felt that Faith had calmed sufficiently.

Faith took a deep breath and sat straight.

"No, you pack."

"What?" Mrs Spencer said, puzzled.

"Pack, we're leaving."

"Where are we going?"

"Sunnydale?"

"Sunnydale?"

"Yeah, in California."

"Why?" Mrs Spencer asked, puzzled.

Faith took a deep breath.

"There's this vamp, Kakistos. He's bad, real bad, and I can't take him on my own. I need help." She hesitated for a moment. "And I promised Mrs H that I won't try to take him on my own."

"Oh." Mrs Spencer thought for a moment. "And what's in Sunnydale?"

"Buffy."

"Buffy? The other Slayer?"

Faith nodded.

"Yes."

Mrs Spencer sighed.

"For how long?"

Faith thought about it.

"I don't know. At least until we kill Kakistos. A couple of days." She hesitated for a moment. "Or maybe we could move there, I don't know," she suggested.

"We'll see," Mrs Spencer said. "When do we leave?"

"As soon as the sun rises."

"Okay. I'll tell my boss that I will be gone for a few days." She thought for a moment. "What about school?"

Faith shrugged, surprised that her mother had thought of that.

"I don't go there much and I don't think they really care whether I'm there or not."

"Oh."

After they packed, Mrs Spencer went to sleep and Faith stood guard.

She heard her mother groan in her sleep occasionally and she guessed it was from the lack of alcohol. She sighed, worried about how things would turn out but at the same time happy that she had he mother back.

In the morning, Faith fixed them a quick breakfast.

"Okay, let's go," she said when the dishes were clean.

She went to the door and carefully opened them. She peeked into the corridor, but there was no one there. She looked at her mother.

"We have to get out of the building quickly, in case some vamps are hiding in the shadows."

Mrs Spencer nodded, gripping her bag. Faith took her own bag and they quickly left.

After a couple of days on the bus, they finally arrived to Sunnydale. Their bodies were stiff and they stretched when they stepped off the bus.

"Where to now?" Mrs Spencer asked.

Faith thought for a moment.

"I don't know," she said and frowned. "We have to find Buffy."

Mrs Spencer thought.

"How old is she?"

"She's about my age."

"Then she's probably in high school."

"Right!" Faith said.

"Let's leave the bags here at the station, they have lockers."

"Sounds better than my plan," Faith said.

"Which is?"

"Well, I was gonna wait till sunset and then go on patrol."

"Oh."

"But your plan is better."

Mrs Spencer smiled.

"Then let's go."

As they walked through Sunnydale in search of a high school, they passed the Weatherly Park and Mrs Spencer spotted the carrousel.

"Look, a carrousel," she said and pointed at it.

Faith looked and smiled.

"Yeah."

"Feel like going for a ride?"

Faith groaned.

"Mom, I'm not a kid anymore."

Mrs Spencer smiled.

"I know. How about for the old times' sake?"

"Mom…"

"Come on, don't be so shy."

"I'm not shy," Faith protested.

"Then come with me for a ride."

"Mom…"

"Come on, Faith, I can see that you want to. What are you afraid of? That someone will think you're a kid? Who cares? Let them think whatever they want, you and I know you're not a kid."

Faith hesitated for a few moment, glancing at the carrousel, and then grinned.

"Why the hell not," she said. "Let's go."

"Too bad they don't have an ice cream stand here," Mrs Spencer said as they walked toward the carrousel.

Faith chuckled.

"Thank god for small favors."

"Are you afraid you'll get it all over your face again?" Mrs Spencer teased her.

"Very funny," Faith said, mock glaring at her.

Mrs Spencer winked at her and then went to pay. Faith followed a few steps behind, thinking about the incredible transformation her mother had gone through in less than a week, from a lousy mother to the mother of her dreams. A smile crept to her face, causing Mrs Spencer to raise an eyebrow when she noticed it.

"What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Faith said, "just thinking."

"Good thoughts?"

"The best."

Mrs Spencer smiled.

"Come on, let's go for a ride."

"I'm not riding in your lap, Mom," Faith warned her.

Mrs Spencer chuckled.

"Don't worry."

After the ride, they continued their search for a high school and they soon found it.

"Where to now?" Faith asked as they entered it.

Mrs Spencer thought about it.

"How about we check the library first?"

"The library?" Faith said skeptically. "I doubt she hangs around the library much."

"I know, but the librarian might have her in his records, after all, she has to borrow books. At least this way we'll know if she's here or not."

Faith thought about it.

"Okay," she said and looked around. "Now all we have to do is find the library."

After a few minutes, they found it. They entered and Faith looked around.

"Hello!" she called when they got to the counter.

Giles came from behind the stacks, carrying several books.

"Eh, hello," he said and approached. "How can I help you?"

Faith hesitated for a few moments, thinking.

"Em, do you know if Buffy goes here?" she then asked.

"Buffy Summers?" Giles asked, surprised.

"Is there any other?" Faith asked, having no idea what Buffy's last name was.

"Eh, no," Giles said and put the books on the counter.

"Then that's her." She hesitated for a moment. "Do you happen to know where I could find her?"

Giles glanced at the clock on the wall.

"Break is in five minutes, she should come then."

"Here?" Faith asked, surprised.

"Eh, yes."

Faith chuckled and looked at her mother.

"Lucky us." She looked back at Giles. "Can we wait here for her?"

"Yes, of course," Giles said.

"Thanks," Faith said and they went to the tables and sat down.

Giles observed them for a few moments, having a strange feeling about Faith, and then concentrated on the books again.

Six minutes later, Buffy, Xander, Willow and Oz arrived. Faith immediately got up, her eyes glued to Buffy. She had never seen her before, but there was something about her, something primal, that was virtually dragging her to the girl. She just knew that she was a Slayer.

Buffy too had a strange feeling about Faith and she didn't look away, even when Xander asked her something. She went straight to Faith.

"Buffy?" Faith asked.

"Yes."

"I need to talk to you," Faith said and looked around. "Over there."

She walked away from the group and Buffy followed her.

"What?" Buffy asked

Faith hesitated for a moment, because in spite of the attraction she felt toward Buffy, she needed to make sure this was the right Buffy, even though she doubted there was any other Buffy in the world.

"Do you know Kendra?"

Buffy frowned.

"Kendra? Yes. She's dead."

Faith nodded.

"I'm her successor."

"You're a Slayer?"

Faith nodded, relieved that it was the right Buffy.

"Yeah."

Buffy looked at Giles.

"Giles! You didn't…" She trailed off, remembering the woman, who was obviously with Faith. "Is she your mom?" she asked Faith.

"Yeah. And she knows about Slayers and stuff."

"Oh," Buffy said and looked back at Giles. "Giles, you didn't tell me that another Slayer was coming to town."

"I beg your pardon?" Giles said, alarmed, and looked at Mrs Spencer and Faith.

Buffy wanted to say something, when she realized she didn't know Faith's name.

"What's your name?" she asked her.

"Faith."

Buffy looked at Giles.

"Faith says she's a Slayer. She's Kendra's successor."

"What about them?" Faith asked and nodded and the Scoobs.

"They know."

"Oh," Faith said, surprised.

"You're a… Slayer?" Giles asked, glancing at Mrs Spencer.

"Yeah," Faith said. "Mom knows."

"Oh," Giles said, relieved that the secret wasn't out. Then he frowned. "And where is Mrs Hutchinson? She didn't say you were coming."

Faith's face got serious.

"She's dead."

"What?" Giles said, shocked.

Faith took a deep breath.

"She was killed a couple of days ago."

Giles came from behind the counter and the Scoobs approached the table. Buffy went to the table as well and Faith followed her.

"What happened?" Giles asked as he sat down. "Does the Council know?"

Faith shook her head.

"No," she said and took a deep breath. "I came across Kakistos' lackeys and…"

"Kakistos?" Giles asked, alarmed.

"Yeah," Faith said, noticing that he wore the same worried look as Mrs H.

"You know him?" Buffy asked, noticing the worried look.

"Ah, yes," Giles said and took his glasses off to clean them. "His name, Kakistos, comes from Greek. It means 'the worst of the worst'. He's supposedly so old that his hands and feet are cloven."

"They are," Faith confirmed.

"You've seen him?"

"Yes."

"I see. Eh, go on."

Faith sighed.

"I was just showing her the corpse of a demon I'd killed, so she could identify it, when we were surrounded by Kakistos' vamps. We fought and I told her to run when I cleared the way, but then Kakistos showed and grabbed her." Faith hesitated for a moment and her mother reached across the table, took her hand into her own and squeezed it reassuringly. "She killed herself with his dagger so that I wouldn't have to worry about saving her and get myself killed."

There was silence around the room.

"My first Watcher killed himself for the same reason," Buffy said quietly, feeling the need to share that information with Faith, so she would know that someone understood.

Faith took a deep breath.

"I attacked him and I even staked him, twice, but nothing happened."

"You staked him?" Buffy said, surprised. "And he lived?"

"Yeah. I ran away then. I hid and then came back. Mrs H was still alive, but there was nothing I could've done. Then I went home. We packed and came here." She hesitated for a moment. "I think he followed us," she said and looked at Buffy. "I'm gonna need your help."

Buffy nodded.

"Yeah, sure."

"Oh, before she died, Mrs H told me to use a bigger stake."

"A bigger stake?" Giles thought. "Yes, that…"

Then Cordelia waltzed in.

"What's with the long faces?" she asked. "Don't tell me there's another apocalypse, we just saved the world last week. Again."

"No, no apocalypse," Giles said.

"Good," Cordelia said, relieved. "Giles, I need a book."

"Surprise, surprise," Xander said.

"That's Cordelia," Buffy introduced her after she noticed the curious expression on Faith's face. "Cordelia, this is Faith. She's a Slayer."

"Kendra's replacement?"

"Yes," Buffy said, embarrassed by Cordelia's bluntness.

"Oh. Okay," she said and followed Giles.

"She's… unique," Faith said with a smirk.

Buffy smiled.

"She definitely is."

"Let's define unique first," Xander said.

"So, em, you all know who I am," Faith said. "That's my mom."

Buffy smiled, having noticed the pride with which Faith introduced her.

"Hi. I'm Buffy."

"So I gathered," Mrs Spencer said with a smile.

"You've met Giles, my Watcher, and Cordelia. And these here are Xander, Willow and Oz."

"Hi," Willow said.

"Hey," Faith said. She looked at Buffy. "So, you spend a lot of time in this library?"

Buffy smiled.

"Yeah, it's kinda our headquarters. Giles has most of his books here and Willow can hack into police computer at school's expense."

"Yeah?" Faith said, interested. "Looks like you have a whole support squad."

Buffy smiled.

"Yeah. They save my life, I save theirs and together we save the world."

Faith grinned.

"So, are you staying here or just passing through?" Cordelia asked as she returned with a book in hand.

Faith looked at her and then glanced at her mother.

"I don't know yet. Right now I need to worry about Kakistos."

"Who's he?"

"A bad ass vamp."

"Oh," Cordelia said and sat down.

"That's my mom, by the way," Faith said and pointed at her mother.

Cordelia looked at her.

"Hi. I'm Cordelia."

"Nice to meet you," Mrs Spencer said with a smile.

"Sometimes ignorance is a bliss," Xander commented.

"No wonder you're always so happy," Cordelia said and glared at him.

Faith chuckled at the exchange.

"I will notify the Council," Giles said and went to his office.

"Where are you from?" Willow asked Faith.

"Boston."

"Are there many demons there?" Xander asked.

"Not really. I usually got about ten a week."

"Oh." He looked at Buffy. "What's your average?"

Buffy smiled.

"Depends on whether there's an apocalypse that week or not."

