Alterations With Time by LilBit

Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: All the characters from BUFFY: THE VAMPIRE SLAYER are the property of Joss Whedon/Mutant Enemy, Inc.
Distribution: The Mystic Muse http://mysticmuse.net
Feedback: Of course. Please!
Spoilers: Post-Chosen.
Author's Notes: Post-BTVS – This story is a continuation of 'The Sacrifice' – reading that story first is recommended.
Pairing: Willow/Kennedy

Summary: Can Willow and Kennedy handle all that life and evil have to throw at them?

As she walked up to the door of the apartment, Kennedy readdressed her latest visit to the gym. She had still not gone out patrolling, but she had, at least, found the desire to train. Her muscles were starting to scream for activity and she itched for a decent fight with a fellow slayer to get rid of the cobwebs she felt inside. The session felt good and had dissipated the pent up energy since the night of the 'incident.' 'Maybe things'll be back to normal soon," she thought, although the small voice in the back of her head told her she would never be the same.

Kennedy opened the door and walked into the place. She immediately saw Willow over by the kitchen sink. "Hey, Will." There was a smile on the brunette's face. She knew her behavior recently had been very hard on her witch. Willow had been wonderful to her and her reward was a depressed slayer who wouldn't get out of her melancholy. Kennedy knew that she owed so much to Willow, owed her a happier brunette and one that wouldn't keep her upset.

She started to walk over to her redhead to give her a kiss when she noticed movement on the couch. The brunette looked over and was completely in shock by what she saw.

"Hey, K…so how was training?" Faith spoke to her like they had seen each other yesterday, like they hadn't been separated by months and miles. The slayer was sitting up on the couch, grinning.

"Holy Shit!...What the hell are you doing here?" There was complete surprise in the brunette's words.

Faith pointed to the coffee table and the Han Nurrabi Chronicles resting on it. "Red left her book behind, so I thought I'd bring it back…Don't trust the post office."

Kennedy knew that was bullshit but didn't care at the moment. She was happy and nervous about seeing her friend. Then a thought entered her mind. "How'd you get here?...I thought you had prison and passport issues."

Faith stood up and started walking over to Kennedy. "Say thank you to Angel and his team of shady lawyers. They got my records sealed or expunged…I'm not sure…just a bunch of legal words and crap to me…and then they did some memory scrubbing thing to make the whole prison escape disappear." Faith was impressed with the vampire's action once Giles told her all that had been done for her. "So, I'm a free woman…all legit…Angel even got me a passport…"

By this time, Faith was standing directly in front of her friend. "So you didn't answer my question?"

The way Faith said the statement; Kennedy instantly realized Faith knew everything about what had transpired that night Willow teleported, and since. The woman looked in Kennedy's eyes like she was trying to judge the extent of the younger slayer's slip into 'the bad place.' Faith was there for a reason and Kennedy knew Willow had been the one who asked her to come. The brunette became rigid and defensive.

"Fine…it went fine," she said with a slight harsh tone in her voice. It was one thing to have Willow see and deal with her problems, but now she was face to face with a real slayer who knew how badly she had let down their lineage. Kennedy knew that Buffy and Faith had to have known about her meltdown, but she could handle that because they were thousands of miles away. She didn't have to look them in the eyes…until now.

Faith saw the change in Kennedy's demeanor with her questioning. She didn't want to start off her time there pushing the brunette away, so she altered her subject matter. "Five by five…always works to put in a good sweat…so, I'm hungry, whatcha say you guys take me out to get some food and show me around this town?" Faith knew there'd be plenty of time to talk to Kennedy about her problems; she could wait.

The tension in Kennedy's face eased slightly. She looked at Willow and tersely said, "We can do that, can't we, Will?" Faith heard the spite in Kennedy's voice and looked at Willow to see her reaction.

The redhead could see from her girlfriend's tone and body language she was upset. Willow knew this was a possible reaction she'd get. She didn't care; she decided she would take Kennedy being mad at her if it meant there was a chance Faith could get through to her. The witch let the brunette be mad and responded with calm understanding. "Yeah, we can." Willow smiled back lovingly.

The three went for a late lunch and then they drove around, Willow giving Faith a witch and slayer tour of the city. Kennedy remained quiet for a lot of the trip. They showed her where the demons hung out, the best magick shops and the store with the largest array of hand to hand combat weapons. At this place, the younger slayer sparked up for the first time during their tour. "I got a real sweet machete there a couple months back." Kennedy loved that knife. The whole time driving around, Kennedy tried to stay unruffled about Faith's arrival; she tried not to think about what the older slayer must have thought about her recent meltdown.

They drove by the gym; "No one's there now, but we'll introduce to Miguel sometime tomorrow." Then Willow got a smile on her face. "Wait til you see him…" Faith looked at her not understanding. "…he's a hottie."

"Yeah, try to control yourself…we don't want the guy to think our friends are sex maniacs," Kennedy chided.

After more sightseeing, the group headed back to the couple's place. By this time, it was early evening. "Will, I told my Mom I'd go see her tonight." Kennedy then looked at Faith and back at her redhead. The look from the green eyes told the brunette the older slayer was uninformed about that part of the troubled brunette's life.

"Uh, Faith…I'd like to hang out with you right now, but I can't…umm…my Mom is having some…problems…and I need to go see her." Kennedy didn't know if she really did want to spend time with her sister slayer; she knew they'd have to discuss her recent failures.

"Don't worry, K. Me and Red'll just hang here and get drunk…I heard they got great rum here. After the flight I had…I need some serious alcohol." Willow gave her brunette a stare that said 'Don't worry, I'm not getting drunk,' then a look to Faith that said 'We'll see.'

The brunette got her keys, and headed to the door without kissing Willow good bye. She was still upset that her girl had called the older slayer. Kennedy opened the door and without turning around said, "I'll probably be late."

"Are you gonna try patrolling after your Mom's?" Willow hoped that maybe just Faith's arrival had spurned her slayer to action. Kennedy still didn't turn around.

"No," she said sharply. "I just haven't seen her for a few days and I want to make sure everything's ok." Kennedy didn't appreciate being put on the spot like that in front of Faith and the tone in her voice illustrated as much.

Kennedy shut the door behind her and Willow was left with Faith. "Do you want something to drink?" she asked the slayer.

"Do you?" Willow could tell Faith knew she had been dealing with a lot with Kennedy.

"I'll take whatever you're having." Faith didn't want to add to Willow's problems.

Willow got them both a glass of wine and they sat out on the back patio so the slayer could smoke. The redhead thanked Faith for coming and bringing back the Chronicles and her clothes. "Mostly, thanks for coming to help Kenne."

The slayer nodded her head. "So tell me the whole story, Willow…you were a little cryptic on the phone…"

While Willow and Faith were engaged in their dialogue, Kennedy was making sure her mother wasn't having any more terrifying episodes. Gabriella was glad to see her daughter. She hadn't seen Kennedy often lately; Willow had told her Kennedy was busy and then that she'd had a 'slight run-in' and needed some time to get better. The witch and Miguel had been her companions during that time.

The one bright note during this time was that she was told Willow had found the answer to her problem. Gabriella had gone over to her daughter's apartment and she and Willow told the woman about the ring and the Fear Caller demon. Willow was ecstatic about the find and, even though her daughter was happy, the mother could sense she was bothered by something. After that night, Kennedy called more often and had occasionally visited. Many times, Gabriella was asked to go to the couple's place.

Kennedy was there now and she seemed less distracted. Mother and daughter talked. Kennedy told her they would find a way to beat the demon so she could have her life back. The daughter stayed with her mother until the woman fell asleep. The first piece of information Willow gathered was that the demon could only get into its victim's mind during conscious moments. The one saving grace to the torment by the Caller was that sleep was possible and the only real safe harbor for a person. "I think it's because it feeds on fear," Willow hypothesized to Kennedy; "…when you're sleeping your subconscious takes over and you're not experiencing events like you do when you're awake." The explanation made sense to the brunette. After her mother was quietly sleeping, Kennedy left to go back home. She almost made the left turn that would have taken her to a very active cemetery; she even stopped the car to contemplate the move. But in the end, those blue eyes came back and Kennedy headed straight, back to her waiting witch.

While Kennedy was away, Faith and Willow talked – like friends. Each understood it was the first time that they had shared such a personal and meaningful conversation. After ending her soliloquy about the state of her slayer and the events that had caused it, Willow stared at the brunette. "I didn't know what to do, Faith…nothing I tried or said worked…she's got it in her head that she can't be a good slayer anymore…that's why I called you…I thought you could help her." Willow's voice had a slight pleading quality to it.

Faith could see the struggle in Willow. The slayer had seen the change in the redhead upon her visit just as the others had. The witch had become confident and obviously more attuned with her magickal powers. Faith had also seen a more self assured woman; she gathered Kennedy had something to do with that. Before her now was someone conflicted; the witch had immense power but wasn't able to 'fix' her girl.

"Don't worry, Willow…we'll figure something out…I'm just not sure I'm the best one for K…Buffy's better at dealing with people and stuff like this." Faith accepted the fact that she had never been the best listener or a person that naturally lent a shoulder to cry on. She wasn't exactly a 'people person.'

"But you are, Faith…Kennedy respects you and Buffy both…but I think she admires you more…because you didn't have it easy…you went through a lot to get to where you are now." Willow could always tell that Kennedy got along better with Faith. It was as if they had a mutual understanding that they both had had obstacles to jump over in their lives, even if those life's impediments were very different.

Faith stared a little dumbfounded. She smiled her gratitude for the remark. Willow continued, "You've got to help her Faith…I can't." The redhead said it as if she had failed the most important test of her life.

"Hey, Red…don't you get all depressed now…You did everything you could…you did what most people wouldn't have been smart enough to do…" Willow stared befuddled. "…You knew the kid needed help…and you asked for it." The confusion in Willow's face remained.

"If Kennedy had a broken arm, you'd take her to the hospital, right?" Willow nodded yes. "When you had your magick problems, did you expect the kid to fix 'em?"

Willow couldn't come up with a legitimate answer. She was Kennedy's girl and to her that meant she should have been able to mend her slayer's broken spirit. She knew that Faith was right.

"You're right…" Willow's eyes started to water up. "I just want her happy again…she's so sad now…I thought I could make her happy again." She put her hands to her face.

Faith was uncomfortable. She had come a long way in dealing with emotions, but the sight of Willow crying made her uneasy. No one-liner or cheesy remark would do here; Faith couldn't "five-by-five" this moment away. She truly felt for the redhead. It was obvious the redhead had been keeping the struggles she was having to herself; she had been coping alone without anyone to talk to. Faith saw the strain she carried because of her slayer's problems. The depth of love Willow had for the younger slayer clung to the air; it was palpable. Faith briefly wondered if she would ever find that kind of passion for another person. The slayer knew she had to let Willow know things would be alright. She leaned in and hugged the witch. Willow cried on her shoulder.

"Don't worry, Red…Kennedy's gonna be ok…you'll get your slayer back…" Then Faith leaned back enough to look at the witch. "…just as bratty and feisty as ever…I promise."

Willow stopped crying and thanked Faith for her concern. She could see the fatigue in the slayer's face and suggested they get some sleep. "That's probably a good idea," the brunette said. "Wanna be rested when I try to convince your girlfriend she's not a loser." The women said good night and Faith went to the spare bedroom and Willow to hers.

Kennedy came home about an hour after the two women had turned in for the night. She was quite so as not to wake anyone. She changed her clothes and slipped into bed. She was on her side facing a peacefully sleeping Willow. She thought about what her girl had done. There was anger, 'Why'd she do it?', and there was shame, 'Am I that out of it that she had to call Faith?' Kennedy knew she had been unlike herself recently. She wouldn't deny to herself she was scared. But calling Faith made the brunette feel like Willow had no confidence in her, that she didn't trust the brunette to right herself.

The more she stared at her sleeping witch, the more Kennedy thought about how Willow had always shown her nothing but loyalty. She knew Willow would never do anything to belittle or embarrass her. The brunette realized her girl had to have been far more bothered than she let on. 'You must have been so worried about what I might do,' the slayer silently thought as she looked at her witch. Kennedy's anger slowly receded. Then very quietly, "I'm sorry I made you feel that way…l'll make things better." Kennedy resolved to try harder.

The next morning Faith got things started right away. "K, why don't we go workout for a while?...I need to let off some steam."

"Sure, baby…Go have fun beating the snot out of each other." Willow had seen 'workout' sessions between slayers; they tended to turn intense. Willow was glad her slayer didn't seem still upset.

Kennedy and Faith drove to the gym. Faith, like Willow, had also noticed the improved attitude of the younger slayer. They got to the gym and went inside, Faith's initial reaction was one of pleasant surprise. "You've put together a great little place here, kid." Her next comment was, "Who the fuck is that?" Faith was staring at Miguel.

"Oh…that's Miguel…told ya he was good looking. Now, wipe the saliva off you're chin and I'll introduce you."

The two walked over to the Brazilian who was busy training one of the new slayers. He saw Kennedy with a very attractive brunette coming towards him before they realized he noticed. Miguel stopped his discussion and looked at the women approaching.

"Miguel, sorry to interrupt, but this is my friend, Faith McAllister…you know slayer Faith."

Miguel instantly put his Brazilian charm to work. "Faith, it's…oh, my manners…may I call you Faith?"

"Faith…it's my honor to meet you…Kennedy and Willow have told me so much about you. And Giles speaks highly of you." Faith didn't expect that last comment. She always assumed Giles didn't care for her very much.

"Thanks. Willow and the kid here have said nice things about you, too." Kennedy mumbled so only Faith could hear, "like he was a stud…if you're into that sorta thing." Faith elbowed her.

The two exchanged further niceties and Kennedy could see that Miguel and Faith were getting along quite well. They smiled a lot at each other and shifted their feet. Miguel laughed at some of Faith's comments. Kennedy knew they had to be hitting it off because she never found Faith 'that' funny. The brunette realized that she was witnessing what just might be the start of some form of infatuation. There was too much flirting for it to be just two people saying hello. She decided she'd give the smolder a little air to grow.

"Faith, I need to talk to Maria over there, so just keep talking to Miguel and I'll be back in a few." Kennedy was curious to see Faith at work, and, in all her months with Miguel, she had never seen the man act this way. 'Oh, yeah…definite pheromones spilling over them two.' Kennedy left them and went to the target slayer pretending a conversation.

What they thought would be a few minutes of idle chat turned into forty-five minutes of interested conversation by both the slayer and the makeshift watcher. Faith couldn't help but admire the man's looks, and when she heard his accent, she wanted more. He was charming but the brunette didn't fall instantly. She'd been with enough men to know a smooth delivery didn't mean he wasn't an asshole. He was friendly and they spoke easily. He never asked her why she was in Brazil. Willow had told Faith she filled in Miguel on the important aspects of Kennedy's problems. Faith liked the fact that he wasn't nosey. He also didn't mention any problems with Kennedy. She could tell he was loyal. The more they spoke, the more intrigued she became with the man. She found herself wondering what his story was, how he got to that precise spot on the floor where they now stood. She wondered what skeletons, if any, he had in his closet. Faith could tell she was immediately attracted to the man. Part of it she told herself was the fact she hadn't gotten laid in a while. 'A girl can only go for so long," she told herself. Another part of her, though, was genuinely interested in the person. She smiled when she felt a slight flutter in her stomach. 'Man, can't let anyone know about that…definitely not in with the 'bad ass' rep.'

For Miguel, it was like an awakening inside. He prided himself on having matured from his idiotic younger days. He didn't use women, although he knew with his looks he could have. That's not to say he was chaste; if a woman wanted a good time, he was more than willing to show her one. But he was honest with those in his life. He enjoyed the solitude. He had lived with a couple of women but they didn't last. In the end, they wanted more than he could give. He often wondered if his involvement with the Watcher's Council and his knowledge of slayers made him have an unattainable vision of women. He knew how incredibly amazing and brave and strong they could be; he had seen it with his own eyes. Some how, maybe 'regular' women couldn't hold his interest.

When he took the assignment to help Kennedy and Willow, Miguel knew he would be in contact with slayers. He also understood they would be teenagers and in his charge. He never made, nor did he ever consider making, a play on any of the new slayers. He was dutiful to his position. Then Kennedy walked in with that beautiful woman; her face seemed familiar. When Kennedy told him who the woman was, the man remembered her face from a picture in the brunette's home. Miguel had been told about Faith by the couple. What they didn't know was he also knew about her from conversations he'd had with Council members. He knew of the rogue slayer, her switch to the dark side and her resurrection into the light of the righteous.

The woman intrigued him. She was not what he expected, someone larger than life; Faith was on the small size, being just a few inches taller than Kennedy. She was bold he could tell just by how she talked to him. She was also cautious; he could see that in her body language. She had a wonderful smile and seductive eyes. He could tell by how she dressed and carried herself, she was a sensual person. By the end of their long conversation, Miguel knew he was smitten.

Kennedy finally finished her 'talk' with Maria and went back to Faith. "So, you wanna work out, Faith?"

The two women then left Miguel to finish his training session. Faith and Kennedy sparred, rather intensely at times just as Willow had predicted. As their workout continued, Kennedy introduced Faith to the slayers that were there. Several didn't speak English so Faith nodded and smiled a lot. Numerous times during their fighting, Faith tried to nonchalantly ask about Miguel. Finally, "God, Faith…why don't you just ask the guy out?"

"Hey, K, watch your step…don't get cute or I'll kick you ass…I was just asking questions." Faith had a reputation to uphold; she couldn't let it seem like she was interested or didn't have the upper hand.

"How bout we all go out to dinner?" Kennedy thought that proposition couldn't irk the slayer.

Faith thought about for a bit. "If you want to…" she stated in a non-committal manner; she couldn't stop playing the role.

"Fine." Kennedy then went over to the Brazilian, spoke to him and came back. "Tomorrow at eight."

Faith shrugged her shoulders in a 'whatever' way and turned to go to the showers; she smiled the whole way there.

While the slayers trained, Willow spent time with Kennedy's mother. She asked her about recent episodes. Gabriella said she'd had several, but after being told about the Fear Caller and how it attacked, she had been able to slow the episodes. Having some one around helped because it kept her mind off of Kennedy which was the catalyst for her torment. She'd had one bad occurrence that was interrupted by Miguel visiting. She told Willow that she hadn't given her daughter this information because she knew something was weighing on her daughter's mind.

"There has been, but I think that's gonna be behind her soon." What Kennedy didn't know was on that night of Faith's arrival, Willow heard the words of her slayer in bed. She wasn't asleep and had let her brunette say undisturbed what was in her heart. Willow had a good feeling.

The next night, the four went out to dinner. Faith was told more stories of the couple's Brazilian adventures and more of Miguel's background. She found out the man had grown up from humble beginnings. He never went to college and learned his profession by starting in the mail room of some two-bit unscrupulous exporter. He worked his way up until he was able to open his own little furniture exporting business. Miguel also told the ladies how he had become involved with the Watcher's Council.

Faith cringed some when he talked about how impressed he was with the Council members he had known. "Let's just say they weren't my favorite group of people...and leave it at that." Faith looked at Willow after that remark, both of them understanding the episode between Faith and Buffy when the Council tried to kidnap Faith to kill her.

