Fic: Chosen Too (2/2) (NC-17) B/T/W/K/F

[Shehulk <shehulk@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Title: Chosen Too (2/2)
Author: Shehulk
Email: shehulk@xxxxxxxxxxx
Website:www.shehulk.net
Rating: NC-17
Paring: Buffy/Willow/Tara/Kennedy/Faith
Disclaimer: I don?t own any of the characters.
Feedback: All please!
Distribution: Just let me know where it?s going
Spoilers: none.
Summary: This is an alternate universe fic. Sequel to 'Chosen'
Author's note:To Aby. For planting the idea in an already disturbed mind.

Chosen Too

Part 2


Xander dropped his cordless drill back into the holster on his hip 
and stood back to check his work. The huge mirror now mounted behind the 
hot tub was hung perfectly level and he grinned as he looked at the now 
empty tub. ?Wish I was a fly on the wall tonight.?

He picked up his tool box and went on to the next task, checking 
that all of the swords decorating the walls were sharp. That one had 
surprised him when Buffy had added it to his list. That and the rush she 
had put on it. There had been something in the Slayer?s voice that made him 
uneasy, but he might have shrugged it off if it hadn?t been for Willow.

He had seen the redhead growing increasingly stressed as the date 
of Faith?s visit approached and he again wondered if something more had 
happened during her last visit than he had been told.

Xander replaced the weapon and came to a decision. A little trip 
to the hardware store was in order.

==============

Willow grimaced as the poultice she was mixing splashed onto her 
shirt staining it blue. ?Great. This will never come out.? She finished 
pouring the liquid into a small glass bottle and capped it before heading 
upstairs to change.

As she approached her room, she was surprised to see her door 
leaning against the wall. Willow peeked around the open doorway and saw 
Xander securing a new door into place. ?Um, Xander? What?s with the new 
door?? She rapped it lightly with her knuckles and winced. ?What?s this 
thing made of anyway??

Xander began installing the deadbolt into the precut opening. 
?Reinforced steel.?

Willow blinked, completely confused. ?Ah, and you?re putting up a 
steel door to my bedroom why??

He shrugged but didn?t answer. Handing Willow the key, he stepped 
out of the room and pulled the door shut. ?It?s all finished. I?ll goget 
started on Tara?s next.?

Willow caught his arm as he turned. ?Xander?? He looked up andshe 
saw barely hidden anger in his eyes. ?What is it??

?I don?t know what happened the last time she was here, but I 
remember how you were when she left. How Buffy was. And now she?s coming 
back and you?re afraid.? He thumped his fist against the solid strengthof 
the new door. ?I?m not a fighter. I?m not as strong as a slayer. But I?ll 
do whatever I can to help keep my friends safe.?

Tears were falling unchecked down Willow?s face and she hurled 
herself into Xander?s arms with a muffled sob. ?You are my best friend 
Xander Harris. Don?t you ever change.?

==============

Buffy sat down next to Xander on the stone bench and watched him 
deftly rewire one of the floodlights. ?Willow told me about the doors. 
Thank you Xander.?

He shrugged, keeping his attention on the damaged wire he was 
splicing. ?No biggie.?

?No, it was a biggie. It was huge and Willow needed to know that 
you cared more than she needed slayer-proof doors, but those were cool 
too.? She gripped his shoulder, dreading what she had to do next. ?You 
saved my life Xander, you?ve been here helping me to pick up the pieces 
when it seemed like everything was crumbling around me. But now I have a 
favor to ask you. You?re not gonna like it, but I?m asking you to do it. 
For Willow. For me.?

?You want me to go.?

?Yeah. Just until the council goon is gone.?

?The council? But I thought Faith???

Buffy chuckled. ?She?s a problem but not as big as what?s brewing 
with the council. I took Kennedy as my Third.?

Xander gulped as his mind happily supplied a collage of images to 
illustrate that little bit of news. ?Oh. Guess they?re gonna freak??

?Oh yeah, but they?re not going to make Kennedy step down over 
this.? Buffy laid her head against Xander?s shoulder and gave him a 
one-armed hug. ?Trust me Xan. You don?t wanna be here for this mess. 
There?s going to be hair-pulling and bitch slaps. I can feel it.?

?I guess I could find something to do for a few days.? He shother 
a wry look. ?But you?ll fill me in on all the juicy bits, right??

?I?ll even let you read Kennedy?s journal.?

?Ooooo. You got a deal!?

==============

Buffy watched Faith pace the length of the great hall and back 
again. The unusual display of nerves surprised her. Faith had always been 
one to hide any anxiety she might be feeling, making Buffy wonder what had 
brought the other slayer here. ?Something on your mind Faith??

