Larry walked into the empty library carrying a large cardboard box full of books. Giles had sent him to the basement earlier to search for several missing volumes that he assumed were hidden somewhere in the dank cavern.

"Giles?" Larry called out as he entered the library. Giles was gone. Larry set the box down on the conference table and approached a window. From the time Larry had spent in the basement, the sky had turned from a sickly rain-spitting grey to a fluffy white, the dark clouds quickly burning away into the atmosphere. He could see the sun peaking through the clouds, bright yellowy rays burning holes through the sky.

"I’ll be damned," Larry stated aloud, "She did it." For the past six days, it had rained, slightly common for spring-ish California weather, a phenomenon for Sunnydale. With the rains had come a child-stealing demon, a soul-sucking demon at that. Larry shuddered at the thought. He never really could decide which he hated more - demons or vampires.

The doors to the library burst open, nearly tearing off the hinges. Larry jumped, practically out of his skin. A man stormed into the room grunting furiously, twisting and writhing as he did. Wrapped in a long black cloak, the man was smoking as if burning from the inside. Larry knew the signs. It could mean only one thing -

A vampire.

Larry jumped over the railing of the staircase. He grabbed his stake and charged at the demon. Grabbing it by the lapels, Larry threw the demon into a wall. He pulled his stake back ready to put the wretched creature out of its misery.

"Larry, NO!" He heard a voice scream at him.

Buffy violently pushed herself between Larry and the vampire.

"Buffy!?!" Larry couldn’t believe it, "What the hell’s the matter with you?"

Larry stared a little harder at the slayer. Something about her was different. The way she carried herself. The bright and happy colors she was wearing. How she was blonde but maybe just a little too blonde.

"It’s okay Larry," a very familiar voice called out to him, "He’s a friend."

Larry turned and saw another Buffy approaching him. Behind her, he could see Giles and Oz. Oz had his familiar ‘beats the shit outta me’ look on his face. Larry lowered the stake in his hand, a depressed look crossing his face.

"Aw, man," he whined aloud, "I hate the fucking Hellmouth."

Oz patted him on the shoulder as he walked by.

"Don’t worry man," Oz reassured him, "I’ll catch you up."

Buffy turned to face Angel rubbing a hand across his cheek.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, just a little singed," He returned, "I’ll be okay."

"Oh God," the other slayer cried out, "Stop it before I hurl." She grabbed Buffy by the collar dragging her further into the library.

"Hey," Buffy cried out, slapping the slayer’s hand away.

"Listen, I don’t care what you and dead boy have going on. That can wait. It’s time for you to spill. Who’s this Mayor and why does he want Faith?"

*********

The Mayor and Faith sat in the back seat of the cab. The Mayor went over one of his many checklists. Faith, arms crossed, stared listlessly out the window. She knew she couldn’t show any signs of weakness in front of the Mayor. Still, it was hard-really damn hard. Everything here was going so well for her. And within a matter of hours, it had all fallen apart. First, Angel returned. The moment she saw him, she knew the tide had turned against her. It’s not like she couldn’t handle being ‘second best’, well, except when it came to Buffy’s heart. That, that was something she could never handle. With Angel’s return here, Faith knew that the circle was just repeating itself. Hammering home Buffy’s destiny that she and Angel were always fated to be together. And that Faith was to be alone.

So Faith chose, chose to end the future pain of having Buffy leave her and left Buffy. And that’s when things went from bad to worse. Sitting in a cab heading to God knows where, with the worst mistake she ever made in her life-again.

"Faith," The Mayor sighed, "Would you please stop sulking. It’s so unbecoming."

Faith snorted at the comment, rolling her eyes.

"Ah yes, I see," he continued, "Blame me for all your pain. Make me the scapegoat. We both know the pain started way before I came around. Those people, all they ever brought you was pain. Me, I help take it away."

"What’s that supposed to mean?” Faith asked."

"What? You think I didn’t notice. The bag of clothes, the Dear Jane letter on the table. Two plus two doesn’t equal three. You were leaving her Faith."He paused, smirking at the comment. "I’m just here to finalize the moment."

"Among other things," Faith snarked back. The Mayor’s words had stung. The truth always did.

"We’re a team. You didn’t think I could go through the ascension without you, did you? Aw, c’mon, that’s supposed to be both our special day. And I just couldn’t do it without my special girl."

"Things change." Faith replied, "Besides, what makes you think I won’t try and stop you."

He cupped her chin with his hand.

"Oh come now Faith. I know you and you know me. You don’t just sell your soul to the devil and expect to walk away. Did you see what I did to your little friend back there? Try and stop me and I guarantee that the one thing you do care about will spend a very long time dying. Slow, painful, screaming to me for mercy."

The Mayor released her chin. He could see the resolve in her face. The resignation.

"That’s my girl. You just wait. The ascension will come and everything will change, no more pain, no more worries. Everyone will get what they deserve. That includes you." He paused on that sentence.

"Now come on, where’s that happy face I love so much."

Faith smirked forcing a half-smile. She turned looking out the window.

"That’s the one. You just wait Faith. It’s all falling into place. Now sing with me ‘Happy days are here again...’"

Faith let the voice trail off in her mind. She sucked in her bottom lip, chewing on it. Her teeth sunk into the flesh, squeezing it. She gritted her teeth holding back the tears as the pain shot through her face. Faith could taste the metallic, salt of her own blood. That wasn’t what she was looking for. It was the pain. The pain. That was what she was looking for. She let it build, course through her. It fed her. She thought about her past, her future and how what she was about to do would change everything. Being good Faith was hard. Bad Faith was easy..and bad Faith was back.

*****

Buffy went over everything she knew about the Mayor, ad nauseam. Giles continued grilling her. Making her repeat the same sentences over and over again. He wrote down every word that came out of her mouth, writing detailed notes. She was tiring of it. It was so tedious, so boring..so Giles.

Larry had returned to his task of sorting the remaining books. Oz worked busily on the computer hacking into various files trying to find any and all information pertaining to the Mayor, alias Richard Wilkins. They hoped that there were some similarities between Buffy’s Mayor and theirs. Angel remained passed out in the supply shed, safely tucked away from the sun, recovering from his recent injuries.

Buffy could feel the eyes of her double boring into her. The slayer paced the room while Buffy continued re-explaining the situation. If looks could kill, "Ms. Issues" would have Buffy six feet under, withroom to move.

The two had literally been at each other’s throats the moment Buffy arrived into town. The disappearance of Faith only worsened the slayer’s demeanor.

"Enough!" Buffy finally screamed, "I have told and re-told you everything I know. What? Do you think I’m leaving something out on purpose?"

"It wouldn’t be the first time," A certain blonde slayer quipped.

"Ya know what," Buffy stood up from the table wagging an accusatory finger, "I’ve had about enough of you."

The two slayers moved back, the tension so thick it could smother.

"Five bucks on our Buffy." Larry whispered to Oz.

"Enough!" Giles cut between the two. "The only thing worse than are current predicament is your constant bickering. If this is going to work, you’re going to have to work together, both of you."

"Yeah Giles, I know that. But, this," Buffy grabbed Giles’ notebook wagging it in his face, "THIS is killing me. I’m talked up to _here_. The time for talk is over. It’s time for action."

"Yes, a plan," Giles cut her off, "An imperfect one at that. You’ll have to forgive me for being a little overly obsessive about the details. I don’t know what it’s like where you come from. But, I get a little tired losing people I care about because I never bothered to go over the details."

The words cut Buffy to the quick. He seemed like Giles, talked like Giles, but she kept forgetting that this man _wasn’t_ her Giles. The world she’d entered felt soo familiar yet was soo different. In nanoseconds, Buffy thought of all the differences here. No Willow, no Xander, even Cordelia.

"Giles, I just can’t sit here and do nothing. We have a plan." She could see the protest in his eyes. "It’s not much. But, it’s something. Something to start with."

"Okay, okay," Giles resigned.

"Giles!?"

"Buffy," Giles turned to the other slayer, "She’s right. We need to get started. There’s no telling how far ahead of us the Mayor is."

"The Mayor!?! All I’ve heard about this guy is that he’s omnipotent and he plans to ascend. That’s it. Wow. Color me overwhelmed with useless information."

"Buffy, that’s enough." Giles snapped at her. She could see her double standing behind him, a very triumphant grin spreading across her face. If she could get away with it, she’d rip the skin off her body starting with that smirky little smile. Giles turned back around facing the slayer.

"I want you to start searching for the Mayor and Faith."

"Giles!?!" Buffy was reaching her boiling point, "Why does she get to search for Faith?"

"Buffy," Giles removed his glasses, going for the stern look, "She knows more about the Mayor than any of us. She knows his behaviors, his modus operandi, if you will."

"Yeah, she knows him so well she totally figured out that he would come over here and kidnap someone."

"Buffy, please," Giles continued, "We’re treading on thin ice as is, and we only have one discernible advantage. I need you to go about your regular routine."

"You mean patrol."

"Yes."

"You want me to patrol while _she_ gets to play Secret Agent Slayer. Great. That’s just fucking great. If anyone needs me I’ll be out in the graveyard."

In a huff, Buffy grabbed her jacket and shoved her way through the library doors not even waiting for Giles’ retort.

"Well, that went well," Giles stated dryly.

"Don’t worry," Buffy stated as she headed towards the door, "She’ll get over it."

"Buffy wait," Giles called out to her. "I need to speak with you. Privately."

"What is it?" Buffy asked, turning on her heel.

"Well," Giles sheepishly ran a hand through his hair, "There’s a slight problem with the temporal fold spell."

"A slight problem?" Buffy could feel her body temperature rise. "A slight problem..like?"

******

"So," Xander paced the library trying his hardest to be useful, "If I were a kidnapped witch where would I be?"

