"Uh, shit," she muttered under her breath, brushing off the granite dust from her hands as the others looked over at her with pretty much the same expression she had on her own face. "Accident?"

"Is there any reason why you just attacked the counter?" Angel asked when nobody else said a word. "Faith?"

"No way, just was sittin' here mindin' my own business, y'know? Shit just broke."

"Granite doesn't just break," Angel said rather calmly. He watched Buffy slowly approach Faith as soon as she slid off the broken counter.

Buffy stopped when she reached her and casually bent down to pick up a piece of the counter that had fallen to the floor. She closed her fist around it, and with very little effort and it crumbled in her own hands. She just gave Faith a look before she turned to face the others, wiping her hand on her jean shorts as she let out a soft sigh.

"I think we have a problem. There's no way I should have been able to do that without even trying."

"We had our suspicions that the two of you might come back with additional strength," Giles said as he leaned back in his chair and picked up his cup of tea. "Since it is rather late and I'm sure you both would like to get some rest, we shall wait until morning to study the magnitude of your newfound strength increase."

"Great, thanks," Faith said as she quickly moved to the door only to find Buffy moving that much quicker and blocking the entrance before she even got there. "What gives, B?"

"Don't you want to find out what's going on with us?"

"Course I do. Kinda beat, though. Could use some sleep," she replied softly, crossing her arms over her chest when Buffy didn't move a muscle. "Look, B. So we've got more strength, big fuckin' deal."

"It is a big deal," Angel said as he motioned for the two of them to come over and sit at the table. "I've done some reading since you two were sucked inside that portal. There are a few theories—"

"Great, tell me in the morning," Faith said and she moved to get back up from her chair, stopping when Buffy reached out and gripped onto her thigh to keep her there. "What the fuck? I'm exhausted and I'm sure whatever it is can fuckin' wait 'til the morning."

"One theory," Angel continued, ignoring Faith's restlessness and urgency to get out of there as quickly as possible, "is that the magic Willow and the others used to pull you out, along with using the spell on the scythe once again, has somehow managed to channel the essence of all the past Slayers that ever lived."

"It isn't a theory," Giles spoke up as he placed his cup of tea down on the table. "We discussed this a few days ago. This was supposed to happen."

"So you knew this would happen and still you risked it?" Angel asked, keeping outwardly calm, but even Faith could see he was angry and even a little upset. "I know you all wanted to bring them home, but you have no idea what you're dealing with."

"Two very powerful Slayers?" Buffy offered, fighting off the smirk when Giles and Angel both glared at her. "Well, we are. More so than usual."

"Y'know, I really can't wait to get out there and test of this newfound strength. Kick some vamp and demon ass, make 'em run scared when they realize they really don't have a chance against us now," Faith grinned as she stretched her arms over her head for a moment before casually dropping one around Buffy's shoulders. "'Course, that's after we get some sleep and do whatever testing you wanna put us through."

"Is this dangerous?" Buffy asked Angel, her hand still on Faith's thigh but no longer gripping it tightly as she had been before. "Is it dangerous for us?"

"It will be until you learn how to control it," he replied, his eyes darting back and forth between the two of them. "We can't be sure, but I'm thinking not even the first Slayer had the kind of strength you two just might possess now."

"You said one theory," Faith said as she stared over across the table at Angel. "What're the others?"

"That you two wouldn't be able to adjust to being back home too easily, but from the looks of it, that doesn't seem to be a problem."

"That it?"

"That's it," Angel nodded in reply. "Up until five minutes ago I was starting to think I didn't really need to be here. Now I'm thinking it's probably best that I am."

They talked for a little while longer, discussing a way to test their strength in the morning. Faith only half listened as she traced small circles over the back of Buffy's neck in time to the small circles Buffy traced over her thigh and knee. Buffy's touch was calming her when she knew any other time a situation like that would have made her very tense.

Faith had a feeling things weren't going to be all 'fine and dandy' as Willow had colourfully put it earlier that evening. Sure the atmosphere was relaxed and everyone was happy that they were back and they were happy to be home again, but it was bound to blow up eventually. She hadn't had her thoughts go on overload since they'd been pulled out of the portal and landed gently on the living room floor, but now she couldn't stop all the thoughts that began to take over once again. She knew the closeness she and Buffy had now was making the others question just what had happened between them and how it all happened between them in such a short amount of time. The changes she and Buffy had gone through, alone and together, were really quite obvious. Even she knew that.

Jackie seemed to be adjusting just fine and before she was set up in Buffy's room for the night, she'd been getting along well with everyone in the house. Giles had been the most curious one of them all, asking her questions about the dimension only she could answer. After she answered what she could, Giles had asked her what she remembered of the times before she was sent there by Laura. Nobody else seemed the slightest bit fazed that Laura had been involved with sending Jackie there, either. Nothing was really surprising anymore when it came to finding out just how involved Julie, Henry, Laura, even Sam was in everything.

One of the things that Faith had noticed after the women from the coven had left for the night and they all had settled around in the living room to talk was the fact that Dawn and Xander were very close and one of the new Slayers, Satsu, couldn't seem to take her eyes off of Kennedy. Things had changed around there and she could see almost each and every one of them very clearly. There was something going on between Dawn and Xander and she could see it in the way they looked at one another and the small, subtle touches they exchanged when they thought nobody was looking. As for Kennedy and Satsu, she wasn't sure what was there, but the heat she felt coming from the two of them whenever their eyes met was undeniable.

She was pulled from her thoughts when Buffy squeezed her thigh gently as Giles cleared his throat, trying to get her attention. She felt her face flush a little when she felt all eyes on her, having no idea what they were just talking about.

"You weren't listening, were you?" Buffy asked, chuckling softly when Faith just tried to shrug it off.

"Uh, no. Tired as hell, remember?"

"Both our rooms are taken, aren't they?" Buffy asked Giles as Angel got up from the table and just nodded a silent goodnight before heading down to the basement. "Where do you expect us to sleep?"

"You can sleep on the couches in the living room if it isn't too much of a hassle. It is just for tonight until Xander has finished with the work he's been trying to do to make the attic liveable."

"The couch? Fuck that," Faith groaned softly. "We're goin' to the apartment. What time ya want us back here in the mornin', Giles?"

"One night on the couch isn't going to kill us, Faith," Buffy whispered softly before she leaned in to whisper so only she could hear, "you can go one night without, can't you?"

Faith glanced over at Giles who seem highly amused at the way the two of them were acting. She just rolled her eyes and gave in. Buffy leaned back, blushing when she realized Giles was watching them and Faith could feel the heat even on the back of her neck. She sat back with a smug smile on her face, watching as Giles stood up and quickly said goodnight before walking out of the kitchen. She was a little surprised when Buffy pulled her in for a kiss almost as soon as Giles had walked out. She quickly pulled Buffy so she was straddling her and kissed her deeper as Buffy's hands buried themselves in her hair.

Everything about being with Buffy was right and she knew that no matter what kind of fucked up thoughts always went through her mind day in and day out. She felt Buffy smile against her lips as her hands wandered under the blonde's shirt and over her back slowly. Even before they'd been sucked inside the portal, she'd become severely addicted to just kissing Buffy. Kissing her turned her into the world's biggest sap, at least by her standards. She knew what it was, too, without having to question it. She knew this was love and everything that came with it and because she'd let down her walls, she was finally experiencing it in every possible way.

"Always thinking," Buffy whispered against her lips, breaking away from the kiss a little suddenly and too soon for Faith's liking.

"Always, B. This time I was thinkin' bout you."

"I don't think this side of you will ever stop surprising me."

"What side?"

"Your sweet side."

"I don't have a sweet side," Faith muttered as she leaned back a little so she could look into Buffy's eyes. She couldn't keep a straight face and chuckled softly. "Fine, I got a sweet side. Tell anyone else and I'll kick your ass."

"Like to see you try. And besides," Buffy said, winking as she got up from Faith's lap slowly, "I don't need to tell anyone about your sweet side. They can just see it for themselves. They do have eyes."

"B?"

"Hmm?"

Faith stood up and followed her into the living room, reaching out to shut off the light before they walked out of the kitchen. "Call me crazy, but I'm kinda worried about this."

"About what?"

"This newfound strength we got. We should be worried about it and all we wanna do is..."

"Fuck? Well, it's not going to happen tonight," Buffy laughed as she reached for Faith's hands and pulled her over to the couch. "And I'm worried about it too, but that's the last thing my mind is able to focus on right now, honestly."

Faith laughed along with her as she settled on the couch and watched as Buffy walked over to the lamp to shut it off. Her eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness and she watched as Buffy walked back over to the couch, slipped off the sandals she'd been wearing, and laid down in front of Faith, pulling the taller woman's arms around herself. She could feel Buffy tense up for a moment before she turned around in her arms and pulled her in for a kiss. She knew Buffy couldn't resist. She had some kind of power over her and she'd seen it when they'd been stuck in the world between worlds with nothing but time on their hands—and their hands on each other if she really wanted to be technical and accurate.

"Bet you're wishin' we went to the apartment now, huh?" Faith whispered as she ran her fingers lightly over Buffy's thin t-shirt, following the curve of her breast. "Don't lie, B. I can read you really well now too."

"We were just kissing," she whispered as Faith manoeuvred them so she was slightly on top of Buffy with her thigh between the smaller slayer's legs, pressing hard into her center. "And maybe...this kissing thing isn't such a good idea either."

"When did you get all shy on me, B?"

"Not shy, just...really don't feel like getting all...touchy feely when just anyone could walk down the stairs any minute now and see us."

"Ya wiggin' out about gettin' caught? Or ya wiggin' about being heard too?"

"Faith," Buffy groaned softly, soft lips finding their way to her neck as Faith slid down her body just a little. "We should just get some sleep."

"Don't wanna. Ya got me all fuckin' worked up, B. Started when ya kissed me in the kitchen. Gotta finish what ya started, y'know?" Faith chuckled when Buffy just rolled her eyes and pushed her off of her, sending her crashing to the floor before she realized how much force she'd put behind it. "Great, B. Coulda just asked me to move."

"I'm sorry," she whispered as she helped Faith back up on the couch and quickly moved so she was lying in front of her with her back pressed up against Faith's front and the brunette's arms pulled firmly around her. "Crap. This extra dosage of Slayer strength is getting a little more scary. I didn't even..."

"I know, B. Don't worry about it," Faith said with a smile as she kissed the side of Buffy's head and moved a little, trying to get comfortable again. "Didn't hurt. Wasn't that much of a fall. Half a foot to the floor. Was a softer landin' than when Will pulled us outta the portal."

"I'm still all..." Buffy trailed off, pausing as if she was trying to think of what to say. "I don't know. I know I'm happy to be home and all, but..."

"Know the feelin', B."

"Do you?" Buffy asked, turning her head slightly so she could look at Faith. "I want to understand what we're going through, the changes we're feeling. I want to know the answers as to why we were sucked into that portal in the first place and why now."

"Cos some crazy bitch had her own agenda," Faith replied softly. "That and it was supposed to happen, B. Can't question fate or destiny or any of that crap."

"Do you honestly believe all that?"

"Never did before," Faith shrugged. "But I do now. Funny how bein' in love can really open your eyes to the world around ya, huh?"

"Tell me about it."

"Way I figure it," she said softly as she let Buffy turn around a little more in her arms, "after shit went down in Sunnydale, somethin' up there figured it was time for some major changes. Gettin' in touch with our human nature 'n shit. Guess that meant finding something in each other, with each other, whatever ya wanna call it. And ya know somethin', B?"

"What?"

"Wouldn't have it any other way. Never felt like this before and I know its cos of you. You know what I spent a lot of fuckin' time thinkin' about? About how bein' with you has changed me in all the ways I never thought I could be."

"You've changed me too."

"Yeah, into a horny little sex kitten," Faith chuckled and was rewarded by Buffy with a slap across the arm she had around her. "Well, ya are a horny little sex kitten, B. Stating the fuckin' obvious here. Ain't like I'm complainin' about it either."

"I—it's not my fault that I—Faith, shut up," Buffy stammered slightly as she glared at her. "I can't resist you or your charms. You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you put me under some kind of spell just so you can get some and come back for some more."

"Always knew it'd take the right one for me to lose the 'get some, get gone' attitude. And for your information, Blondie, we are—or were—under a spell. Only thing is, kinda know this is real even without that fucked up barrier spell messin' with us."

"So what happens when it wears off and I don't want you anymore?"

"Then you're fucked, cos I ain't ever lettin' ya go, B."

They both looked up at the same time then to see Angel hovering in the doorway. Buffy scrambled to sit up as he walked over to flip on the light. Faith just let out a soft sigh as she sat up and propped her feet up on the coffee table, smirking at how flustered Buffy looked. They both had gotten used to absolutely no interruptions in the last month and Faith was feeling frustrated knowing they'd probably never get that back. There'd always be someone around, unless they were at the apartment, and there'd always be someone there to ruin any little moment they managed to find together.

"I hope I wasn't interrupting anything," Angel said as he sat on the chair closest to the couch. "I was hoping I could talk to you two privately."

"About what?" Buffy asked once she finally found her voice. It came out slightly squeaky, like she was nervous, and it only made Faith smile as she looked over at her. "It isn't about anything bad, is it? Because I really can't handle hearing anything bad right now."

"I want to hear more about where you two were, what it was like there and this time," he said as he leaned forward a little, "don't sugar-coat it."

"We never sugar-coated anything in the first place!" Buffy said as she leaned back on the couch and looked over at Faith. "Did we sugar-coat it?"

"Nope," she replied as she shook her head. "Mighta left out some little...personal details, y'know, stuff that nobody else is gonna wanna hear."

"Like?"

"Ya kiddin' me?" Faith laughed at the oblivious look on Angel's face. "Ya wanna hear about how we got pelvic every fuckin' chance we got?"

