Part 4, Chapter 3

"You're sure this is normal?" Buffy asked, her voice strained with concern.

Wesley looked nervous, but he said, "Yes, completely." His voice was raspy, clearly strained by the force of Faith's arm pressing in to his trachea only a short time before.

Still frowning, Buffy pulled her bedcovers up over Faith's unconscious form. The brunette had collapsed after drinking the potion. After gently smoothing the other slayer's unruly hair back, Buffy looked up at the watcher. "How long will she be out?"

"Typically, it is equal to the amount of time the host was infected by the demon. In Faith's case, it may be less."

"Good old slayer healing," Buffy muttered, still fussing around the bed. "Is there anything I can do for her?"

Wesley shook his head. "No, but I can assure you, she's not aware of what's going on. She's out cold." He placed his hand on Buffy's shoulder, patting her awkwardly.

Wesley was certainly stuffier than her own watcher, but Buffy found herself liking him all the same. He clearly cared about Faith, and any friend of Faith's was a friend of hers. "Thank you," she said warmly.

"Of course," he replied, flushing. "I could stay with her for a while, if you need to go and speak to your mother." His flush deepened considerably. "She seemed rather… caught off guard by things."

As if Buffy needed reminding. She'd wanted to talk to her mom about things between her and Faith, but this wasn't really how she'd wanted the discussion to go. Her version had definitely involved less visual displays. "Right," she almost groaned, standing up. "Thanks."

"Good luck," Wesley replied, taking a seat in the chair by her bed.

Buffy figured she was going to need that luck. She made her way downstairs, dreading the talk she was about to have with her mom.

Willow and Xander had made themselves scarce, and Joyce sat alone in the living room. She looked up as her daughter entered the room. "How's Faith?" She asked with genuine concern.

"Still unconscious," Buffy responded. "Wesley says she'll be out for a day or two." She took a seat next to her mother. "Umm, is it okay if she stays here until she's back to normal?"

"Oh, of course," Joyce assured her. She seemed to be as nervous as Buffy. Her hands fidgeted in her lap.

"Mom," the slayer began, taking a deep breath, "I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner that Faith and I are… umm…"

"Involved," Joyce supplied, flushing.

"Yeah, that's… we're involved. Involved gals, that's us," Buffy chuckled nervously. Her face was burning with embarrassment.

Mrs. Summers seemed to be struggling for words. Finally, she asked, "How long has this been going on?"

"Not long," Buffy reassured her. "Officially, since New Year's Eve."

"New Year's Eve," her mother repeated. "So when you said you were at Willow's…"

"No!" The slayer protested. "I was at Will's. We both were, with the rest of the gang."

"But you've been staying some nights with Faith," Joyce prodded, grimacing a bit as she led the conversation in a new direction.

Buffy nodded reluctantly. Why couldn't the Hellmouth ever open when you needed it? She could definitely use a deep, dark hole to crawl into right about now.

"I just…" the older woman trailed off. "Help me understand this, sweetheart. You've always liked boys. I know you and Angel were—"

"Mom, I beg of you, please don't finish that sentence," Buffy groaned. The last thing she wanted to do was talk about her short lived sex life with Angel!

"Alright," Joyce agreed, embarrassed also, "I'm just asking… were you always this way?"

"This way?" Buffy repeated, a little incredulously. "You mean gay?"

Joyce nodded. Gay. There was the word.

She definitely had not always been gay. Buffy liked boys. Boys liked Buffy. "I never thought about it until Faith," the slayer said honestly. "I still like guys… there's just also Faith."

"I see," said Joyce, who really didn't see at all. Admittedly, she liked her perception of her daughter's romantic life to be murky, but even still, this had come out of left field.

"Are you okay, Mom?" Buffy was beginning to suspect she'd broken her mother's brain. Joyce was sitting on the couch in a daze.

"Sure," Mrs. Summers said, snapping out of it. "I mean, this is fine. This is good. My daughter's a bisexual!" She laughed out loud, as if to signify how fine and dandy this way.

"Uh, thanks," Buffy smiled nervously. "You're taking this really well."

"Did you think I would take it badly?" Joyce asked. "Is that why you were afraid to tell me?" The thought hurt. She hadn't always been accepting of news that she'd gotten from her daughter, but she figured most parents would lose it if they found out their child was a vampire slayer, charged with risking her life to save the world time and time again. Other than that one instance, she'd tried her best to be there for Buffy to talk to.

"I wasn't afraid," the slayer reassured her. "I knew you would be okay with it."

"I am," Joyce replied, and it was more or less true. This wasn't a discussion she'd ever envisioned having with Buffy, but the girl was her heart, her entire world. It still hurt to think of the summer Buffy had been gone. Joyce couldn't describe the agony of not knowing where her daughter was, if she was hurt, or if she needed her mother. She had promised herself she would never make a mistake like that again. She drew her daughter into a hug, squeezing her tightly. "You're my baby, Buffy. I love you more than anything in this world, and there is nothing you could ever do that would change that."

"I know," Buffy said, tears shining in her eyes. "I love you too."

Joyce patted her back and released her. "That doesn't mean you two are free to do whatever you want, just so we're clear."

Buffy rolled her eyes good naturedly. "I knew this was going too smoothly."

"There will be no hanky panky in this house," Joyce began. "I know you're an adult now, but I don't want to see, or hear," she added with a shudder, "you being an adult."

Buffy covered her eyes with her hand, groaning, "Mom!"

"Are we clear?"

"Clear," Buffy agreed with a sigh.

"Good," Joyce said. "And as soon as Faith's back on her feet, we'll be having a little talk about it."

"Mom!" the slayer squealed, mortified. "You don't need to do that!" She could picture how this talk would go. Faith would be fidgeting on the couch in humiliation while Joyce gave her a talking to.

"Buffy, it's in the Mom code that I get to interrogate anyone you date and embarrass you," Joyce informed her lightly. "Besides, you two have left me in the dark for weeks. A little lecturing is the least I can do."

Dropping her face into her palm, Buffy muttered, "Fine." Faith was going to be so unhappy when she woke up and realized a talk with Joyce was on her agenda.

Richard Wilkins sat at his desk, sandwich in hand, napkin neatly tucked into his collar. He chewed thoughtfully, swallowing before he glanced up at Mr. Trick.

"They gave her the antidote," the vampire informed him regretfully.

The mayor placed his sandwich delicately onto the plate on his desk. He brushed his fingertips on his napkin, plucking it from his collar. "I'm afraid I'm out of patience with our friend, Mr. Doyle," he said mildly. "What good are all these visions if they don't get those slayers out of my hair?"

"What do you want me to do?" Mr. Trick asked agreeably.

Outside the office, Allan Finch hovered near the doorway, eavesdropping on the conversation happening within. He waited anxiously to hear the Mayor's response.

Wilkins paused for a moment, then he replied, "Get rid of him."

Finch quickly scurried down the hall, a glimmer of a plan beginning to form in his mind. By the time Mr. Trick exited the Mayor's office, the Deputy Mayor had long since disappeared.

Oz held his stake at the ready as he trailed behind his girlfriend and her best friend. The two led the way through the graveyard, chattering animatedly. It was just the three of them, with Cordelia and Xander having offered to sit with Faith in case she woke up while Buffy was out on patrol.

"When I find out who put this demon on Faith," Buffy was saying, "I'm so going to kill them."

"You don't think it was random?" Willow asked.

"After the demon who was manipulating the slayer line?" Buffy asked. "No way. These guys were packing serious demon-y goodness. How likely is it that we'd get two like this right after each other?"

"Good point," the redhead said, frowning. "Yikes."

"That's what they'll be saying when I get my hands on them," the slayer agreed, severely.