They also talked about the new slayers. Miguel gave a rundown on the girls, noting which showed exceptional talent and which still needed grooming. By this time, the man had been given responsibility for all the girls and was on they way to becoming a full fledged watcher. Giles had also promised additional help. They also discussed the couple's role in the slayers' lives. Kennedy and Willow always knew they were in Brazil only temporarily; their job was to identify and make contact with the slayers; they were to explain the possible futures to the teenagers. But, both knew they would eventually head back to the States. Because of this, they didn't want to get too attached to the girls; they didn't want them to become too dependant on their presence. It was for Miguel to start the Brazilian branch; it was for him to set the tone, extent and intensity of their involvement. The witch and slayer were present in the slayers' lives but were not a fixed part of it.

During dinner, Miguel and Faith continued the flirting they had started the day before. Both made enough eye contact to get an optometrist degree. Several times during the evening, Willow found herself looking at Kennedy with a raised eyebrow due to the actions of the other two. Kennedy always gave back a look of 'I told you they were hot for each other.'

The dinner finally over, the four left the restaurant. Faith went with Miguel for a few minutes. "He wants to show me his bike." Kennedy smirked and quietly said to Willow, "I bet that's not all he wants to show her." Willow lightly swatted her lover on the arm. "You are so bad…but I think you're right," she smiled back to her slayer.

When Faith returned, Kennedy smiled and asked, "So, he gotta big engine?" Faith just sneered. "What?...I meant his motorcycle." Faith kept walking, pretending not to hear.

After a few steps, Faith nonchalantly said, "Guess I'll find out tomorrow…he's taking me out."

When they got home, Kennedy went to turn on the tv. "Hey, K…let's patrol." Faith had let enough time go by; it was time to deal with Kennedy's slayer issues.

"Umm…well…I don't…uh…" Kennedy didn't know how to tell Faith she was scared to patrol.

"Listen Kennedy, I haven't patrolled in a few days…I'm getting itchy and I'm going tonight… right now… with or without you…I just thought it'd be easier you being there since you know where the spots are." Both Faith and Willow waited for Kennedy's response.

Kennedy hesitated; she saw the look of anticipation on Willow's face. She knew her redhead was hoping she'd gotten over her fear. The brunette didn't like being on the spot but she also knew she made a promise to try harder. She didn't want to disappoint her witch. "Alright…I'll go." Kennedy decided she could always keep them to the quieter areas or cut the patrol off early if things got dicey. A relieved smile came across Willow's face.

"Let's go then." Faith had gotten Kennedy to move and she wasn't going to waste the momentum. Kennedy went over to Willow and gave her a light kiss.

"We'll be back in a few hours…you don't have to wait up." Kennedy didn't know how her first patrol would work out and she didn't want Willow to see her return dejected if it turned out badly.

"If it gets too late, I'll go to bed and leave a light on for you two." Willow understood perfectly what her slayer meant.

So off the two slayers went. Willow hoped Faith could put the slayer spunk back in her brunette.

Kennedy started to drive the slayers to a relatively safe demon slaying area. However, half way there, Faith saw an ominous looking wooded area. "Hey, K…how 'bout over there?" The younger slayer didn't want to go there because that was near the place where Elvis had attacked.

"That's kind of a place for a group of slayers…maybe not the best for us." Faith could sense her friend was shying from possible danger.

"Then it's perfect…I've got some serious pent up slaying energy to get rid of…come on, stop." Kennedy did as requested, against her better judgment, hoping Faith would take the lead in any possible attack.

As they walked around the area, Faith asked the younger slayer about her patrols since arriving in Brazil. Faith got Kennedy reminiscing about all the demons she'd killed and how she'd help train the new slayers. The older slayer was trying to make the younger realize all the accomplishments she'd had. They joked and laughed and Faith told Kennedy how her time had gone since the mass exodus the previous July. She told Kennedy how she went patrolling in Cleveland and helped Wood with the slayer house. They talked about the end of whatever it was that she and the principal had. They talked about becoming more responsible and moving on with their lives. They shared a piece of themselves. They never talked about the episodes that had landed Kennedy in the self doubt in which she was stuck. Then they walked in silence.

"I know you know about the family…and that you're here to get me slaying again...." Kennedy could feel her resistance sprouting up again, a self defense mechanism she'd used for years. "…Willow didn't need to…." Faith didn't let her finish.

"Don't try to put any of this off on your girlfriend…she did what she thought was right…and she is right…you should be kissing her feet with all the shit you've dumped on her."

Kennedy got more defensive. "Hey, I know I haven't been exactly me, but I can do this myself…I don't need you telling me I'm a fuck up."

The older slayer stared at the younger. 'She's worried I think she's a fuck up?' Faith could see how bothered Kennedy was that she wasn't looking like the perfect slayer to her sister slayer. 'She thinks she let us down.' The older slayer saw some of that scared unsure girl she glimpsed that early morning on their ride back from the Truxdeiro. Faith had to let Kennedy know that noone thought her weak, let alone a failure. Her tone took on a calmer affect.

"I know what it's like to think you've lost it." And the rogue slayer did know; she knew all too well the toll on the psyche done by the inner ridicule of self chastisement. "K, you're just shaky…that's all…you've gone through a lot…but the longer you hide, the worse it'll get…"

The older slayer stopped walking and looked at her friend. "Do you know why I was in prison?"

"I never asked Willow…." That was true. The brunette didn't like judging people on their past events."

Kennedy couldn't say she was exactly shocked. She knew Faith had a dark past; Willow had confided about some pretty scary events between the slayer and the Scoobies. Willow had made comments that led her to believe Faith's crime was very serious. Kennedy tried to lighten the mood. "Christ, have any of you guys 'not' killed someone?"

Faith laughed and smiled. She then recounted her own story of self doubt and despair, her downward spiral right up to the time Angel made her see her worth. The brunette listened intently to her story and after she was done remained silent for a while.

"I don't trust myself, Faith…I know I'll some one hurt…or killed." That was her concern, being the cause of another's death. "I could get Willow hurt again…or even killed." The truth was out; the slayer's biggest fear was being the cause, the catalyst for her lover's death.

"K, you'd never do anything to hurt Red…and you'd never let anyone hurt her…but ya gotta stop thinking that you're in total control…you ain't girl…shit happens."

Kennedy knew Faith was right; she'd known Willow was right all those times the witch told her the same thing. But the thought of losing Willow because of something she did or didn't do was stifling. The brunette also knew that she had to get back to her true self or eventually she'd lose Willow due to her own stupid attitude.

"I know your right Faith; Willow's been telling me the same thing…it's just hard ya know?...I don't know what I'd do if I lost her."

Just as Faith was about to answer, a vampire came jumping out at them from the wooded area next to the pathway on which they'd been walking. He said something in a language Faith didn't understand. Kennedy was startled and almost thought of running, but she couldn't leave her friend there. She held her ground even though her insides were shaking. She forced herself to relax and stay calm. From the comments of the demon she knew he didn't know he was in the presence of two slayers.

Faith saw Kennedy react to the appearance of the vampire. At first, she thought Kennedy was going to retreat; then she noticed her expression change and Faith was certain she saw the slayer resolve make its appearance. She watched the younger slayer scope the demon; then heard her speak to it. 'Damn, how many languages does this girl know?'

"Ooo…this is so not his night," Faith retorted. She heard the brunette say some more things to the vamp and then he got very angry. "Whadya say to him?"

"I told him to thank us that we'd be killing him quickly." Faith laughed; the slayer was back.

Kennedy felt that slayer urge again. Granted, she understood this wasn't exactly a serious situation; two slayers against one pathetic vamp was like a pitbull against a mouse. But she felt the sureness return; she didn't have the cowering uncertainty that had plagued her. Most importantly, she didn't see those blue eyes berating her. Kennedy looked at Faith and went after the vampire.

Faith was impressed by what she witnessed. Kennedy had shown off a little of her capoeira fighting style during their workout, but now the older slayer got to see it in full action. It was amazing; the fluidity and swiftness of Kennedy's attack caught Faith's attention. Kennedy had developed into a true killing machine against evil. Faith stood there bewildered at how any slayer with the skill Kennedy was exposing could ever be filled with self doubt. Within a matter of minutes, the brunette had the vampire on the ground and a stake through its heart. As the dust cleared, Faith saw her friend with a triumphant smile.

"Yeah…it did." Kennedy stood up, wiped herself off and looked at Faith. "Thanks, Faith."

"Hey…This is my first trip outta the U.S….I'm staying a while. I got lots of time to listen."

Then Kennedy got a familiar look to her face. "Let's head back, Faith…I don't want Willow to worry."

Faith knew better. "Yeah, right…haven't killed a vamp in how long?...please, don't shit me. I know you're revved up."

"Jesus, Faith…can you ever get your mind on anything other than sex?" Problem was Faith was right.

"Fine…I can pretend as much as you can…let's get going, Kenn…I'm sure you'll want to 'ease' Willow's worried mind." She said it with as much mock concern as possible.

The two got home not that much later; the light was on and Willow was obviously in bed.

"I'll see you in the morning, K." Faith knew her friend had plans other than staying up to watch tv. "If you need me for any reason, knock loud on my door. I'm gonna be listening to my walkman…headphones work really good…a bomb could explode right here and I'd never hear it." Faith smiled as she said it and then headed to her room.

Kennedy smiled back and then went in the bathroom and took a quick shower. She couldn't seem to get clean fast enough. When she was done she draped a towel around her and went to her bedroom. She closed the door behind her. The little nightlight was on; there was just enough light to see her redhead sleeping peacefully. For a moment, she thought about letting her witch sleep. Then the need to touch her girl, to be inside her, poured over the brunette. They hadn't made love since Willow's return from Cleveland. The slayer ached for her witch.

Kennedy dropped the towel and got into bed. She got on her side and faced her redhead. She gently traced her fingers over the witch's exposed shoulder, up Willow's neck and along her delicate jaw line. She barely brushed her lips with her finger. 'God, how I love you' she thought.

"Yeah, I tried to sleep, but I couldn't. I wanted to see ya when you got back." Willow felt the fingers that had been on her lips now grazing her cheek.

Kennedy chuckled slightly then raised her eyebrows. "Strong isn't exactly the feeling I'm dealing with at this particular moment." With that, Kennedy moved on top of the redhead, hands on either side holding her weight. She placed one leg in between Willow's thighs and leaned it into the witch's center. The redhead arched slightly; she was just as desperate for contact as her brunette.

The slayer lowered her head and began to kiss her lover on the forehead, her cheek, and then to that delicate spot just behind her ear. They were soft kisses. She worked her way down the side of her witch's neck, back up underneath her chin and finally to a waiting mouth. The soft kisses ended and Kennedy's thirst for her lover's mouth made her press for entry. Willow willingly obliged. Their kiss was deep and passionate; the lovers put all their desire into that contact, all the yearning for the time they'd been without each other's touch.

As she kissed her redhead, Kennedy's leg never stopped pressing and rocking into her lover. The slayer could feel Willow pushing back, beginning her own movement matching that of her slayer. Kennedy then felt finger nails trail down her back and up her sides. It brought shivers to her skin. The lovers engaged in their penetrating kisses for what seemed like hours, giving each other the attention that had been withheld for so long. Then Kennedy began to kiss her way down to Willow's breast. She playfully nipped at the night shirt covering perfect alabaster skin. "This won't do." The brunette stopped her assault on the witch, sat up and lifted the night shirt over Willow's head. Now her witch was naked. She laid her back on the bed and lay on top of her as before. This time Kennedy was motionless.

"I don't tell you enough how much I love you…" Brown eyes gazed lovingly into green. "…you are everything to me…" Then softly, "…you saved me."

Willow raised her hands and placed one on each side of Kennedy's face. A sweet smile appeared. "I guess we're even then."

Willow pulled her slayer to her and drew her into a passionate kiss. The want that had been building in the two exploded. The past worry and fear transformed into wanton need. The two devoured each other, touching and caressing and kissing. It was the deepest connection turned to urgent physical expression. They satiated every feeling that had been dormant. Willow caressed the perfect curves of her slayer's body while kissing down her neck, in between her breasts and across her taut stomach. Then the witch's fingers explored and found their waiting home between undulating thighs. Kennedy's hands massaged the firm and silky breasts of her redhead. Hands were replaced with the slayer's mouth and she could hear her witch moan with the contact. The sweat glistened off their bodies, breathing came in ragged heaves. The lovers continued their physical onslaught, their bodies writhing and senses reaching overload. They brought each other to that place they both knew by heart. Kennedy called her lover's name when she finally gave into the waves rushing through her. Willow clung to Kennedy moaning, her face buried in her lover's neck, when it was her turn to jump off into the abyss. The women made love like long lost soulmates reunited after years of desperate search.

When they had completely fed their hunger, the lovers lay in each other arms, the sheets a tangled heap dangling off the end of the bed. Willow knew she had her slayer back and Kennedy finally felt the weight of desperation off her shoulders. Both drifted to asleep happy once again.

Night and day, that was the difference in the mood and actions of Kennedy. The following weeks saw the brunette return to her old self. She and Willow were as happy as they ever had been. They laughed, talked and spent time together. They retreated to that stage of their relationship where they couldn't keep their hands off each other. Of course, that was relegated to their home and the occasional quick passionate kiss or embrace in a secluded public area. At home, the couple cuddled on the couch or the floor to watch television. They seemed to always be touching one another, be it holding hands, draping an arm over a shoulder or even just touching toes while sitting at opposite ends of the couch. Whenever they could steal a moment alone in the house without Faith, the lovers took advantage, satisfying their inflamed desire for intimate contact. They never squandered the chance to have sex. It was as much a need for Willow as her slayer.

"God, Will…if Buff and Xander knew how much of a sex fiend you've become, they'd die from shock."

Willow couldn't have cared less what her friends might have thought of her 'sexual overload.' She had seen her brunette slowly drifting from her. Now that the slayer was back, Willow wanted all of her, in every way. The redhead realized how entwined Kennedy was to her own well being, her own desire to enjoy life. She vowed she would never be so distant from her slayer again. All was good between the couple.

Kennedy's slaying had also made a resurgence. The two brunettes patrolled every night, often taking one or two of the new slayers with them. Kennedy regained her confidence and quick instincts; she showed off her excellent fighting skills and stunned even the seasoned Faith. She took the lead again, making the decisions of where and when to attack. Faith stood back and let her friend take control. She followed the brunette's instructions. Faith let Kennedy feel at home again with her leadership qualities. All was good with slaying.

Romance wasn't only relegated to the witch and slayer. In the weeks since her arrival, Faith had found herself in the middle of a firestorm with Miguel. It had sparked during their initial meeting, ignited on their first date and had soon thereafter become a full fledged wild fire.

Their initial dinner date took place at a very nice restaurant specializing in local cuisine. "If you want to know Brazil, eat its food…Everything about us is right there." Miguel was right. Faith found herself captivated by the dishes. She had always thought of herself as a 'burger and fries' kind of person; she was surprised to find that she had a liking for the exotic food.

After dinner, the two went to a club, a beat thumping, heart pounding dance club. Faith quickly discovered her date loved to dance and had some nice moves. They danced and drank, heavily even by Faith's standards, until closing. Faith hadn't let loose like that in months, not since the Scoobies' departure if she really thought about it. The Brazilian too had shed his Council hat and was concentrating on being a regular man out with a beautiful woman.

After leaving the dance club, they walked in silence to Miguel's bike and stood next to it, neither sure how to proceed but both knowing what they wanted to happen. They were charged up and drunk; neither wanted the evening to end with a ride home for Faith and a kiss on the cheek.

Faith didn't give the man a chance to finish his sentence. She leaned in, placed a hand behind his neck and pulled him to her. Their lips met in a heated kiss. Tongues searched and arms instantly embraced, pressing and roaming against clothes covered flesh. The kiss held in it an understood need, both individuals straining for control over bodies that wanted immediate satisfaction.

Faith was the first to disengage from the feral attack. "I guess you should take me to your place…" She had finished Miguel's sentence for him.

Once at the Brazilian's home, the urgency for physical contact became overpowering. The couple raked at each other's clothes, frantically; shedding the barrier between skin. Within minutes, the two stood naked in the man's living room, embraced in another uncontrollable need for contact. Their mouths were every where on each other. Miguel kissed down Faith's neck, across her shoulder and back again. He then moved down, kissing along the way, until he reached her breast. He kissed and began to run his tongue around her nipple. Then he took it in his mouth. His hand accompanied his actions by firmly massaging the slayer's other breast.

Faith was anything but still during this time. As the man kissed her body, her hands were grazing his arms, working their way to the man's back where they traced up and down. When she felt a mouth on her breast, she dug her fingernails into him, scratching them down his muscular body.

The couple could feel their hearts pounding, breathes turned ragged. Faith's skin tingled with excitement. She could feel that sensation beginning to build inside. For Miguel, his excitement and desire for the woman was obvious from the rock hardness pressed against Faith's body. He could have taken her right there, as primal a feeling was coursing through his veins. But this wasn't just a fuck; this was a slayer, an instant attraction that he knew went beyond the physical.

Miguel picked up Faith in his arms and took her to the bedroom. He laid her on the bed. The light shining in from the hallway was enough to show him the magnificence of the woman before him. Faith had a body that was more than beautiful. Miguel saw it as something other than just perfectly shaped breasts and hips. Every muscle, every sinew on the woman was also there to fight and protect. Miguel took in the sight of the slayer, knowing that her mind and body weren't just for show; they were the things of legends. He was in awe of the brunette and had never wanted a woman more than he did Faith at that moment.

As the Brazilian stood above her as she lay on the bed, the slayer considered the rushing desire washing over her. Faith knew her want for Miguel was more than merely needing sex. She'd had that feeling enough times to know this was different. It was other than just appreciation for a 'hard body,' though Miguel's certainly fit that description. He had a chiseled stomach, rock hard pecs and muscular legs. Faith admired the man for being in such good shape. The slayer was captivated by his looks. Miguel had told her his ancestors were mostly indigenous Indian and Portuguese. However, it was the Indian features that were most prominent. He had jet black hair and eyes and a sculptured face that set off his bronzed body. He had little to no facial hair and, much to Faith's liking, little body hair – the original metrosexual.

But there was more than just the physical aspect of the man. Faith found she had things in common with him, despite their being from different countries. He listened to her and wasn't turned off or scared by her bold personality. Faith found herself wanting the man in a way she didn't think she had ever wanted a man before.

The distance between the two ended abruptly when Faith reached up and pulled Miguel onto her. Instantly, they engaged in a fervent kiss. Hands began again to roam and caress; breathing turned hitched and frayed. Their bodies yearned for release. The two spent the night proving to the other that their expectations were well founded. They moaned and pressed and joined in the rhythmic sensation upon their bodies' union, rocking and pumping. Their bodies kept their unified motion while hands caressed and lips searched. They abandoned all pretenses and gave and took from each other like the experienced lovers they were. As the feeling built inside, the rhythmic movement increased and intensified until finally Miguel found his coursing release followed shortly thereafter by Faith. The lover's fell from each other's arms, their bodies glistening from the sweat of their encounter.

"Better be ready for round two…This slayer ain't done yet…" she said as she rolled on top of a very wide awake Brazilian.

Faith and Miguel spent a lot of time together after that night. He took her sightseeing and dancing when they could. He tried not to get in the way of her time with Kennedy and Willow. He understood the 'loner' character of the woman so he didn't push for companionship. He was happy with whatever time she gave him. The two learned more about each other; Faith occasionally divulging parts of her past that she seldom shared with anyone. She felt at ease with the man; the slayer never thought he was judging or pitying her.

Miguel also told Faith more about himself. She was informed of his keen interest in American basketball. "I liked Michael Jordan," he told her. Miguel was also fascinated by baseball. Much to Faith's dismay, he was a Yankees fan. "Being from Boston, I'd ordinarily have to shun you…but, I think I can make an exception…you obviously have no clue the Yankees are evil bastards." Miguel smiled not understanding the sarcastic retort by the slayer.