Faith chuckled. Then she thought for a moment.

"Do you know where I could hide my mom until we take care of Kakistos?"

"Faith?" Mrs Spencer said, surprised.

Faith looked at her.

"Mom, he's coming for me. I slashed his face and he's pissed. I want you safe so I won't have to worry about you."

"Oh," Mrs Spencer said, agreeing but not liking it. "And you?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"I'll check into a motel." She looked at Buffy. "You do have motels around here, right?"

"Yes," Buffy said with a nod.

"Good." She looked at her mother. "We'll move when Kakistos is dead."

"Okay," Mrs Spencer agreed.

Faith looked back at Buffy.

"So, any ideas?"

"About? Oh!" She frowned. "I don't know. I'd say my place, but I'm a Slayer, so that might not be the best idea. Maybe Giles' place, he has room."

"You think he'll agree?"

"You'll have to ask him."

"Ask me what?" Giles asked as he came out of his office.

"If her mom can stay with you until we kill Kakistos."

Giles frowned.

"Why?"

"So she won't be… in the way when Kakistos comes."

"Ah." He looked at Mrs Spencer. "Yes, of course."

Mrs Spencer smiled.

"Thank you."

The warning bell rang.

"Damn, just when things were getting interesting," Xander said.

"You mean people," Cordelia said as she got up.

"What?" Xander said, startled.

"People. As in Faith," Cordelia said and left.

Xander blushed, stammering.

"I see I still haven't lost my touch," Faith said and smiled at him.

Xander quickly turned and left and Faith chuckled.

"Is he always like that?" she asked Buffy.

"Only when he's around women."

Faith chuckled.

"Which means all the time."

Buffy smiled.

"Yes. I'll see you later. Are you gonna be here?"

Faith looked at Giles.

"I guess so. I mean, you probably have questions."

Giles nodded.

"Yes."

Faith looked at Buffy.

"I'll see you later then. And hey, we can train together," she suggested.

"Yes," Buffy agreed enthusiastically.

"That would be a good idea," Giles agreed.

"Okay," Buffy said. "See you later."

"Yeah."

Buffy quickly ran after her friends and Faith stared after her until she was gone.

During the next few breaks, Faith and Mrs Spencer stayed at the library, and Buffy and the gang came there to talk to them. It was mostly Buffy and Faith that did the talking and the rest of the Scoobs only occasionally asked a question.

Finally, the school was over for the day.

"You're going to Giles' place now?" Buffy asked.

"We have to get our bags first," Faith said. "We left them at the bus station."

"Oh." Buffy thought for a moment. "I'll come over after lunch and then we can go find a motel. And after that we can go back to the library and do some practice."

"Yeah, that'd be nice," Faith agreed with a nod.

"Okay, I'll see you later then."

"Okay."

Buffy and her friends left and Faith and Mrs Spencer waited for Giles to close up.

"Mom?" Buffy said when she got home.

"Yes?" Joyce said from the living room.

Buffy went there.

"Guess what. Another Slayer came to town."

"Really?"

"Yes. Her name is Faith and she's from Boston."

"Is she staying or just passing through?"

"She doesn’t know yet. She came here because she needs my help."

"Your help?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes. Some really bad vamp forced her Watcher to kill herself. Like Merrick," she added quietly and sighed. "Anyway, her mom is staying with Giles and she's gonna stay at a motel until we kill the vamp."

"Her mother?"

"Yeah, they came together. She knows about demons and stuff."

"Oh."

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"Can I invite them over for lunch or something after we kill the vamp?"

"Yes, of course," Joyce said with a smile.

Buffy smiled as well.

"Thanks, Mom."

After taking Faith and Mrs Spencer to the bus station to pick up their bags, Giles took them to his house. He showed Mrs Spencer to the guest room and then left to make them some lunch.

"Are you gonna be okay?" Faith asked after Giles left.

Mrs Spencer chuckled.

"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"

Faith smiled.

"I'll be fine. I'm safe during the day and at night, I'll have Buffy's help."

Mrs Spencer smiled.

"You like her, don't you?"

Faith found herself blushing.

"Yeah," she said and looked away. "Em, anyway, I think you should stay in the house until we take care of Kakistos. I mean, you can go to the store. I'll stay away from here, in case someone follows me. But I'll call you."

"Okay," Mrs Spencer said.

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"And how's your… drinking problem?"

Mrs Spencer sighed.

"I'm trying, but sometimes I really need a drink. But I have this here."

She took her wallet from her purse and opened it. Faith looked and frowned.

"Is that me?" she asked, seeing a picture of her mother when she was younger and of a baby.

Mrs Spencer smiled.

"Yes. I look at it every time I get this craving. It doesn't go away, but I endure."

Faith smiled.

"I think we should go to the mall and have our pictures taken. They probably have those automatic machines there."

Mrs Spencer smiled.

"Yes, we could do that. As soon as you take care of Kakistos."

Faith nodded.

"Okay."

After lunch, Buffy came to Giles' place.

"Hey, B… Buffy," Faith said, quickly correcting herself.

"B-Buffy?" Buffy said, smirking, causing Faith to blush.

"So, you know any cheap motels?" Faith quickly changed the subject.

"Yes, sure."

"Okay." Faith turned to her mom. "Mom, I'm going now. I'll call you later."

"Okay, honey."

Faith hesitated for a moment and then hugged her. Mrs Spencer hugged her back, smiling.

"Be careful," she said.

Faith smiled.

"I will," she said and broke the hug. "Hopefully, I'll see you in a couple of days."

"Okay."

Faith picked up her bag.

"Well, see you."

"We'll come to the library then, Giles," Buffy said.

"Yes," Giles said. "I will go there as well."

"Okay."

The Slayers then left and Mrs Spencer took a deep breath. She looked at Giles.

"You're Buffy's Watcher," she said.

"Yes."

"Do you care about her?"

"Like she was my own."

Mrs Spencer nodded.

"Faith said the same thing about Mrs Hutchinson."

"Did you know her?"

Mrs Spencer shook her head.

"Not really. I only saw her twice and I had no idea who she was."

"Oh."

"But I did notice that she cared about Faith."

"What's going on between you and your mom?" Buffy asked as she and Faith walked down the street.

"What do you mean?" Faith asked.

"Well, I noticed that you seemed… awkward around her."

"Oh. Yeah." She sighed. "She used to drink and we were on very bad terms. We're just getting to know one another all over again."

"Oh." Buffy thought for a moment. "How did she find out about you being the Slayer and all?"

"I saved her from a couple of vamps last week. And then we came across some demon."

"So she doesn't know for long?"

"No. I didn't really want to tell her, but we were having a heart to heart and she said she wanted to know, so I told her."

"Everything?"

"Well, almost. I left out some of the more gruesome details."

"Oh."

"And your mom?"

"She knows, yes."

"How did she find out?"

Buffy sighed.

"It was just after Kendra was killed. I was wanted for her murder and Mom was worried. I told her what I was and we had a quarrel because she was worried about the cops. And me. But I needed to go save the world, again, and she practically threw me out of the house." She sighed. "I saved the world and then I left."

"Shit," Faith said. "Where did you go?"

"LA. I worked as a waitress for a couple of months. I was tired of being a Slayer and I just wanted a normal life, but I finally realized that I was a Slayer and that was that. Then I came back."

"Oh."

"I nearly left again because everyone either ignored me or kept watching me like they were just waiting for me to screw up or something. Mom and I had another argument, but this time I was saved by a bunch of zombies."

"Yeah?"

Buffy smiled a bit.

"Yes. Mom started to deal then."

"So you're on good terms now?"

"Yes."

"That's good."

"Yes. As a matter of fact, I just got accepted back to school today."

"Yeah?" Faith said, surprised.

"Yes. I have a whole bunch of things to make up for. Fortunately, at least my English makeup exam is behind me."

Faith grinned.

"I'll bet. So, what's Giles like?"

"He's okay, for an Englishman," Buffy said and Faith grinned. "And he cares. I mean, he's sort of like a father to me and the gang."

"Yeah?"

"Yes."

"Cool."

"He even helps out."

"As in physical combat?" Faith asked, surprised.

"Yes."

"Wow. And your friends?"

"They too."

"No kidding," Faith said, impressed. "Man, I wish I had friends like that."

Buffy smiled proudly.

"Yes. And Willow is also a hacker and a witch."

"Really? Cool."

"And Oz is a werewolf."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah? Isn't he dangerous?"

"No. I mean, we lock him up during the full moon, so he doesn't kill anyone."

"Oh. Well, as long as he doesn't go scratching at me or humping my leg, we're five by five. "

Buffy smiled.

"Oh, did I mention that Xander and Cordelia are sort of secretly dating?"

Faith burst into laughter.

"Talk about opposites attracting," she said, shaking her head.

Buffy smiled.

"Yeah."

"So, have I met all your friends?"

"Yes. How about you?"

"Me?"

"Yes. Do you have any friends?"

Faith thought for a moment.

"No, not really. I mean, I have my drinking buddies, but I don't drink as much anymore, because I can't get drunk."

"Oh."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"And how's your love life?"

"What love life?" Buffy said and Faith smiled sadly.

"That bad, huh?"

"Yeah. Willow's trying to set me up with someone, but I haven't decided yet."

Faith chuckled.

"I just can't imagine Willow as a matchmaker."

Buffy smiled.

"I know."

"Does this guy know about vamps and stuff?"

"No."

"Then it's not gonna work."

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"How come you're so sure?" she asked, slightly offended.

"Well, somehow I don't think he's gonna understand that his girlfriend has to leave every five minutes and then come back looking like she's just been at a discount sale, and not offering any explanations."

Buffy thought about it.

"I can see your point," she agreed. "And you?"

"Me? No boyfriends. I mean, I had a few before I became a Slayer," she hesitated for a moment, "I even had a girlfriend, but things didn't work out."

"You had a girlfriend?" Buffy asked, surprised.

"Yeah. But now I just do one night stands. You know, 'get some, get gone', that's my motto."

"Oh." Buffy hesitated for a moment. "And you sleep with girls too?"

Faith shrugged.

"Yeah. Depends."

"On what?" Buffy asked, puzzled.

"Whether I just want a quick release or quality."

Buffy frowned.

"I don't understand."

Faith smirked.

"Guys usually just want to get into my panties. When I'm wearing them," she added with a grin. "They do their thing and that's it. But girls, they usually want more attention and they also give more attention."

"Oh," Buffy said, blushing. She hesitated for a moment. "So, what is it like?" she asked, curious. "I mean, sleeping with a girl?"

Faith grinned.

"Well, you know when you're touching yourself?" she asked, causing Buffy to blush. "Now imagine some other girl's hands doing that. And imagine you doing that to some other girl, how she squirms beneath you as you please her and…"

"Okay, okay, I get the picture," Buffy interrupted her, blushing deeply.

Faith grinned.

"Just a picture or the whole movie?" she asked, causing Buffy to blush even deeper.

"Very funny."

"I though so too. So, are there any good clubs around? Where I could get someone for the one half of the after-slaying activity?"

Buffy frowned.

"After-slaying activity?"

Faith smirked.

"Yeah, you know."

"Know what?"

"How do you feel after slaying?"

Buffy's frown deepened.

"I don't know. Hungry."

"Just hungry? How about horny?"

Buffy blushed.

"Well…"

"I'm sure you have to change the batteries on your best friend often."

"My best f…" Buffy's eyes went wide and she trailed off as she realized what Faith was talking about. "I don't have a vibrator."

Faith grinned.

"So you use your hands." She glanced at the hands in question. "No wonder they're so smooth."

"Faith!" Buffy protested, blushing. "What's with you and sex?"

Faith shrugged.

"What can I say, I love it," she said with a grin. She hesitated for a moment. "And besides, I want to have fun while I can."

