Scoobies 2008 (2/?)

Summers' Residence, Sunnydale

3:08 P.M.

Willow watched from the doorway, as Buffy sat on her old bed and looked around her once room. It was so easy to tell when the blonde was in deep thought, or reflecting or reminiscing. After everything she had achieved, as far as she had made it, the past, and the shadows that lurked there, still haunted her. It saddened the redhead deeply, because as long as she'd known her, no matter how much she tried, she could never take away her friend's pain. Only distract her from it. She walked into the room as Buffy spoke.

"Everybody ready?" The slayer asked.

Willow nodded. "The car's all loaded. Joyce is just talking to Faith andTara now."

"Huh?" Buffy seemed confused. "Oh, that would be my mother's name. Stillnot used to when people call her that." She looked ready to get up. "Time to get going, I guess."

"There's no rush." The wicca sat down beside her friend. "Talk to me."

"I thought we got pretty caught up during the drive." Buffy avoided.

"Talk to me."

Buffy took a deep breath. "It's all complicated, Will. I'm twenty-seven years old. Teenage years gone, prime party years gone, and I think, did I get allI could out of it? If I wasn't who I am, could I have done more? And I'm getting older. Then there's the single factor..."

"You got a whole heck of a lot out of it. Me, for one." They smiled. "Xander, Cordelia, Angel, Wesley, Tara, Anya, Kate, Giles, Faith...that's a lot of people. We partied, we saved the world, we graduated, and we have jobs. Pretty big accomplishments, I think."

The blonde slowly agreed. "But am I happy?"

"Don't you know?"

"Sometimes I think so, other times..." She sighed. "I know I have a lot.And mostly, that's enough. Those other times though, my mind tells me I could be happier. I look at you and Tara, Xander and Anya...but given my track record, a steady and fulfilling relationship doesn't appear to be on the horizon."

Willow thought quietly. "Maybe you're not letting yourself be happy. Letting yourself really give the relationship a try. Or maybe you just haven't found the right person yet. How many boyfriends have you had in the last five years? Two?" She frowned. "You have to get out there."

"It's all the same with guys. I was dating this guy from work for awhile. We started out great. Both being cops we understood how crazy things could get life-wise, but as soon as he found out I could lift up the rear end of a car one-handed, he split. With the other ones...I had to break it off. I just didn't feel it. And when I look around at guys who I might potentially be interested in, really look, I..."

"So you don't think the male race is good enough for you?" Willow asked with a grin.

Buffy glared. "I didn't say that. It's more like I don't think I'm good enough for them, and I'll mess up. Not say something when I should, not be able to love them enough...like Riley all over again. I'm a black hole of depression, I know."

A long silence seemed to come then, before Willow could think of anything to say.

"Well, uh...have you thought about going gay?" She asked cautiously.

Her friend laughed. Good, that's what she wanted. "Going gay? Is it that easy?"

"I did it, didn't I?"

"Can I get a pamphlet first?" Buffy grinned.

"I'll have the receptionist send you one."

"What if I did? I don't see how things would be any different. Guy, girl...I'm still me. Still the black hole. And I don't see how the people who would go out with me would be any different, either." She closed her eyes. "God, I'm horrible. I'm sorry. You travel all this way to spend quality time, andall my...problems, and I realize they're all in my head, I dump them on you."

"I asked to hear them." Willow reminded her. "Honestly? I don't think you're giving yourself a chance. Or anyone else. I don't know how to help you get past the blockage, I wish I did, but I do know someone who probably understands what's going on in there," She poked Buffy's forehead, "because she probably feels the same way. And she..."

Willow didn't need to finish. They both knew who she was referring to.

"Yeah..." Buffy wasn't sure if she returned those feelings, but she had thought about it.

"And trust me, you're not the only one with problems."

The slayer's eyes widened.

"You two ready to cruise or what?" Faith called up the stairs.

"Coming!" Buffy called back, as they started walking. "So..."