Buffy flushed a deep red, lowering her eyes to her hands in her lap as Angel shifted in the chair uncomfortably. She smirked, feeling a little smug as she watched the two of them react very much the same way. She could understand why, too. They had history, romantic history and a whole lot of other history, between them. It had to be a touch more than uncomfortable for Angel to hear that Buffy was definitely with Faith and getting naked and sweaty on a regular basis now. She didn't want to rub it in Angel's face either. He didn't deserve it and she wasn't like that anymore.

"Look, I don't know what else we can tell ya, Angel. Only other person we saw there was Jackie and those guys inside that temple. Ya already know all this stuff," Faith said after neither of them dared speak much less look at each other. "Ya knew all this before ya even came here, didn't you?"

"Yes. A seer from a coven in Brazil contacted me, told me everything that you two have told me about the dimension you were sucked into. I was also told a few other things I'm sure that you won't want Giles or anyone else to know," he said. He leaned back in the chair and stared over at the two of them for a moment before continuing. "It's about Julie. Turns out she wasn't just crazy, she could see and wanted to make others see. The barrier spell was born from that desire of hers to make others feel everything she never could, see what she never could, have what she never could."

"Which is what, exactly? Love? Empathy?"

"All of it. She saw you and chose you, Faith. Her being able to feel your essence made it easier for her to see what you really wanted and I guess in your case, that was Buffy. So," he paused and smiled a little as the deep red in Buffy's cheeks didn't lessen at all, "she made it happen for you two. Call it crazy, and it is, but in a way she did it for the greater good despite the darker intentions that seemed to take over her and her family."

"And what about the Powers that Be?" Faith asked, knowing they had a hand in this as well. "Julie workin' for them or something?"

"You could put it that way, only it's really the other way around. It's complicated at best," Angel replied. "And believe me, for me to hear about you two from the seer that I talked with, it was definitely unexpected and expected at the same time. Everything that has happened, even back in Sunnydale and since you've come here, has happened for a reason. You need to feel more human than just a Slayer to face everything life is about to throw your way. It is what is going to keep you two alive."

"What, there's some big bad comin' or something?"

"Not as of now, no, but there's always a big bad and there always will be more."

"Vicious cycle," Buffy muttered under her breath. "We'll never get a break. Defeat one, something else pops up and tries to bring Hell to earth, end the world, control the world, end the Slayer line, or whatever else is on their agenda."

"What about the thing with Julie?" Faith asked, almost craving to know more if there was anything more to know. "I mean, she was basically invincible up until the end there, but once she lost that it was really a pretty easy fight."

"All I can tell you is that Julie and her family were just waiting for you two to come here. It was nothing more than a game for them and a way for them to feel relatively human again. Being immortal doesn't come without a price and now you two are basically going to feel just what that it's like for yourselves with the strength you now possess."

"We're basically immortal?" Buffy asked, looking over at Faith with both fear and excitement shining in her eyes. "How basic are we talking about?"

"We can't know for sure yet," Angel shrugged. "I'm guessing Giles will help you two figure that out soon enough."

Faith just grabbed the switchblade that had been left on the coffee table and flipped it open. Buffy watched with wide eyes as she ran the sharp blade over the skin on her left thigh and pressed hard, not even breaking the skin. She grabbed onto Buffy's leg and stabbed it, the blade bending as soon as it hit her skin.

"Guessing that answers just how 'basic' the immortality issue is, B."

"Faith! I can't believe you just did that!"

"So, Angel, what're you thinkin' about this? This part of the immortality deal, or is this somethin' else? Cos far as I can see, ain't nothing gonna be able to touch us now or kill us," Faith said as she tossed the broken switchblade onto the coffee table and sat back on the couch slowly. "Gotta be a lot of plusses to all of this, don't ya think?"

"It won't last," Angel said quietly. "Don't get used to it. It's just a side effect from the spell Willow used to pull you out of the portal."

"Ya sure about that?"

"It's what the seer told me. He is very rarely wrong."

"This guy, this seer," Faith said, slowly licking over her lips as she really began to feel the power coursing through her veins, "this the same friend that came to you before when shit with Julie and her family was goin' down?"

"No."

"If it ain't s'posed to last, how come ya didn't tell us this before?"

"I told you I wanted to talk to you two privately about this."

"Why?" Buffy asked as she lifted her head. "Shouldn't Giles know about this too? I mean he knows pretty much everything else, what difference does it make if he knows about this too?"

"The more people that know you possess this kind of power, the more dangerous it is for you and everyone else around you. Do you understand? Both of you?"

"Crystal fuckin' clear," Faith said under her breath as she watched Angel stand up slowly. "So what, that's all you wanted to talk about? Or is this just some kinda cover cos ya 'accidently' walked in on me and B about to get a little hot and heavy?"

Buffy blushed again, only this time she leaned into Faith and let out a soft sigh. "Let's just...not talk about me and Faith anymore, okay? It's all kinds of weird, Angel. And Faith," she said as she turned to look at her, "please don't ever bring up the topic of us in front of Angel again."

"Why not, B?"

"It's...weird."

"I'm with Buffy on that one. It's definitely weird," Angel said with a smirk, winking at Faith as he slowly made his way to the hallway. "I'm just happy you two are home and safe. We'll deal with this. We'll deal with whatever is happening to you two. As for it not lasting, there's no telling just how long you'll be like this or how much power you two will actually hold on to once the effects wear off. Just try not to be careless."

The last bit was directed to Faith, but before she could open her mouth Angel walked from the living room and out the front door. Faith sucked in a deep breath as she looked at Buffy, who sat there just staring blankly ahead.

"Well," Faith said as she let out a little laugh, "I guess we can mark this down as one long and very fucked up day, huh?"

"I think fucked up isn't strong enough of a word to describe today."

"Gotta figure though, B. Shit could be worse than it is. We could be dead."

"Right, because that's the worst it can possibly get," Buffy replied rather bitterly.

Faith could see the major change in Buffy since Angel had come into the room. Where there had been warmth before with their closeness, it was cooler and distant. She closed the small gap between them, pulling Buffy onto her lap and devouring her with a heart-stopping kiss. It was all she could do to stop the distance that Buffy had placed between them. She wanted to get back to the place where the world just fell away and all they could see, feel, hear, and taste was each other. She wanted to forget everything that had just happened, forget everything that Angel had said, but only for the time being.

"Faith..."

"Hmm?" Faith mumbled against her lips, trying to keep kissing her without breaking the moment. Buffy pushed her away a little and pouted when Faith just frowned. "What gives, B?"

"Angel kind of...ruined the mood."

"Fuck it," Faith said quickly as she pulled Buffy in for another kiss, stopping just a hairsbreadth away from her lips. "Told ya we should've gone to the apartment, B. Wouldn't have any interruptions there."

"One night, Faith. It's just one night. You can go without for one night, can't you?"

"No," she chuckled and Buffy just rolled her eyes. "Only time I've gone without since we started this...thing between us was when you were on your rag a little while ago. Pure torture."

"Um, not to sound a little strange, but I kind of noticed you haven't...I mean since we're sort of on that topic right now and everything."

"Oh," Faith sighed out, really not in the mood to bring up the reasons why, but knowing she had to eventually. It was one of those things that when you spent every single day with someone, fucked them every single day would be noticed. "Remember that crazy night when ya decided to gut me with my own knife? Well, I'm not privy to the medical details since I spent what, eight months in a coma then broke outta the hospital, but I'm thinkin' it has somethin' to do with that."

Buffy turned to look away from her guiltily and the tension, the many walls, shot right up between them just like that. Faith ran a hand over Buffy's thigh slowly, watching as goose bumps formed in its wake over her skin.

"B, y'know I forgave ya for that shit, right? Don't even worry about it," she whispered softly as she waited for Buffy to look back at her. "Besides it ain't all bad. So I can never have kids, never wanted 'em. Don't gotta worry about cramps either so it's like a bonus. Ya got nothing to feel guilty about either, B."

Buffy said nothing and still wouldn't look at her, yet she didn't move from sitting on her lap either. Faith continued to lazily run her hand up and down her thigh, smiling a little when she felt Buffy shudder as a small wave of pleasure washed over her. The tips of her fingers slid under the hem of Buffy's shorts, just for a brief second before she pulled her hand away from her completely.

"Come on, B. What's the big fuckin' deal?"

"You know what the big deal is," she muttered softly, still not looking at her. "I can't believe—why didn't you tell me this before?"

"Ya never asked."

"But isn't that kind of depressing, Faith? Never being able to have kids?"

"Wouldn't be a great mother anyway, don't see what the big deal is."

"You'd make a great mother."

"Remember who you're talkin' to here, B. I'd be a crappy mother. Barely been able to look after myself half the fuckin' time. Besides, we have other shit to worry about now and I can't even imagine bein' a Slayer and a mother at the same time. Seems like it'd be too much."

"Nikki Wood did it."

"She ended up dead," Faith replied. She let out a heavy sigh as Buffy finally turned to look at her. "Thinkin' I'm done with this talking deal for tonight," she said, moving to get up from the couch but being stopped by Buffy and pulled back down. "What?"

"Where are you going?"

"Gonna sleep on the other couch if that's okay with you."

"No," she said as she shook her head and pulled Faith down with her as she laid back. "Stay right here with me. Please? Feel like I can't fall asleep now without you right here with me. Holding me. I think I'm a little too...attached."

"Ya think?" Faith chuckled softly. "Can't I at least turn off the light?"

"No."

Faith let out a sigh as she closed her eyes and held Buffy close to her, feeling her relax in her embrace. She knew that the entire day, mostly since they'd been brought back, could be categorized under 'the most fucked up day, ever'. There was just too much to process all at once and with her thoughts and emotions now back in overdrive, she felt like she was going to explode if she didn't find a way to calm things down inside her head at least. But with the things she was finding out—well, mostly just finding out that Julie really did have a hand in what they were feeling and because of what they were feeling, they were together. It was a mess inside and out and yet, there they were, lying on the couch in the middle of the night, Faith behind Buffy, holding her close with her face nearly buried into the back of her neck. Lying like lovers, which is what they were, but things were firing off between them ever since Angel had left the room.

She traced her fingers idly over the small spot of exposed skin where Buffy's shirt had ridden up a little, trying to quiet her thoughts and fill them with the thoughts full of desire, the thoughts that made her libido rage out of control, her heart quicken and her whole body quiver in anticipation of Buffy's touch. She couldn't deny that everything felt amazing when it came to Buffy. Buffy made her feel so much, too much sometimes, but when things quieted down and it was just about the two of them, she felt like it was one of those perfect moments she'd only ever dreamt about without realizing she was. Even in the moments before the quiet had come, even in those words that could have spawned into hate far too easily, Faith felt like she belonged nowhere else but right where she was. Belonged with no one else but who she was with.

They often found themselves on the verge of fighting, talking about the past that riled up deep emotions they both had tried to bury since they'd become close, become—dare she think it—a couple. But even with the rough patches to work through or work out, they were in a very real relationship that surpassed every expectation she'd ever had whenever she thought about what it'd be like to have something like this with anyone. Even when they'd been stuck inside that world between worlds, she'd thought over everything a hundred times and every time it was slightly different.

She tried not to think about her and Buffy, afraid if she went too far with her thought that she'd start seriously doubting what they had together. She couldn't do that. Not to herself and not to Buffy. Not now that she loved her and knew that Buffy loved her back. Even if it really was a spell, or the side effects from the barrier, she knew what she felt had become real. She felt it deeply rooted in her very soul, the same part of her soul she knew was now permanently connected to Buffy's and the very soul connection that would never be severed. Ever.

She went back to thinking about the things Angel had told them. She knew that he cared about each of them, though more Buffy than herself. But it didn't matter to her who Angel cared for more, the fact that he was there when he didn't have to be spoke volumes not even she could fully understand. At least she understood why she felt different since they'd returned home. It was the power they had now, coursing its way blindly through their bodies with every beat of their heart and with every breath they took. Just how much power they had, she didn't know—and a part of her was almost afraid to find out. She was never good with having power, finding it overwhelming. It was what had lured her to the dark side and was what scared her from him, made her hate herself for it in the end.

She was exhausting herself and she let out a soft sigh before she placed a gentle kiss to the side of Buffy's neck and whispered ever so softly into her ear, "night, B."

"Night, Faith," Buffy whispered breathlessly, the words barely escaping past her lips as she let out a deep sigh.

Buffy turned just a little and placed a soft yet lingering kiss on her lips before smiling as she pulled away and turned back around and snuggled deeper, closer into Faith. And for what felt like the millionth time since the first time Buffy had kissed her, she asked herself how the hell she ended up having something so great, so loving, so real with Buffy when she knew with all the things she'd done in the past to Buffy, to her family, to her friends…she didn't deserve her. She didn't deserve any of it.

"You do," Buffy whispered. "You deserve everything you have. Even me."

"Did I just say that out loud, B?"

"No, but I felt it. Just stop thinking and go to sleep, Faith. I mean it."

She smiled a little, feeling slightly guarded and a little nervous. Maybe there was more to things than them just gaining strength from all the Slayers that had lived before them. Maybe it was more than them being connected on a deeper level. Maybe there were parts of themselves that were connected that they never thought was possible. Whatever it was, she'd worry about it after she'd gotten some sleep.

The first thing Faith noticed when she opened her eyes was that Buffy was no longer there with her. The second thing was that the TV was on and Andrew, Dawn, and the three other Slayers were sitting around the living room watching it as they either sipped coffee or ate a bowl of cereal. She stretched out lazily, yawning as Dawn looked over at her for a split second before turning her attention back to the TV, which was currently showing a news segment. She sat up slowly, watching as they showed video footage of what looked like a battlefield in the middle of a war—only the 'battlefield' was in a small cemetery just a few miles west of the city.

"What's goin' on?" Faith asked, but nobody answered as they kept their eyes on the TV. "This happen a lot since we been gone or what?"

"Shh!" Andrew hissed loudly as the newscaster began to speak again.