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

"Well, I'm still looking for that special someone."

"Oh." Buffy thought for a moment. "How will you know?"

Faith smiled dreamily.

"I know."

"You know? So you already found someone?" Buffy asked.

Faith blushed a bit.

"Well, yeah, I think so. There is someone I like a lot."

"Yeah?" Buffy said, curious. "What makes him so special?"

"It's a she," Faith corrected her.

"Oh," Buffy said, surprised.

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know. I mean, the first time I saw her, it was… I don't know. I just knew it. I mean, every time she looks at me, I feel special, you know? I just feel like I'm melting inside and the butterflies feel like they're all on ecstasy."

"Butterflies?" Buffy asked, confused.

"In my stomach."

"Oh."

"And I just feel happy when I'm around her."

Buffy thought for a moment, slightly disturbed that when she thought about it, it was Faith who caused her those same feelings, not Angel.

"Does she know?"

"She knows I'm bi, but she doesn't know I'm in love with her." She hesitated for a moment. "She knows I'm in love with someone, she just doesn’t know it's her."

"Oh." She hesitated for a moment. "Why don't you tell her?"

Faith smiled sadly.

"I don't think so. I mean, as far as I know, she's straight. And besides, I don't want to lose our friendship."

Buffy frowned.

"What do you mean?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Well, suppose she won't want to be friends with me if she finds out. Or maybe it will make her uncomfortable. I've only met her recently and I don't want to lose her."

Buffy thought for a moment.

"But if you don't tell her, she might get together with someone else."

Faith sighed.

"I know. And if it makes her happy, I won't interfere, I'll just… worship from afar and make sure she doesn't get hurt."

Buffy glanced at Faith, surprised that she was wishing that she was the object of Faith's affections.

"She sure must be someone special," she said.

Faith looked Buffy in the eyes and smiled.

"She is," she said, wishing she could tell Buffy that she was the one.

Buffy blushed a bit and looked away.

"So, are there any good clubs around here?" Faith returned to their previous conversation.

"Well, there's the Bronze."

"The Bronze?"

"Yeah. I mean, there are other… seedier clubs, but I haven't been to any of them."

"Oh. So, this Bronze, what's it like?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"It's okay. The music is mostly okay and they have live bands every week."

"Yeah?"

"Yes. It's nice and most people go there."

"Oh."

"I'll take you there tonight, before we go on patrol."

"Okay."

"We'll take the tour of the cemeteries."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"A tour? Just how many cemeteries are there?"

"Too many. Sunnydale probably has the highest mortality rate in the world."

"Yeah?"

"Yes."

"Sounds like you could use another Slayer."

Buffy's eyes brightened.

"So you're staying?"

Faith shrugged noncommittally.

"Maybe. If I live through this business with Kakistos. I haven't decided yet. And I have to ask Mom too."

"Oh."

"Know of any good places where we could stay?"

Buffy thought.

"Not at the moment. I'll have to ask Mom."

"Something not too expensive. I mean, my mom's only a waitress."

"Oh. I'll ask."

"Thanks."

"Giles!" Buffy called as she and Faith entered the library.

"Hey, guys," Xander said and smiled.

"Hey," Buffy said.

"Ah, you're here," Giles said as he came from his office.

"Able, willing and ready."

"Talk about associations," Xander murmured.

Faith grinned.

"Came to see two Slayers go at one another?"

Xander blushed and grinned.

"A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he said. "So far."

"Do you want to be the punching bag?" Buffy asked him mischievously.

Xander raised his hands.

"No, thank you. I leave that job to Giles."

Giles looked at him sharply.

"How kind of you," he said, and Xander smiled sheepishly.

"Hi, guys," Willow said as she and Oz entered. "Are we late?"

Faith looked at Buffy.

"I think maybe we should start charging admission."

Buffy smiled at her.

"That's a good idea."

"Should we wait for Cordelia?"

"She has cheerleading practice," Xander said.

Faith grinned at him.

"So instead of a squad of sweaty cheerleaders, you chose to ogle two sweaty Slayers?"

Xander blushed.

"Hey, I'm not the only spectator," he pointed out.

Faith glanced at Willow and Oz.

"Red's only here because she's worried I might hurt her best friend and Oz is here because Red's here."

Buffy crossed her arms.

"You're pretty sure of yourself."

Faith batted her eyelashes at her.

"Yep, I'm pretty and I'm sure of myself. Want me to prove it?"

"Do your best."

Faith glanced at Giles.

"So, judge, can we begin?"

Giles looked from one Slayer to the other and back. He sighed.

"You may begin," he said, and Faith immediately attacked.

"Hey, that's not fair!" Buffy protested as she defended herself.

"Is that how you win your fights?" Faith asked with a smirk as she pounded on Buffy. "You whine about fairness and when they feel sorry for you, you stake them?"

Buffy pouted.

"I'll show you," she said and went on the offensive.

"Man, I should've brought popcorn," Xander said as Buffy and Faith fought. "This is way better than Kickboxer. Go Buffy!"

Willow glanced at him, amused.

"Your own… one-man cheerleading… squad," Faith said as she defended herself against Buffy's attack.

"Looks like you need it… more than I do," Buffy said and grinned.

"I'm still… kicking," Faith said, scoring with a kick.

"For now," Buffy said and retaliated.

The beating went on for several minutes and both Slayers scored a few times, but neither wanted to give up first.

"Okay, that's enough," Giles finally decided to end the show.

Buffy and Faith each took a step back, panting.

"Man, that was… Have you thought about doing it for money?" Xander asked.

The Slayers looked at him, their eyebrows raised, and he smiled sheepishly.

"Faith," Giles spoke up, rescuing Xander. "I've spoken with the Council and they have assigned me as your Watcher until they send someone else."

"Do they have to?" Faith asked.

Giles frowned.

"What do you mean?"

"Do they have to send someone else? I mean, you could be Buffy's Watcher and mine."

"Well, as much as I'm glad you think so, the Council disagrees."

"Oh. Well, tell them to take their time. First, Buffy and I need to kill Kakistos and then, Mom and I still have to decide whether we'll stay here or go back to Boston."

"I see. I will notify them."

"So, what's next?" Xander asked.

Buffy looked at Faith.

"Staffs?"

Faith grinned.

"Want to get spanked?"

Buffy blushed.

"We'll see who gets spanked," she said and left to get the staffs.

"And they say men have too much testosterone," Xander said, and Faith grinned at him.

"Faith," Buffy said and threw Faith a staff.

Faith caught it and twirled it through the air. Buffy immediately attacked and Faith grinned.

"You learn fast," she said, defending herself.

"That's why I'm the best."

"As I recall, it was a tie."

"Only because Giles took pity on you."

Faith glanced at Giles.

"Giles, can I beat the crap out of her?"

"Eh, no," Giles said, causing Faith to grin.

"I guess you're lucky."

"You're lucky."

"See, you're already losing your wit."

"Very funny."

"I thought so too," Faith said and tried to trip Buffy, but Buffy jumped and tried to hit Faith on the head.

"That was so movie-like," Faith commented.

"Maybe we should call this a debate club," Xander commented.

"And maybe… we should use you for target practice," Buffy said.

Faith grinned as she caught sight of Xander covering his mouth with his hand.

"If you're so mean… to your friends, I'm afraid to think… what you do to the vamps. Not," she added and Buffy stuck out her tongue at her. "Oh, what a… cute tongue. You better keep it… safe, it would be a shame… if you bite it off."

"Smart mouth."

Faith grinned.

"I think I better take pity… on you, you're already… losing wit."

Buffy wanted to stuck out her tongue at Faith again, but she changed her mind, not wanting to provoke another taunt.

"What's the matter?" Faith asked. "Cat got your tongue?"

Buffy ignored her and concentrated. She speeded up her movements, forcing Faith to concentrate on the fight rather than on talking.

"Okay, that's enough," Giles said when the fight got too fast for his liking.

The Slayers immediately took a step back each.

"Saved by the Watcher," Faith said with a grin.

"Man, she has a mouth worthy of Cordelia," Xander commented, causing Willow to giggle.

Faith looked at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Want me to show you just how bad my mouth can be?" she asked and licked her lips seductively.

Xander gasped and his body temperature rose.

"I… I… Eh, no, thanks," she said and Faith winked at him.

"You're so bad," Buffy said, smiling, as she took Faith staff.

"Actually, I'm so good," Faith corrected her.

"You're so full of yourself," Buffy said, shaking her head, as she took the staffs back to where she got them.

"That's the trick, Buffy. Always keep them guessing."

"What's there to guess? I usually come, I stake, and I leave."

"How very Caesar of you," Faith said with a grin and turned to Giles. "So, how'd I do?"

"Very well," Giles said.

"Good. Buffy and I'll go on patrol in the evening and I'll play the bait." She hesitated for a moment. "I have a feeling that Kakistos is already here. Or he'll come tonight."

"But you only came today," Willow said.

"I know, but I kept having this feeling that we were being followed. I didn't see anyone, but that doesn't mean that they weren't there."

"We'll keep our eyes open."

Faith smiled sadly.

"It won't help you much. If you come across him, he'll probably be the last thing that you see. I suggest you stay at home or somewhere crowded."

"But…"

"I mean it," Faith said, her face serious. "He's bad news."

"She's right," Buffy supported her. "Wait for us at the Bronze."

"Okay," Willow agreed.

"So," Faith said as she plopped herself on the table, "is Kakistos the crisis of the week or is there something else?"

"That's about it this week," Buffy said and joined her.

"Oh joy," Faith said sarcastically. "So nice to be the center of attention."

"Hey, it will be over in a few days," Buffy tried to cheer her up.

Faith sighed.

"Yeah, one way or another," she said quietly.

Buffy hesitated for a moment and then took Faith's hand in her own and gently squeezed it. Faith tensed a bit at the contact.

"Hey, I'll be there with you," Buffy said.

Faith took a deep breath and pulled her hand out of Buffy's.

"I know. Thank god for that. So, any idea where we could get bigger stakes?"

"Bigger stakes?" Buffy said, puzzled.

"Yeah. You know, for Kakistos. Normal stakes don't work on him."

"Oh." She frowned. "I don't know." She thought for a moment. "We can always take an axe, go to the park and cut down a tree."

Faith chuckled.

"We can't carry that around."

"No, but we can lure Kakistos there."

Faith thought about it.

"That might work." She looked at Buffy. "How about you give me the tour of the town now?"

"Okay," Buffy said and hopped off the table.

Faith followed her.

"Can we come along?" Xander asked. "We can provide additional comments."

Faith shrugged.

"Sure."

After the tour of the town, Buffy escorted Faith back to the motel and then went home. Faith took a shower and then watched TV a bit. After dinner, she called her mother.

"Hello?" Giles said when he answered the phone.

"Giles? It's me, Faith. Can I talk to Mom?"

"Yes, of course," Giles said. "One moment."

Faith could hear him call her mother.

"Faith?" Mrs Spencer asked a few moments later.

"Yeah. I just called to tell you that I'm going out."

"Oh. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I'm five by five." She hesitated for a moment. "Do you want me call you when I get back?"

"Yes, please."

"Okay."

"Be careful."

"I will. Bye."

"Bye."

Faith hung up and turned on the TV. Just then somebody knocked on the door, so she turned the TV off again.

"Who is it?" she asked as she carefully approached the door.

"Me!" Buffy called.

Faith relaxed and opened the door.

"Hey," she said and smiled.

Buffy smiled back.

"Hey. Ready to go?"

"Oh yeah."

"So, this is the Bronze," Faith said as they entered the Bronze.

"Yep," Buffy said and looked around. "Ah, the guys are already here."