In fact, it was because of their talks that the Brazilian got nicknamed by Faith. They were talking about places they'd been and Miguel was telling Faith about his many trips to the U.S.

"My first trip was when I was six and my grandparents took me to Disney World in Florida. It was the last good time I had for a while…My family ran into a bit of hard luck after that." Miguel's voice was drifting as he said it. Then he focused again and continued.

"So, we go to Disney and we're having a great time. Of course, my grandmother insists that we find Mickey so I can get my picture taken with him…" Miguel starts to laugh. "…I was so happy to see the mouse that I decided that I wanted to be him…For the rest of the trip, I pretended to be Mickey. I made my grandparents call me Mickey and would only eat cheese." The man started to shake his head and smile. "Even after I got home, I kept it up…My mother was beside herself after a few days."

"I finally stopped obsessing when my mother threatened to make me live under the house with the other rodents…" Miguel tilted his head. "What can I say…I still like Mickey Mouse."

When Kennedy and Faith weren't with their respective love interests, they were out patrolling or talking, usually both. There were times when just the two of them patrolled and those were when they continued the rebuilding of Kennedy's slayer self image. Faith made it a point to let Kennedy talk out her feelings or concerns. She knew the younger slayer tended to be closed lip and 'tough' like her. The older slayer also knew where that had gotten her in life, all the strife that the "I can solve anything' attitude had caused her. Faith didn't want that for Kennedy; she didn't want that for herself anymore either. Those patrols were times when both women revealed some of their frailties, some of their hopes. The two slayers had kindred spirits cast from very differing melting pots, but they understood each other. With Kennedy as a friend, Faith allowed herself to open up more, knowing that her 'secrets' were safe. As it turned out, Faith had needed to help Kennedy, because in doing so the lone slayer let another small piece of her wounded past heal.

On most occasions when the two slayers were alone, the discussion inevitably led back to Willow. Kennedy couldn't say enough about the amazing powers Willow had conquered, her steady determination and never ending kindness. "She's become so strong, Faith…and not just the magick stuff…she's become…like…a force of nature…" Faith saw how Kennedy said those things about her redhead with absolute reverence. The older slayer was beginning to understand the depth to which the two women loved each other. It was inspiring. She saw how the two got along so well. Willow was the soothing influence to the impulsive and sometimes arrogant style of Kennedy, while the slayer prodded from Willow her wilder and hidden confident sides.

Faith had jokingly asked Willow once how she put up with Kennedy's sometimes pushy ways. "Ya know…it's not been a problem here…Kenne and I don't argue much…She really hasn't butted heads." That was true. Willow didn't see the same headstrong brunette in Brazil as she had at Buffy's. Willow came to conclude that Kennedy's actions in Sunnydale had mostly been against Buffy, and often to defend the redhead in some way. When she thought back on it, many of the confrontations the brunette had with Buffy were because Kennedy didn't think Buffy was giving Willow enough credit. Willow realized that even at that early stage, Kennedy had thought her a mighty witch and had been her protector, even against the ultimate authority-Buffy.

Faith didn't spend all her time talking just to Kennedy. She also got to know Willow better. They talked about the past, always treading lightly on the harsher times in their joint history. One night, Faith had begun to say, in Faith-like fashion, that she was sorry for her horrendous behavior. Willow didn't let her finish. "You're a different person now, Faith…we all do things we wish we could take back…" The witch knew all too well the destruction caused by a soul out of control. The redhead now had a truly better understanding of the guilt Faith must have felt and the amount of gratitude she must have had for Angel for saving her from complete ruination. The witch and the reformed slayer, the unlikeliest of people, became closer friends.

In those few weeks after Faith's arrival, Willow and Kennedy also continued to work on a solution for the slayer's mother. Now that they knew the name of the demon and its origins, the next step was to devise a way to destroy it. Initially, Willow conducted more research to find out everything about the demon and the ring. It was an arduous task because of the intense secrecy surrounding the subjects. She had Giles help when possible; he often called or faxed information to Miguel's office. They were getting closer to a solution; Willow and Kennedy could feel it. "We're gonna do it, Will…I just know we are."

Gabriella Gonzalez had also been having what would be considered, in some respects, a reprieve from the torment that had become her life. She had been able to hold down the number of episodes thanks to concentration and a few meditating spells Willow gave her. That's not to say that the woman was living a normal, or even acceptable, life. Whenever her diligence waned, the Caller demon would rear its ugly head and hit her with fearful thoughts that plagued her. Kennedy and Willow had been witness to such attacks; they saw that the ethereal presence, that had made its debut while Willow was in Cleveland, was recurring and getting more prominent each time. Kennedy's mother also told them that when the voice did get to her, the fear it caused was increasing. Despite knowing the origin of her torment, she was succumbing easier to the voice, her physical and emotional defenses weakened by the continuing barrage of dread.

The amount of energy it took Gabriella to keep her mind focused in order to prevent the demon from entering her thoughts was enormous. It was only the fact that she was able to get a few hours of sleep each night that had kept the woman functioning at all. She was to the point of exhaustion and it had started to produce physical symptoms in the woman. Gabriella noticed that after the attack Kennedy interrupted in her hotel room, she felt tight chested and a bit queasy. She thought nothing of it until it happened again after her next attack. With each passing episode, her strength depleted slightly more and that pain in her chest reappeared.

In time she knew something was wrong. One day, she told Kennedy that she had to leave for a few days in order to take care of some matters back at her house. She declined the company of her daughter but told her she would be careful and check in regularly. Gabriella had previously gone to a cardiac specialist who, upon examination, told her she needed testing. When she left her daughter, the woman went directly to a hospital where those cardiac tests were performed over the next several days. The final diagnosis was that Gabriella had developed a slight heart condition; she was also hypertensive. Her heart problem was one not needing immediate surgical attention but requiring medication. When she finally contacted Kennedy upon her return, she told her daughter nothing. 'I'm not going to burden her with this, too,' she told herself. Gabriella kept her condition to herself and tried as much as possible to keep the episodes at bay until her daughter and that sweet witch of hers could find a solution.

The days continued in like fashion for the members of the Sao Paulo family. Then on a typical day in early May, a particular morning, Kennedy and Faith noticed Willow was quiet and pensive. The brunette couldn't help but notice that Willow seemed sad. The slayer searched her mind for a reason that her redhead would be melancholy. The anniversary of their first night together had recently passed, for which they spent the night celebrating in like fashion. "That can't be it.…" Kennedy was at a loss. She looked at Faith, "What am I forgetting?...May…May…"

And then it hit her; "Tara's death," she told her slayer friend. It had been two years since the blonde witch was killed. Kennedy wasn't sure how to handle the situation. She knew Willow hadn't the chance to really give remembrance the previous year because they were on the verge of the battle with the First, in the middle of the tunnel explosion and Buffy's, for all intent and purposes, forced departure from her own house.

Kennedy was often in a fix as to how to deal with anything Tara. If she were honest with herself, she did have some jealously towards the woman's memory early on. All she ever heard at Buffy's was how wonderful Tara had been, so kind and gentle. It was obvious to her that the comments were made because of distrust of her motives towards Willow. She knew there were those close to Willow who would have preferred she not be so bold and insistent with their grieving friend. Kennedy could see from the sadness in Willow back then just how much the blonde had been loved. The brunette had for some time, even after she and Willow started dating, kept in the back of her mind that Willow could never get over Tara. She eventually realized she was wrong, but that didn't stop the uneasy feeling she would get when the blonde witch came up in a situation.

It wasn't that Kennedy thought her redhead pined for Tara or that she played the 'who would I chose' game. For the longest time the slayer tried to understand the remorse Willow had. She knew one aspect was because Willow partly blamed herself for Tara's death. The manner of her passing also had to weigh heavily. In the end, Kennedy told herself that it was Willow's big heart that made her feel so much. The witch wasn't being anything other than the only way she could be, and that was saddened by the loss of a wonderful person who had opened up so much for her. The brunette wondered if maybe Willow was sad because she never got to tell Tara how grateful she was for all the things the kind woman had done for her. So Kennedy didn't press Willow; she didn't want to make her girl think she disapproved of her grief. But she did make a point of embracing her witch a little longer and smiling a little softer that day, just to let girl know she understood her sadness.

The tenderness Kennedy gave to Willow that day didn't go unnoticed. Willow figured out, early that morning, that her slayer realized the significance of the day. Like Kennedy, Willow was confused by how to demonstrate her emotions. There was still part of the witch that wanted to put some of the blame of Tara's death on her shoulders. But mostly, she was sad because a sweet life had been taken too soon from this world. Tara was just too young to die. Willow mourned that inescapable fact.

But she too felt uneasy about her emotions. She didn't want Kennedy to feel slighted. There had never been a time after Kennedy came into her life when Willow compared the two, to see who 'won out.' It was never an issue of matching the brunette to Tara and feeling like she had been short changed.. Life wasn't a "who's the best couple" question at a tv fan website. Too early in her life, Willow understood that horrible things happened, but life moved on nonetheless. Luckily for the redhead, Kennedy had been there to help push her when she needed it. Willow saw her slayer give her the space to be sad about a wonderful person taken too soon. She was grateful to Kennedy for that.

Willow's melancholy didn't last long, and soon the new group of evil fighters were back to enjoying their lifted spirits and reenergized goal for success against the Fear Caller demon.

Now was the time for action, a decisive plan to end the reign of terror the Fear Caller demon had over Gabriella Gonzalez.

It was the ultimate outcome of that concerted effort that no one could have ever expected.

"Is this everything we have to go on?" Kennedy wanted to make sure that they left no fact out when they set their plan in stone.

"That's all the info there is on the demon…this was all very secretive …and what writings there were mostly got burned." Willow recounted how she had gathered, with the help of Giles and Miguel, every bit of writing ever done on the Fear Caller demon. Unfortunately, that wasn't much. Each time a Caller had been successful in regaining its evil soul, the revamped superhuman tracked down all documentation by or in the possession of its captive and destroyed it. However, Willow was confident she had a good enough picture of the demon to know its strengths and weaknesses. The Chronicles had been especially helpful since it contained the story of the witches that had created the spell to capture and destroy the evil doers and enslave their souls.

Willow and Kennedy then began to digest the information, working on possible solutions. They worked together as sounding boards for the other's scenarios. They'd play devil's advocate to each scheme propounded by the other, testing every planned move like a chess match.

What they knew was that the Fear Caller demon was once a human, albeit with super human talents. They found out that the ring encased the evil soul of the human counterpart. The hazy mist that had begun to appear with Gabriella's episodes was the 'leftover part' of the physical evil monger, its essence almost, waiting to be reunited with its soul and resurrected. This was no 'ashes to ashes and dust to dust; 'it was 'haze to flesh and mist to bone.'

The couple also knew that the demon was able to reunite only through fear and only with the holder of the ring. It tormented and terrified the wearer, gaining access to the most intimate and deeply entrenched fears of the person. The energy given off as fear was nectar to the Caller, life producing power. The more fear, the greater the energy and the closer to corporeal presence. It was the well known physics concept, energy is never destroyed – it merely changes form. Terror to the caller was like nitric oxide to a dragster, a blast of pure power.

"We need to get the ring off…and we can't just pull it off." Kennedy repeated; she had told Willow of her previous attempt. The witch and slayer looked puzzled.

"Not really…she'd probably wake up…besides what's keeping us from being able to take it off has to be connected to the ring and not your mom."

"How 'bout if you do a glamour on her?" Kennedy thought of when Willow turned into Warren and how the witch had originally thought that was the reason for her changed form. "You know, make her into someone else."

"That's not how it works, " the redhead stated wishing she could give some helpful words. "A glamour doesn't change anything put appearance…and it's just an illusion really…you're mom's thoughts and everything else would still be hers…her aura would still be there." But this got Willow thinking. "We need something that takes away her essence and puts it somewhere else…then maybe the demon follows…and we could take the ring off."

"But is the Caller after the person or the ring?" Kennedy asked. "If you remove the, let's say, essence of my mom…does the demon really care? It needs the ring…that's where its soul is…it can scare to death whoever has it."

"That's probably right, unless it doesn't want to start the whole process over." Willow felt a little dejected that they still hadn't found an answer.

But the discussion made Kennedy remember something said by Faith during one of the times the three women where in the apartment hanging out. "Didn't Faith say she switched bodies with Buffy once?"

Willow remembered all too well the horrible incident. "Yeah…but Faith had a gizmo that did it…and they switched bodies. They were still themselves inside."

"Ok, but couldn't we do something like that…couldn't you do a spell?" Kennedy had an idea of where she wanted to go with this.

"I do. Will…and my mom can't handle this much longer…but I can. I'm a slayer…why can't you just switch us kinda like Faith and Buffy did?'

Willow saw where her brunette was going with this but there were problems. "Just switching won't do…you'll have her body but not your slayer powers, your mom'll have them…Just exchanging bodies won't work because you won't have the power to fight the demon."

Kennedy could see her redhead was in deep contemplation. She was churning her brain for a solution. Then green eyes looked at brown.

"What if we cloak you?" Willow has a resolved smile on her face. Brown eyes gave an answer that said, 'I have no idea what that means." The witch continued.

"No, Kenne, I'm serious…we mask you as your mother…It's still you, no body switching…but we take your mom's aura, her essence, and basically cover you in it…you are still you underneath, slayer powers and all…but since she's kinda got a clean slate, the ring should come off…it should want to follow the aura…the demon'll think you are your mom cuz of the aura and you'll be wearing the ring."

Kennedy could instantly tell this was an idea that had merit. They discussed it further until they were sure that the idea could work. The plan was rather simple. Gabriella couldn't get rid of the ring because she carried the fear that the demon had attached itself to, had worked on so diligently to bring to complete life ending terror. If the woman's essence, which would include all her thoughts and fears, was transferred onto Kennedy, then the demon and ring would follow. Willow could perform a spell to move Gabriella's aura to Kennedy, in effect allowing the slayer to be a wolf in sheep's clothing. Kennedy could then let her mother's fear come to fruition, without harm to her since they weren't her fears. Once the Caller got the power it needed to become of human form, Kennedy would kill it. One fact they knew was that before the soul was let out of the ring, the 'human' Caller, though a master killing machine, could be killed more easily than once it reunited with its soul. Kennedy knew this was one human, super or not, she'd have no conflict killing. They surmised that the slayer would even have the upper hand since the Caller, upon gaining corporeal form, would be expecting someone dead or at the least severely weakened from the fear produced.

How and where the transfer would happen took some thought but that too developed into a well thought out part of the plan. They decided on a converted mission in an older section of town. The place was empty and had been abandoned for a few years. It was close but not so near as to put their home or the training facility at risk. The mission had nothing in it to give the advantage to the demon. Kennedy was quite familiar with the building and its layout.

The plan was for Willow to make the transfer at the mission. Kennedy would be cloaked and get the ring from her mother. Faith would take her mother to a secure area in the building. Faith's job was to protect Gabriella in the event something went wrong and the demon, or whatever, came after them. She was also there in case the couple needed an extra slayer. Miguel was to secure the training facility. Whatever slayers were at the complex would be enlisted as sentry guards at Gabriella's hotel apartment and Willow's and Kennedy's home. The couple made sure every place Gabriella had a connection to in Sao Paulo was protected in the event of an unexpected glitch.

Once Faith took Gabriella, Willow and Kennedy would wait for the demon. Kennedy understood she would need to allow the demon to get into her head, her mother's really. The slayer couldn't fight it; the only way to bring out the demon was to give into the fears. The brunette would have to be witness to her mother's most terrifying secrets. Kennedy knew they would be centered on her. Once the fear culminated, the Caller would become corporeal. Willow would then break the cloak and put a binding spell on the superhuman Caller. Once Kennedy was free of her mother's aura, she would use her slaying powers to kill the demon. Working together, the witch and the slayer would free the brunette's mother of her tormentor.

"I'm still concerned about the cloaking and how you'll be able to deal with the Caller." Willow was certain she could do the spell, her concern was the intensity of the demon's torment and whether there were any consequences she hadn't thought through.

"Don't worry, Willow…your spell will be perfect…it'll do what it needs to do…besides I'm a slayer…and a Prescott to boot…we're pretty headstrong." Kennedy smiled. She didn't want Willow doubting herself. This was a great plan and Kennedy knew it'd work. "We're gonna get that demon, Will…I just know it."

The matter of when the plan was to take place was the last issue. It was originally planned that the transfer would take place when all the new slayers were at the complex, which was a matter of a few days, so that there would be maximum slayer power if needed. Miguel also had to go out of town for the day and had promised to be back well in time for the mission.

The next morning, Kennedy went to her mother's hotel to let the woman know of the day of her impending freedom and how she was going to get it. 'What a great way to start her day,' thought Kennedy as she drove.

When Kennedy got to there and knocked on the door, she got no response but heard a muffled sound inside. Thinking her mother was having another episode, she used her key card and hurriedly went inside. There was no hazy presence. What Kennedy saw was her mother over by a table, leaning on it with one arm. The other arm was up against her chest, her hand clenching at the area of her heart. She was gasping for air and completely pale in color. She didn't even respond to Kennedy's calls to her.

The brunette went to her mother and stood in front of her. "Mom…what's wrong?" There was panic in the daughter's voice.

"P-pills…in the b-b-bath…room." It took all of the mother's strength to force the words out.

Kennedy rushed to the bathroom and saw a bottle of pills on the counter-nitroglycerine. She ran back out with them and opened the bottle. "How many?" she asked. Gabriella shakily held up one finger. Kennedy gave her one which the woman placed under her tongue.

Within a few minutes, Gabriella recuperated enough for her daughter to question her about what she saw. The mother reluctantly informed her of her condition. She said she'd had another episode, though not a bad one, and then the chest pain started. It came on too fast and strong for her to make it to her pills.

Kennedy took it all in and then simply stated, "Don't worry, Mom…we know how to stop this…and it stops tonight."

"We can't wait a few days, Willow…she may not last that long." Kennedy, after leaving her mother resting in bed, went straight home to tell her witch of the change in timing. Faith watched on while the two discussed it.

"Kenne, we won't have all the people we need…Miguel isn't here and neither are all the slayers…besides I still need time to work on the spell and work out any other bugs that might come up." Willow didn't like being put on the spot; this wasn't a simple matter and their less than full knowledge of the demon made the endeavor even more dangerous.

"We can keep her with us…so she won't have another episode." The witch was hoping her slayer would see that more planning was needed.

"You can't guarantee me that she won't have one…Will, this last one was hardly anything she said…and it almost killed her." The brunette had a sound of worry in her voice. Then she looked straight at Willow. "What if it were your mom?"

Willow understood with that question, the plan would be done that night. Gabriella wasn't just an innocent, and she wasn't just a long lost relative anymore. In the time Kennedy and Gabriella had been reunited, the woman became her mother again. She was the person who gave the slayer life; the mother that loved her daughter and whose daughter loved in return. Willow realized that the two were connected in the real sense and the girl would not let her mother suffer.

The redhead looked over at Faith to get her perspective, her two cents worth. Faith shrugged her shoulders. "You guys got a good plan…I don't think a day or two matters…I say go for it."

The witch returned her view to her slayer who was waiting for a supportive word. Despite any worries she might have had, Willow knew she would stand shoulder to shoulder with her slayer. This endeavor would take the both of them working in unison; Willow would have it no other way. She gave Kennedy a nod and a strong smile. "Let's do it."

The tension in the brunette's face eased and she smiled back at her redhead. "Great…let's make some phone calls and get this thing rolling."