"Ugh!" Willow cried, throwing her pencil onto the table letting her face fall into her hands, "I’ve brainstormed so much, I think I pulled something."

"Ugh!" Willow cried, throwing her pencil onto the table letting her face fall into her hands, "I’ve brainstormed so much, I think I pulled something."

"We can’t stop now. We have to find Anya before the Mayor gets back." Giles tried to interject some enthusiasm into the group. "Okay, let’s go over the list once more, shall we? City Hall."

"Too obvious, we’ve been there like a million times." Willow added.

"The abandoned factory?"

"Too dreary, not the Mayor’s style."

"The sewers?"

"Eww."

"Faith’s apartment?"

"Too much sentimental value. She might get blood stains all over the carpet after a slow and agonizing torture."

"Hey, I’m trying to be Mr. Participation here. Besides, we all know how much of a softie the Mayor is for Faith."

"Yes, that much is obvious Xander." Giles retorted, "One doesn’t just go dimension hopping for the fun of it."

"Nice come back Giles and speaking of dimension hopping could you please explain _why_ you sent Faith over there to begin with?" Xander sat down on the conference table pinning Giles with his eyes.

"I told you."

"Uh..no, you didn’t. You told around. There’s a difference. Inquiring minds wanna know."

"Yes, Mr. Giles," Wesley interjected himself into the conversation, "Just exactly why did you send a known murderer with psychotic tendencies to another dimension? I’m sure the Council will be quite intrigued."

"Mmm, yes, the Council is full of great ideas these days. Rounding her up like a caged animal now that was a great idea."

"Giles, you didn’t even try to ask her first." Willow added. She hated being against Giles but, for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out why he had done it.

"My God, this poor child has been to Hell and back. This was a way to give Faith the second chance that we couldn’t. We wouldn’t."

"Second chance?" It was Xander’s turn, "What makes you think that Faith even *wants* a second chance."

*****

The Mayor and Faith walked deep into the structure. It was an abandoned firehouse. The building was old, tattered but had a "regal air" to it. Faith could see why the Mayor chose this building.

"Nice. Faith stated as she walked a step behind.

"She is a beauty isn’t she? I have one just like it back in Sunnydale."

Throughout the building Faith could see vamps milling about. Fixing windows, going over plans.

"And these guys?" Faith asked, pointing to the Mayor’s new minions.

"Them? Just a small arrangement I’ve worked out. It’s quite amazing actually. Vampires are to power as moths are to a flame. It didn’t take too long to find some willing to help me with my plans. I tried the mayor here. Miserable little troll of a man. I thought about slitting his smug little throat. But, we don’t wanna bring too much attention to ourselves, now do we?"

The Mayor led Faith to a back corner. There he began to ascend a circular staircase. Faith followed.

"And what do they get out of the deal? I mean, we are leaving here aren’t we?"

"Oh yes, we’re leaving. Quite a disappointment really. I found that I can’t ascend in this world. The box of Gavrok was destroyed about 100 years ago. Without it, no ascension."

Faith chuckled at the thought, having to refrain from any smart-ass comments.

The Mayor led her to a large wooden door. With the push of afinger, he opened it. Faith gasped aloud as she entered the room. Contrasted with the urban decay in the lower level, this room rocked. No cracked or crumbling walls, smooth wooden floors, and a large bed sitting in the corner. On the opposite wall, a large circular hole cut through the floor. A large brass pole pierced through it connecting from the ceiling down to the first floor - a fireman’s pole. "This is yours."

Faith’s mouth dropped open. She slowly walked into the room, dartingfrom one piece of furniture to the next. The room was as spatial as her old place. But, this one, this one had style, character, panache. It was the little things that made it so special.

Her Playstation. The punching bag. The giant cork board for knife practice. It was perfect.

"Mayor, ohmygod!" Faith turned towards the Mayor, giggling. She rushed towards him, leaping into his arms. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she planted a kiss on his cheek."Thank you, thank you, thank you." Faith released her vice-like grip around the Mayor’s neck, landing on her feet.

"Now, that’s the girl I remember."

"Jeez Mayor, this place rocks. How long have you been here?"

"Not very long. Just provide the proper motivation and you’ll receive everything you desire. Which leads me to you." The Mayor took Faith’s hand placing it into his own. He clasped both hands around hers.

Faith could feel the ‘catch’ coming."Yeah," Faith answered, "The price right."

"Oh no, not a price. We are going to play a little game. It’s called ‘Trust’."

The Mayor released Faith’s hands. He reached into his breast pocket fishing out a small piece of paper. He handed it to Faith.

"What’s this?" She asked.

"A list, it’s the main ingredients for our ticket back to Sunnydale. I need to know that I can trust you. So, I want you to go to that little Magik shop across town. Get what we need, and when you’re done.."

The Mayor paused, making sure he had Faith’s attention.

He didn’t. She was busy perusing the list.

The Mayor lightly grabbed Faith’s chin, forcing the eye contact."When you’re done I want you to kill the witch. I don’t care how you do it, just snuff her out. Are we clear?"

"Like glass." Faith replied, twisting her face out of the Mayor’s hand.

"Good."

Faith headed towards the door.

"And Faith.." He called out to her.

Faith stopped in the doorway giving him one last look."Yeah."

"Don’t go telling your little friends about our plans. There’s a world of hurt for them if you do."

Faith gave the Mayor a half smirk, tucking the list into her pocket. "The game’s called Trust, right? Doncha trust me?"

Faith gave the Mayor a wink, turned and headed out the door.

She had already made it to the bottom of the staircase by the time the Mayor exited her room. He placed his hands on the railing, watching her go. A vamp stepped from out of the shadows, standing a step behind him.

"I want you to follow her. Don’t interfere, just follow. I want to know how much she passes this test."

"And what if she runs into Buffy?" the vamp asked.

"Don’t worry, that problem will be taken care of in good time."

******

Buffy exited the library. Her mind spinning and turning to the point that she thought it would explode. Leave it to Giles to be the bearer of bad news. The good news was Giles had the spell that could send Buffy back. The bad news, it was only a partial spell and without the assistance of a witch Buffy might never get home.

That and things here were getting just a little too weird for her tastes. Faith, the Mayor, another Buffy. Hell, even Larry, it was all over-complicating what was supposed to be a pretty simple assignment.

Of course, the biggest problem was Faith. All those months, Buffy had tried so hard to get to Faith. To reach her. To make her realize the err of her ways. All of which, ended in failure. Buffy just wanted to turn back the clock. Make it like it was.

She was so angry with Giles. His decision to send Faith here without consulting Buffy. Now, she realized, Giles was right. Sending Faith here _was_ the right thing to do. Buffy could feel it. She felt it in their kiss. Faith still loved her. Yeah, maybe at first, Faith thought she was the other Buffy. But Faith felt it. Knew it. And Buffy could feel it in her soul of souls that what had gone on between them didn’t matter. They were together - again. And Buffy hoped, maybe, just maybe, if she played her cards right they could be together again. Buffy rounded a corner heading out the main corridor when she heard a familiar voice call out to her.

"Hold on just a sec," the slayer called out to her, "You and I need to chat."

The slayer was sitting on the stairwell, waiting for Buffy. Buffy stopped in her tracks. She could feel her pulse beginning to race -already.

"Oh Jesus, now is not the time."

"No, that’s where you’re wrong," the slayer rose from the stairs walking towards her double. "Now is the perfect time. There’s a couple things that you and I need to get out of the way."

"Like how to be a slayer and maintain your fashion sense?" Buffy quipped.

"Cute, that’s really cute. And I bet the whole ‘hairflip and giggle’ routine gets’em every time over there. But that’s just it, you’re not over there. You’re over here. And this is my town. It’s time you started playing by my rules."

"Which would be?"

"The moment you got here you’ve been mackin’ on what’s mine. My Watcher. My friends. Hell, even my own personal demon stalker."

"And Faith," Buffy added.

"Yeah, and Faith. I just wanna get one thing straight. When all is said and done. She stays." The slayer stuck her finger at Buffy, accenting her point.

"And what makes you think she wants to stay?" Buffy didn’t want to play this little game, but the girl was pushing her buttons-hard.

"Excuse me?" the slayer replied. This caught her off guard. She should have expected it. It was the one thing she feared the most.

Buffy casually walked up to the girl. She brazenly crossed her arms across her chest.

"You forget. Everything Faith feels for you. She felt it with me - first. You’re a replacement for the real thing. A cheap imitation of a bad carbon copy. What Faith feels for you isn’t real. It’s asubstitute."

The slayer could feel the words burn into her. These weren’t cutting remarks but deep, wounding gashes. Buffy knew the words weren’t true except in that one nagging little spot deep down in her soul. The dark place, where she kept all her fears, doubts and insecurities.

"A substitute? For you? Yeah right, I’ve got bruises and scratch marks in the most oddest of places that say otherwise. And what makes you think that Faith wants to go back to the ‘real thing’?" she fired back not really certain if she wanted an answer.

"Well, let me put it to you this way, we weren’t exactly exchanging recipes back at the hotel."

"Bitch!"

She never saw it coming, her head snapping back as the slayer’s fist connected with her chin. She felt as hands grabbed her jacket collar, throwing her into the Coke machine.

Buffy rolled into the throw bouncing off the machine, feeling it dent severely as her body slammed into it. She regained her balance countering her double’s punch with a block and a jab of her own. She connected. She rushed her double catching the slayer under the rib cage.

The slayer felt the wind leave her as her double caught her under the ribs. The two fell onto a table, the fake wood splintering into two under their weight. She’d never meant to get so angry. Yeah, she wanted to get her point across. But, not like this. The girl had pushed her buttons just a little too hard and she snapped. Now, Buffy found herself in the middle of a catfight.