The dark slayer stopped, opened her mouth as if to speak and then 
fell silent as she glanced at the others in the room.

Her new watcher was involved in a deep discussion with Giles and 
she couldn?t help but smirk at Wesley?s eager fawning. Fred, her scribewas 
chatting with Buffy?s new scribe Kennedy, which made Faith wonder what had 
happened to make Willow lose that position. She couldn?t figure out the 
blonde at all. No one had explained her presence beyond introducing her as 
Tara. Big help that was. She shoved her hands into the back pockets of her 
pants and jerked her head towards Buffy?s office. ?Can we do this somewhere 
a little more quiet??

Buffy nodded, leading the way and trying to put her finger on what 
was bugging her about Faith. As Faith closed the door behind her Buffy was 
startled to see the other girl?s expression change as she dropped any 
pretense of bored indifference. Fear. Faith was afraid. ?What?s going on, 
Faith??

Sinking into a chair, Faith rested her elbows on her knees and hid 
her face in her hands. ?I?m in trouble B.?

Unnerved, Buffy perched on the edge of her desk in front of Faith. 
?Okay, you?re wigging me out a bit here. Want to tell me what kind of 
trouble has you this freaked??

Faith raised her head and Buffy realized that the dark slayer was 
on the verge of tears. ?I fucked up.?

Buffy waited, sensing that this wasn?t going to come out easily.

?I was out hunting, ya know? Doing the slayage thing and having a 
wicked time.? Faith?s grin was sardonic. ?I was in the zone, everything was 
rockin and I was taking out a vamp with every swing, ya know?? Buffy 
nodded, but didn?t speak. ?My kill rate was going through the roof and I 
was pretty jazzed. I had cleaned out a nest and was heading back to Fred 
when somebody grabbed my arm?? Faith broke off, gripping her hair as ifshe 
would pull it out. ?God B. I didn?t even hesitate, I just moved.?

Oh hell. She didn?t.

Faith was pale, a fine sheen of sweat breaking across her face. ?I 
staked him B. I nailed him right through the heart only? it wasn?t a vamp. 
It was just some guy? I killed him.? Faith buried her face in her hands, 
muffling her next words. ?They?re coming for me.?

?Who?s coming??

?The council. They want to take me to England for ?re-training?.? 
Faith was rocking back and forth, her arms wrapped around herself as if she 
were freezing. ?Only I have a feeling that this training thing is my one 
way ticket to a shallow grave.?

?They wouldn?t do that Faith.? Would they? ?What does Wesley say 
about this? Doesn?t he know what they?re doing??

?Wesley?s a rat. He says there?s nothing to worry about but he 
won?t meet my eyes when he says it.?

Buffy straightened and opened the office door. ?Giles! Get in here 
now!?

The watcher appeared a second later and Buffy glared as she saw 
Wesley behind him. ?Ladies? Why don?t you take Wesley on a tour of the 
grounds?? The watcher wasn?t happy but with Tara gripping one arm and 
Kennedy the other, he wasn?t left with much choice.

Buffy shut the door and moved to sit at her desk, feeling the need 
to demonstrate exactly who was in charge here. ?I have some questions.?

She told him what had happened and what the council was proposing. 
?So what are they really going to do, Giles?? Buffy watched his glasses 
come off and sighed. ?That bad huh??

Faith laughed, but it wasn?t a humorous sound. ?Look?s like you?re 
back to being the one and only B.?

?Chill out Faith. You?re not dead yet.? Buffy glared at her 
watcher. ?She made a mistake Giles. It was an accident. Why the hell is the 
council reacting like this??

?Policy for this type of situation was set down centuries ago 
Buffy. It was believed that once a Slayer had drawn human blood that she 
was tainted, in essence? corrupted.?

?Bullshit.? Buffy was on her feet, fists clenching and unclenching 
as she paced. ?Okay, the council has their heads up their asses. No biggy, 
that?s not exactly a surprise. But what will be a surprise is what happens 
if they come to take Faith.?

She yanked one of the swords off the wall near the door and eyed the blade. 
?No fucking way are we going to let Faith die because some asshole ages ago 
decided it was a good idea.?

Giles was nonplused. ?Buffy. You can?t oppose the council on this. 
It-it would be..?

?Suicide? I don?t think so.? Buffy threw the sword, watchingit 
sink into the wall with a satisfied smirk. ?We are the Slayers, Giles. We 
who are Chosen above all others to fight the forces of darkness, remember??

?And you can be replaced!?

Buffy chuckled at the thought. ?They can try. The council is 
coming here to reprimand me for taking Kennedy in two days.? She ignored 
Faith?s gasp. ?When they get here we?ll all sit down and discuss both 
problems reasonably.?