They sat slightly turned facing each other, emerald eyes staring into chocolate. Each woman felt the burden of what they were about to undertake. It was their unwavering trust in each other that gave them the belief that they would succeed. The witch and the slayer were going to fight fear itself, the ultimate lap dog of Evil.

"Alright…let's kick some demon booty." Kennedy nervously chided as she opened the car's door and got out. Willow did the same from her spot on the front passenger's side. Faith and Gabriella departed from the back seat of the vehicle. As Faith walked to the rear of the car, she called to Kennedy.

"Hey, K, throw me the keys so I can get the bag out of the trunk." The slayer did and Faith tried to open the trunk but the lock stuck. "Jesus…what a shit box you borrowed." She jiggled the key and it finally unlocked the trunk. The older slayer leaned in and took out a long army green colored canvass bag which had several weapons and other articles as its contents.

"Quit bitching…If I knew we were gonna do this tonight, I wouldn't of let Miguel use our car for his trip." Kennedy didn't know why Faith was so concerned about the car; she figured it was just nerves on the part of her friend. The brunette had borrowed the car from one of the slayers. 'What a great time for your bike to be in the shop,' Kennedy silently said to the non-present Brazilian.

The four women stood on the sidewalk looking at the old converted mission that would soon be the center of demonic activity of dimensional proportions. Willow broke the silence.

With that said, the women quietly headed for the door of the building. Each, in her own way, was thinking about the events that led them to that very spot.

After deciding that the confrontation with the Caller demon was to take place that night, Kennedy and Willow put things in motion. The first order of business was to pick a time. They decided that they would go to the mission at 8pm. That would mean that the transfer would hopefully be completed by 8:30. Kennedy called her mother and told her they would pick her up at 7:30. Willow had actually picked the time. After researching, she determined that most of Gabriella's attacks occurred after sunset; the fiercest occurred around mid evening. Willow surmised that the demon, like most others she'd run into, was at its most potent and 'thirsty' during those times. Since they needed the demon to succeed in becoming corporeal, Willow determined that time would be their best chance.

When Kennedy and Willow first discussed the plan, they had Faith and her mother staying in the mission after the transfer. It had to take place there. "Transferring is very delicate…it doesn't take well to traveling…significant energy shifts," Willow had told them.

Gabriella's presence during the battle was of some concern, but there were several well placed areas in the mission that would have made secure hiding places. Faith was still going to protect Gabriella, but she would be close if a second slayer was necessary in defeating the humanized Caller.

However, once Kennedy learned of the precarious physical condition of her mother, that part of the plan changed. Willow told Kennedy how the transfer would leave her mother in a limbo like state. "She'll still be her but she won't be at full strength…since she's loaning her essence to you." Willow confirmed that once the cloaking spell was terminated, her mother would be fine. Because of the physical burden that would be placed on her mother, Kennedy decided that the woman shouldn't stay at the mission.

"This shits, man…you want me to just leave you guys here…alone…to face that fuck." Faith was more than upset that she was being relegated to non combat duty.

"Faith…you're the only one I trust to take care of my mom…I know nothing'll happen to her if she's with you." Kennedy knew her friend was the only one for the job; Willow had to do the spell and the new slayers weren't prepared for the kind of battle that might occur if she and Willow weren't successful.

Faith finally grudgingly acquiesced. Once the transfer spell worked, the older slayer was to immediately take Gabriella back to the training facility and wait for Willow and Kennedy to call letting them know the demon was dead.

Kennedy had Faith call Miguel to tell him of the new plans. "…and that's the plan, Mickey…in a nutshell…looks like you'll have to catch the rerun on cable." Faith tried to sound as if the Brazilian wasn't missing out on one enormous adventure. She also didn't want to the man to worry about the hurried changes. It didn't work.

"Faith, this isn't good…I should be there to help." Miguel decided he would be. "Listen, I'm heading back right now… I should be there before you leave…if not, I'll meet you at the mission." This was one battle Miguel was determined to help fight in; he owed it to Kennedy and Willow.

The last phone call made was to the slayer complex. Kennedy talked to Maria, who had naturally assumed the position of slayer 'captain' at the place. The brunette filled in the slayer about the upcoming event and was told that only one slayer, besides her, was there. Because of the small number, Kennedy requested that when the time came one go to her mother's hotel room and the other to her and Willow's apartment.

By late afternoon, every detail was set and all the players had to do was wait. It was the hardest part of the plan. Willow suggested that they pick up Gabriella early and bring her back to their apartment. Kennedy made a quick call. The mother's response to the daughter's request was full of love. "Honey…that's thoughtful of you, but I'll be fine until you pick me up…you need to be with Willow right now." Gabriella understood the danger involved in the scheme to free her and she wanted her daughter to spend those waiting hours with the girl she loved.

Faith spent part of her time talking with Kennedy and Willow. Then she roamed from her bedroom to the living room, talking to Miguel and smoking by the open back door. The slayer ended up listening to music on her walkman and watching tv.

After talking to Faith, Kennedy and Willow spent the remaining suspended time in their bedroom, lying on the bed holding each other. There was no inferno of lustful desire pushing them to immediate physical intimacy. But in those moments before the start of their dangerous journey, they had never been so close. Their time in Brazil had led them to this; their struggles had made them prepared. They kissed tenderly and softly talked about the spell and the plan, making sure they were as prepared as they could be. They held hands; Willow gently stroked her lover's arm while Kennedy brushed stray crimson locks from her witch's face. The lovers were, in a serenely intimate manner, expressing their eternal connectedness. They had each weathered the storm of self doubt and had come through to calm sea because the other was there. They didn't need grandiose exaltations of undying devotion. Their love was as solid as steel, as deep as the universal expanse. One sure gaze and one soft smile said everything; they had each other and they were never letting go.

Both understood that the upcoming battle had to be fought together. Kennedy realized that Willow needed to be by her side. Only she could accomplish the transfer and protect her slayer in the moments after the cloaking spell was ended. It was the witch's burden to make sure the demon didn't get to Kennedy until she had a chance to shed all influences of her mother's essence and fear. Willow knew in those precious moments, Kennedy's life would be in her hands.

Kennedy was confident in her witch. Though she would have liked to keep her lover as far away from danger as possible, she knew Willow had to be there. The slayer was confident that once she was up to task with the humanized demon, she would be able to keep her witch away from harm and triumph over evil.

Opening the door to the old mission, the women stopped whatever inner dialogue they had. They entered, ready to take the war to the beast.

The inside of the building was much like the outside, abandoned and in need of repair. One could tell by viewing the walls and front altar area that the place, when it was a mission, was graceful looking in a reserved way. There were still remnants of the fresco designs on the upper part of the walls. The lower half had been worn with time and weather; the paint and plaster severely chipped and peeling. The building itself was a rectangular shape about sixty feet long by forty feet wide. The ceiling was at least twenty feet high. The women came through the front doors to the backside of the sanctuary facing the large altar area. There were no longer any religious articles remaining at the front, whatever was left behind had succumbed to thieves. The pews had also been extracted. What was left was a large empty area, interrupted only by the six floor to ceiling columns that lined both sides of the place, three on each side, seemingly cutting the area into thirds. There was no electricity so the visitors brought several large camping lanterns the slayer bought at the market. The stained glass windows also let in the light from the moon and the street lamps outside.

As the women walked in, Faith took the bag to the middle of the room and placed it on the floor. Willow instantly followed her and unzipped the bag. She took out the lanterns and handed them to Faith who placed them by four of the six columns and turned them on. Willow in the meantime removed several candles from the bag and placed them in a circle within the square made by the lanterns. The witch then lit them.

"Ok…we should start." Willow was anxious to begin so that they could get the whole episode behind them.

The three others walked over to the witch. "Tell us where you want us, babe." Kennedy knew this part of the plan belonged to Willow alone.

The redhead directed everyone to their places. Kennedy and her mother stood side by side in the middle of the circle. Faith was next to Gabriella but outside the circle. She brought the bag with her. She took out of the bag a crossbow and a thirty inch machete, Kennedy's favorite, and laid them beside her sister slayer just outside the circle then went back to her spot next to Gabriella. Willow stood directly in front of and facing mother and daughter.

The witch took in a deep breath. "Are you ready?" she asked the two before her. Gabriella moved her hand over and took Kennedy's, giving it a gentle squeeze. They both looked at each other, then Gabriella released her grip. Both answered "yes" in unison.

The witch told mother and daughter to close their eyes and concentrate on emptying their minds. Willow started to recite a verse in latin and then another. She kept chanting and then lifted her arms and placed her hands lightly on the mother's and slayer's heads. Willow closed her eyes and repeated the spell's verses, concentrating on the power of shifting Gabriella's 'essence' to cover Kennedy. Within a short time, the witch could feel the ethereal presence of Gabriella's consciousness lifting from her body. Willow could sense it was following her commands, traveling from the woman, passing over the redhead's hands and migrating to the waiting slayer.

Gabriella at first felt nothing as Willow chanted. Then she began to notice a humming and tingling sensation running through her body and inside her head. As the words continued, the sensation grew in intensity, but there was no pain associated with the event. In fact, Gabriella was quite calm. She didn't resist; she could tell her body was giving up a part of itself. The burden on her soul was lifting. In time she felt it completely leave her. Once gone, she became tired and felt nondescript.

For Kennedy, the experience took a different course. Willow had told her what she could expect. "You're getting your mother's consciousness…that includes all the bad stuff she's been going through." Kennedy listened as her witch performed the spell, and waited. Then the feeling started to creep in- fear and hopelessness. She still had complete knowledge of who she was but another layer was being placed on top of her. The brunette slowly became shackled with the torment her mother had been carrying. The burden fell on her like a heavy winter coat. At the end of the transfer, Kennedy felt what it was like to be her mother, the guilt the woman held, the fear that hid just behind the next thought.

Willow knew when the spell was complete; she could feel the 'essence' stop its flow from Gabriella and make its last jump into Kennedy. Willow opened her eyes and looked at the two women. Gabriella looked like a person stripped of identity; she had a wandering lost look about her. Kennedy, by comparison, took on a deep concerned expression on her face.

The slayer turned to her mother and took her hand. She slowly placed her thumb and middle finger on the band of the ring. There was no burning. Instead, Kennedy felt a connection to the piece of metal. It seemed to want the touch. The brunette got a sensation that the ring wanted her, like a lost pet that found its home again. Kennedy pulled at the ring and it easily slipped off Gabriella's finger. 'That was so easy,' the slayer thought. The brunette held the ring in front of her and looked at Willow. Both knew this was the moment that would start everything. Kennedy lifted her other hand and placed the band on her ring finger. The slayer thought she felt the ring pushing itself on. She stared back at Willow.

The redhead tilted her head and looked at Faith. "Ok, Faith…you need to take her now…we'll handle it from here."

Faith came over to Gabriella and took her by the arm. "Is she ok like this, Red?" Faith needed to know if there was anything special she had to do.

"She'll be kinda out of it until we're done…so try to keep things calm and not too much moving around."

"Works for me…" Then looking at Kennedy, "Are you sure you guys don't want me to come back?" Faith didn't want to leave her friends in danger.

Kennedy turned her head to the older slayer. "Just keep her safe…we can do this."

Faith nodded and started for the door with Gabriella. Before they exited, the mother turned back to where her daughter and the witch stood, and smiled. Faith closed the door as they left.

Once by themselves, the slayer and the witch looked at each other. [It's just you and me, now], Kennedy thought to Willow. [We do this together].

The witch knew that this part of the plan was the most unpredictable. Kennedy had to wait for the demon to come to her thoughts. She would help coax him by thinking about those things that her mother said spurned the demon to torment. Kennedy had to let her mother's fears about her daughter come out to play. The brunette didn't know what to expect; she only knew that she would be witness to how her mother really felt about abandoning her daughter. Kennedy tried to relax and let the thoughts escape.

It didn't take long for the fear to come out. Kennedy saw scenes of a despondent Gabriella, mourning over the loss of her daughter's love. She felt the guilt strangling her thoughts. There were scenes of drunken binges and waking up in a stranger's bed. But throughout all the horrible memories and thoughts racing in front of her mind, Kennedy kept seeing glimpses of a young version of herself, begging for her mother.

The voice came in a hushed whisper in the middle of the fleeting scenes. "You ruined her life," it spoke. "She hates you…" Kennedy tried not to fight the voice; she knew she had to let it win this time. The slayer let the demon torment her. She could feel the fear building up, the knowledge that her mother's biggest fear was that she had ruined her daughter's life and would never be forgiven. There was the fear that Kennedy hated her and wanted nothing to do with the woman. Then the voice got louder. "She wants to kill you…she hates you…" The voice became more adamant; its curses more venomous as time passed. Gabriella's consciousness was getting terrified. Kennedy couldn't help but be caught up in the despair her mother had been feeling. The slayer started to get anxious and struggled to withhold fighting back. The demon kept pounding away at the hopelessness that had plagued Gabriella. That fear started to coexist with the slayer's own consciousness and anxiety.

From outside Kennedy's mind, Willow fixated on her slayer, searching for any clue that something was astray, hoping that the spell was working. She saw the look of worry and fear on her brunette's face and knew that she could only watch until the next step in the plan took hold. The witch kept scanning the area around them to see if the hazy presence was manifesting.

Kennedy accepted the barrage of venom spewed by the demon voice, but unbeknownst to her, her own anxiety and fledgling worries were beginning to mingle with those of Gabriella's.

"She wants you dead…she hates you…you ruined her life…you can't protect her…"

Kennedy was startled by the last attacking words, for they weren't directed to Gabriella's fear but to her own. With the passing time, the voice started to take on a mixed attack.

"Your daughter wants you out of her life…you can't protect your mother…she wants you dead…you'll get the witch killed…" The demon started its attack more on the slayer. "You can't protect anyone…you're a failure…you can't keep me from killing them…"

Kennedy was becoming terrified with the voice attacking her. She didn't know how it had gotten to her, but she was dizzy from the fear swirling in her head. She put her hands to her face and dropped to her knees. The demon was now attacking using her fears as its weapons and she didn't know what to do. She couldn't speak to Willow; the onslaught of visions and verbal attacks kept her mind too jammed to communicate coherently. 'How did this happen?' she thought.

What Kennedy and Willow didn't know, the fact that they could never have possibly known, was that the Chamador domedo demons, the Fear Callers, were able to sense tricks of deception. The fatal flaw in the evil fighters' plan was that they were unaware of how much they really didn't know about the Callers. Throughout the bloody history of the battles against the demons, the warriors for good attempted every method to deceive the creatures into submission. Numerous spells and tactics were used to try to gain the upper hand. The result was that the Callers were able to mutate, of sorts, to be able to sense even the most miniscule of change in conscious thought. Transfers, though mimicking the 'essence' of the ring bearer, did not fully transfer the soul. The Fear Callers knew that ultimate terror wasn't found in the conscious mind but in the deep recesses of the soul. To really terrorize the ring bearer and bring the person to their knees, the Caller slithered its way into the most intimate of fears and self doubt that lay hidden from the world in the dark lonely corners of a person's being.

This critical information was not in any of the documents Willow and Kennedy read because it didn't exist. The Callers had been able, during their centuries' long battles with the righteous, to expunge all written references to this crucial fact. They took exceptional effort to rid the earthly plane of existence of all evidence of their extraordinary abilities. Even the Chronicles contained a patchwork of information as to the demons. It was this pivotal revelation that never could have been known by the witch or the slayer.

Because Gabriella's essence was not her soul, the true source for terror, Kennedy's fears, became the target. The Caller, being able to sense the origin of fear, knew the physical person wearing the ring was a slayer. When Kennedy became anxious there was an alteration in the energy from the girl. It was noticeable to no one and nothing…except the Caller. But once sensed, the Caller pounced on it. The needed terror had to come from the real wearer's soul. The fright produced would also assist in defeating the wearer because of the unexpected weakened state the person would be in because of the attacks. The Caller started to work on Kennedy's fears and was eventually deluging her with her inner most uncertainties.

"You can't save your mother…you can't save your witch…once I'm free, I'll kill them both …" The voice kept at her. "I'll kill you then hunt them down…your witch will die slow…I'll make her s-s-uf-f-f-e-r-r-r…."

Kennedy felt the presence of her mother leave her. The cloaking didn't withstand the demons attacks. Willow felt nothing because her brunette's fears had taken over all existing presence. The mixing of Kennedy's fears had made ethereal tears in the energy shroud produced by the spell. The slits grew, then shredded, leaving the slayer completely exposed. The slayer was naked to the demon. She couldn't keep the voice out; it took her over as it had her mother. Kennedy lost the line between reality and the mind tricks of the demon. The slayer believed that the demon, once corporeal, would go after Willow and her mother. She was certain that they were in danger. Kennedy clutched her hands around the back of her neck, her body tensing from the horrible images racing through her mind.

"They'll die…just like the little girl…you're nothing…it's the witch that's strong…you're pathetic …you can't save them…you're weak…they'll die in pain…." Then the voice got closer, so close to Kennedy that it seemed right beside her whispering in her ear.

"Wanna know what I'm going to do to your witch before I kill her?...I promise, I won't be gentle…." Kennedy could hear the sneering laugh and see the image of Willow being violently raped and tortured.

The slayer was frantic and she knew Willow had to go. The brunette had been brought to think that she had to convince her girl to leave, get out of the mission in order to save herself. Kennedy couldn't move or speak, the attacks on her thoughts freezing her body. She used all the concentration she had and tried to mindspeak with her redhead. [W-willow...you've got to leave].

Willow had been watching her slayer the whole time. She saw Kennedy's body tremble and shake. She desperately wanted to go to her slayer and break her of the torment but they had told each other that this moment had to run its course, regardless of the affects on the slayer. It was the only way to get the demon out to kill it. So, Willow nervously waited. 'God, is this what it was like when I resurrected Buffy?' She now understood why Xander and Tara were so upset.

Then she heard Kennedy's words in her head. She was bewildered with the statement and its frantic tone.

[Baby, I'm not leaving you]. The redhead thought this might be a transference thought from the girl's mother.

Kennedy said the only thing that she thought might make Willow depart. [You've got to get out of here…Mom's in danger…help her].

During this, the voice continued…and listened. "I'll follow her…I can see your mother's trail…I'll see the witch's…" The demon knew the key to life eternal was separating the slayer from her witch.

Kennedy was frantically trying to make Willow understand she needed to get out. The demon's voice made her think that the redhead couldn't just leave. The other worldly creature would track her down like a prized hunting dog. She needed Willow out but not by walking or running.

Willow didn't understand why her slayer was trying to change plans. [What's happening, Kenne?].

Kennedy began to feel the terror getting stronger; she knew it wouldn't take long for the haze to appear. She leaned forward and pushed both hands on the floor. Her head was hanging down. The demon was coming…she could feel it. The brunette had to get Willow out.

[Dammit…just go…now…teleport]. Kennedy knew instinctively the demon wouldn't be able to trial her then.

Willow was in shock. She went to the ground on her knees in front of Kennedy and grabbed her by the arms lifting her to a kneeling position once again. This had gotten too out of control. Something was wrong and Willow needed to know what. "Kennedy…what is wrong," she shouted.

Kennedy knew Willow would never leave if the issue were only the redhead's safety. In order to save her witch, Kennedy lied. She pushed through the fog and the incessant activity in her head and looked directly at green eyes.

"Mom's in real danger…something Faith can't handle alone…You need to be there…now…no time to walk or run…you need to teleport…please, Willow." The slayer was begging.