The two squirmed and rolled across the dusty linoleum, each getting their blows in. A tempestuous ball of fists, kicks and expletives. Neither able to gain the upper hand. Too caught up in their rage to realize just how evenly matched they were.

Giles, Larry and Oz rounded the corner.

"By God!" Giles exclaimed, "Stop it, both of you!"

Neither girl paid any attention to the Watcher. Oz and Larry cautiously walked around the tumbling bundle of slayers, careful not to come between the two spitting hell cats.

"Grab Buffy!" Giles called out to the boys.

"Which one?" A confused Oz called back to him.

Giles looked down at the two tumbling girls, they were rather indistinguishable.

"Grab one, I’ll grab the other."

Larry and Oz in one concerted effort reached into the pile, yanking on an ankle. Giles did the same at the other end, grabbing a swinging forearm. The two sides yanked with all their might pulling the two girls apart. Giles, by chance, grabbing his slayer - Larry and Oz grabbing her double.

Giles held the slayer from behind, holding back both her arms. Larry and Oz each held an arm of Buffy’s.

"What the Hell’s gotten into you two?" he yelled.

"She started it!" The slayers yelled in unison.

"I don’t care who started it." He whirled the slayer around in his arms, "You in my office now."

"But Giles..," she pleaded with him.

"No, you, in my office NOW!!"

The slayer looked at Giles with pleading eyes. She felt as if she was loosing it. Her friends, her Watcher, her lover - everything. Buffy turned on her heel heading towards the library. But not before giving her double one final glare.

Giles watched the slayer walk away. Certain that she did exactly what he told her, Giles turned to Buffy. Oz and Larry maintained their vice-like grip on her arms. Giles held up a hand non-verbally telling them to release her.

"Giles, I know what you’re thinking."

"No, you don’t know what I’m thinking," he paused letting out a deep sigh, "Please, just go. I’ll deal with Buffy."

"Giles?" Buffy softly exhaled.

"Buffy, please, go." Was all the Watcher got out before he turned and headed towards the library. Oz and Larry shrugged at the slayer padding after the Englishmen.

Buffy turned and headed towards the door. Her pace quickened as she saw the two double doors leading outside. By the time she plowed through them, Buffy was in a dead sprint.

*******

Xander stood on the porch and sighed. He’d been there for more or less twenty minutes perplexed as to why. He sighed silently to himself contemplating going back out into the night to continue his search forAnya. He could always go back to the library. Not that there was anyone there, but Xander had found that, lately, he’d been spending more and more of his nights in the musty room. Then again, there was always home.Then again.. Xander was so lost in his thoughts he never saw the door open.

"Xander?" a confused Joyce snapped Xander out of his thoughts.

"Hi, Miss Summers, I was just in the neighborhood..I thought..I," Xander stammered not able to get the words out. Even he didn’t know why he was there, how could he explain it to her.

"Couldn’t sleep huh?" Joyce finished his sentence. "Why didn’t you just go home?"

"It’s Mekong night at the Harris house which is usually followed by theThursday night fight and I’d lost my bout card." Xander quipped. He meant it to be funny, he supposed it didn’t come out that way by the look on Joyce’s face."Don’t worry, it brings a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘sleep itoff’."

"Xander, I’m sorry," Joyce waved the boy in, "Come in, come in."

Xander stepped into Buffy’s house, too nervous to take his hands out of his pockets.

"Out patrolling?" Joyce asked.

"Yeah, that and part three of the ‘Search for Anya’."

"Yes, Giles told me everything. What a mess." Joyce paused a worried look crossing her face. "Any word from Buffy?"

"No, nothing yet, we probably won’t hear anything until she gets back." Xander felt worse than ever. He could see how worried Buffy’s mom was about her.

But deeper than the sorrow, Xander felt a pang of jealousy. If only his parents cared as much. Of course, that thought just added to the guilt that Xander was feeling about _everything_ which just made it worse.

"Would you like something to eat?" Joyce broke his thoughts, changing the topic of conversation.

"Yeah, sure, that’d be great."Xander sat patiently at the kitchen counter. His eyes passed over the various kitchen sundries, tilings and décor. Everything felt so ‘homey’.He recalled the numerous times he’d spent at the Summer’s home, most of them not good. Still, this house held special memories for him. Maybe it was because Buffy lived here. Maybe it was because this place felt more like a home to him than his actual residence. Either way, it brought out a melancholy feeling in him. Like wishing that Buffy had moved to Sunnydale sooner, or that he had run away, or, even better his parents had been struck by lightening and made him an orphan.

It’s not that Xander cursed the cards that he was dealt. He knew it was quicker to deal with his hand rather than mope over what could have been. Still, sitting in the kitchen, with the cow-print oven mitts and the smell of fresh baked bread Xander could feel the warmth and lovethat he felt was so missing in his life. The part that had made him feel empty.

"A penny for your thoughts?" Joyce asked. She laid a plate down in frontof Xander.

"My thoughts? I think this is the largest sandwich on the face of the planet."

And it was. Xander marveled at the sheer size of it. He looked at the exquisite mound of bread, picking off the sunflower seeds and eating them. Layers and layers of deli meats that Xander didn’t know existed were sandwiched between even more layers of cheese, lettuce, sliced tomatoes and, it looked like, bits of shredded carrots. He lifted the monstrosity, biting deep into it. He could taste the ingredients mixingi nto each other. Tasted the calculated amounts of mayo and mustard, and what he perceived to be a dash of Italian dressing.

"This is delicious." Xander mumbled through a mouthful of food, reaching for several of the deli chips that accompanied the sandwich.

"It’s called the Gargantuan. It’s Buffy’s favorite, but don’t tell her I told you that."

Joyce handed Xander a large glass full of crème soda marveling as the boy took a large swig."I don’t know how you kids do it." Joyce mused aloud.

"Easy, through the lips over the gums look out stomach, here it comes."

Joyce chuckled at the comment not caring that the boy didn’t understand her comment – or just flat out ignored it."I guess denial comes easy to us all." Joyce sighed.

Xander mulled over the next bite, chewing the food as if it were his thoughts. He let the thought flow over him.

"Sometimes I don’t think Buffy realizes how lucky she is."

"I don’t know Xander. Lord knows, I haven’t exactly made being the slayer easy for her. But, it’s just that I worry so much about her.She’s my only child and I just keep thinking how differently things could have been for her. Not having you guys for friends, or something worse had happened between me and Jerry. Who knows how Buffy might have turned out. She might have become.."Joyce let out a half laugh, half sigh. The word giving rise to anentirely different flood of emotions."What happened Xander? I thought they were so happy. Yeah, Faith was a little rough around the edges but..but she was really sweet. I mean she bought me a Christmas present. And she made Buffy so happy. What happened?"

"I don’t know Miss Summers. Sometimes what we want and what we get are two different things, ya know. Some of us deal better than others."

"Yeah, I guess so." Joyce marveled at the wisdom of this kid. Heartened that he was a friend of Buffy’s, yet saddened that these kids hadlearned too much, too fast.

"I just don’t want Buffy to think she’s lost so much when she has so much more."

******

Giles stormed into the library. Red-hot anger coursed through his system. He thought that steam would shoot out his ears if possible. Hewalked into his office, slamming the door behind him not caring if the window broke.

"Buffy, what the Hell has gotten into you!?!" Giles screamed at her.

The slayer was sitting on the couch her hands laying on her knees, eyes cast downward. He watched as the first sobs began to erupt from her body. They were soft coughing sounds at first. The emotions oozed out ofher like a dormant volcano bubbling back to life. With just as much force. It took Giles several moments to realize that the girl was crying.

"Giles, I’m losing her." Buffy finally sobbed.

"Losing who?" Giles kneeled down onto one knee, trying to make eye contact with the girl.

"Faith, you, my friends," the slayer replied in between the sobs."Everything was going so well. Now its coming apart and I’m afraid I can’t put it back together again."

"Don’t worry Buffy. We’ll get Faith back. You’ll see." He placed a hand on top of hers. Buffy swatted it away. Standing up, she began to pace the room.

"You don’t understand. Me and Faith, we’ve been.." Buffy paused, not sure how to say it, "We’ve been seeing each other."

"Well, yes, I know."

"No you don’t!" The slayer cut him off. "We’re in love, Giles. At least I thought we were. And now Buffy’s back, the real Buffy and I’m gonna lose her."

The pieces fell into place for Giles. His mind working faster than the‘oh’ he couldn’t get out of his mouth. He watched as Buffy placed her face in her hands.

"I’ve lost her Giles. Just like everyone else. Why do I keep losing the people I love?"

Giles bridged the gap between him and the slayer. He placed his arms around the girl, letting her fill the space. She wrapped her arms around his waist. He could feel the tears staining into his shirt.

"Shh, quiet now. It’s okay. We’ll sort this out. I’m certain that when all is said and done, Faith will stay here where she belongs."

*******

Faith walked casually down the street. The bag of supplies neatly tucked under her arm. She looked up at the various buildings around her,memorizing the stillness of the evening.Faith turned around as she felt the familiar figure behind her.

"Hello B. Long time, no see." Her voice dripped ice as Buffy stood before her.

"Hello Faith. How’s the Mayor?"

"Doing fine, how’s dead boy?"

"So, this is how you wanna play it?" Buffy took several steps closer, her face fully illuminated by a street-light. Faith could see several bruises marking her face. New bruises.

"Nice," Faith pointed towards Buffy’s face, "Where’d you get those?"

"This? A present from your new girlfriend." Buffy could see the smirk spreading across Faith’s face.

"I wouldn’t smile too much until you see what she looks like."

"What do you want Buffy?" Faith shot back at her.

"I wanna know how you’re doing?"

"You know me, B, five by five."

