Essence of the Hellmouth Chs. 31-40 by Wispr

Rating: R
Disclaimer: Buffy The Vampire Slayer belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and 20th Century Fox. Highlander belonged to Davis/Panzer and Rysher. No infringement of these copyrights is intended. All original characters are the property of Wispr. The song titles and lyrics are owned by their respective bands and no profit is made from them.
Distribution:
FanFiction.Net: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/558797/Wispr
Passion & Perfection: http://www.ralst.com/storiesBtVS.html
Rebelrsr's Fanfiction Archive: http://rebelrsr.com/
SlayAlive: http://slayalive.com/
The Mystic Muse: http://mysticmuse.net
If you are interested in posting my story on your site, please contact me first for permission...Thanks!
Spoilers: The two shows timeline will go AU after Buffy the episode "Prophecy Girl" and the Highlander episode "The Modern Prometheus."
Feedback: Yes please! wispr@woh.rr.com
Author's Note: Big thanks to Rebelrsr for the betaing.
Pairing: Willow/Buffy
Summary: During the events of "Prophecy Girl," things go terribly wrong, and one of the Scoobies is presumed lost. Later, a lost friend returns to Sunnydale only to find friends and family gone for the summer. Confused, alone... Where will the prodigal find help?

Jealous of the one who won your heart
They say it's a perfect match
She's gonna get to be where you are
And I don't get better than that
She'll say you're fine
Whisper words I wish were mine
And they might have been
If I had been there...

"Willow," Angel said in a tortured whisper as his vampire features melted away. He stared in shock at the red head that now stood before him, her identity finally revealed.

"Yesss," Willow hissed back at him, head tilted in an inhuman way. Seeing her do that caused a shiver of uneasiness to run down Angel's back. Willow's voice echoed the duality of her manners from earlier, and Angel heard an odd combination of dark emotion ...not quite hatred... and a hint of longing. As if she were meeting someone she had been missing for a long time.

"You... you're back." Angel's mind reeled from the situation. A very familiar expression crossed Willow's face. He almost heard her say, "Well duh!" He'd seen it before when someone had made an obvious remark - most of the time that someone had been Xander.

Willow apparently understanding what Angel was asking. "Was in Hell hunting... then a bright flash, and I was in library."

"I'm not going to let you harm Buffy." Angel remembered her admission of killing the newly arrived Slayer, and he readied himself for a fight. One he desperately wished didn't happen.

Instead of responding right away, Willow got right up in his face, her breath smelling of the Grumsash's blood. Her glowing pupils narrowed as she replied in a husky voice, "Oh, I not hurt Buffy. I will make Buffy very, very happy."

He shoved his face closer as he shifted once again into his game face. Though Angel wasn't ruled by his demon half, he was still a vampire, and vampires were very territorial. Buffy was his. Lips twisted in a snarl, Angel he ground out, "How can you believe she could ever be happy with someone who has murdered a Slayer?"

Even before Angel witnessed the hurt and uncertainty in Willow's inhuman eyes, he cursed himself for his comment. He knew the demon in him bore some blame for his words, but it had been the rearing of his human insecurities that caused him to be so cruel.

When he first started watching Buffy and her friends at the beginning of the school year, Angel immediately noticed the chemistry between Buffy and Willow. Even though he had fallen for the Buffy at first sight, he wanted her to be happy. If she found it with Willow then so be it. With that in mind, he stayed in the shadows, watching and leaving cryptic messages. After a while, though, he saw that nothing seemed to develop between the two beyond friendship, and he decided to make his move.

The distraction of his growing relationship with Buffy blinded him to how Willow still felt about her best friend. When he did finally notice the longing looks the red head furtively shot at Buffy, he felt bad for her. Angel made it a point not to rub their relationship in Willow's face. Over the following months, his respect for Willow grew as he saw her listening to Buffy talk about him with a generally happy smile on her face. Although he could see the hurt in her eyes, Willow even went so far to encourage Buffy to go out with him.

And yet... Angel had a human soul, and with it came uncertainty and fear that Buffy would see all Willow could offer ...and that he couldn't...: sunlit walks and an innocent heart. And that led him to say such harsh and uncalled for words to Willow now.

He opened his mouth to apologize somehow, but Willow beat him to it. "I murdered the Slayer and her Watcher..." She spoke harshly, almost hissing the words in her anger. "...to stop the Council from sending Joyce-mom, Miss Calender and Giles to the gallows. I keep them safe!"

Taken aback by what Willow had said, Angel blurted out, "What do you mean by the Council sending them to the gallows?"

He watched as Willow deflated a little before she leaped backwards to land unerringly on a large tombstone, crouching there like a sensual gargoyle. Now knowing who she was, though, Angel was ashamed at ogling her. When Willow resumed speaking, only his vampiric hearing allowed him to understand her clearly. "I said 'Sorry' to Kendra the Vampire Slayer before I murdered her. I not say 'Sorry' to her Watcher before I murdered him; he was a poop-head."

Willow's expression went from subdued to fierce. "Joyce-mom took me to mall to buy clothes and stuff for my room in the attic. Slayer and Watcher took Joyce-mom from mall, and I called Miss Calender to take me where I had followed Slayer scent before. As I fought Kendra the Vampire Slayer, Miss Calender untied Joyce-mom. Then the Watcher, Mr. Zabuto, said that Joyce-mom and Miss Calender summoned me and he was going to tell Mr. Travers so Mr. Travers can clean house and send everyone to the gallows. So I make sure he no tells no one to keep everyone safe."

Angel blinked in shock at the tale, and oddly enough he believed Willow's story. Once again, he let his game face melt away. "Does Buffy know you're back?"

Willow bobbed her head as she gave what sounded like an actual purr. "Buffy coming home to me."

Angel forced himself to reply in a steady voice, ignoring the innuendo in Willow's statement. "I'm glad to hear that, Willow; Buffy has always cherished your friendship, as have I. I know between the two of us we can help you overcome the demon part within you." He believed Willow's actions were guided more by the demon, and he wanted to establish that she and Buffy's were friends, and that he and Buffy together would help her. In a demonic sense, he was making it clear to Willow that Buffy was his - and he fervently hoped to God Buffy never found out about it. She wouldn't like being claimed in any sense of the word.

Willow narrowed her eyes, squinting in resentment and confusion. "What you mean by demon part in me?" Willow finally asked, seemingly ignoring Angel's remarks about him and Buffy.

Taking an unneeded deep breath, Angel said, "The part within you that wants to kill and slaughter innocents; the part that would take great pleasure doing evil unto others." Angel stepped closer to Willow, staring deeply into her eyes. "Willow, even though my soul suppresses Angelus, my demon half, the demon still whispers in my thoughts, and it's a constant fight not to give into the temptation."

Willow held still as she stared through him deep in thought. Angel was surprised as she finally refocused her gaze on him with eyes filled with pity. "You are half soul and half demon; you are not one." Willow stood up and gestured at herself without regard to her nudity. "I am Willow. I am demon, but not like you... I am one." Stepping off the tombstone, she landed silently on the ground and lithely approached Angel. "No other whispers in my head. I know... I understand that I not think like before I Fell. I forgotten so much and I think not like humans think. Yet it is still I thinking... no one else."

Willow stopped within arm's reach of Angel and her eyes shone with a disquieting intensity as she leaned slightly forward. "Tell me Angel," Willow asked in a whisper as if sharing a secret, "what breaks your curse?" She looked up at him through her eyelashes.

Angel blinked at her nearness --and her actions - and it took him a moment to answer. "I don't know."

After giving him a slight nod and a sad smile, Willow turned her back on him and began to walk away, her skin and hair taking on the colors of the shifting shadows. "Do you know what I know?" Willow didn't wait for Angel to answer. "I know that curses are made to be broken."

"Sometimes it sucks being short," Buffy thought to herself as she looked for Giles after exiting through the gate into the crowded concourse.

"BUFFY!" Her Slayer hearing allowed her to pick Giles' voice and she was relieved to follow the sound until she saw him through the mob of people.

In a blur of motion, she wove her way through the crow and wrapped her arms tightly around Giles midsection, only loosening her grip at his wheeze of pain. Buffy was shocked and yet very pleased when he returned her hug with only a slight hesitation.

Pulling back, Buffy glanced to either side of Giles, and, not seeing anyone else, she looked at him in confusion.

Giles answered her unspoken question. "We thought it would be best for me to come alone. Willow is a bit uneasy in crowds, and Joyce wanted you to meet in a more comfortable setting." Giles expression grew grim. "There are also some things I need to talk to you about involving both Willow and the Council."

Buffy felt a sense of dread come over her as she said, "Why do I get the feeling I'm not going to like what you are about to tell me?"

"Because the last year has made you into a perceptive young woman," Giles replied.

"Yes, quite." Giles turned, placing his hand on her back and began to gently guide her toward the baggage claim area. "Let us retrieve your luggage and I'll take you to a place I passed on the way here that will offer us some privacy."

Buffy hadn't expected the place Giles had chosen for their private talk; though, she admitted to herself, as she looked over the railing into the waves crashing below her in the cliff side park, it had an awesome view of both the ocean and the LA skyline.

She spun slowly to face her Watcher and found him looking behind them, instead at the scenic view before them. "You act like someone might be following us," Buffy said in a teasing tone.

Giles barely glanced in her direction before returning to his intent examination of the small park and the few people within it. "Sadly enough, I am worried about someone, especially the Council, following and hearing what I'm about to relate to you."

Buffy stared at Giles, growing serious at his comment. "Giles, you're really starting to give me the wiggens here; maybe it would be best you start with the explain-y."

Taking his glasses off to clean them, Giles agreed. "You are quite right, my dear." He took a deep breath and began to explain in a voice with an undercurrent of rage about Travers plans for the non- Council trained Potentials and the Slayers that might be called from them.

To say Buffy was horrified would have been an understatement. Her stomach twisted at the implications of just how... repugnant the Council really was. Oddly enough, the downplaying of her achievements didn't anger as much as the reasoning behind it.

Once he had finished, Buffy simply stood quietly as she stared blindly out to sea, trying to come to terms with Giles' revelations. After several minutes, she finally spoke, still looking over the watery horizon. "OK... I can understand the major suckage here, but what does it have to do with Willow?"

"Before I go into that, there is one other thing I must tell you, Buffy," Giles said, and the tone of his voice made her once again twist around to face him. "When you drowned in the Master's cave, you died."

"Yeah, kind of know that since I was there," Buffy said bitingly as his words brought back dark memories.

After giving her a slight nod conveying his understanding, Giles went on. "Between the time of your death and subsequent resuscitation, you apparently were dead..." Giles visibly flinched at the word. "...long enough for another Slayer to be called."

The next thing Buffy became aware of was sitting down on a nearby park bench with her head between her knees as Giles gently rubbed her back in soothing circles. Following his advice to take slow, deep breaths, Buffy finally got herself back under control and straightened. "Sorry about that; I..." She gave a vague wave of her hand to convey her lack of words.

"It's quite alright, Buffy. I imagine it was something of a shock to you. I know it was for me," Giles said kindly.

"Was?" Buffy whispered in sick horror. Then, seeing the confirmation in her Watcher's eyes, she cried, "She didn't even last a month, Giles."

"I know." Giles paused a moment to apparently gather his thoughts. "Buffy, there is something you need to know about her Watcher, Mr. Zabuto. He was what I believe Jenny called a conspiracy nut and, more importantly, was one of Travers' most fervent followers. He and Kendra were sent to Sunnydale without my knowledge when one of the Witches at the Devon Coven notified the Council that something had been summoned from the Hellmouth itself."

Giving Buffy a slight nod, he continued. "Yes, Willow, and soon after arriving here, Kendra was able to get a description of the so called Hellmouth Demon. She subsequently hunted said demon down and slayed her." Giles quickly raised his hand to forestall any comment from Buffy. "Willow recovered completely from her slaying. It appears she has very formidable regenerative powers, which we will go over later. After returning to life, Willow followed Kendra's scent trail to the neighborhood where she and her Watcher were staying. But before she could track Kendra further, Willow returned home." Giles actually grinned. "Your mother, after finding out that Willow was adamant on hunting to protect people, gave her a curfew on how long she could hunt."

"O-K," Buffy replied, thrown for a loop at hearing that Willow hunted and her mother put a limit on how late her friend stayed out at night.

"The next day, Joyce took Willow shopping. Mr. Zabuto and Kendra saw them, and Kendra recognized Willow. Buffy, I don't know what Zabuto knew about Travers downplaying your achievements, but somehow he jumped to the insane conclusion that your mother had summoned Willow, and that, in turn, Jenny and I were involved, also." Giles reached over to lay his hand on Buffy's shoulder. "I want you to understand that your mother is safe and sound."

"What happened?" Buffy growled through clenched teeth as a wave of fear and anger coursed through her. She thought she had a good idea where this story was going in regard to her mother.

With a sigh, Giles answered. "Willow and Joyce became separated at the mall, and Kendra and Mr. Zabuto took your mother into custody and returned with her to their abode. He placed a call to Travers, but, thankfully, Travers was in a closed meeting and wasn't able to take the call at the time. Zabuto chose to wait so he would be able to give Travers the news about Joyce, Jenny, and I to him personally."

Giles leaned closer. "Willow called Jenny and had her come and pick her up at the Mall. It seems Willow had recognized Kendra's sent mixed with Joyce's. The two of them were able to find the house Joyce was held in and, as Willow fought Kendra, Jenny helped Joyce to escape."

"Oh, God, no." Buffy whimpered in denial as she put the rest of the pieces together.

Giles bowed his head in the face of her grief and disbelief. "Yes, I'm afraid so, Buffy. During the fight, Willow... made sure that both Zabuto and Kendra couldn't tell the Council of their findings."

"She..." Buffy let out a gasping sob. "She killed them, Giles. Wi-Willow killed a Slayer and her Watcher... I..." Buffy fell silent as she fought to get her raging emotions under control. She simply couldn't comprehend... No, she didn't want to comprehend what Giles had just told her. She surged to her feet and held up both hands to keep Giles from following her. "I need some time..."

Once again, words failed her, but Giles murmured, "Take all the time you need, my dear."

With her arms wrapped around herself as if from a great chill, Buffy turned away and walked aimlessly down the paths that meandered through the small park. She never noticed the pedestrians moving hastily out of her way as they noticed the expression on Buffy's face.

After some time had gone by, Buffy slowly made her way back to Giles. He stood but before he could say anything, Buffy looked up at him with tears running down her face and began to softly cry. "I can't slay her, Giles. I don't care what she did. I just c-can't."

Pulling her into a hug, he said, "Oh, dear Lord, Buffy. I never meant for you to think I wanted you to slay Willow. What she did, though horrendous, most likely saved our lives." Gripping Buffy by her shoulders, Giles gently pushed her away so he could look her in the eye. "I would have done the same thing if it were the only way to protect all of you."

Giles reached out, wiping at the tears on her cheeks. "Yes, I know: we mustn't kill humans. Under normal circumstances, I wholly agree. Sometimes, however, dire situations call for equally dire actions. As your Watcher, it is an action I am willing to take if the circumstances call for it."

Buffy gazed up at him, struck speechless at his admission. Then, as the words registered, she threw her arms around Giles' neck, giving him a light kiss on the cheek. "It's really dawning on me just how awesomely lucky I am to have you as my Watcher."

With a fond smile, she watched a blush creep up Giles' neck and cheeks. "The honor in entirely mine, Buffy." When Buffy stepped away began to wipe the remaining tears off her face, Giles readily offered a handkerchief from his breast pocket. "It's clean."

After she had cleaned herself up, Buffy looked at Giles and said simply, "Take me home." At Giles' slight hesitation, she asked forlornly, "There's more?"

"No; though, it isn't what I would call 'good.'" Grimacing, he said softly, "It is more of an explanation about how and why Willow survived her ordeal in the Hellmouth."

"Then you can tell me on the way home." Buffy looked at him imploringly. "I need to see her, Giles."

Giving her a sad smile, Giles replied, "By all means then, let's be on our way."

"Your luncheon with the school board is scheduled at one o'clock this afternoon. After that, Mr. Mayor, your schedule is clear," Deputy Mayor Allan Finch said to Mayor Richard Wilkins the Third.

Giving Allan a beaming smile, Mayor Wilkins leaned back in his chair. "That sounds dandy, and since it's such a beautiful day, I think I'll get a few rounds of golf in."

Returning the Mayor's smile with one of his own - though it was a bit tight lipped - Allan said, "Very good, sir. Oh... there is just one more thing. Last night, the Grumsash situation was taken care of."

If it were possible, the Mayor's smile got wider. "Let me guess, a certain red head gave him a real heart attack?"