?And if they still want to take Faith??

Buffy leaned back against her desk and met Faith?s eyes. ?Thenthe 
council had better get their affairs in order because we won?t live in fear 
of being assassinated.?

Giles paled at the implication. ?Y-you don?t mean??

?I do. The council will back off or else the council will be 
destroyed.?

==============

It was quickly decided that Wesley had to go. His adamant refusal 
to allow the others to meet in private again was getting on everyone?s 
nerves, as was his continuing recital of council rules. After a 
particularly long-winded lecture of why the council would be removing 
Kennedy as scribe, Buffy slapped her hands down against the dinning table. 
The thunderous sound made everybody jump. Buffy stood and grabbed the 
annoying little man by his collar, dragging him out of his chair and out of 
the room.

Hobgoblins appeared out of nowhere, carrying the watcher?s bags 
and holding the door open as Buffy hurled Wesley outside. ?You are 
officially fired. Don?t call us, cause we certainly won?t be calling you.?

The door slammed shut and Buffy spun around at the sound of 
clapping. Faith was leaning against the doorway, holding her sides as she 
laughed uncontrollably. Tara and Willow ended their applause and Buffy 
could see Kennedy and Fred dutifully recording the occasion for posterity.

Taking a bow, Buffy sauntered back to the dining room, feeling upbeat for 
the first time in days. She sat back down and shot a questioning look at 
Giles, who had not moved. ?Are you going to pick up where he left off??

Giles picked up his wine glass and studied the contents for a 
moment. The council rules were drummed into every watcher from the first 
day of their training and he had to admit that some of them made no sense 
whatsoever in this day and age. He meet the Chosen?s waiting gaze and 
smiled. ?Not bloody likely.?

==============

Willow ventured into the garden the next morning, enjoying the cool chill 
of the breeze and the warmth of the sun. She wandered past the low hedge 
that encircled the fish pond and along the high wall that surrounded the 
mansion grounds. Last night?s events were tumbling around in her head and 
she was still trying to figure out this new side of Faith that everyone was 
now seeing. This thing with the council has her scared. Faith afraid is not 
something Willow had ever considered before. She continued her stroll, 
wondering if it was possible that there was more to Faith than meets the eye.

Faith was sitting motionless against a tree which is why Willow 
didn?t see her until it was too late to avoid her. ?Hey Red.?

Willow froze her hands automatically coming up in defensive 
position. ?Faith.?

Faith saw the redhead?s reaction and hung her head. ?Go ahead and 
blast me, Red. God knows I deserve it.?

Well that was unexpected. ?What are you doing out here??

Faith shrugged, finding herself unable to met the witch?s eyes. 
?Just sittin.? A small flare of light as she took a drag from her 
cigarette. ?Wondering how I could manage to fuck up so many lives in sucha 
short time.?

Willow didn?t know how to respond to that so she said nothing.

?I know? I know it doesn?t mean shit to you now, but? I?m sorry 
about what happened last time I was here.? Faith forced herself to look at 
Willow. ?You can hit me with a fireball if you want.?

Something in her voice made Willow ask, ?Why did you do it? You 
had to know that Buffy would stop you.?

Faith flicked the ash from the tip of her cigarette and resisted 
the urge to press it into her flesh. ?It?s stupid.?

?What??

?Figured that you were the closest thing to what I really wanted.?

Willow rolled that over in her mind a few times, sorting through 
the meaning. ?Oh Goddess. You didn?t want me? you wanted Buffy.?

Faith grimaced. ?I?d appreciate it if you didn?t mention that to 
her, Red. She?d probably hand me over to the council wrapped in a freakin? 
bow.?

?No. Buffy wouldn?t do that. She might kill you herself but she 
wouldn?t let the council have you no matter what you did.?

?Yeah. B?s like that I guess.? Faith crushed her cigarette out on 
the ground next to her and pocketed the butt before standing. She moved 
around Willow, careful to give the redhead plenty of space as she left.

Willow watched her leave, wondering at the surreal conversation 
she had just had with a woman she had hated for almost two years.

==============

Faith sat up, letting the covers fall from her naked form. There 
it was again! She climbed out of bed and tugged one of the robes the 
servants had left before stepping into the hallway.

She made her way through the long hallway connecting the separate 
wings, straining to hear. Faith thought she had imagined the scream last 
night and had chalked it up to her current mental state. But she had 
definitely heard it again. A long wailing cry that sent chills down the 
slayer?s back. What the hell was goin on? B?s torturing somebody?