Willow smiled at her best friend. "They don't know who they're messing with!"

"They're gonna find out," Buffy said seriously. She tilted her head, seeing something in the distance. "Hang back a sec, guys. Duty calls." With that she raced across the cemetery toward a fleeing vampire.

Oz put his arm gently around Willow's shoulders. "Hey," he said.

"Hey," she chirped back, hugging his waist. "I'm sorry! We've been leaving you out!"

"Nah," he disagreed.

Willow tilted her chin up, looking for a kiss, and Oz happily obliged. He loved kissing Willow. She was so sweet, and warm, and wonderful. It was easy to get lost in her. As they pulled apart, it took him a moment to open his eyes again. He did so just in time to see a small demon slam into the girl's side, tearing her from his arms.

"Will!" he cried, immediately jumping into the fray. The girl was dazed, trying to sit up. Beside her, a green skinned demon lay, groaning loudly. Blue spikes in its skin and deep red eyes rounded out the menacing picture. Oz quickly moved between it and Willow.

The demon seemed out of it, rolling on the ground and groaning in pain. Abruptly it began speaking at great speed. "Dark hair. Knife. Twelve! It burns. It burns!" It rambled on further, dissolving into incoherence.

"Oz," Willow whispered from behind him.

That caught the demon's attention, and it leapt to its feet. "No!" It shouted. "No more! No!" It advanced on them, and the teenagers backed up. Oz raised the stake, prepared to defend himself.

Buffy soared through the air, tackling the demon away from them. The duo rolled across the grass, smashing into a headstone painfully.

Sitting up astride it, the slayer held her stake at the ready. Her arm moved downward with perfect aim, but at the last moment she pulled back.

"Buffy," Willow cried, "stake it!"

Buffy looked at the demon under her, who was shaking and muttering to itself. It looked extremely familiar. "Brachen," she said, remembering the name for its species. "You're a Brachen."

The demon's red eyes focused for a moment, and it suddenly gripped her upper arms painfully. "Help me," it cried, before losing consciousness. As the demon slumped to the ground, the spikes disappeared under its skin. In its place was a human man.

Oz slid open the side door to his van, and the group peered inside at the still unconscious man. "And you say he's a Brachen?" Giles asked. "You're quite sure?"

Buffy gave Giles a pointed look. "Let's see, green face, big blue spikes shooting out, you're right; he probably just needs some Proactiv."

"I'm sorry?" The watcher shook his head in confusion.

"Yes," Buffy sighed. "I'm sure he's a Brachen."

Giles nodded. "Well, I guess we'd better get him inside then."

With Oz's help, Buffy shouldered the dead weight and managed to drag the man inside the apartment. They placed him on the couch, waiting for Giles to give further instructions.

"Uh," the watcher looked around the room, a little lost, "perhaps we should try to rouse him?"

The three teens shrugged.

Seeing that he was getting no help from them, Giles leaned over the prone man. "Buffy, could you fetch me some water?" Gently slapping the man's cheeks, Giles called, "Hello! Wake up!"

The man didn't stir.

Buffy handed Giles the cup of water he'd requested. He dipped his fingers in the water, flicking some droplets on the man's face. Again, there was no response.

"It doesn't seem to be working," he said thoughtfully. "I wonder what else we could—"

He watched in dismay as Buffy plucked the glass from his hand and dumped the entire thing over the man's face.

Immediately the man sat up, gasping for air.

Looking at his now soaked sofa, Giles frowned.

"What?" Buffy asked innocently. "It worked."

The man looked around him wildly, trying to get up from the sofa. Giles pushed gently on his shoulders. "It's all right," he tried to reassure him. "You're safe here."

"Tall. Hurt hurt it hurts. He will ascend!" The man continued to babble, twitching under Giles's hold.

The group watched helplessly, unsure what to do.

"Look at his hand," Oz pointed out. "It almost looks like he's drawing in the air."

"Buffy," Giles instructed, "hand me a pen and pad from the desk."

The slayer quickly did as she was asked. In the man's hand, the pages of the pad quickly filled with gruesome scenes. He drew page after page of demonic activity. His intensity was frightening to look at it.

"What's wrong with him?" Willow asked nervously.

Giles shook his head. "Certainly people are gifted with sight, from the Powers That Be. They are the Powers' word on earth. But I'm afraid he seems to be going mad from it."

"Does that usually happen?" Buffy asked.

"I don't think so," her watcher replied uncertainly. He wasn't all that knowledgeable about seers. "I know someone who may be able to help, though." He stood. "I'll make some calls. You three had better head home. It's getting late."

"You'll call if you need me?" Buffy felt a little guilty leaving Giles with this problem, but she wanted to get back home to Faith. She'd be so upset if the other slayer woke up and she wasn't there.

"Of course," Giles agreed. He clasped Buffy's shoulder warmly. "Go back to Faith. I can handle things here."

"Thanks," Buffy said.

As the group left, Giles sat at his desk and picked up the phone. It was very early in England, but this was a case of some urgency. Looking at the man on his couch, still frantically drawing, Giles began to dial.

Buffy awoke to slim arms cradling her, and warm, soft lips pressing against her neck. "Faith," she murmured sleepily. Relief flooded her body. Wesley had assured her Faith's unconsciousness was normal, but Buffy needed to see the other girl back to herself before she'd believe this ordeal was really over. She rolled over, facing her girlfriend. The room was dark but she could easily make out Faith's features.

"Hey," the brunette whispered, her hands sliding under Buffy's shirt to stroke her back.

"Hi," Buffy said back. Her hand rose to Faith's cheek, touching her gently. As the older girl moved into her touch, Buffy laughed in relief. "You're you."

"Yup, all me," Faith said agreeably, pressing her forehead against Buffy's. "Sorry I scared you."

"Me?" Buffy was surprised. Faith had been a wreck, thinking everyone was trying to kill her. Buffy's fear had been nothing compared to what she must have experienced. "You're the one who had the close encounter of the demonic variety. I was just scared for you."

Faith nodded, and her arms tightened around Buffy.

"What was it like?" Buffy asked hesitantly. She was curious but she didn't want to upset Faith. "If you want to talk about it, that is."

Thinking about it for a moment, the brunette answered, "It's a little bit blurry, but mostly terrifying."

Frowning in sympathy, Buffy nodded. "It seemed like it." She tilted her mouth forward to meet Faith's. The two slayers pressed against one another urgently, needing to re-establish their connection after the horrible recent events. Buffy threaded her fingers into Faith's dark hair, holding her close. "I was so worried I wouldn't be able to get you to take the antidote," she confessed, when they stopped kissing long enough to breathe.

"Good thing I had a superhero on my side, huh?" Faith joked.

Buffy grinned, kissing her again. "I'll always be on your side," she promised. She said it lightly, but it was obvious how sincerely it was meant.

Faith nodded shakily. If there was one good thing to come out of this crap situation, it was that she felt surer of that fact. She'd been out of control, needy, and violent. Yet Buffy was still here with her. "It was weird," Faith told her quietly, "I had all these thoughts about Wesley and Giles, and you, really crazy stuff, thinking they were going to kill me." She smiled softly. "But some part of me still trusted you. You were the only thing that made sense to me."

"I'm glad," Buffy said simply, touched by her words.

Faith wanted to ask about something else, but she wasn't sure she really wanted to know the answer.

"What?" Buffy asked, noticing her struggling to say something. She slid her fingers down to Faith's neck, stroking the soft skin she found there.

"You said you love me," Faith muttered, casting her eyes somewhere around Buffy's collarbone. She was afraid to meet her girlfriend's gaze. She expected to hear that the blonde had only said that to get her to take the potion.