"Well, now, I love it when a plan goes so smoothly. Did Re'qwik give her the bonus?"

"Good. Once the Slayer gets back, I'll be able to guide her - through Willow - toward anymore problems that might interfere with my plans. Though, I will have to be sure to use them sparingly." Mayor Wilkins leaned forward as he folded his hands in front of him on his desk, while he kept his smile Wilkins eyes growing cold and deadly. "We mustn't let anyone make the connection that the Vampire Slayer now works for me. Understood?"

Time, is going by, so much faster than I,
And I'm starting to regret not spending all of it with you.
Now I'm, wondering why, I've kept this bottled inside,
So I'm starting to regret not telling all of it to you.
So if I haven't yet, I've gotta let you know...

You're Never gonna be alone!
From this moment on, if you ever feel like letting go,
I won't let you fall...
You're never gonna be alone!
I'll hold you 'til the hurt is gone...

Willow stopped pacing for a moment to nervously listen for the sound of Giles' car. After ascertaining the older human wasn't back with Buffy, Willow paced the living room again. As she paced, she look over what she had chosen ...with Joyce-mom's help..., to wear for such an al... No, that wasn't right. Willow's mind slowly came up with the word she wanted. An auspicious moment. Her silk blouse was a solid teal color and her skirt had a riot of bright multi-colored flowers covering it. Willow had also washed her hair several times and brushed it until Joyce-mom said it looked beautiful.

All of the time Willow had spent in Hell, she'd waited for this moment. Now that it was fast approaching, she was nervous and really wanted to look good for Buffy.

The nice outfit might not be enough. Willow reached up to touch one horn; she feared Buffy wouldn't like the differences in how she looked now. Originally, Willow planned to wear her hat and sunglasses, but Joyce-mom once again assured her that Buffy knew the changes to her appearance and wouldn't be put off by her eyes or horns. Willow grudgingly accepted Joyce-mom's reassurance; although, privately, she still had her doubts. At least her hair hid her pointed ears.

The other thing that made Willow nervous was her killing of the Slayer. Not to mention the human male she had killed on first arriving. Willow hadn't mentioned him to anyone; no one had asked and she saw no need to volunteer the information.

Then, simultaneously, the sound of Giles car came to her as she sensed the tingle of a powerful essence moving closer.

Swallowing nervously, Buffy wiped her sweaty palms on her pants legs and she stared in numbly at her house out of the passenger-side window. She could actually sense a powerful demonic presence emanating from inside, similar to how the Master had felt when she had confronted him. If she hadn't known ahead of time that Willow was in the house, she would have gone crashing through the door, intending to do some major slayage.

"What?" Buffy said in surprise; her thoughts were taken up with Willow's new presence and her own fear of confronting her best friend. "Oh, yeah. I'm just..." Buffy shook her head, organizing her thoughts before facing Giles. "Giles, I can feel Willow from here. She's really pinging big time on the slaydar."

"Indeed." Giles used his Official Watcher voice. "What can you sense, specifically?"

Buffy closed her eyes as she focused on more closely on her senses. "I know Willow's in that general direction," she said, nodding toward the house. "And she's very close to how the Master felt once I passed the barrier he was trapped behind." Her brows drew together as something else came to her. Opening her eyes confusion, she said, "Giles, I don't understand... She feels familiar."

Giles leaned closer with an attentive look on his face. "Familiar? In what way?"

"It's like the Slayer part of me is divided into two parts, I guess you could say." Buffy struggled to put her feelings into words. "I mean there's the normal 'there's a demon: kill, kill, kill' part clamoring away, but then there's a small part that seems to recognize Willow in a 'not kill' way. I've never felt this before, Giles. I mean, I can sense when Angel's nearby because I've grown to recognize the vampire within him. With Willow it's just... different," Buffy finished lamely, at a complete loss on how to describe what her Slayer senses were telling her.

"I really don't know, Buffy; perhaps it's due to your knowing Willow before." He shook his head. "I simply can't say. This is a unique situation we find ourselves in."

Giving her a smile of understanding, Giles lightly touched her shoulder in a show of support. "Are you ready?"

They both got out, and Giles - ever the British gentleman - carried Buffy's luggage for her, just as he had carried it out of the airport earlier. They had only made it partway to the house when the front door opened, revealing Buffy's mother.

Buffy rushed forward, letting Joyce envelope her in a hug on the front porch. "I'm glad you're home, Buffy," Joyce whispered.

Joyce pulled back enough to look Buffy in the eye. "Did Rupert explain everything to you?"

"Yes, he did, and I'm going to make sure to thank Willow for saving your lives." Buffy gave her mother a mischievous look, wanting to lighten the mood. "I'm looking forward to meeting this Duncan Mclood..."

"This McLeod," Buffy went on as, if her mother hadn't spoken, "that seems to like to cook dinner for a certain mother of mine." Buffy had been teasing about the dinner part, but her comment earned a bright blush from her mom, much too Buffy's surprise. Before she could say anything, though, more her mother beat her to it.

"Well," Joyce said, shooting Giles a mild glare. "I believe there is someone that is very anxious to see you, Buffy." Her gaze softened as turned her eyes to Buffy. She gave Buffy another hug. "She's waiting in the living room."

Buffy squared her shoulders and took several quick steps across the porch; once she passed through the doorway, though, her progress slowed. With her heart pounding in her chest, Buffy forced herself to take the final couple of steps around the corner and into the living room proper.

There, standing in the middle of the living room, was Willow. Buffy came to a stop as she drank in the sight of her supposedly dead friend.

Oddly enough, the first thing she noticed were the two white horns gracing her friend's brow. They were cute, Buffy decided instantly - like her mother mentioned during their phone conversation. Willow's hair appeared fuller and redder than before. Buffy then traced Willow's altered features with her eyes. Before her disappearance, Willow had had pixie-like features; that was now more pronounced, more elflike, Buffy figured, comparing them to the some of Xander's fantasy comic books.

What really stood out, though, were Willow's broader shoulders and the muscular definition in her arms and lower legs that the clothing didn't cover. Buffy couldn't see the scars Giles had told her about; she guessed the blouse and skirt hid them.

Finishing her examination, Buffy tilted her head in puzzlement. Willow had her eyes, which had been described to her in detail by both Giles and her mom, screwed tightly shut. "Willow?" Buffy called out softly, not wanting to startle the red head.

"Bu-Buffy," Willow replied haltingly, keeping her eyes closed. "Can... can you see me?"

Buffy blinked at the odd question and the fierce longing that filled Willow's voice. "Yes, Willow, I can see you." She slowly took one step after another, moving closer to her friend.

One of Willow's eyes cracked open enough to allow a sliver of glowing red pupil to show through; then slowly the other eye opened until Buffy stared into Willow's new, inhuman eyes.

The expression of pure, unadulterated joy on Willow's face took Buffy's breath away. She took one staggering step forward and held out a hand. "Buffy," she whispered in a voiced choked with emotion. "You found me, Buffy; you found me."

Buffy reached out a trembling hand to brush Willow's and then slowly entwined their fingers. Looking at Willow through a curtain of tears, Buffy tried to speak. "Willow... I'm so sor..."

"You found me!" Willow interrupted fiercely; Buffy could hear the raw need her voice. Willow drew Buffy's hand to her, pressing their joined fingers against her mouth and nose. Buffy watched as Willow closed her eyes, taking deep breaths, sucking in great lungful of air, apparently taking in Buffy's scent. Even with her voice muffled by her actions, Buffy heard what Willow said next. "You found me, Buffy. I know you find me. Never stop knowing, always... always waited, and now I wait no more." She opened her eyes to stare at Buffy with a passionate gaze.

Willow's words sliced through Buffy, the pain they caused overshadowing any wound she'd ever been dealt. It was made worse by the fact Willow spoke without malice - and absolute belief. A belief in Buffy, that Buffy would save her, would find her. Even though Buffy wanted to refute such faith, something held her tongue. With utter certainty, Buffy realized that, right now, Willow needed to hold onto her convictions. There was a fragility about Willow that Buffy was afraid to shatter, but she did vow to herself that when Willow was strong enough, they would come to terms with the harsh reality of that misplaced faith in her.

Taking a step forward, Buffy used her free arm to embrace Willow, pulling the slightly taller girl to her. Willow twisted her upper body, bringing the side of her head to rest under Buffy's chin, all the while keeping a firm hold on Buffy's hand. Almost as if Willow was afraid of letting go. Buffy felt Willow's legs begin to give out; she used her Slayer strength to gently lower them to the carpeted floor.

Resting her cheek against Willow's unusually warm hair and feeling tears race down her cheeks, Buffy whispered, "Yes, Willow I found you, and I'm never going to lose you again. You hear me, Willow? I'm never going to lose you again."

Buffy felt Willow nod as she softly replied, "OK." Willow then asked quietly, "You not slay me?"

Buffy pulled Willow away from her enough that she could look her in the eye. Getting nose to nose with her friend, Buffy said fiercely, "No, I won't slay you, Willow. You haven't done anything to warrant slaying, and, more importantly, Willow..." Buffy's intensity softened. "I can't slay you. Do you understand me, Willow? I. Can't. Slay. You. No matter what so it's going up to you to be good."

Willow stared at her, wide eyed, for a moment; she then gave a jerky nod and gasped out a choked, "Yeah." Throwing her arms around Buffy, Willow buried her face in the side of Buffy's neck and shook as she made dry sobbing noises. Buffy embraced Willow tightly, beginning to sob, too, crying in both happiness and sorrow. Soon Joyce's arms encircle the two of them in a warm and loving embrace, giving them a feeling comfort and security that only a mother could.

If the war by heaven's gate released desire
In the line of fire someone must have known
That a human heart demands to be admired
Cause in the Center of the Universe
We are all alone,

Show me sign of paradise
A place we all would like to go to
Tell me what to sacrifice
So there's a chance for me to want you...

With her eyes closed, Willow sighed in happiness from where she laid on the living room couch, head resting on Buffy's lap while Buffy gently ran her fingers through Willow's hair. Half heartedly, Willow listened to the conversation going on around her. Buffy, Giles, and Joyce-mom were talking about all kinds of stuff that, at the moment, Willow simply didn't care about... for Buffy had found her, and Willow felt completely contented with life.

Twisting her head slightly, Willow pressed her nose into the denim covering the top of Buffy's leg, inhaling deeply the scent of the flesh underneath it. It was something that had always been missing from her dreams and nightmares... scent; it was what made Willow firmly believe that this was real and not her mind playing tricks on her yet again.

Willow reveled in the physical closeness that Buffy and she were sharing at the moment. Opening her glowing red, slitted eyes slightly, Willow reached out with one hand to run it firmly down the front of Buffy's pant leg. She desperately wanted to touch the flesh beneath the fabric, but she had a very strong feeling Buffy wouldn't react favorably to Willow slicing her pants with her claws.

Of the few memories that had stayed with her during her time in Hell, one stood out most vividly: how Buffy despaired over the destruction of her clothing and shoes.

Hearing Buffy calling her name eventually drew Willow from her thoughts. Opening her eyes fully, Willow turned to look up into Buffy's face. Once Buffy saw she had gotten her attention, she said, "Hey, Willow, Mom told me about your room. I really would like to see it, if you don't mind."

"OK." Willow swung her feet off the couch and grabbed Buffy by the hand before standing up. She easily pulled Buffy after her, hurrying out of the living room and up the steps. She was happy to hear Joyce-mom chuckling about something; though, she wasn't sure what since Giles hadn't said anything. Once they reached the second floor, Willow reluctantly let go of Buffy's hand since she needed both of hers to unfold the steps from the ceiling.

Once the steps were down, Willow remembered Joyce-mom's little talk about politeness. Turning to Buffy, she waved a hand toward the opening into the attic. "After you."

"Why, thank you," Buffy said with a smile; though, before she started up the steps she reached over to flip the light switch located on the wall.

Willow frowned at once again forgetting to turn the lights on. She had scared Joyce-mom several times while walking through the darkened house since she could now see without the need of any light source.

The sight of Buffy climbing the steps to the attic drew Willow out of her funk. Well... actually the sight of how Buffy's butt flexed and rolled under the tight denim drew Willow out of her minor funk completely. Willow waited for Buffy to enter the attic before climbing the steps herself, she found herself thankful for Joyce-mom's warning that only one person should be on the steps at a time.

When Willow's head popped through the opening in the attics floor, she caught Buffy frowning at the boxes that bracketed the entrance to Willow's room. Though, once Buffy spotted Willow, she turned her frown upside-down and gave her a big smile.

Buffy's big smile wilted a bit before she answered. "It's... just," she slightly stammered while gesturing at the boxes. "I figured, after hearing about the cave you lived in all that time, you would rather stay in a normal bedroom with windows and sunlight."

Willow paused a moment to find the words to best explain her feelings, or better yet, her reasoning's on the matter.

As she walked by Buffy, Willow casually reached over to once again take the Slayer by the hand. "It's..." Willow stopped right outside of her room and faced Buffy. "It's 'cause normal bedroom is too bright... too open. Cave gave me feeling of safety; one way in and stone all around. I sense vibrations from a far way. This..." It was Willow's turn to gesture to her room, "gives me same feeling... one way in, but also has little window, makes better than old cave.

Buffy chewed on her lower lip before saying, "Well, if that's what you want, but remember - if you ever want a normal bedroom all you have to do is just ask Mom... OK?"

Willow smiled at her before answering, "OK." She then led Buffy between the stacked boxes and into her room. "This is my room." Willow watched Buffy anxiously as she waited to see her reaction.

Buffy looked around for a minute, saying in a cheery voice, "Well it looks really co..." Suddenly Willow saw a shocked expression cross the Slayer's face. The cheer was gone when she asked, "Willow wh-what is that?"

Following Buffy's eyes, Willow saw what had drawn Buffy's attention. "Oh, that is Bob the Merc!" She pulled Buffy over to the demon's skull, displayed proudly on the mainly empty shelving that ran along one wall. Willow had created the shelving, with Joyce-mom's help, by placing long boards she found in the attic between stacked boxes. Joyce-mom had said it would do until they could figure out a more permanent solution.

"Where did you get it?" Buffy asked, her voice sounding a bit strained even to Willow.

"He is my first real demon kill after escaping Hell," Willow replied proudly as she lightly ran her fingers across the skull's bony plate. "He was going to eat two humans, but I save them."

"Oh... I guess that's a good thing then." Buffy sounded dazed. "Willow, why did you...?" She pointed at the skull, not able to finish the question.

Willow hesitated for several moments, wanting to choose the right words from her somewhat limited vocabulary. She found the exercise rather difficult; during her time in Hell, Willow hadn't thought about why she did certain things. Willow simply accepted that she did what she did because that was...what she did.

Finally, though, she tried to explain the skull to Buffy. "When I was in Hell... I sometimes wonder if all of you remembered me, if I was important enough to remember since I was damned. So I keep skulls of kills to look at them and remember what their eyes would say to me when I rip their hearts out." Willow raised her eyes, watching Buffy closely. "For at that time I saw that I was very important to them, that I was the center of the universe to them."

Buffy's eyes became bright with unshed tears. "Oh, Willow, we never forgot you," Buffy rasped out before drawing Willow into a tight hug.

Pulling Buffy's smaller body firmly against her own, Willow buried her face in the crook of Buffy's neck, deeply inhaling her scent. The feeling of Buffy's soft and very feminine curves pressing tightly against her own made Willow's body thrum with sensations reminiscent of her having a happy moment.

Parting her lips slightly, Willow darted her tongue out between them to give the taut flesh of Buffy's neck a light lick. The action added another level of Buffy's realness for Willow. Plus, Buffy simply tasted good - and not in a food short of way, either.

"Whoa... Will, what are doing!" Buffy pushed away by pressing her hands against Willow's shoulders.

Willow slackened her arms just enough so that they were able to look one another in the eye, but that was all the space Willow was willing to give Buffy at the moment. She really liked how their waists and chests were touching. Even though she knew, instinctively, that she was pushing things, however, she wasn't sure what the things were at the moment.

Deciding to be a little playful with Buffy, Willow answered the question with one of her own. "What you think I did?"

Buffy gave her a wide-eyed look and reached up to cover the spot Willow had licked with one dainty hand. "It felt like you licked me!"

Blinking in puzzlement, Buffy dropped her hand back on Willow's shoulder. "But why?"

"It makes you more real, like touching you." Willow moved her hands across Buffy's back in small circles for emphasis, incidentally noticing a spike in Buffy's heartbeat. "Like your scent or tingle makes you more real to me. I want to know that this not a dream, so I make sure."