"Fourteen have perished in the latest mass murder, the fifth in the last week alone. The police have yet to determine..."

Faith was up and already heading for the kitchen, unable to stomach what she was seeing and hearing on the TV. She was somewhat relieved to find the kitchen empty and the coffeepot half-full. She grabbed a mug and poured the first cup of coffee she'd had in what felt like forever. Just the smell of it made her mouth water. She could still clearly hear the newscaster talking on the TV, but over it, just faintly, she could hear Buffy's voice coming from the basement as she talked quietly with Angel. She tried to listen to what they were saying, barely able to pick up actual words. She let out a frustrated sigh as she picked up her mug and walked closer to the basement door, opening it just a crack and wondering if she should just walk away as soon as she heard Angel say her name.

"How can you be in love with Faith?"

"I just am, Angel."

"It's the spell...the barrier spell and Julie...she's done this to you."

"No," Buffy said, the anger very clear in her voice. "This started when we left Sunnydale, when we stopped in that town for a few nights before we drove up here. You told me when I called you to let you know we all were okay to give her a chance and I did! I really did and you know something? I saw a different side to her and something just...clicked."

"It doesn't make any sense, Buffy! I know I have absolutely no right to tell you what to do with your life or who you can or cannot be with, but it's Faith. Faith."

Faith clenched her teeth together, wanting to go down there and punch Angel in the face for the disgust he had in his voice when he said her name. She knew he hadn't shown his true feelings towards their relationship and she wanted to know why he couldn't have just come out and said it to her instead of Buffy. She took a sip of her coffee, still listening as they continued to talk.

"It isn't just what we feel now that's changed our relationship," Buffy said quietly. "I don't even know how to put it into words, but the way I feel about her is something I've never felt before. I was so scared at first to tell her; to talk to her about it, but then things just sort of fell into place. Angel, you have no idea how she makes me feel. I don't mean feel like actual feelings, but she touches me in places nobody else ever has."

"Like your soul?"

"Yes. And for once can you drop the whole jealous ex-boyfriend act? I really thought that was over."

"It is," Angel said with a short laugh. "I'm just trying to understand this. I don't want to see you hurt her."

"Me? Why would I hurt her? Angel, I love her. I would never hurt her."

"You may think that now—"

"No," Buffy cut him off and Faith heard her as she began to pace across the floor, breathing heavily as if she was trying not to break down and cry. "Look, I don't even care what you think about my relationship with Faith. It is what it is and nothing you say is going to make me change my mind or make me feel any differently about her. I know we have a rocky past, but we're past that now."

"Just like that?"

"It's a little more complicated than that," Buffy sighed as she paused for a moment and Faith found herself leaning more into the door to hear her more clearly. "We talked while we were in that dimension. We completely laid everything out on the line between us. Well," Buffy let out a sharp laugh and Faith heard her continue pacing, "almost everything."

Faith nearly jumped when Kennedy walked in through the back door and closed it loudly behind her. She placed a set of keys on the counter and removed her sunglasses, raising an eyebrow at Faith as she strolled casually over to the coffeemaker.

"You know, eavesdropping always makes things worse," Kennedy said as she reached for a mug and poured herself a cup of coffee. "Let me guess, Buffy and Angel are still down there talking about you and Buffy's relationship. Am I right or am I right?"

"Yeah. How long they been down there?"

"Early. I'm talking way before the ass crack of dawn early."

"What are you doing up so early then?"

"I had to get out of here for awhile," Kennedy replied and she motioned for Faith to follow her out into the backyard so they could talk privately. "Things have changed around here. A lot."

"No shit," Faith said, placing her mug on the picnic table as she sat down. "Somethin' goin' on between you and that cute little Asian chick?"

"Satsu? No," Kennedy said quickly. "Nothing is going on. We're just friends."

"I've heard that line before," Faith chuckled as she watched Kennedy sit down across from her and nervously fidget with the handle on her mug. "Things aren't goin' too good with you and Willow anymore, huh?"

"How do you know that?"

"Gut feelin' and the fact that you two avoided each other last night. What's goin' on, Ken?"

Kennedy looked at Faith, a mass of perplexed emotions flashing over her face as she tried to stop the tears. Whatever it was, Faith knew it was tearing her up inside and this was her chance to really be Kennedy's friend and listen to whatever it was she wanted to say to her.

"Ken? Come on, it's me. Tell me what's goin' on."

"I'm having...feelings for Satsu," she whispered. "And I feel things around her I never feel with Will. Kind of wondering if it's a Slayer thing, because of the connection we all have. I feel it with you guys, but with her it's...different."

"Ya get that down-low tingle if she just looks at ya?"

"Yeah," Kennedy laughed and she shook her head. "But it's a different kind of...tingle than the normal one, you know what I mean?"

"Sure do, Ken. Feel it around B all the time. Hell, I can feel it whenever she's talkin' about me and I'm not even near her," she chuckled as she paused to take a sip of her coffee. "What about you and Will? You guys lose that spark?"

"Yeah."

"You two try to work it out?"

"Tried, yeah, but with you two gone there was a lot of stress. I don't think that helped."

"What about with Satsu?"

"Uh," Kennedy laughed nervously as she looked up at the house for a moment. "The feelings are kind of mutual. More so on her part. God, I can't believe I'm talking to you about this."

"Ain't like I'm gonna go shoot my mouth off and announce it to the world that you're havin' those down-low tingles for a girl who ain't your girl."

"It is driving me insane, Faith! I don't even know what to do. What is the right thing to do?"

"Askin' the wrong chick, Ken."

"This is just as bad as trying to deal with the fact that Dawn and Xander are..."

"Dawn and Xander are what?" Faith asked, raising an eyebrow when Kennedy groaned and shook her head no. "What? Ken, tell me. Dawnie and Xander are what?"

"Uh, together? Sort of? They've been...you know, making out when they think nobody is looking."

Faith burst out laughing, the tears stinging her eyes as she tried to stop. "Are ya fuckin' kidding me? Dawnie and Xander? Oh fuck, that's classic. B is gonna flip."

"Which is exactly why you can't tell her," Kennedy said as she too tried to stop laughing. "God, everything is so messed up now, isn't it? I mean you two come back as juiced up Slayers, everyone's relationships are taking a turn for the worse," her eyes turned upward thoughtfully, "or the better; depends on how you look at it, I guess—and Angel is downstairs grilling Buffy about her feelings for you. It's times like this when I kind of wish we were dealing with another apocalypse."

"Ya just jinxed it, Ken."

"Shit," she laughed. "Whatever, bring on the worst!" Kennedy shouted to the sky and Faith just shook her head and sipped her coffee, trying not to laugh again.

"You should know better than to tempt the Fates," Willow said as she walked over to them, smiling as she sat down next to Kennedy. "Giles want you to go inside in a bit, Faith. Something about testing to see how much strength you and Buffy have now. He's downstairs talking to Angel and Buffy now, said to give him about ten minutes."

"Great," Faith sighed as she finished the rest of her coffee, unable to look away from Willow and Kennedy.

Willow looked completely oblivious to the way Kennedy was feeling. She almost felt bad for Willow because she knew, from what Buffy had told her that it was hard for her to move on after Tara had died and she knew that Willow had found something in Kennedy that was pretty close to what she'd had with Tara. She left the two of them there alone, shooting Kennedy a look that basically said for her to try to talk to Willow about where they stood on their relationship.

She could hear Giles and Angel talking in the basement as she walked inside and closed the back door. She had barely accomplished that when Buffy jumped into her arms, wrapped her legs around her waist, and was kissing her furiously. Not one to question why she was being kissed—or completely devoured—like that, she kissed her back just as hard, stumbling a little as she moved to press Buffy up against the wall. She could feel Buffy's heat on her stomach and it only caused her to press into her harder and kiss her deeper. She moved her hand between them, cupping Buffy's sex over her denim shorts and causing the blonde slayer to pull back from the kiss as she let out a soft whimpering moan.

"Morning to you too, Faith."

"Hey," she smirked, trailing her fingers up to the top of Buffy's shorts as she slid down to stand on her own feet. "Feel like ditchin' Giles and Angel and findin' the fun with me upstairs?"

"As much as I want to," Buffy groaned softly as she pulled Faith's hand away before she could unbutton her shorts, "we can't. You know we can't. We need to find out just how much strength we have now and learn how to control it. I don't want to unintentionally hurt you or anyone else."

"Heard ya talkin' to Angel before," Faith said, making no effort to move away as she kept Buffy pressed up against the wall. "He's havin' a hard time dealin' with the fact you and me are together, ain't he?"

"He doesn't understand how after two months I can feel like this for you. I had to remind him that one of those two months was spent in another dimension and that we spent nearly every minute there together. Honestly," Buffy sighed as she ran her hands slowly up Faith's arms, "I think being there made me fall in love with you faster."

"That a good thing or a bad thing, B?"

"A good thing, I think. He's just...he's more worried about you, Faith. He thinks you're still emotionally unstable."

"Well, he's not wrong."

Buffy pouted as she gently cupped Faith's face with both her hands. "Even if you are emotionally unstable, it doesn't change anything."

"No? What about when I completely fuckin' lose it and hightail it outta here? What then? Is it gonna change everything then, B, or are ya still gonna love me even after I break your heart?"

She had no idea why she spat those words out, why they felt so bitter as they rolled past her tongue. Buffy just stared at her, her face almost expressionless as she stroked her fingers lightly over Faith's jaw before dropping her hands to her shoulders. Buffy was at loss for words and so was Faith. She pushed herself away from Buffy, grabbed her mug, and went to pour herself another cup.

"Always fuck everything up," she muttered under her breath as she poured the last of the coffee from the pot into her mug. She felt Buffy step up behind her but she didn't reach out to touch her. Faith just turned around and stared at her, cocking her head slightly to the side as she tried to read the many emotions flickering across her face and in her eyes. "What?"

"What about what you said last night?" Buffy asked quietly as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"What part?"

"About never letting me go."

"B, what I was sayin' there was just a 'what if', ya know? It ain't like it's really gonna happen," Faith said softly, forcing a smile when Buffy looked away and bit her lower lip, looking like she was about to cry. "Kinda overheard you and Angel before. It's messed me up. Don't listen to me."

"I don't care what Angel says," Buffy said softly. Faith put her mug of coffee down before wrapping her arms around the blonde and pulling her in close. "He's just...he's jealous, that's all it is. I knew this would happen. I knew him coming back here was..."

"What, B?" Faith asked softly, studying her face as she furrowed her brow and let out a soft, short sigh. "Okay, we won't talk about it if ya don't wanna, but just cos we're not gonna talk about it now doesn't mean we never will. Shit," she sighed as she held onto her tightly, not wanting to let go, "ain't nothin' gonna make me change the way I feel about you either, B. Nothing."

"Better not," Buffy chuckled as she pulled back from the tight embrace and planted a light kiss on Faith's lips. "I mean it, Faith. I finally found something completely amazing with you and if you think for one minute that I'll ever let you walk away from this, from us, then you're even more crazy than Jackie is."

"Well she is my mother, y'know—how's that sayin' go? Like mother like daughter, or whatever?"

"It's always gonna be like this, isn't it?" Buffy asked, smiling when Faith just shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "We're always going to be back and forth, like we got some kind of angst switch inside of us, aren't we?"

"Angst switch?" Faith laughed as she leaned back against the counter, pulling Buffy with her. "If ya say so, B. Wonder if I can find it," she smirked as she ran her hands from Buffy's waist to cup her ass. "Getting warmer?"

"Getting there," Buffy replied, biting back the laugh as a moan slipped out.

"Ahem," Giles said as he appeared in the kitchen, hovering by the basement door. "If you two can manage to keep your hands off of each other for more than five minutes, I'd like to start with those endurance tests as soon as possible."

Faith dropped her hands from Buffy's ass, smirking as she leaned back against the counter and reached for her mug of coffee. Buffy couldn't fight the blush and she couldn't quite bring herself to turn and look at Giles much less answer him. Giles looked slightly amused—a little mortified and embarrassed as well—for having caught them the way he just had. Faith quickly gulped the last of her coffee and grabbed onto Buffy's hand, forcing her to follow along to the basement with Giles.

After nearly the entire day training in the basement and going through a few of Giles' 'endurance' tests, Faith collapsed on the mats covering the basement floor, completely exhausted. Angel had watched from where he sat on the stool in the far corner of the basement, not saying a single word to any of them in the seven and a half hours they'd been down there.

They were definitely strong, that was a given, and their bodies had apparently developed an armour of sorts. Nothing broke the skin—not even the scythe, sharp as it was. Giles was beyond himself and had Willow and the others going through every book they could get their hands on to find out more about Buffy and Faith's sudden immortality and to try and find out how long it would last. They didn't seem to have any problem controlling their strength either, which made Giles very relieved that they didn't have to worry about accidentally hurting Kennedy or the other Slayers if they chose to spar with them.

"So, G," Faith said from where she laid on the mats, "we going out on patrol tonight?"

"I believe so, yes. We can better test your strength that way."

"There are also the mass murders that have happened. We should look into that," Angel said as Buffy sat down on the mats near Faith and let out a heavy, exhausted sigh. "Everything points to demons. If it were vampires, there'd be neck wounds and no blood."

"I've already spoken with Perry," Giles said as he leaned against the workbench. "He and the others are already looking into it. We'll be meeting with them shortly before sunset."

"Are we done?" Buffy asked, stifling a yawn as she stretched out. "I could seriously use a shower and a nap before patrol."

"We are done, yes," Giles nodded. "A nap may be wise. It will be a rather long night for the both of you."

"Shoulda thought about that 'fore ya put us through a whole fuckin' day of this shit," Faith muttered quietly under her breath as she got up from the mats and followed Buffy to the stairs.