"Hey, I heard about what you want to do. The other slayers and all..."

***

Los Angeles International Airport

8:23 P.M.

The slayers sat on those uncomfortable chairs like all the other people waiting in the terminal for the flight to come in. They were waiting on their friends. Willow stayed at the hotel with Tara, but Giles and Joyce had come along. The two older folks were checking out different flight packages, asking around about flight fares and such. Buffy was a little unnerved.

"There's something bugging the witches." Faith said. "Could tell when wegot back from your mom's."

"You think?" That worried her. "What?"

"Dunno." She shrugged.

Buffy saw Giles and her mother across from where they were.

"If they're planning to elope..."

"You wouldn't have any control over it, and you'd just back them up." Faith finished for her.

"Thanks for the help." Buffy said sarcastically.

"I know you, B. I know what goes through that head of yours."

They looked at each other briefly, and the moment somehow became very intense for both of them.

"Are you trying to freak me out?" The older slayer asked.

"Am I?"

"No...not really." The blonde shook her head.

"You okay? Red and Tara aren't the only ones who seem distracted."

"I'm fine." The brunette placed a hand on her shoulder. She had been feeling tense all day, but as soon as she felt that, the tension vanished. "Faith?"

"Yeah?"

More silence. "Nothing."

Giles and Joyce came over. "So what were you two doing?" Faith asked them, clearing her throat.

"Just browsing." Giles answered.

"Planning on going anywhere?" Buffy wondered.

"It'd be nice, but Mr. Giles and I have too much to do." Joyce said. "And for one person to fly anywhere these days...the prices are ridiculous."

"Oh." People were coming out of the jet way and entering the terminal now. "Xander! Anya!" Buffy said, seeing her friends in the mass of passengers.

The couple smiled and found their way over, carrying a portable kennel. Hugs were exchanged, hands were shook, and then the blonde bent down to see inside the cage.

"Is that Harry?" She asked.

"We couldn't leave him at home." Xander said. "We bought three tickets just so we could sit this next to us."

"The airline wasn't happy at first, but they saw it our way eventually."Anya said with a smile. "He wasn't going to sit in the luggage compartment."

The dog gave a small yelp, and Buffy's face lit up. "Awww."

"Let's get back to the hotel so we can get the poor thing out of there." Joyce said.

"Our bags." Anya reminded everyone.

"Giles and I will get 'em." Buffy volunteered, then walked off with her former watcher.

Faith walked up to the ex-demon. "When are ya due?"

Anya looked shocked, and then turned to her fiance. "You said no one could tell! I'm huge, aren't I? I knew it!"

The brunette looked at Xander with a "sorry" _expression_ on her face.

"Mood swings." He whispered.

"What did you say?" Anya demanded.

On the other side of the airport, a private jet had just landed. Its passengers were certainly not normal by any means, and had good reason to stay away from commercial airline travel. They had much to hide, as well. The person who had funded the trip was looking forward to meeting his old "friends" again. He had a score to settle, and considering who his new partners were, he wasvery confident that he would do just that. He was getting tired of good. It was always so boring.

***

Kate Lockley's Apartment

9:03 P.M.

What the hell is wrong with me? There's something not right, there has to be. I'm a cop. I can hold my own with any man on the force. I have nerves of steel. Daddy made sure of that. I was raised to be who I am, and he prepared me well. I love my job because he loved it. Dad used to say that the first thing people see when they look at you is your eyes.

"If you can make them fearless, if you can make them intimidating, people will steer clear. You don't have to say or do anything. And most criminals will go quietly. If they don't, Katie, just kick their ass until they know who'sin charge. No one pushes a Lockley around."

And I did that. I *do* that. I'm good at it. I'm never fazed, and I've made murderers piss their pants. So how come, when it comes to him, all my yearsof preparation and training suddenly disappear? Could it be the first time we met? The club, I was doing undercover work. Playing the lonely girl so I could snag the perp. And he was playing the lonely guy so he could snag...the perp. Wewere definitely on the same mission. Still are.