"Oh," Buffy mumbled, still sounding unsure. "I guess there isn't anything wrong with it if it will make you feel more comfortable. I mean, what are a few licks between best friends?" Buffy finished her statement with an overly bright smile.

"OK." Willow could smell Buffy's nervousness, but underneath that scent there was another, faintly reminiscent of the scent Joyce-mom gave off when she was around Duncan. Bending her head, Willow lightly ran her tongue in short strokes from the base of Buffy's neck to just underneath her earlobe, a few times bumping the earring hanging from it.

She felt Buffy shuddering and heard her breathless gasp; though, the blonde didn't try to pull away. Buffy did dig her fingers into Willow's flesh where they rested on her shoulders. After only a short time, at least to Willow, Buffy began squirming in her arms. Willow reluctantly pulled her mouth away from Buffy's neck, letting her arms loosen enough to allow Buffy to step back a pace. Willow didn't let her get away completely, though; she kept her hands resting on Buffy's hips.

Willow waited patiently as Buffy got her breathing under control, noticing that Buffy's tanned flesh was flushed. Giving Buffy a wide smile, Willow said, "You taste good."

In fascination, Willow watched as Buffy's blush darkened drastically at her words. "I-I do?" she stammered.

"Yes," Willow replied before ducking her head slightly to peer at Buffy through her thick eyelashes. Shyly, she asked, "Maybe I can taste you later?"

Buffy's breath seemed to hitch for a moment before she could make herself reply. "Maybe... we'll just have to wait and see, OK?"

Buffy then glanced quickly around Willow's room before her gaze settled on something behind Willow. "Is that another demon skull?" Buffy asked, nodding her head in the direction she was looking.

Willow didn't even bother to turn around. She knew what Buffy had spotted. "No, Buffy, that is a Skull Mask of Durda." Grasping one of Buffy's hands, Willow led her over to the mask and the table resting below it. Willow forced herself to simply hold Buffy's hand while she began to explain how the mask represented the dusted skulls of her vampire kills and items on the table were from one vampire each. Some inner feeling told her that she had gotten too... too forward with her friend and needed to back off - a lot like hunting at times. If one got into a hurry, one would spook the prey.

Looking over at Buffy as she studied the myriad of jewelry spread out on the table, Willow admitted to herself that Buffy was prey. Not for food or even her essence. Willow wanted Buffy for many reasons, some of which she didn't quite understand... as of yet. Willow understood, though, that there was another hunting Buffy.

Hey Lucy, I remember your name
I left a dozen roses on your grave today
I'm in the grass on my knees, wipe the leaves away
I just came to talk for a while
I got some things I need to say...

Now that it's over
I just wanna hold her
I'd give up all the world to see that little piece of heaven looking
back at me
Now that it's over
I just wanna hold her
I've gotta live with the choices i made
And I can't live with myself today...

Hey Lucy, I remembered your birthday
They said it'd bring some closure to say your name
I know I'd do it all different if I had the chance
But all I got are these roses to give
And they can't help me make amends...

Mindlessly, Xander put one foot in front of the other as he made his way down the streets of his hometown Sunnydale. It felt odd being back so soon, and it drove home just how alone he was with Buffy and Giles gone and Willow... dead. Bowing his head, Xander closed his eyes as another wave of grief washed over him. He hated sleeping. Willow's screams still haunted his dreams and images of the blood-soaked library, soaked with her blood, would play through his head. Taking a deep breath, he opened his eyes and continued his aimless walk.

He wished his time away from Sunnydale had been longer. Thanks to his uncle getting caught with the wife of one of the ranch's supervisors, they had left rather abruptly. Needless to say, Xander's father hadn't been happy to see him home without any cash. And, after being yelled at and dodging a few empty booze bottles tossed his way, Xander had left the house.

He was debating with himself about visiting Willow's grave when a familiar voice called his name. "Xander!"

Looking over, Xander saw Miss Calendar leaning across the front seat of her car and gazing at him through the passenger window. Xander hurried to the car and bent down. "Hey, Miss Calender."

Straightening up, Miss Calender said, "I take it someone finally got a hold of you then."

Xander blinked a few times in bewilderment. He sensed an odd undercurrent to Miss Calender's words, but he couldn't figure out what it meant. Giving her a puzzled look, he replied, "Who's been trying to get a hold of me and, more importantly, why?"

After a long silence, Miss Calender said, "Xander, get in; there's something I need to tell you, and I think it's best to go someplace a bit more private."

"OK." Xander got in the car and buckled up. "I take it this is something Hellmouth-y?"

"You could say that." Miss Calender paused, giving him a penetrating look. "If you don't mind, I'll wait to explain things until we get to my place. I was on the way there to pick up a few things for someone."

"Your place? We, as in you and me, are going to your place?" Xander asked with a bit of trepidation, thinking about the last time a beautiful teacher had him come over to her place.

His small spurt of babbling caused Miss Calender to stare at him for a second before a large grin crossed her face. Reaching across the small space between them, she patted Xander's knee reassuringly. "Don't worry, Xander; I'm nothing like Miss French."

Feeling his face burn with a fierce blush, Xander quickly replied, "Of course, you aren't! I really doubt you are planning on mat..." Xander snapped his jaw shut with a loud click before he could dig himself into a deeper hole; although, judging by her raised eyebrows, Miss Calender had already guessed what he was about to say.

Looking down to avoid Miss Calender's humor-filled gaze, Xander suddenly noticed the short skirt the older woman wore. The short skirt had ridden up quite a bit. "Oh God, look at those legs!" His mind memorized the sight until Xander snapped his eyes straight ahead through the windshield.

He felt another wave of embarrassment wash over him when, out of the corner of his eye, he saw Miss Calender pull her skirt back into place. "Sorry about that; I seem to be having some trouble with my clothing the past couple of days." She chuckled.

Trying to act nonchalant about the whole thing, too, Xander solemnly said, "No, problem." Thankfully, the drive to Miss Calender's house went by without incident. Xander did have to fight the urge ...for the entire trip... to peek to see if Miss Calender's skirt rode up again.

Xander wiped his sweaty palms across the top of his pant legs as he followed Miss Calender into her house. He knew nothing was going to happen; yet still he was a teenage boy with teenage boy hormones. He glanced down at how the fabric of her skirt molded itself across her butt, and those hormones kicked into high gear.

Xander trailed behind as she headed toward a couch and chair in the living room. She paused, though, and after shaking her head, Miss Calender turned to dining room table and chairs instead. Gesturing at the furniture, Miss Calender said, "Why don't you take a seat while I get us something to drink? Does a pop sound OK to you?"

Xander sat down. "Sure." He just wanted to find out what was going on. Luckily, it didn't take her long to return with a cool pop. Giving Miss Calendar a nod of thanks, Xander popped the tab and took a long, slow drink, savoring the sugary goodness. He set the can on the table top and gave Miss Calender, who had taken a seat across from him, his full attention. "So what's the what?"

Not even years of fighting evil on the Hellmouth prepared him for her response. "Willow's back."

Xander was suddenly glad he'd put the pop down. His arm lost all strength - along with the rest of his body. He slumped forward as a loud roaring filled his ears and the world faded around him.

A tight grip on his shoulder drew him back to himself. Xander found Miss Calender bending down beside him, her hand holding him upright in his chair. "Oh, Goddess, Xander! I'm so sorry for shocking you like that. I simply didn't know how else to tell you."

Miss Calender sat down in the chair next to Xander. Taking a deep breath, she explained. "First off, Xander, let me make it clear that Willow, though changed, is still - at heart - the girl you grew up with. She has lost, or more accurately forgotten, a large part of her memory. With Joyce's, Giles' and my help, though, she seems to be regaining some of it every day."

"Whoa!" Xander couldn't stop himself interrupting the older woman. "When you say Joyce, you're not referring to Mrs. Summers? Mrs. Summers as in Buffy's mom? And what do you mean by changed?"

With a grimace Miss Calender said, "Yes, I mean Joyce. She now knows about Buffy being the Slayer and about the Hellmouth. Again, I'm going to be blunt with you, Xander. Right now, Willow would be classified as a demon. Though her eyes are still green, her pupils glow red and are slitted; she also has horns and claws." Xander watched as she paused and seemed to argue with herself. "We're not sure why, but for Willow, her time in Hell lasted close to five hundred years."

"Jesus," Xander whispered as his mind tried to grapple with what Miss Calender had told him. He felt a myriad of emotions: elation that his best friend was alive...and a hefty sense of dread at what she had become.

Focusing his attention outwardly on the woman sitting beside him, Xander asked, "How could she live that long? I mean she wasn't a demon when she..." He trailed off unable to say the word "died."

After reaching over to light touch his arm in compassion, Miss Calender said, "We've learned that Willow is part of a group of people who, when they die a violent death, become Immortal. An Immortal can be killed, but they come back to life unless beheaded. They also stop aging and are immune to diseases. There's one other thing you need to know about Immortals, Xander. They take part in what's called The Game. Basically, when two Immortals meet, they may decide to fight to the death and the winner takes the other Immortal's quickening. An Immortal's quickening carries all of their memories and skills. Immortals believe that in the end, there will only be one left, and he or she will have all of the powers from the entire Immortal pool. This they call this The Prize."

Xander rubbed his face with his hands as he once again tried to wrap his brain around what Miss Calender told him. Finally, he gave his head a shake, clearing his mind. He'd already decided on a course of action. Pushing back from the table, he stood and said in a decisive voice. "I'm going to see Willow." He paused a moment, then, feeling rather sheepish asked, "Where is she staying?"

Miss Calender stared up at him for a moment in surprise. "Willow's staying with Buffy and Joyce. I'll be glad to take you over there, but, Xander, there is something else I really need to tell you first."

Xander put up his hand to halt any further words. "You can tell me on the way." Tilting his head to the side, Xander gave Miss Calender a lopsided smile. "Willow's back, and that's all I really care about."

Miss Calender must have seen the absolute conviction in Xander's eyes. "OK," she responded, grabbing her purse and a box full of children's books and computer programs which Xander immediately took from her. He was a gentleman, after all.

As they pulled away from the curb, though, Xander delayed his reunion with Willow. They needed to swing by his house; there was something he wanted to pick up.

Willow sat on the blanket next to Buffy while the two of them enjoyed supper in the back yard. Still feeling a little fearful that all of this was a dream, Willow made sure to sit close enough to Buffy that their knees touched. And she stayed downwind so the slight breeze would blow Buffy's perfume scent to her as Buffy regaled her with stories of their past together.

So intently was she listening, Willow was taken by surprise when Buffy stopped in mid sentence and cried out, "Xander!"

With her heart suddenly shuddering in fear, Willow followed Buffy's gaze to find Xander, carrying a small box under one arm. He stepped off the back porch and made his way toward them. Distantly, Willow noticed Joyce-mom and Miss Calender remained on the back porch.

Once their gazes met, Willow moaned in horror and twisted her face away in shame, scrabbling for her hat and sunglasses. In her haste, she knocked over her glass of water but didn't care. Xander's steps had grown closer. Mumbling, "No. No. No," over and over, Willow jammed her hat on crooked and slipped her sunglasses on, hiding her demonic eyes by the time he finally reached them.

Willow knelt, knees on the blanket, her hands balled into fists. She looked down, not daring to raise her head, fearful of Xander's reaction to what she now was. One of the things Willow clearly remembered from her human life was Xander's hatred of demons. With him here now, Willow felt was deeply afraid of what he would think.

She heard him say "Hey," to Buffy and then Willow felt him drop to one knee beside her. She twisted her head and shoulders away from him in. After a long pause, Xander leaned closer to her and then, to Willow's surprise, he gently cupped her chin with his fingers. Breathing deeply, Willow took in his scent, and with it, more memoires played themselves across her mind's eye. She sobbed from the emotions the images stirred within her.

"Hey," Xander said softly in her ear, his breath dancing across her sensitive hair. "Let me see you." When Willow shook her head, Xander tenderly pulled with his fingers, twisting her head.

With her increased strength, Willow should have been able to easily rebuff his actions, but she couldn't.

Fearfully, Willow looked into the face of her best friend - and all she saw was love and kindness instead of the disgust and hatred she had expected. She watched as Xander, still gently cupping her chin, gave her a warm smile. "You know, Will, you really don't need this." He reached up with his free hand and removed her hat. "Or these." Letting go of her chin, he used both hands to slide her sunglasses off, exposing her inhuman eyes to his.

Willow held herself still as Xander's eyes traced her demonic features; she could see her own face reflected in Xander's brown eyes, eyes that were filled with warmth. Giving her a big, wide smile Xander said, his voice choked with emotion, "Now there is the beautiful, green-eyed girl I know and love."

Giving another sob, Willow whispered in confusion, "But... you hate demons... I demon now. Do you not..."

"No," Xander interrupted her. He gripped her by the shoulders. "I can never hate you Willow," he told her, giving her one of his Xander grins that she remembered from so long ago. "OK, I admit I really, really dislike vampires, but you're not one, right?"

Even though Willow knew the last part was more a statement than a question, she shook her head and said fiercely, "No!" Willow felt her own lips curving up, mirroring Xander's smile.

Blinking his rapidly filling eyes, Xander surprised Willow by pulling her against his chest in a tight hug. Face buried in her hair, Xander spoke, his voice tight with emotion, "I've missed you, Willow. You're my bestest bud in the world."

Closing her eyes, Willow allowed herself to become lost in the moment, in the feeling of safety and friendship. Mindful of his delicate human body, she returned his hug, feeling Buffy leaning over to clasp one of Xander's hands with her own.

Willow didn't know how much time passed as the three of them stayed together, but after a while, she opened an eye to peer at the box that Xander had set down beside them. The old faded shoebox seemed very familiar, but Willow couldn't remember what it held. Letting go of Xander, she reached for the shoebox with one arm. She hooked the lip of the lid with a claw and pulled the box to her.

Xander straighten at her actions, quickly wiping his tears from his cheeks. "Do you remember it, Willow?"

Straightening up as well, Willow shot Xander a glance. "Remember box, but not what in box." He hid it quickly, but Willow saw the disappointment in his eyes.

"Well, then I guess you better open it." He gestured to the box, keeping one arm across her shoulders.

Willow picked up the box and solemnly sat it on her lap; there was something very special within the box. Something of her past. She felt it. Licking her lips, Willow gently pulled the top off and found something wrapped in a faded towel. Hesitating only a moment, Willow folded the fabric back to reveal what it covered. Dimly, she heard Buffy gasp, and her own breath rushed out in shock... Memories. Sweet memoires ran through her mind as she gazed at the object now revealed.

Xander's voice came to her through the sounds of the past. "I found this when Buffy and I went through your stuff after you... Anyway, I figured you would want it back... again, that is."

Willow reached into the box and, with quiet reverence, grasped the plastic and fabric object in one hand. Bringing it up to her face, she brushed the blonde hair across her nose and inhaled the scent that lingered from so long ago. "Barbie."

If I wasn't here tomorrow
Would anybody care
If my time was up I wanna know
You were happy I was there
If I wasn't here tomorrow
Would anyone lose sleep
If I wasn't hard and hollow
Then maybe you would miss me

I know I'm a mess and I wanna be someone
Someone that I like better
I can never forget
So don't remind me of it forever...

Faith unashamedly used her super, OK... enhanced, Slayer hearing to listen in to Diana's phone conversation. Even with her new and improved hearing, though, all she could hear through the study's heavy wooden door was her Watcher's side of the conversation.

"What do you mean there is a second Slayer!" Diana cried out in surprise. Faith easily discerned the shock that filled her Watcher's voice.

After a long pause, which Faith took as Diana listening to the person on the phone, Diana said, "I see; so Miss Summers retained her Slayer abilities after resuscitation."

There was a brief silence and then Diana went on. "I do hope there are no plans to try recreating the circumstances with Faith."

Faith's eyes widened in a combination of shock and fear. There was no way she wanted to ...or would, for that matter... take part in some twisted experiment.

Faith's tension immediately drained away when Diana, "I'm glad to hear the Council isn't contemplating such an action and agree completely with their reasoning." Faith itched to know what the fuck their reasoning was just for a little more peace of mind.

After another lengthier pause, Faith heard Diana say, "I see. Well then, I'll make the necessary arrangements and contact Mr. Giles with our arrival time. Mr. Travers, I very much appreciate you giving me till the end of the week to make the move to Sunnydale. It will make things so much easier in procuring a new home and tidying things up here."

Another, far shorter, silence followed before Diana said, "Yes, Mr. Travers, my parents were quite pleased at hearing about my new Watcher status; though, they were a bit apprehensive with Mr. Zabuto's death. I assured them such an occurrence was a rarity..."