"What about you?...I-I can't leave you…the demon?...I need to break the spell and, and…the energy field …and I d-don't know if I can just ma…make myself go like that." The witch was confused and scared. Willow understood Kennedy wanted her mother safe, but the redhead was more concerned for the life of her slayer. She was just as concerned about her ability to teleport under such disconcerting conditions.

"I can do this part…you don't need to stay…you need to be there for my mom…I know you can teleport…you can do it, Will…you can save her…" Kennedy felt the presence growing.

"Just go now, Will…NOW…I can do this by myself." The slayer felt the doom of Willow's well being hanging over her head.

Willow saw how certain Kennedy was with this sudden change in plans. She didn't understand it, but she trusted her slayer enough to believe it was for the best. Kennedy had to have a valid reason for her demand; they had worked too hard on the matter for Kennedy to do anything without the clearest of reasons. Willow knew she had to put her faith in the slayer.

"Ok…I'm going." She leaned in and gave Kennedy a quick kiss on the lips along with a nervous look. "Be careful." Willow then shut her eyes and let her mind empty. She concentrated as hard as possible on her task. She remembered everything that Mishline and Frisha had told her about concentration and energy. The witch opened her mind's channel to the dimensional void and pinpointed with razor sharp accuracy her required destination. All sound was lost; all she could hear was the beating of her heart. The she felt the light sensation she had felt in Cleveland. She knew she was on her way.

When Willow said she'd go and closed her eyes, Kennedy did the same. Not because the slayer was scared to see her Willow vanish before her eyes but because the demon had strengthened its onslaught and her head was now pounding from the anguish. She shut her eyes and put her hands to the sides of her head. She started rocking from the pain and fear. When she could handle it no longer, she forced open her eyes.

Willow was gone…but the hazy mist was before her and it was turning into form.

Kennedy had no barriers left; every horrible fear that ate at her soul had been opened like a fresh wound. There was no strength to fight, no reason to. The barrage by the Caller had made Kennedy believe her greatest fear…being the cause of Willow's death. The vision shoved before her in her mind by the demon was of Willow's torn lifeless body seeped in blood; Kennedy looking over her while a voice echoed…"You weren't good enough…you caused this…." The slayer, unable to handle the fear any longer, gave in.

After leaving the mission, Faith made it back to the training facility with Gabriella in record time. The woman was how Willow said she would be – in a dazed and almost dumbfounded state. Kennedy's mother stared into nowhere as Faith led her to the chair next to the desk by the wall. She just sat there, mumbling softly.

The brunette, on the other hand, was edgy. Faith was a slayer and her job was to fight evil. Playing baby sitter to a zombie wasn't her idea of fulfilling her slayer legacy. The older slayer thought the newbies could have kept the woman safe. She hated the fact that she wasn't with Willow and Kennedy. She wanted to be in the middle of the action, wanted to be kicking some serious demon ass. But this wasn't her call. The operation was her friends'; they called the shots. So she did what she was told as much as it was digging at her insides. Time passed and she waited to hear from the witch or the slayer.

After she checked on Gabriella for what seemed to Faith to be the hundredth time, she called Miguel. "Yo, Mickey…where are you?" A part of Faith wanted the Brazilian with her, missed his presence during this very serious time.

Faith told him the course of events to the present and her nerve racking job of doing nothing. She told Miguel that it had been too long for her not to have heard from either of the couple.

What Faith hadn't noticed while she was talking to Miguel was Gabriella's reemergence into the land of the thinking. The woman lost that dazed look and seemed to be 'waking up.' She was disoriented and very tired. The mother didn't move but tilted her head back and closed her eyes to regain some energy.

Faith continued to talk to the Brazilian, kept voicing her concerns and her anger for not being with the couple.

"Getting this demon to show will take a lot of energy…it'll take time Faith…you gotta try to be patient." Miguel could hear the concern in the slayer's voice.

"I don't know, Mickey…I'm getting a bad feeling about this now." With each passing minute, Faith was becoming more worried that there had been a glitch in the plan and that her friends were in danger.

The Brazilian tried to calm her. "Listen, I'm heading straight to the mission…I'm sure the plan is going according to.…"

Startled, Miguel quickly inquired. "Faith, what happened?" The slayer's shaky voice answered back.

"Willow j-just…like…appeared…here…" Faith realized what the witch had done. "Shit, Miickey…Red teleported…something musta went wrong…" Then in a worried tone, "…get to Kennedy as fast as you can." Faith hung up the phone and went to Willow huddled on the floor by the punching bag.

The witch's second 'trip' was in many ways very different than her first. She was able to teleport without nearly the prep time as her initial attempt. Willow tapped into her ability of spontaneous deep concentration. The witch now knew she didn't need serene peace to travel; she just needed to want to. The fact that she was able to successfully travel under the extreme emotional conditions she had amazed her. She finally understood Mishline's statement that all feelings had to be respected, that they all be channeled for use.

Besides the quick ascent into the travel, Willow also immediately noticed upon arriving at the gym that she wasn't in the agonizing pain like the previous voyage. She had concentrated on a pain free arrival, like the smooth landing of a jet plane. That's not to say there wasn't pain, just not as bad. Her muscles ached but not to the point of near paralysis. There was only slight dizziness and no nausea. When she opened her eyes, she was kneeling on the floor. She looked around and saw Faith running toward her.

The slayer grabbed Willow's arm as the witch tried to stand. The dizziness grew stronger and Willow had to lean on Faith for support. It took several minutes before Willow could stand and talk with Faith.

"What the fuck is going on, Red?" Faith's tone matched her concern and bewilderment.

"Kennedy changed plans…her mom's in danger…I came here to help you." Willow was getting her sea legs back and the dizziness was receding. 'Definitely better than the first time,' she quickly thought.

"So nothing's wrong with K?" Willow could hear the release of tension in the slayer's voice.

"Kenne was acting weird, but she said we had to do it this way…I had to trust her Faith." As the words came out of her mouth, the redhead got an uneasy feeling about the scene at the mission.

Both women turned around to see Gabriella standing about ten feet from them. Willow could tell the woman was herself; she had her 'essence' back. That meant the demon was corporeal. A shiver went down the witch's spine.

"She's still at the mission…she sent me back here…she said you're in danger." Willow wanted to believe the truth of those words. She needed to believe that she left the mission for a valid reason, that Kennedy hadn't lied to her.

Gabriella understood the implication of her present condition. "She's fighting the demon-" the words said flatly. Willow just nodded her head.

The three women knew they could do nothing but wait. Willow still had to believe she was needed at the gym to help Faith against impending violence to Gabriella. As much as she wanted to be fighting by her slayer's side, Willow knew she should wait. More time passed.

They were all getting very nervous. Finally, Willow couldn't take it any longer. "I'm going back…something's wrong…I need to be with Kennedy." The witch tried to concentrate for another 'flight' but realized immediately she didn't have the power to reach the concentration level she needed; the witch's teleportation energy tank was on empty. "Damn," she said softly. "I'm taking the car." Willow started to head for the door.

Before she made it half way, Willow felt a tearing feeling in her gut. The sensation was excruciating. It instantly made her grab for her stomach and she doubled over and fell to the floor.

Willow, reeling in pain, turned to Faith and through strained breath, "It's K-kennedy…sh-she's been hurt…"

After Willow left, Kennedy sat back on her heels and watched in terror as the haze became denser and more defined. Brown eyes fixated on the mass that began to take shape. It wasn't long before the slayer could see a defined being materializing from the mist. The shape grew stronger and clearer and more real…until finally it was a man.

Before the slayer, though, stood no ordinary man. Another 'fact' of the Fear caller demons that wasn't in the written history was that when human form was taken, the being came back as it had left this world. The humanized demon became flesh dressed and suited as he was killed. This unknown information was the source of the surprise and worry that plastered Kennedy's face upon seeing the human demon.

The Caller, a human killing machine from centuries ago, was dressed with a steel mesh chest protector and steel mesh leggings over leather sheathing. He wore leather arm guards and gloves plated in metal. His boots were also covered with steel reinforcements. On his head was a metal helmet that covered all but his eyes. He was a tall and brawny man. The most noticeable article to the slayer was the weapon carried by the man. In his hand, the Caller gripped a long broadsword, the light from the lanterns shimmering off its finely sharpened edge. The sword was a masterpiece of workmanship with intricate designs etched along its hardened steel shaft. From what Kennedy could see, the handle seemed to be made also of steel with stone, diamond and ruby perhaps, inlay. The figure before the slayer was a terrifying sight.

Kennedy could feel the Caller's eyes pierce into her like the pinpoint of a laser beam. They looked at her with hatred. During those few moments that the Caller stared, unmoving, the slayer accepted the fact that she alone had to defeat the monster. The voice in her head was gone, but the messages still remained. Kennedy tried to fight through the fear, knowing that her survival, and more importantly, that of others depended on it. She realized that she had to regain her control, her strength to fight. The stories Willow told her of the righteous succumbing to the human Caller due to their lingering fear swelled in her mind. She was at her weakest at this moment and the demon would kill her quickly unless she recaptured her slayer confidence.

With all her might, Kennedy pushed away the fear and thought of nothing else except her slayer obligation – rage against evil. That act gave her enough inspiration to shed her turmoil and prepare herself for battle. She took her gazing eyes away from the Caller and turned them to where her weapons lay.

That action was enough for the Caller to know that his task of taking the ring would involve shedding blood. He didn't allow Kennedy time to grab for a weapon; he sprang forward and forcefully kicked her in the side. Kennedy went toppling over hard. The Caller grabbed his sword with both hands, bought it up to his chest and went after the girl. Despite the pain, the brunette pushed herself to a crouched position and quickly stood up. As the demon lunged at her swinging the sword, she lowered herself and twisted off to the side, barely missing the blade by inches. She then rushed to the bag and grabbed the machete. She knew she would have no time to load and cock the crossbow.

Once she had the weapon in hand, the slayer faced her adversary. She was ready for the fight and hoped that her undermatched machete was also. The two lunged forward, clashing steel together, sparks from friction bursting in the air. The two warriors exchanged blow after blow, each deflecting the other's expertly placed swipes. Kennedy took as much care as possible not to engage in a full frontal attack. She knew the Caller's sword was far superior to her weapon in straight on combat. She used her cunning and spectacular speed to battle from angles which caused the demon to lose some of his advantage.

The adversaries fought while moving around the mission floor, a violent version of dance, using the columns as shields when one gained the upper hand. The outside light flowing in through the stained glass windows threw a blanket of changing colors under their twisting and turning feet. There was a surreal quality to the turbulent dance of the two warriors.

Kennedy thought she had her opponent at one moment and took an extra hard slice of her weapon. Her demon was ready, though, and leaned back, escaping the blow. He was able to then bring the butt of his sword down catching the slayer on her back as she leaned in, causing her forcefully fall to the ground. Kennedy rolled as she hit and was again in a standing position in seconds.

The clash of good and evil continued. The embattled figures engaged in a fight of interdimensional proportions. Their give and take to the expertise of the other had a choreographed beauty, the sweat gleaming from their flesh and dripping off their faces belied the magnificent synchronicity of their movements. It was greater than any fight scene ever captured on film. But this wasn't the movies, and in this battle someone would eventually meet the reaper.

The two fighters traded blows until Kennedy decided to change tactics. She used her smaller size to her advantage and, after swinging and sending the Caller backwards, crouched down slightly and raced into the demon, tackling him and sending them both to the floor. The Caller's sword fell from his hand and his helmet came off and rolled to the side. Kennedy still had her weapon; she lifted it and scrambled to get on top of the demon to strike a final blow. She was next to the man ready to push herself on him when the Caller swung his leg around, hitting Kennedy in the head and sending her sliding across the floor, knocking into the crossbow and sending it in the other direction. As she went, her blade slipped from her hand and continued to slide across the floor. She instinctively crawled to regain her weapon. When she got it, she turned onto her back to see where her opponent was.

When she turned her head to look up, she saw the standing figure of the man, with sword in hand. He forcefully flicked his blade and knocked the machete out of Kennedy's hand. He placed the tip of his sword against Kennedy's throat.

"Get up," the Caller demanded in a voice as hideously evil as he was. Kennedy slowly got to her feet. The demon never moved the sword from its position against the slayer. He just stared at her, hatred filled eyes burning into the slayer.

"Slayer…you fight well…but without your witch…I knew you'd fail…divide and conquer…without her, your defeat was inevitable…" Then with a sadistic laugh, "…kill you now…kill her next…"

The rage welled up inside Kennedy. She would not let her Willow be hurt. She had one chance she knew and she went for it. She quickly turned and lunged for her weapon. As she grabbed it she rolled over landing on her feet facing in the direction of the Caller, her machete ready for battle. But the man had anticipated the move, had wanted her to make it. As Kennedy moved for it, the Caller followed and as she stood up ready to fight again, he swung his sword with all his might.

Had the Caller been a fraction more accurate with the spot where Kennedy would end standing, he would have sliced the woman in two. Instead, his blade cut deep into her side. The Caller released his sword; it was still wedged in the slayer's flesh. The blood began to drain from the site instantly, flowing down the brunette's shirt, her leg and onto the floor. Kennedy looked down stunned and wide eyed at the wound. A shocked and bewildered face then slowly trailed its way up the Caller's body and rested on the satisfied look of her adversary. She fell to her knees, unsteady hands trying to grab the handle of the sword but failing as they went limp.

The Caller stepped over to her and took off a glove. He grabbed Kennedy's hand with his other. The man raised it, staring at the ring. His naked fingers grasped the band, momentarily still, then pulled it off. He let the brunette's hand fall back to her waist. The entire time defeated brown eyes just stared at the gruesome bleeding wound.

The Caller was unconcerned with the slayer now. He knew she was all but dead. He had the ring and was seconds from being 'whole' again. He could feel his soul calling to him. He turned from Kennedy and took a few steps away; he never took his eyes off the ring.

"I'm free…" the Caller said quietly. He placed the ring on the floor and raised his leg so that he could smash the stone.

Just as he was about to bring his leg down, he felt pressure to his back and then saw the tip of his sword burst through his chest. The pain hit him immediately. He slowly and jerkily turned around to see Kennedy standing next to him, holding her bloody side. With the determination of a slayer, she had forcibly taken the blade from her flesh and rammed it into the demon.

"How 'bout kill me now…I kill YOU next…Lancelot." Kennedy spat the words through agonizing pain.

The Fear Caller demon stared into brown eyes full of righteous indignation and then fell to the ground dead. Kennedy, the vampire slayer, had sent the demon's blade to the one location she knew always worked-the heart. The ring that was still on the ground started to shine brilliantly from the stone. Then just as quickly, it stopped. Almost instantaneously, the defeated man vanquished; as he came, he went. A burst of hazy mist and the tormentor of Gabriella Gonzalez was gone, sword and all.

Seeing she had beaten her enemy, Kennedy felt a wave of pride and then lightheadedness overcome her; the pain was unbearable. She doubled over and dropped to the ground. The room went black and the slayer fell unconscious.

When Miguel entered the mission, the final scene of the horrendous clash had only been over a matter of minutes. He was sickened by the sight. He saw Kennedy lying on the floor, in a sea of blood. Gabriella's ring was near her. Miguel raced to the slyer. He checked her pulse and found one, though it was very weak. He knew he had to call for help. There was no way he could get Kennedy to the hospital and give her the immediate medical attention she so obviously needed. He grabbed his cellphone and called for an ambulance. He told them a woman had been attacked in an old abandoned building; he would figure out a story to explain the other items in the place later. While he waited, he took off his shirt and used it as a make shift pressure gauze. He knew he had to try to stop the bleeding. He couldn't believe the wound on the brunette's torso. Looking around, Miguel was certain that Kennedy had defeated the demon, had rescued her mother.

Within minutes, Miguel could hear the sirens from the emergency rescue vehicle. "Hang on, slayer…hang on."

Willow heard the chapel door close. With Faith as her 'bouncer' she knew no one would get in the room and break her concentration. It was all up to her now. Only she had the power to save Kennedy. The redhead looked around. It was a small room, interdenominational in decorum. There were chairs lined up in four rows, six per row. Against the back wall were three chairs. Fresh flowers filled several standing vases along the front and sides of the room. Willow instantly thought of Kennedy when she saw them. There was a space with prayer candles for those of that persuasion. What mostly filled the atmosphere of the room was a blissful silence. Willow walked over and sat in the farthest chair to the left against the wall. She peered up and saw the clock on the opposite wall – 10:59pm.

"Why did I take so long?" Willow couldn't reason why it had taken so long for her to get to the hospital and figure out the way to try and save her lover.

Once she doubled over in pain at the gym, Willow knew Kennedy was in serious trouble, in horrible pain. She couldn't stand up right away, the throbbing kept her immobilized. When she was able to stand, she stared Faith in the eyes and told her she had to get to Kennedy. She struggled with Faith trying to get to the door.

"Willow…you can't go alone…let me go with you." Faith wanted to help her slayer friend as much as Willow did.

"No, you need to stay here…to protect Kenne's mom." The witch didn't know if Kennedy had lied to her to make her leave the mission, or if her mother was really in danger. Either way, something terrible had happened to her slayer. But she still had the obligation of Kennedy's mother. She would make sure the woman was safe.

"Red, we'll take her with us…I wanna help Kennedy…I need to." Faith's expression pleaded with the witch.

Just then Faith's cellphone rang. She took it from her belt and looked at the number. It was from Miguel. She quickly answered it.

"Mickey…where are you…all hell's broke loose…" Then Faith stopped talking and listened intently. "What?...are you sure…she's where?...yeah, I'll tell Will…we'll be waiting…get your ass here quick." Faith closed her phone and turned to Willow who was just staring with anxious fright.

"He found Kennedy at the mission…he said she's hurt really bad…" Faith hesitated. "…really bad…he had to call an ambulance." Faith stopped again letting the information Miguel gave her sink in.

"They took her to the…ummm…University hospital…or Federal something…" Faith was still in a state of disbelief.

"They took her to the Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo-Hospital. Willow it's the big complex down from the main post office." Gabriella had joined the two.

"I'm going there now," the redhead said emphatically. She knew she didn't have the juice to teleport, but she could certainly drive.

"Will, Mickey's on his way here…why don't you wait and we can all go together." Faith didn't like the anxious way her friend was acting and she didn't want her distracted thought to get her into an accident.

"I'm not waiting…I've got to get there as fast as I can…you go with Miguel." Willow then grabbed the keys to the beat up car they borrowed and headed for the door. Faith watched as the witch frantically tried to get the car to start, banging on the steering wheel until the engine rolled over. The witch slammed the shifter into drive and the slayer watched as Willow sped away.

"I shoulda been faster out of the gym…I coulda drove faster…" A thousand things raced through Willow's mind in a second as she sat down in the chapel's chair. 'I make up for it now.'

The witch closed her eyes and opened her mind. She thought of nothing else but being with her slayer. Her mind searched out her lover's. Willow was transversing the inner dimensional plane of her brunette's mind. She would exist in form in Kennedy's subconscious being. In effect, Willow would be in Kennedy's mind, her thoughts and feelings. Though not physically in her presence, she would be with her slayer in every other way. Willow concentrated and connected with her dying girl.

'We never had a chance, Mom….' Kennedy continued to watch the doctors working hurriedly to save her. Her thoughts, though, were on the woman who had come back into her life. 'Is this fucking ironic or what?' Once again, life had played its cruel joke on Kennedy. Just when she thought she'd found some lasting happiness, when she'd recaptured a feeling she thought long dead, the cosmos pulled the rug out from under her. Mother and daughter had finally been brought back together. They had reached an understanding that there was some relationship possible…desired, by both. They wouldn't get the chance.