This was not going well. In less than 24 hours, Faith had replaced the wall between them. And Buffy had neither the time nor the inclination to tear it down, things were bad enough.

"Why’d you do it Faith?"

"Oh Jesus, you don’t get it do you?" Faith stormed past Buffy heading into an alley. She could feel the slayer behind her not willing to give up so easily.

"Don’t get what? That things were a little more complicated than youliked. So you just cut and run, jumping into bed with the Mayor?"

Faith stopped dead in her tracks. The last sentence cutting through her like a sword.

"Is that what you fucking think? Is that what you think of me, B?"

"You tell me Faith." Buffy screamed back at her. "Why did you leave? Why did you leave me?"

"Oh Jesus. What are you fucking dense or something? How did you think it felt Buffy, being second best? Having to put up with your constant mooning over Angel. Being apart from you wondering if you were fucking him. Did you think I didn’t know?"

"What Angel and I have is.."

"What!?! What, B? Special? Different? I’ve heard it all before. Just once, all I wanted to know, to feel, was that the _only_ person you were thinking of was me. But, that could never be. And then, I screw up, and rather than standing by me, giving me a little room. You not only turn on me, you turned to HIM!!"

Faith paced the alleyway as she screamed at Buffy. All the hate and rage that she felt permeated through her system.

"You made things worse, Faith, not me! You’re the one that went running to the Mayor."

"Yeah, that’s right. The Mayor. And ya know what. It’s good. Cuz for the first time in my life, I feel like there’s a person in my life that accepts me for who I am, not what I can’t be. It might have been a shit decision, but at least with him I’m number one."

"You don’t mean that, Faith."

"Yeah right, how do you know what I mean?"

"I know you Faith. And all this fronting is bullshit. It’s not too late.You can still have what you want."

"Really? I can still have what I want." Faith tossed the bag in her hands onto a nearby trash pile. She approached Buffy, getting closer and closer as she talked.

"So tell me B, what do you want?"

"I want you, Faith."

Faith grabbed Buffy by the collar, pulling her into her. Their lips meeting, Faith kissed Buffy – hard and deep.

She pressed the blonde slayer onto the wall, pushing her weight onto hers. Mouths opening, their tongues danced as the heat between them increased.

"Is this what you want?" Faith moaned between the kisses. "Tell me what you want?"

Buffy couldn’t. Her breathing had turned ragged, all the months of denial and repression washing away replaced with desire and longing.

Buffy felt her body melting into Faith’s. The lips on her neck, the hands roaming up and down her body. She heard the slight gasp escape from her throat as she felt Faith’s hand unbuttoning her pants.

"Tell me what you want?" Faith purred into her ear.

"Please," Buffy gasped into Faith’s ear, "Please, Faith."

Buffy wrapped a leg around Faith’s waist, moaning deeply as she felt the hand slide into her pants. Her body felt on fire as the warm flesh parted her matching desire with desire. Faith felt the slayer moving into her. She smothered Buffy’s face and neck in a shower of kisses, moving from throat to chin to mouth and back again. With a forced gentleness, she increased the pace of her hand feeling Buffy’s body matching her rhythm.

She felt the slayer’s arms tightening around her neck as Buffy pressed her body harder against Faith’s hand.

"Oh God, Faith."

Buffy felt as if it had been an eternity since anyone had touched her, moved her as Faith was doing now. She didn’t care that Faith had screwed up, or left her, all she wanted, all she desired was in her arms. And she held on as if time itself couldn’t break the moment.

Buffy felt the tension between her legs increasing, her body bucking and writhing in the brunette’s arms. Buffy lowered her face into Faith’s shoulder, hoping to muffle the sound as she moaned. Faith felt Buffy scream into her shoulder, a slight smile creasing her face.

She kissed the top of the slayer’s head holding her body as Buffycame down. She felt Buffy gripping her collar with both hands tightly, neither wanting to let the moment go. Both knowing it had to end.

Faith gently placed a hand at the back of Buffy’s neck, bringing the slayer even closer.

"Goddammit B," Faith whispered into her ear her words choked with quiet sobs, "I love you. And the only way I know how to protect you is to play the dutiful daughter. You get it. It kills me that I have to hurt you like this. The next time we meet each other, its do or die time, get it.Get it!?!"

Buffy pulled her head up, looking into Faith’s eyes. She could see the light reflecting off the brunette’s tears. She touched her hands toFaith’s face, memorizing it with her fingertips.

"Faith, no."

"Yes, Buffy," Faith lightly squeezed the hand on the back of Buffy’s neck trying to get her point through, "I can’t do this anymore. When we get back, I’ll have to come for you. I can’t hurt you Buffy. But, you’ll have to hurt me. It’s up to you now. Understand. Don’t hold back."

"Faith, what are you trying to say?" Buffy didn’t want to listen to thewords pouring out of Faith’s mouth. She tried to pull away, to turn her head but Faith wouldn’t let her.

"Promise me, when we meet again. You won’t hold back. No second guessing. No turning back. I’m dying on the inside. I just want the outside to follow. If that means you have to kill me, then do it.Promise me, B, you’ll kill me."

Faith didn’t wait for a response. She kissed Buffy one last time,savoring the moment. Releasing her hold on Buffy, Faith grabbed her bag and headed out the alleyway.

Buffy slumped back onto the wall, sliding down as her legs gave out onher. She wrapped her arms around her knees and began to sob."I promise, Faith," Buffy replied to no one, the tears coming down in full. "Oh God, I promise."

*****

Xander awoke with a jerk. He flipped the blanket that was strewn across his body onto the floor. Groggily, he remembered that he’d fallen asleep on Buffy’s couch. Some time in the night, Joyce had apparently laid a blanket across him. Xander noted to himself to thank Buffy’s mom at some later point in time.

Xander sat up reaching for his backpack. He pulled out a spiral notebook that Willow used to take notes for Biology. Inside, he found the Xerox copies that he’d made while researching the Mayor. It was a large stack comprised of records, photos and articles regarding one Richard Wilkins. While not the complete archive of the Mayor, it was enough. Xander flipped through the pages. He found an old photograph circa 1899. Xander laid the photo to the side digging through the stack once more.

An excited smile creased Xander’s face as he found another page. Positive that this was the clue they were all looking for Xander got up from the couch running towards the hallway phone. He punched in the numbers instinctively, fearing his shaky fingers would hit the wrong number.

"C’mon." He stated in a whispered voice.

"Hello?" A very groggy Giles answered.

Giles, you won’t believe this," Xander spoke into the phone, gesticulating wildly with his hands, "I need you to call everybody and meet at the library. You’re not going to believe this."

"You’re right Xander, I don’t believe this. Do you know what time itis?"

"C’mon, I’m being serious here. I know where she is. I know where the Mayor’s keeping Anya."

******

Faith strode confidently into the Mayor’s new office. Throwing the bag onto the desk, Faith plopped herself down into a chair, propping her feet up on the desk.

"Faith, please," The mayor waved a hand at her. Faith removed her legs moving on to looking after her fingernails. He grabbed the bag pouring the contents onto the desk.

"Good, very good," he replied looking over the contents, “Everything’s here. Now, did you do as I ask? Did you kill her?"

"Sorry Mayor, no can do."

The Mayor waved the vamp that was following Faith into the room. Faith turned to see then returned her gaze to the Mayor.

"And why not?" He asked cooly.

"How I see it. She may be a witch and all but if she screwed us and what you need isn’t in that bag we’ve got bigger problems than a dead witch on our hands. It was just a little insurance."

The Mayor leaned back in his chair, folding his hands across his chestabsorbing her words. Faith leaned forward accenting her point.

"You want me to kill someone, fine, point out some random yahoo in the street and I’ll gut him. But, asking me to kill the one person who can help get us back, well, color me stupid."

"See, that’s my Faith," The Mayor spoke to the vamp, "Always thinking. Score one for you."

The vamp was not impressed.

"And what about Buffy?" the vamp asked, more to the Mayor than to Faith.She could see him cocking an eyebrow to her. "I saw the two getting friendly in an alleyway."

The Mayor furrowed a brow towards the brunette. Faith shrugged hershoulders, not batting an eye.

"You said it yourself Mayor. It’s like an addiction. Some people, they need a goodbye kiss. Me, I need a little more."

On the last sentence, Faith brought a hand up to her mouth licking a finger.

"I just needed one last fix."

The Mayor shuddered, thinking about all the germs and bacteria the girl had just consumed. Not to mention what else was on that finger.

"Faith, that girl’s going to be the downfall of you." He looked towards the vamp, "She’s right though, killing the witch was a hasty decision."

"And what about Buffy?" the vamp spat back not happy with the Mayor’s complacency.

"Buffy, she won’t be a problem. We’ll be gone soon."

"She’s a problem for me." The vamp stepped forward into the room. "Once you’re gone, she’ll still be here. What’s my problem is your problem."

The Mayor sighed deeply. "He’s right you know. A deal’s a deal. So, tomorrow, after you’ve gotten some rest, you know how grumpy you are in the morning, I want you to kill Buffy. Will that be a problem for you?"

"Nope, no problem at all. It’s over between us." Faith replied. She could feel her stomach twitch as the words left her mouth. She watched as the Mayor pulled open his desk reaching for a small box. He slid the box over to Faith.

"What’s this?" she asked.

"A gift. I felt bad about you losing your knife. I got you this to make up for it."

Faith opened the box. Like the box that held her knife, it was linedwith dark crimson velvet. She folded back the top layer of cloth, her eyes going wide as she saw the object.

"Oh my God!"

Faith held the gift up to the light. It’s cold metal reflecting the room back into her face. She looked down the weapon’s line, checking the sight.

Faith reached into the box again, grabbing the small clip. She slid it into the handle, feeling the familiar ‘snick’ as it locked into place.She pulled back the barrel feeling the chamber load and lock. The Mayor smiled deeply as Faith worked the weapon masterfully.