Faith rolled her eyes and let out a quiet snort. "Yeah, I bet a dead Watcher is a rarity." She refocused her attention in time to hear Diana saying goodbye and hanging up the phone.

As she straightened up was and pulled her ear away from the door, Diana said, in a voice laced with sarcasm, "Faith, do come in; you will develop a stiff neck listening at the door like that."

Trying to act nonchalant about getting caught eavesdropping, Faith opened the study door and casually walked through. Diana sat behind her desk, gazing at Faith with a slightly sardonic look on her face. As Faith made her way across the hardwood floor, she once again ran her eyes across the room marveling at the... elegance, for want of a better word. The room reminded her of some of the British rooms Faith had seen the very few times she had watched Masterpiece theater with her mom when she was younger - and before her mother's big descent into the happy world of drugs.

All the furnishing was made of some dark-stained wood, polished to a deep gloss that reflected the light with hints of red and gold. The study itself was located in the back of Diana's old Victorian house, and one entire wall was nothing except large windows looking out over a formal flower garden. The rest of the walls were taken up with shelves filled with all manner of books. Some of which, even to Faith's untrained eye, looked freaking old. Those, of course, were the ones Faith wasn't allow to touch unsupervised.

Once she reached the large desk, Faith dropped into one of the two leather chairs facing the desk. She barely started to slouch down in her customary sitting position before one of Diana's eyebrows rose in admonishment. With a grimace, Faith sat up straighter in the chair as Diana simply leaned back, steepling her fingers before her with her elbows resting on the arms of her own chair.

Faith quietly stared at Diana, who return Faith's gaze with a small smile on her face screamed, "I know something you don't!"

In the short time they had spent together, Faith had learned Diana wasn't into volunteering information she didn't consider vitally important at the time. Faith had to ask. Normally, Faith would have kept quiet out of sheer stubbornness, but Diana had a way of doing something - like figuring out Faith was outside the door - that drove Faith crazy wanting answers.

So, after only a few moments, Faith broke the silence. "So...?" She drew the word out in question.

Diana's smile grew marginally wider before she replied. "Why, yes, I do sew; quite well, as a matter of fact."

Faith halfheartedly scowled at Diana's reply. She wouldn't say it out loud ...not on pain of death... but she secretly enjoyed her Watcher's dry and sardonic sense of humor. Flicking a thumb over her shoulder toward the door, Faith asked, "How did you know I was on the other side?"

Relaxing back into her chair, Diana began to speak in what Faith called her teacher's voice. "Firstly, the floorboards in front of the door creak when someone steps on them; they let out a similar sound when a person steps off of them. Secondly, the door sits rather loosely in its frame, so much so that if someone should put any weight against it, the door pushes out enough to be noticeable." A hint of command entered Diana's voice. "Faith, it's imperative you pay attention to your environment and how your actions affect it; it can literally mean the difference between life and death."

Faith found herself trapped between embarrassment and admiration. Embarrassed at being found out so easily, and admiration at the way Diana caught her eavesdropping. She wanted to make some kind of smart comeback but couldn't think of one; to her dismay, she ended up fidgeting in her chair and replying rather lamely, "Wicked."

Faith saw her response received a small smile from Diana then her expression grew serious. Leaning forward, Diana said, "Faith, I know my style of teaching is quite aggravating at times, but in making you ask questions, I'm forcing you to use your brain. That, Faith, is your most powerful tool to surviving."

The sound of Diana hand smacking the top of her desk caused Faith to jump a in her chair. Looking up, she found Diana glaring at her with real anger in her eyes. "Faith," Diana said in a serious tone of voice, "I never want to hear you disparaging yourself like that again. I've seen your grades..." Faith's reflexive eye roll earned another sharp rebuke from Diana. "Enough!"

Faith watched silently as her Watcher took a deep breath before continuing in a much calmer voice. "As I was saying...I have seen your grades. You have so much potential. You are a very intelligent young woman, Faith. You simply haven't been given the opportunity yet to reach your full potential, but with my help that will change."

Faith thrust herself out of the chair and began to pace back and forth in front of Diana's desk, waving her hands energetically, Faith tried to make sense of the conversation. "Why... why waste the time on me? I mean, hell, the last Slayer didn't even last a month, and she was trained."

Faith was surprised when Diana got up and walked around the desk to grasp her by the shoulders thus stopping her pacing. "Because, Faith, you have been Chosen, chosento stand against the vampires, the demons and the forces of darkness. You are the Slayer. It is both an honor and grave responsibility you bear; though, you won't bear it alone, for I am here to share in this grave burden and to help you and prepare you for your duties as the Slayer. Yes, a large part of your training will be mainly physical; however, I also strongly believe in training the mind. Faith, you have a fiery spirit, and that, my dear, is something I'm loath to admit the few Potentials I've met seem to have." Diana gave Faith a smile. "You see, I firmly believe with the proper training you can become the longest living Slayer in the Council's history. But for that to happen, you must first believe in yourself."

It appalled Faith that Diana's words made her look down at her feet in embarrassment, but, damn it, it was nice hearing words of encouragement for a change. Even if it made her feel acutely uncomfortable.

Her Watcher must have sensed Faith's feelings. She stepped back and gestured for Faith to reseat herself. After sitting down in her own chair, Diana said, "I take it you heard everything that I told Travers?" After receiving a nod from Faith, she continued. "Well, then, let me fill you in on what you didn't hear. It seems that Buffy Summers, drowned. Luckily, a civilian utilizing CPR was able to successfully resuscitation her and, surprisingly, she retained her Slayer abilities even though her death resulted in your predecessor, Miss Young, being Called."

Faith was too impatient to wait while Diana paused to sip her tea. "I take it the Council dudes decided not to do a repeat of what happened to Buffy with me?"

Seemingly ignoring Faith's less than respectful moniker of the Council members, Diana answered her question. "No, they will not. I won't lie; there was some discussion over making such an attempt, but it was finally decided the risk of disrupting the Slayer line was too great. What they did decide upon, however, is that we will be moving to Sunnydale, California. For the first time, two Slayers will be utilized simultaneously. There are several reasons behind this decision. Most importantly, they want the two of you to hunt down the demon that killed Miss Young and her Watcher, Mr. Zabuto. Also, they wish to see you work with a more experience Slayer to catch you up with your own training."

Faith grunted. "Sounds like fun." She then feigned a confused expression. "Did they say who it was that did the CPR on Buffy?" Faith knew, of course, thanks to her Sire passing along the story, but she was curious to see if the old geezers on the Council were on the up and up with Diana. Especially after what Willow had told her about Traver's plans for Potentials like her and Buffy.

Diana's hesitated. "Actually, no..." Diana paused. She appeared less certain when she resumed speaking. "Faith, there is another reason we are being sent to Sunnydale. Mr. Travers... rather, the Council would like for us to... evaluate Miss Summers' slaying ability and experience."

Squinting slightly, Faith asked innocently, "I thought that was a part of you Watchers' jobs? At least, that's how you explained it to me."

Diana answered slowly, as if choosing her words carefully. "You are quite correct, Faith. Sadly, though, a Watcher may exaggerate their Slayer's accomplishments. Understand, it's nothing too drastic, but the Council values honesty and accuracy in a Watcher's records. Very highly, and this is why possible infractions must be investigated."

"What happens if they find something?" Faith was really curious now. This sounded serious.

"Oh, nothing drastic. A reprimand and a black mark goes in the Watcher's permanent file." Diana paused a moment in thought. "On the off chance the Watcher in question outright lied in their reports to the Council, then their Slayer would be removed from their care and assigned a new Watcher."

In a slightly chastening tone, Diana answered, "Of course not. The Slayer isn't held accountable for her Watcher's misdeeds. The only way for the Slayer to face any kind of punishment is if both of them were involved in misleading the Council." Here, Diana's expression grew grave. "Depending on the severity of the offense, the punishment could be very harsh. That's why, Faith, I would like for you to talk to Buffy about some of her past accomplishments and report back to me. you mustn't breathe a word of this inquiry to her, however."

Faith replied with absolute sincerity. "Don't worry about anything; I won't say a thing to Buffy about what's going on." She didn't have to. All she had to do was to warn Willow.

"Good," Diana said. "Now the civilian you asked about is something else that the Council wants us to investigate. It seems Miss Summers' Watcher, Mr. Giles, has allowed some actual civilians to help Miss Summers in her Slaying duties. The Council would like for use to evaluate the situation. This will be mostly my job, Faith, so you won't really need to worry about it."

"I can't say," Diana answered with a mild huff. "It seems Council wishes not to color my first impression so they are withholding any details to the identity of the other precipitants."

"True," Diana replied with a small chuckle of her own. "There is one other thing you need to know about Sunnydale. Located within the town is a Hellmouth, a literal portal to Hell."

Faith let out a small whistle. "Woo... now that sounds bad a... ah, that sounds really bad."

Raising an eyebrow at Faith's verbal near-slip, Diana began speaking in her lecturing voice. "Indeed, Faith it is really bad. For you see, a Hellmouth is a weakness between dimensions; it is a focal point for..."

Faith made herself comfortable, as she gave her Watcher her undivided attention. She needed information. After seeing what the Hellmouth really looked like and where it led, Faith had plans to discover just what the old geezers on the Council actually knew about it.

I'm the invisible man I'm the invisible man
Incredible how you can see right through me
I'm the invisible man I'm the invisible man
It's criminal how I can see right through you

Hah hah hah hello
Who goes there?
Hah hah hah OK
Who goes there?
Hah hah hah hello hello hello hello
Never had a real good friend - not a boy or a girl
No-one knows what I've been through - let my flag unfurl
So I make my mark from the edge of the world
From the edge of the world
From the edge of the world...

Duncan MacLeod watched in bemusement as the real estate agent drove off, leaving him standing in the doorway of the building he had just bought. That had to have been one of the quickest and easiest purchases Duncan had made in the last forty years in America. Knowing about the dark truth that lay behind Sunnydale's small town veneer gave him an understanding about the low price and the lack of red tape.

Turning, Duncan reentered the building that would soon become both his home and his dojo. The building interior was similar to the building housing his apartment and dojo back in Seacouver. Unlike his Seacouver home, which had an already established dojo when he bought it, with this building contained a dance studio. The ballet barres mounted along one wall told Duncan they had, at the very least, taught ballet. Amongst the other dance styles.

The Sunnydale facility opened onto a wide hallway with double doors ahead and to the left. The left-side doors led to the training room, as well as men's and women's locker rooms with showers. The other set of double doors led into a small foyer and a wide set of stairs climbing up to the large studio apartment on the second floor. The space under the steps was used for both equipment storage and had a small office tucked within, accessible by a door that was located in the training room.

Walking up the steps to what would be his living quarters, Duncan took a leisurely stroll around the upper floor, making a mental checklist of what he needed to make it livable. Thankfully, there wasn't much that needed done, just some minor carpentry work to install shelving and cabinetry. He also planned to replace the outside doors and their frames with something stronger than the current material. A quick check of the windows indicated they would need replacing, too.

Finally satisfied with his inspection, Duncan left the building to find something for dinner and pick up a small gift for the following day. He had plans to meet Joyce's daughter Buffy ...Duncan couldn't help smiling at the name... for lunch at the Summers' residence. Duncan hoped to meet the Slayer and her Watcher. If they turned out to be good people, and judging by what he had heard about them they were, Duncan planned to offer his four hundred years of weapons and martial arts experience to both help and train the Slayer.

After leaving Joyce's earlier, Duncan had attempted to call his own Watcher and friend, Joe Dawson, curious to see if there was a connection between the Slayer's Watcher and the Immortal's Watcher. Unfortunately, Joe had been away from his bar and Duncan left a message. He'd also taken the time to call his protege, Richie Ryan, letting him know he had decided to stay in Sunnydale a while to train a new Immortal.

Richie, of course, had wanted to make the trip to California to help Duncan. It had been tempting. However, Duncan finally told Richie not to come right away. He thought it would be a good idea to limit Willow's contact with other Immortal's until she and her family got used to the idea.

The sudden tingling of a nearby Immortal caused Duncan to slow his stride as he began with to survey his surroundings. Was Willow out? It didn't take him to long to locate the answer to that across the street. Duncan's mouth drew down in a tight frown and as his eyes narrowed in anger as he spotted a familiar blond haired, blue-eyed foe.

Eckart Wenzeslaus. Duncan had had several encounters with the two hundred year old Immortal, and in every incidence Eckart barely escaped with his head. Unlike Duncan, who took the "live and let live" attitude when it came to other Immortals, Eckart was a head hunter. He rarely faced other Immortals in a fair fight; Eckart preferred to let others soften up them up before he took their heads.

During World War II, Eckart had enlisted in the Schutzstaffel, the SS, and had risen to the rank of major. He had become involved with the horrific medical experiments being conducted on the concentration camps inmates by the Germans. Using his connections, he had any prisoner showing remarkable healing ability turned over to him for transfer to another facility for further testing.

After hearing about Eckart from another Immortal who had escaped one of the camps, Duncan arrived in Germany with the intent to finally take Eckart's head - only to find the other Immortal had fled the country from his fellow SS members. The others had grown suspicious of Eckart's actions and investigated. Once they learned there wasn't a facility and that his orders were falsified, they came to the conclusion Eckart was actually helping to the prisoners escape to the Allies.

Now, Eckart gave Duncan a jaunty smile from across the street as a dark colored SUV, filled with three hard looking men, pulled up. Using only two fingers, Eckart touched his forehead in an abbreviated salute before climbing into the vehicle.

Duncan waited until the SUV disappeared from sight and turned back the way he had come. He had left his car parked in front of his new home and he needed to immediately warn Joyce and Willow about the threat Eckart represented. Waiting until tomorrow's lunch date was out of the question.

The driver of the SUV glanced at the man he had picked up. "Is that an old friend of yours?" he asked in a sardonic voice.

Eckart chuckled dryly before replying with a German accent. "Old, yes; friend, no." Shifting in the seat so he could glance behind him at the two men in the back, he continued. "Looks like there will be a little something extra in your pay check from me again, boys."

His announcement was met with murmurs of approval from the other people in the SUV.

Eckart grimaced. "Very." He paused a moment, lost in thought. "Fredrick, I'm taking you off the investigation. Instead, I want you to find out where Duncan is staying and then follow him."

"Good." Turning to face the front again, Eckart said sarcastically, "Now, with that taken care of, we have a meeting with Mr. Wyndam-Pryce so we can be told how to do our jobs." Eckart's accent was pure British this time, in keeping with his persona of Mr. Keese, the head of the Council wet work team.

Willow sat next to Buffy on the couch with Joyce-mom sitting in one of the living room chairs as Xander recounted yet another story of Willow's childhood. Xander's stories had started outside after they had gotten reacquainted with one another.

Willow loved hearing the tales about Xander, Jessie, and her younger years. Though, when Xander first mentioned Jessie, she had trouble remembering him. It wasn't until Xander showed her a small picture of the three of them that Willow vaguely recalled the other male human. Willow's strongest memory of Jessie was that he liked Cordelia, and when she told Xander this he had actually gotten teary-eyed again.

Though at the beginning when Willow didn't remember much of what Xander had just recounted. She could tell this upset Xander, even though he tried to hide it. This happened often enough that Willow became frustrated, almost wanting the stories to stop.

Finally, Joyce-mom asked Xander to help her in the kitchen. Willow tried to listen to what she said to Xander, but Buffy began talking to her about the three of them going shopping sometime soon. Willow liked the idea of shopping ...though, for some reason, she had a feeling there would be a lot of looking at shoes involved.... Glancing down at her bare feet, Willow really wasn't looking forward to that part.

When Xander returned, Willow noticed he seemed subdued, and the next time she couldn't remember the details from one of his stories, he just smiled and said, "No problem."

Willow figured Joyce-mom had a talk with him; having been on the receiving end of several of those, Willow knew how intimidating Joyce-mom could be.

As Xander continued his story about something that had happen in the sixth grade, Willow felt the now familiar tingling of Duncan's quickening. Willow waited until Xander paused for breath to speak. "Duncan is here." Outside, heard a car door shut.

"Oh!" Joyce-mom exclaimed as she shot out of the chair, simultaneously checking her hair and straightening her blouse and slacks. Willow now knew what Joyce-mom's actions meant... she was preening.

As Joyce-mom hurried to answer the door, Willow leaned forward, unaware of the Old Willow "I have a secret" smirk on her face. Buffy and Xander recognized the expression, though, and instinctively leaned in to hear what Willow had to say, both experiencing a jab of joy at that flash of their old friend.

Casting a quick glance toward the now-open front door, Willow whispered, "Duncan makes Joyce -mom tingle." Then, remembering the confusion at the gallery, she clarified. "Not quickening tingles, but poking tingles."