She could feel Angel's eyes on both of them and didn't even have to look over at him to know he was brooding in his corner. It was all he'd done all day while Giles had put them through round after round of tests and pitted them against each other in sparring, trying to determine if their speed and accuracy had improved as well. She smirked as she followed Buffy up the stairs, her eyes falling to her ass, the tight denim shorts clinging to her in all the right places. She could still feel Angel's eyes on them and she could only roll her eyes as Buffy opened the basement door, but stopped and turned to face her.

"What are you thinking?"

"About what, B?"

She let out a soft sigh as they walked out of the basement and into the empty kitchen. "About all of this? We just spent the entire day training and testing our strength and I got to say," she paused as she walked over to the fridge and pulled out two bottles of water, "I'm a little bit scared."

"Why're ya scared, B?"

"Because! We have this strength that's ten times what we've ever had, probably more, and it's scary to know just how strong we really are now."

"Okay," Faith said slowly as Buffy handed her a bottle of water. "Still don't get it. If anything, you should be pumped up about this. Ain't nothing out there can touch us now, B."

"That's what scares me. We're going to go out there with that mindset and it's going to give us reason to be careless."

"Nah," Faith said as she shook her head. "Ain't gonna make me wanna be careless and I know it ain't gonna for you either. What're ya really scared about, B?"

"Everything. Being this strong is going to change everything, Faith."

"Don't really understand why. I mean," Faith said, sighing as she leaned against the counter and stared over at Buffy as she stood a few feet away, "we don't have to let it change anything—includin' us."

She could see the frustration in Buffy's eyes as she scoffed lightly. She knew the conversation wasn't going to end well since they obviously were in two very different places when it came to how they felt about their newfound strength. Faith loved the feel of the power flowing through her body and it made her feel slightly high, as if it were a drug to her. Buffy wasn't comfortable knowing just how much strength she possessed now and it showed in every way. She'd seen it all day and she'd seen how Buffy had come close to tears more than a dozen times in the last couple of hours.

They didn't continue with the conversation as they headed upstairs. Buffy went right for the bathroom, closing and locking the door and dashing Faith's hopes that they could shower together before getting a few hours of sleep. She groaned softly as she walked to her room and found Jackie sitting on the bed staring blankly at the window. She looked lost, afraid, and she was shivering slightly as Faith hovered in the doorway. There was so much she wanted to say to Jackie, so much she wanted to ask, to know, but with Jackie in the state of mind that she was, she knew she couldn't say much of anything at all.

Everyone in the house had been so curious about Jackie too. Giles had bombarded her with too many questions, yet as overwhelmed as she'd been, she answered every single one of them with patience. Faith knew that Willow had done some research, trying to find out if Jackie was indeed her mother. She'd found records from a small clinic in Boston where Faith had been born and she'd found Faith's birth certificate that listed a Jacqueline Lehane as her mother and a John Lehane as her father. She remembered her mother—the woman she was raised by—telling her that her father was dead and before Willow had found her birth certificate she hadn't even known his name. It put her whole life into a different perspective especially after having learned what she had from Jackie before. That orphaned feeling she'd felt for so long and fought not to feel was nearly gone, just remnants of it still lingering there.

"Oh, hello, Faith."

"Hey," she nodded, smiling a little over at Jackie as she got up from the bed slowly. "Ya settlin' in here okay?"

"Best as can be expected. The world isn't as it was when I left."

"No shit," Faith chuckled softly as she leaned against the doorframe. "Do ya need anything?"

"No," Jackie said as she shook her head slowly. "The girls took me out today to shop for clothes."

"How'd ya make out?"

"That Dawn is rather feisty," Jackie smirked as she picked up the empty coffee mug off the dresser. "She's much like Buffy, only not. She talks a lot too, couldn't get a word in with her. But everyone has been wonderful, truly wonderful. I am very grateful to be welcomed into this family of yours, Faith."

"Wouldn't want it to be any other way, Jackie."

Jackie smiled and threw her arms around Faith unexpectedly. "I'm so glad I've got my baby girl back in my life. You've turned out to be an amazing young woman despite all you've gone through to get here and," she smiled as she pulled back from the hug, "you've got a great girlfriend in Buffy."

"Uh thanks," Faith laughed uneasily as Jackie walked out of the bedroom and headed down the stairs.

Faith just walked into the room and went through the drawers, hoping to find some of her clothes that she'd left there before, but none of the clothes in the dresser were hers. She groaned in frustration as she walked out to the hallway and pulled out a clean towel from the linen closet just as Buffy walked out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her still wet body. Faith let out an appreciative growl as she walked past Buffy and reached out to playfully slap her on the ass. Buffy didn't even turn to look at her, choosing instead to flip her off as she walked into her bedroom.

Faith chuckled quietly as she walked into the bathroom and closed the door behind her. The room was still steamy from Buffy's shower and she quickly stripped out of her clothes and turned the water on, planning to have a rather quick shower before joining Buffy in her room for a nap. The almost too hot water felt like heaven as it cascaded over her body. She could faintly hear the laughter coming from the living room and the sound of Kennedy yelling at Andrew as she told him to stop being such a pervert. She laughed to herself as she quickly showered and once she'd rinsed the last of the soap from her body, she shut the water off and stepped out.

Buffy was still in her towel when she walked into her room and she stood by the door, making sure it was closed, as she watched her rub lotion on her legs. The sight was mesmerizing, mouth watering, and she couldn't quite seem to move from where she stood as she watched her. Buffy was purposely moving her hands over her legs slower now that she knew Faith was watching her. The playful, flirty smile on her face proved that much and Faith tried to stay back as long as she could, but as soon as Buffy 'innocently' dropped her towel, she moved over to the bed, dropping her own towel as she wrapped her arms around her lighter counterpart. Before Faith could even kiss her, Buffy put a hand to her lips and shook her head no.

"We need to get some sleep, Faith."

"But—"

"And I'm not particularly fond of being caught. There isn't even a lock on the door," she continued without missing a beat and winked as she pulled Faith down with her on the bed.

"Didn't stop ya when we were—"

"Because I knew Jackie wouldn't purposely walk in on us, or even accidentally. She's so considerate like that and unfortunately," she whispered as Faith settled between her legs and was instantly grinding into her. She let out a quiet moan, momentarily forgetting what she was going to say as she stared deeply into Faith's eyes. "Unfortunately, nobody in this house is considerate like that."

"So, we'll be quiet and they'll think we're sleeping," Faith whispered as she leaned in, stopping before their lips touched. "And once we finish patrol tonight, we are going to the apartment. Ain't no way in hell I'm sleepin' on the couch again."

Buffy just nodded her head as she bit her lip to quiet the moan that slipped out anyway. She gripped onto Faith's ass, grinding her harder into her pussy as she spread her legs a little more. Their skin was still damp from the showers they'd taken, but with the heat in the room and the heat between them, a thin sheen of sweat coated their bodies in mere seconds. Faith wouldn't let Buffy kiss her, opting on staring into her eyes as she fucked her hard and slow. Right when Buffy was on the verge of her climax, Faith captured her lips in a fierce and hot kiss, both of them moaning as Buffy came hard, Faith coming just a few seconds later. It was always like that between them when they just got right to it, fucking not being the right word for what they shared. Making love and despite the quickness, it was as intense as an orgasm that took five minutes to build up.

Buffy wrapped her legs around Faith's waist, keeping her right where she was as she deepened the kiss even more so. Faith checked out for a moment as fantasies of buying a strap-on and fucking Buffy for hours filled her head. Buffy pulled back from the kiss with a soft laugh as she stroked her fingers over Faith's cheeks. Faith took that moment to really get into the moment, to stare into her eyes and see the love in them that filled her in ways she never thought she could be filled. Buffy had seriously done a number on her. She was constantly feeling like a big pile of mush and the old Faith would have laughed and called her a pussy, but she just didn't care anymore.

"You really can't understand the word 'no', can you?" Buffy asked, laughing softly as she released her legs from around Faith so she could move to lie next to her.

"Ya never said the word 'no', B."

"Could've sworn that I did. I did say we needed to get some sleep though," she countered and groaned softly as she tried to pull the sheets over them. "That's pretty much a no right there."

"No it ain't. Doesn't matter now," Faith said softly as she let Buffy turn around so her back was to her front before she wrapped an arm around her. "Ain't nothin' better than gettin' in a nap after some fuckin' hot fucking."

"We really should...focus on everything rather than each other all the time."

"Ya complainin', B?"

"No, I'm just saying, we can't be careless because all we want to do is..."

"Fuck?" Faith offered when Buffy didn't finish saying what she was going to say. "I get it, B. No big deal. Can't blame me for wantin' ya all the time though."

Buffy chuckled softly, the vibrations shooting through Faith's body like lightning. Faith felt her relax and she closed her eyes, breathing in the scent of Buffy's still damp hair, her freshly washed skin, and the smell that was distinctly Buffy. She was sweating, the sheets were drenched, and she knew if she pulled back the covers, Buffy would likely kick her ass. She knew without having to be told that Buffy felt more comfortable like this—covered and sweating worse than the devil's ass crack in the hottest spot in Hell rather than taking a chance of someone coming in and catching them lying on the bed, completely naked and holding each other.

At least after today they wouldn't have to worry about that so much. Faith was determined to get Buffy to come with her to the apartment. They might have already discussed Buffy moving in with her, but saying it was one thing, doing it was completely something else all together. She felt Buffy lean back into her some more, grinding her ass into her pussy and it took all of her self-control not to fuck her again when she knew they really needed to get a couple hours of sleep. They did have a very, very long night ahead of them, after all.

Priorities. She liked to believe she had them. Sometimes.

"What the hell is this?" Buffy asked with slight disgust as she held up the outfit Andrew had handed her. "Do you really expect me to wear this?"

"It's lightweight Kevlar and it is black so it's...stealthy," Andrew replied, keeping his voice steady even though he looked like he was on the verge of tears. "I made each one especially for all of you. Do you know how hard it was for me to get the size right when I had nothing but vague memories and clothes of yours to go by? It took me nearly a day to make this for you, Buffy!"

Faith tried not to laugh at the look on Buffy's face. She was completely not into the idea of wearing what Andrew called 'Slayer Gear'. She lost it when Buffy groaned almost painfully as Kennedy and the other Slayers came into the living room dressed in their gear.

"I'm not wearing this," Buffy said as she shoved it at Andrew. "Besides, I don't need any kind of protection. At least not right now."

"Buffy...we're a team," Kennedy said through clenched teeth. Faith could tell she too was trying so hard not to laugh at Buffy's reaction to this. "It's just an outfit and they're actually surprisingly comfortable! Even Perry and Marshall are wearing them."

Faith grabbed hers and headed upstairs with Buffy hot on her heels. She knew Buffy was a little pissed off, but she couldn't help but laugh when Buffy practically shoved her into her bedroom and slammed the door shut behind her. Faith just watched as Buffy balled up the shirt and the pants and threw them across the room.

"What's the big deal, B?"

"This is not how we do things around here!"

"Maybe not, but shit," Faith said calmly as she tossed her clothes to the bed and wrapped her arms around Buffy, "it's just a fuckin' outfit, B. It ain't the end of the world. Besides maybe Andy is right—they'd be stealthy, not to mention sexy."

"He never said sexy."

"I know. I did."

"Good. Because if I ever hear those words coming out of his mouth..."

"Major ew," Faith chuckled and let out a soft sigh of relief as Buffy relaxed a little bit. "Come on, just try it on. Andy put a lot of work into this."

"How do you know that?"

"Just look at 'em, B. You can just tell he slaved over 'em to make 'em perfect."

Buffy groaned, clearly annoyed, but watched as Faith stripped out of her clothes and pulled on the Kevlar outfit. It fit like a glove, surprisingly, and it was comfortable, light. Almost as if it was a second skin. She turned around and caught Buffy checking her out, then walked over to where Buffy had thrown hers and laid it out on the bed as she sat down. She motioned for Buffy to strip, smirking as Buffy pouted and shook her head no. After a few minutes of a rather intense staring contest, Buffy gave in, stripped out of her clothes, and quickly pulled on the outfit.

"Damn," Faith said softly, her eyes drinking in Buffy as she looked her up and down. "Definitely sexy, B. Don't know why you were complainin'."

"Just shut up, Faith."

She chuckled as she watched Buffy walk over to the mirror that hung on the closet door and check herself out. She rolled her eyes at Faith before she walked out of the bedroom, flipping off the light as she did and leaving Faith sitting there on the bed in the dark. She just shook her head, got up, and joined the others down in the hallway as they gathered a couple of weapons and discussed where they would go on patrol. Kennedy and Satsu were going to sweep the cemetery nearby, Carmen and Amber were going to go meet up with Perry and Marshall and do a sweep in the neighbourhood near the Hellmouth. Buffy and Faith were going to go to the cemetery with Angel to see if they could pick up on any clues in relation to the mass murder that had happened.

If it were up to Faith, she'd be joining the others instead of playing detective with Buffy and Angel, but it wasn't up to her. It never would be. She was no leader and apparently Buffy wasn't either. As Giles had said before Andrew brought out the 'Slayer Gear' outfits, every decision made was made by everyone, not just whoever thought they were in charge. Nobody was in charge, although Faith knew that Giles was trying to have a little more pull over the rest of them. It'd be interesting to find out just how long Buffy would take it before she put her foot down. If anyone could stand up to Giles and tell him that enough was enough, it was Buffy.

She, Angel, and Buffy were the last to leave the house and they walked in complete silence, Angel ahead of them and Buffy next to her. She tried to keep focused, but she had a burst of adrenaline surge through her body as soon as she felt a couple of vampires nearby. From the look in Buffy's eyes, she felt them too, and they took off, ditching Angel as they went to do what they did best. Slay.

After four days, they found the nest of vampires that were behind the mass murders and took them out with Angel's help. They'd spent two days on the wrong trail, following a demons-as-perpetrators lead that Perry had dug up, before beginning to zero in on the true vamp culprits. Angel had left just a few short hours ago, barely saying a word to either Faith or Buffy other than goodbye. Once he'd left, Faith had to practically drag Buffy back to the apartment and she knew from the way Buffy was reacting to her that something was up.