For a fleeting moment, Kennedy thought she'd had it all, the woman she loved and the mother she'd lost. Now, she had neither. She'd never get to know her mother, listen to her stories or see her face again. That incredible face; Kennedy's mother had become beautiful to her again. She saw a piece of herself when she looked at the woman, and she felt good about it.

"At least you won't die, Mom." Once again, the slayer had waged her life to save a loved one.

"And neither will you, baby." Kennedy turned her head to the right and there stood Willow with a loving smile.

After Miguel left Faith in the emergency entrance area, he went to the surgical waiting room and found Gabriella. She told him she hadn't heard any news. So, the man decided to keep looking for Willow in that area. When he'd had no luck finding the witch, he went back to Gabriella and waited for Faith. When the slayer still hadn't showed after twenty minutes, he told Kennedy's mother he would go looking for both slayer and witch. He finally found Faith at the entrance to the chapel.

"I found Willow…she's in there…" Faith pointed to the chapel. "She's doing a spell to keep the kid alive."

"She said she's gonna connect with Kennedy and keep her going long enough for the docs to fix her."

"Yeah…I guess…she didn't give it a name." Faith could tell Miguel knew the seriousness of the consequences if the action didn't work.

"Faith, do you realize what could happen to Willow if she's unsuccessful?" Faith merely kept looking at the man. "She could be stuck in Kennedy's mind…or die." This was a very dangerous proposition. "Faith, if Kennedy has some kind of stroke or embolism and ends up in a coma…or brain dead…Willow's mind will be trapped there." Then the Brazilian told the even worse scenario. "If Willow's still in Kennedy's mind and Kennedy…dies…Willow dies, too…she's in Kennedy's head but Kennedy's still connected to her body…if it stops, so does everything else."

Faith had known everything that the man just said. Willow hadn't spoken those words or explained it as such, but the slayer had known. She saw it in Willow's eyes and heard it in her voice when the witch said she didn't care what happened to her, that she needed to be with her slayer. Faith was as well aware of the danger Willow was putting herself in, but that had been her choice. The slayer wasn't going to second guess that now.

"I know all about it, Mickey…but this was Red's decision…we gotta let her try…she can save Kennedy."

Miguel could hear the desperate tinge of hope in the slayer's voice. He knew Faith wanted Willow to save Kennedy as much for her as the redhead. The slayer had a true friend and Miguel wagered that she hadn't had many in her life. "Ok, Faith," he said calmly. The man moved beside Faith and leaned against the wall next to her. They both fell silent; Miguel took Faith's hand in his own.

The slayer glanced at the man, comforted by his presence. This was the first time she noticed the blood on his undershirt. Miguel told Faith how he used his shirt to help slow Kennedy's bleeding. The crimson soaked clothing was resting on the front passenger side floorboard when she got into the Camry to come to the hospital. Looking at the man, Faith realized that if Kennedy lived it would be just as much because of Miguel as Willow or the doctors. She turned her view straight ahead and closed her eyes. The two waited.

They remained that way for some time. A few people walked by but none seemed to think their presence was out of place. Thankfully, no one tried to go into the chapel. The couple kept waiting until they heard a loud noise from inside the room. Both were startled and looked at each other confused.

"What the fuck was that?" Faith quipped. Staring, they both knew they had to go inside that room. Faith was the first to enter, followed closely by Miguel. Faith quickly scanned the room.

"Will?...how did…am I…am I dead?" Kennedy couldn't believe her redhead was there with her, not more than five feet away. She couldn't be real.

"No, you're not…I'm here, Kenne…well in your mind at least." Willow was worried, her slayer looked very bad.

The redhead softly smiled, "Can't carry a tune." Kennedy chuckled again. That was true. Then the slayer winced and took in a deep breathe, closing her eyes momentarily as she did.

The redhead knew she didn't have much time to waste. "Kenne, baby, you gotta listen to me…you have to stay strong…don't give in, the doctors can save you."

Tired brown eyes gazed into green. "I don't think I can, Will…I'm tired…I'm so tired, Will."

At that moment, several machines starting chirping and the surgical staff became frenzied once again. "Damn, the spine's a mess…I can't get this bleeder to stop…more suction…and get me a Needler clamp…" The surgeon was straining to get all the needed procedures done. She also knew time was running out.

Then the anestheologist blurted out, "BP's dropping…fast…" The level of activity once again increased. Orders were dictated and instruments handed over with lightening speed.

During all of the excitement, Willow and Kennedy looked on, in their front row seats to the slow demise of the slayer. The brunette looked back to Willow. "See Will…I'm not going to make it…I'm sorry."

Willow saw the look of defeat in her lover's eyes; she heard resignation in her voice. "No…no…I won't let you give up…you have to live…I need you, Kennedy." The redhead's voice started defiant and ended shaky. "Hold on for me, baby…please, don't let go…I love you…." Willow was pleading.

Kennedy's heart broke; she didn't want her girl hurting, to feel pain. The thoughts from the Caller came back to her. Looking at Willow, she once again saw how she had failed her witch. Kennedy stood up slowly. "I'm not strong enough, Will…I never was…I can't be what you need…what you deserve…" The slayer lowered her head. "…I love you…it'll be better this way."

The witch stared in disbelief, complete bewilderment filled her face. She couldn't understand where this was coming from. Kennedy had killed the Caller and freed her mother. The slayer had been everything Willow knew she was. "Kenne…you are strong…you're the strongest person I know…you're everything I want…the only thing."

"But I'll only get you killed…I almost did…" Kennedy started to get lightheaded again and her legs were feeling numb. Both women could see the buzz of activity coming from the surgical staff in the background. Kennedy talked erratically. "I couldn't handle it if …you…if I let some…" Willow could see the brunette was becoming disoriented. "…my fear…I can't let you.…"

That's when Willow realized what was happening. Kennedy was experiencing fallout from the Caller attacks. She was wearing her uncertainties like they were her skin.

"Baby…that's not true…none of it's real…it's just the bad stuff from the Caller…you gotta let them go…don't believe them." The surgical staff started shouting and Willow heard them say, "We're losing the heartbeat!" When Willow looked back at Kennedy, she saw the slayer's view had drifted to the surgical top covering her…there was blood spreading across the front of it.

"God, Kennedy…don't let go…I love you…stay with me…" The witch's plea was mixed with anguish.

Just then, the monitors blasted and the surgeon, still frantically working shouted, "WE'VE LOST HER…" Personnel started to race around the room, grabbing paddles and syringes.

Kennedy gazed upon the scene and then turned to her witch. Her words were soft and apologetic. "I'm sorry…I'm not strong enough…" Then with beautiful sad brown eyes gazing lovingly, "You were the one, Willow …my way…my only way." Kennedy turned back and started walking towards the surgical table. 'I kept one promise,' the brunette said to herself. 'I was with her til I died.'

"No-o-o-o-o!" Willow cried and lunged to her slayer, embracing the girl with all her strength. A jolt bolted through their bodies upon the moment of contact.

Standing in the surgical waiting room, Gabriella Gonzalez was going crazy. The horrifying events she'd experienced the last several months were nothing compared to the endless minutes ticking away while she waited for word on her daughter. The time limped by without one update on Kennedy. When she thought she could take no more, she heard footsteps coming down the hall. She turned facing the entranceway, now terrified to get the answer. Would her daughter live or would there be yet another tragic event, an insurmountable guilt, on her conscious?

The surgeon walked into the waiting room and looked at the lone woman standing there. In that split second, from the look on the doctor's face, Gabriella Gonzalez knew the outcome for her daughter.

"Senhora Gonzalez?" the doctor said. Gabriella Gonzalez would remember this moment forever.

"What the fuck?" Faith couldn't believe what her eyes saw. In the corner of the room beside a chair on its back was Willow; she was on the floor on her knees. Her arms were by her side, palms facing forward. Her eyes were closed and hair white as snow. Faith saw a hue of shimmering light around her.

As the slayer was about to take a step in the witch's direction, the light vanished, as did Willow's white hair; its replacement crimson locks. Willow fell forward, her hands on the floor stopping her descent. She lifted her head and opened her eyes.

Gabriella Gonzalez knew how the operation went as soon as she saw the surgeon. The mother could see it in her expression.

"Senhora Gonzalez?" The doctor had been told the name of her patient's mother and that she and a young woman were in the waiting room. Upon seeing the older woman, the surgeon knew she was speaking to her patient's mother.

'My daughter's in recovery,' Gabriella silently repeated to herself. Kennedy was alive. The woman let go of all the tension she'd carried since she found out Kennedy was injured. She became lightheaded and stepped back to sit in a chair.

The doctor went to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. In her native tongue, she continued to tell the mother about the status of her daughter. The surgeon told her how she'd never had such a strong patient; one that seemed determined to live despite the odds. She told the woman that they'd almost lost Kennedy. In fact, the girl's heart had stopped and they were getting ready to use the defibrillator on her when it amazingly started to beat again on its own.

Then the surgeon's tone got quieter and more serious. Gabriella heard the doctor talking about the injury to Kennedy's spinal cord and then she heard the word "paralysis."

"Fizemos tudo que podiamos," the doctor said – "We did everything we could." Gabriella swirled the word around in her head, 'paralyzed?'

After saying her lover's name, Willow collapsed. Faith and Miguel ran to her. Miguel put her on her back and held her head up.

"Red…are you ok?" Faith said concerned. Willow looked at her dazed. She squeezed her eyes open and closed several times, and then responded tentatively.

"Yeah…I'm fine…I think." She started to move and Miguel helped her to stand.

"What just happened Will?..Is Kennedy…." Faith was afraid to finish the question.

"Kennedy's alive…she's alive, Faith." The witch saw the worry leave the slayer's face.

"Willow, what happened…when we came in, you…." Miguel had to know what brought about the spectacle witnessed by him and Faith.

Still a little shaky staring at Miguel, "Her heart stopped…I had to do something…I couldn't let her go, Miguel…I had to bring her back…so I grabbed her so she couldn't go."

"Ok, what the hell am I missing here?" Faith didn't know why Willow's action was such a big deal.

Miguel looked at the redhead and then at Faith. "Willow did the unthinkable…she made physical contact in a metaphysical existence…" The Brazilian told Faith that everything that happened between Willow and Kennedy really took place in Kennedy's mind, her subconscious. There was no actual physical privity for either of them. To be in someone else's mind meant to be a spectator in their thoughts. Willow could connect with Kennedy on an emotional level, similar to her ability to mindspeak. But it was just that, connections of the mind. The boundaries between the metaphysical and the physical weren't supposed to be crossed. Physical connection altered the metaphysical existence; it changed the free will, of sorts, of the person and the consciousness. Willow had forcibly changed the expected course of Kennedy's reality. And both had lived through it.

"I don't know how you did it…Kennedy died…you should have died, too…" Miguel was truly in awe of his friend's abilities.

"I couldn't let her go…I felt this surge in me and knew I had to do it or she'd be gone." Willow had felt that same pure righteous energy when the slayer spell went through her. At the moment she heard the surgeon say that Kennedy was gone, all her thought and power was on bringing Kennedy back to her. She felt her body begin to tingle as the energy started coursing through her. This was her only chance, consequences be damned. Willow knew what magick taught her would happen if she touched Kennedy; she understood that everything she'd read told her it wouldn't work. But she only believed one thing; the two were destined to be together. Willow wasn't ready to leave and neither would she let her slayer.

"So, I grabbed her…and I could feel this…this incredible sensation in and around me and then it rushed through me to Kennedy…" The goddess Willow had made another appearance. "…a-and then I saw you guys." After a moment, "Where's Kenne's mom?"

Gabriella was still talking to the surgeon when Willow, Faith and Miguel entered the surgical waiting room. Willow knew her slayer would live and she wanted to tell the girl's mother the good news as soon as possible. Upon entering the room, they saw the expression on Gabriella's face; it was restrained happiness.

As soon as the woman saw Willow, she got out of her chair. The doctor excused herself from the conversation and left the group to themselves. Gabriella went to Willow. She immediately hugged the witch.

Gabriella leaned back and stared into green eyes. "You did it…it was you…the doctor said her heart stopped, and then started beating again on its own." The mother smiled. "You brought her back…didn't you…you saved my daughter." Gabriella hugged Willow again. "Thank you, Willow…thank you," she said heartfelt.

Willow was overjoyed that there would be a happy ending. "She's gonna be fine…everybody's gonna be fine."

Gabriella let go of her embrace and took a step back. Willow saw her expression change to one of concern. The redhead looked at the woman with a questioning tilt of the head. "Is something not right?" A faint wisp of fret ran through her mind.

"The doctor said she made it through the surgery…but…her spinal cord was injured …not severed but damaged…the doctor said she's paralyzed…she won't be able to walk again." Gabriella knew this was horrible news but all she kept telling herself was that at least her daughter was alive.

"Paralyzed?" Willow was stunned. "But…I-I…she got up…and …walked…the power w-went into…her…I felt …it…" Willow's talk was confused and disheveled. "No…she's gotta be ok…she's strong…she'll be like before." Willow didn't want to believe that she'd come this far only to come up short.

"I'm sorry, Willow. That's what the doctor said." Gabriella felt for the witch. Then a thought came to her. "Doesn't she have slayer healing?"

"That only takes her so far…" Faith stated. The older slayer knew the limits of their healing powers and it didn't include miracles like this. "Will…can't you use your super powers on her?...K can't wake up to this." Faith was just as upset by the news. She knew Kennedy would be devastated if she was told she could no longer walk.

The redhead glanced at Faith. She understood the slayer's question. Kennedy was a slayer; she was one heart, mind and soul. The brunette had told Willow numerous times how she finally felt whole as a slayer, how her body finally felt at home. "This is what I was meant to do, Will…find evil and kill it." The witch knew her slayer's physical abilities, her slayer powers, were as much a part of her now as her beautiful brown eyes. Being able to be a slayer was as vital to her well being as her beating heart. If Kennedy couldn't battle demons, the witch was terrified what would become of her.

"I can try…but I don't know if it'll work…the healing meditation makes things heal faster…." The healing Willow had done on herself and Kennedy was to make skin and bone heal faster. Even when 'Veiny Willow' removed the bullet from Buffy's shoulder, it was still a matter of accelerating healing time. Willow knew what Kennedy needed was more than that. "…I don't know if I can restore something that's gone." Willow knew enough medicine to know that spinal cord nerves don't regenerate.

Miguel took the few steps to his friend. "Willow…I never thought what you did tonight was possible…from everything I've read, it shouldn't have been…you are an incredibly powerful witch…I don't know how, but you can channel forces not known to exist…I don't think there's much you can't do." The Brazilian was being perfectly honest; he realized he was in the presence of the most powerful witch he'd ever seen or read about.

"Yeah, Red…you got some major mojo flowing…I know you can do this." Faith had confidence that the mighty witch could put Kennedy back together again.

The redhead was taken aback by the assurance her friends had of her ability. She nodded her head and realized that she had to try. "You're right…I need to see her."

"The doctor said she was in recovery, but she'd be in ICU within the hour." Gabriella spoke again. "She said I could go be with her…but you need to Willow…Kennedy needs you.…" The woman smiled softly. "…she needs you and not just for the healing." Willow gave a gratifying smile. The mother understood the place the witch and brunette held in each other's hearts; she knew her daughter's love should be by her side. "So go be with her.…"

Submerged in warm honey and buzzing, that's how Willow's arm felt. It had been gently resting underneath Kennedy's lower back, palm extended over the spine for almost two hours.

When the redhead was finally able to get into the ICU, she was overwhelmed by the sight of her slayer. Kennedy lay in a bed at the far end of the room. There was one other ICU patient but he was on the other side of the room. There were at least three IV sites that Willow could see and four bags with different labels dripping different kinds of medicines into her girl's veins. Kennedy was no longer intubated; but the sight of the breathing tube under her nose and the other ones coming out of the girl made Willow cringe. Kennedy had a surgical top on that opened in the front. The top ties were loosely knotted to allow the clothing to cover her breasts. The entire mid section of the brunette was wrapped in gauze. The blankets on the bed covered her feet and legs and half of the area worked on in the operating room.

The witch had been told that Kennedy was sedated and would be expected to remain unconscious until some time later in the day. She wasn't in a coma, but more of a deep sleep. Willow went to her slayer and sat down in the chair beside the bed. "You look so peaceful," she said softly. An alabaster hand gently touched the bronzed skin adorning the hand resting at the brunette's side. An emotional wave of relief hit the redhead and tears formed and flowed down her cheek. Kennedy was alive. After allowing herself a few moments of release, Willow looked at the serene face of her sleeping lover. "Ok…now let's get you walking again." Willow went to work.

In the few hours that the witch had been with Kennedy, she knew her healing was working. She had started by placing a hand gently underneath her slayer's back in the area were she was told the damaged had occurred. Then she concentrated and visualized the nerves in Kennedy's spinal cord reaching for each other and merging into healthy tissue. It didn't take long before Willow felt the energy flow from her inner well, down her arm and into the slayer's body. The longer she took, the warmer, more intense the feeling became. She reached the point of such deep concentration, of moving the healing forces into her girl, that she started to notice a buzzing sensation running down her arm. The healing powers' foot soldiers were rescuing her ailing slayer.

Willow was able to continue her curing for several more hours. Fearing constant visits by nurses, Willow had cast a small spell on the ICU nursing personnel keeping their care directed to the other patient in the room and not Kennedy. Because of this, Willow had uninterrupted time to make her slayer whole again.

By the end of the fifth hour, Willow was drained, physically and emotionally. Her senses told her she had healed as much of her slayer as she was able. The haze of the sunrise was just beginning to peek over the city's building lined horizon. Exhausted, the redhead removed her arm from underneath her lover and placed it on her hand. She leaned forward and lowered her head on the bed just below the bronzed hand. Willow fell asleep in a matter of moments.

The darkness gave way to soft white light, engulfing her in radiant warmth. Kennedy slowly crept from her deep sleep and made her way into the realm of semi conscious acknowledgement. Eyelids started to flicker as her brain shook the remnants of fog from it. Brown eyes fluttered opened to the early morning sunlight streaking through a window. She had no idea where she was; no clue as to how she got there.

Then the brunette noticed the unnatural feel of something in her nose; she felt her breathing being assisted by some article not her own body. Kennedy became nervous, 'What is going on?' She tried to remember what had occurred in her life to put her in her current position. The slayer soon recalled the battle with the Fear Caller, her injury and being brought to the hospital. More than that, she remembered her witch being with her in the operating room and telling her not to die. The last thing she recalled was feeling completely void and then getting a thundering jolt of energy. After piecing it together, Kennedy realized she was in a hospital and had had surgery for her wounds received in the fight. She also had this overwhelming sureness that Willow was the reason she was in her hospital bed and not in the morgue.

With that thought of her witch, the slayer glanced around, still motionless except for the movement of brown eyes. They soon fell upon the figure of her redhead, sleeping in the chair and leaning on the bed, a delicate hand on top of Kennedy's. The slayer never felt so relieved; her love was safe and resting peacefully. Willow's sleeping face was turned to her and the brunette wanted to hold that serene look of her witch in her memory forever. Kennedy tried to move the hand under Willow's to inch it closer to her witch's face; she needed to touch the girl to make sure this wasn't a dream.

As her fingers moved, the shift to the alabaster hand was enough to disturb Willow's slumber. The witch quickly awoke to the sight of a bronzed hand barely touching her cheek. A wide smile crossed the witch's face. She lifted her head up.