"Poking tingles?" Xander echoed in confusion, while Buffy made an odd squeaky noise.

"Yes," Willow said, nodding. A vague memory had her form a circle with one hand by touching her thumb to her fingers. She poked the index finger of her other hand in and out of the circle. "Poking. You know, the birds and..."

With a strangled gasp, Buffy slapped Willow's hands apart and covered Willow's mouth with her other hand. "No more talk about poking. There isn't any and won't be any poking going on."

Willow slid her gaze from Xander, whose face had turned pale was and then flushed beet red, over to Buffy's also very red face.

Internally grinning, Willow parted her lips slightly, causing Buffy to press her hand more firmly against them in an apparent attempt to stop Willow from speaking. Willow didn't plan on speaking; she had a completely different idea. Slipping her tongue between her parted lips, Willow trailed the tip of her tongue across a part of Buffy's palm and fingers. Starting at the center of the Slayer's palm, Willow traced a line of saliva to Buffy's fingers, dipping into the crease where Buffy's two middle fingers touched.

Willow watched a variety of emotions swim quickly across Buffy's face before she jerked her hand away. "Hey, that's gross," she complained and wiped her hand on her pants leg.

Feeling hurt at Buffy's response, a polar opposite from the earlier licking, Willow said forlornly, "But you liked it when I lick you before."

"There was licking?" Xander asked in a strained voice as his eyebrows rose in surprise.

Buffy's head snapped, her face reflecting a combination of shock and embarrassment. "What... No! There wasn't... well, OK, there was licking but," Buffy shook a finger at Xander warningly, "not the kind you're thinking. It was purely platonic, for tasting only."

Willow saw Buffy's eyes widen even more, but before Buffy could say anything else, Willow tilted her head. "There is different kinds of licking?"

Buffy's head whipped around in Willow's direction this time. Instead of answering, she simply stared at Willow with a deer in headlights look. In the silence that followed, Willow could hear Joyce -mom and Duncan drawing closer to the house.

It was Xander who finally broke the quiet. "So, Buff, you going to answer Willow's question?" he asked with a smirk.

"No!" Buffy almost shouted as she surged to her feet. She faced Willow and Xander, incidentally placing her back to the front door. Throwing her hands out in the "Stop" gesture, she said forcibly, "We are not talking about licking anymore."

Voice laden with dry humor, Joyce-Mom announced from the entry hall, "And this is my daughter Buffy, who apparently doesn't want to talk about licking."

Proud Nomad of the past
So let not this foolishness
Hold you in its grasp
Stop, beware, run for your life
Fear for your life
While there's still time to choose
Halt don't go near
Don't you realize you have only one life
So don't be a fool...

"And this is my daughter Buffy, who apparently doesn't want to talk about licking." Her mom's voice seemed to hang in the air as Buffy, blushing fiercely, lowered her hands and turned to face Joyce and the man standing next to her.

Once Buffy saw Duncan, with his broad shoulders and slim waist, the shirt he was wearing doing nothing to hide the muscles underneath... Well, she couldn't help thinking, "Oh, drool worthy manliness!"

Trying to ignore her still-flushed face, Buffy stepped forward and stuck her hand out with a wide smile. "Hi, I'm Buffy, and you must be Hunkman..." Buffy felt the smile on her face lock in place; though, she bet it looked more like a death's grin now. Hearing the snickers coming from Xander, who had gotten up from his chair behind her, didn't help. It also didn't help that her mom, after flinching at Buffy's mangling of Duncan's name, was currently giving her, a look Buffy hadn't received since trying to eat the last piece of New York Cheese cake her mom loved. And that called up all sorts of bad thoughts in itself.

And Buffy could swear Willow was growling, so low only her Slayer hearing allowing Buffy to hear it. Before she could look to confirm it, Duncan reached out to take her hand in a firm yet gentle grip. With a soft Scottish bur in his voice, he said, "Duncan McLeod. It's a pleasure to finally meet you. Joyce has spoken quite highly of you."

Giving his hand a small, dainty shake and finally regaining control over her voice, Buffy replied, "It's nice to meet you, too." Feeling Xander step up beside her, she gestured at her friend. "This is my friend Xander."

As Duncan and Xander shook hands, Willow took up a position on Buffy's other side, close enough for their shoulders to brush. Sensing a bit of tension coming from her red-headed friend, Buffy bumped shoulders with her and said softly, "Hey."

Without taking her eyes off Duncan, Willow distractedly replied in an equally soft voice, "Hey." She took Buffy by surprise and leaned against her so their arms touched from shoulder to elbow.

"No offense taken. I know tonight was supposed to be your night for getting reacquainted with your friends," Duncan replied while giving the three friends an apologetic look. "But something came up that I need to speak to all of you about, and it couldn't wait till tomorrow."

"I ran into another Immortal today; unlike me, he actively hunts other Immortals for their heads," Duncan explained.

"So I can cut his head off?" Willow sounded excited, which unnerved Buffy to a great extent. She really didn't know how to accept this new, bloodthirsty side of Willow.

"Why?" Willow asked in a slight accusatory tone. "You said it OK for me to fight headhunters."

"When you are trained," Duncan replied with a hint of steel in his voice. "Right now, untrained as you are, he could most likely take you, even with your... supernatural strengths."

Willow raised her chin, as if challenging Duncan. "He human. Even with quickening, he not fast or strong like me."

Duncan shook his head. "Yes, you have speed and strength on your side, but he has had over two hundred years to hone his fighting skills. That also doesn't take into account all the heads he has taken in the past and the skills he gained from their quickening."

Where their shoulders touched, Buffy could feel Willow's muscles tightening and she shifted slightly. Buffy's experience with vampires let easily guess her friend's next move. Buffy turned her head, intending to tell Willow not to do it but was too late.

In a burst of supernatural speed, Willow threw herself at Duncan. Buffy guessed Willow intended to knock him down, but the Immortal had other plans. Duncan reacted even before Willow moved. Grabbing one of Willow's outstretched arms with an opposing arm, Duncan twisted his body and threw Willow onto the floor at his feet. She landing on her back with a loud thud; though, Willow herself voice no sound.

When Duncan drew a sword from within the folds of his coat, Buffy darted forward in fear but stopped when he simply rested the flat of the blade against the side of Willow's neck.

Willow eyes were wide with shock and her voice reflected bewilderment. "How? How you beat me?"

Buffy wanted an answer, too, and listened intently as Duncan explained. "Experience and training, Willow. That is why I will take care of this Immortal myself. As you can see, even with your speed and strength you can be taken down." Duncan tapped Willow's neck lightly with his sword. "And he only needs one chance like this to behead you." He stepped back, lifting his sword from Willow's neck.

Willow flowed to her feet in one smooth motion, never taking her eyes off Duncan as he picked up his coat and once again hid his sword within its folds. "But how did you know I attack? You moving when I leap."

With a stern expression, Duncan answered. "You told me, or, more precisely, your body told me. You shifted as you prepared to leap at me. Subconsciously I saw what you were going to do, and because of my training my body reacted before I consciously thought to move."

Willow tilted her head to the side. "You teach me to read bodies like you read mine?"

"Yes, I intend to. Now do you understand now why you must let me handle the other Immortal?" Duncan asked.

Buffy watched as Willow appeared to deflate before grudgingly replying, "Yes... understand." She dropped her gaze to the floor and mumbled just loud enough for the others to hear. "I just want to remember."

Buffy didn't know quite what to say, and judging by the silence, the others didn't either. Duncan stepped forward and placed his hand on Willow's shoulder in a compassionate gesture. "Willow, I know an Immortal who went many years before taking the quickening of an another Immortal - and that quickening didn't help him to remember what he had forgotten. I know your situation is unique, but I don't want you getting your hopes up. From what Joyce has said, you are already regaining quite a bit of your memories so far, and I would hate to see you get hurt or worse, trying to regain more through the quickening."

Seeing such a forlorn look on Willow's face, Buffy stepped around Duncan and drew Willow into a tight hug. "Hey, Will, everyone's here for you, and even if you can't remember everything, I know we can make new memories together," she whispered into one slightly pointed ear.

Willow nodded, returning Buffy's hug. Her tired sigh caused her breath to caress Buffy's neck. Once they pulled apart, Buffy heard her mom say, "Duncan, supper is almost ready, and I made enough for one more at the table if you're interested?"

Giving Joyce an apologetic smile, Duncan replied, "Thank you, but I still have some things I need to take care of today. I am looking forward to lunch tomorrow, though."

Before Duncan left, he gave Willow a final word of warning. "If you should be out and sense another Immortal, go to the nearest holy ground. Then can call me." Pulling out his wallet, he removed several cards, which he gave to Joyce and Willow. "This is my business card, it has the number to my cell phone on it, don't hesitate to call me any time of day or night."

Buffy couldn't help herself. "See, Mom, here's a great reason to get me that cell phone I've wanted so I can let Willow borrow it if she needs to call Duncan."

She wasn't surprised to see the quick look of refusal cross her mom's face, but it did take her off guard when her mom paused, her expression growing thoughtful. "Le - let me think about it, Buffy. They're a bit expensive, but that's actually not a bad idea."

"No," Joyce immediately replied. Though her tone was firm, she couldn't hide her smile at Xander's antics.

"Dang," Xander slumped in mock defeat. Turning to Willow, he said, "It was worth a shot."

Willow gave him a stern look, though her red-slitted eyes glittered with humor. "Well, you missed, buster."

The look and voice were so much like the old Willow that Buffy felt her breath catch. It must have struck Xander equally as hard, judging by his expression. In a choked voice, Xander said, "Yep, you're right. I missed." He reached out to pull Willow into a one arm hug.

Buffy watched as a slightly confused Willow gave Xander a shy, but happy smile at his reaction.

Giving a polite cough to draw everyone's attention, Duncan said, "I really must be going, but I'm looking forward to tomorrow's lunch."

Buffy, Xander and Willow all said their goodbyes, and then Duncan left with Joyce, who walked him to his car. They accidentally left the front door ajar, allowing Buffy to do a little eavesdropping via Slayer hearing.

"Joyce, I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds, but there's something I wanted to talk about involving Willow," Duncan said.

"Oh, is it about that other Immortal?" Buffy's mom asked with a hint of trepidation.

"No, nothing of the sort," Duncan quickly replied. "You see, with new Immortals, they usually have to leave their old life behind. Besides training, I try my best to help them start afresh, which usually involves helping them find new homes, jobs and a little something to hold them over till they get used to their new life."

"I see, but I'm not sure if Willow is ready for all of that quite yet. She still has so much to relearn; though, she's showing remarkable progress in the short time since she's come home." There was pride in Joyce's voice.

"I completely agree with you. From what I have seen and heard, Willow is a very resilient young woman... well not quite young in the literal sense, but I believe you get my meaning." Buffy could hear the humor in Duncan's voice and it was easy for her to imagine the charming smile he was most likely giving her mom. But then his tone lost its humor. "What I was thinking ... with your permission, I would like to help by giving you some funds that you can use at your discretion to help Willow to get back on her feet. Be it clothing, furniture or even food." There was a poignant pause; Buffy could imagine the look her mom was most likely shooting Duncan. Buffy knew her mom could be stubborn when it came to accepting help - Buffy was glad she hadn't inherited that particular trait.

Once again Buffy was surprised by her mother's grudging agreement. "OK, but I want you to understand I'm only doing it for Willow."

"I understand, and thank you for letting me help her," Duncan replied solemnly. "If it's alright with you, maybe tomorrow after lunch we can sit down and figure out what would be an appropriate amount?"

"Tha-that would be fine," Her mom hesitantly replied, apparently still having a bit of trouble accepting the offered help.

Not wanting to be caught eavesdropping, Buffy hurriedly backed away from the door. She turned to the face Willow and Xander, opening her mouth to warn them to act normally. The words stuck in her throat.

Willow appeared stricken, and it suddenly dawned on Buffy with her new demonic hearing, Willow had most likely heard the entire conversation. This was confirmed when Willow asked in a voice filled with anguish, "Buffy, have I been a burden to Joyce-mom?"

Is it true, what they say? Are we too blind to find a way?
Fear of the unknown cloud our hearts today
Come into my world; see through my eyes
Try to understand, don't want to lose what we have

Fear is withering the soul at the point of no return
We must be the change we wish to see
I'll come into your world, see through your eyes
I'll try to understand before we lose what we have...

Willow, dressed in a dark green sundress and bare feet, adjusted her hat and sunglasses in an attempt to distract herself from her conflicting emotions as she strode silently between Buffy and Xander as the three of them hunt... No, as the three of them patrolled.

She had been something of a burden to Joyce-mom, even though everyone had fiercely assured her she hadn't been. Willow felt otherwise. Stubbornly Willow had demanded to be allowed to give Joyce-mom money like Duncan was doing; luckily, Willow's memory had given up another forgotten fact at the time and allowed Willow to put a name on what she wanted to give Joyce-mom. It was rent.

In the end, Joyce-mom had agreed on Willow paying only back rent since Duncan was going to start paying Willow's rent as her Immortal teacher. Willow had immediately rushed up to her room to retrieve half of her money. When she had offered Joyce-mom the neatly sorted stack of bills, Buffy and Xander had made strange gasping noises. Joyce-mom had simply taken the stack, removed several bills, and handed what was left back to Willow. Willow had quickly protested, but Joyce-mom had firmly assured her she hadn't eaten that much, so with a bob of her head Willow had accepted the returned money and rushed back upstairs to put it away. Even though she felt she owed Joyce-mom more, Willow felt good Joyce-mom had accepted at least something. It helped to alleviate the feeling of being a burden.

The second thing that had Willow feeling conflicted was patrol. Not that Willow was unhappy being with Buffy and Xander; she felt quite the opposite, in fact. But Willow was finding how they patrolled to be rather frustrating and disquieting. Normally Willow hunted by moving silently, blending into the terrain with her chameleon ability, in an ever tightening circle, and when she located prey, she ambushed it.

When she was in Hell, Willow had vaguely remembered walking through the cemetery with Buffy and Xander like they were doing now - only very quiet and sneaky. The reality was that Buffy and Xander wandered aimlessly through the cemetery while talking. Not quiet talk, either. No, they talked and laughed loudly; they didn't even try to walk quietly. They stomped. Well, mainly it was Xander doing the stomping, and to Willow his footfalls sounded like a herd of Snuffleupaguses. Being quiet was one of the first lessons Willow learned in Hell; let only the softest of whispers pass lips; make footfalls silent and gentle like the drifting black silt. This disparity in her memories made Willow question what else she had misremembered, and drove home once again how much she had forgotten.

Then a slight tingle caught Willow's attention. Raising her head she breathed in through her nose and slightly parted lips. Unfortunately the wind was blowing from the wrong direction, but judging from the tingle itself there were two or three vampires passing to the side, just on the edge of her tingle range.

Willow's actions hadn't gone unnoticed Buffy or Xander, who she had thought to be wholly engrossed in their conversation. "What is it?" Buffy asked quietly.

Equally quietly, Willow answered back. "Foo... vampires. Two, maybe three." Willow pointed with on finger. "That way."

Buffy followed the direction of Willow's finger, her gaze sharpening in a look of concentration. After a moment, Buffy brightened. "Ahh, got them." She shifted her gaze to Willow. "You got some pretty rad senses there, Will."

Willow blushed in reaction to Buffy's compliment. Even though she didn't understand what Buffy meant by rad, Willow understood the intentions behind the words.

Buffy took Willow by surprise by throwing an arm across her shoulders. Willow really liked it. Xander followed suit, crossing his arm over Buffy's. Willow also liked this.

Then they began talking and laughing again, and Willow winced. Then her senses told her the vampires had picked up speed and were moving directly toward them. It suddenly dawned on Willow that Buffy and Xander were acting as bait, drawing the vampires to them.

Soon the two male vampires came into view and they smirked at seeing the three teens step out of the shadows. "Here I thought we were going to have to find some take out, but now we got some tasty morsels delivered right to our doorstep." The vampire doing the speaking leered as he ran his eyes over Buffy's and Willow's bodies. "Oh, I'm gonna enjoy playing with my food."

"I'll handle this," Buffy whispered in Willow's ear before removing her arm from Willow's shoulders.

Xander followed suit; he actually took a step forward, placing himself ahead and in front of Willow.

Willow watched in silence as Buffy walked boldly out to face off with the two vampires, hands behind her back. Willow noticed Buffy had quietly slipped a stake from under her blouse, keeping it out of sight of the vampires. Bouncing on her toes, Buffy said in a bored tone, "Please. You don't know how many times I've heard that take out line, but I find the playing with my food kind of gross." Buffy stuck her hip out and flicked her hair with one hand, the stake still hidden in the other. "At least you got a good eye in seeing the morselness that is us."