"That’s my Faith. Now, you have your new toy and your new assignment. I suggest you get some rest. We have a long day tomorrow."

"Yep, kill Buffy, go home, plan for the Ascension. Easy as pie."

Faith placed the weapon back in its box, closing and locking the lid. She stood up in her chair tucking the box under her arm. She made her way towards the door exiting the room. The vamp held a hand up stopping her.

"Remember, he said kill not fuck."

Faith giggled slightly running a finger down the vamps’ collar.

"You haven’t seen me fuck." With that, Faith gave a coy wink to the Mayor before turning and heading out the door. The vamp, clearly not impressed, turned back towards the Mayor.

"She’s bad news."

"Yes, I know," The Mayor replied. He stood from the table sliding his hands into his pocket. "But what can I do? She’s my Faith. And ya gotta have Faith."

******

"Okay, so, like, what are we doing here?" Cordelia blurted as she exited her car. The gang had rendezvoused at the donut shack several blocks from the old firehouse. The air hung with the aroma of freshly baked donuts, several dozen lay in boxes on one of the tables.

"If you didn’t want to come, why are you here?" Giles reminded her.

"Civic duty," Cordelia stated. "Isn’t this like contributing to the delinquency of a minor or something?"

"Good morning Cordelia." Wesley walked up to the brunette carrying two cups of liquid. "I wasn’t sure which you preferred, coffee or tea, I got both."

"Aw, that’s so sweet. Coffee for me." Cordelia sashayed herself to the table, sitting down next to Wesley.

"It must be the end of the world, I’ve run out of ‘jailbait’ jokes."Xander snarked.

Willow reached for a long circular tube. She pulled several schematics laying them onto the table.

"Here's the schematics of the building. The Mayor was planning some renovations and stuff. This is the only project he has investments in that’s currently under construction."

"Yes," Giles added, "It appears Xander found our Holy Grail."

"Please, no need for thanks," the boy held his arms up in mock acceptance, "I take cash, Visa and Mastercard."

Finding the plans was easy," Wesley chimed in, ignoring Xander, "The hard part will be getting inside."

"Wait, you mean to tell me you don’t have a plan?" Cordelia huffed, "I could’ve stayed home."

"We’re just working on our feet. It’s part of the oath. Besides, Buffy needs all the help she can get." Willow shifted uncomfortably in her seat. So many of their plans involved Buffy, it just seemed weird doing this without her.

Giles looked at his watch. "Yes, the sun should be coming up soon. That gives us the advantage. We’ll need to take a look around first."

"I’m for casing. Comes with the wolf territory."

"Good, Xander and Oz, you take the back. I’ll take the front. Wesley, you stay with Willow and Cordelia and go over the plans, find any odd tunnels or anything."

Xander slapped his hands together, rubbing them. "Easy as pie. Bag the bad guys, save the girl. Prepare for oodles of hero adoration."

The Oz and Xander headed towards the rear of the firehouse. Giles was preparing to take a closer look when Willow grabbed his arm.

"Giles, suppose we save Anya. Then what do we do?"

"Like you said Willow," The Watcher replied, a look of concern crossinghis face. "We’re thinking on our feet. Our main concern is to get Buffy back in one piece."

"Hopefully, if she comes back, she’ll once again be on our side."

"I really do hope so, Giles." It was the girl’s turn to look concerned, "I’m not sure what’ll happen to Buffy if Faith’s still bad."

*******

The morning sun creaked over the horizon bathing the town of Sunnydale in a bath of warm, yellowy light. In the middle of the town golf course,Faith stood on an old stone bridge watching the sun rise over the man-made lake. The mists rose slowly off the lake looking as if the lake were on a slow boil. In the distance, she could head the faint calls of birds chirping mightily towards the arriving sun. But, her eyes stayed focused on the lake. She chuckled lightly to herself as she saw the faux wooden placard that stated the lake’s moniker – Lake Consequence. It was meant as a warning to the golfers making their drive from the 11th green. For Faith, the name held greater meaning.

Faith removed the Mayor’s 'gift' from behind her back. Holding the piece in her hand, she watched as it reflected the world back in her eyes –the lake, the sky, the sun. Rotating it, Faith stopped when the barrel reflected two brown eyes back towards her. Her eyes. They looked so harrowed, so dead. She knew that her insides were dying. It was just amatter of time before the outside followed.

She sighed heavily. Looking out over the lake, at the sunrise, Faith mused that she’d never seen a more beautiful sight. Well, comparable to Buffy. It saddened her that there she wasn’t there to share this moment with her, aside from the birds.

She heard a faint twig snap in the forest behind her. Faith chuckled lightly to herself. She knew it was one of the Mayor’s henchmen,checking up on her. Making sure she carried out her “assignment”.

“Idiot.” She muttered to herself. It was obvious the vamp was young, inexperienced. He plodded through the woods embarrassing himself and allof his ancestry.

In a way, it saddened her that the Mayor didn’t trust her. After all, she _was_ his right hand man. But that didn’t change the fact that he’d asked her to do something she never contemplated - killing Buffy. Evenworse, he’d asked her to kill _this_ Buffy. The one who never betrayed her. Or lied to her. Or turned her back on her. The one who loved her unconditionally. Faith felt the pangs of guilt as she realized just how unfairly she had treated the slayer. The old jealousies, suspicions and accusations that had falsely plagued her mind and forced her commit an act of pure stupidity.

All she wanted was a little happiness. Was that too much to ask?

“Heaven knows I’m miserable now.” Faith muttered, remembering an old song. She inhaled deeply. “Time to suck it up babe. We got a job to do.”

She tucked the gun back into her pants, giving a parting glance at thel ake, etching the canvas into her memory. Choices and consequences.That’s what it was all about. The Mayor made his choice and now Faith must live with the consequences. A slayer must die. Which one? The answer was one that only Faith knew was ready for.

*****

Buffy laid in her bed staring at the two pictures in her hand. Thethings that she cared about the most now faded memories onphotosensitive paper. One was a picture of her parents from a long timeago, the other a little more recent. It was Faith’s idea to get into thepicture booth at the mall. Admittedly, Faith’s reason for getting into the booth *wasn’t* for taking pictures, still, they’d managed to grab a few shots. Buffy was sitting in Faith’s lap, her arms draped around the brunette’s shoulders. In one shot Faith was pulling on Buffy’s earlobe with her teeth, another involved the two in some serious lip locking. The third and Buffy’s favorite was of the two looking into each other’s eyes, the slightest of smiles on both their faces. She remembered the exact words that came out of Faith’s mouth exactly after.

"I love you B."

It was the first time Faith had said the ‘l’ word. Even now, Buffy could feel her pulse quickening. Her body recalling everything that she feltat that exact moment. A slight chuckle arose from her throat as she remembered what the two did in that photo booth after those fateful words. Words that Buffy would probably never hear again.

She wiped a tear from her eye curling herself deeper into the blankets. Looking at those photographs, Buffy had never felt more alone than she was right now. Realizing that this was what she would probably be for the rest of her life - alone.

"Hello B." A familiar voice broke the silence in the room. Buffy jerked up in bed. Faith was standing in the bathroom doorway.

"How the hell’d you get in here?"

"A lifetime of juvenile delinquency and a half-open bathroom window." Faith chuckled. She sighed heavily stepping into the room. Her humor replaced by a stilted nervousness as she placed her hands on her hips."The Mayor and me..um.. we’re gonna be leaving soon. I just wanted to say.."

"Goodbye?" Buffy laughed back at her. "Well, don’t let me stop you. He’s just the most evil person in two dimensions. Why don’t you just go ahead."

"Yeah, he’s evil and all but he’s also been real good to me. I can’t forget that B. I can’t forget the choices I’ve made."

"Choices? Seems to me you didn’t _choose_ anything."

"Buffy please, I didn’t come here for this." Faith ran her hands over her face trying her damnedest not to get into an argument with the slayer.

"Well, what did you come here for? A goodbye kiss, a little tumble in the sheets to have something to remember me by." Buffy slid both her legs over the edge of the bed. She pulled out Faith’s goodbye letter waving it towards the brunette. "You said everything you needed to. So you just go ahead, leave with the Mayor. Go back to *your* Buffy."

Please B, what me and that Buffy have is.."

"Is what?" Buffy cut her off again. "What? Different? Special? Complicated?"

Faith chuckled as she heard the words roll off Buffy’s tongue the irony lost on the blonde. She slumped into a chair feeling as if the weight of the world were crushing her downward. Buffy didn’t take the hint. Shestood up from the bed pacing the floor in front of Faith.

"I get crucified for Angel returning. For something I hadn’t even done.Yet, someone comes here. Someone that _you_ actually slept with and still have some kinda thing for and you want me to.."

"I love you B."

Buffy walked up to Faith and slapped her across the face.

Don’t you ever say that to me again!!" the slayer screamed at her. "Please, just do us both a favor and get the hell outta here!"

"Fuck." Faith exhaled leaning back in her chair. "I don’t know how things got so fucked up, B. Everything was going so perfect, ya know. A couple days ago, I was thinking about what my life was going to be like. My future. Slaying. You."

Faith paused. She stared listlessly at the opposing wall. Her body felt worn out, as if she were a hundred years old and asked to do a triathlon. But her mind, it felt as if it were stuck in fifth gear, a hundred miles an hour heading nowhere.

Buffy placed her hands on the edge of Faith’s seat. She leaned in real close, screaming at the girl.

"Do you hear me, goddammit, get out! I don’t give a fuck about you or your problems. Or Angel, or Buffy or anything. Just get out!"

Faith looked up into Buffy’s eyes. "He wants me to kill you."