"Who are those girls with Cordelia?" Faith asked and nodded in the direction of Cordelia.

Buffy looked.

"Her friends."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"But not yours."

"No. I mean, I hang out with Willow and Xander, and now Oz, and Cordelia hangs out with them. And while she helps us out, she doesn't really like us."

"You mean Xander?" Faith said with a grin.

Buffy smiled.

"Yes. And she sort of thinks I'm responsible for the vampires and stuff."

Faith chuckled.

"How about we get them some drinks?" she said and nodded at Willow and Oz, who were smooching in a loveseat.

Buffy looked and smiled.

"Okay," she said and they went to the bar to get the drinks.

As Buffy ordered, Faith scanned the crowd for vamps and potential one night stands.

"Here, help me, Faith," Buffy said when she got the drinks.

Faith turned and picked up two glasses. Then they walked to Willow and Oz.

"Don't let us interrupt you," Buffy said as they sat down.

Willow and Oz stopped making out and looked at them.

"Thanks," Oz said as he accepted a drink from Buffy.

Faith gave the other one to Willow.

"Thanks," Willow said. She looked at Buffy. "Are you…" She looked at Oz. "Isn't she glowing?"

Buffy rolled her eyes.

"Definitely glowing," Oz agreed.

"Yeah, Buffy, I've been wondering about that," Faith said. "Is there something you're not telling us?" she asked with a smirk and wiggled her eyebrows.

Buffy looked at her, pouting.

"I passed my English makeup exam and I'm hanging with my friends." She smiled. "Hello, my life, how I've missed you."

Faith rolled her eyes, smiling.

Scott approached, and Willow smiled at him.

"Hi, Scott. What are you doing here?"

Scott smiled at her.

"You told me if I came after eight, I could run into Buffy."

Buffy shot Willow a look, and Faith laughed. Willow hid behind her drink, taking a big gulp, embarrassed.

Scott glanced at Faith, wondering who she was, and then looked at Buffy.

"Uh, I'm sorry. I'm a bad liar."

He apparently wanted to say something else, but he changed his mind.

Buffy smiled at him.

"Hi, Scott."

"Hi."

Faith observed the exchange curiously, feeling jealous of Scott. She found Scott cute, but he lacked personality. She said nothing, leaving it to Buffy to decide whether to pursue a relationship with him or not.

Scott looked around, searching for something to comment on.

"Don't you just love this song?" he then asked.

"Uh, yeah! I actually do," Buffy said overly enthusiastically, and Faith rolled her eyes.

Scott noticed it and got even more nervous.

"Em, would you like to, em, dance?" he asked.

Buffy glanced at Willow, who smiled at her encouragingly.

"Em, I don't know," she said and Willow frowned. "I'm bad with… Em…" She fidgeted. "Thank you for asking, it's just that there…"

"Okay, you know what?" Scott interrupted her. "I'm just gonna go stand by the dance floor. If you change your mind, you can mosey on over, and then if not, then you don't mosey. No harm, no foul, right?"

"Right," Buffy said halfheartedly, and Scott left.

Faith chuckled.

"That was the worst come on ever," she said.

Buffy rolled her eyes and flopped her head back, mentally kicking herself for the way she handled that.

"Come on, Buffy," Willow said, disappointed. "I mean, the guy is charming, a-and normal, which is what you wanted to get back to."

"Plus, bonus points for the use of the word 'mosey'," Oz said.

Buffy sighed.

"I just don't think I'm ready."

"What's stopping you?" Willow asked.

"Stopping?" Xander asked as he and Cordelia arrived.

"Buffy just shot down Scott," Willow said.

"Yeah?" Xander said and looked around for Scott.

"I don’t know," Buffy said. "I mean, like you said, he's normal. And I like normal, but he doesn't know about vamps and stuff. I mean, how do I explain to him why I have to leave in the middle of a make-out session? Once he might believe my excuse, but then he'd start to wonder."

"Oh," Willow said.

"I mean, don't get me wrong, I like him, he's cute, and normal, but…"

"Not your type?" Xander asked.

"Oh, he's my type alright, it's… I don't know."

"He's a wimp?" Faith suggested.

Buffy scowled at her.

"Well, not a wimp, just… I don't think we're compatible."

"Ah, too boring for you."

Buffy's scowl turned into a glare, which quickly gave way to a sad expression.

"Yeah, I guess so. I mean, the only thing that attracts me is that he's normal. And cute, can't forget cute."

"So no low down tickles when you think of him?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Well, there are a few butterflies, but that's it. Nothing compared to your butterflies on ecstasy."

Faith blushed and was glad that they couldn't see it due to the lights. Or lack thereof.

"What butterflies?" Xander asked. He looked at Buffy. "I didn't know you were fond of biology."

Buffy rolled her eyes and Faith chuckled.

"I'm not talking biology…" She trailed off, frowning. "Actually, I am." She sighed. "Those butterflies you're supposed to get when you think of Cordelia."

"Oh," Xander said and blushed. Then he looked at Faith. "And yours are on ecstasy?"

Faith squirmed in her seat nervously.

"Yeah."

"You have a boyfriend?" Willow asked, curious.

"No."

"Then what's with the butterflies?" Xander asked.

"She has a girlfriend," Buffy explained. "Well, sort of. She's in love with a girl."

"You're gay?" Cordelia asked.

Faith rolled her eyes, trying to hide her nervousness.

"No, I'm bi. I like boys just fine, thank you."

"Oh," Cordelia said and looked around.

"What's she like?" Willow asked.

Faith fidgeted nervously, not really looking forward to telling about her love life to them.

"Check out the Disco Dave," Cordelia saved her from answering.

Everybody looked at the man in question, who was dancing with a girl.

"What was the last thing that guy danced to, K. C. and the Sunshine Band?"

"I think someone forgot to send him the memo," Faith said.

"What memo?" Xander asked.

"That they stopped shooting the Saturday Night Fever."

Xander grinned.

"I don't think that guy thrives on sunshine," Buffy said when the guy in question left with his dance partner.

She put down her drink and started after them.

"No wonder that he didn't get the memo, he's dead," Faith said and followed her. "Can I have him?" she asked when she caught up with Buffy.

"Hi."

The Slayers stopped, startled, and looked at the speaker. It was Scott.

"Hi," Buffy said. "Oh," she frowned. "No, I…" she pointed at the door. "I-I have to…"

"Oh," Scott said. "Uh, uh, sorry, my bad."

"No. I-It's mine," Buffy said apologetically, causing Faith to roll her eyes. "Really, it's mine, but I…" she glanced at the Scooby Gang, who was following them, "I-I have to go," she said and hurried out.

Faith leaned closer to Scott.

"I don't think she's interested," she said and followed Buffy.

Scott stared after them, confused.

"Where'd they go?" Buffy asked when she got outside.

Everybody looked around.

"I bet it's nothing," Cordelia said. "They're probably just making out."

"Hey!" the heard a girl call, followed by a scream.

Buffy and Faith ran in the direction of the scream.

"That's not what making out sounds like," Willow said as she and the others followed, "unless I'm doing it wrong."

Buffy and Faith quickly located the vamp and his victim.

"Hey!" Buffy called as they approached them.

The vamp turned and growled at them.

"Get a mint," Faith said and punched him in the face.

The vamp let go of the girl as he fell down. The girl, who was also pulled down, quickly got up and ran away.

"You're welcome," Faith said as Buffy kicked the vamp in the head and then quickly staked him. "Nothing like team work," she then said. "I soften them up and you finish them off."

Buffy glared at her, and Faith smiled sheepishly.

"So, how about you take me on a tour of the cemeteries you promised earlier?" Faith asked, changing the topic.

Buffy stared at her for a moment.

"Okay." She looked at the Scooby Gang. "We'll see you later, guys."

"Okay," Willow said.

"Man, that's a lot of cemeteries," Faith said as she and Buffy entered yet another one.

"I told you."

"Can you get all the newborns?"

"Usually. If they're reported dead in the first place."

"Oh. Good thing you have Willow to help you out."

"Yeah."

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Are there any of those automatic photo machines at the mall?"

Buffy glanced at her.

"Yeah. Why?"

"Mom and I want to take some photos of us. The only ones of us together are from the time when I was little."

"Oh."

They were quiet for a few moments, both alert.

"Em, Buffy?" Faith then said.

"Yes?"

"Do you have a feeling we're being watched?"

"I was just about to ask you the same thing," Buffy confirmed.

Faith looked around and then nodded at a tomb.

"How about we go behind that tomb and see who's following us," she suggested.

Buffy nodded.

"Okay."

They went to the tomb and hid behind it.

When they didn't show up after a minute, the trio of vamps who were following them finally decided to see where they had disappeared to. They came out in the open and carefully approached the tomb. They looked behind it, but there was nobody there. They looked at one another, confused.

"Boo," Faith said from behind them and they all jumped, startled.

"Looking for us?" Buffy asked.

"I know you," Faith said, recognizing one of the vamps. "You're one of Kakistos' guys."

"We live for Kakistos, we die for Kakistos!" the vamp said.

"You got that right," Faith said and attacked him.

Buffy attacked another one. The third vamp briefly considered joining the fight, but he decided to run instead.

"Damn," Buffy said. "Let's follow him."

"Sure, as soon as we finish these… one," she said as she dusted her vamp.

Buffy quickly sent her vamp toward her and Faith staked it as well.

"Now who's cleaning up," Buffy said with a smile. "Let's go."

She started to run, and Faith followed her.

They ran for a while, making sure that they avoided the vamp, who was stupid enough to run straight back to Kakistos' new base.

"Bingo," Faith said as she and Buffy peeked into a warehouse.

"Unfortunately, we're outnumbered," Buffy said.

"Damn."

"We'll come back tomorrow after school. The guys can shatter the windows from the outside and we finish up the vamps inside."

"What about the stake?"

"There's plenty of them inside," Buffy said and pointed at several wooden beams lying in a pile.

"Oh. Nice."

"Is that Kakistos?" Buffy asked and pointed at the ugly vamp.

"Yes."

"That scar, is it your souvenir?"

Faith smiled sadly.

"Yeah." She frowned. "Hmm."

"What?" Buffy asked, noticing Faith's thoughtful expression.

"See that black vamp in fancy dress?"

Buffy looked.

"Yeah."

"I have this feeling that in some way he's more dangerous than Kakistos. I mean, Kakistos is old, outdated, but this guy, this guy is new. Look, he even has a computer."

"Yes. That's definitely not something you see every day."

"Yeah. Ouch, that's gotta hurt," Faith said when she saw Kakistos hit the vamp they'd been following.

"Yes."

"Let's get out of here now."

"What if Kakistos decides to go somewhere else?" Buffy asked.

"He won't," Faith assured her, "he's very confident in his power."

"Oh. Then let's go back to the Bronze."

"Okay."

"Hey, back already?" Xander asked the Slayers when they arrived to the Bronze.

"Yes," Buffy said. "We know where Kakistos is setting up his base."

"Really? Where?"

"At some abandoned warehouse. We'll make a plan tomorrow."

"What's he like?"

"Big, and ugly." She glanced at Faith. "And he has a scar over his face, courtesy of Faith."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah," Faith said, not very enthusiastic about reliving the bad memories. She took a deep breath and glanced at the dance floor, hesitating. "So, em, Buffy, wanna dance?"

Buffy looked at her, surprised.

"Em, I don't know," Buffy said and looked around. "I mean, I turned down Scott…"

"He's gone," Faith said.

"Oh." Buffy hesitated for a moment, listening to the music. "Okay, why not," she said.

Faith's eyes brightened and she smiled.

"Come," she said and led the way to the dance floor.

Xander shuddered and covered his mouth with his hand to stop himself from saying something that would earn him Cordelia's elbow to the ribs.