She didn't question it; barely said a word to her either as they stripped out of their clothes and climbed into bed together. Taking out that nest of vampires had pushed the envelope of the amount of adrenaline and power Faith felt surging through her body. She was on a high and wound tight, but with the last three nights of getting next to no sleep, they were both out like a light as soon as Buffy pulled the soft silk sheets over them. When morning came Faith was woken by soft caresses over her stomach and she couldn't fight off the smile as she opened her eyes to see Buffy staring over at her, a smile on her face and that look in her eyes. The look Faith had grown very used to seeing in the last month.

"Morning," Buffy said softly as she leaned in for a kiss.

"Mmm, morning, B."

"It's Saturday, right?" Buffy asked before Faith could continue the sweet kiss. "We don't have to do anything today."

"It's Saturday and we got the whole fuckin' weekend off," Faith smiled widely as she moved to hover over Buffy. "I just wanna spend the whole day in bed with ya."

"Sounds like a dream, but you're forgetting something."

"What?"

"I promised you I'd cook you dinner, let you have me for dessert, and then you have to take me out after."

Faith hadn't forgotten about the promises Buffy had made and her promises she'd made to Buffy to take her out on a proper date since they had yet to go on one. Patrolling at night did not count as a date—at least it didn't to Buffy—so Faith knew she had to go along with it and do whatever made Buffy happy. She didn't have to, more like wanted to. It really never failed to amaze her how compassionate she was when it came to Buffy and how sensitive she'd become when it came to her needs and her emotions. The whole deal with the empathy, feeling it more than any human would normally feel, had done a number on her. Two months ago she would have had a serious problem with it, but now it didn't even matter anymore.

She knew she was getting lost in her thoughts yet again, barely having time to register that fact before Buffy was devouring her lips with her own in a deep and passionate kiss. She was so lost in the kiss she barely had time to react as Buffy flipped them over and straddled her waist, never breaking away from the kiss, not even for a second. She couldn't hold back the low husky moan as she felt Buffy's pussy grind into her pubic bone and felt just how wet she was. She gripped onto the smaller woman's hips and forced her down a little lower, causing Buffy to suck on her bottom lip as Faith pulled her hard against her own equally wet pussy.

"You know something?" Buffy whispered as she pulled back from the kiss. "You've made me addicted to sex."

"Nah, you're just addicted to pussy now. And you're addicted to me," Faith chuckled softly. "The sex is just a bonus."

Buffy rolled her eyes, but smirked as Faith pulled her back down for another kiss, never wanting to stop. Buffy put on the brakes, though, pulling back yet again and looking down into Faith's eyes. She just smiled at her sweetly, her thoughts nearly clearly written across her face, but Faith said nothing as Buffy leaned back until she was sitting up, still slowly grinding her pussy against Faith's.

"What's up, B?" Faith asked softly as she ran her hands lightly over Buffy's thighs.

"I was just thinking."

"Uh oh," Faith chuckled as Buffy just shook her head and scoffed. "What're ya thinkin' about, B?"

"Thinking how we've been here for two months now and a month of that was spent there."

"Oh?" Faith asked, confused as to where this was going. Sometimes she just didn't get Buffy and how she'd start thinking of something and try to talk to her about it yet didn't quite explain it well enough for her to get what she was trying to say. "What about it, B?"

"We've been together a little less than that and it feels like so much longer. I know you're wondering why I'm bringing this up now, but I was talking to Dawn yesterday and..." Buffy trailed off as she slid off of Faith and laid on her side next to her. "She told me it's awfully fast for us and I tried to explain that it wasn't like we didn't know each other for years before, right?"

"So, what're ya sayin'? You wanna slow this down?"

"No," she said quickly as she shook her head and tried to fight off the smile. "Definitely don't want to slow it down at all. I was trying to tell her that it's different with you because it really is. Then she told me about her and Xander."

"Really?"

"Yeah," she sighed. Faith was rather surprised she wasn't more upset about it. "It's um...definitely high on the scale of weird with the two of them because hello, age difference, and then the fact that Dawnie is like a little sister to him."

"Technically not anymore," Faith said, trying not to laugh since she knew Buffy was gearing up for a serious talk. "So what then, B?"

"I didn't ask her much, but she told me it 'just happened' between them. You know what I told her?"

"That the same thing happened with us?" Faith asked and Buffy nodded her head. "And why are ya bringing this up now?"

"Because I sort of, kind of invited them to come out with us tonight. Like on a double date. Well triple date since Kennedy and Will are coming along too."

"Great," Faith said, feigning enthusiasm over it. "Will and Ken trying to rekindle their relationship or somethin'?"

"Trying, yeah. Faith, can I ask you something?"

"Even if I say no, you will anyway."

"Do you think there's something going on between Satsu and Kennedy?"

"Like what?"

"Oh god, there is, isn't there? Is she cheating on Willow?"

"What?" Faith laughed as she sat up a little. "Far as I know Ken hasn't done anything that would be considered as cheatin', unless making moon eyes at another woman is considered cheatin'..."

Buffy fell into silence as she stared up at the ceiling. Faith just turned on her side and very lightly began to trace circles over her stomach, watching as the goose bumps formed under her touch. She knew if Buffy had brought that up that it was bothering her, but she only had one thing on her mind as her eyes roamed over Buffy's naked body, her lower half barely covered by the silk sheets.

"I'm sorry."

"What for, B?"

"For bringing all that up."

"Nah," Faith smiled as she leaned in and kissed her softly as her hand slipped between her legs. "Told ya before just to speak what's on your mind. Ain't gonna stop me from doin' what I wanna do."

"And what's that?"

"You."

Faith smirked at Buffy as she very lightly teased her fingers over her clit. She stopped and winked as she reached over for the handcuffs she'd stashed in the bedside drawer the other night—unknown to Buffy—and she pulled them out, testing Buffy's reaction as she held onto them.

"You game, B?"

"Sure. Although it's a little early to get a bit kinky, isn't it?"

"No such thing."

"Maybe we'll save these for later," Buffy whispered as she took the handcuffs from Faith's hand and placed them on the nightstand. Faith wondered if it was a trust thing with Buffy being handcuffed to the bed while she had her naughty little way with her. She wondered if maybe it was a Spike thing and as soon as that thought registered in her mind, she wished it hadn't. "Are you upset I'm not game to do this now?"

"Nah."

"Faith..."

"What, B? I'm not upset. Just thought I'd...forget about it," she muttered and she pulled Buffy close to her as she kicked off the sheets from the bed entirely. "Got plenty of time to do that kinda shit. Just thought it'd be fun to try it out now. We ain't never used any toys or shit either, so y'know me. Naturally curious and willin' to try anything once."

"Like what?"

"Ya really gotta ask? Pretty straight laced, aren't ya, B?"

"I've only ever owned one vibrator in my life..." she said softly, her face flushing a little as Faith raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"One?" Faith questioned. "How many times did ya use it?"

"Almost every night after patrol."

"And when did ya get that?"

"Before I moved to Sunnydale," Buffy said under her breath quickly. "I...went to a sex shop in LA before we moved there and I stole it."

"Ya stole it?" Faith chuckled as she shook her head. "So ya did have a bit of bad girl in ya even way back then, huh?"

"God, I can't even believe we're talking about this."

"So, what do ya think about maybe getting a few toys?" Faith asked as she reached up and gently and very lightly traced her fingers over the edge of Buffy's lips as she waited for her to answer. "I keep getting these thoughts of fuckin' ya with a strap-on."

"Have you ever..."

"Just once."

"Oh. What was it like?"

"Pretty fuckin' hot if you ask me," she chuckled softly and stopped when she saw the look in Buffy's eyes like she'd betrayed her or something. "Was a long time ago, B. Before I even came to Sunnydale. Don't even remember her name."

"Oh."

"Y'know you're all sorts of fuckin' adorable when ya get jealous," she smiled sweetly as Buffy turned her head away from her and scoffed. "Pretty fuckin' sexy too. Ya know you're the only one I wanna be with, B. No reason to get all jealous over past conquests. Ya don't see me getting all broody and jealous over yours."

"No, but you got all broody and jealous when Angel was here."

"Got plenty of reason for that and you know that, B."

"Can we not...talk about this right now? Or ever?"

"Fine," Faith said easily, smiling as Buffy finally turned to look at her again. "I can think of better things to be doin' right now, like you for example."

Every once in a while, hints of her old self would come back and it was hard to figure out how Buffy reacted to that. She knew that Buffy loved this new side to her, the sweet side, the side that was totally a drastic difference from the Faith she used to be. But she was an animal in bed most times and sweet and tender other times when she knew that's what Buffy wanted and needed. The only time bits of her old self came back was when the lust was almost too much to try to control. Far as she knew, Buffy sure didn't seem to mind and half the time she wondered if Buffy encouraged that side of her to come out and play. Although she'd toned down almost everything in her life, she never would lose the stamina she had when she fucked, nor would she ever lose the enthusiasm and the fact that she loved to worship Buffy's body and make her come nearly screaming her name.

And she knew Buffy just loved it.

She tried to push out most of their conversation, tried to think of just Buffy naked with her in bed, their bed, and tried to think of all the ways she could take her until Buffy begged her to stop. It caused a rather lascivious smirk to creep over her lips as she slipped her hand back down between Buffy's legs, not touching her where she wanted her just yet.

"Wait," Buffy breathed out as she twisted around to look at the clock on the dresser. "Shit!"

"What?" Faith asked, slightly dazed from being pushed away as Buffy scrambled to get out of bed. "B, what the fuck?"

"I can't believe I almost forgot," she said quickly as she pulled out clean clothes from her side of the dresser. "Shit!"

Faith groaned as she leaned up on her elbows and watched Buffy as she threw on a pair of shorts and a black tank top that she recognized at her own. "What the hell is goin' on, B? What'd you forget?"

"You obviously forgot too," she laughed as she grabbed some clothes and tossed them towards her. "Your mother is coming by to see the apartment today, remember? She'll be here any minute now so hurry up and get dressed."

"Fuck, is it already noon? Feels way earlier," Faith sighed as she reluctantly got dressed in the clothes Buffy had tossed her. "And I didn't forget. My mind was a little preoccupied. Besides," she said as she pulled her tank over her head and smoothed it out, "the whole point of being here is so we don't get fuckin' interrupted."

Buffy was already out the bedroom door, picking up the clothes they'd scattered on the walk from the front door to the bedroom a couple of nights before. The buzzer went off and Faith just groaned loudly as she tried to make the bed, listening as Buffy and Jackie spoke briefly before Buffy pressed the button to let her in downstairs. She grabbed the handcuffs and shoved them into the drawer, shoving her own very naughty thoughts into the back of her mind as soon as she heard the soft knocks on the door.

Jackie, in the last four days, had made significant changes. She was no longer intimidated by the world and everyone around her, not like she had been at first. She was no longer talking to herself—well, for the most part—and that made Faith wonder if her spending a little over twenty years in a world between worlds had really altered her sanity permanently or if it was just an effect of that world which would dissipate now that she was back home in the real world. Faith hadn't spent much time with her, but from what she'd seen Jackie was growing rather close with Giles and it really didn't surprise her when she walked out of the bedroom just as Buffy let Jackie inside to find that Giles had come along with her.

She was trying not to look irritated and pissed off that they were there since she should have remembered they were supposed to come by around noon. Buffy was already in the kitchen filling up the kettle and getting out a couple of mugs while she and Giles talked quietly. Jackie stood by the couch looking around the apartment and when she looked over at Faith, who was still standing in the bedroom doorway, she smiled and motioned for her to come and sit on the couch with her.

"You forgot, didn't you?" Jackie asked softly, smiling as Faith just shrugged and sat down on the opposite end of the couch. "I hope we didn't interrupt anything."

"Nah, its cool, Jackie. We kinda overslept. No big deal."

"Everyone has been so wonderful to me," Jackie said, smiling as she looked over at Giles and Buffy still standing in the kitchen talking quietly. "You've become a part of a great family, Faith. A really great family. You've been blessed."

"Right," she replied and she couldn't help but smile as she too looked over at Giles and Buffy, her smile growing bigger as Buffy turned to look right back at her. "It's great."

"I heard a lot of your past from Rupert. He said when you came back he wasn't so sure if you could be reformed and seek out your redemption, but you pulled through for them, all of them, and his opinion of you has changed drastically. He looks at you as he would his own daughter, the way he looks at Buffy, and from the things I've heard from the others that is pretty big."

Faith chuckled softly as she broke away from the intense gaze with Buffy to look over at Jackie. She wanted to say that it should have always been that way when it came to her, Buffy, and the rest of them, but she didn't. There was no point in thinking of the would of, could of, should of. If she learned one thing on her path to redemption, it was never to think of ways she could change the past, but to think of ways to change her future while forgiving herself for all the wrong she'd ever done before. She knew there was one fault she had to stop pushing away and thinking of it as a fault, as a wrong, as something that wasn't her. She had to stop fighting who she was changing into and she had to learn to just embrace this whole new side of herself. Being in love had definitely changed her and opened her eyes more to the world that surrounded her.

And her whole world now was Buffy. She was so in love with her it almost hurt. Almost. Once she'd let herself just feel it, once she'd let herself go, she was filled with something so powerful, more so than the power she now felt, and she was determined to hold on to it for as long as she could. Forever if it was possible. Buffy had given her a second chance and what a second chance it had turned out to be.

"It's quite a nice place," Giles said as he walked over with a tray and placed it on the coffee table. "Very spacious."

"It's great, isn't it?" Buffy said as she picked up a mug of tea and sat down next to Faith.

"Perry said it's paid for," Faith shrugged, "and he told me that Sam had it put in my name. Only thing I gotta worry about is paying the cable bill and buying food."