"I do," Buffy whispered back immediately. Her thumb butted gently at Faith's chin, forcing her to look up. The two girls looked at one another in the dark, heads close together. "Don't you know that?" Buffy asked, her voice gentle.

Faith thought about it. She couldn't say with certainty that anyone had ever really loved her. She'd thought about her own feelings for Buffy quite a bit, but she hadn't really entertained the notion that the blonde could love her. She was nothing special, except that she was a slayer, and even in that she was the second best. Why would Buffy love her? She shook her head hesitantly.

"I do," Buffy repeated. "I love you, Faith." She peppered Faith's upturned face with kisses, trying to reassure her.

Faith kissed back, still rolling Buffy's words around in her mind. As crazy as it seemed, maybe the blonde did love her. She knew objectively, if not from personal experience, what love was supposed to be like. She'd seen it in other people. When you loved someone, you took care of them. You were happy to be with them. You hurt when they hurt. There was a way people looked when they were in love. Didn't Buffy do all of these things for her? She looked at the girl sharing a pillow with her, eyes moving over her face in wonder. Buffy… loved her? "Really?" She whispered, finding that she needed to hear it again.

"Yes," Buffy said, without hesitation.

Faith crushed the blonde's body against hers, rolling so Buffy's body was above hers. She kissed the smaller girl tenderly, her hands cupping her shoulders.

Buffy responded enthusiastically. After the scare they'd had, she was still reassuring herself that Faith was okay. Propping herself up on her elbow, she ran her free hand down Faith's side. Her palm slid under the brunette's shirt, stroking the soft skin of her belly.

Wiggling, Faith laughed. "No tickling!"

Buffy sat back, kneeling so she could slide a second hand under the shirt. "What was that, Faith? Tickle you more?" She attacked viciously.

"No!" Faith protested, trying to keep her voice quiet although she wanted to yell. Squirming, she tried to escape Buffy's clutches. "You're gonna get it," she threatened between manic giggles.

"I'm shaking in my pjs," the blonde retorted.

Powering through the torturous tickling, Faith managed to sit up, grabbing Buffy's arms. The blonde tried to pull away, but Faith moved quickly, yanking her over her lap.

"Hey!" Buffy cried indignantly, as Faith brought a light palm down on her pajama covered butt.

"I warned ya, B," Faith told her. "You were bad and now you get a spanking." She smacked the blonde again lightly before releasing her.

Buffy sat up, her face a little pink. "Is this where you reveal you're a closet dominatrix and I have to call you Mistress Faith?"

The older girl chuckled. "Nah." She tugged Buffy back into her arms. Pulling her in close, she kissed her neck. As Buffy melted into her arms, she murmured, "I'd rather call you Mistress Buffy anyway."

Buffy's legs contracted momentarily around hers. Without warning, she gripped the back of Faith's hair and tugged it back, forcing the brunette to look up at her. "Mistress Buffy would like you to take your clothes off," she said mischievously.

"Yes, ma'am," Faith replied, quickly shucking off her shirt. Buffy moved off her lap, helping tug off the pajama bottoms the brunette was wearing. Naked, Faith got on her knees, pulling Buffy against her.

"Mmm," Buffy purred, "this is better. Mistress Buffy is pleased."

Faith laughed, reaching for the hem of Buffy's tank top. She yanked it up and off, eager to get the other girl naked. Buffy wiggled from her pants, kicking them off her ankles, panties in tow. Pressing her body against Faith's, she brought their lips together.

No matter how many times Faith saw the other slayer naked, she was still excited. She loved running her hands over Buffy's soft skin, squeezing here, kissing there. Buffy was beautiful; Faith felt like the luckiest person in the world when she got to touch her. Wrapping her arm around Buffy's waist, she dipped her other hand between the blonde's legs.

Buffy spread her thighs cooperatively, allow the brunette's fingers to slide into her wetness. Faith groaned appreciatively against Buffy's neck. She loved how wet the other girl got for her.

Not about to be left out, Buffy's fingers found their way to Faith's pussy. The slayers slumped against one another, supporting each other's weight as they explored.

Buffy rolled her hips against Faith's hand, trying to get more friction. Her clit throbbed. No matter how she moved, she wasn't getting quite the right angle. Groaning in frustration, she withdrew her hand from Faith's wetness.

"B," Faith groaned quietly in frustration.

Ignoring her protests, Buffy quickly laid down, pulling Faith's hand after her. Spreading her legs again, she placed the brunette's fingers back where she wanted them. "Continue," she said magnanimously.

"Yes, mistress," Faith teased.

"Faith," Buffy whined, still manipulating the other girl's fingers how she wanted them.

"Okay, baby, I got it," the older girl reassured her, sliding her fingers over Buffy's clit in circles. She straddled the blonde's thigh, letting her own soaking pussy press down against it.

Buffy pushed her leg harder against Faith.

Taking the hint, Faith slowly rocked her hips back and forth. God, that felt good. She couldn't let herself get distracted though. She was on a mission to make her girlfriend happy. Leaving her thumb on Buffy's clit, she moved her fingers lower, carefully entering the blonde's tight hole.

"Oh," Buffy moaned softly, rolling her head back. "Faith…"

The brunette smiled. She loved the way her name sounded, falling from Buffy's lips like that. She kept stroking in and out, bringing her free hand up to touch the blonde's breasts.

"Faith," Buffy murmured again. She reached up, grabbing the brunette's shoulders. "Kiss me."

Faith shifted positions, leaning down to kiss Buffy as she worked her fingers in and out of the blonde's pussy. Buffy wrapped strong arms around Faith's back, holding her there and kissing her ferociously.

Picking up the pace, Faith circled her fingers faster against the other girl's clit.

Buffy moaned into her mouth, moving her hips up and down in rhythm with Faith's fingers. Her fingers dug painfully into Faith's back, still squeezing the two of them together. "Mmm," she panted, tearing her lips from Faith's to lean her head back.

Faith grinned, watching her girlfriend's face. She could feel Buffy's pussy tightening around her fingers. She was close. Faith fucked her faster.

"Harder," Buffy panted.

Faith obliged, adding a little muscle to her movements.

"Uhh," the blonde moaned, feeling her orgasm building.

Dipping her head, Faith took one nipple in her mouth and sucked lightly.

Buffy's arm wrapped around her head tightly, holding her in place. With a final hard thrust, Buffy came, weakly crying out her girlfriend's name.

Faith smiled against her chest, enjoying the way Buffy's muscles kept squeezing her fingers. She loved getting Buffy off. The blonde was limp beneath her, flushed pink and sweaty. Gently withdrawing her fingers, Faith laid back beside her.

Buffy sighed happily, still breathing heavily. "You're so good at that," she murmured.

"Thanks," Faith said, amused. She gently stroked her hand over Buffy's stomach, watching as the blonde caught her breath.

When Buffy stopped seeing stars, she rolled against Faith, drawing her into a kiss. She wasted no time in climbing atop her girlfriend. Straddling Faith's lap, she began to rock her hips.

"Mmm," Faith hummed appreciatively. Her palms found Buffy's hips, helping the blonde to move. The site of Buffy moving above her was almost enough to make her come on the spot. Her hair was wild, bouncing above her breasts as she rolled her hips over Faith's. She grinned when she noticed Faith watching her.

Faith clenched her thighs together as Buffy rode her. Buffy's wetness leaked over her mound, mixing with Faith's own.

Buffy reached a hand behind herself, gently prodding Faith to open her legs. The brunette complied, and Buffy slid two fingers inside Faith, beginning to fuck her to the same rhythm she was moving her hips.

"Shit," Faith groaned, biting her lip to keep quiet. She wanted to touch Buffy, to kiss her, but found herself incapable of moving. Buffy was fucking her thoroughly, moving her hips quicker and thrusting her fingers just as fast.