Faith started dancing sensuously yet energetically. Buffy started more hesitantly, but she soon relaxed and matched Faith's movements. Needless to say, Xander's body temperature went up as he watched them.

After a while, the two Slayers returned to their friends.

"Wow," was all Xander could say and even that earned him a glare from Cordelia.

Faith smirked.

"Glad you liked." She looked at Buffy. "Listen, I'm going back to the motel now. I need to call Mom, she's probably worried."

"I'll walk you," Buffy said.

"Okay."

"Hey, we'll go too," Cordelia said.

"We are?" Xander asked, surprised.

"Yes. I don't want walk around at night with that Khaki vamp on the loose."

"Oh," Xander said and looked at the Slayers. "She has a point."

"Then we'll go too," Willow said and Oz nodded.

"Then let's go," Buffy said.

"Yeah, the more the merrier," Faith said.

After walking their friends safely home, Buffy escorted Faith to the motel.

"I'll see you tomorrow," she said as Faith unlocked the door.

"Yeah," Faith said with a smile.

"You're coming to the library, right?"

"Asbolutely."

"Okay. Night."

"Night."

Buffy hesitated for a moment and then left.

Faith stared after her for a few moments and then entered. She went to the phone and called her mother.

"Hello?" Giles said as he answered the phone.

"Giles? It's me. Can I talk to Mom?"

"Yes, of course. One moment."

There was a brief silence as the phone receiver was passed from hand to hand.

"Faith?"

"Yeah, Mom. I'm fine. Tell Giles we've found Kakistos. We'll make a plan tomorrow."

"Okay."

"I'll call you tomorrow, before I go to the library."

"Okay."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Night, Mom."

"Good night, Faith."

Faith hung up and sighed. She hesitated for a few moments and then undressed and went to the bathroom to take a shower.

"Where are Buffy and Red?" Faith asked when she came to the library to find only Xander, Oz and Cordelia there.

"Cramming," Xander said. "Buffy has a health science makeup the next period."

"Oh. I guess I'll cross my fingers then," Faith said and crossed her fingers.

"That's what we're doing," Xander said and raised his hands.

"Speak for yourself," Cordelia said.

Oz simply raised his hands with crossed fingers.

Faith grinned.

"So, how about we make a plan," she suggested.

"Without Buffy?" Xander asked.

Faith shrugged.

"Saves time. And besides, Buffy and I already made a quick plan yesterday."

"What plan?" Cordelia asked. "Does it involve me getting vampire dust on my clothes?"

Faith smirked.

"Actually, it doesn't."

Cordelia thought for a moment.

"What do I do?"

Faith chuckled.

"Well, it's simple. Kakistos is staying at an abandoned warehouse. The windows are darkened but not boarded up. You're gonna start throwing stones at the windows and Buffy and I will go in and kill those vamps that aren't gonna be killed by the sunlight. You're also welcome to use the crossbows."

"What about that bigger stake?" Xander asked.

"There are some wooden beams lying around there, we'll use one of them."

"Oh. I guess it will do." He looked at Giles. "Giles, we need come crossbows."

"How'd it go?" Faith asked when Buffy and the gang walked into the library during the next period.

Buffy sighed.

"It's over," she said.

"Did you pass?"

"I don't know yet, but I have a good feeling. I should know before school's over today."

"Oh."

"Oh, Xander told me about the plan. It's good, but I want a sword," she said and looked at Giles.

"In the cage," Giles said.

"Okay. Did you pack the weapons?"

"Yes."

"Giles even prepared some explosive mixture," Faith said with a grin.

"Really?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Ah, yes," Giles said, fixing his glasses. "It should… soften the vampires before you go in."

Buffy smiled.

"Good. Oh," she remembered something and she looked at Faith. "What did you say to Scott?"

Faith frowned.

"When?"

"Last night, at the Bronze. You know, when we went out to save that girl."

"Oh." Faith looked around nervously. "I told him that I didn't think you were interested in him. So…"

"Thank god," Buffy interrupted her, relieved.

"Yeah?" Faith said, puzzled.

"Yes. We met again today and he didn't try to talk to me."

"You don't like him?"

Buffy sighed.

"I do, but I don't think it would work out between us. I mean, look at me, I'm planning to go kill a dangerous vamp after school and he's probably planning how to get a girl."

"Sorry."

Buffy took a deep breath.

"Don't be. Just keep your fingers crossed that I pass the health science."

Faith smiled and raised her hands, showing the crossed fingers, and Buffy smiled back.

After school, they went to the warehouse where Kakistos had his base. The Slayers went ahead to make sure that Kakistos was in. He was and they waved at the gang to come closer. The Slayers then went to the door and waved at their friends to start the attack. Giles, Willow, Oz, Xander and Cordelia started throwing the explosive packages into the building.

The windows shattered and explosions pierced the air.

"We're done!" Willow called when they ran out of explosives.

The Slayers nodded and broke down the door, their weapons ready. They entered and quickly dispatched a couple of vamps who wanted to hide in the shadows.

"Get them!" the black vamp, Mr Trick, ordered his minions.

The vamps were confused for a few moments and Buffy and Faith quickly killed a few more. Then the Scooby Gang came in and started shooting arrows at the vamps. Confusion broke out and the Slayers quickly dispatched most of the lackeys. Then they concentrated on Kakistos.

"I'll kill you, Slayer," Kakistos said, running a cloven hand the length of the scar on his face. "And then I'll kill your friend too."

"I don't think so, ugly. This time I'm gonna finish the job."

Kakistos laughed.

"You can't kill me."

"Wanna bet?" Faith glanced at Buffy. "Let's get him."

Buffy nodded and they attacked in unison, Buffy with a sword, Faith with a stake. Kakistos used his bare hands to defend himself and Buffy's sword apparently didn't bother him too much. At first, at least, but when the blade connected with his body, that seemed to annoy and distract him. Faith didn't bother to try and stake him, she knew she couldn't harm him that way, but she did use her stake to cause wounds.

They fought with him for a minute or so, distracting him, pretending they were weak. Then Faith let Kakistos knock her aside, into the pile of wooden beams and Buffy let him grab her by the neck. Buffy dropped the sword and grabbed Kakistos' hand so he wouldn't break her neck.

"You pathetic Slayer," Kakistos gloated. "You're gonna die."

"I don't think so," Buffy choked.

Behind Kakistos' back, Faith quickly got up, picked up a beam and rammed it through Kakistos' heart.

"Surprise," Buffy said when the beam came out of Kakistos' chest.

Kakistos looked at it, surprised, and let go of Buffy, who dropped to the floor. Kakistos started to laugh, but then he suddenly turned into dust. The two Slayers stood still for a few moments, panting.

"Reminded me of the Master," Buffy then said as she got up. "He was as ugly as him."

Faith smiled a little.

"I'm going to my mom now," she said.

Buffy looked at her.

"Are you coming to the library then?"

Faith looked at her and nodded.

"Yeah," she said and her smile widened a bit.

Buffy smiled back.

"I'll see you later then."

"Okay."

Faith hesitated and then left. Buffy slowly followed her out.

"Man, that was one bad vamp," Xander said when the Slayers came closer. "Reminded me of the Master."

Buffy smiled.

"Me too."

"Giles, I'm going to my mom now," Faith said. "I'll come to the library later."

"Ah, yes, of course."

"Oh, wait!" Buffy said. "Now that Kakistos is dead, you don't have to stay in that lousy motel anymore. You could move in with Giles until you find a better place." She hesitated for a moment. "Or leave," she added quietly.

Faith stared at her for a few moments and then looked at Giles.

"Can I? I mean, I don't want to intrude or anything, but I…"

"You may," Giles said.

"Thanks. Then I'll go get my bags first. I'll see you later, guys."

Faith quickly left and the Scoobs slowly went back to the library.

"Mom?" Faith called when she entered Giles' place.

"Honey?" Mrs Spencer looked from the kitchen, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Faith smiled.

"We killed Kakistos, it's over."

"Thank god," Mrs Spencer said, relieved.

"Yeah. Em, Giles said I can move in until we find a new place to stay."

"Oh. Good."

Faith hesitated.

"Mom?"

"Yes… honey?"

Faith smiled a bit.

"Em, can we stay here, in Sunnydale?"

Mrs Spencer thought for a moment.

"I suppose so. But we'll have to sell our apartment in Boston. And I'll have to get a job here. Oh, and we'll have to transfer your credits to Sunnydale High."

Faith groaned.

"Well, at least I know some people there."

Mrs Spencer smiled.

"Especially Buffy."

Faith blushed, surprised.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You tell me."

Faith stared at her mother for a few moments and then sighed.

"I don't know. I have… feelings for her. Unfortunately, she doesn't return them."

"I see." Mrs Spencer hesitated for a moment. "Are you gay?"

Faith raised an eyebrow and then smirked.

"No, I'm bi."

"Bi?"

"Bisexual."

"Oh. I see."

Faith chuckled.

"Listen, can you take my bag to where I'll sleep? I need to get back to the library."

"Okay, honey."

Faith smiled.

"I never thought I'd like this affectionate nickname business," she said, and Mrs Spencer smiled. "I'll see you later, Mom."

"Bye, honey."

"Willow, can I talk to you for a moment?" Buffy said as they walked across the school quad.

"Eh, sure. What is it?"

"Guys, we'll come in a few minutes," Buffy told the rest.

"Want me to get the donuts?" Xander asked.

Buffy smiled.

"Yeah. Thanks."

Xander smiled.

"That's me, the donut guy."

"So, what is it?" Willow asked when the rest of the Scooby Gang left.

Buffy looked around and started walking toward the nearest bench.

"Well, you know how Faith is in love with a girl?"

"Ooh!" Willow said, her eyes bright. "I forgot to ask her about it."

Buffy smiled.

"Well, we talked about it and there are a few things that are confusing me."

"Such as?"

"Promise you won't talk to anyone about this?" Buffy asked as she sat down.

Willow stared at her for a few moments and then nodded.

"I promise."

"Okay," Buffy said and relaxed a bit. She thought for a moment. "Well, she told me that she only met her recently. But if that's so, then why is she considering staying in Sunnydale? Unless it's someone from Sunnydale. And she said she's friends with her. But the only three girls she's friends with is you, me and Cordelia. And she said this girl was single at the moment."

Willow's eyes went wide.

"Are you saying she's in love with you?"

Buffy blushed.

"I don't know. I mean, I noticed how she looked at me. And she said she thinks that girl is straight, so she won't make the first move."

Willow thought for a moment.

"Are you interested?"

Buffy blushed again.

"Well, yeah. Kind of."

"I didn't know you were gay."

"I'm not. It's just with Faith… I don't know."

"What about Scott?"

Buffy sighed.

"I don't know. I mean, he's normal and I want something normal too. But Faith is right, we're not normal and I really don't want to explain to him why I have to leave in the middle of a smooching session." She thought for a moment. "But with Faith… She… She's… Well, she's not normal, for one thing, I mean, she's a Slayer. And if anyone knows me, I figure it's her. But the last time I went out with someone… unnatural… Well, you know what happened."

"Faith's not a vampire," Willow said.

"I know, but I'm still nervous. And not just because it's still a bit weird for me to think that I might be in love with a girl. I mean…" She trailed of as she thought for a moment. "Well, she said it nicely. I feel special just when I see her looking at me. I mean, I haven't felt like that since… Angel. And it was never that intense with him. And the butterflies? I have them too."

"On ecstasy?" Willow asked and giggled.

Buffy smiled.

"Probably, but I can't tell, because there's so many of them that they can hardly move."

Willow giggled again.

"Looks like you're in love."

Buffy sighed.

"But what if I'm not the one she's in love with?"