But that time, I don't think either of us was playing lonely. I didn't have to play it, because I've felt it all my life. Everybody hides, right? Behind the image I created, "tough chick with balls" there's always been a part of me that wishes I had been into Barbie, that I had dated more, that I had had more friends. It was just dad and I when I was growing up though, so there wasn't much chance of that. Like I said, I love my job. I'm proud of what I do, and I thank my father for all he did for me. Yet even though he's in his grave, apart of me hates him, because as much as I thought I knew him, I didn't know himat all. That's a whole other story, and I've been trying for years to move past it, so I'm not digging it up again.

So the first think I noticed about him was our similar emotional states.Then his eyes. I didn't follow my dad's advice there. But his eyes, my god. You know how people say you can get lost in someone's eyes? Well I didn't believe it until then. They held so much pain, and regret, and anguish. And lonliness.A lot like mine, only multiplied a couple thousand times. I thought that either he was an ex-con, a wanted serial killer, or an artist. Turns out I was right on all three counts.

I will admit that I always noticed his physique. I may act like a man when I have to, but I'm still a woman. Once I found out he was a detective, though unlicensed, and not the guy responsible, I figured that maybe I had found someone. That I had felt a spark. These were all new thoughts too. I wasn'tthe romantic type, I'm not. I'm not used to love, so I was thrown. So thrown that I told him I trusted him. I don't give my trust to many people, and here I was giving a guy I barely knew, the only thing I could offer. The thing that impressed me the most was that he had the balls to stand toe to toe with me.

Then things got complicated. They always do. My dad was...he passed on. I found out who he was. Both of them. I despised this man now. Not my father,him. And I despised him for a long time after that day. I'll be up front, a partof me was destroyed, and I held him responsible. He didn't do anything, but his kind did. I justified my hatred by looking up his past crimes, yet I knew deep down that he was already paying for them. I lashed out at him because I knew I was safe. He wouldn't fight back. I knew he wasn't like them.

But he also betrayed my trust. He wasn't straight with me. All those times I helped him, and he hid. I wouldn't have believed him at first, but I think I would have come to believe. I don't dismiss things outright. No matter how crazy they sound. And the connection I thought we had made was damaged. I was broken, so I laid on the hard-edged cop routine real thick and went back to work. Began a crusade to kill the things that weren't supposed to exist.

Everyone thought I was cracking up, so I got bumped down. A throw away. At some point though, I snapped out of it. I just got my head together. It started with Druscilla and Darla. I realized that I couldn't take them on alone, but he could. We could. Starting with that, he told me his history. Things the books didn't say. The curse. It shocked me, how much weight this man was carrying around. And how hard he was trying to atone for it all. Around that time, he was close to losing it, like I had been. I can't explain it, but I felt like I was meant to save him, so I could save myself.

I did, and don't ask me how. That whole period was an emotional, physical hell, and I'm just glad we survived. We built up our trust in each other up again, I climbed my way back to being respected, and we shared information. Years go by, and Buffy comes to LA. I help her out as a favor to him. Then I get to like her. Know her. She's a remarkable girl, and I wouldn't want anyone else as my partner. Eventually I find out how she and Angel were involved. Great story. Surprised there hasn't been a TV show about it. Or a "Made for TV" movie at least.

He goes human on me, and Buffy doesn't show any interest, and for these past five years, I've been struggling with turning into a swooning, teenage girl, and maintaining my strength as a police officer. Something I'm not used to. I don't gush to Buffy or anything like that, but she knows how I feel. I'd like to go on a date, have a shot. But I don't do dates, and neither does he, so we avoideach other like frightened animals. Now do you see what's wrong with me? Turns out I knew all along.

Angel. It couldn't have been something less appealing? Like, say, Billy Joe? One of us should do something. I've got half a mind to just go over there and ask him out myself. This is ridiculous. Oh hell. The door.