"Baby, you're awake." There was pure joy in the words. Kennedy went to talk but found her throat dry. She swallowed painfully a few times and then looked back at green eyes.

Willow got out of the chair and moved closer to her slayer. She could tell her brunette was still weak and very tired. "Don't talk, Kenne…just rest…we've got lots of time to talk."

Then Kennedy got a disconcerted look on her face; her brows creased and eyes squinted. Willow got worried. "What's the matter, baby?"

She saw her slayer's hand point a finger toward the end of the bed. As she followed the finger's direction to its destination, her brunette squeaked out, "Itchy." Willow saw the uplifting sight of Kennedy wiggling her toes. Willow turned back to her slayer. "That's wonderful, Kenne."

As she rubbed the toes of her slayer, Willow saw her girl drift back to sleep. "You rest, baby…everything's gonna be perfect."

The next eight hours in ICU were dream like to the brunette. Kennedy alternated between sound sleep and short bouts of consciousness where she'd see Willow beside her in the chair. Still on pain medication, she remembered talking to her redhead but was sure her comments were indecipherable. The slayer also remembered seeing her mother in the room but was too tired to talk to her. Basically, Kennedy spent the time sleeping, allowing her slayer body to further heal itself.

When Kennedy finally 'woke up', she felt rested if not completely healed. It was early afternoon and, as usual, her redhead was sitting in the chair beside the bed. She saw that Willow was reading a book.

"Your girlfriend's practically comatose…and you're reading?" Kennedy said it with feigned hurt in her voice.

Willow turned to her and smiled; she was relieved and glad to finally see her slayer up. "Well, it's about witches," she chided back. "So…you gonna stay awake for a while?"

"You mumbled something about dancing circus dogs at one point, if that's a clue."

Then Kennedy suddenly put her hand to the bottom of her throat. "Where's my necklace?" The brunette hadn't taken off the butterfly necklace Willow gave her for her birthday since the night the witch placed it around her neck.

"Don't worry, Kenne. I have it. They had to take it off when you went into the emergency room. They weren't able to salvage any of your clothes, though." Willow put her hand in her pocket and pulled out the gold chain necklace. "See…"

Willow got up, leaned over and placed the necklace around her girlfriend's neck. Then she gave her slayer a gentle kiss on the lips. "Good to have you back…You need anything else, baby?"

"Another kiss would be nice." Kennedy raised her eyebrows. Willow thought to herself, 'She is definitely feeling better.' Willow complied happily and gave her lover another kiss, except this one was slow and full of emotion.

Willow leaned back up and took her slayer's hand, making sure not to disturb the one IV still running into her vein. The irreverent banter left and her face became serious. The witch looked into chocolate eyes. "I thought I lost you…I got so scared…you were talking so crazy in the operating room…" The emotion of the last few days bubbled up and Willow's voice began to quaver. Kennedy could see emerald eyes begin to well up.

Apologetically, "I remember…it just seemed so real, Will…I really thought you'd be better without me."

Willow could see that Kennedy was still struggling with the fears she'd had to face. "Baby, those feelings you had were because of the Caller…it made everything all wonky in your head."

"But Will…that demon didn't bring out anything that wasn't already there…you know that…I just didn't think I had that much…stuff…rolling around inside." Her episode with the demon made Kennedy realize just how much insecurity and worry she carried.

Willow couldn't help but see some similarity between her slayer's situation and her own reaction to the penance malediction spell cast by her ex-friend Amy. Her guilt over kissing Kennedy that first time, over moving on and letting go of mourning for Tara, was increased one hundred fold because of the spell. With Kennedy, her realistic and, to some degree, normal worries had been mutated and developed into fears of gargantuan proportion.

"Awe, baby…some things are ok to have in the back of your head…it keeps ya from acting all Vin Diesel…I don't want you to get hurt…but thinking you're not strong enough or that I'd be better without you…that's just plain kooky…"

Kennedy pulled Willow to her and embraced her. "I know, Will…I guess I still have some work to do on the whole 'talking about my feelings.'" She kissed the top of her witch's head. Willow leaned back and looked at her slayer.

"Tell it to shut the fuck up," the redhead said matter of fact. Kennedy stared at her witch, mouth wide open in shock from her girlfriend's very un-Willowy choice of word.

"Nice mouth, Red…see you picked up one of the kid's nastier habits." Faith was in the doorway.

Willow blushed and Kennedy got a big smile on her face. "I can't believe they let riffraff like you in."

"If you think that's bad, look who else they let in." Faith walked into the room, followed by…Buffy.

Both witch and slayer were completely surprised. Willow was the first to speak. "Buff!...I can't believe you're here…" She was truly happy to see her friend. "How'd you know…." Willow glanced at Faith who had a guilty look on her face. "You called her?" Faith nodded.

"And I'm glad she did…As soon as she told me what happened, I knew I had to come …" Buffy looked at Kennedy. "How you doing, Kenne?"

"Pretty good…considering." The brunette too was happy to see Buffy. Having these people here lifted her spirits.

As the women were about to talk some more, there was a knock and Kennedy's mother poked her head in the doorway. "Kenny…you're awake…" Gabriella looked at the other women in the room. "Oh, I see you have visitors…I'll come back later…" She started to leave.

"No, Mom…stay." Kennedy looked at Faith and Buffy. "Faith…Buffy? Can I see you guys a little later…I need to talk to my mom."

"Five by five, kiddo…come on, B…let's see if we can find you a cute young doctor…" The look from Faith told Buffy there was a story here and that they needed to leave. Buffy gave a nod to Kennedy and the two left.

Willow bent over again and kissed her slayer. She turned to leave. "Will, you don't have to go."

The redhead turned back to her girl. "You need time with your mom…besides, I need to keep those two out of trouble." Willow walked out of the room leaving Kennedy with her mother.

"Come sit over here, Mom." Gabriella sat in the chair next to her daughter's bed and reached in and took her hand. "Are you ok, Mom? Ya know…your heart thing ok and no more voices?"

Gabriella got a proud expression on her face. She thought to herself how truly magnificent a daughter she had. Kennedy had not only saved the woman from pure torment but had also almost died to do it. And yet, despite being in a hospital bed mending her injuries, she was concerned for her mother's welfare.

"I'm fine, honey…and don't you worry about me…I should be the one worrying…you had us all worried."

"I know, Kenny…I just…I …don't know what I would have done if…I never could have forgiven myself…" Gabriella hated to even think about what she would've done if her daughter had died.

"Mom, you don't have to say anything…I know how you feel…what you were going through."

Gabriella Gonzalez looked into her daughter's brown eyes. She saw understanding there. The woman realized that Kennedy did know; her daughter experienced every fear, worry and torment the mother had. Kennedy knew all her deepest secrets, all her feelings about her daughter.

Kennedy squeezed her mother's hand. "You didn't ruin my life, Mom…I do wanna get to know you better…and I don't hate you…I love you…" The slayer's heart was in every word.

Gabriella stood up and embraced her daughter. She started to cry. "Oh, my baby girl…I love you, too…I always have…I'm so sorry I was gone for so long…" Kennedy hugged back.

"Don't worry…we have all the time we want now." Kennedy smiled contently; she had her mother back.

After a few moments, Gabriella stopped her tears and stood back up. "I have something for you." She opened her purse which was on the chair and pulled out a charm bracelet, the one from Kennedy's blue box. "I know you already had this…but I asked Willow if I could get it…I was supposed to give this to you when you were old enough." The mother took Kennedy's vacant wrist and placed the bracelet on it. "Something made me buy this bracelet way back when…I just knew it would be right for you…and it is…" The woman took her daughter's hand again. "These charms are all about strength and courage and protection…everything you are, Kennedy…you are an amazing woman…and I am so proud of you."

The slayer didn't speak. She cherished the moment. Then, "I'm proud of you too, Mom."

Both women stayed silent for a while, happy that their lives' paths had finally converged. Each knew that today was the rekindling of a mother-daughter bond that would continue for the rest of their lives.

While Kennedy and Gabriella solidified their relationship, the Sunnydale trio, after a big hug between Willow and Buffy, went over the recent events. "…and then I did a healing meditation for her back and she got better." Willow had explained to Buffy the plan, her visit to Kennedy in the operating room and the spinal cord healing.

"Are you kidding me?...Red says it like it's no big deal…she was wicked amazing, B…first, she does the whole transfer thing…then she brings the kid back to life and to top it off she fixes a god damn broken spine…She is one fucking powerful witch." Buffy could hear the pride Faith had in her voice. She was pleased to see that she and Willow had become closer. "Shit, the doctor's practically calling Ripley's Believe It or Not…she said there was no way that spine shoulda healed…I think Red's got the doc believing in miracles."

"I knew you had it in you, Willow." Buffy too was proud of her best friend. "And how are you holding up…Faith kinda filled me in on what's been happening." Buffy got a call from Faith while she was on the way to the hospital; she received another when Willow first went into the chapel room. The brunette slayer understood the toll the last several months had taken on the redhead. The injury to Kennedy and her, at the time, uncertain outcome had added fuel to the fire. Faith knew that Willow could use a familiar shoulder to lean on regardless of the ending for Kennedy. So she called the witch's best friend. Buffy and Dawn had returned to Cleveland from Italy only two weeks earlier. All Faith had to do was to tell Buffy "Red could use a friend," and the blonde slayer didn't hesitate. "I'll be on the next flight down."

"I'm doing great now, Buff." The witch's bright smile returned as soon as she saw her brunette's toes wiggle; that smile had grown exponentially since Buffy's arrival. Willow was ecstatic to see the blonde, the long time friend that knew her every expression and emotion. The witch filled Buffy in on the problems Kennedy had had and how they had manifested themselves during her battle with the Caller demon. Willow tried to down play her own strife during the 'dark months', but Faith wouldn't let her. The brunette slayer made sure Buffy understood the anguish and uncertainty the redhead went through then. Faith told Buffy about Willow's hard work and research on putting together the plan to rid Kennedy's mother of the Fear Caller. Buffy couldn't but notice how Faith had become almost a cheerleader for her friend.

"Geeze, Will…sounds like you've had a pretty full few months down here…you miss the Sunnydale action so much, you trying to resurrect it here?" Hearing all that her witch had been handling, Buffy was more astounded at the incredible person she'd become.

The three talked some more until Faith decided it was time to let the two long time friends have some alone time. "Hey, I'm gonna go find Mickey…he said he needed to go back to the gym and take care of some stuff…I wanna make sure he's doing ok with all of this."

Buffy gave a surprised look to Willow. The blonde had already met the man; he and Faith picked her up at the airport. She could tell there was something between the two, but Faith's concern told quite a lot. As soon as Faith was out of sight, Willow turned to Buffy. "She is crazy about that guy…and it seems mutual."

"Who'da thought our 'get some and get gone' bad ass slayer would turn into such a mushy girl." Buffy shook her head in amazement. They both laughed and were happy for their reformed slayer friend.

They continued talking for sometime. Buffy let the redhead get out all the emotions she'd been holding in. They talked about Kennedy's slayer problems, their close calls and the climb back to normalcy. Buffy became aware of just how much had happened to the couple in the last year and how they had handled it together. She could hear how much the redhead loved her slayer by the soft tone of her voice. The blonde slayer knew the two were destined for a life together and she was happy for them.

"I'm so happy you're here, Buff…I've really missed you…I've missed talking to you."

"Me too, Will…but we don't need to be in the same room…you know you can call me anytime…anywhere…" Buffy realized that the band of Scoobies were growing up and life wouldn't always keep them together. "…we're best friends, Will…that'll never change…no matter how far apart we are…"

The women smiled at each other and hugged. "How's about we go see Kennedy?...I'd really like to see her." Buffy put her arm around Willow's shoulder. "She'd like that Buffy," and the old friends headed for the slayer's room.

When Willow and Buffy got to Kennedy's room, it was empty. "They put her in a regular room on the fourth floor," a nurse said when they asked at the front nursing station. "She actually wanted to leave but the doctor said she had to stay at least one more day…" The nurse shook her head. "…I've never seen someone make such a fast recovery…It was like magic…" Willow gave Buffy a knowing smile as the two left to find Kennedy.

As they walked into the brunette's new room, Willow and Buffy heard a familiar voice. "…No shit, K…you musta just finished shish kebobing that demon fuck, when Mickey got there…right, Mick?"

Kennedy could see that the man was uneasy. She also knew that this was the second time the Brazilian had saved her. He had been the one to call an ambulance; it was he who stopped the bleeding long enough to keep her life giving fluids at a sustainable level. Once again, Kennedy had only one thing she could say to the man.

Then he went up to Kennedy and held out his hand. "I believe this is yours now."

In Miguel's outstretched hand was her mother's ring. He had picked it up just after the emergency personnel started to work on Kennedy after he placed her in their care. In the midst of the commotion and confusion to keep the slayer alive, no one noticed the man pick up a crossbow, machete and several candles. He was able to place them all in the canvas bag and act like it was his. He decided the lanterns would be assumed to belong to the horrible madman who attacked the young defenseless girl.

Kennedy stared at the ring. Her mother had told them that if she ever got it off her finger, she never wanted to see it again. The ring reminded her of every wrong turn she had ever taken in her life, every selfish act she'd ever done. She wanted nothing more than to start anew without trappings of her former life to haunt her.

The brunette started to reach for the ring then stopped. That small piece of precious metal symbolized nothing but hatred and fear; it's only purpose for existing was to keep evil at bay. The more she looked, the surer her decision became.

"I don't want it, Miguel…Send it to Giles, he'll figure out what to do with it."

"Not even for a souvenir, K?" Faith thought it would make quite the conversation piece.

Kennedy chuckled. "I've got one of those already," she said as she touched the bandage on her mid section.

Buffy then walked closer to Kennedy and turned to the others. "Do you mind if Faith and I talk to Kennedy alone?" Faith stood straighter knowing what Buffy was doing. Willow and Miguel acquiesced and, after Willow kissed her slayer, they left to get coffee.

Buffy started. "Kenn…Faith and I wanted to talk to you slayer to slayer." The younger slayer suddenly got nervous. She was certain they were going to espouse all the things she did wrong, the ways she could and should have handled the situation to ensure a safer outcome.

"Ok…what did I do wrong?" Kennedy said in a defeated manner. Buffy got closer.

"What?...You think we're going to let into you?...God, Kennedy…You must still have that Caller thing in your head…I've never seen anyone handle being a slayer better than you…" Buffy and Faith were there to make sure the slayer knew just how proud and amazed they were with her. Buffy continued. "…Kennedy, you were thrown into this whole thing down here to handle on your own…you didn't have a watcher to help you…the way you got through everything…" Faith jumped in.

"Yeah, K…I've seen you fight…I don't know how you taught that to yourself…you are one bad ass slayer…and smart…I saw how well you taught the other girls."

Kennedy was overwhelmed by the compliments but she knew they were trying to make her feel better because of her injuries. "Thanks you guys…but I freaked out and almost got me and Will killed a couple times."

Buffy laughed. "Freaked out?...At least you stayed, Kenn…did you know I once got so wiggy about being a slayer that I ran away for a summer?" Kennedy was surprised. "Did you know I once thought all this was a dream and reality was me in a mental institution?" Kennedy nodded her head; that she did know.

Faith then took the lead. "You were able to keep things together even without a watcher. After I lost mine, I couldn't handle things…I went all psycho and hated everything and everyone…ask B, she knows…I ended up killing a guy and being evil's bitch."

Kennedy was beginning to see that every slayer had her imperfections; they all had their own 'demons' to fight. But she was still not convinced. "I get that stuff…but I lost the fight…hell, I even died."

"No…the first time." Kennedy creased her eyebrows. She wasn't aware there was a first time.

The blonde slayer then went on to tell Kennedy about her first bout with death. How she had let the Master trick her and how he drowned her. "It was a stupid mistake on my part…if Xander hadn't of been there, I woulda stayed dead…just another slayer who didn't last a year." Buffy got closer to Kennedy. "See, Kenn…We have close calls all the time…we make mistakes…and sometimes we're here only because of our friends...What you did, no one coulda done better…no one."

After that story, Buffy and Faith took turns telling Kennedy of the near misses and debacles they'd experienced during their years of being slayers. They shared the good and bad times, the proud and the shameful. Most importantly, they showed Kennedy that slayers were humans too, prone to imperfection just like the rest of humanity.

Kennedy finally understood the lesson being taught to her by the two older slayers. They had been in her shoes and were still alive to talk about it. She hadn't failed and they weren't disappointed. They were mighty slayers, all of them.

"I feel like an idiot in this thing." Kennedy was in a wheelchair being pushed by an orderly to the hospital entrance.

"Just let the man do his job. We'll be outta here in no time." Willow felt the same as Kennedy but didn't want to create a commotion at the end of her girl's already noteworthy stay.

In the span of three days, Kennedy went from technically dying in the OR, to being paralyzed, to having a complete recovery. The only evidence of her tumultuous event was the scar on her abdomen. The doctors involved with the slayer's case had no medical or scientific answer for the brunette's 'speedy' recovery. In fact, they had no explanation for her recovery at all. There had been numerous requests to Kennedy to spend more time in the hospital or at least come back for follow ups so that the physicians could examine her further. They were convinced her body had to hold its own version of a 'rejuvenating spring.' However, the slayer declined each request made; she told them that her "religious beliefs" prevented it. "What the heck does that mean?" asked a confused witch. "I don't know, but it worked," gloated the brunette.

When they finally got outside the hospital doors, Kennedy jumped out of the chair. She said thank you to the orderly and headed for the Camry that Willow had parked out front.

"Don't you go and start using that goofy saying…it's bad enough Faith says it." Willow loved Faith like a true friend but still didn't get the appeal of that silly expression. Kennedy walked to her redhead and gave her a little kiss.

"Yes, dear…no more Faithisms…let's get the hell outta this place." Willow gave her a big smile and they got into the car. As Willow drove off, Kennedy looked back at the hospital. "Can't say I'm gonna miss you." The two drove home holding hands.

By the time they got to the apartment, it was four in the afternoon. As they walked up to their front door, "I just wanna get into a pair of pajamas and eat ice cream," the slayer expressed. She opened the door.

"WELCOME HOME KENNEDY!" The brunette slayer was bombarded with a welcome home shout by the two older slayers, Miguel and Gabriella. Kennedy also saw some of the newbie slayers.

The brunette slayer turned quickly to Willow who had an expression of feigned surprise. "Welcome home, baby." She leaned in and gave her slayer a soft kiss. "Pajamas…not likely, but the ice cream, we can definitely do." A big smile appeared on the brunette's face and they both went into the apartment to enjoy the homecoming with dear friends.

By 9pm, everyone left so that Kennedy could enjoy a peaceful and restful night. Buffy went out with Faith and Miguel. "Come on B, Mickey knows this great dance club…we'll find ya a hot guy." Kennedy's mother also left. "I'm so glad you're out of the hospital, honey…I'll see you in the morning." She had made plans for breakfast with her daughter and Willow. As Gabriella went to go out the door, she stopped and hugged Willow. "Thank you so much again, dear…you didn't just save my daughter…you saved me," she whispered in the witch's ear.

Soon the apartment was empty except for the witch and the slayer. "That wasn't too bad, was it?" Willow knew her girl had enjoyed herself, but she wanted to be sure. Kennedy came to her and took her in a warm embrace. "That was great…" Then she kissed her redhead chastely. "…you're great."

Willow smiled warmly. "I know it's only a little after nine, but I think you should get some rest…I don't know about you, but I'm kinda tired."

"You know the doctor said to take it easy for a few days." Willow shook her head.