As she drew closer, other sounds reached her. Agonized moans and 
whimpering. Jesus! What the fuck is this?

She drew to a halt outside Buffy?s suite of rooms and gripped the 
knob. Twisting it slowly, she eased the door open and peered inside. Holy 
shit! Stunned, Faith could only stare at the scene before her.

Kennedy was lying sideways across the bed, giving Faith a clear 
view of what was being done to the scribe. Willow and Tara were holding her 
arms down as they attacked her breasts and Buffy? Faith blinked as she 
realized that Buffy was thrusting wildly between Kennedy?s wide-flung legs.

?Yes Mistress! Please Mistress!?

Faith closed the door and leaned her head against the wood, taking a moment 
before turning back to her own rooms. Jesus B! No wonder the council is 
pissed with you.

==============

Kennedy gingerly took her seat at the table, trying not to wince. 
Faith hid a snicker and held out a pitcher of juice. ?O.J.??

Buffy could see a certain knowing gleam in the dark slayer?s eyes 
and wondered how much she actually knew. ?So Faith. Sleep well??

Faith shot the blonde a mischievous grin. ?Pretty good, though you 
might want to have the servants sweep the grounds. I think there?s some 
stray cats in heat around here.?

Willow choked on her coffee, causing Kennedy to pound her soundly 
on the back. ?I-(cough) I?m okay. Thanks.?

Tara?s smile was serene. ?Really? I hope they didn?t keep you up??

?Naw, once I figured out what all the screaming was I could 
finally get back to sleep.?

Apparently oblivious, Fred nattered on about several discoveries 
she had made in her own studies of the Slayer history. The meal resumed but 
Faith kept shooting little smiles at the table?s occupants.

Buffy watched the color surge into Willow?s face again and sighed. 
As much as she enjoyed watching that blush, she felt the need stirring to 
protect her shieldmate. ?Faith. That?s enough. In case you haven?t figured 
it out, Willow, Tara and Kennedy are more than my entourage. They?re my 
Handmaidens.?

?Handmaidens? What the hell is a handmaiden??

Fred chimed in excitedly. ?Oh! I know! I read about that in one of 
the original slayer?s histories. It was in Babylonian which made the 
reading rather dull but,? She hesitated as she realized that all eyes were 
focused on her. ?Um, anyway, a handmaiden is the chosen mate or wife of 
the.. Chosen.?

Faith?s eyes widened at the implication. She looked at the three 
women in question and couldn?t stop a wicked smile from parting her lips. 
?A harem? You?ve got a harem? Damn B!?

?Not a harem Faith. They?re more important than that.?

?Oh yes! The ceremony for taking a handmaiden is as old as most of 
the wedding ceremonies known to man.? Fred?s enthusiasm was getting away 
with her. ?Did you perform the whole ceremony with the cloak and the vows? 
Ooh! Did she mark each of you with the ritual tattoo??

A hand covered Fred?s mouth. ?Fred! Chill!? Faith let go of her 
scribe and laughed. ?She gets high on the book stuff, goes right to her head.?

Fred was embarrassed but Willow was quick to reassure her. ?That?s 
fine; babble mode is a requirement for scribes.?

Kennedy?s glare expressed her disagreement with Willow?s sweeping 
statement and sent Buffy and Tara into peals of laughter.

==============

The council representative would be there that evening and 
tensions were running high. Tara and Willow had been preparing several 
spells to have on hand just in case things got nasty, while Fred and 
Kennedy compiled a list of all known watchers and council members. Kennedy 
jotted down another name and winced at the size of the list. ?It?s a little 
weird, doing this.?

?Yeah. I don?t think Buffy and Faith want this list so they can 
send Christmas cards.? Fred opened another book and began flipping through 
it though she didn?t really see the pages. ?Does?.? She shook her head.

Kennedy tossed her pen down. ?Spit it out.?

?Aren?t you scared of the council??

?A little. But I believe in Buffy. She?ll kick them back into line.?

==============

?You must be joking.? Quentin Travers glared at the Slayers, 
wishing he had brought more people with him.

Buffy stared the loathsome man down, her gaze never wavering. ?You 
only wish I was joking Travers. Did you really think we were going to let 
you waltz in here and take Faith??

?She murdered a human-.?

?It was an accident and you know it!? Pointing at Faith, Buffy 
continued. ?She is not corrupted you little toad, she made a mistake. It 
happens. Get over it.?

?The laws plainly-.?

?Forget the laws! You can?t possibly apply a rule that was written 
centuries ago to this situation. There?s something else going on here. Some 
other reason you?re pushing this nonsense.? Buffy circled her desk, picking 
up the dagger she kept there. She began tossing it into the air as she 
paced, catching it with the absentminded skill that only a true Slayer 
could wield.