"Who is it?" No answer. Great, I don't need this right now. Where's my gun? My coat. On the chair. I grab it. "Who is it?" I ask again.

"Detective Katherine Diana Lockley?" The guy sounds British.

"No, that's me. I asked who you were."

"Wonderful. I was afraid that I might have the wrong apartment."

"How do you know who I am?"

"Please madam, I have no time to chat. Open the door."

"Not gonna happen pal."

"I'm afraid I must insist."

Persistent bastard. "No way. Not until you tell me who you are and what you want."

"Very well. I'll just invite myself in then."

"I'm only gonna warn you once. I'm a Los Angeles police officer, and I'm armed."

"Good for you." Jesus Christ, where'd the smoke come from? Coughing and blind. I'm pretty sure my door just flew off its hinges. It's clearing. I can see...that he's got a hold of my wrist, and shit, he's got my gun. "Now if you'll just hear me out. I've come a long way, and I'd very much appreciateit if you could pass along a message."

***

Angel Investigations

9:30 P.M.

Angel was sitting on the steps outside of his hotel, looking up at the stars, when Kate came running. Good, because he had been working on building up his courage, and he thought he could do it.

"You're here." She stated.

"Kate?" He saw her face. "What's wrong?" She was out of breath. "You look like you need to sit down. Come inside. We can talk."

She shook her head. "Where's Buffy?"

"She took everyone to the promenade. Well, everyone except Wesley. He's at another premiere with Virginia Bryce. I don't think any of us ever saw that lasting."

Kate was perplexed. "Everyone? Who's everyone?"

"Didn't she tell you? Her friends she grew up with in Sunnydale flew in today. They're going to stay here for a week and half or so. You met them once. When..."

It dawned on her, and she nodded. "Now I remember. None of us got to talk much, then. Seeing as how the world was ending." Angel laughed, and she smiled. "And yeah, she told me they were coming."

"Her mother and Giles are here too. Wait. They didn't go either. I thinkthey went to -"

"Giles? His first name, is it Rupert?"

"Kate, tell me what's going on."

"I'm not sure, but I bet it's nothing good. She needs to hear this. So does he."

"Hear what?"

"I already put an APB about on him, but I don't know how much good it'll do."

"On who?"

"He thinks he can break into my home?" She seethed.

"Break in? Someone broke in?"

"Give me your car keys. I'm driving." She started running towards the convertible.

He disliked being clueless, he really did.

"Kate!"

There went his chance, damn it. He ran after her.

***

The Promenade

9:44 P.M.

Tara was holding Harry's leash as the group walked the Promenade. Willowwas so happy to see her friends again, and she was glad to see her girlfriend feeling so free. Willow was right. They were swamped all the time. Oh they didn't run every single shop of course, but they handled the bulk of the paperwork, double-checked all the inventory lists from every store, made sure they stayed on good terms with their suppliers...they were lucky if they got time alone one night out of the week.

As much as she wanted a child, she had to deal with reality. If they were lucky enough to get one (the waiting lists were long), to spend time with him or her, they'd probably have to schedule it in. And she didn't want to do that. There'd be things they'd need to teach the kid, explain. Agencies didn't have a problem with lesbian couples as adoptive parents; at least not one they voiced publicly, though there were many groups that did. And that was another thing they'd have to prepare the child for. Any comments by other kids, how they might react considering he or she would have two mothers.

That would be something very hard to do, and as Tara thought about it, she began to wonder if she should put a kid in that situation. But no matter what her doubts, when she heard that Anya was pregnant, she got hit with that overwhelming need to be a parent. It had been in the back of her mind, but now it was all she could seem to think about. Anya seemed to be glowing. Willowwas affected by the news as well, and as soon as she and her had exchanged glances, the shock vanished from her face.

Her emotions were a mess, and it didn't help that they were spewing out baby names.

"Tiffany! Or Charisma!" Cordelia suggested. "She'll be popular for sure.Who wouldn't like a Charisma?"