"God, B," the brunette panted. Her hips moved of their own volition, pounding back against Buffy's wet, spread pussy. Their bodies were slick, sliding easily over each other.

Buffy kept moving, now at a furious pace. She ground the heel of her hand down against Faith's clit and the brunette's hips flew up, almost knocking her askew.

"Buffy!" She groaned, as her climax tore through her.

Buffy slowed her hand, continuing to gently move her fingers until Faith touched her wrist to let her know she should stop. Then she climbed off, curling up against Faith's side contentedly.

Still recovering, the older girl managed to cast an arm around Buffy. The blonde kissed her shoulder gently, wrapping an arm across Faith's torso.

"B?" Faith whispered after their heartbeats had returned to normal.

"Hmmm?" Buffy mumbled back, well on the way to sleep.

Faith looked at the girl in her arms. Nuzzling her face into Buffy's hair, she said, "I love you." It surprised her how easily it came from her mouth. She'd feared that phrase for a while now. But Buffy had said it first, allowing Faith to admit it without the crippling nervousness that would have been involved otherwise.

Buffy's arms tightened around her. She opened her eyes, smiling up at Faith sleepily. "I love you, too."

After pressing a slow kiss to Buffy's lips, Faith closed her eyes. "Goodnight, baby," she murmured.

Wesley sat at Giles's desk, sipping coffee. With each sip, he wrinkled his brow. Coffee, he hated the stuff. He'd never understand why Americans were so enamored with it. Unfortunately, he needed the caffeine rush at the moment. He'd hardly had any sleep since Faith's attack, between the researching and then staying with his comatose slayer. Then Buffy had found this man on patrol, who was clearly in need of their help. A contact in England had helped them find the right spell for the job. It seemed something or someone had tampered with the man's connection to the Powers. The spell required an advanced witch to perform. Neither he nor Giles excelled at magic, but between the two of them, it seemed the spell had been a success.

Giles was perched on the couch next to the man, helping him sip from a glass of water. Their guest was obviously weakened from what had been done to him. He could barely hold himself upright. As Giles lowered the glass to the coffee table, the man slumped backward, closing his eyes.

"You can rest now if you'd like, and we'll talk in the morning," Giles offered. "Well, later in the morning." It was already just after 4AM.

The man shook his head. "No, I'm all right."

"Can you tell us your name?" Wesley asked.

"Doyle," the man rasped.

"Doyle," Giles took the lead. "We know you're a seer. Can you tell us what happened to you? Who tampered with your connection to the Powers That Be?"

The man nodded, wincing at the aching in his head. "The nameplate on his desk said Mayor Richard Wilkins. I can tell you who's not getting my vote next election."

"The Mayor?" Giles repeated, dumbfounded. Of course, he'd known something was wrong within the Sunnydale Police Department. No one could be as stupid or in denial as they seemed to be. It seemed the corruption was more deep-seated than he'd realized. "Why would the Mayor want to see your visions? What was he looking for?"

Doyle struggled to organize his thoughts. He knew he'd heard something important… "Slayers," he remembered. "He wanted the visions related to the slayers."

Wesley and Giles exchanged glances. "Well," Wesley said, "I guess we know who was responsible for almost killing Buffy in the cemetery."

"And Faith's infection by the Althesia," the older watcher added.

Wesley frowned, thinking of the prone Faith. "The question is: what is he up to? Why does he need them out of the way?"

Giles shook his head. He didn't know either. "At least we have something he doesn't."

"What's that?" Doyle asked.

"You," the elder man pointed out. "He can't have wanted you to escape. We can use you to our advantage."

Doyle was beginning to feel wary of his rescuers. He hadn't gotten away from the Mayor just to be someone else's pawn. "Am I prisoner here?" He demanded.

"Of course not," Giles reassured him. "I'm merely suggesting you might like to help us defeat him, whatever his plan is. You must want some retribution for what was done to you."

The seer considered that. Having his connection to the Powers cranked up felt like his skull was being torn open, 24 hours a day. Retribution sounded quite nice. "Okay," he agreed. "I'll help. What do you need me to do?"

Part 4, Chapter 4

Buffy timed each movement of her body with perfect precision. Spring had come and the evening was warm, as the last traces of daylight filtered through the trees. The grass was soft and damp beneath her bare feet. She breathed deeply, eyes closed, body perfectly attuned to the environment. She'd begun doing Tai Chi again recently. It had always been something she and Angel did together, but with all the stress the Scoobies had been under lately, she'd needed the calm it brought her.

Their research, as well as the quick B&E she and Faith had committed, had clued them in to the Mayor's plans. An ascension. The transformation of a human being into a demon. It turned out that their Mayor had actually been the Mayor for like a century, posing as his own son repeatedly. Buffy wasn't sure how no one had noticed this before. Maybe the high death rate had something to do with it. People got sacrificed, possessed, eaten, or turned into vamps all too frequently. Those that didn't, well, they weren't sticking around to vote in the next Mayoral election. So Richard Wilkins went on and on, suppressing his natural age and planning to ascend. Buffy could almost understand the urge to live forever. Anyone who lived on the edge of death like she did would get it. Life was precious and far, far too fleeting. What she didn't get was the urge to become a demon. She couldn't stand it when her skin got dry. There was no way she'd ever want leathery demon hide. Gross.

Research these days was heavy on the frustration and light on the information. They had no idea how to stop ascension, and this fact weighed heavily on everyone's minds. Their secret weapon, Doyle, wasn't exactly performing his duty. Sure, he had lots of visions, and Buffy and Faith raced all over Sunnydale saving the unfortunates he'd seen, but the Powers had been silent on the Mayor front. Zip, zero, nada.

That left Tai Chi.

"Buffy!" Her mom called from inside the house. "Dinner!"

Opening her eyes, the slayer exhaled, letting her limbs relax. She headed inside, remembering to wipe her feet on the way in. Joyce was getting a little annoyed with the Buffy-shaped footprints she kept leaving in the kitchen. "Smells good," she commented.

"Thanks," Joyce smiled. "It's just lasagna."

As if on cue, the doorbell rang. Buffy shot a grin at her mom. "You said the magic word. Faith's here."

When Buffy swung open the front door, her girlfriend smiled at her from the other side. "Lasagna?"

The blonde laughed, leaning forward to get her hello kiss. "How did you know?"

"I didn't," Faith shrugged, stepping inside. "I just smelled it now. But damn, do I have good timing or what?"

"Faith," Joyce called from the kitchen. "If you're going to eat me out of house and home, come in here and set the table!"

Bounding into the kitchen, Faith greeted Buffy's mother with a wide smile. "You're letting me off light, Mrs. S. You could have me doing any chores you want around here for a piece of that lasagna."

"More like a pan," Joyce commented dryly, but she smiled. "If I got you to do all the chores, what would Buffy do?"

The blonde, who'd been sneaking cucumbers from the top of the salad bowl, dropped her hands innocently. "Who me? I'm sure I could find something to keep me busy."

"I'll bet," Joyce shook her head, "but since Faith wasn't the one who put a scratch on my Jeep, I think we'll leave the chore distribution as is."

Faith walked by Buffy, elbowing her softly as she passed on her way to set the table. "Told ya she was gonna notice that, B."

Buffy frowned, picking up the salad bowl and adding it to the table. "Doesn't anyone care that it was scratched while I was defending the town from evil?"

"No," her mother said, joining them at the table with a steaming, huge pan of lasagna.

Harrumphing as she sat down, Buffy threatened, "Next time I'll just let the world end. At least I'll be off the hook for the car."

"Okay, dear," Joyce said agreeably. "That sounds fair."