"Oh, now isn’t that just great. And that way, you can get rid of me and go back to your Buffy and everything will be perfect."

Faith wasn’t listening. She reached behind her back pulling out the small semi-automatic. Buffy’s eyes went wide as she saw the piece. She immediately stood up backing up from the chair.

"He told me he wanted me to kill you. You know, he’d made a deal with the vamps around here and shit. Make things easier for them. What a fucking deal, huh? Easy for them."

Faith held the gun in her hands. Her fingers traced over the lines. Cold steel, they called it. Funny, it didn’t feel cold. It felt warm, the same temperature as the body it was sitting snug against.

"What do they call this? The crossroads or something. Stay here and he hurts her. Go with him and I hurt you. Either way, I hurt somebody I love." She paused again, feeling the familiar click as she turned the safety off. "Some fucking choice, huh?"

"Faith, what are you going to do?" Buffy stood at the edge of the bed, her instincts telling her to run. Her heart telling her to stay.

"Choose, B. I’m choosing. And this time, I’m gonna do it right. This world, that world, either way there’s one damn slayer too many. I’m just returning everything to how it’s supposed to be." Faith sighed heavily."This whole mess got started ‘cuz Cordelia wished Buffy had never come to Sunnydale. Ya know what my mom once told me. She told me that she wished that I’d never been borne. Well, ma, I guess you’ll get your wish."

Buffy watched in horror as Faith brought the gun up to her temple.

"I love you, B."

"FAITH, NO!!"

******

The Mayor’s henchmen stood in the shadows across from the hotel. He was draped in a long cloak, protected from the morning sun. He’d followed Faith from the firehouse. Watched patiently as he saw the girl enter thebathroom window. He wondered whether or not the girl had failed in her assignment. It was pretty straightforward -kill the slayer. But, ashe’d been told, the girl and the slayer had a thing. And with Faith,being told to kill the slayer and her accomplishing it were two separate ideals.

A voice cut through the silence of the morning. The sound of the slayer screaming. Followed by the incomparable sound of a gunshot. A smile creaked across the vamp’s face. He melded back into the shadows headingback to the firehouse. It was time to spread the good news – the slayer was dead.

He walked less than five feet when he heard an all too familiar voice break the morning qualm.

"Somebody, please, help me!"

The vamp whipped around to see Buffy standing in the doorway of her motel room. Even from his vantage-point, he could see the blood on her clothes. Yet, he knew that the blood wasn’t hers. He watched as Buffy ran down the hallway heading towards the office.

The vamp cut the distance across the parking lot. He jumped the barrier between the rooms and the walkway diving straight into room #3.

Faith was lying on the floor. The smell of blood and fresh gun powder filled his nostrils. He could see a small pool of blood spreading around the girl’s head.

"Oh shit." Were the only words he could get out as he hauled ass back tothe firehouse.

******

Angel sat solemnly on his couch. He could feel the temperature rising as the sun warmed the old church. He brought the cup of cow’s blood to his lips, draining the entire contents in one swallow. The burns on his bodyhad healed, but the hunger for sustenance had increased tenfold. He’d depleted his entire stock of cow’s blood in one sitting. The coffee table a testament to his hunger, empty container after empty container littered the furniture.

Angel stirred as he felt the blanket covering the entranceway open slightly. His eyes adjusted to the blinding light, noting the silhouette of a female form.

"Angel?" the person called to him. Angel rose from the couch. He wasn’t used to visitors.

"Buffy?" He called back, "What are you doing here?"

"I didn’t have anywhere else to go." The slayer replied nervously shifting from one foot to the other. "How are you doing?"

You know me, five by five."

"Great," Buffy giggled lightly, "Faith-isms."

"Sorry." Angel shrugged. "Would you like to sit down."

"Thanks. Rough night." Buffy moved to the couch sitting down. She took a look around the room noting the practically identical décor between thisAngel and hers. Angel walked over to the fireplace, leaning against the wall.

"How are you doing?" Angel asked her. "I heard about your little brawl."

"Little?" Buffy snorted. "More like a knock down, drag out. All that was missing was the ringside announcer screaming ‘get ready to rumble’." "Among other things." Buffy added. She watched as Angel squirmed slightly. They’d reached a touchy subject. He uncrossed his arms and slid them into his pockets.

"Will you be taking Faith back with you when you leave?"

"I don’t even know if I can leave. And things being so weird aroundhere." Buffy paused her eyes shifting back to Angel. "Very slick. She loves her you know."

"So do I." Angel bridged the gap between them, sitting down next to theslayer. "Faith doesn’t belong here. Taking her back will set things right."

"Set it right for who?" Buffy shot. "What Faith has here is ten times better than what’s waiting for her."

"Aren’t you waiting for her? That’s why you’re here isn’t it? If you’re not here to set things right, then why are you here?"

Buffy sighed leaning back into the couch. She thought about what had happened between her and Faith earlier. What would occur if she took her back. Could they patch things up and go back to the way it was? She snickered lightly. It hadn’t happened with Angel. What made her think that it could happen with Faith?

She turned to look at Angel. His brown eyes followed her every movereading her reactions. She knew what he was doing. Removing Faith from the equation. Buffy studied his features. Her heart aching as she realized the heartache over what she knew could never be between Angel and this world’s Buffy.

You know that you two can never be together, right?"

"Excuse me?"

"The Gypsy curse," Buffy could see that Angel had no idea what she was talking about. "Getting your soul back. If you and Buffy, you know, do it, you’ll lose your soul. I’ve been there, it ain’t pretty."

Angel paused, not sure whether to laugh or take the slayer seriously.

"What the hell are you talking about?" He finally asked. "I didn’t regain my soul because of a bunch of Gypsies."

"What?" It was Buffy’s turn to look incredulous. "Excuse me, I mean, what?"

"It’s quite silly actually." Angel ran his hands up and down his thighs,rather embarrassed at having to reveal his story. "I’m the reason why your Mayor can’t ascend here. I attempted it, ascension. Screwed up the curse, wound up getting my soul back rather than.."

Buffy absorbed Angel’s words. She always thought that this world had changed the moment Buffy never came to Sunnydale. She realized that the changes ran deep cutting across time. She remembered something that Giles had once told her. Something about balance.

"You mean you can?"

"As far as I know. Don’t get me wrong, it was hard at first. Realizing what I had done. Then I saw you. Buffy. And it was like getting a second chance." Angel’s eyes darkened as he recalled the past several years. "But she never came. Not when she was supposed to. So, I waited."

Buffy reached to Angel cupping his cheek with her hand. She could feel him flinch slightly at the contact. Then, Angel melted to her touch. She was so different than his Buffy. So trusting, so willing. Buffy closed the distance between them. She gently pressed her lips against his. Angel could feel her nervous breathing on him. Her heart beating furiously, his body could feel her pulse. Was this what her Angel felt before he turned?

Angel inhaled deeply taking Buffy’s scent in. He could smell the light fragrance on her skin. The fabric softener in her clothes. And somewhere beneath it all he could make out the light musk of sex. The scent filled his nostrils, the realization that Buffy had been taken, and recently.He brought his hand around to the back of Buffy’s head, pulling her in closer. He opened her lips with his tongue, exploring her mouth.

Buffy felt her body giving in. Felt as her hands worked on their own,pulling up Angel’s shirt feeling his chest. Her legs moved over, straddling the demon’s hips. In some ways, she knew it was wrong. This wasn’t her Angel. Still, they had both felt the connection. Maybe it wasbecause his Buffy didn’t or because her Angel couldn’t. More likely,maybe it was because her tete-a-tete with Faith had left her more sexually frustrated than ever. Buffy thrust her hips into Angel, feeling his arousal through their clothes.

Buffy gripped the back of the couch. Her hair rained down over Angel as his mouth covered her neck in kisses. She could feel him unbuttoning her blouse, hands roaming over her breasts. Exploring, she felt the fingers as they moved down, her pants coming undone.

If there was anything that living 247 years had taught the demon. It was how to one-handedly unbutton a woman’s pants. Buffy’s body trembled lightly as his hand slid between her legs. He felt the heat from her body, the desire, hearing the moans of pleasure escape the blonde’sthroat.

"Oh God," Buffy moaned, "Oh Faith."

Angel froze, his hand snaking quickly outward.

"What did you just say?" the demon asked.

"What?" Buffy stopped moving, noticing that the passion had abruptly turned one-sided.

"You just called me Faith." Angel blurted.

"I did? No I didn’t." Buffy’s mind reeled. She recalled Faith telling her that she mumbled a lot of stuff during sex. She was somewhat amazed that it was actually comprehensible.

"Buffy, just now, you called out Faith’s name." Angel scooted the blonde off his lap, setting her next to him. "I may be old but my hearing’s not."

"Angel, I’m sorry. It’s just that me and Faith, we.." Buffy’s words cutoff as she screamed aloud. She jumped up from the couch shaking her hand violently. Angel jumped as well, ready to strike at the offender. He held Buffy’s arm, calming her, a slight smile on his face.

"It’s okay, Buffy. It’s just a rat."

"Eww," Buffy exclaimed, watching as the rodent scurried away. "God, I hate rats. Well, except Willow’s but that’s.." The words trailed off.

"What is it Buffy?"

"Rat? Oh my God." Buffy began hurriedly buttoning her clothes. Standing on her tiptoes, she kissed Angel on the cheek.

Confused, Angel watched as the slayer ran out into the daylight.

"Yeah, no problem."

******

Amy stood at her locker scribbling on the back of her notebook. She shook the pen in her hand, cursing silently as the ink refused to flow.She tossed the pen aside, going for the next one. Why was she the one cursed with constantly malfunctioning writing utensils?

"Nice outfit." Amy heard a voice mocking her. She turned to see Heather and her fashion cronies walking by, giggling. "That’s what you get for enlisting at the Salvation Army."