"Anne." Buffy volunteered. "It's my middle name." She shrugged. "I like it."

"How about Eliza?" Faith asked.

"Why Eliza?" Willow wondered.

"Just always been something about it...that always...kinda appealed to me."

"Like me with Sarah." The blonde said.

"Honey, tell them her name is Alexis and make them be quiet." Anya groaned. "All their words are making my head ache."

"What's wrong with Anne?" Buffy frowned. "It's an A name too."

"So's Alyson and A-amber." Tara chipped in.

"Also very good names." Willow supported her girlfriend.

"All the name offers were top notch." Xander agreed. "But I think we canall see that my lovely, thin bride has already made her decision. So I beg you guys to -"

All the girls stopped walking, and looked at Anya and Xander oddly for a second. Even Harry cocked his head to the side and gazed at his owners strangely.

"Bride?" They echoed as one.

Xander rubbed the back of his head. "Heh. Uh...yeah. We were waiting to tell you that we had planned on getting married while we were here." Willow sniffed, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Will?"

The redhead hugged him. "Wow. Oh...that's great." She wiped her eyes. "I always cry at...the thought of a wedding. Happily, not sadly."

They started fussing over Anya, hugging all over again. Talk of wedding dresses and rings rang through the air. Until Angel and Kate came running.

"We've got a problem." The older, female detective informed them.

Buffy looked at them first, and shook her head. "No. No way."

Then Faith, whose teeth clenched. "Goddamn it."

Willow frowned. "Oh shoot."

Xander sighed. "Figures."

Tara looked unsure. "This isn't good, is it?"

Cordelia bit her lip. "Do we get paid afterwards?"

Anya smiled. "Does this mean we can go now?" Everyone stared at her. "I'm joking. I think. Yeah, I'm joking."

***

Carmine's

9:56 P.M.

"Are you enjoying your food, ma'am?" The waiter asks Joyce.

"Yes. It's delicious." She answers. Their server smiled and moved onto his next table. She turns toward me. "Thank you, Rupert. This was very kind of you."

I blush like a younger man would. "My pleasure, honestly."

There comes a point in one's life when he realizes that the dream he hadof leaving the world as a bachelor at the age of seventeen, having multiple females to call upon whenever he should feel the need, has become hollow and more a pathetic nightmare than a dream. Instead, he begins to crave a partner withwhom he can share his heart, his mind and soul. To have someone that will stick with him until the day he enters the great unknown.

Ten years ago, I had hope that that someone would be Jenny. However, fate decided to take her away from me, and we didn't get a chance to see where we might have gone. For a very long period of time after her death, I would not allow myself the possibility of meeting anyone new, afraid that I might develop feelings for them. I was convinced that I had forced Jenny into my life, had gotten her involved, and gotten her killed. I wouldn't let another woman throw away her life for me. I desperately wanted companionship, but I told myselfthis choice was for the best.

Then came Ethan and those blasted candy bars. Before that whole fiasco, Joyce and I had barely spoken. Even when Buffy was missing we kept our exchanges short and impersonal. However, the candy allowed us to get to know each other on a more personal level. Twice. Reverting back to my more immature, hormonal lifestyle, I put my old dream to the test, starting with her. Needless to say, that after all was said and done, we felt horrible. I felt responsible also.

She was Buffy's mother, and I had used her. My much-valued solitude was now over; mine as well as Joyce's, come to think of it. She had avoided getting close to anyone ever since her divorce, and I of course, avoided it becauseof my aforementioned fears. I discovered some years later that she felt she had violated me. After we came to our senses, we figured that with the way we started off our relationship, we couldn't be friends, or anything more. We stayed away from one another, not only for ourselves, but also for Buffy.