"You two will come to the house before patrol each night?" Giles asked as he picked up a cup of tea for himself before sitting on the armchair that flanked the right side of the couch. "We still all need to work together and I could use your help in further training the girls."

"Of course," Buffy answered as she casually placed her hand on Faith's thigh as she looked over at her for a moment before turning back to look at Giles. "We want the weekends off. Every weekend unless there's an apocalypse to deal with."

"I'm sure it would be possible to arrange for something like that. You two will be needed. You are strong, much stronger than the other girls, and they need a leader."

"Satsu can do it," Buffy said firmly. "Or Kennedy could if she gets her attitude under control. We all know how me being in charge ended up before."

"But in the end you pulled through," Faith reminded her, smiling as Buffy just shrugged and ran her fingers slowly over her thigh. "You are a leader, B. Don't sell yourself short even though you are a little on the short side."

"Hey!" Buffy laughed as she playfully punched Faith in the thigh.

"I'm serious."

"About what part? And if you say the short part I am so going to kick your ass."

"The leader part, although," she smirked as she leaned in so she was the only one that heard the whispers that crept past her lips, "I wouldn't mind if you tried to kick my ass. Nothing beats foreplay like that, B."

"Are they always like this?" Giles asked, mostly questioning it in general and aloud, not expecting any sort of answer. "I am sure you two are wondering why I came here with Jackie," he said, clearing his throat a little until they both looked over at him. "I've gotten a phone call from an associate in England. It seems the girls who have become Slayers yet again lack the requisite training to use their skills properly. There's been discussion of opening a training school of sorts."

"Oh yeah?" Faith asked, shifting a little to get comfortable. "Where's this training school gonna be?"

"I was hoping to have one here in Cleveland. That is if we can find proper accommodations for what we need. While that would normally be quite a difficult task, it may be made somewhat easier if Perry can find the deed to this building and transfer the ownership. He informed me that most of the apartments here are empty and have been for quite some time. There is sufficient space in the basement and on the main floor that we could easily convert into a training room and common area."

"Got it all figured out, don't ya?" Faith asked, feigning enthusiasm and interest in this whole thing when all she wanted to do was ask them to leave and take Buffy back to bed. "So if this goes through, you'll need us here, right?"

"I will, yes. I cannot do the training on my own and the two of you are the only ones who can properly train the girls and get them ready for the world they'll enter as soon as they are finished with training. There are talks of placing teams in each city that has an active Hellmouth. Teams comprising possibly a dozen slayers, though half that number may be a more realistic starting point until more slayers are fully trained."

"Weekends are still ours to take off and do as we want," Buffy said quietly. "I've never had time off, Giles. I think I'm entitled to it now. If we do this…" she sighed as she paused to take a sip of her tea, "if we do this, then we're going to do it how we think it should be done."

"Of course. We'll figure it all out soon enough," Giles said with a small smile. "The only things I'm asking for are your cooperation in the initial planning and launch of this endeavour and your involvement in the daily training of the girls."

"Not on the weekends," Buffy said, and Faith tried not to laugh. Buffy was really determined to secure the weekends off and she had no doubt in her mind as to some of the reasons why. "What about the others?"

"Dawn has asked to be trained as a Watcher. Andrew has asked for it as well, but I think he'd be better suited as an...assistant of sorts," Giles said and the three of them laughed. "Xander, Dawn, and Andrew have asked to stay at the house for a little while once we move to our new location. We'll need every empty apartment in this building for the girls we'll bring in."

"So," Faith said as she leaned forward and placed her mug on the coffee table, "when are you plannin' to get this all going?"

"Soon. We'll have a meeting at the house tomorrow afternoon and we'll go over absolutely everything then. I just wanted to inform both of you about this before we do anything."

"What about Jackie?" Faith asked as she looked over at her mother sitting there quietly as she sipped her tea.

"She will remain with us, acting as house mother to all the girls," Giles replied, smiling over at Jackie who just smiled right back. "Willow has taken her under her wing, so to speak, the last couple of days and while all of you have been out on patrol Willow has been teaching her very basic spells. Protection spells, mostly."

Faith was still listening as Giles went on and on. She tried not to think of how badly she wanted a cigarette, but she'd already gone over a month without one and she had promised Buffy she wouldn't get back into the habit again. She was addicted to something else completely now—Buffy. Unfortunately, she couldn't do a thing about her craving now, not while Giles and Jackie were there. Having Buffy idly stroking her fingers over her thigh near her knee definitely wasn't helping her keep her libido under control either.

Giles and Jackie stayed for over an hour and when they finally left, Faith practically shoved Buffy up against the door as soon as it closed and her lips were instantly on hers, her hands seeking out every part of Buffy she urged to touch. Just for a moment, she thought back to the first time between her and Buffy and how Julie had been there yet hadn't quite quelled the mood and the love-lust between them. It was when she had let down all her walls and let Buffy in completely and she knew that it was also when Buffy had done exactly the same, broke down her walls and let her in too. They'd been nearly insatiable since that night and even now, looking back, Faith wouldn't have done anything differently, but she would have chosen for them not to be interrupted by Julie.

"Faith..." Buffy moaned as Faith's hands slid beneath her shirt. "Slow down, baby."

"Slow?"

"Yes, slow."

Faith let out a frustrated growl as she picked Buffy up and wrapped her legs around her waist. "Don't know the meaning of slow right now, B."

"Well, if we start we'll never stop and I won't be able to get to the store and buy what I need to make you dinner tonight."

"We'll order in."

"No," Buffy said as she shook her head and slid off of Faith to stand back down on her own two feet. "I want to cook you dinner tonight, Faith. For once I just want to do this...right. I want this to mean more between us than just sex."

"The hell? B, it does mean more than sex. I'm fuckin' in love with you, B. Ain't ever been in love with anyone before. The sex is just a huge fuckin' bonus."

"I know," Buffy said softly as she took both of Faith's hands in her own and smiled at her. "I can honestly tell you that I've never had something quite like this before. It's...intoxicating being with you, Faith."

"I'm like a drug, baby. So why don't ya come on over here and get your fix?"

Faith was already backing up towards the bedroom, smirking at Buffy as she slowly, sensually ran her tongue over her lips. She knew Buffy wouldn't be able to resist. She never could. Faith had some kind of power over her just as Buffy did with her. She watched as Buffy struggled not to move away from near the door, struggled not to give in to the temptation to follow her into the bedroom, and she watched as Buffy gave in and practically tackled her, kissing her fiercely as she continued to make her way into the bedroom and over to the bed. She let Buffy push her back on the bed and she pulled Buffy down with her without even breaking away from the kiss.

They both ignored the sound of the phone ringing in the other room as insistent hands tore each other's clothes off as quickly as they could. Faith wasted no time in flipping Buffy over and trailing her lips over every inch of skin that she could as she moved down her body. She stopped when she reached Buffy's bellybutton and she looked up at her as she trailed her tongue around it slowly. Buffy raised her hips, trying to create much needed friction, but Faith pulled her body up, denying Buffy as she dipped her tongue into her bellybutton ever so slowly. She trailed the tips of her fingers over Buffy's stomach as she began to lightly kiss her way down, purposely avoiding where Buffy so desperately wanted her as she settled between her legs and ran her hands up her smooth inner thighs as she spread Buffy open wide.

Faith grew drunk on just how wet Buffy was and she hadn't even touched her yet. She looked up at her, staring at her as she had her eyes closed and her hands clenching the sheets as she waited for Faith to touch her. Faith took a deep breath and sighed contently as Buffy's sweet arousal filled the air. She snuck out her tongue for a small and quick taste. As soon as her tongue touched Buffy's clit, Buffy's hips raised up from the bed, demanding more. She dipped her tongue inside her hole, feeling the heat emanating from Buffy's core and nearly scorching her tongue as she drove it in as deep as she could, drinking in her juices and moaning softly at the heady yet sweet taste.

"Faith...don't tease me," Buffy pleaded, nearly whimpering as Faith removed her tongue and ever so slowly eased a solitary finger inside of her.

"Thought ya wanted to go slow, B?"

"Fuck slow," she moaned as Faith slid a second finger inside of her and watched as Buffy leaned up a little to look down at her. She let out a wild moan as Faith's lips latched onto her clit as she fucked her fingers hard and deep inside of her. "Oh god...Faith..."

"Yeah, B?" Faith asked as she pulled her lips away from sucking hard on her clit, watching as Buffy's body shivered at the sudden loss. "What ya need, B?"

"Turn...around..."

Faith raised an eyebrow and smirked as she dipped her head down, removing her fingers and licking over her slit with one long, tentative lick. She nipped at the inside of her thigh before she complied with Buffy's request and turned around. She placed each knee on each side of Buffy's head and before she could take in a deep breath, Buffy's tongue plunged deep inside her cunt. A shockwave of pleasure surged through her body and it took her a moment to compose herself long enough for her to continue with her ministrations on Buffy's pussy.

Her heart was racing and her whole body feeling every lick, every touch to her overly sensitive clit. Her breathing had become ragged, heavy, and she pulled back from sucking on Buffy's clit just long enough to catch her breath and to hear the phone that continued to ring. She was close, very close. She could feel her orgasm beginning in the tips of her toes and in the pit of her stomach. She was always ready to pop so quickly and Buffy never let that stop her from going on. With the feel of Buffy's thumb just brushing against her ass, the tip of her finger just barely slipping inside her puckered hole, she was coming hard. She could barely hold herself up as she fucked her fingers in and out of Buffy's clenching hole, wanting to give it to her just as good as she'd gotten herself.

Buffy had stopped and laid her head back as she raked her short nails over Faith's back and ass, raising her hips in time to Faith's fingers sliding easily in and out of her tight, clenching hole. Copying Buffy's move, Faith removed her fingers and slowly slid the tip of her middle finger over her ass and just dipped it in her puckered hole just a little as her lips latched onto her clit. Buffy was coming and she nearly screamed Faith's name as she dug her fingers into the soft skin of her ass. She could feel Buffy's orgasm as it ripped through her body, she could feel it as if she was experiencing it herself and with one last lick, she rolled off and lazily stroked her fingers over Buffy's thigh before moving to lay next her.

"Now ya glad ya came for a fix?" Faith chuckled as Buffy moved to lay her head on her shoulder.

"Yeah that was...wow."

"Ain't done with ya yet, baby."

Buffy stopped her and leaned up a little on her elbow as she stared into Faith's eyes. She just shook her head no and laid a light kiss upon her lips before she slipped off the bed and quickly got dressed. Faith just laid there, groaning softly in protest, as Buffy tossed her clothes at her.

"What gives, B?"

"I need to go out and buy some food for tonight."

"And why are ya making me get dressed?"

"Because you aren't spending the whole afternoon lying in bed."

"Fuck, whatever," Faith grumbled as she rolled onto her stomach and held the pillow close to her.

She didn't even flinch when Buffy slapped her across the ass before she walked out of the bedroom and picked up the phone, which was once again ringing. She could still feel the shockwaves rolling through her body and she gave herself a few minutes before she got off the bed and got dressed. Buffy was still on the phone when she walked out of the bedroom and she was laughing as she turned to look at Faith. She mouthed that it was Willow on the phone and Faith only rolled her eyes as she walked into the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of water from the fridge. She looked over at Buffy when she heard her hang up the phone and she smiled as Buffy walked over to her and pulled her in for a short, sweet kiss.

"Was that Willow calling the whole time?"

"Yeah," Buffy nodded as she leaned in for another kiss. "I won't be long."

Faith just pulled Buffy in for another kiss, deepening it as Buffy moaned softly, her body betraying her as she melted into Faith, her hands tangling into Faith's hair, holding her close. Faith let her go after a moment, smiling as Buffy looked a little dazed from the kiss. She just leaned back against the counter and watched as Buffy grabbed her keys off the table and headed for the door. She looked back just once before she walked out and the smile she flashed made Faith's heart race wildly out of control.

She wondered if it'd always be like that for them, if the passion would always ignite with just a simple look shared between them. Never had anything been so intense for her in her entire life. Buffy was it, she knew that now for certain. Buffy was her one—as in the one. Just thinking of it made her smile until it hurt. It didn't matter what their past was like, it didn't matter that they'd once been enemies, and the only thing that did matter was the fact that they had given each other a fair chance and found something within each other they'd never been able to find in anyone else. It didn't even matter how insecure they'd both been at the beginning of their relationship because even she knew they both had plenty of reason to feel the way they had at first.

Unable to wipe the smile off her face, she walked to the balcony door and stepped outside. A wave of muggy heat hit her the instant she stepped outside, but it didn't bother her anymore, not after they'd spent a month in that world between worlds where the heat was unbearable. It wasn't even a match to the heat they felt between each other and the thought alone caused a whole new string of emotions to flood through her mind and arousal that just never seemed to go away even when Buffy wasn't by her side. She leaned against the railing, looking down at the street below and she found herself smiling again as she watched Buffy walk out of the building and over to the van where Xander was waiting.

Buffy looked up at her before she climbed into the passenger seat and Faith walked back inside and headed straight for the bathroom to take a shower. She tried to keep her thoughts at bay as she stepped under the hot spray of water, but as always her thoughts took over and all she could think about was Buffy and just what she'd do for their date later that night. She wanted to make it special, she wanted to make Buffy feel special. She'd never done the dating thing before, but she knew she wouldn't have to try too hard to find a way to make the night a night they'd never forget. To her, dinner then a movie and even dancing afterwards was a little too cliché. She wasn't quite sure what else she could do to make the night special, but she knew no matter what they ended up doing it'd end up being a great night.

She got out of the shower just as she heard Buffy come back. She walked out with the towel wrapped around her body, coming up behind Buffy as she put a few things away in the fridge and slipping her arms around her from behind. After briefly squeezing the blonde in a hug, she reached around and grabbed a bottle of water, ignoring Xander as he asked her to grab him one too. Buffy turned around and captured her lips in an intense kiss that continued until Xander cleared his throat to remind them that he was standing right there. Faith flipped him off as she pulled back from the kiss, leaving Buffy almost breathless and blushing as she made her way to the bedroom to get dressed.