Amy rolled her eyes at the comment. "Yeah, we’ll see who’s laughing after her hair starts falling out." She mumbled to herself, mentally noting to remember to get rat’s eyes for that particular spell.

Having found a working pen, Amy slammed her locker shut. She turned to head to class, only to find a rather pissed looking blonde standing before her.

"Hello Amy." The blonde stated.

"Who the Hell are you?"

"I’m Buffy," the blonde girl spoke as she grabbed Amy’s arm and began pulling her down the hallway, "And I know who you are. And I need your help."

******

Buffy pushed the doors to the library with one hand, the other holding a struggling Amy. She could see Giles and the gang seated at the conference table.

"Hey Giles," she called out triumphantly, "You needed a witch, I got you one."

The girls approached the table, Buffy finally letting Amy’s arm go. As she walked closer, Buffy could sense something in the air. It was tense. Her double was seated at the edge of the table. Her hands were clasped on the edges of her jacket, pulling it across her body. Buffy thought she could make out what appeared to be blood stains beneath the jacket.She sat listlessly at the table. The look on her face something between shock and catatonia.

There on the table Buffy could see a small gun. Silver and black smeared with something dark and oily.

"Giles, what’s going on?" she asked.

"It’s Faith." Oz looked up at the blonde with sad reddened eyes. He brought an arm across his nose, wiping a sniffle. Giles rose from thet able, walking towards the slayer.

"She’s dead Buffy. Faith’s dead."

Buffy could hear her blood pounding behind her ears, her heart racing. She looked into Giles’ eyes, pleadingly, praying to God that it wasn’t true. Buffy looked over at her double, the girl continued staring at the tabletop. Buffy’s eyes flitted across the room, to Larry, to Oz, then back to Giles.

"Faith..but..how."

"She shot herself." Her double finally spoke, never taking her eyes off the table, off the gun.

"No, that can’t be. It’s not true." Buffy shook her head violently, willing it to be untrue. She thought about what Faith had told her last night. And all the things left unsaid between them. How she’d never get the chance to speak those words. Things were moving too fast. This was supposed to be a second chance. For both of them.

"Please, don’t let it be true."

Buffy felt her breathing quickening. Giles held her shoulders tightly,watching her reaction. Her entire world was shattering. She felt the first sob erupt upward from the pit of her stomach. Quick, tense, it jolted her body. She gripped Giles’ arms feeling the room spin. Then..

It all went black.

******

"You’re drunk!" The witch screamed.

"Amy, please, for us to complete the spell and return Buffy to her time, we need a witch." Giles desperately tried to explain. "Are you or are you not a witch?"

"Yeah, but I’m talking putting zits on the faces of the cheerleaders or turning myself into a rat NOT sending someone to another universe," the girl paused, "Oh, I get it. That’s not tweed, it’s a hemp sweater,right? Cuz, dude, if you think I can do this you’re high."

Giles stood up from the table running a hand through his hair. He always assumed finding a witch would be the hard part. He never anticipated that getting her to work with him would be the bigger feat.

"Listen," Giles pressed his hands together pointing the digits at the girl, "We’re already in some serious trouble here. I can’t do the spell alone. I need help. And you’re all I’ve got."

"If I’m all you got then we’re both in trouble." The girl shot crossing her arms.

Oz entered the library carrying an arm full of sodas. Larry approached him taking part of the load.

How’s it going?" Oz asked.

"Not well, apparently we picked the witch with the world’s lowest self-esteem." The boy paused smirking. "She should fit in just fine."

"How’s she doing?" Oz nodded his head towards the window. The slayer was leaning against the wall watching the setting sun.

"Not good," Larry replied, "Although, I’m not the foremost expert on dealing."

"What about the other one?"

"Ditto."

Oz returned the boy’s sheepish grin and headed towards Giles’ office. He knocked lightly before entering. Buffy was sitting on the couch. Having recovered from her fainting spell, she was sitting upright eyes cast downward. Oz walked up to the girl, handing her a coke.

How’re you holding up?"

"You know me, five by five." She laughed half-heartedly. She looked up at the boy. "I always meant to ask, what happened to Willow?"

"Willow?" Oz almost sounded almost shocked. "She’s dead."

Buffy felt her heart drop at the words. "Oh, Oz, I’m so sorry."

"Sorry for what? She was a demon. I was just putting her out of our misery." Oz shrugged. Buffy watched Oz’s expression. Even here, Oz was a very hard person to read.

"We failed Oz. I keep trying to fix things and they just get screwed up."

"It’s not your fault." Oz tried to comfort the girl. "You did the best you could."

"Did I?" Buffy looked up at him her eyes filling with tears. Oz walked over to the girl laying a hand on her shoulder. They both held their positions, a moment frozen in time. Something passed through Buffy, as if somehow she could emote everything that should be, but wasn't.

"Oz, Giles needs you." The slayer spoke broke the silence. Oz gave one last pat on Buffy’s shoulder before heading out the room. Buffy watched as her double entered the room leaning against the desk.

"How are you holding up?"

"Not as good as you." Buffy replied. She watched as the girl shrugged her shoulders.

"Can I ask you something?"

Buffy leaned back into the couch hoping it could swallow her whole."Yeah, sure."

"What happened back there? I mean, Faith, she never liked to talk about it. I always felt like it was that elephant in the room that no one likes to talk about."

Buffy looked up at the girl, actually surprised that she wasn’t going in for a dig. The slayer had dark bags under her eyes, markings from crying, lack of sleep, pain. Buffy tried to return the girl’s gaze but she couldn’t instead turning her eyes to the opposing wall.

"Me and Faith, we were on patrol and, well, you know how crazy she can get when. We..she killed a guy. An innocent. She freaked. We both freaked.."

"Yeah, but," the slayer unintentionally cut her off, "those things happen. Casualties of war. We can’t be expected to _do_ what we do without accidents happening."

Buffy snickered at the comment realizing that information had come _way_too late in the game.

"Faith, she freaked. I mean, who can blame her. But, we tried to help her. All of us, and we kept failing. The harder we tried to help her.."

"The harder she pushed you away."

Buffy nodded her head to the comment. The two slayers sat in silence for a moment each caught in their thoughts.

"You really love her, don’t you?" The slayer asked. Buffy finally looked up at her, meeting her eyes.

"Yes, I do. I just wish I’d had the chance to tell her that."

"Yeah," the slayer returned her gaze exhaling a long sigh, "me too."

*******

The vamps’ body slammed against the wall. The Mayor pressed him into the concrete, his fists wrapped around the vamp’s collar. He was still steaming from the parts of his body that were exposed to the morning sun.

"What do you mean she’s dead?" The Mayor hissed at him.

"I saw her. She was on the floor. She shot herself. By the time I got there, there was nothing I could do. I ran back here as fast as Icould."

The vamp was scared. More so now than when he saw the brunette’s body lying prostrate on the floor. Compared to the majority of vamps in Sunnydale, heck the world, he was quite young having been turned only 18 months ago. And now, watching the Mayor’s eyes turn red hot with anger,he was beginning to regret his decision.

The Mayor tossed the boy across the room screaming as he did. The vamp slumped against a wall, frightened, unsure what to do - run, stay, plead for mercy. He watched as the man ran a shaky hand through his hair. The Mayor’s right hand man ran towards his side.

"I want her dead. I don’t care how you do it. Tear this town apart. But,I swear, I want Buffy Summers dead. Do you hear me!?! Dead!"

"But, what about the temporal fold? Shouldn’t you be preparing to leave?" the henchmen asked. The Mayor grabbed him by the collar, pullinghim close.

"There are only two things in this or any other world that I want right now. One, I want to Ascend. Two, I want to feel Buffy Summer’s dying heart in my hand. Do you understand me?" The henchmen shook his head in compliance. The Mayor let his collar go.

"Good." He turned toward the frightened vamp. "You, come with me, we’re going back to the motel."

******

The doors to the firehouse burst open. Several windows shattered spraying the cavern with bright yellow light. The vamps inside scurried to their feet as Willow and Giles entered the room. Cordelia and a very nervous Wesley followed them. The four threw small jars filled with Holy water at the vamps their flesh disintegrating as the fluid melted into their skin.

Willow moved covering the right flank. She raised her crossbow firing at a charging vamp. Giles covered her back, tossing Holy Molotov cocktail whilst waving a large cross.

A vamp grabbed Wesley by the collar, throwing him into a wall. Wesley tried in vain to raise his cross. The vamp knocked it out of his hand going for the Watcher’s neck. The watcher let out a sound akin to a frightened schoolgirl but shriller. He closed his eyes preparing for theinevitable. The vamp exploded into dust covering the man. Wesley openedhis eyes to see a stake bearing Cordelia before him.

"Thank you Cordelia."

"My pleasure." The girl proudly replied. "Duck!"

"What?" The girl grabbed Wesley’s head pulling it directly into her ample bosom. She threw her stake catching another vamp directly in the chest. Giles briskly walked past the couple.

"I hate to remind you two but we are in a fight."

Noticing the commotion downstairs, two vamps walked towards the locked door placing their ear to the hard steel. Behind them, the windows burst open. Xander fell into the room shaking himself out of his ropes. He pulled his crossbow firing at the vamp. He missed.

"Shit!" Xander quickly attempted to reload his weapon. It was too late.The vamp was already on him. It grabbed the boy by the collar lifting him up only to kick Xander in the ribs. Xander wrapped both his armsaround the vamps knees. With all his strength, Xander lifted the vamp pushing him into the light. He extricated himself from the vamps’ grip as the demon burst into flames.