"You won't know until you ask her."

Buffy groaned.

"I'm afraid of the same things she is."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't want her to feel awkward around me."

"Oh." Willow smirked. "I don't think she'll feel awkward."

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"You think?"

"Yes."

Buffy smiled as she thought about Faith. She sighed.

"Yeah, I guess." She took a deep breath. "I guess I better talk to her."

Willow smiled.

"Let me know how it goes."

Buffy smiled back.

"I will," she said and hugged her. "Let's go to the library now."

"Hey, guys," Faith said with a big smile when she came to the library. She looked at Buffy. "Guess what, we're staying."

"You are?" Buffy said, excited, and glanced at Willow.

"Yep. Now we have to find a place to stay."

"That's great," Buffy said and smiled.

"Yeah." Faith hesitated for a moment. "You want to practice a little?"

Buffy groaned.

"I've had enough practice for a while.

"No, I don't mean the serious practice, just, you know, slow practice."

"You mean like Tai Chi?"

"Yeah, sort of."

"Okay."

Buffy came closer, and Faith slowly attacked her. Buffy got the point and slowly defended herself.

"Hi, Giles," Buffy said when she came to pick up Faith in the evening.

"Hello, Buffy."

"Hey, Buffy," Faith said as she came downstairs.

Buffy looked at her and smiled.

"Hey." She glanced at Mrs Spencer. "Hello, Mrs…" She frowned and glanced at Faith. "You never told me your last name."

"Oh. Spencer."

"Oh." Buffy looked back at Mrs Spencer. "Hello, Mrs Spencer.

Mrs Spencer smiled.

"Hello, Buffy."

"Em, you're invited over for lunch tomorrow," Buffy said.

"Yeah?" Faith said.

"Yes."

"Thank you," Mrs Spencer said. "We'll be there."

Buffy smiled.

"Okay." She looked at Faith. "You ready?"

"Yeah."

"Then let's go."

"Be careful, Faith," Mrs Spencer said. "And you too, Buffy," she added.

"We will," Faith said and they left.

"Why is your mother so pale?" Buffy asked after Faith closed the door.

"She just got over another craving for alcohol."

"Oh. Is it bad?"

Faith sighed.

"Sometimes. I mean, she starts shaking and she just can't stop. It usually lasts for a few minutes."

"Oh. I hope she gets better."

Faith smiled.

"Me too."

"Oh, hi," Buffy said with a smile when Faith and her mom came over for lunch the next day.

"Hey," Faith said with a smile.

"Come on in."

The Spencer women entered.

"Oh, hello," Joyce said as she came from the kitchen.

"Mom, these are Faith and her mom," Buffy introduced them. "Faith, Mrs Spencer, this is my mom."

"Hi, Mrs S… eh, Summers," Faith quickly corrected herself, blushing nervously.

"Hello," Mrs Spencer said.

"Joyce," Joyce said as they shook hands.

"Janice," Mrs Spencer said.

"Why don't you sit down." Joyce looked at Buffy. "Help me serve the food, honey."

"Sure, Mom," Buffy said.

They went to the kitchen and Faith and her mom sat down while Buffy and Joyce served the food.

"So, Faith," Joyce said as she sat down, "how long have you been a Slayer?"

"Couple of months. I got called after Kendra got killed."

"Kendra?" Joyce frowned and looked at Buffy. "Isn't that the girl you were accused of killing?"

Buffy looked down, remembering.

"Yeah," she said quietly.

"I didn't know she was a Slayer."

"She was."

"How many Slayers are there?"

"Just two."

"Just two? But…" She trailed off, frowning, and looked at Faith. "You said you were called after Kendra died."

"Yeah," Faith said, guessing that Buffy didn't tell her mother the whole story.

Joyce looked at Buffy.

"And Kendra was called after another Slayer died?"

"Me," Buffy said quietly.

"What?" Joyce said. "When did you die?"

"Mom…"

"When, Buffy?" Joyce asked, her face serious.

Buffy sighed.

"Last year. Some vamp left me to drown and Xander gave me CPR."

"Oh."

Awkward silence followed as Joyce thought about the fact that her daughter had nearly died.

"How long have you known?" Mrs Spencer broke the silence.

Joyce looked at her.

"That Buffy was a Slayer?" She sighed. "Not long. I found out after Kendra was killed."

"Oh."

"You?"

Mrs Spencer sighed.

"A bit more than a week. Faith saved me from a couple of vampires."

"Oh."

"Eh, Mom?" Buffy said. "About that house?"

"Oh!" Joyce remembered. "Buffy said that you're staying here, in Sunnydale."

Mrs Spencer glanced at Buffy and nodded.

"Yes, we are."

"Well, I went through the ads and I think I found a nice place for you two."

"I hope it's not too expensive. We don't have much money and I still have to find a job."

"What do you do?"

Mrs Spencer sighed.

"I'm an accountant, but I've only done waitressing for over ten years."

"Really?" Joyce said, surprised. "How come?"

Mrs Spencer sighed.

"I wasn't married to Faith's father and my parents wanted me to give up Faith. I refused and my father then got me fired and he made sure I couldn't get another job."

"Oh. Oh! You could work for me."

"You?" Mrs Spencer said, surprised.

"Yes. I own a gallery and the woman who is doing the books is going on maternity leave in a few days."

Mrs Spencer considered the offer.

"Well, I appreciate the offer, but as I said, I haven't done any accounting in over ten years."

"I'm sure it will all come back to you quickly. And Michelle, that's my accountant, will show you what you have to do."

Mrs Spencer hesitated again.

"Come on, Mom," Faith said, "what have you got to lose?"

Mrs Spencer looked at her and smiled.

"Okay," she said and took a deep breath. "But in this case, you should know that I'm an alcoholic."

"You are?" Joyce said, surprised.

Mrs Spencer nodded.

"Yes. I'm trying to quit now. I haven't had a drink since I found out Faith is a Slayer."

"I see."

"Sometimes I get this craving for alcohol, so if you see me shaking, that's why."

"Oh. Well, don't worry, you have your own office and nobody will see you shake."

Mrs Spencer smiled.

"Thank you."

Joyce smiled as well.

"You're welcome." She looked at Faith. "So that means that you'll be going to Sunnydale High, right?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah."

"Which grade?"

"Eleventh."

"We'll have to transfer your credits as soon as possible," Mrs Spencer said.

"Beware of Snyder," Buffy said.

"Who's Snyder?" Faith asked.

"The Principal."

"Oh."

"He's a little troll," Joyce said.

"Yes," Buffy agreed. "Do you have a good record back in Boston?"

Faith glanced at her mother.

"No, not really. I mean, I didn't actually cause problems, I just usually didn't show up, you know."

"Oh. I suggest you put on your best innocent-girl look when you go talk to him." Buffy looked at Mrs Spencer. "You can tell him that you came here in order to get away from the bad influence of Boston and that you have a friend here who said that Sunnydale High was a decent school. And whatever you do, don't mention me or my friends."

"Why, he doesn't like you?" Faith asked with a smirk.

Buffy looked at her.

"Are you kidding? I'm at the top of his Most Unwanted list. And the others aren't far behind."

"Because you are a Slayer?" Mrs Spencer asked.

"Well, not because I'm a Slayer, but because when there's trouble, I'm usually around, even though I don't cause it."

"The man keeps talking about order and discipline, but he doesn't care about the children," Joyce said.

"I see."

After lunch, Buffy helped her mom put away the dishes. She and Faith then went to Buffy's room and Mrs Spencer stayed with Joyce for a cup of coffee and a conversation about their Slayer daughters.

"I wonder what they'll talk about," Faith said as she and Buffy walked upstairs.

"Probably about us."

"I know. But what? How to ground us if we're bad?

Buffy chuckled.

"I doubt it. Probably about their experiences."

"Moms comparing notes." Faith shook her head. "Looks like the vamps are not the only ones who'll have to get their asses down to defcon one."

Buffy smiled.

"Yeah," she said and entered her room. "Well, this is my room."

Faith looked around.

"Nice. Girly."

Buffy looked at her, pouting.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Faith smirked.

"Nothing. It's just… I mean, this is what a girl's room is supposed to look like. Mine looked more like a boy's room."

"Oh."

Buffy sat on the bed and waved at Faith to do the same. Faith did and Buffy stared at her, not sure if she should ask Faith about her would-be girlfriend or not.

"What?" Faith said, feeling a bit uncomfortable under Buffy's gaze.

Buffy sighed and decided to take a chance.

"Well, you remember when we were talking about the girl you were in love with?"

"Yeah?" Faith said, not liking where the conversation was going.

"Well, I seem to have the same problem."

Faith frowned.

"You do?"

"Yes."

"With Scott?"

"No, not him." She hesitated for a moment. "It's a… a girl."

Faith's eyes went wide.

"I thought you were straight," she said.

"I am, but this girl, she makes me feel the same way that the girl you're in love with makes you feel."

"Really?" hoping that the conversation was going where she thought it was going and afraid of it at the same time.

"Yes." Buffy took a deep breath. "I'm so nervous, you know, because I've never been with a girl."

"And you thought I might give you a few tips?" Faith asked, suddenly having the feeling that it wasn't about her after all.

"No, actually I was thinking you might show me."

Faith's eyes went wide.

"Show you?"

"Yes. You see, Faith, you're the girl that makes me feel special just by looking at me. And unless I'm mistaken, in which case I just made a complete fool of myself, I'm the girl that makes you feel special just by looking at you." She hesitated for a moment. "Am I right?" she asked, even though she could see it in Faith's eyes that she was.

Faith gulped and nodded.

"How… How did you know?"

Buffy smiled, relieved.

"You said you only met her recently and that you didn't want to lose her. Yet at the same time, you were telling me that you considered staying here. That meant that the girl was here. And since you only knew three girls and only I was available, I put two and two together. I've been watching you, and not just because I suspected that I was that special girl. I saw the way you look at me, especially when you think I'm not watching." She took a deep breath. "I was in no way absolutely certain, but I decided to take a chance. I mean, it would've been pretty strange if we were in love with one another and not have the courage to admit it to one another."

Faith smiled a bit.

"Yeah." She hesitated for a moment. "So does that mean I can kiss you?"

Buffy flashed a big smile.

"Oh yes."

Faith gulped, nervous, and slowly leaned in. Buffy also gulped and leaned it. They stared into one another's eyes for a few moments, hesitating, almost expecting their mothers to walk in, and then Faith breached the final gap. Their lips touched and they both gasped. Faith pressed harder and in moments they were devouring one another like the dying man in a deserts gulps down water.

"Wow," Buffy said when they stopped kissing due to oxygen shortening.

Faith just grinned.

"That was… That was so… so…" Buffy started.

"Unforgettable?" Faith asked.

"Are you kidding? That was the best kiss ever."

"Wanna see if we can do better?" Faith asked, wiggling her eyebrows.

Buffy smiled.

"Any time," she said and launched herself onto Faith's lips.

Faith barely managed to chuckle before Buffy's lips covered her own. Their hands ran all over their bodies, until Buffy's hand accidentally brushed one of Faith's nipples.

"Oh god, I'm sorry," Buffy quickly said.

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"What for?" she asked, amused.

"For, you know…"

"No, I don't," Faith said with a grin. "Tell me."

Buffy blushed.

"For… For touching your… your nipple."

Faith smirked.

"Nothing to be sorry about. In fact, wanna do it again?"

Buffy's eyes went wide and then she frowned a little as she looked at Faith's breasts. Then she blushed.

"Oh god, I can't believe I'm checking out your rack!"

Faith laughed.

"Oh, you kill me, Buffy." She smiled. "And you can check it out anytime you want. In fact, I just can't wait till I give you the full tour of it."