Xander let out a small huff of laughter at Buffy's quip, while the two vampires echoed Willow's thoughts. "Huh?" they both said, sounding slightly confused. Willow watched in amazement as Buffy and the two vampires began to trade words, very confusing words. Finally, with no end in sight, Willow grew frustrated. What Buffy was doing went against everything Willow had learned in Hell. You killed fast and silently, ate and then hid. None of this play talking with your prey, especially out in the open like they were.

Willow took off her sunglasses and hat as she stepped past Xander. Turning, she handed him her belongings."Watch these, please." And before he could say anything, she acted.

Smoothly, Willow turned away from Xander, toward the vampires and Buffy, whose back was facing her. Willow was happy to see Buffy still had their undivided attention. With inhuman grace, Willow crouched and leaped, somersaulting several body heights over Buffy. As she flew through air Willow allowed her hunter face to come forth and her fingernails grew into wickedly hooked talons. She made the nail of her right big toe grow into a curved scythe-like claw. With her skirt fluttering around her, Willow looked past her legs, tucked tightly against her chest, at her targets. They had had noticed her leaping but, judging by their expressions were caught completely by surprise at her unexpected attack.

She thrust the leg with the big toe claw down. Between the momentum of her falling body and her powerful leg muscles, the claw wreaked terrible damage to her prey. First it entered his open mouth, slicing through his lips, tongue and his jawbone before exploding out of the bottom of his chin. Willow's claw continued its journey, the sharp point nicking the vampires adam's apple to bury itself into the cleft just above his sternum. Unfortunately for the vampire, Willow's leg was still in the process of fully extending. With a thick, wet, creaking sound, her bloody claw easily split his sternum, carving a furrow down his stomach to finally erupt just past the bottom of his zipper in a spray of gore.

With her arms crossed in front of her, the sharply curved claws facing outward, Willow landed before her brutalized prey. In one smooth move she thrust her arms out to bury her finger claws into his split sternum. With little effort, Willow pulled his ribcage apart, the splintering bones making a sharp staccato sound as they gave way under her demonic strength. With the vampire's unbeating heart and the minor amount of essence it held exposed to her, Willow thrust her muzzle into the open chest cavity and crushed the undead organ between her fangs.

Essence... It overshadow the foul taste of the vampire's blood filling Willow's mouth. The demonic sparkles burrowed into her flesh as her hair began to float around her head in an unseen and unfelt breeze. With a soft "poof," the vampire turned to dust. With her first meal far too quickly over, Willow didn't wait for her skin to absorb the sparkle that still danced across it or her hair to stop its unearthly dance. Slitted eyes glowing a fiery red, Willow bared her long fangs in a silent snarl before crouching and leaping toward the prey standing rooted to the ground in shock.

Before Willow's disbelieving eyes, a stake punched into the vampire's chest, instantly dusting him. She forgot, for a moment, where she was and who she was with. The freshly eaten essence coursed through her body, causing her emotions too run high for reason. Willow twisted her body around until she faced the ones who had stolen her meal - and the essence that came with it.

Willow brandished her wickedly long claws and exposed her fangs. A sibilant hiss showed her anger. But the sight of Buffy and Xander both flinching, flinching from her, immediately doused her rage. For a fleeting moment, Willow didn't see her best friend looking out of Buffy's eyes. Instead, she faced the Vampire Slayer, staring at her with deadly intent. Willow felt the Slayer Essence coiling within Buffy as if readying itself to fight, to spring upon Willow.

Willow took a step back as her hunter face melted away. The minuscule amount of Slayer Essence she retained from Kendra resonated with the wholeness that Buffy and the Slayer Essence shared. Unlike Angel, who was half demon and half soul, Buffy was similar to Willow. She was one entity, the demon and the human fused into one. And Buffy the Vampire Slayer glowed brightly to Willow's tingle senses. Much more than the late Kendra.

Then, with an almost physical snap, Buffy was just Buffy again. The killer disappeared from her beautiful eyes, replaced with disgust. Even though Buffy tried to hide it, Willow saw the emotion clearly. With a soft moan of despair, she turned to run away.

She only had taken a few steps before Buffy tackled her. They ended with Willow limply lying face down with Buffy draped across her back. "Don't run away Will," Buffy softly murmured in one of Willow's pointed ears. "I can't face losing you again."

Ignoring the sound of Xander getting sick to his stomach, Willow tilted her head to the side so she could peer at Buffy with one slitted eye. With trepidation in her voice, Willow asked, "You really want me to stay, even after me getting mad at you?" Willow knew she had been wrong to forget she wasn't alone, and for baring her fangs at Buffy and Xander. Her display of hunting skills hadn't gone over all well with Buffy, and judging by the continuing sounds of retching, especially not with Xander.

Buffy hesitantly moved off Willow's back, remaining crouched at her side. She brush her fingers through Willow's thick main of hair. "You're shaking," Buffy said, sounding distressed over her findings.

Willow blinked in surprise, realizing Buffy spoke the truth. Her body was trembling slightly. Closing her eyes, Willow dug her now blunt finger nails into the cemetery's rich soil and breathed in the earthly scent. Even in with so many dead buried here, the soil carried the smell of life, unlike the staleness permeating the land, the air, and the very creatures in Hell. This, along with Buffy's caresses helped calm Willow's inner turmoil until the tremors subsided.

Through the soil, Willow feel the vibrations of Xander's footsteps as he walked toward them. "How is she?" Xander asked Buffy, even though Willow heard is question clearly. She also heard the concern in his voice.

The last of the tension left Willow's body. Her two best friends weren't angry at her lapse.

"She's OK." Buffy told Xander. "I think maybe we kind of rushed things, going out like we did. Wanna call it a night?"

Willow hoped there would not be any kind of talks over what happened. Her emotions felt raw at the moment, and, after the talk Joyce-mom had earlier given her in the kitchen over her charging Duncan, Willow didn't feel up to a second one the same day.

Willow opened her eyes and propped herself up on one arm so she could look up at her friends. Giving Xander a wide smile, making sure to keep her teeth hidden, Willow said cheerfully, "I give you mint bone for your upchuck breath."

Her smile dwindled when Buffy was suddenly struck by a fit of coughing. "I think-- wheeze--that Xand--wheeze – Xander would like one." Buffy looked up at Xander, her eyes oddly bright. "Don't you, Xander?"

Willow turned her gaze to Xander, just catching a glimpse of an odd expression that somehow made her think he was promising Buffy something. Before she could be sure, though, Xander returned her smile. "Sure, Willow. I would like a mint bone, never let it be said the Xan Man would pass up a new treat." His expression turned thoughtful. "You know, Will, you might want to give Buffy one, too, so she doesn't feel left out."

"Sure!" Willow said excitedly as she sat. All she needed to do was retrieve her shoulder bag from the tree where she'd stashed it.

Buffy wasn't as excited when she told Xander, "Thanks, Xan, I'll be sure to remember your thoughtfulness."

Willow didn't fully understand Xander wince, she didn't care; everything was good once again.

With her shoulder bag hanging from one arm and her hat and sunglasses firmly in place, Willow walked quietly beside Buffy as they made their way home. They'd already dropped Xander off at his house. True to his word, Xander had eaten several of her mint bones on the way, praising them for their minty goodness. He also was nice enough to recommend she give Buffy an equal share.

Willow quickly noticed that Buffy wasn't in a hurry to return home. She led Willow in a roundabout route home. It dawn on Willow that maybe Buffy wanted to have a talk over what had happened earlier. Alone with her friend, Willow realized she wasn't as hesitant over this as she had been before. Figuring it would be best to get the conversation over with, Willow said, "Sorry for upsetting you and Xander."

"Pardon?" Buffy said glancing over at her in surprise; apparently she had been lost in thought and hadn't heard Willow apologize. So Willow repeated herself.

Buffy lightly bumped Willow's shoulder. "Hey, it's OK. Like I told Xander, I think we kind of rushed things. You're not in a trouble."

Though Buffy's words made Willow feel relieved, they also felt Buffy might think she was weak. She didn't want that, but how did she prove to Buffy she wasn't?

"Willow..." Buffy hesitated. "Why did you attack the vampires? Were you trying to protect Xander and me or just... ahh... hungry?"

"Oh, no... not hungry. Joyce-mom fed me a lot." Willow paused a moment. "Though am hungry for essence all time; essence not good to waste." Answering Buffy's original question, Willow went on. "I attack 'cause you take too long to kill vampires; you just talked and talked. It not how I hunt and made me feel... uncomfortable."

Buffy was quiet for a few moments, mulling over what Willow said. Finally, she shot Willow a chagrined smile. "I was being too long winded, huh?"

Buffy chuckled. "OK, I'll try to cut back on the quipping, but there will be quipping for that is how I hunt." Buffy finished her statement thrusting finger toward the night sky dramatically. She then sobered slightly. "So why did you get all grrr over me staking that second vamp?"

Willow glanced away in embarrassment. "Well... I got mad that you took away my prey and the essence in it. I also kind of forgot I wasn't hunting... err patrolling alone." Willow made herself to meet Buffy's eyes. "In Hell, there is no hunt friends, just everything hunting everything else."

Buffy eyes widened in sudden understanding. "When I staked the vamp, you thought there was another hunter nearby."

Bobbing her head bashfully, Willow replied, "Yeah, but I remember very fast so you and Xander not in danger from me." She didn't want Buffy to be afraid of her.

Buffy once again bumped her shoulder. "I know we got nothing to fear from you so no worries about that, OK?"

Buffy then took Willow by surprise. "Hey, Will, do you mind telling me how you hunt? From what you've said so far, it sounds very different from patrolling."

Willow stumbled to a stop, pleased and yet frightened. If she answered, it would be another thing to show how different she was from the human Willow before her Fall.

Buffy must have sensed Willow's hesitance. "This is a part of you, Will, and I think it will help me understand you better." Buffy looked down and gave a half hearted shrug. "And Giles is always on me about learning new stuff so you can say you are helping make my Watcher happy."

"OK." Willow tried to find the best way to explain hunting. Even though her vocabulary had vastly improved, Willow she still lacked important words that would help her to explain the uniqueness of hunting in Hell. Suddenly Willow was struck with an idea that would both teach Buffy - and answer her question. She would take Buffy on a hunt through one of the cemeteries.

Looking over at her friend, Willow said, "Buffy can I take you on a hunt, like you take me on a patrol?"

"OK." The thought of helping Buffy made Willow feel really good about herself. "Where is closest cemetery?"

Eyebrows rising, Buffy exclaimed, "Whoa, Will. I think maybe we should wait a few days before doing that; you know, just kind of let things chill."

Willow's shoulders slumped, any good feelings she had washed away. Willow knew Buffy's refusal was because of what happened earlier. Not even attempting to keep her acute disappointment hidden, Willow said, "Buffy, I not forget like I did. I...I just want to show you how I hunt. I want..." Willow paused as she tried to find the right words. "I want to prove to you that you don't have to be afraid of me."

Buffy gave her a sad smile as she rested a dainty hand on Willow's shoulder. "Of course I'm not afraid of you. None of us are. I'm afraid for you." Buffy must have seen that Willow didn't quite grasp what she meant. "I don't want you to push yourself too much; you know, get overwhelmed with being back and everything." Buffy sagged as if suddenly weary. "And, Willow, I'm just to dang tired. I've only had a few cat naps here and there in the past few days. If we tried to go hunting now, I'd most likely fall asleep on you. So what do you say? Give me a few days to catch up on my sleep and enjoy being with you, and when I'm all rested you can show me how you hunt."

Willow felt bad for keeping Buffy up when she was so obviously tired. "OK, Buffy. Not mean to keep you up; we go hunt some other night."

Buffy lay on her side facing her bedroom window. Even though her body literally screamed with fatigue, she couldn't fall asleep thanks to the whirlpool of thoughts and emotions coursing through her mind. All thanks to the still figure sleeping besides her... Willow.

Back on the cruise ship, during her confession in the small chapel, Buffy had decided she would devote herself to Willow's recovery. If... no when Willow was back to normal, Buffy would confess her feelings for her red head friend.

During their drive from the airport, Giles hadn't held back on just how much Willow had forgotten, and it had made Buffy deathly afraid that the girl she fell in love with was forever gone. It might have been selfish of her to think of only of herself at the time, but Buffy couldn't help it. Once she was with Willow, spent time with Willow, though, Buffy immediately noticed many little quirks and mannerism that simply screamed the old Willow. This had given her hope. Willow might never be her old self again. But what had made Buffy fall in love with her, the core Willow- ness, was still there. So Buffy had made another a promise to herself: she would take time to get to know this new Willow and then see where things went.

It was a hard promise to make. Between Willow's death and miraculous return, with the Old Willow personality shining through more and more often, Buffy found herself fighting the urge to pull Willow into her arms and confess her feelings. All while smothering her with kisses.

Buffy closed her eyes as her body reacted to her thoughts of kissing Willow. That was another thing keeping her from much needed sleep and making her ashamed of herself. Her body was reacting to Willow's nearness. Ever since the licking incident up in Willow's attic room, Buffy's body alternated between thrumming with arousal and feeling sick over the fact of being so aroused.

When Willow was human, Buffy had been able to keep a tight lid on her more lustful feelings. She did sneak a few peeks when Willow had been changing, but only a few times. (She was a teenage girl, after all). Buffy was physically drawn to Willow now. She didn't know if it was because she had thought she had lost Willow forever or if the new Willow, a mixture sweet innocence blended with fierce predatory nature, called to a similar darkness within Buffy. Maybe it was a combination of the two. Willow wasn't helping the situation with her flirting. The licking was the most emotionally tumultuous for Buffy. There were smaller things that Willow did, too, that left Buffy confused over the mix signals she got from Willow.

If it had been the old Willow doing these things (although, Buffy couldn't imagine the shy red head being brave enough to actually lick her), Buffy would have gladly reciprocated in kind. Buffy knew the signals from this new Willow were purely accidental. Innocent in nature. And that added to Buffy's shame.

Buffy was startled out of her reverie when Willow's fingers lightly brushed Buffy's hair away from her neck. Before she could ask what Willow was up to, Willow trailed her fingers across Buffy's shoulder and arm. They dropped off her elbow to slide down her stomach where they found their way between the buttons of Buffy's pajamas top.

When Willow's fingers came to rest on Buffy's bare stomach, Buffy gasped as her stomach and hips jerked in reaction to the contact.

Buffy gasp again when Willow used the leverage of her hand on Buffy's stomach to pull Buffy's smaller frame against her own. Buffy shuddered at the feel of Willow spooning against her. The thin fabric of Willow's nightshirt and Buffy's pajamas did nothing to hide the tautness of Willow's muscles or the way Willow's breasts were smashed into Buffy's back. Her nipples were painfully hard--and, much to Buffy's embarrassment, her own nipples hardened in response.

Buffy had to swallow several times before her throat was moist enough to talk. "Yeah?"

"Can I ask you something?" Willow spoke softly, almost purring the words; Buffy could swear Willow vibrated against her, as if she was actually purring.

"Ye...yeah." Buffy's voice quivered as Willow moved her fingers in a languid circle across Buffy's stomach. With each pass, the tip of her pinky brushed the waistband of Buffy's pajamas bottoms. "It's innocent. She's innocent. She doesn't know what she's doing," Buffy silently in an attempt to quell her body's reactions to the touch.

Buffy felt Willow take a slow, deep breath and then shudder, making Buffy more aware of the parts of Willow's anatomy pressed against her.

Willow brought her face down next to Buffy's ear, her hair falling to cascade across Buffy's shoulders and neck. "Buffy," Willow cooed, "hasn't Joyce-mom taught you how to have a happy moment?"

All the things she said
All the things she said
Running through my head
All the things she said
All the things she said
Running through my head
This is not enough
This is not enough

Cocking an ear, Joyce could just make out the sound of someone starting the shower as she returned the coffee pot to the coffeemaker. The early morning peacefulness was shattered, though, by her daughter's strident voice shouting. "You told Willow about having a - a happy moment!?"

"Well I know who's in the shower," Joyce thought as she casually turned to face Buffy. She took a slow sip of coffee, not wanting to show how much Buffy had startled her. "Good morning, Buffy; sleep well?"

Joyce held back a chuckle. Buffy looked completely frazzled. Buffy lowered her voice and waved her hands. "Mom, how could you tell Willow about doing that? And why is it now a happy moment instead of, you know, some alone time, like you called it when we..." Buffy trailed off, blushing furiously.