It was the little moments that made everything worth it. It made everything right no matter what would happen next.

Faith was banned from the kitchen, instructed to stay on the couch and watch TV while Buffy cooked them dinner. From where Faith sat she could see Buffy standing by the stove stirring the sauce for the spaghetti while she kept opening the oven door to check on the garlic bread. It was a simple meal and it already smelled delicious. It was making Faith's stomach growl and she couldn't stand sitting on the couch and flipping through the TV channels any longer.

"Smells awesome, B," she said with a smile as she walked into the kitchen and grabbed the bottle of wine off the counter. "Ya want a glass?"

"Sure."

"How much longer?"

"Few minutes at most," Buffy replied, not even turning around from the stove. Faith took that opportunity to sneak a crouton from the salad Buffy had bought at the store. "Hey, I saw that!"

"Saw what?" Faith asked, smirking as she walked up behind Buffy and wrapped her arms around her. "So, what's for dessert, baby?"

"Me."

"Mm," Faith moaned softly as she placed a few light kisses along the back of Buffy's neck. "Is that what the whipped cream is for?"

"Maybe," Buffy laughed as she turned off the burner and turned around in Faith's arms, "but dessert will have to wait until later," she continued, giving Faith a quick peck on the lips. "Now let me get the garlic bread out of the oven before it burns."

"Well, I was thinking," Faith said softly as she let go of Buffy, "we could just stay here tonight, turn off the lights, light a few candles, put on some music, y'know all that romantic crap."

"We're not going out?"

"If you want. Doesn't matter to me, B."

She poured them each a glass of wine—a chardonnay that Buffy had picked out—and helped her bring everything over to the table. Before they actually sat down to eat Faith found a couple of candles, lit them, and shut off all the lights. They were quiet for a while as they ate and Faith tried not to inhale her food despite how hungry she was. A thousand different thoughts ran through her mind as she wondered if this was how things were supposed to go, if this was how a first date should be. She knew they'd done everything pretty backwards; at least they had with the whole actually going out on a date thing. She wanted everything to be perfect and was worried about messing it up. It wasn't until Buffy accidentally knocked over her glass of wine as she reached for a piece of the garlic bread that Faith realized it was perfect and she didn't have to worry.

After they'd finished eating, Faith offered to clean up since Buffy had been the one who cooked everything. Buffy shook her head no, offering to dry the dishes. Faith knew if anyone could have seen them it was a picture of domesticated bliss and two months ago she wouldn't have been caught dead in this kind of situation, but now she wouldn't have it any other way. Soon as the dishes were washed, dried, and put away, Faith grabbed onto Buffy and spun her around as she moved to the middle of the living room.

"So, B, tell me," she whispered into her ear as she held her close. "You wanna go out or stay in?"

"Let's...stay in," Buffy said as she pulled back a little so she could look into Faith's eyes. "Tonight is turning out to be just...perfect."

"It really is."

"I can't believe Xander asked you if all we do is have sex," Buffy laughed as she laced her fingers around the back of Faith's neck. "What did you say to him anyway?"

"Nothing. I said nothing."

"Really?"

"I swear," Faith grinned, knowing just how to mess with her. "I told him he might just be right and for him to keep it in his pants 'til he got home and locked himself up in the bathroom."

"God! That's disgusting!"

"Long as he doesn't tell us how good he gave it to himself while he jacked off thinkin' of us—"

"Stop!" Buffy laughed as she cut Faith off before she could say another word. "I don't ever want to...just no."

"I was just fuckin' with ya, B. I told him nothing other than he should mind his own fuckin' business and stay outta his friends sex lives if he wants to be alive to see another day."

Buffy just shook her head, unable to stop laughing as Faith manoeuvred them towards the bedroom, stopping at the table to blow out the candles. Buffy barely managed to grab the can of whipped cream off the counter before Faith swept her off her feet and carried her into the bedroom. Just as they'd reached their destination the intercom buzzer went off and Faith nearly groaned out in frustration. With a heavy sigh, she placed Buffy down gently on the bed and stormed out of the bedroom and over to the intercom near the door.

"What?"

"Faith? It's me," Kennedy said, voice rough and sounding as though she'd been crying. "I know you and Buffy were doing the whole date thing tonight, but I..."

Faith sighed and pressed the button to unlock the door downstairs without saying a word. She flipped on the lights and let out another heavy sigh as Buffy walked out the bedroom looking very much the same way Faith felt—frustrated and rather pissed off their night had been interrupted by Kennedy.

"What is she doing here?" Buffy asked as Faith unlocked the door and opened it a little before joining her on the couch. "She better have a damn good reason for showing up here tonight."

"Guess we'll find out, right?"

"I still don't understand why you two are friends."

"Why not?" Faith shrugged. "We kinda just hit it off. Besides, I ain't ever had many friends before."

"You've got all of us now."

"Right. And Kennedy is a part of the whole 'all of us' whether ya like it or not. She's Will's girl."

"And if she wasn't?"

"I'd still be her friend, B. She's alright, y'know? And her bein' Red's girl ain't why we're tight."

Buffy just let out a heavy sigh as she grabbed the remote for the TV and flipped it on. A minute later Kennedy walked into the apartment with a backpack slung over her shoulder, eyes red and puffy and the smell of whiskey so strong Faith could have sworn she'd taken a whiskey bath before she'd come over. Faith motioned for Kennedy to drop her bag and follow her out onto the balcony. Something told her that Kennedy had been through something she didn't want to talk about with Buffy right there.

"Alright, Ken," Faith said as soon as they were outside and the door was shut behind her. "What the hell is going on?"

"Satsu."

"What about her?"

"We fucked. Twice. Will caught us. Threw me outta the house," Kennedy muttered under her breath, her words slightly slurred as she pulled out a crushed pack of cigarettes and shakily lit one. "Got nowhere to go now and I didn't...I really didn't want to ruin your night with Buffy, but I didn't know where else to go."

"What the fuck would ya do that for? Ya stupid or something?"

"It was a mistake! Well, the first time was," Kennedy replied, smirking as she took a long drag of her cigarette. "The second time was when we got caught. We were in the basement. Sparring and drinking. I totally get the whole sexual tension thing between you and Buffy now."

"If Willow kicked ya outta the house, where's Satsu?"

"Fuck if I know," Kennedy shrugged, taking another drag as she leaned against the railing. "Would you mind if I crashed here for a couple days, Faith? I am not trying to cramp your style or anything here, I just...I have nowhere else to go."

"You see that?" Faith said as she pointed inside to a sulking Buffy on the couch. "You've fucking ruined our night and now I gotta deal with B bein' miserable as fuck all night."

"Sorry."

"You can crash here. Take the couch. Just don't fuckin' drink any of my beer."

"With the amount I drank with Satsu earlier, I don't think I could stomach drinking anything else right now."

"Y'know you've really fucked up, don't ya?"

"Yeah, I know. I don't even know if I can fix this or if I even want to try and fix this."

"Sleep on it and figure your shit out when you're sober. Ain't nothin' worse than tryin' to figure your shit out when ya can't even think straight."

"I hear you," Kennedy said with a short laugh and crushed her cigarette out in the dirt in the flowerpot that as far as Faith knew had never had a living plant in its soil. "Seriously though, I'm sorry for fucking up yours and Buffy's night."

"What are friends for, right?" Faith chuckled as she opened the door and waited for Kennedy to go inside first. When she didn't move, Faith grabbed onto her arm and pulled her inside. "Why don't ya go get yourself cleaned up and I'll make ya a cup of coffee or somethin'."

Kennedy just nodded and disappeared into the bathroom. Faith went to fill the kettle and placed it on the stove before joining Buffy on the couch. She took the remote from Buffy's hand and flipped the TV off as she tried to get Buffy to look at her.

"B?"

"What?"

"You okay?"

"Fine," she said coldly. "What is she doing here?"

"Long story. Thinkin' it's best if she tells you what's goin' on."

"I heard. Slayer hearing, remember? It was hard not to listen in. I can't believe she'd do that to Willow!" Buffy was angry, really angry. "I just talked to her this afternoon and everything was fine. She even told me that she and Kennedy were going to work things out. I can't believe she'd do that to her!"

"Shit happens and sometimes ya make stupid decisions. I know all about that."

"How long is she staying for?"

"Dunno, B. Figure I'll let her crash on the couch 'til Will cools down and she'll go back to the house. I can't just tell her to fuck off. She's piss drunk and upset. If anything happened to her out there off o' me turfin' her cos you're all pouty that our night is ruined, I'd feel guilty about it for fuckin' ever."

"Right. Whatever."

"And y'know somethin', B? Our night ain't ruined. Just got a slight change in plans. Still want to have dessert," Faith said softly, wiggling her eyebrows as she stood up from the couch and pulled Buffy with her. "Only problem now is, we got a listenin' audience so," she leaned in, her breath caressing Buffy's ear and making her shudder, "now ya gotta be quiet. Ain't gotta choice now unless ya get off on other people hearing ya moan and scream my name while I eat ya 'til you can't feel your legs."

She knew the effect the huskiness in her voice had on Buffy. It relaxed her, turned her on to the point where she was almost driving herself crazy just for holding back and trying to resist. Buffy gave her a quick kiss before she went to the bedroom and closed the door behind her. Faith waited by the bathroom door for Kennedy to come out and when she finally did she handed her a few sheets and a pillow.

"Make yourself at home. Don't let anyone in, answer the phone if it rings and ya ain't passed the fuck out, and do not—"

"Drink your beer?" Kennedy cut in as she made her way over to the couch. "Heard you the first time, Faith."

"Nah, I was gonna say don't fucking bother us. I got a date with my girl and a can of whipped cream."

"Kinky," Kennedy laughed as she winked at Faith. "Who knew Buffy had it in her?"

"Life is full of surprises, Ken. Don't ever forget that."

Faith left her with that, sauntering over to the bedroom and walking inside, making sure the door was locked as soon as she'd shut it behind her. She drank in the sight before her, her breath hitching in her chest as she looked over at Buffy laid out on the bed in only a red bra and matching panties. Kennedy being there unexpectedly certainly hadn't jarred the mood completely. Faith could hardly move away from the door as she watched Buffy take the can of whipped cream and spray a line down her stomach. Her mouth was watering at the sight and she stripped out of her clothes, feeling as if she was doing it in slow motion as she made her way over to the bed.

She was so completely absorbed by the sight of Buffy that she hadn't even noticed the candles she'd lit and placed on the dresser and on the bedside tables. She didn't even notice that the small radio was playing quietly until she stood at the foot of the bed and knelt down as she reached forward and took a swipe of the whipped cream off of Buffy's stomach. She licked it from her fingers, making a slow show of it and watching as Buffy's eyes glazed over slightly when she dipped her head down and licked some of the whipped cream from around her bellybutton.

"Never really liked whipped cream," Faith murmured as she took another tentative lick, "but it tastes fuckin' delicious on you."

"Mm-hmm."

Faith smirked before proceeding to lick the rest of it off, grabbing the can before Buffy had a chance to. She shook her head no as she reached for the clasp at the front of Buffy's bra and snapped it open. "If we're gonna do this, B, we're gonna do this my way."

Her heart was hammering in her chest as she sat astride Buffy and pushed aside her bra, exposing rock hard nipples that were just begging for her to suck them. She shook the can before spraying just a little bit on each of the dusty pink nipples and she wiggled her eyebrows as Buffy ran her hands up her thighs and cupped her pussy, teasing her clit with the palm of her hand as she dipped a finger inside her. She leaned forward just a little and stared into Buffy's eyes, trying not to let the feel of Buffy's ministrations on her wet pussy distract her too much.

"Don't make me handcuff ya to the bed, B."

"You wouldn't."

"Oh ya know I would," Faith chuckled softly as she lowered her head down and licked off the whipped cream from Buffy's left nipple. She wrapped her lips around the hard nub, moaning as Buffy rubbed her throbbing clit just once before pulling her hand away.

She could only faintly hear the sounds of the TV in the other room and she let out a soft sigh as she trailed her lips over to Buffy's other nipple, wasting not a second more as she licked it clean. Before she could grab the can again she found herself being flipped over onto her back with Buffy straddling her waist. She grinned as she stared up at her, watching as Buffy slipped out of her bra and tossed it to the floor rather haphazardly, glancing back quickly to make sure it went to the floor and not towards the candles sitting on top of the dresser.

"Thought you were dessert, B?"

"I don't get some for myself?" Buffy asked, pouting slightly as she fought with Faith for the can. "I want a little taste too."

"You'll get a taste, B, soon as I'm done with you," Faith said and she nearly growled as she flipped them back over and practically tore Buffy's panties off before she straddled her legs. "Fuckin' damn shame we aren't alone right now."

"It really is..."

"I'd take ya hard and fast, B. Then I'd make love to ya all night long, soft and slow, just the way ya like it sometimes."

"I think you like it too," Buffy whispered, her eyes sparkling in the soft glow of the candlelight.

"Damn fucking right I do."

Buffy pulled her down for a searing kiss, one of those that made Faith's toes curl in pleasure and her body buzz immensely. She grabbed the can without breaking from the kiss and Buffy grabbed it at the same time. This time they didn't have any control over their strength and the can exploded, sending the whipped cream flying all over the room.

"Fuck," Faith laughed as she pulled back from the kiss. "Look what you fuckin' did, B."

"Me? You're the one who—"

Faith cut her off with another kiss, tossing the crushed and fragmented can to the floor. They kissed for the longest time, alternating between those searing kisses that left them breathless and the soft, tender ones that made them want more. So much more. Buffy was holding back and Faith knew it was because they weren't entirely alone, but she didn't let it stop her from raining kisses over Buffy's jaw and neck as her hands roamed over her small, pert breasts. Buffy stopped her from going any further and pulled her back in for a kiss as she spread her legs for Faith to lie between them. Hard and fast wouldn't happen, not with a listening audience in the other room, but it didn't matter at all to Faith. All that did matter was being with Buffy in any way that she could.