The blonde stuck her tongue out.

Faith watched their interactions with a happy grin firmly in place. It was hard to remember why she'd ever been afraid of Joyce finding out about her and Buffy. After a lengthy lecture on respecting her house rules, and never hurting her daughter (on pain of being run over with the aforementioned Jeep), the older woman had been nothing but supportive. She happily made enough food to feed two slayers, invited Faith to attend the opening of a new artist at the Gallery as Buffy's date, and even introduced her as Buffy's girlfriend to her colleagues. Joyce was flying the PFLAG these days, and both slayers were relieved about it.

The shrill ring of the phone interrupted their conversation, and everyone looked up. "I'll get it," Buffy offered, stepping away from the table. She picked up the cordless phone and clicked it on. "Hello?"

Giles was on the other end. "Buffy? We've got something."

The blonde's eyes met with Faith's. "We'll be right over."

"So what does the box of Grablock do exactly?" Buffy asked, trying to follow the two animated watchers. The gang was gathered in Giles's living room, ignoring the tea Doyle had helpfully prepared, but demolishing the cookies.

"Gavrok," Wesley corrected automatically, at this point so used to Buffy's penchant for misremembering names that he didn't even think about it, "and we don't know exactly. But we do know it's the last step the Mayor must take prior to ascending."

"So," Buffy clarified, "get the box, prevent the ascension."

"Exactly."

"Okay," Faith added confidently, "then we'll get the box." A simple snatch and grab operation, a little mojo from the watchers and Willow, and poof, no ascension. Faith was seeing no downsides to this plan.

Doyle, who had been listening quietly to the meeting, spoke up. "It'll be tonight, at the docks. He's sending his heavy hitters." He cast a concerned look at the two slayers.

"We can handle it," Buffy assured the group. "I've been waiting for some payback on that suit guy who attacked me."

"So have I," the half-demon replied. "I want to come with you tonight."

Buffy looked skeptically at the newest addition to their group. He looked drastically improved over the weeks he'd been staying in Giles's guest room, but it hadn't been that long since he'd been held prison by the Mayor and his goons. Demon hybrid or not, he'd been tortured. That kind of thing seemed like it would take a while to recover from, and she was concerned about Doyle getting hurt. Looking to the Watchers for help, she said, "It's too dangerous. We can handle it."

"I know you're just trying to keep me safe," Doyle replied kindly, "but does it look like I need protecting?" He concentrated for a moment and then blue spikes split his skin. He grinned at her, a smile in his red eyes.

Buffy looked at Faith, who shrugged. "Good enough for me."

Seeing she was outnumbered, Buffy let it drop. She turned to Willow. "You guys will be ready to make with the mojo?"

The redhead nodded. "We have a few ingredients to pick up, but we'll be ready by the time you get back."

"Sounds like a plan then," Buffy said. "Let's show the Mayor who he's been messing with."

Things were not going to plan, Buffy thought, not at all. She raced through the darkened streets of Sunnydale, the box they'd come for in her arms. The courier's dismembered hand dangled limply from the box, smacking wetly against her jacket. Faith and Doyle ran with her, trying to outpace the vampires who'd given chase. "B!" Faith shouted to her left. "This isn't working!"

"What would you suggest?" Buffy huffed back.

"We gotta stop, pick a few off!"

The blonde nodded her agreement. The trio turned a sharp corner and then came to a stop, ready to ambush their pursuers. No fewer than a dozen vamps were chasing them. The odds were definitely not in their favor, but they didn't have many options ahead of them now. Doyle was in game face, his demonic side revealed. Faith stood at the ready, her stake raised. Buffy was unfortunately clutching the box for dear life. Why did she always get the crap end of the stake?

"Thin the herd, and then we run," Buffy instructed quietly.

The other two nodded, and in the seconds before the first vampire rounded the corner, Faith grabbed her in a bone-crunching hug, planting a firm kiss on her lips. "You look so hot when you're running for your life," she whispered in response to Buffy's incredulous look.

Buffy smiled in spite of herself. Poor timing aside, Faith was really sweet sometimes. She placed her back against the building behind her and held the box firmly. As the first vamp cleared the turn, Faith jumped him. She rode his back as he crashed to the street, and the two grappled for dominance.

Doyle took the next vamp, his beady red eyes glittering furiously in the moonlight. He stuck out a foot that the running vamp was unable to avoid, causing the vamp to trip and skid on his face.

Knowing it was her turn, Buffy braced herself, and stepped out just as the next vamp came barreling around the corner. Unwilling to drop the box, the slayer slammed it into the vampire's face, using his own momentum to deliver a skull crushing hit. The vamp sank like a stone.

The rest of the vamps didn't have the decency to arrive one by one. They rounded the corner as a group, immediately launching themselves at the slayers and their demonic backup.

Buffy kept a vice grip on the box, using it to block punches and break noses. She managed to dust one, noticing as she did so that Faith and Doyle were holding their own. Between them, they'd managed to dust another four of them. From the corner of her eye, she saw the one in the suit, who Doyle had told them was called Mr. Trick, watching the fight from the background.

A fast kick caught her in the temple, dazing her enough to loosen her grip on the box. The vampire, not realizing her hold was loosened, yanked with all his might.

The box clattered away, coming to a rest some feet away with the lid cracked. One of the vamps bent to retrieve it, only to scream in horror when a black shadow jumped from the box to his face. Skittering shapes poured from the box, quickly leaping upon another two vampires. Buffy had no idea what those things were, but she knew they had to close the box before more got loose. The remaining vampires were fleeing now, with Mr. Trick in the lead.

Buffy eyed the box desperately, trying to figure out how to close it without being overrun by those things. Before she could move, Doyle ran past her, snatched the box up, and slammed it closed. He dropped it again with a scream as one of the things latched on to his shoulder. The slayers raced to him, Faith using a length of board to smack the spiders away from their path. The three vampires had stilled, their faces bloody messes. Buffy had only her stake and she didn't want to use it, but she didn't see another way of getting Doyle free. She slammed the pointy end through the large, hairy spider, spearing Doyle's shoulder in the process. The spider screamed shrilly. It was easily one of the worst sounds she had ever heard.

"B!" Faith shouted, still pounding on the encroaching spiders like a game of demonic Wack-a-mole. "Gotta move!"

Buffy retracted the stake, shaking off the twitching spider, and snatched the closed box up from the ground. With her free arm, she dragged Doyle to his feet. With Faith in the lead, they took off down the street, hoping the vampires didn't follow.

They made it back to the library without further incident. The gang had been waiting tensely for them to return. They leapt to their feet as the slayers plowed through the doors, with an injured Doyle half dragged along by Faith.

"What happened to him?" Wesley asked, rushing to help them.

"Some kind of bite and then a stake to the shoulder," Buffy said regretfully. She held the box out to Giles. "Some of these things escaped and one was on him. I had to take it out."

"What are they?" Giles asked, as he gingerly accepted the box.

The blonde shrugged helplessly. "Demon spiders on steroids?"

"Ah," the watcher crinkled his nose in distaste. "Yes, well, we'll take care of that."

"They scattered down by the docks," Faith pointed out. "What about the ones that got loose?"

"The spell should eliminate all traces of these creatures from our dimension," Giles said confidently. "Willow, if you're ready?"

The redhead nodded, quickly following him into the office, where they spell was set up.

Cordelia cleared space on the table, allowing Faith and Wesley to lay Doyle flat.

The Irishman grimaced in pain as Faith tore the fabric of his shirt. The slayers both stepped back, allowing Wesley room to examine the wound. Faith noticed that Cordelia stayed close, slipping her palm into Doyle's. She'd suspected there was something brewing between them. Cordelia's acidic personality was slightly less so whenever she spoke about Doyle, and Faith had observed the man's eyes lingering on Cordy on more than one occasion. She didn't think the pair would act on things anytime soon—there was a big age difference between them. But there were definite sparks. She nudged Buffy's hip, nodding her head toward the scene.