As we should have expected, despite our efforts, Buffy found out that wehad been intimate. She brought it up only once, and then it was never mentioned again, so Joyce and I went back to our *separate* lives. When Buffy began attending the university, and I was completely unaware of this, an old girlfriend of mine from England came to visit. Olivia. One thing led to another, and she got to open up. At the time, I had no idea she was an agent for the Council. Late in the children's sophomore year, I did. I then locked myselfaway for a second time.

That year, Joyce was recovering from brain surgery, and things became different. She needed to talk to someone besides her daughters; I needed simply to talk. Our conversations became a common occurrence, and we got to know each other as people. We discussed many topics about our lives, some happy, some painful. Sooner or later, we knew *it* had to come up. When Buffy graduatedand moved to LA, it did, and we decided to give it a try. As far as dates went,we were rusty, but things went well, and one date led to two, and so on.

Now we're where we are today. And we haven't been intimate since that night. We're waiting this time.

"Don't you think we should tell her?" Joyce asks me.

"I'm pretty certain she already knows." I respond.

She nods. "But I'd feel better if she heard it from us."

Ringing. Something's ringing. My cell phone. Why did I ever purchase oneof these bloody things? I take it out of my pocket, and look at Joyce with apology in my eyes.

"Yes?" I ask.

"Giles?" It's Buffy. "Sorry...to interrupt or you know...whatever...but can you come to the hotel?"

Oh dear.

***

Angel Investigations

11:09 P.M.

"Repeat that again please?" Giles asked Kate as they faced each other, standing in front of the couch. His eyes were considerably darker than theyhad been.

Joyce sat on the couch with Xander and Anya (whose back was supported by pillows), looking concerned. Angel was sitting on the counter, watching and listening with the same neutral _expression_ he used to wear when he was a vampire. The slayers stood with arms crossed over their chests, on the leftside of him; Cordelia on the right. Willow and Tara stood behind the counter, using the ex-cheerleader's laptop, and Wesley was on his way.

It was a typical gang meeting, though with a few new faces. But they were too preoccupied to notice that they had settled right back into "the old times" routine.

"He told me that he had found out who I was and where I lived while he was a 'guest of the government', and that he also saw that I knew Buffy, so he figured I must know you. Before he left, he made me promise that I wouldn't mess this up. 'Be sure to tell Ripper and his surrogate child that I shall see them soon.'"

"Ethan Rayne." Giles seethed.

"So that's his name, huh? He didn't get around to mentioning that."

"He knew he didn't have to."

"Well, got a name to go with the face now. We'll pick him up."

"Don't be so sure."

"The 'Evil Giles' is planning something," Xander deduced, "but why didn't he just come straight to us?"

"Cause he's not ready." Anya stated. "Right now he knows we'd hang him."

"What's he planning?" Tara asked.

"That's the question, yet until he's ready to reveal his intentions, theonly thing we can do is guess." Giles said.

"Ha!" Willow exclaimed. "Yep. He was released from government custody two years ago."

"Plenty of time to rebuild his connections."

"And make new ones." Faith pointed out.

"This man," Joyce spoke up, "you said he's only done pranks in the past. Costumes, candy..." She blushed and stopped.

Buffy cleared her throat. "Mom's right. We're talking about Ethan here. He's just a jerk who likes to play magick practical jokes. Okay, they're kinda dangerous, but they've never been anything huge or real serious. What if he's just screwing with our heads?"

"He probably is." Angel agreed, hopping off the counter. "It's more thanthat now, though. In the past, he didn't have a reason to do anything beyond pranks. But the last time you saw him, you were shipping him off to a military prison. And now he's free."

The mood of the lobby worsened considerably.

"A guy with revenge on his mind and knowledgeable about the black arts?" Faith asked, seeing the badness.

"I would go so far as to call him extremely proficient." The ex-librarian said.

"And all we can do is sit around and wait?" Cordelia asked, not liking that at all. "There's gotta be more."

"I'm with C." The brunette slayer said. "We can't let him get the drop on us."

"Wait!" Tara announced. "W-willow found..."