Joyce smiled at Buffy's reaction to anything relating to sex - especially when that word cropped up in any conversation between mother and daughter. Finally taking pity on her daughter, Joyce gestured to one of the kitchen stools surrounding the kitchen island. "Why don't you sit down and I'll explain? First, though, can I get you something to drink?"

After getting Buffy her drink, Joyce sat down across from her, taking another sip of her coffee to give her a few more moments to organize her thoughts. "Willow discovered the other use of the shower massage head."

It took a moment for Buffy to understand Joyce's meaning then her eyes widened in shock.

Joyce said teasingly, "I see that you also have discovered the shower head other use."

"I'm sorry, honey." Joyce reached over and lightly patted Buffy's arm. "I'll stop teasing you." Joyce waited for Buffy to relax. "Now, can you tell me how this came up?"

Leaning forward, Joyce said in concern, "Buffy did something happened last night?"

After stammering a few times Buffy got out, "No, it just Willow got a little confused and well, she asked me if you had told me about, you know, having happy moment." Buffy finished in a rush, her cheeks red once again with embarrassment.

Joyce suspected Buffy wasn't being entirely truthful but decided to let it pass for the moment. "To answer your question, Buffy, when Willow discovered - by accident - the other use of the shower massage, she was confused and nervous. I decided the best course of action was to give Willow the Talk." Joyce gave Buffy a weary but humorous look. "And if there's one thing that hasn't changed about Willow, it's her thirst for knowledge."

Her little comment earned a small grin from her daughter. "Asked a lot of questions, did she?"

Joyce shook her head. "Very detailed questions. Nothing like another girl I know who simply sat with her eyes closed and her hands over her ears chanting, I can't hear you over and over again."

Joyce decided now would be a good time to broach another sensitive subject with Buffy. Growing serious, Joyce said, "Buffy, I know what I'm about to ask will probably embarrass you. I'm not trying to do that on purpose, but can you tell me how you answered Willow's question?"

Just as Joyce had guessed, Buffy blushed but she was proud when Buffy answered. "Once I ahh... figured out what Willow meant, I told her 'yes, you did,' and that I thought it was time for us to go to sleep." Still looking uncomfortable, Buffy took a slow breath. "OK, I kind of wigged a little." With a bashful shrug, Buffy explained, "You could say I pretty much did a Slayer leap from the bed; would've pulled Willow along with me if she hadn't let go in time."

Remembering her own past experience in sharing a bed with Willow, Joyce remarked, "I did warn you how clingy Willow can be in bed."

Buffy rolled her eyes as she ran the fingers of one hand through her hair. "Yeah, I remember, it's just..." Joyce grew slightly concerned when Buffy suddenly froze and suddenly blurted out, "You never said anything about purring!"

Joyce sat up in alarm. "Willow purred? You didn't purr back, did you?" Buffy flinch and Joyce immediately chastened herself for snapping. She knew in her heart Willow wouldn't try anything forcibly. She simply dreaded some kind of misunderstanding occurring between Buffy and Willow. Giving Buffy an apologetic look, Joyce said calmly, "Honey, I'm sorry for startling you." Joyce paused to get her thoughts in order. "There are some things about Willow and about the changes to her that happened in Hell I think I need to talk to you about. Some of it going to be embarrassing for you, but you need to listen to me, OK?"

"First off, Buffy, this is something Willow told me during our birds and bee's talk. In Hell, a part of the... mating ritual, I guess you can call it, is that the boy demon purrs to show his affection and intent... to mate." Joyce had already come to the conclusion that she would have to tell Buffy about Willow's attraction to her, both before the accident and now. Joyce just hoped that it didn't cause unnecessary tension between the two of them.

Joyce was expecting an embarrassed response, especially when Buffy understood her point. She didn't expect Buffy to slam her hands on the island top, the force of the blow causing the island to creak dangerously.

Pushing to her feet, Buffy leaned over the counter. "They didn't try anything with her, did they?"

Joyce flinched; a little voice in the back of her mind told her she was seeing The Slayer for the first time. Joyce quickly moved to reassure her daughter. Reaching out, she rested a hand on one Buffy's. "They tried but failed. Willow hasn't been..." Joyce couldn't bring herself to say that particular word so she chose another more benign term. "Willow's still a virgin."

Buffy appeared to deflate at Joyce's words, letting herself drop back down onto the stool. Running her fingers through her hair, Buffy said apologetically, "Sorry for getting upset like that."

Joyce shook her head. "You have nothing to feel sorry for, honey. I felt the same way when I heard about it from Willow."

"Thanks." Buffy took a drink of her orange juice. Joyce was going to wait for her to calm down before continuing with her explanation on Willow's purring when Buffy beat her to it. Suddenly choking on her drink, peered up with an odd expression on her face. "Mom, why was Willow purring at me? I mean, with what you said about boy demons and stuff..." Buffy simply trailed off, apparently not being able to finish her statement.

"Here it goes." Joyce prayed Buffy wouldn't freak. Giving her daughter an earnest yet warm look Joyce began talking. "Listen, Buffy, there's something I think you need to know about Willow's feelings toward you before her accident." Taking a deep breath, Joyce plunged in. "Buffy... Willow was in love with you." Joyce stopped to gauge her daughter's reaction to the news. Flabbergasted might be the most descriptive and accurate term.

Buffy sat there, her mouth opening and closing like a fish, her eyes wide with shock and some other emotion Joyce couldn't quite name. Then Buffy closed her mouth with an audible click before blurting out, "No!"

Fearing her daughter was upset over Willow's attraction to her Joyce began speaking quickly. "Please don't let this effect how you feel about Willow. There's nothing wrong with her being attracted to you." Joyce smiled, trying to lighten the talk with a little humor. "Personally, I think she has great taste. But more importantly, Buffy, is the fact that I strongly believe Willow is still very much in love with you. Willow's purring is her way of showing you her affections and physical attraction, which makes me feel it might be a good idea to sit down with Willow and tell her you're not interested in her that way. I know it will be awkward, and I'll be there for you if you wish, but in the long run I think it's the best thing to do."

"No." Joyce barely heard Buffy's whispered reply. With her hazel eyes growing watery with unshed tears, Buffy said in a voice quivering with fear, "Mom, what if--what if I don't want to say no to Willow's... feelings."

"Oh, honey, don't do that." Joyce rushed to correct Buffy's misguided reasoning. She had a strong suspicion her daughter's was reacting out of guilt. Reaching over to clasp one of her daughter's hands, Joyce said, "Listen to me; I know you feel guilty for what has happened to Willow and you shouldn't. What happened wasn't your fault. Accepting her feelings, trying to have a relationship based on guilt, is unfair to both you and Willow. All you would be doing is setting both of you up for a lot of heartache." This was the last reaction Joyce had expected; though, in a sense, she could understand where her daughter was coming from.

When Buffy broke down sobbing, Joyce hurried around the island to her daughter's side, pulling Buffy against her and her back soothingly. "Honey, it's alright."

After a few moments, Buffy's sobbing slowed, and she finally pulled back. Joyce snagged a few paper napkins for Buffy to clean her face with. Instead of returning to her seat, Joyce chose to sit down beside Buffy, waiting patiently for her to finish cleaning herself.

Finally, Buffy calmed enough to speak. "Mom, you don't understand. From the very f-first time I met Willow, I..." Buffy closed her eyes and seemed to shrink within herself. Arms wrapped around herself and her eyes tightly closed, Buffy said in rush, "I think I fell in love with her at that moment." Buffy eyes snapped open as she looked up into Joyce's face, almost begging Joyce to understand. "And if what you say is true, I lost out on a chance to tell Willow how I really felt and have her feel the same way. Do you really think Willow likes me like that?" Buffy suddenly asked.

"Yes, honey, I do." This wasn't at all how Joyce had imagined this conversation. Buffy's confession made her suddenly understand why some parents reacted negatively to their children coming out. Joyce had always thought her own past experience would make her more open minded, but, to her shame, she found herself thinking in an almost knee jerk reaction, "My daughter can't be gay." She wasn't angry at Buffy for her confession; no, it was fear for Buffy and the persecution she would face in the future. No parent wanted to see their child go through that, but Joyce knew it was her duty as a parent to stand by and offer whatever support Buffy needed.

Looking down, Joyce met Buffy's fearful gaze. She could feel her daughter shivering in fright. "Oh, Buffy, of course I don't hate you. I love you, and your love for Willow doesn't affect that in the least." Joyce said as she pulled her daughter into another tight hug. She cradled her crying daughter and murmured words of comfort.

When she could tell Buffy was done crying, Joyce rested her hands on Buffy shoulders and pushed her daughter back so she could look her in the eyes. "Buffy, are you sure this isn't out of some kind of misplaced guilt?"

"I really mean it, Mom. I-I'm really in love with Willow." Once Buffy spoke those words, Joyce noticed the tension drain out of Buffy.

Smiling sadly Joyce said, ,"How do you feel about Willow now, with everything she's gone through? The changes that have affected her from her time in Hell? How much she has forgotten?" Joyce hated to the questions but she wanted, no, needed to know Buffy wasn't simply reacting emotionally to Willow's return.

Buffy took a deep, calming breath. "I still love her. I'm still in love with her. You see, Mom, back on the cruise liner I made a promise to myself that once Willow had gotten better I was going to tell her how I felt and everything. Even if Willow didn't return my feelings, I had to tell her, but now," a sense of wonderment filled Buffy's voice, "but now if you're right about her feeling the same way... I deliriously happy and scared out of my mind, all at the same time."

"Why scared?" Joyce thought she knew why, but still she wanted to hear her daughter's reasoning.

Buffy was silent for a moment before replying. "Because now it's real, especially that Willow feels the same about me. I'm not really sure what to do next. Do I tell Willow now or wait? I don't want to wait; what if something happens again? And..." Buffy glanced down in embarrassment. "I don't think I'm ready for... ready to purr back at Willow, if you know what I mean."

Joyce was proud for Buffy. She knew it had to be terribly difficult for her daughter to admit that to her own mother. After pushing Buffy back down on the stool, Joyce sat down, too. "Buffy, it really makes me proud you felt confident enough to tell me that, and if it helps, I really feel Willow isn't ready, either." Seeing that last had caught her daughter's attention, Joyce went on. "Oh, I know physically she's mature; she is five hundred years old." Joyce grinned. "But I truly believe she's not emotionally ready yet for intimacy."

"OK," Buffy replied then grew a bit bashful. "So... does this mean you're OK with how I feel and stuff?"

"Yes, I am, Buffy," Joyce replied. "You couldn't have picked a nicer person to fall in love with. I just worry about what kind of attention you're going to be getting when you come out. And I'm leaving it entirely up to you on when and who you want to tell. Do you understand?"

Joyce's words were rewarded with a large smile from Buffy. "Yeah, Mom. I understand and thank you. What should I... say to Willow? Do I tell her now since she feels that way about me, too?"

After giving it some thought, Joyce said, "I think right now it would be best for you to just sit back and think about what you would feel most comfortable with in regards to telling Willow. When you have decided, come to me and we will figure something out. Does that sound, OK?" After receiving a grateful nod from Buffy, Joyce went on. "I'm going to have a little talk with Willow about her purring. Nothing bad; I'm just going to explain to Willow that right now you're too young for any purring to be going on, and that's all I'll say on the matter."

After giving Buffy one final hug, Joyce got up to start breakfast. "Anyway, Buffy, it would be hypocritical of me to denounce your being attracted to another woman." Joyce couldn't help her slightly naughty grin at Buffy's puzzled expression. Resting one hand on her daughter's shoulder, Joyce winked. "Honey... Willow wasn't the first naked woman I woke up to in bed."

You look away from me again
There's really nothing to explain
Feel it in your kiss
I guess this is good-bye my love

Angel brooded as he waited for Buffy to return from patrol, making sure to stay hidden amongst some tall bushes across the street from Buffy's house. He had to admit his run-in with Willow and their conversation regarding their similar interest in Buffy and his curse had left him badly shaken. Not shaken enough that, after Willow had disappeared, he hadn't quickly made his way to the Summers' residence to check on Joyce.

Angel was relieved at seeing Joyce unharmed and still human. He also noticed the evidence of Willow staying there: the computer on the dining room table and the school books piled in the living room. Remembering Willow's ability to blend into the shadows, Angel had decided prudence was the best course of action and had quickly left.

In the following days while he wait for Buffy's return, Angel had time to do some heavy introspective thinking about his relationship with Buffy, and the conclusion he came to was simple. He didn't really have one. He would always count them as friends but nothing beyond that. His posturing in front of Willow was simply that... posturing. Yes, he had loved Buffy from the moment he saw her. In the end, though, he hadn't made a good impression with her, considering how their first encounter between them had played out and the cryptic messages he used to leave for her.

He knew Buffy felt some attraction to him and had hoped to see where it led when she returned from her visit with her father. With Willow back clearly stating her intent to woo Buffy, Angel felt a bit under the gun to make a decision on his next move. It really didn't help that Willow now lived with Buffy; he felt as if he was falling behind in his pursuit of Buffy's affections.

While patrolling last night, he had come across Willow's, Xander's and Buffy's scents. Though Angel could tell the three of them weren't around any longer, he now knew Buffy was back in town and had immediately headed to her house. Once there and seeing all the lights off, he had quietly leaped up onto the porch roof with the intent of knocking on Buffy's window to wake her and talk with her.

Angel had glanced in to make sure she was in bed. There was no use in knocking if she wasn't there. Buffy was in bed. Unfortunately, she wasn't alone. With one arm wrapped around Buffy's waist, Willow calmly looked at Angel from over Buffy's shoulder as she lay spooning against Buffy's body. Willow didn't do anything inappropriate to Buffy, not like a vampire would have done to stake their claim. She simple stared smugly at Angel.

Angel turned and left. He would have protected Buffy if Willow had done anything to harm her. Anything even the slightest untoward. Faced only with a silent challenge, however, Angel chose to walk away. The best course of action would be to catch Buffy outside so that the two of them could have a private conversation.

Finally he caught sight, through the bushes, of Buffy and Willow walking down the sidewalk; although, it took him a moment to recognize Willow in her hat and sunglasses. Just as he got ready to step out and make himself known, Willow looked directly at him and alerted Buffy to his presence.

Curious of how Willow had sensed him, not to mention slightly irritated at being caught skulking in the shadows, Angel walked out beneath the light of a nearby street lamp. Once Buffy recognized him, she waved and picked up her pace with an obviously reluctant Willow following close behind. Angel hurried across the street to meet them in front of Buffy's house.

Giving him a wide smile, Buffy said, "Hey Angel." She gestured to the still silent Willow beside her. "You wouldn't believe who Mom found in my bed." Buffy winced as if suddenly realizing how her words might sound.

Angel sympathized with her reaction. However, it also offered some explanation for why Willow hadn't said anything about their encounter herself. He replied casually, "We already met a couple of days ago."

Buffy's eyes widened. "Will, why didn't you say something about running into Angel?"

Angel could tell by the expression on her face that Willow's lackluster reply had caught Buffy off guard. Buffy opened her mouth to scold Willow but then must have changed her mind. Shooting him an apologetic look, Buffy said, "Listen, there's some stuff I need to catch you up on. If you can give me a minute to let my mom know, we can take a short walk around the block while we talk."

"Sure, Buffy, I don't mind at all." Angel was glad they would have some privacy but didn't want to come across overtly happy. He didn't want to agitate Willow needlessly, because of their prior friendship and out of respect for her fighting and blending abilities.

After giving him a nod of thanks, Buffy grabbed Willow by the hand and led her into the house. After some time passed with no sign of Buffy, Angel wondered if something was wrong. Just before he went to check on things, Buffy exited the house. Angel could tell by how she walked and the set of her shoulders she was agitated. When she got close enough, he asked, "Everything OK?"

"Yeah." Buffy looked back over her shoulder at the house before turning back around to face him, giving him a strained smile. "Just had to smooth some ruffled feathers, that's all."

"OK." Angel fell in step beside Buffy, the two of them making their way down the sidewalk at a leisurely pace.

Glancing up at him from where she walked, Buffy said, "I bet it was a surprise running into Willow."

Rubbing the back of his neck with one hand, Angel attempted to hide the embarrassment he felt at remembering some of his more carnal thoughts when he'd met Willow. "You can say that."

He must not have done a good enough job. Buffy's eyes grew wide. "Oh my God! Don't tell me she was going full monty again."

Angel cringed at Buffy's expression. He tried to choose his words carefully. "I really didn't see much, between how she can blend with the shadows and how dark it was."

Buffy burst into a fit of giggles much to his delight. He liked hearing her laugh, even if it was at his own expense. Looking up at him Buffy gave him a semi apologetic look. "Sorry I'm just joshing you. I guess I really needed a good laugh."