The blonde nodded, smirking. Buffy agreed with Faith's theory. She didn't have a problem with their age difference. It was hard to find that stuff important after you'd dated a guy over 200 years your senior.

"I think he needs a hospital," Wesley said, nervously. "This wound is deep."

Cordelia's glare whipped toward the blonde. "Way to go, Buffy! Why don't you just stab him in the heart next time?"

"Cordy," Faith chastised, slipping her arm around Buffy's shoulders. It was obvious the blonde felt really bad about having stabbed Doyle. She didn't need an additional guilt trip.

Buffy leaned into her hold a little. It had been a rough fight, and she was generally opposed to stabbing friends, even for their own good. If they could really avert the ascension though, it would all be worth it.

"It's okay," Doyle told Cordy, through gritted teeth. "She had to do it."

Oz stepped forward. "I can drive, if you want to go to the hospital," he offered.

Wesley helped Doyle to slide off the table and stand shakily on his feet.

"I'll come with you," Cordelia said immediately, sliding under Doyle's good shoulder.

"Thanks," he shot her a crooked grin.

Wesley's voice was apologetic as he said, "I'm sorry we can't go with you. We should stay here to see this thing through."

"Don't worry," Doyle assured them, "I've got Cordelia. I'm sure she'll stand over the doctors and make sure they're doing everything right."

"You're damn right I will," the cheerleader responded. "Let's go, Oz."

"You did do the right thing, Buffy," Wesley assured her.

"Course she did," Faith chimed in, giving Buffy a final squeeze before letting her go.

They had just begun to clean up the table when the gentle creak of the library doors drew their attention. Striding in to the library was Mayor Wilkins. He smiled menacingly in the face of their obvious displeasure at seeing him. "I think you've got something that belongs to me," he said.

"Hmm," Buffy pretended to think, "do we have anything of his, Faith?"

"No, I don't think we do," Faith assured her. She shrugged, glancing at the Mayor. "Must be some other slayers that beat the crap out of your sorry excuse for henchmen."

Shaking his head, the Mayor looked to Wesley. "Children these days! They've got no respect for authority."

"I don't see any authority worth respecting around here," Wesley remarked.

"Well," Wilkins said indignantly, "I can see where they've picked up their attitudes." He directed a sneer in Faith's direction. "You'd do well to change your tone, young lady."

"Thanks for the tip, Mr. Rogers."

Buffy tried and failed to mask a snort at Faith's comment, earning her a glare from the Mayor.

Deciding to cut to the chase, Buffy stopped smiling. "You're not getting the box back," she said.

The Mayor smiled his creepy smile. "Oh, that's where you're wrong," he answered. "Boys!"

At his call, two vampires stepped through the library doors to flank him. "Now girls, we can do this the easy way or the hard way. Either way, I'm leaving with that box."

"I don't think so," Faith replied. "We know all about the box, and your whole ascension gig. Bottom line?" She smiled dangerously. "It's not happening."

Throwing back his head, the Mayor let out a delighted chuckle. "You think you can stop my ascension? The wheels are already in motion. I've been working towards this for longer than you've been alive, young lady. I will not have my plans derailed by some bimbo and her pathetic group of do-gooders."

"Who do you think you're calling a bimbo?" Buffy asked indignantly. "Just because I'm blonde, that does not make me a bimbo!"

As she finished speaking, the library flooded with a bright green flash of light. They all blinked for a moment, trying to adjust to the normal light once more.

Once Buffy could see straight again, she grinned happily at the Mayor. "You know what I love about you evil types? You love to talk. You just stood here flapping your gums while my Watcher destroyed your precious box."

Giles stepped from his office then, dropping the now empty black box to the floor and kicking it toward the Mayor.

Wilkins flushed red with embarrassment and annoyance. "This won't do at all," he said, shaking his head in disappointment. Glancing at his henchman, he ordered, "Kill them."

The two vampires charged into the room, and Buffy and Faith leapt on the defensive. Their watchers skirted the conflict, moving toward the counter, where Giles had two swords stashed.

The Mayor watched in fury as first one vamp, then the other, was dispatched by the slayers.

"You think this is over?" He asked.

"Unless you're going to take me," Faith scoffed.

Unseen by them, Wilkins had reached inside his jacket, producing a small dagger. He held it now. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," he assured Faith, just before he threw the dagger directly at Wesley.

It hit his chest, and the young watcher looked down for a moment in shock. His sword clattered to the floor, and he sunk to his knees.

Faith didn't even spare a second's thought for the Mayor. She ran right for her fallen watcher, dropping to her knees and pressing her palms desperately against his chest. "Wes!" She screamed in horror.

Buffy stood her ground, looking at the Mayor with cold fury in her eyes. Without so much as a warning, she whipped her wrist outward, sending her stake spiraling at the man. It struck his shoulder, in what should have been an extremely painful stab wound.

The Mayor remained calm, grinning eerily.

"What the hell?" Buffy sputtered, looking at the smiling man.

"Impervious to harm," Wilkins confided happily. He reached for the stake and quickly tugged it out. Peering past the stunned Buffy, the Mayor sighed. "You'd better do something about that. Almost impossible to get blood stains out of the floors." Turning his back, he strolled toward the exit, his usual calm demeanor back in place. At the doorway, he paused, turning back to look at them once more. "I'll see you soon."

Wesley was rushed in to surgery immediately, leaving a bloodstained Faith crying in the waiting room. Buffy held her tightly, rubbing her back. She knew all too well how it felt to hold your bleeding watcher in your arms. It was horrible, terrifying, and she knew Faith would be wracked with guilt. You could never anticipate all your opponent's moves, no matter how good you were, but Faith wouldn't see it that way. She would blame herself. Buffy stroked her girlfriend's back, hoping that she was helping Faith in some way. "He's going to be fine, Faith," she said quietly. "You'll see." Over the brunette's head, Buffy gave Giles a pointed look.

"He will," Giles jumped in immediately. "He's a healthy young man. A little knife wound is nothing he can't handle." He wasn't just saying that. The council wasn't exactly known for turning out tough stock, but in the months he'd been in Sunnydale, Giles had seen changes in Wesley. The man was stronger than he'd realized, better than he'd realized. He'd done wonders with Faith, where Giles hadn't even though to intervene on her behalf. Giles realized with surprise that he's grown to rather like the young watcher, in spite of a rocky start.

Faith sniffled, sitting up. "He'll be okay," she repeated, as if to reassure herself.

"He will," Buffy agreed, brushing some tangled hair from Faith's face. Her thumbs gently brushed tears from the brunette's cheeks.

The brunette nodded, trying to pull herself together. She wiped her tears on her sleeve. After a moment, she said darkly, "I'm going to kill Wilkins."

"Impervious to harm, remember?" Buffy pointed out.

"Actually," Giles said, "that's temporary. An effect of his dedication spell. It's supposed to last until the ascension, but since he won't be doing that…"

"It'll wear off," the blonde finished.

"At least until he tries this again," her watcher said.

"He can do that?" Buffy had been hoping this ascension was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and that once he'd missed the window, it was closed for good.

"With the box of Gavrok destroyed, he'll have to find a substitution for that ritual, but yes, I believe he can try again," Giles answered.

They all thought about this for a few minutes. "Then we need to deal with him before he gets the chance," Faith suggested.

Dismayed, Buffy looked at her girlfriend. "He's human, Faith."