Two thick hands pulled the boy into the shadows wrapping themselves around Xander’s neck. He could feel the life being choked out of him, his eyes bulging out of their sockets. Gasping for air, Xander attempted to claw his way to the light, pulling and dragging his self and thevamp. The vamp violently pulled the boy back, throwing him into a wall his hands still wrapped around Xander’s neck.

"I’m gonna enjoy this." The vamp hissed at the boy. More eager to watch him die than drink his blood.

Oz burst through another window, spilling bright light into the room.The vamp, directly in its path, ignored the light preferring to keep his hands around Xander’s neck rather than seek safety. Xander could feel the demon erupting into flames. The heat licking the boys face threatening to engulf them both.

Oz ran over to the two whacking the demon over the head with a stray wooden plank. The demon released its hold on Xander. It twisted and writhed in the light finally exploding into dust. Xander slumped onto the floor gasping for air.

"Where the hell have you been?" he gasped.

"I was tied up." Oz replied. He held out a hand helping Xander to his feet. The two walked quickly to a dark corner. There, gagged and hogtied, a relieved Anya waited for the boys. Xander peeled the duct tape off the girl’s mouth.

"Xander? What the Hell are you doing here?"

"In most native tongues, this is called a rescue." He replied, cutting her restraints. Oz and Xander helped the girl to her feet. They headed towards the large iron door quickly undoing the various locks and bolts.

A large vamp hissed at them as the door opened. The vamp held the door open with its arm. He watched as a small point exited the front of his chest. A look of shock crossing his face as he realized his inevitable doom. The vamp exploded showering the three in dust. A very triumphant Cordelia stood in the doorway.

"Hey, I’m getting good at this slayer stuff. Is there a clothing allowance or something? You would not believe what happened to my shoes."

The three walked past Cordelia heading down the stairwell. Giles met them at the bottom of the stairs.

"Anya, thank goodness you’re okay."

"You’re thankful. In about six hours, I was supposed to bring the Mayor back. Glad I don’t have to worry about seeing his ugly mug anymore."

"We’re not here to stop you."

"What!?!" The girl exclaimed, "Then what _are_ you here for?"

"We need you to bring him back."

*******

The Mayor pulled back the police tape casually walking into the room. Hecould see the tape outline of Faith’s body. The Mayor knelt down, his hand caressing the outline of Faith’s head. His fingers grazed the drying blood, still, slightly damp.

"My poor Faith." he stated aloud, "I told you that girl would be the end of you. Don’t worry. I’ll make her pay."

The young vamp stepped cautiously into the room. With the exception of the police tape and lack of a body, it was just how he remembered it. The Mayor turned his head towards the vamp. He noticed the broken television sitting on the dresser. Walking towards the set, the vampstepped out of his way.

"Tell me everything you remember."

The vamp eyed the Mayor. "I stood over in the trees. I heard a gunshot, saw Buffy run out the room. Then, I ran in here and I saw Faith lying on the floor. Then, I ran straight to you."

"No, I went straight back to the firehouse."

The Mayor turned his head back towards the silhouette on the floor, then back towards the television. He pulled the set from the wall, seeing the small slug imbedded in the wall.

********

Buffy pulled the spare key from her pocket opening the door to Giles’apartment with a quiet snick. She shuffled quickly inside the room closing the door with the same quiet caution. Tossing her backpack onto the couch, Buffy headed towards the kitchen. She noted the obsessive tidiness of the Englishmen, glancing at the various sundries lying around the countertops positioned perfectly amongst the décor.

She grabbed a large bowl filling it with ice and equal amounts of water. Heading out the kitchen, she looked around the room making sure all the window shades were drawn not giving away her secret hiding place. That done, Buffy walked hesitantly into the bedroom.

Lights adjusting to the darkness of the room, Buffy moved a hand towards her CD player. Giles’ vinyl collection was lost upon her. That, and he had no CD player of his own. So, Buffy had brought hers. She pressed play on the machine, the silence broken by the soft siren’s song.

"I remember the nights I watched you lay sleeping.
Your body gripped by some far away dream."

Softly, Buffy pressed herself down onto the bed sliding the bowl onto the nightstand. She took a wash rag dipping it into the frigid bowl, the lump next to her slowly stirring. Buffy peeled off the bandage, pressing the cold compress to the ugly would.

"I remember when how you left in the morning at daybreak.
So silent you stole from my bed.
To go back to the one who possesses your soul.
And I back to the life that I dread."

Faith melted into the light touch, her body responding to Buffy’s hands even as consciousness wouldn’t. Buffy wiped the blood from Faith’s forehead. Cleaning the wound, she replaced the old bandage with a fresh one. Faith should have been in the hospital. She should have received stitches for her wound. Both Giles and Buffy knew that could never be.It was too dangerous. So, she tended to Faith’s wounds hoping it would be good enough.

"So I ran like the wind to the water.
Please don’t leave me again I cried.
And I threw bitter tears at the ocean,
But all that came back was the tide."

She wanted to hurt the girl. To throw her against a wall and pummel the crap out of her. To make her hurt as much as she. But, seeing Faith lying here, knowing what she’d done. Buffy wished more than anything that the girl would just open her eyes.

Choices. Buffy knew that Faith had made hers. The kind that cuts and gashes and leaves invisible wounds, wounds that never heal. It was time for Buffy to make her choice. Her decision. For so long she’d felt as if she were a pawn in Fate’s cruel game. A maniacal puppet master yanking and pulling her strings.

"And I will oh I will not forget you,
Nor will I ever let you go.
I will oh I will not forget you."

Buffy kissed Faith lightly on the forehead. She pulled the covers up tight around the girl, surrounding her head in an abundance of soft pillows. Rising from the bed, Buffy exhaled softly heading out the room.

"How long have I been out?" A voice called to the slayer. Buffy could feel her heart stop. She turned towards the brunette.

Five hours." Buffy stated crossing the distance between the two. She could see Faith trying to sit up playing the tough girl. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Buffy gently pushed Faith back onto the mattress. The brunette brought a hand up to her wound, wincing slightly.

"You’re pretty quick slayer." She quipped.

"Yeah, able to leap large couches in a single bound but not faster than a speeding bullet. A couple millimeters to the left and we’d be having this discussion in the morgue." Buffy laughed wearily. Faith ignored the comment.

"Who knows I’m here?" Faith cut to the chase, all business.

"Just me and Giles."

"And Buffy?" Faith asked. She could see the slayer turn her eyesdownward, avoiding the question. "You’re cruel, B."

"So are you." Buffy stated. "You promised me you’d never leave me Faith. You’ve tried to twice."

"Well, you know what they say. Third times a charm." Faith quickly closed her eyes, waiting for the slap. It never came. After a few beats,she opened her eyes.

"I thought we were a team, Faith. How can we be a team if you don’t trust me?"

"I do trust you B. I trust you more than anyone on Earth, or any other Earth for that matter."

"So what were you trying to do Faith? Protect me? Saving me from pain?"

"How was putting a bullet in your head supposed to spare me from pain? That wasn’t your right. Don’t you get it? For there to be an us, there has to be _both_ of us. You and me."

“What? You think this has been easy for me?”

“No Faith, I don’t know what you’ve been thinking. You haven’t trusted me enough to do that.” Buffy rose from the bed heading towards the door.

“Where are you going?” Faith asked, a tinge of concern in her voice. Buffy stopped in the doorway turning her head back towards the brunette.

“Since this whole thing began, I’ve felt like some passerby watching her life pass before her. It’s time for me to act. I’m gonna end this thing.For both of us. After that..you can do what you want.” Buffy closed the door behind her, leaving Faith alone with her thoughts.

********

“Would you please tell me again why you want to bring the Mayor backhere?” Anya was seated at the conference table. Her fingers wrapped around a Diet Coke. Something she learned would maintain her girlish figure. Which confused her because her sole purpose was to punish men, not attract them.

“My reasons for sending Faith there are inconsequential and part of a bigger plan. The Mayor going there to retrieve her isn’t.” Giles tried to explain to the girl.

So, let me get this straight. Me creating wish world bad, you sending person to wish world good.”

Xander sat himself onto the conference table next to the witch. “It’s a long and complicated story, one that us mere mortals are too dense to comprehend. Maybe you can get an explanation. Good luck.”

“Listen, we can debate the moral ambiguities of my decision later. Right now, we need you to bring the Mayor back and help return Buffy. Are you going to help us or not?”

Anya paused for a moment. She looked up at Xander. The boy returned her gaze shifting uncomfortably in his seat. She felt her heart skip a beat her teenaged body responding by releasing a ton of hormones into her system. It excited her and disgusted her at the same time.

“Okay, I’ll do it,” she finally stated, “On one condition.”

“Anything.” Giles replied earnestly.

“I’ll do it only if Xander takes me to the prom.”

“Done.”

“WHAT!?!” Xander jumped up from the table. He ran towards Giles. “This is insane.”

“Xander. We need Anya’s help. Besides, you don’t have a date for the prom anyway.”

“What are you? My pimp now?” Giles pulled the boy away from the conference table. Away from prying ears.

“Listen, our job here is to help Buffy. If that means you giving up one night of your life to slurp punch and dance to horrendous ballads, then fine. I’m certain it's a very small sacrifice.”

“That’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one dating the teenager formerly known as Hell Spawned Demon! And don’t think the irony’s los ton me that I’ll be taking a girl who’s sole purpose in life is to cause pain and suffering to men to the Prom.” The boy huffed running a handthrough his hair. Giles laid a hand on his shoulder attempting to calm him.

“So you’ll do it then?” He asked. Xander sheepishly nodded his head.“Good. Then let’s get to work shall we.”

The two turned back towards the group. Xander could see Anya grinning back at him. Something between a Cheshire cat and Josef Mengele about to perform an operation. It sent a shudder down Xander’s spine. He ran a shaky hand through his hair, wondering if this is what it feels like to sell your soul to the devil.

to be continued