Crossing her arms, almost as if hugging herself, Buffy hesitantly answered, "I - I guess OK. Still wigged over... everything." Buffy shot him a questioning look. "What did you and Willow talk about?"

After a brief pause Angel answered. "Well... she said something about the Council wanting to harm Giles, Miss Calender and your mom."

"Yeah, they do." As they walked, Buffy filled him in on the Council debate over untrained and trained Potentials, Traver's chilling idea on retiring the untrained Slayers if called and how now it seem to hinge on Buffy's and the newly called Slayer's future actions.

Angel noticed Buffy avoided mentioning anything about the Slayer Willow had killed. "Whatever I can do to help, I'm here for you." After receiving a grateful nod and a quiet "Thanks," from Buffy, Angel went on. "Willow also told me about the Slayer she... ran into." He couldn't bring himself to say kill. He saw Buffy hunch over slightly as if withdrawing into herself, and he didn't want to cause her any undo pain.

Not meeting his eyes, Buffy said quietly, "I'm guessing Willow told you wh - what she had to do?"

Visibly upset, Buffy snapped. "How do you think I'm feeling? Willow was all cute nerdy Gandhi girl before her... accident, but now she's... she's a killer." Buffy eyes shone with tears. "And you know what's the saddest thing of all? If she hadn't killed them, Giles, Jenny, even Mom and most likely yours truly would all be dead thanks to some stupid fruitcake of a Watcher." Buffy wiped her eyes dry as she continued speaking. "To add to the suckyness of everything, Giles' boss would have believed the stupid nutcase."

Without thinking Angel stepped closer and hugged Buffy, offering her a little comfort and support from a friend. At first, she stiffened, and he readied himself to let her go. Then Buffy collapsed against him and began quietly sobbing. Angel wasn't sure how long they stood like that, but slowly her shuddering sobs slowed and finally stopped. When he felt her pulling away from him, he immediately let her go and gave her a chance to compose herself.

Buffy dried her eyes with the sleeves of her jacket, glancing up in embarrassment. "Sorry about the tear-fest. It's just the past few days have been very freaksome. And since I've been home I really haven't had a chance to..." Buffy gestured to her tear stained face, "let it all out.

"No problem," Angel said in understanding. "Like I said, I'm here for you, if it's a shoulder to cry on or simply someone to talk to."

Giving him a grateful smile, Buffy once again said, "Thanks." She stuck her hands in her jacket pockets and resumed walking. Angel fell in besides her, not saying anything, allowing her to set the pace in both walking and talking.

Several minutes went by in silence before Buffy spoke up. "There's something else I need to warn you about. The Council's got a... well, the descripto-term would be a Slayer hit squad in town investigating Kendra and her Watcher's death."

His reaction garnered a look of surprise that quickly turned into gratitude. "From what Giles said, they're like Council cops who mostly act like guards and stuff. But there's a few that are trained to," Buffy removed her hands from her pockets to air quote the next word, "retire a Slayer who the Council deems gone bad." Buffy jammed her hands back in her pockets. "Giles thinks they may be more interested in a bunch of old moldy Council books that got stolen - and who killed one of their precious Watchers. Unfortunately, we don't know where the books are, but we do know who the killer is."

Angel could hear the weariness and bitterness in Buffy's voice and understood where it was coming from. Wanting to give her a little peace of mind, he offered up, "If it helps, Buffy, all my sources know a Slayer was killed. They don't know who did it." It made him feel good to see some of the tension ease out of her shoulders. "I'll check around see if I can find a lead on the missing books. You wouldn't happen to know the titles, would you?" His question got earned a sardonic look from Buffy. "It would help to know what they were called," he offered as a part apology, part explanation.

"Yeah, I guess it would." Buffy rolled her eyes. "We're having a Scooby meeting tomorrow night at the house about the new Slayer and her Watcher, who should be arriving tomorrow. Mom's actually hosting the get together. That's something I thought I would never see. But anyway, stop by after the sundown and you can get the names from Giles. Giles wants to give Faith and her Watcher a day to get settled before we do the whole meet and greet."

"I'll be there." Then Angel asked, "What are you planning to do about Willow with the new Slayer and her Watcher moving to Sunnydale?"

" Giles has a plan. We're going to talk about it tomorrow." Buffy must have guess what his next question was going to be; she grimaced and said, "All Giles would say was that the Council doesn't know that Willow... that she died. He had planned to turn his Watcher report in personally, but when he heard all the freakiness going on with Travers and his cronies, Giles made a few alterations before turning it in." Buffy shrugged. "Giles didn't have enough time to say more since he had to meet some Council bigwig that's here supervising the investigation."

Buffy suddenly asked in a semi-hopeful tone, "You wouldn't happen to have heard of a group of people running around chopping each other's heads off to get the other's quickie thingy. They call themselves Immortals. If a vamp drinks their blood, they burn up. The vamp, that is."

Angel rubbed the back of his neck to give him some time to think. It didn't help. He came up with a blank. Glancing down at Buffy, he said apologetically, "Sorry. I know only one person going by that name who lives in Italy. Why do you ask?"

Buffy described how Willow had apparently been able to survive her time in Hell because she had been an Immortal. One who hadn't died their first death. Buffy tried to explain what she'd been told about Immortals needing to die first before becoming Immortal. How no one really understood how Willow was able to eat the demonic essence.

Angel saved her the trouble and discomfort of going into detail about the eating process by quickly mentioning he had seen Willow eating.

Relieved, Buffy then told Angel about Duncan McLeod and the second Immortal running around town who would most likely go after Willow since she would be, mistakenly of course, considered an easy target.

Angel walked quietly for several minutes as he tried to wrap his mind around Buffy's explanation. "Did Willow say how she escaped from Hell?"

His question got another shrug from Buffy. "Willow said she was out hunting when there was a flash of light, and bingo! She's in the library. Giles went to take a look and said that he found the school maintenance people working inside, cleaning and repairing stuff. There wasn't anything to see that might have given a clue. Talking about it really gives Willow the wiggens so Giles thinks it's best just to put it off, since there's no demony horde coming through, and concentrate on the Council. Miss Calender is keeping an eye on it in the meantime while teaching summer class."

Angel nodded his understanding before noticing they were approaching Buffy's house. " I guess I'll see you tomorrow night."

"Yeah... tomorrow night." Buffy sounded slightly distracted. She stared intently at the house for a moment then turned to him with her eyes full of regret. "Listen, Angel I can't say how much I appreciate you being here tonight and all of your help and stuff." Buffy trailed off, her expression indication she was girding herself.

Buffy finally spoke, her voice a mixture of determination and remorse. "Angel, I think I need to tell you that once Willow gets better and all... I... I'm planning on... well, I mean I think we - Willow and I, that is - will be a couple."

Angel was unable to speak for a moment, his chest constricted with grief. He forced himself to smile sadly and then accept Buffy's decision. "I understand, and I wish both of you all the luck." He turned away, calling over his shoulder, "Tomorrow night then."

"Fuck, fuck, fuck..." Faith chanted in her head as she ran down an underground utility tunnel. Bare light bulbs hanging just a few feet above her head from provided the only illumination. She would have said the words out loud, but Faith didn't have the breath.

Faith had decided to hit the streets by herself one last time before she and her Watcher left for Sunnydale. So far, the few times Faith had been allowed to go out and slay, her Watcher Diana had gone along to supervise her performance and to make sure Faith didn't get in over her head. OK, Faith admitted to herself it probably didn't help that she'd staked her first vampire through the back of the neck. All the other vamps Faith had staked right through the heart with no hesitation. But that wasn't enough for Diana to let her just once go out alone - and it really grated on Faith's nerves. Faith didn't need someone to hold her hand or babysit her.

It hadn't taken Faith long to find a vampire, thanks to her Slayer senses. It was the one area that Diana thought Faith was good at. In fact, she had remarked that Faith seem to possess a sharper focus than other Slayers. When Faith had mentioned this to her Sire during one of their dream talks, Willow explained that she, herself, could sense essence in demons from greater distances than Buffy. It was probably a result of Faith being Willow's Childe.

Even without that particular perk from her Sire, Faith would have had to be blind to miss the next idiot blood sucker. He actually let his game face slip out while checking out a couple of teenage girls. Faith followed him as he trailed the girls. She tried to keep from being spotted, but she must have done something to spook him. The vamp suddenly took off down a side alley. Faith was hot on his heels; she wasn't about to let him get away.

Faith was so intent on the chase she didn't pay attention to her senses. She had just passed the alley's midway point when five vamps stepped out of the shadows ahead. With the one Faith was chasing, that made six freaking vampires blocking her path. Thinking he must have been running to his buddies for help, Faith did a fast 180, planning to escape the way she'd come. To her horror, she saw another group of five or six vampires now blocking the entrance. Panicking, Faith frantically looked around for a back door into one of the buildings lining the alley. She spotted one right of the bat, and, luckily for her, it was an old wooden one and not steel. Faith wasn't sure if she could break through a steel door even with her Slayer strength.

Faith busted through the flimsy wooden door into a dimly lit stairwell going down. She took off down the steps inhumanly fast. Only her newfound Slayer agility kept her from falling flat on her face in the process. The stairs ended in what seemed like an endless maze of brick-walled tunnels. With sick dread coiling in her stomach, Faith knew she'd been led into a trap. A trap she had stupidly walked into. Every once in a while, she ran past old steel doors. Each and every one of them was heavily chained and padlocked. Faith noticed the chains and padlocks looked fairly new.

Up ahead, Faith saw that the corridor opened up into a large underground chamber. Judging by the flickering light, the room must have been lit by torches or lanterns. Beyond the room, the corridor ended at metal ladder leading up.

Now Faith paid attention to her senses. The crowd of vamps following her were hanging back, and there was one badass something waiting for her in the room. Faith slowed to a stop. As she caught her breath, she reached under her leather jacket to pull out a stake with each hand. She could feel the vamps that had been following her creeping forward. Whatever was in the room ahead hadn't moved.

She dropped into a crouch like she had seen Willow do during the few play-fights they'd had in the past. What was that all about? Forcing herself to stand up straight, she walked bold as brass into the chamber. Once she crossed the threshold, Faith stopped and took a leisurely look around the room all the while keeping her devil-may-care attitude in place. The room was a good forty feet across and about three times her height. Torches stuck in makeshift brackets in the rooms four corners explained the flickering light she'd noticed from the corridor. The same string of lights from the tunnel continued but all the bulbs had been broken in their sockets, leaving the torches as the only light source.

Two metal doors resided within the ceiling to one side. Faith recognized them as the kind she would come across embedded in the sidewalk. Aside from the torches, the room was empty. It hadn't always been, though. Bare spots on the floor and the smell of machine grease and diesel fuel told Faith motors or vehicles had been stored here.

Concentrating on her Slayer senses, Faith could tell the vamps behind her had once again stopped their pursuit, blocking any escape. She continued her exploration, peering across the room into the far corridor. It, too, was empty, but whatever she'd sensed before was definitely down there somewhere.

Suddenly, a sinister laugh echoed around the chamber, causing Faith to flinch in reaction. Her heart rate doubled and a shiver of fear raced down her spine. This time, Faith didn't try to stop herself from dropping into a crouch as she tightened her grip on the stakes she held in either hand. She did keep from asking, "Who's there?" Like one of those soon to be dead bimbos in horror movies. Something told her she wouldn't have long to wait for whoever or whatever was behind the laugh to reveal itself.

Her guess was right. A few seconds later a large shadow stepped from an unseen side tunnel into the corridor across from Faith. The guy was tall, maybe even six and a half feet with very broad shoulders and chest. Though Faith couldn't make out his face, the light from end of the tunnel silhouetted his body enough that she could see something was off in regard to his hands and feet.

"I have to say," he said in deep and gravelly voice. He had a slight Greek accent, reminding Faith of the family that ran the bistro near where she used to live. "I am rather disappointed with how easy it was to get you here, and that your Watcher isn't with you."

When he stepped into the torchlight, Faith couldn't stop from gasping. She took a step back. Judging by his face, he was some kind of vampire, but Faith couldn't figure out what was up with his feet and hands. She had never seen or even heard of a vampire with hands or feet like he had. They were hooves. His fingers looked like they were slowly melting into hoof-like appendages.

"Never heard of ya' so you ain't anyone important," Faith snapped with false bravado.

Instead of getting mad, Kakistos leered at her, running his eyes up and down her body. "Oh, don't worry; I'm going to become the most important person in the little time you have left, my dear." He cocked his head to the side. "The same goes for your Watcher. I'll be sure to make her acquaintance when she comes looking for you. Something I've learned over the eons: those prim and proper types are such titillating screamers." Again, he gave her a malice-filled leer.

The looks words sent Faith into a white hot rage that washed away any fear she had been feeling. Before she knew it, Faith charged him. "Fuck you, asshole!"

Faith had noticed, in her original examination Kakistos, had been the ponderous way he moved. As if his joints were stiff. He reminder Faith of those guys who became so muscle bound by weightlifting they could be taken down by someone smaller and lighter just because they couldn't move fast. Proving Faith right, he simply stood there, surprised by her speed. She slammed one of her stakes into his thickly muscled chest. Stepping back she grinned cockily. "Bye, bye."

Faith quickly lost her grin when it became apparent that Kakistos wasn't dusting. In fact, he didn't seem bothered in the least by the stake in his heart. Faith had just enough time to begin to say, "Oh sh..." before he gave her a powerful and fast backhand blow that sent her tumbling across the floor into the far corner under one of the burning torches. Trying to ignore the ringing in her ears and how the side of her face throbbed, Faith scrambled to her feet. She had lost her second stake when Kakistos hit her. Faith removed her last one from under the back of her jacket. Then the heat of the torch above her gave Faith an idea. Glancing up, Faith gauged what it would take to remove the torch from the wall.

Before she could formulate a plan of action, though, a derisive laugh jerked her attention away from the torch. Kakistos had removed the stake from his chest and had taken a few steps toward her. Giving her a look of utter contempt, he said, "Do you truly believe such a puny flame could harm me when your stake could not?"

With a grimace, Faith gave up her plan and simply charged forward again with her stake held high. At the last minute, when he brought his arm up to block her blow, she dropped to the floor and lashed out with both feet, slamming them into one of his knees. Instead of breaking his knee joint like she hoped, her blow only elicited a small grunt as he staggered back slightly. To Faith, it felt like she had kicked a telephone pole. Rolling backward, she put some distance between herself and Kakistos. But before she could get to her feet, his thick hoof-like fingers grabbed the back of her jacket. For a second time, Faith flew across the room to smack painfully into the far wall.

Faith half lay, half leaned against the wall trying to catch her breath until she noticed that, in all the moving around, Kakistos had left a gap between him and the corridor leading to what devoutly hoped was freedom. With a surge of adrenaline giving her a nice boost, Faith sprinted toward opening, relying on full Slayer speed.

Unfortunately, between the beating she'd already taken and Kakistos' surprising swiftness, her caught her just before she made the corridor. Faith found herself spun around, hoisted up by his arms around her waist. He squeezed her waist tightly. Faith cried out in pain. Through eyes blurred by tears of pain, she saw something above her that inspired her to an act of desperation. Pulling her hands back, Faith brutally slammed them into Kakistos' ears. Even though the blow caused him to cry out, he barely loosened his grip. But it did daze him enough that she had enough time to once again slam her cupped palms into his ears with even more force.

This time, she felt hold weaken. Instead of using the opportunity to break free Faith used her chance to propel her body up enough that she could reach one of the light sockets hanging from the wire above her. Even though the bulb had been busted, the broken filaments still stuck out of the socket and Faith hoped they were still hot so to speak. With the light socket firmly in her hand, Faith jammed it into Kakistos' left eye.

The broken filaments must still have carried a current. As she pushed them into his eye there was a spark and a sizzling noise. Smoke escaped from around metal in her hand. Letting out a agonizing roar, filling Faith face with his fetid breath, Kakistos tossed her away and attempted to remove the fixture from his ruined eye. Much to Faith's amusement, his thrashing around pulled the string of lights behind him down. They fell and entangled the other vampires, now charging into the room.

Not wanting to pass up such a sweet opportunity, Faith scurried to her feet and dashed madly for the ladder she could now see embedded in the far wall. It led up to an open manhole. Without looking behind, she flew up the rungs to make her escape.

Kakistos' voiced thundered from below as she exited onto the sidewalk. "Find the bitch. FIND HER!"

With his words echoing in her head, Faith immediately took off as if she had the demons of hell on her heels. Which wasn't too far from the truth, Faith thought sardonically as she ran.

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Essence of the Hellmouth

Chapters 31-40

by Wispr

Copyright (c) 2011

wispr@woh.rr.com