"Wolfram and Hart did his bargaining." The redhead said.

"Then we should -" Kate started to say.

"Kick some lawyer ass?" Faith asked.

"My thoughts exactly." Cordelia said.

"I think she was going to say 'be careful.'" Angel said.

"That works too." Buffy said.

"You're badge-whipped." Faith accused.

"I can break in and enter any time I want to." The blonde slayer defended. Then whispered. "When there's bad guys inside."

"Works out then. They're all bad guys."

Wesley came running in, and they looked at him, eyebrows raised.

"We should all get some sleep. We can plan our next move in the morning." Angel said. "Kate, you're welcome to stay the night."

"She is, Big Guy?" Faith asked with a grin.

"It's late, and it's safer if she stays here." He said sharply.

"You're absolutely right, Angel." Willow smiled. "Safer."

"I'm sure he'll protect her." Buffy winked.

"Guard the door to her room *all* night." Xander smirked. Harry trotted over, pawed at Angel's shoes, and barked at Kate. "Tell 'em, boy."

"I trained him well." Anya remarked.

"I thought we were going to sleep?" Kate questioned, glared at everyone,and headed upstairs.

"This is what happens when I arrive late, isn't it?" Wesley asked.

***

11:59 P.M.

Giles and Joyce stood outside the doorway to his room.

"Are you all right?" She asked.

"I will be. I had just foolishly assumed I was rid of him." He sighed. "But I'll make sure he'll never bother us again this time."

"You mean we all will." Joyce said.

"Of course." He smiled, and kissed her lightly. "Good night."

***

12:39 A.M.

Buffy opened the door to Faith's room gently, to see her staring out the window.

"Had a feeling you were awake." The blonde said. "I shoulda picked a room with a view."

"Ain't much to look at." The brunette shrugged. "Just couldn't sleep. Happens sometimes."

"Yeah..." She walked further in. "I've got a lot on my mind too."

"Don't wanna go into share mode now, do ya, B?" Faith turned around.

"Nah. Brain's in shutdown mode at the moment." Buffy said with a smile. "Still think we can salvage the visit?"

"Definitely."

"Thanks. I needed someone to tell me that."

"You've been up talking to yourself, haven’t you?"

Buffy's jaw dropped. "You really do know me."

"Told ya." Faith winked. "Care to try your luck with me?"

The older slayer walked around the room. "You were having nightmares again."

Faith was impressed. "Was I saying anything?"

"Nope."

The younger slayer closed her eyes, took a breath, and waited a minute before saying anything.

"Uh...there's another bed in here."

"I noticed."

Faith shifted her feet. "Don't have go back to your room."

Buffy looked at her, and she looked back. "Mind if I sleep in here, Faith?"

"No...um...whatever." She tried to stay cool.

"Thanks."

***

1:01 A.M.

"I've been thinking about it all day..." Willow said, as she and her partner laid in bed.

Tara smiled in the dark, hugged the redhead to her and kissed her cheek. "Night, Willow."

"Don't you wanna hear...?"

"Take all the time you need."

***

Wolfram and Hart

The Office of the Executive Vice President of Special Projects

2:33 A.M.

"Thank you for coming down here at this late hour." Lindsey MacDonald addressed his guest.

"It's the least I could do, after all this splendid firm has done for me." Ethan Rayne responded.

"I trust you accomplished all you set out to do overseas?" The one-handed man walked over to his teapot. "Drink?"

"I wouldn't say no." The Englishman sat in the chair in front of the desk. "And I did indeed."

"Wonderful." He handed his client a cup. "Can I meet one of them?"

"Is now suitable for you?"

A black-cloaked figure walked into the office, silently. It approached Lindsey and he turned around to greet the new arrival. At first he was taken aback by its appearance, as it had no eyes, but he quickly composed himself.

"We appreciate you making such a long journey to be here, and we know you were given some trouble a few years back, but we'll do everything in our power to see that you aren't disturbed." It nodded. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know."