Buffy blushed.

"I bet." Then her eyes went wide. "Oh boy."

"What?" Faith said, worried.

"We have to tell our moms. And the guys."

"Is that a problem?"

Buffy frowned.

"Well, no, not really. I mean, we can not tell them, but then we won't be able to smooch in public. But if we do tell them, then we can kiss sleepovers goodbye."

Faith chuckled.

"I see your problem," she said. "Though with us being Slayers, and both girls, I think they'll trust us that we won't make anything stupid."

"Like I never did anything stupid. Just ask my mom."

Faith grinned.

"Yeah, I guess." She took a deep breath. "So, which do you want to do? Or should we flip a coin?"

Buffy smiled and thought about it.

"How about we tell them? I mean, I don't want to keep too many things from Mom, especially since she just found out that I died."

Faith nodded.

"Okay. You ready?"

Buffy took a deep breath.

"Yes."

"Then let's do it."

Faith got up and Buffy quickly followed her. As they went through the door, Buffy took Faith's hand into her own. Faith was surprised by the gesture, but then she got to like it and she smiled.

They slowly descended the stairs, both nervous.

"Em, Mom, Mrs Spencer," Buffy said when they entered the kitchen.

Their mothers looked at them and immediately noticed that they were holding hands.

"Yes, honey?" Joyce said.

Buffy glanced at Faith, who squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"Em, well, Faith and I are… together now."

"As a couple," Faith quickly added to make sure their mothers knew exactly what they were talking about.

"You are?" Joyce said, surprised. "I didn't know you were gay, Buffy."

"I'm not. I'm straight. It's just that Faith makes me feel… special."

"Ditto," Faith said, suddenly even more nervous as she worried about what their mothers would say.

"I thought so," Mrs Spencer said.

Joyce looked at her, surprised.

"You knew?"

Mrs Spencer looked at her, smiling.

"Not for sure, but I did notice the way they were looking at one another since the moment they first met."

"Really?" Joyce said and looked back at the Slayers, who looked very nervous. "Are you gay, Faith?" she then asked.

"No, I'm bi."

"Bi?"

"Bisexual."

"Oh."

Joyce thought about it.

"And you're happy?" Mrs Spencer asked.

The Slayers smiled at her.

"Yes, Mom," Faith said.

Mrs Spencer smiled back.

"Okay."

Joyce glanced at her, surprised, and then looked back at the Slayers. She sighed.

"Why not?" she said and the Slayers' smiles widened.

"Thanks, Mom," Buffy said. "Em, we'll be in my room."

Joyce frowned, suddenly worried.

"Doing what?"

The Slayers blushed.

"What lovers have been doing for millennia, Mom, making out."

Faith grinned, Mrs Spencer chuckled, and Joyce blushed.

"I had to ask," she said when the Slayers left.

Mrs Spencer smiled.

"At least we won't have to worry about any unwanted pregnancies."

Joyce looked at her and sighed.

"I suppose."

"That went well," Buffy said, giggling, when they returned to her room.

"Yeah," Faith agreed and then pulled Buffy into a hug. "So, you said something about making out?"

Buffy blushed.

"Yes."

"On the bed?"

Buffy glanced on the bed and her blush deepened.

"I-I…"

She trailed off with a shriek when Faith picked her up and carried her to the bed.

"I say we do it properly," Faith said and threw Buffy on the bed.

Buffy shrieked again and then quickly covered her mouth.

"Sure, let the whole world know," Faith said with a grin and slowly got on the bed.

Buffy moved back to make space.

"Then don't throw me like that."

"Are you complaining?" Faith asked with a raised eyebrow.

Buffy smiled.

"No. But I don't exactly want our moms to get any visuals of what we're doing."

Faith chuckled, trying to hide her blush.

"I see your point. Then I better cover your mouth so you won't scream," she said and kissed Buffy.

When they got to the school in the evening, they stopped in front of the library doors, both nervous.

"You ready?" Buffy asked Faith.

Faith looked at her and smiled.

"As I'll ever be."

Buffy smiled back and they entered, hand in hand.

"Hi, guys," Buffy said cheerfully.

"Hey," Willow said with a smile.

She apparently wanted to say something else, but she didn't, because she noticed that Buffy and Faith were holding hands.

"What's with the hand-holding?" Xander asked the obvious question.

Buffy took a deep breath and Faith squeezed her hand reassuringly.

"Well, Faith and I are together now," Buffy said, getting straight to the point.

"As a couple," Faith clarified again.

"You are?" Xander said.

"Don't be getting any visuals," Cordelia warned him with a glare, and he smiled at her sheepishly.

"So it was you," Willow said with a wide smile.

Buffy smiled back.

"Yes."

"You talked to her?" Faith asked Buffy, surprised.

Buffy smiled at her.

"Well, she is my best friend and I needed her advice."

"Oh," Faith said and smiled a bit.

"Congrats," Oz simply said and the Slayers smiled at him.

"Don't look at me," Cordelia said when the Slayers looked at her, "I don't care."

The Slayers grinned.

"Thanks, Cordy," Faith said.

"Giles?" Buffy asked the Watcher.

"Eh, congratulations."

Buffy smiled.

"Thanks."

"Do your moms know?" Willow asked.

"Yes," Buffy said.

"How did they react?" Xander asked.

"Well, Mom, was a bit shocked, but Faith's mom was pretty cool, she said she suspected it."

"Oh."

"Oh!" Buffy remembered. "Faith is going to school here."

"Really? Which grade?"

"Eleventh," Faith said.

"Cool."

"Right," Faith said, not very enthusiastic, and Buffy smiled.

"At least you get to be with me during the breaks."

Faith smiled at that.

"Yeah. That's just about the only good thing."

"Can you imagine Snyder's face when he finds out she's my girlfriend?" Buffy said.

"I definitely wanna be there," Xander said with a grin.

During the next couple of weeks, Faith noticed that there was something bothering Buffy. She tried talking to her, but Buffy assured her that she did nothing wrong. Faith even tried talking to Willow and Xander, but neither knew what was bothering Buffy. So she decided to try and cheer her up and be ready for the time when Buffy was ready to finally tell her what was wrong.

And then Mrs Post came, her new Watcher. Faith disliked her from the moment she saw her. But Giles asked her to listen to Mrs Post, so she complied. But she didn't like it, she wanted to be with Buffy. She used every opportunity to avoid Mrs Post, but Mrs Post then simply went to Giles and told him that she wanted to see her. Of course, the fact that she failed to kill Lagos didn't exactly bring Faith any bonus points with Mrs Post. She wondered where Buffy had gone. She had been acting strangely ever since the Debbie and Pete disaster and had been going off on her own without any explanations. So when she and Buffy walked into the library the next the morning, hand in hand, Faith had a sinking feeling when she saw the faces of their friends. Buffy apparently didn't notice.

"Lagos is out of luck," she reported. "I got the magic mitten thingy." Then she apparently did notice. "What's with the all the tragedy masks?"

"Better take a seat, Buffy," Giles said, indicating a chair.

Faith really got a bad feeling then. Xander got up out of his chair, nudged it over a bit so it was at the head of the table, and stepped away to stand next to Cordelia. Buffy slowly stepped over to the chair and sat down. Faith chose to stand beside her.

"What's going on?" she asked.

"We know that Angel is alive," Giles said and Buffy looked at him, shocked. "Xander saw you with him. It would appear that you've been hiding him and that you lied to us," he said and Buffy looked away.

"Who is this Angel guy?" Faith asked, puzzled, having only heard about him.

Everyone got very nervous then and looked away. Faith didn't like the feeling she was getting.

"Buffy?" she asked her girlfriend.

"My… ex-boyfriend," Buffy said, refusing to look at her.

Faith frowned.

"So?"

Buffy sighed.

"He's a vamp."

"What?" Faith said, surprised. "You slept with a vamp?"

"He has a soul."

"Until you gave him the happy," Xander said accusingly.

"How was I supposed to know?" Buffy said.

"Somebody please tell me what the fuck happened," Faith said and looked at Xander, but it was Cordelia who answered.

"Angel is a vampire with a soul. He got cursed with it because he killed a gypsy girl. But one moment of happiness would take his soul away. That happened when he and Buffy had… sex. Then Angelus, his bad half, was back and tried to kill us all and send the world to Hell. Literally. Buffy killed him and saved the world. Again. We thought that was the end of the story, but apparently it's not." She looked at Buffy. "So, did you kill him or not?"

"I did," Buffy said. "I don't know how he came back."

"Nobody's here to blame you, Buffy," Willow said, "but this is serious. You need help."

"It's not what you think."

"Hope not," Xander said, "because I think you're harboring a vicious killer."

Buffy looked at him, surprised by his callousness.

"This isn't about attacking Buffy," Willow said, trying to mediate. "Remember, 'I' statements only. 'I feel angry.' 'I feel worried.'"

"Fine," Cordelia said. "Here's one: I feel worried… about me! Last time around, Angel barely laid a hand on Buffy. He was way more interested in killing her friends."

"But he's better now," Buffy protested.

"Better for how long, Buffy?" Xander asked. "I mean, did you even think about that?"

Buffy got up.

"What is this, Demons Anonymous?" She took Faith's hand and started to leave. "I don't need an intervention here."

"Oh, don't you?" Giles said, and Buffy stopped and faced him. "You must've known it was wrong seeing Angel or you wouldn't have hidden it from all of us. Including Faith."

Buffy glanced at Faith, feeling guilty.

"I was going to tell you, I was," she said desperately. "I-It was just that I... I didn't know why he came back. I just wanted to wait."

"For what? For Angel to go psycho again the next time you give him a happy?"

"I am not going to... I'm with Faith now," Buffy protested.

"Then why were you were kissing him?" Oz asked.

Faith felt like she'd just been slapped. She looked at Buffy and her wide-open eyes only confirmed it.

"Faith, I…"

"Don't," Faith said quietly and pulled her hand from Buffy's.

"But Faith…"

"Just… don't," Faith said and quickly left.

"Faith!" Buffy called after her, afraid that she was losing her. When Faith was gone, she turned back to the gang. "Did you have to ask that in front of her?" she demanded angrily.

"You would have to talk about it eventually," Oz said. "At least now it's out in the open."

"But you don't get it! I wasn't kissing him! He kissed me, I was just too startled to pull back immediately. And if you were better spies, you'd know that I did pull back."

"Eventually," Xander said.

"Oh shut up, Xander," Buffy snapped. "Angel has a soul now, he's on our side."

"For how long?"

Buffy glared at him.

"Xander, if you suggest one more time that I'm going to sleep with Angel, I'll use your face as a punching bag." Then she glared at Cordelia, who wanted to stand up for her man. "Not a word, Cordelia," she said, and Cordelia closed her mouth. "I'm with Faith now, if I haven't just lost her," she said, glancing at Oz. "But I care about Angel as well. Yes, he was evil when he lost his soul, but he regained it, he's good now. And unlike you guys, I'm not gonna give up on him."

She turned and stormed out.

A few moments later, she opened the door again.

"By the way, Angel found the Glove of Mynhegon," she said and left again.

"God help us," Xander said.

After leaving the library, Faith just walked for a few minutes, not really caring where she was going. The only thing going through her mind were Oz's words and the guilty look on Buffy's face.

Then the bell rang and she stopped, startled. She looked around to get her bearings and then decided to fake sickness and leave.

After not having seen Faith for the rest of the classes, Buffy got worried. She asked around, but nobody had seen her. She avoided her friends because she didn't think they would help her search for Faith. Then the school was finally over for the day and Buffy immediately went to Faith's house.

"Hello, Buffy," Mrs Spencer said with a smile when she opened the door.

"Hi," Buffy said. "Is Faith home? I need to talk to her."