She broke away from the kiss, just for a moment, to look down at Buffy. She was drunk on lust, on love, on the wine they'd had while they ate dinner, and Faith knew she'd never seen anything more beautiful than the sight before her. They'd come a long way since that first kiss, a very long way, and it hadn't even been two months. It felt like so much longer to her and she knew it didn't matter how long they'd really been together for, all that mattered was the fact they'd gotten over their insecurities, their doubts, and just learned to feel what they felt for each other.

"Always thinking," Buffy said with a smile as she ran her fingers over Faith's brow. "Always, huh?"

"Yeah. Sometimes I can't help it."

"What are you thinking about?"

"Us. You."

"All good thoughts I hope," Buffy smiled again as Faith nodded her head slowly. "I was thinking about us too. About how we were at first and how we are now."

Faith raised an eyebrow, smiling down at her as she laid a light kiss on her lips. "I think we're sharing thoughts now, B."

"You think so?" Buffy laughed as she laced her fingers through her hair at the back of her head. "I don't think that's such a bad thing if we are."

"No, just a little freaky."

"You're a little freaky sometimes."

"B!" Faith chuckled as Buffy rolled them over until she was on top. "Sometimes I don't understand how it got like this between us, then I start thinkin' that it's probably normal for me to be thinkin' like that cos it's us, y'know? We've never done anything normal, ever."

"You say it like it's a bad thing."

"Nah. It's a good thing, baby."

"We seem to have semi-serious talks right when we're..." Buffy trailed off as Faith raised her hips and pulled Buffy down at the same time, grinding their pussies hard together. "Faith..."

"Always so fuckin' wet for me," she murmured into Buffy's neck as they began to grind into each other slowly. "Always so fuckin' ready for me, aren't you?"

"Mm...yeah, always, baby."

They became a tangles mess of bodies, limbs and sheets, rolling and fighting for the top position. Their bodies were slick with a sheen of perspiration and their hands clung to each other, nails dug into skin as they reached the peak of their orgasm together. Faith rolled off of Buffy, smiling contentedly and trying to catch her breath. Until she looked over at the wall that was covered in whipped cream, that is—at that point she couldn't help but start laughing even as she gasped for breath at the same time. Buffy turned to look at the same wall and giggled as she curled up next to Faith and laid her head down on her shoulder.

"We should probably clean that up," Buffy whispered as she laid a few light kisses along Faith's neck and shoulder. "I really can't move right now."

"Me neither," Faith replied as she trailed her fingers lightly over Buffy's arm that was draped over her stomach. "Ya want me to go grab the bottle of wine and we'll finish it off?"

"Not yet. Comfy."

Faith just closed her eyes and smiled as she felt Buffy's fingers trail a blazing path across her stomach and to her right nipple. With one soft, nearly feather-light touch, it grew hard and made that delicious ache between her legs come back. She loved how her body reacted to Buffy and she loved the way her soft touches made her feel. It was like electricity flowing between them with just a touch and it gave off such an intoxicating high that she didn't know how she'd gone so long without knowing just how it felt to be touched by someone so lovingly.

Love certainly didn't scare her anymore. She cherished it, craved it, held onto it with all that she had and wanted more. It got her thinking about the effects from the barrier spell and wondering if it weren't for that, would they even be where they were at the moment? Would they have found something within each other so soon or would it have taken a lot longer? Whatever the answer was, she wasn't sure and didn't really care since all that mattered to her was the fact that there she was, lying in bed with Buffy and basking in the afterglow with Buffy teasing her fingers over her nipple.

"Aside from Kennedy showing up, tonight has been amazing," Buffy whispered as she lifted her head to look up at Faith. "If I didn't feel so happy and relaxed right now, I don't know, I'd probably go out there and kick Kennedy out."

Faith laughed softly as she kissed the top of Buffy's head. "Definitely has been one hell of a night, B. Sure beats being out on patrol cos all I wanna do when we are is bring ya back home and..." she trailed off as she turned on her side and ran her hand up the length of Buffy's upper body.

"You're insatiable, Faith."

"Good thing you are too."

"Willow told me earlier how we are a perfect match for each other and she told me I should have done this with you years ago and saved myself all the grief and heartbreak I've had since then."

"She's a wise woman."

"I should probably call her, find out how she's doing. After what Kennedy just put her through...I don't even want to know how badly she's taking this."

"Sure she's fine, B."

"You didn't see how she reacted after Warren killed Tara. She's barely recovered since then and she doesn't have her magic under complete control yet."

Buffy untangled herself from Faith and the covers and grabbed her clothes. Faith groaned softly as she sat up in bed and watched her as she got dressed. "B, what are you doing?"

"You don't know what it was like before and right now she needs her friends. She needs me. God, I should have called her before," Buffy said as she shook her head and grabbed the brush off the dresser and ran it quickly through her hair.

"Buffy...I'm sure she's fine. If she wasn't, don't you think you would've known by now?"

Buffy ignored her as she blew out the candles and flipped on the bedside light. She grabbed Faith's clothes and tossed them towards her as she made her way to the door. Faith could only close her eyes and try to keep her cool as Buffy walked out of the bedroom and quickly shut the door behind her. Despite how 'perfect' their night had been going, one little thing had turned it all around and made it one big mess with a side helping of almost perfect. She pushed down her anger and disappointment and pulled on her clothes reluctantly, listening to Buffy and Kennedy talking in the living room.

Buffy had a few choice words with her before she stormed out of the apartment. Faith walked out of the bedroom, headed straight for the fridge, and pulled out a bottle of beer. She walked out to the balcony, needing the fresh air, and didn't even say a word to Kennedy as she followed her out there. When Kennedy offered her a cigarette she took one and lit it, instantly feeling rather light-headed as the nicotine rushed through her body.

"Shit, I knew I should've gone somewhere else," Kennedy said quietly after a few long minutes of silence between them. "I really didn't mean to fuck up your night with Buffy."

"S'okay, Ken. Plenty of other nights ahead of us to be alone together. Pretty fucked up, though, considering this was supposed to be our 'first' date and all."

"I'm really sorry, Faith. I fucked up with Willow and I came here thinking that..." she sighed as she shook her head and took a long drag of her cigarette. "I shouldn't have even come here."

"Ya needed a friend and that's what I am, right? Doesn't matter what else was goin' on, friends are supposed to be there for each other, right?"

"Then why did Buffy call me a cunt and take off?"

"She didn't call you a cunt."

"You didn't see the look in her eyes. Just knew she was really saying that instead of calling me a whore and a loser for cheating on her best friend with the new girl."

"Why'd you do something so stupid like that anyway? Hope Satsu was fuckin' worth it, Ken."

Kennedy just frowned as she leaned against the railing and fought back the tears. "That's the thing," she said as she hiccupped, trying to stop herself from losing it completely. "Satsu was worth it and I'm not just saying that because the sex was amazing. I don't know, Faith. Maybe it's a Slayer thing?"

"Could be. Couldn't tell ya."

"But you're with Buffy. Isn't it more...intense than anyone else you've ever been with?"

"Figure it's more intense cos it's Buffy, not cos of the whole Slayer thing."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Oh. But you know the Slayer thing could factor into it. I mean hell, ya do know what it's like bein' a Slayer and havin' the stamina we got. Hard to find an equal match," Faith chuckled and shook her head when she realized just how that sounded. "Didn't mean it like that, though, cos it's more than just fuckin' all night long with Buffy."

"Believe me, I do get what you're saying. With Satsu it was just...wow and then some. Not that it isn't with Will, but sometimes it's just...not enough. You know?"

"Yeah, I know."

"Is that selfish?"

"Nah," Faith said as she shook her head. "If it ain't doin' it for ya and ya ain't happy, why stick around, right?"

"I really didn't want to hurt her," Kennedy said quietly. Faith noticed the tears had started to fall and Kennedy wasn't doing a thing to stop them. "God, I'm such a screw-up. Maybe Willow was right. Maybe you and I are friends because we're so much alike. Only now you're all..." she paused for a moment and shook her head. "You are all reformed and shit now. You're different now. You're a better person now."

"Ain't that much different now than I used to be, Ken, and ya shoulda just told her it was over before ya went and made Satsu your little fuck toy."

"I need a do-over," Kennedy laughed dryly.

"No do-overs in life, unfortunately. If there was, don't ya think I would've taken up on that about a dozen times or more?" Faith sighed and crushed out her cigarette. She licked over her lips, cringing slightly at the bitter taste the cigarette had left in her mouth. "Look, Ken, you can't take back what you did to her. Cheatin' sucks, yeah, but finding out the one you're with has cheated on ya sucks even more, and ya always turn around and say stuff like 'it just happened' and all that."

"But it—"

"Yeah it just happened, I get it. Got all worked up sparring," Faith said and she chuckled softly as she watched Kennedy try to wipe away the tears as they fell. "So, tell me somethin'," she said as she leaned back against the railing, "what are you gonna do now?"

"Well, I can't apologize to Will. She doesn't even want to see me much less listen to anything I have to say right now. And I can't apologize to you and Buffy either."

"Doesn't matter about us, Ken. Buffy is gonna be pissed, yeah I'll give you that much, but let me worry about her, okay?" Faith said and she put her arm loosely around Kennedy's shoulders. "As for Will, don't know what I can tell ya. Give her a couple days to cool off and try to talk to her then. You can stay here and crash on the couch long as ya need to. Buffy ain't gonna like it, but like I said, let me worry about that."

"Thanks."

Faith just shrugged and headed back inside while Kennedy stayed out on the balcony and lit yet another cigarette. She finished her beer and grabbed another out of the fridge, her stomach protesting against her as she cracked it open and downed most of it in one go. She grabbed a few towels and went to the bedroom, where she began trying to clean up the whipped cream from the walls and the floor, shaking her head and laughing to herself at the mess and the very recent memories of just how that happened. She'd barely finished when she turned to find Kennedy standing in the doorway of the bedroom with a smirk on her face.

"Take it your little date with your blonde Slayer and a can of whipped cream didn't go over too well, huh?"

"Shut up," Faith chuckled as she tossed the towels into the linen box by the door. "Got a little outta hand."

"You realize Will was going on and on the other night about how fucking perfect you two are for each other?" Kennedy asked as she followed her to the couch and they both sat down. "Kinda makes me a little jealous that you two got something so great together."

"Didn't start out so great, at least not way back in the beginning."

Kennedy shrugged, propping her feet up on the coffee table and closing her eyes as she leaned her head back. "But its great now, isn't it?"

"Yeah," Faith replied with a smile as she thought about just how great things really were. She forced out the thoughts that now she had something great, something bad was going to happen. "It is, but it ain't like I'm gonna run out and buy her an engagement ring and ask her to marry me or anything. Still kinda new to this whole relationship thing."

"You can't be doing too badly if you and Buffy are still together though, right?"

Faith nodded and grabbed the remote for the TV and flipped it on. "Sometimes I don't even know why she's stuck with me this long. Sometimes I don't feel like I'm good enough for her either."

"Maybe the sex is too great for her to give you up just yet?"

"Great, amazing, mind-blowing sex is just an added bonus."

Kennedy laughed for a moment then broke down into tears. Faith wasn't sure how to comfort her or if she even needed to be comforted. She'd screwed up. Big time. And she knew it too. The only thing Faith knew what to do was sit there and listen and if she was done talking, she'd sit there and offer up a shoulder to cry on whether Kennedy took her up on that offer or not. She wasn't even sure if Buffy would be back that night and the way she figured it, she'd probably spend the night at the house trying to comfort Willow and help her nurse her broken heart, ease the pain in ways only a best friend could.

She stayed there with Kennedy until the tears stopped and she curled up on the far end of the couch and fell asleep. Faith flipped off the TV and all the lights but the one over the stove and made her way to the bedroom. Her heart felt a little heavy and she felt out of place. She knew why too. She was so used to having Buffy around every night that when she wasn't there she felt almost empty inside. If these sharp pangs in her heart from missing Buffy were the downside to love, then she'd take it, because the upside was just off the charts. She laid down on the bed and inhaled deeply, smelling nothing but Buffy all over the sheets and the pillow.

She was a complete mess, just another fool in love, and she absolutely loved that feeling. It made her feel so much more than she'd ever thought was possible to feel. It made her feel happier than she'd ever felt in her life. It made her feel like she was worth something in life instead of just another worthless, psychotic murderer. It made her wonder how she ever was worthy of knowing this kind of love with Buffy. All the wrong she'd done in life—especially to Buffy and her friends—hadn't been completely forgotten, but she had been forgiven. If she hadn't, she wouldn't be there in Cleveland with them, fighting the good fight—whatever fight would come next, she didn't know yet. Evil was still looming, but it was as if it'd taken a vacation. For now.

She wasn't sure how long she'd been lying there in bed when she felt Buffy come back inside the apartment. She couldn't wipe the smile off of her face as Buffy quietly came into the bedroom and locked the door behind her. Even in the darkness she could see that Buffy was clearly upset and exhausted, so she said not a word to her as she watched her strip out of her clothes slowly. She held out her arms a little as Buffy crawled onto the bed and they shared a short, sweet kiss as Buffy laid there in her arms and let out a weary sigh. She could feel the heaviness Buffy felt, how it tugged at her very soul, and she ran her hand soothingly down her back as Buffy shifted, trying to get a little more comfortable before she laid her head down on Faith's shoulder and let out yet another weary sigh.

Whether it was evil or drama within their little family, it never seemed to stop. Always something else about to happen or happening and there was never a damn thing Faith or anyone else could do to stop it. She knew the drama was just beginning between Willow and Kennedy and she couldn't help but feel a little afraid of what would end up happening if the two of them couldn't work things out. She tried to take her mind off of things, eventually falling asleep with Buffy securely held in her arms.