"Alright," Kennedy said in defeat as she headed for the bathroom. "…but what do they really know…they thought I was dead."

Later, the brunette was in bed. It was the witch's turn for a shower. Kennedy laid there thinking about everything that had happened. Her mother was free of the demon; she had killed the horrible monster and managed not to get killed in the process. She knew the fact that she was in her bed wasn't solely due to her slayer abilities; friends, love and luck had also kept her alive. And she was ok with that. The slayer laid there at peace.

While Kennedy was contemplating her life, Willow was doing much the same but with a very different outward response. As she stood in the shower, all the emotions from the last several days came crashing down on her. While Kennedy was in the hospital, Willow tried to stay strong emotionally. She only wanted her girl to see a smiling redhead. She joked and laughed; her only desire was to help her brunette recover. Now, her lover was home, safe and sound. Kennedy would soon be back to normal. The tension and worry seeped out of Willow. With the water showering down on her, the witch leaned against the side wall and put her hands to her face. She cried all the emotion away. It only took but a few minutes for the feelings from the past several days to wash themselves from the redhead. They went down the drain with the used water. In their place was the serene calm of knowing that her life was as it should be again. Those she loved were well and the future was bright.

Kennedy was still awake when Willow snuggled into bed next to her. "I missed this…hospital beds are just not conducive to cuddling." The brunette wrapped her arms around her witch and pulled her in tight. They were silent.

Softly, "I love you, Willow." There was a gentle kiss to the back of the witch's neck.

Just as quietly, "I love you too, Kennedy." An alabaster hand interlaced fingers with tanned ones.

"You know you saved me again…" Kennedy thought about the first time – the night of the family tragedy, and the second – Willow's appearance in the operating room.

Willow squeezed her lover's hand a little tighter. "This isn't something I wanna keep score on…how 'bout we just call it even and go to sleep?" Kennedy nuzzled even closer to her witch. "Anything you want, Will…anything you want."

The days passed quickly after that. Buffy stayed for another five before she left to return to Cleveland and Dawn. "I think even Xander has a limit when it comes to putting up with Dawnie," chided Buffy. The blonde slayer left making her friends promise to call and email more.

"I'll see you soon, Faith?" Buffy queried her sister slayer. Faith shrugged her shoulders.

"Yeah…ya know…I'll be back." The noncommittal tone of her voice made the three other women all raise their eyebrows in wonder.

With Buffy gone, Faith told the couple that she'd be letting them have the place to themselves for a while. "Miguel and I thought you guys should be alone for a change…" Faith tried to act like her information was no big deal. "…I'm gonna hang at Mickey's."

Kennedy patted her on the back and said sarcastically, "Thanks for the sacrifice…we know how horrible this must be for you."

Within a few more days, Kennedy's mother made the announcement that she'd also be returning to her own house. She explained that she'd been gone for so long that she needed to go back to get matters in order. Once her daughter was out of the hospital, Gabriella spent as much time with her as possible. She knew she would have to return to her own life and that the same was true for her daughter. In the back of the mother's mind, she realized that soon her daughter would go back to the States and she would be alone. Gabriella didn't feel despair with that thought though; she had reunited with Kennedy and even a few thousand miles wouldn't keep them truly apart any longer. She knew she would be in her daughter's life as the girl would always be in hers.

The day came for Gabriella to leave. Kennedy unexpectedly got nervous. She didn't want her mother to go, but knew she had to.

Gabriella saw the uneasiness in her daughter. She went to her and took her in her arms. In a mother's soothing voice, "Honey…don't you worry about a thing…I'm here…I'm never leaving you again…we'll be as close as you want."

Kennedy hugged back. Willow saw that the embrace was a purely genuine moment. The hug was filled with love; no one pulling away or feigning emotion. The redhead knew mother and daughter were together, family, and nothing would ever break them apart again.

Gabriella gave Willow a last hug also. "Good bye, Ms. Gonzalez." Gabriella leaned back and chuckled slightly. "My dear…after all we've been through…I think you can drop the formalities…please call me Gabby or any other name you'd like…you've certainly earned the right."

Willow smiled back. "Ok…Gabby." Saying it would take a little getting used to.

As they watched Gabriella drive away, Willow placed her arms around her girl. "Your mom's a pretty amazing woman." Kennedy smiled, "Yes, she is."

By themselves, finally, the witch and slayer knew they too would have to discuss their future plans. All the slayers were found and contacted, the Brazilian slayer branch was up and running and Kennedy's mother had been rid of her demon.

"What'da we do now, Will?" The same question confronted them after the Sunnydale implosion. Back then, they never would have thought they'd have ended up where they were. The lovers knew that their future was as open as the plains of Iowa.

Willow looked at her slayer. "For right now, why don't we go out to eat." The witch didn't want to think about tomorrow or the day after. She was content where she was, with the life she had. Willow wanted to hold onto it for just a little while longer.

That night, the two women were lying on opposite ends of the couch, their legs entwined. Willow was absorbed in a tv program about the transcontinental migration habits of the Ecuadorian yellow billed crane. Kennedy stared at her redhead, a look of deep thought across face. "Will…we gotta talk about what we're gonna do now."

The redhead blinked her eyes and then lowered her head. "Yeah…I know we do." She looked at her brunette. "It sounds weird, but I love it here…even with all that's happened…I feel…I don't know…" Willow was searching for the right words. "…we're happy here…I don't want that to end."

Kennedy smiled and repositioned herself so she was kneeling, hands on her thighs, in between Willow's still outstretched legs. "I know what you mean...I've never been happier in my whole life than here with you." Then the brunette got a smirk on her face. "Granted…I've also never been more terrified as down here either…but I choose to ignore that," she ended comically. Then more seriously, "But we can't stay here, Willow…we knew that coming down…"

Willow nodded her head. "I know…and it's not that I don't want to go back…I miss Buffy and Xander and the rest of the gang…but I'm gonna miss Miguel and the coven ladies and the girls." The witch leaned forward and took her brunette's hand. "And what about your mom? We're just getting to know her."

Kennedy's voice got sad. "I know…I think about that too…but we're done here…we need to move on…" Brown eyes stared into emerald. "I just don't know where that should be…Cleveland?...California somewhere?...New York?" A hint of scared uncertainty crept into those brown eyes. "Where's home, Will?...I mean really…where is home?"

The redhead brought up the bronzed hand to her lips and kissed it gently. "As a very smart woman once told me…you're my home…where ever we end up, baby…that'll be home." She put the hand to her cheek. "I say we call Giles and see what he thinks…Cleveland's the most obvious place to start…Faith's gotta be going back soon…we could stay with her at 'slayer central' until we figure out if we stay there or go some where else."

Kennedy nodded her head slightly in agreement. "That sounds like a good plan…but I hope we're near the gang…I really miss them too." Kennedy did miss the Scooby gang. The once self proclaimed brat who could handle the world's problems all by herself, now wanted the close support of those she called friends.

The two looked at each other. "So, it's settled then," Willow said. "We go back to Cleveland…at least for now."

"That's the plan…we should see when Faith's going back…we might be able to all go together." The brunette knew that it would take some time to pack up their life for the States. Although, with the time Faith had been having with Miguel, Kennedy didn't sense she would be in a hurry to go back.

They talked to Faith the next day about their decision. The older slayer stuck her hands in her pockets and glanced around. "Yeah, that sounds great for you guys…as for me…going back…" she hesitated, "…I think I'm gonna hang around here for awhile…never been any where really…and this place could use a slayer to help out the girls."

Kennedy and Willow knew it wasn't slayer obligation keeping Faith; it was Miguel. Faith knew it too. During her time in Brazil, the woman had fallen for the Brazilian, and the feeling was mutual. She saw this as her chance to have a little bit of the happiness that she had run away from all her life. With Miguel, she didn't want to run; she'd made up her mind she wouldn't. She told the couple she wasn't sure what the future held for her and the Brazilian but she was certain they'd keep in contact with their friends. "Like I told B…if you need me, just pick up the phone."

Knowing that their return to the States would be sans Faith, the couple began to make arrangements for their departure. In not so many days, boxes were packed, books and bookcases sent to Cleveland and the apartment put up for rent again. Plans were in place for Willow and Kennedy to stay at the slayer house where Buffy and Dawn had already moved in. Xander had a place in a town just outside the city.

On the day before their departure, there was a big party held at the training facility. Miguel, Faith and Gabriella were there. All the slayers and coven women also came to bid the witch and the slayer farewell and good luck. There were presents and laughter; there were tears and hugs. Kennedy's mother promised to visit the couple shortly. Tears were shed between mother and daughter. Gabriella also cried knowing Willow was leaving. She had come to see the redhead as a second daughter. She knew she would miss both terribly. Everyone said their goodbyes that night, except for Faith and Miguel. They would be taking the two to the airport for their morning flight. The strings of the couple's Brazilian life were being cut.

They both sat on the bed, facing each other, Willow straddling her legs around Kennedy's hips. Sheets lay scattered beneath them. Their breathing was labored, chests raising and falling sharply against the strain of sensation flowing through their bodies. Kennedy's left hand grasped her lover's shoulder, holding tightly fighting to keep herself under control despite the increasing rumbling of spasms teasing her. She was aided in her quest by an alabaster hand that held her tight behind the neck. But it was not there solely for her benefit. Willow's delicate left hand was holding onto Kennedy, pulling her slayer nearer, so close that gasping breathes from open mouths mingled and entwined. As the torrent started in the redhead, she pulled her slayer even closer, bridging the distance between lips. Willow's tongue urgently sought out her lover's and they engaged in a deep, probing union. The synchronicity of their mouths was matched by the unison of fingers stroking and rubbing on the other's most intimate area. The two women clung to each other as a shimmering hue of sweat began to form on their naked bodies.

As the intensity of feeling increased, Kennedy knew she was close to release. Eyes closed shut and then tighter; she wanted to fall with Willow. She broke herself from the kiss and with chopped words, "Oh, god…Will…I…." She pressed her forehead to Willow's. She then felt the urgent need of her lover's mouth back against hers, their bodies continuing the rhythmic movement caused by knowing fingers. Willow clenched her grip on the brunette's neck and the slayer instantly opened her eyes. Emerald locked onto brown. In that instant, in that perfectly connected moment, both women knew they were riding the wave together. Willow held tighter to her slayer's neck as the spasms rippled outward. Through forced breath, "K-kenne…now …it's…oh-h…." The lovers' bodies began to shake and twitch, and then muscles contracted violently as their orgasms crashed over them. They held onto each other and rode out the storm until there was nothing left but a crippling sensation of total release. The witch wrapped her arms around her slayer placing her forehead on her lover's shoulder. The two women were breathing heavily, their efforts to calm their pounding hearts failing miserably. Neither could speak, neither wanted to. This was their last night in Sao Paulo, their final night to make love in the country they had gladly called home for so many months. The witch and the slayer had solidified their relationship, their commitment to each other while in Brazil. The overwhelming bond they felt, they wanted to express in the physical desire they held for each other. Their love making this night was with more than just their bodies and emotions. They made love with their souls.

They lay next to each other later, after their bodies had regained motion, the sheets haphazardly covering them partially. Neither was asleep and they knew why. Willow's hand took Kennedy's.

"Are you kinda nervous about leaving?" The witch had butterflies in her stomach; she wondered if she was alone in that. The bronzed hand squeezed back.

"Yeah…I've had knots in my stomach for the last two days." Once again, Kennedy Prescott was faced with a new experience. She'd left many a house and home and never felt ill at ease about it. She loved doing new things, going to new places. This feeling confused her.

Willow turned on her side facing her brunette. "Me too…I miss the gang and all…but…we had our own little world down here…you know what I mean?" Kennedy turned also and gently pushed a stray strand of crimson hair behind her lover's ear.

"I think I do." The slayer realized that until she met Willow, she really didn't have any reason not to move, to go to another place. There was nothing making her want to stay, to keep the status quo... until now. Because of Willow, she only wanted to 'experience' if her redhead was next to her. Given the choice now, she would rather go to some nondescript beach with Willow and watch her girl lap on sunblock 50 while complaining about "damaging ultraviolet rays" than spend time adventuring through Europe alone. She knew she was happy in Brazil; they were happy. She wanted it to stay that way. "I don't want things to change between us…" Her eyes searched for confirmation of her unease.

Kennedy chuckled. "Well, as powerful a witch as you are…I wouldn't doubt that you could fast forward time."

"I leave the premonition stuff to you slayers and your cryptic slayer dreams," Willow chided back.

Jokingly, "That reminds me…when do those dreams kick in?...I haven't had one."

Willow got a half serious look and touched her lover's bare shoulder. "Believe me…you don't want one…they're never good…usually end with apocalyptic frenzy."

The two laughed some more then got quite. Green eyes gazed over the beautiful form of her lover. The redhead lightly traced her finger over the scar from Kennedy's previous bout with near death. The mark from the dagger used during the Truxdeiro ritual was barely noticeable now. In fact, to any one but Willow or the slayer it appeared as nothing more than a non-pigmented freckle, the one place on the slayer's body that the harsh sun's rays couldn't deepen in color. But the two women knew better; they understood what that spot signified, how it had nearly torn them apart before ultimately melding them together.

The alabaster finger then made its journey down to the scar on her slayer's bronzed, tight stomach. This mark the witch knew wouldn't ever completely fade away; there would always remain evidence of the courage and strength held within by her girl. Willow fleetingly pondered how many scars would be upon her slayer by the time they were old and gray. She quickly forced the thought out of her mind. She focused again on the thin, well healed mark. The realization of the depth of love Kennedy had for her washed over the witch.

Willow brought herself out of her thoughts and broke the silence. "You know I'd go any where with you…don't you?"

A soft smile crept on Kennedy's face. "I wouldn't go anywhere unless you were with me."

Willow moved closer and pressed into her brunette, one arm across her slayer's waist and the other underneath the girl's pillow. "I love you, Kennedy, always…no matter where we go or what happens, never forget that…."

"I love you too, Willow…" the slayer replied with full emotion. Kennedy brought her hand up and touched the delicate hummingbirds on Willow's necklace. "For life, huh?"

The slayer leaned in and gave her witch a kiss; it grew deeper instantly. Kennedy moved and soon had Willow underneath her. She started to kiss the soft skin of the redhead's neck. With eyelids nearly closed from the sensation caused by the actions of her brunette, Willow half heartedly said, "Ya know, it's late, baby…and we do have an early flight…" Willow caught her breath when she felt Kennedy's stud on her nipple. "…maybe we sh-should..try to …g-get some s-sleep?" Willow's attempt at making them responsible air travelers was mediocre at best.

Kennedy removed her mouth from its intoxicating place on Willow's breast, looked at her redhead and simply stated, "We'll snooze on the way to the airport." She then replaced her mouth to its previous location and resumed her seduction. Arching against the touch, Willow muttered, "Sounds good to me…." The lovers once more said good bye to their last night in Brazil.

The announcement of the flight blared over the airport intercom system. The four individuals standing by the gate entrance looked at one another. "Well…I guess this is it," Kennedy said, more than a hint of sadness in her voice. "Yeah…I guess we gotta go now," Willow added; she too had melancholy in her words.

The two couples had been waiting at the gate for nearly one hour. Faith had told Miguel she just wanted to drop them off and go. "I don't do good byes." But Miguel knew this time his 'tough' girl needed to stay; she needed the closeness the parting would bring. He was right. The time they spent before the final boarding call was priceless. They all talked about their time in Brazil, how they would keep in touch. "Christ guys…I'm not disappearing off the face of the planet…we're here in Brazil…who knows maybe we'll visit…" Then Faith got a smile on her face. "…Mickey told me he wants to go to Disney…." Miguel gave the slayer a mock stern look.

When it was finally time to leave, the witch and the slayer grabbed their carry-on bags and walked closer to Faith and Miguel. Willow hugged Faith. "I don't know what to say…you came through again…be happy, Faith…you deserve it." Faith softly responded, "Will do, Red…" then even softer, "…don't worry about the kid…she'll be fine now."

Willow then went to Miguel. She embraced him. "Thank you for everything, Miguel…you are a great friend and you'll make a great watcher…you've already got a first class slayer setup." The man leaned back. "Coming from you, Willow, that's quite a compliment…, it's been my honor to work with you…you are an incredible witch …and person."

While Willow was saying her good byes to Miguel, Kennedy approached Faith. "You don't get to tell me to be quiet this time…." Faith smiled as she remembered her words during their prior farewell at the hotel elevator door in L.A. Kennedy smiled. "I'm gonna miss our talks…and patrolling together…" She then hugged the older slayer. "Thanks Faith…I won't forget what you told me." Faith hugged back, uncertain at first, then with the emotion of one leaving a friend. "Hey, kid…you woulda figured it out…I'm just glad I could help…keep doing what you're doing…you're one helluva slayer."

Kennedy's last good bye was with the man to whom she twice owed her life. They shook hands and then she put her arms around the man. Very softly in his ear, "I owe my life to you, Miguel…I don't know how to repay you." The man whispered back, "You already have, Kennedy…You showed me what real courage is…you are a true slayer." As Kennedy leaned back from the embrace, she quickly eyed Faith and then looked back at Miguel. "Watch out after her…she's not as tough as she makes out." The Brazilian leaned in and quietly said, "I know…that's what I love about her." Both smiled.

Kennedy and Willow then turned to board their plane. They looked back at Faith and Miguel briefly as they got to the final doorway and waved one final time. Then they were gone.

Miguel put his arm around Faith's waist and they started to walk back to the elevators that would take them to their car. "So what'd ya wanna do now, Mickey?" The man tilted his head, thought for a moment and asked, "Ever been to Rio?"

The two women sat on the plane, Kennedy by the window and Willow close to her side. "Ok…so after we get back, we have to go see your parents and then my Dad." The couple had previously informed the parental units of their return. They hadn't told them of the harrowing events that life had handed them while in Brazil. Willow left it to her brunette to tell her father of her reunion with his ex-wife and the Fear Caller demon incident. As for Willow, she and Kennedy decided it was best for her parents to know the full extent of their daughter's and her girlfriend's involvement with the fight against evil. Willow wanted no more secrets kept from those she loved. She was confident enough about her parents trust in her to know they would be able to handle the truth. Both women knew they owed more time to the people who had raised them. There had been far too few telephone calls during their stay in Brazil. Both were determined to remedy that.

Willow listened to her girl as she continued to plan the first few months of the rest of their lives together. She knew they would figure out their future together; she was just as certain that there would probably be bumps along the way. But, they would get over them together, of that she was positive.

Kennedy gave her a look of immediate realization. "Hey, it's summer back home…I've heard Florida is hot as hell…just like Rio…we may need to take a vacation after visiting parents." Willow shook her head and grinned; her slayer was already keeping their life full of adventure, and she loved it. She leaned over to her girl. "Anything you want, babe."

Just then, the plane hit some turbulence and the redhead stiffened with nervousness. Kennedy looked at her witch. 'She'll never get used to flying,' she warmly thought. The slayer took an alabaster hand in hers. "Relax, Red…there's nothing to worry about…just a little rough stuff…it'll pass." The brunette pressed the delicate hand to her cheek.

In the midst of the bumpy ride, loud voices of the other travelers and the noise from the in flight entertainment, the lovers spoke to each other, the words never heard by another passenger.

As quickly as it came, the turbulence ceased. The witch rested her head on her slayer's shoulder. They held hands and, as they flew to their uncertain future, closed their eyes. Like their flight, their lives had returned to calm. The slayer and the witch were ready to face the next chapter of their life together.

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Alterations With Time

by LilBit

Copyright © 2005

Epallen@tampabay.rr.com