"No, she hasn't come home yet," Mrs Spencer said and Buffy got worried. "Is something wrong?"

Buffy sighed.

"Yes, she thinks I cheated on her."

"Have you?"

"No! I mean, I was kissed, yes, but I didn't kiss back. And I haven't seen her since the third period, I thought maybe she'd gone home."

"No, she hasn't."

"Oh god," Buffy suddenly got a bad idea.

"What?" Mrs Spencer asked, worried.

"I need to check something out. Could you call my mom if Faith comes home?"

"I will," Mrs Spencer said with a nod.

"Thanks," Buffy said and hurried away.

"Angel? Angel!" Buffy called when she got to the mansion.

"Here," Angel said.

"Thank god," Buffy said, relieved.

"What's wrong?" Angel asked, worried.

Buffy sighed.

"Someone from the Scooby Gang saw you kiss me and Faith now thinks I cheated on her."

"Oh." He hesitated for a moment. "I'm sorry."

Buffy smiled sadly.

"You didn't know." She sighed. "I though that she came here to kill you."

"Faith?"

Buffy nodded.

"Yes. I haven't seen her since the third period." She sighed. "I'm gonna go home now and then I'm gonna go look for her. Oh, if she comes here, could you please tell her what happened?"

Angel nodded.

"I will."

Buffy smiled a bit.

"Thanks. I'll see you around."

Faith wandered around Sunnydale for a while and finally decided to try and get drunk. But after a few hours of drinking, she was still sober, so she left the bar and wandered around some more. She considered going to Angel and kill him, but she didn't feel up to fighting, she was way too depressed. But curiosity finally won and she decided to go and meet him, find out how long Buffy had been cheating on her.

But when she got to the mansion, she saw Angel and Mrs Post fight.

"Mrs Post!"

Angel let go of Mrs Post and faced her.

"I can't believe how much I'm gonna kill you," Faith said angrily.

"You're not getting that glove," Angel said, standing his ground.

"You wanna bet?"

But before she had a chance to react, Angel launched his attack. They fought hard, both willing to kill one another. Faith soon got the upper hand and she raised her stake to kill Angel. She swung down to kill Angel, but a hand stopped her. She looked aside, surprised, and saw it was Buffy.

"What?" she said, surprised.

Buffy pushed her away from Angel.

"I can't let you do it, Faith," she said.

"Faith…" Mrs Post said, groggy, and both Slayers looked at her. "She doesn't know. She's blinded by love."

"Faith, no," Buffy said. "Trust me…"

"Trust is earned, B," Faith said, and Buffy winced at the shortening of her name. "You lost mine. And right now your word ain't worth shit."

Buffy stared at her, hurt, but at the same time she felt she deserved it.

"That's right, Faith," Mrs Post said. "Trust me."

Faith looked from one to the other, thinking.

Buffy dropped her guard, desperately wanting to fix things with Faith.

"Faith, I love you. We can figure…"

She was interrupted by Faith spin-kicking her in the face. A fight broke out, Faith ready to seriously hurt Buffy, Buffy hoping to disable Faith before one of them got seriously hurt.

Neither noticed when Willow and Xander came in until Xander came and tried to stop them. Faith then grabbed him by his shirt and threw him into a lamp post. Then she and Buffy continued to fight, not noticing that Mrs Post had knocked Willow unconscious and was about to use the Glove of Mynhegon.

Only when the sky lit up with lightning and thunder was heard did they pause to see what was going on. They were surprised to see Mrs Post wear the glove. They both hesitated for a moment and then let go of one another.

"What's going on?" Faith asked.

Mrs Post looked at her, smiling maliciously.

"Faith, a word of advice, you're an idiot."

The Slayers stared at her, surprised. Then lightning hit the glove and Mrs Post shot it at them. The Slayers moved, realizing that she was the enemy.

"Can you draw her fire?" Buffy asked Faith.

"You bet I can."

"Go do it."

Faith got up and ran into the mansion. Mrs Post saw her and started firing at her.

"There's nothing you can do to me now," Mrs Post said, admiring the glove.

Outside Buffy sifted through the broken glass from the doors. She picked up one of the larger shards, got to her feet and ran into the mansion.

"I have the glove," Mrs Post said. "With the glove comes the power."

"I'm getting that," Buffy said.

Mrs Post looked at her, surprised. Buffy threw the shard at Mrs Post, slicing cleanly through Mrs Post's arm, severing it and the glove from the rest of the body. With nothing to control the glove, its power got out of control. Bolts started to fly in random directions, one of them hitting Mrs Post. More and more bolts started to hit the screaming ex-Watcher, slowly and painfully turning her into a pile of dust.

When the bolts stopped flying around, everyone slowly approached the glove, which still held a part of Mrs Post's arm. Then, one by one, the claws opened up, releasing the arm.

Buffy sighed and looked at Faith, wondering how she must feel. Then she remembered that she too was one of the reasons Faith probably didn't feel very happy. She looked at Angel.

"Angel, tell her what happened."

"When?" Angel said, puzzled.

"The kiss."

"Oh," Angel said, not feeling very comfortable about the whole situation. He looked at Faith. "Em, we talked and I… kissed Buffy. She broke the kiss and told me she was with you now," he said. "She didn't cheat on you."

Faith stared at him for a few moments. Then she turned and slowly started to leave, thinking. Buffy stared after her and tears slowly came into her eyes. But then Faith stopped. She turned and looked at Buffy, staring at her for a few moments.

"Are you coming?"

Buffy's face lit up and she ran to Faith. Faith smiled a bit and offered Buffy her hand. Buffy took it and they left.

They walked for a while, not speaking or even looking at one another. Only the hard grips of their hands conveyed their feelings. Buffy had no idea where they were going, but she didn't care, all she wanted was to be with Faith.

Faith finally stopped and faced Buffy.

"I'm… sorry, Buffy," she said, forcing herself to look into her eyes. "I should've trusted you."

Buffy sighed.

"And I should've trusted you."

Faith nodded.

"So, em," she started hesitatingly, "do… do you wanna talk about it?" she asked, hardly believing she was actually asking that question.

Buffy nodded.

"Yes. I don't want anymore secrets between us, Faith."

Faith nodded.

"Me neither."

They stared at one another for a few moments.

"Oh Faith," Buffy then said and hugged Faith.

Faith's arms automatically wrapped themselves around Buffy. She didn't consider herself very affectionate, but she needed the close contact with Buffy, a part of her still afraid of losing her.

"Why don't we sit down," Buffy said after a while and slowly let go of Faith.

Faith blinked, confused that her vision was all blurry. She wiped her eyes and realized that she was crying. It was embarrassing, but Buffy apparently didn't care as she wiped the wetness from Faith's face, smiling softly. Buffy then looked around and nodded at a bench.

"There."

Faith looked and they walked to the bench, hand in hand. After they sat down, they were quiet for a few moments, both thinking about what to say.

"I guess I better explain what happened between Angel and me," Buffy broke the silence. She took a deep breath. "Well, I guess you know that Angel's a vamp. He's over two hundred years old and he used to be real bad, but then about a hundred years ago, he killed a gypsy girl and her clan cursed him with a soul. He's been helping me ever since I came to Sunnydale and I fell in love with him." She hesitated for a moment. "But then we made love and he lost his soul." She hesitated again. "He was my first," she quietly added and then took a deep breath. "Anyway, he then wanted to hurt me by hurting my friends. He tortured Giles and put Willow in a wheelchair. He also killed Ms Calendar. She was our computer science teacher and sort of Giles' girlfriend. She also belonged to the gypsy clan who cursed Angel. She was, like, his parole officer, but we didn't know that at first." She paused and took another deep breath. "Anyway, Angel wanted to destroy the world by releasing the demon Acathla. We fought and Willow managed to restore his soul, but it was too late and I had to kill him to stop Acathla." She thought for a moment. "He came back after the Pete and Debbie thing. He saved my life from Pete and he killed him. He was… an animal, the only thing he seemed to recognize was me. I've been coming to the mansion ever since and I've been trying to find out why and how he got back. And I still don't know."

They were quiet for a while, Faith thinking about what Buffy had told her, Buffy anxiously waiting what Faith would say.

"For most of my life my mom was bitch," Faith finally spoke. "She was constantly drinking or getting laid by some sleaze and I was starting to turn out like her. But then I got called. I didn't trust Mrs H at first, but she was there for me when I needed her." She paused for a moment. "She sort of became my second mom." She sighed. "But somehow I still cared about my mom, so when Kakistos showed up and Mrs H said that we should get your help, I refused to leave Mom behind. I was angry with Mrs H and I went home. I found Mom had drunk too much alcohol. And if I had any doubts that I still cared about her, they were gone when I saw her lying there." She took a deep breath to calm a bit. "I called 911 and they took her to the hospital. Mrs H realized that she was wrong and she apologized. But Mom didn't change a bit. I tried talking to her at the hospital and later at home. She tried to hit me and I beat her up pretty badly. Mom told me Mrs H took care of her while I was gone." Faith paused for a moment, thinking. "When I was going home to try and talk to her again, I saved her from three vamps. She told me she'd gone to get something to drink and I was ready to give up on her then. But she convinced me that she wanted to give up alcohol, so I gave her another chance. We went home and we talked." Faith took another deep breath. "The next day, I was showing Mrs H a demon I killed. We were surrounded by vamps and she killed herself so I wouldn't give myself up to Kakistos."

Faith started sobbing and Buffy put her arm around her. Faith then leaned her head on Buffy's shoulder and Buffy leaned her head on Faith's.

"Buffy?" Faith spoke a few minutes later.

"Yes?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Would… Would you… stay with me… tonight?"

Buffy smiled.

"Sure, Faith," she said and caressed her. "We'll have to drop by my house so I can tell Mom and get some clothes."

Faith nodded.

"Okay."

Ten years later.

Buffy cuddled closer to Faith.

"Remember when we took this one?"

Faith smiled.

"Yeah, right after we killed that bitch, Glory."

"Yes."

"Mommy! Mama!" a girl's voice interrupted their trip down the memory lane.

The Slayers looked toward the door, through which a few moments later a little girl came.

"What is it, Debbie?" Faith asked with a smile.

"Grandma and Aunt Dawn are here," Debbie said and climbed onto the bed. "What are you looking at?" she asked, glancing at the photo.

"Just remembering when we were young," Buffy said and caressed her.

"Let's go eat then," Faith said.

"You're insatiable," Buffy said with a smile and kissed her.

Faith smiled.

"And that's why you love me so."

Buffy chuckled.

"Absolutely." She looked at Debbie. "Okay, honey, make way."

Debbie quickly got off the bed, and Buffy followed her. Faith got off on the other side.

"Leave it there," Buffy said when she saw that Faith was about to put the photo album away. "We'll continue after we kill those two Polgara demons."

Faith raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure that's what you'll want to be doing?" she asked with a smirk.

"Not in front of Debbie," Buffy said, mock glaring at her. She picked up the girl. "Never mind Mommy, she's just very naughty sometimes." She frowned. "Well, most of the time."

"Does she get punished too?" Debbie asked innocently, and Faith laughed.

"You could say that," she said. "Although Mama isn't exactly a saint either. And naughty doesn't just mean bad, it also means playful."

"Oh."

Faith came closer and she and Buffy kissed.

"Let's go downstairs now," Buffy said. "Don't want keep our guests waiting."

"Especially when one of them is a babysitter," Faith added with a smile as they left the room.

Buffy smiled back.

"Yes."

"How long does Grandma have to babysit me?" Debbie asked.

Buffy and Faith chuckled.

"You better ask Aunt Dawn about it," Buffy said as they walked downstairs, "I'm sure she'll tell you that for far too long."

The End