"Is he?" Faith challenged. "You've seen his history, B. He should have died four times over by now. He's been using sorcery to keep himself alive, and he's pledged to become a demon."

"I know…" Buffy said, still feeling uncomfortable with the idea of eliminating the Mayor.

"We can discuss it further later," Giles interjected. The surgeon was walking toward them, finished with Wesley. The three of them jumped to their feet, turning frightened faces toward the doctor.

"He's going to make it," the doctor said immediately, relieving them all of their fears for the worst.

"Oh, thank God," Giles murmured.

Buffy grinned, throwing her arms around Faith and kissing her cheek. "I told you he'd be okay."

"You were right like always," Faith said, a hint of her usual sarcastic self back in her voice. She looked at the doctor. "When can we see him?"

"He should be in recovery soon," the surgeon said. "I can send a nurse out to get you. You are family, right?"

"His niece," Faith lied with ease.

"Brother," Giles added.

"Uh," Buffy paused, "busted. Niece's girlfriend."

The surgeon smiled. "Well, for now it'll be family only."

"Of course," Buffy agreed. "I'll wait out here."

They thanked the doctor, sitting down again to wait for word that they could see Wesley. "Couldn't think of a lie that fast?" Faith teased.

"Well, I was going to go with other niece, but he just saw me kiss you…"

"Good point," Faith agreed. "This isn't West Virginia."

A nurse walked toward them. "You're the Wyndham-Price family?" She inquired.

They all nodded.

"You can see him now," the nurse said. "Just for a few minutes though."

"Thank you," Giles said, standing to follow her.

Faith looked at Buffy.

"Go," the blonde told her. "I'll wait for you."

Nodding, Faith leaned closer to press a quick kiss to the other slayer's lips. "Okay." Standing, she followed Giles through the doors to recovery.

Epilogue

With the Mayor's plans averted, at least for the time being, the gang's activities returned to normal. College acceptance letters were arriving. Joyce had the scratch on her car buffed out and allowed Buffy off major chore duty. Doyle and Wesley had both been released without complications. Spring was in full bloom, and love was in the air, especially at Sunnydale High School. It was the night of the Senior Prom.

While their classmates were having fun, Buffy and Faith were locked in a faculty bathroom by the library, shucking off their disheveled clothing. "Just once," Buffy said, "I'd like to not be late for a major life event because someone releases hellhounds."

"I thought it was fashionable to be late?" Faith laughed, shaking their dresses free of the bag they'd brought with them.

"Not this late," the blonde grumbled. She accepted her dress from Faith and slipped it over her head. "Zip me up?"

"I'd rather just rip it off you," Faith told her frankly. "How about we skip this thing and head straight for the after party?"

"Faith!" Buffy whined.

Faith took the smaller girl by the shoulders and turned her so she could zip the back of her dress. "I'm just playing. I know how much this stuff means to you." Her fingertips left the dress, sliding up Buffy's bare shoulders. Tugging the blonde closer, she gently pressed a kiss to the back of her neck.

Buffy turned in her arms. "You're sweet. I like you." She squeezed Faith tightly around the waist.

"I like you too," the older girl grinned. "You wanna let me put my dress on now or should I just go like this?"

Buffy glanced at the skimpy panties Faith was wearing. "Dress. You, dress, now." She stepped away, unearthing her makeup from the bag and beginning to apply it. When she was satisfied with it, she unclipped her hair and shook it out. It was thankfully unflattened by chasing hounds from Hell around town. Satisfied that she looked presentable, she turned to see how Faith was doing.

The other slayer was bent at the waist, carefully buckling the strap on her heel. She wore a slinky white gown that wasn't quite skin tight, but still showed off her well muscled body. Her hair fell naturally around her shoulders. As she straightened up, she glanced at Buffy.

"Wow," the blonde said. "You look beautiful, Faith." She wasn't exaggerating. Butterflies appeared in her belly when she looked at the other slayer.

Faith flushed, running a hand quickly through her hair. "I'll be the second hottest chick there," she said, looking her girlfriend up and down. Buffy looked gorgeous in her pink dress. Although she'd teased about skipping the Prom, she wouldn't have missed it for the world. Buffy loved stuff like this, and she deserved to have a good time. If the people of Sunnydale knew how often she'd saved their bacon, they would be throwing a parade in her honor every week.

"You've never been the second hottest anything," Buffy replied sincerely, taking a step closer. Her arms snaked around Faith's waist. Their dresses rustled as they pressed against one another. Forgetting her carefully applied lipstick, Buffy eager kissed the girl in her arms.

Faith left out a soft mmmm, her hands sliding up the blonde's back to entwine in her hair. Kissing Buffy always made her skin hum. She didn't know if it was the slayer connection, or if everyone felt this way when they were in love. Either way, she loved the feeling. When Buffy's lips traveled to her neck, Faith chuckled softly. "Second thoughts about actually making it to the Prom?"

"No," Buffy replied uncertainly, and then louder, more sure, "No." She pulled away, smiling sheepishly. "You distracted me."

"I have that effect," Faith agreed wolfishly. She glanced in the mirror, making sure her makeup was still intact.

A little touch up on the lipstick and both slayers were perfect. "Ready?" Buffy asked, holding her hand out.

Faith took it. "Time to party like it's 1999."

The two entered the gym hand in hand, waving at their watchers. The gym was decked out in balloons and streamers in maroon and gold, the Sunnydale High colors. The lights were low, a disco ball flickering over the people dancing in the center of the gym. Buffy's grin was enormous. Everything was perfect. Faith looked at her beaming, beautiful girlfriend and practically swelled with pride. Buffy was amazing, and she was all hers.

Faith's hand firmly in her own, Buffy sped toward their friends, who were seated at a table already.

"Hey!" Willow beamed. "You guys look great!"

"So do you," Buffy complimented. "Oz, Xander, looking quite suave."

Up on stage, a throat cleared. The awards portion was about to begin. The slayers sat down at the table, and everyone turned their attention to the speaker. Well, almost everyone. Faith was mostly just watching Buffy. She held the blonde's hand in her lap, lightly stroking the inside of her wrist. Goosebumps slowly appeared on Buffy's arm, letting Faith know the light touches were getting to her.

There was interruption in the speeches, as someone else was called to stage. Buffy turned to her and raised an eyebrow. In a low voice she asked, "How is it that you can make handholding feel dirty?"

"Natural gift," Faith whispered back, smiling.

Buffy was about to respond when she heard her name being called. Her gaze swiveled to the stage in surprise. Jonathan stood there, nervously gripping the microphone. A spotlight found their table, centering on Buffy, who blinked, not understanding what they were doing.

On stage, Jonathan addressed the crowd, "This is actually a new category. First time ever. I guess there were a lot of write-in ballots, and, um, the prom committee asked me to read this." He glanced down at the card in his hands. "'We're not good friends. Most of us never found the time to get to know you, but that doesn't mean we haven't noticed you. We don't talk about it much, but it's no secret that Sunnydale High isn't really like other high schools. A lot of weird stuff happens here.'"

From the crowd, students shouted out some of those events. A ripple of laughter passed through the room.

Jonathan looked a bit flustered at the interruption, but he managed to continue reading, "'But whenever there was a problem or something creepy happened, you seemed to show up and stop it. Most of the people here have been saved by you, or helped by you at one time or another. We're proud to say that the Class of '99 has the lowest mortality rate of any graduating class in Sunnydale history."

The crowd began to clap loudly. Faith clapped hardest of them all, grinning from ear to ear. Buffy looked shocked, glancing around with tears in her eyes.

"And we know at least part of that is because of you. So the senior class, offers its thanks, and gives you, uh, this." Jonathan held up a glittery umbrella with a little plaque attached to the handle. "It's from all of us," he said. "And it has written here, 'Buffy Summers, Class Protector.'"

The applause rose, and several people cheered. "Go on, B," Faith nudged her. "Get your award."

The blonde rose from her seat and headed for the stage. Jonathan handed her the umbrella, stepping back and clapping for her. Buffy smiled her thanks, looking out at her classmates. In the back of the room, she saw Giles brushing some moisture from his eyes. Even Principal Snyder was clapping, although probably just to avoid being the only one visibly refusing to do so.

As she left the stage, she was surrounded by her friends. "Did you guys know about this?" She asked, overcome with emotion.

They all nodded, grinning at her. "You deserve it, Buffy," Willow said sincerely, pulling her into a firm hug.

Xander wrapped his arms around them both. "You do," he confirmed.

When they released her, Faith stood there, practically glowing. She was really happy for Buffy. Being a slayer was often a thankless job, but tonight, the blonde had gotten a small bit of the recognition she deserved.

"This should be for both of us," Buffy pointed out with a sniffle.

"Nah," the brunette scoffed. "You've been here way longer than me. This is your night, B. You enjoy it."

Buffy placed her umbrella at their table. "Dance with me?" She asked.

Faith took her hand, leading her on to the dance floor. It wasn't exactly Faith's preferred type of dancing. If the look on Principal Snyder's face was any indication, that kind of dancing was strictly prohibited. But she had Buffy in her arms, and that was enough to put a big dumb grin on her face.

"You having a good time, baby?" She asked, her breath tickling Buffy's ear.

Buffy nodded, laying her head on Faith's shoulder. "The best."

The morning of graduation was bright and beautiful. Buffy bounded downstairs, looking forward to the graduation pancakes she'd been promised. Joyce stood in the kitchen, flipping pancakes and sizzling bacon.

"Morning, Mom," Buffy chirped, heading to the refrigerator for juice.

"Oh, honey," Joyce put down her spatula, intercepting her daughter midway to the refrigerator. She wrapped Buffy in a tight hug.

"Uh?" Buffy verbalized, hugging her mother back. "Good morning?"

Joyce pulled back, sniffling. "I'm just emotional, don't mind me."

The slayer smiled. "You do know I'm not going far away for college right? You'll still see me all the time."

"I know," Joyce said, almost as if she were reassuring herself. "But you're all grown up now. It won't be the same."

"Mom," Buffy said sympathetically, but she was cut off by the ringing of the phone. "Hold that thought." She plucked the phone from the counter and clicked it on. "Hello?"

"Buffy," Giles said from the other end. "Turn on the TV. Channel six news."

"Okay," the slayer agreed, heading to the living room. "What am I looking for?"

"You'll see."

Buffy flicked to channel six and turned up the volume. A newscaster was speaking. "In our top news story, Sunnydale mayor, Richard Wilkins III, was rushed to Sunnydale Memorial early this morning. The Mayor was reported to have suffered some sort of animal attack. Sources are now confirming that the Mayor has passed away from his injuries. No word yet from City Hall on who we can expect to fill his seat. In related news, today's commencement ceremony for Sunnydale High, which Mayor Wilkins was scheduled to speak at, has been postponed. The city is in mourning today for this great, great leader." The newscaster shook her head sadly. "Chet, how's the weather today?"

Muting the TV, Buffy said, "I'll be right there."

Willow's fingers tapped furiously across her keyboard. Although she'd been working on her witchcraft, she was still their go to hacker. She scanned the private files of the Sunnydale morgue, quickly identifying the case she was looking for.

"Are we in?" Buffy asked, pacing in front of the table. Giles looked like he wanted to join her, but he managed to hold himself in one location.

"Yeah," the redhead responded, still reading. "Looks like we were right. Two puncture wounds to the neck, near complete exsanguination."

Buffy stopped pacing, instead dropping herself into a chair across from her friend. "Okay, no surprises there. But why would a vampire kill the Mayor? I thought they were working for him?"

The library doors swung open as Faith and Wesley arrived. "What'd we miss?" Faith asked, taking a seat next to her girlfriend. Her fingers skimmed Buffy's back briefly.

"Vampires ate the Mayor," Willow supplied.

"Hmm," Faith murmured. "Vampires doing our job for us. But why would they want to off him?"

"That's what we were discussing," Giles answered. "Perhaps they felt disenfranchised when it became clear he wouldn't be ascending."

"But you said he could try again," Buffy pointed out.

"Well, vampires aren't known for their patience," Wesley replied.

"Okay," Buffy said, "so the vamps didn't want to wait around for the Mayor to make new plans. But why kill him? What are they up to?"

"Whatever it is," Giles said with a grimace, "it can't be good."

The graduation ceremony was rescheduled for three days later. The gang had planned a barbecue for afterward, to celebrate themselves. With Cordelia heading for LA, this would be the last time they would all be together for a while.

"I still can't believe you're leaving," Faith complained, as they all stood together, waiting for the ceremony to get started.

"Come visit me!" Cordy responded. "You could get out of this town every once in a while, see how real people live."

"Real people like Doyle?" The slayer asked knowingly.

Cordelia flushed. "Doyle happens to live in LA, yes."

"Uh huh," Faith said, deciding not to torment her further. "Well, I'll be up. I'm sure they got things to slay in LA, too."

Cordy nodded sarcastically. "The city's really known for the demonic tourism scene."

Faith just smiled. "Think they're calling your name now."

Cordy headed toward the stage to check in.

"They'll be calling you in a minute," Faith said to Buffy, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Just wanna tell you how proud of you I am."

Clad in her graduation gown and grinning, Buffy groaned, "Oh God, not you too. Mom's been crying on and off all day."

Faith laughed. "I'm not gonna cry." Her fingers traced small circles on Buffy's back through the gown.

"Good." The blonde snuggled in closer, nuzzling her nose against Faith's cheek. "I'm really proud of you too, baby."

"What for?" Faith wrinkled her brow in confusion.

"Wesley told me about the GED," Buffy said. "How come you didn't tell me?"

Faith shrugged, flushing. "Wasn't a big deal."

"Yeah, it is," Buffy insisted. "Do you know how many slayers before us were able to finish high school or earn a GED? Not a whole lot." She ran her fingers through Faith's hair. "We did it, because we have each other."

"The Chosen Two," Faith said, smiling.

"That's right," the smaller girl agreed. "Kicking demon butt into our 80s, that'll be us."

"Hope so," the brunette said.

"I know so," Buffy said. From the stage they called her name. She pressed a soft kiss to Faith's lips. "See you after the ceremony?"

"I'll be here," Faith promised. "Good luck, B."

"Love you," Buffy said softly, pulling free from Faith's arms.

"Love you, too."

Buffy made her way to the front, quickly sitting beside Xander, Cordelia, and Oz. Willow followed a few moments later.

"I wonder who they got to speak in the Mayor's place," Willow said, as they all looked up at the stage.

"I think we're about to find out," Oz said, noticing that Principal Snyder was ushering someone on stage.

The man took his place at the microphone, holding some index cards. "Good morning, Class of 1999!"

The graduates all dutifully said good morning.

"For those of you who don't know me, I'm former Deputy Mayor Alan Finch. With the untimely passing of my dear friend, Mayor Richard Wilkins, I've been asked to step into his shoes. Assisting me as Deputy Mayor will be Mr. Jeffrey Trick, a close advisor to Mayor Wilkins."

Buffy's eyes widened. Mr. Trick… as in the vampire who'd tried to kill her?

On stage, the new mayor continued to speak. "Mr. Trick and I have been putting our heads together, and I can tell you, we've got some very interesting things planned for the city." He smiled widely, settling his eyes firmly on Buffy. "I can't wait to show you what we've got up our sleeves."

The End