?We?ve searched Faith?s history and there?s nothing there other 
than a few negligible infractions of your precious rules. So what is it? 
Why the rush to kill her??

?Don?t be ridiculous. The council is sworn to uphold the laws.She 
broke the law. It?s that simple.?

Buffy flung the dagger, watching it imbed itself into the wall 
beside Travers? head. ?You really think we?re going to believe that? We may 
be warriors Travers but that doesn?t mean we don?t have brains. You?ve got 
something else up your grubby little sleeve and you?re going to tell us 
what it is.?

Scoffing at her audacity, Travers ignored the bead of sweat that 
was sliding down his temple. ?The council-.?

A small fireball rocketed past his face, singeing his eyebrows 
before striking the wall. He looked at the smoking hole and then turned to 
see Willow holding up her index finger and blowing on the tip.

?You should probably stop invoking the council. We aren?t too 
happy with them as it is.?

?Yes. You could even say that some of us are holding grudges.? 
Buffy leaned back against her desk and crossed her arms over her chest. 
?Let?s cut to the chase, all right? You want Faith dead. Why??

Travers jerked to his feet and moved to the door. ?I refuse to be 
interrogated. Perhaps a full council inquiry will bring you people back 
into line.?

Buffy waited until his hand was on the doorknob. ?Be warned 
Travers. Any attempt to harm Faith?s house or mine will be taken as a 
declaration of war.?

He yanked the door open and fled.

Giles cleared his throat. ?What happened to calm and reasonable 
discussion??

?I bypassed it in favor of furious and belligerent defiance.?

?Ah.?

==============

Buffy sighed, rubbing her temples as the argument escalated. It 
had seemed like a perfectly reasonable request at the time.

?Look, just because I hold a pencil and not a sword is no reason 
to make me leave. She?s not!? Fred pointed an accusing finger at Kennedy. 
?Why doesn?t she have to go?!?

?Because Kennedy can hit anything she aims at with a crossbow.? 
Tara?s calm voice brought a much needed ease to the tension in the room. 
?Buffy?s been training her to shoot since she got here. It?s nothing 
against you Fred. No one wants to see you get hurt.?

?I?m Faith?s scribe! How can I do my job if I?m hiding??

Willow cleared her throat. ?I can help Kennedy with that until you 
get back, Fred.?

?I knew it! You want my job!? Her wail of dismay was interrupted 
by Xander?s arrival.

?Hey Buffy.? He waved at the rest of the room?s occupants though 
he did spare a glare for Faith before turning to Buffy. ?You called, I 
came. What can I do for you??

Buffy gestured to Fred. ?Xander this is Fred, Faith?s scribe. Fred 
this is Xander Harris, my Fixer. Xander, we kind of threw down the gauntlet 
with the council and there?s a very real chance that we could find 
ourselves under attack here. Could you take her with you and protect her 
until this is over??

Xander?s smile was wide as he realized the amount of trust the 
Chosen was placing with him. ?Of course.? He looked at Fred. ?I?ll guard 
her with my life.?

Fred closed her mouth with a snap and tried to summon her outrage 
at being sent away, but it kind of faded under the warmth of the young 
man?s smile.

A servant appeared with Fred?s bag and Xander took it with an easy 
flex of muscle that made Fred blink. He held his arm out to her. ?Shall we go??

?Uh. Sure.?

No one moved until they heard the front door close behind them and 
then they all dissolved into laughter.

Faith was trying to glare at Buffy but failing. ?Damn it, B! You 
may have just lost me my scribe!?

?Or lost her own Fixer,? Kennedy was quick to point out.

Buffy sobered at the suggestion. ?No way. He wouldn?t? wouldhe??

==============

?I?m telling you it?s gone beyond that now! They?re threatening 
war with the council!?

Travers poured the scotch into the glass with a shaking hand. ?No! 
There?s only one thing we can do now. If they die then new girls will be 
called and we can prevent this kind of thing from happening again.? He 
drained his glass and filled it again. ?Send in the special team.?

==============

?Okay, the grounds are warded against demons and dark magic.?

?Check.?

?The early warning spells are in place.?

?Check.?

?The vulnerable areas into the mansion have been reinforced or 
blocked altogether.?

?Check.?

?Weapons have been placed in key areas.?

?Check.?

?Food and water have been stocked.?

?Check.?

?Okay then. We?re ready.?

?There is one other thing we need to consider.?

?What?s that Faith??

?Bullets.?

?Hm. You have a point.?

?Bullets? What bullets??

?Easy Will, Faith is right. We need to prepare in case they send 
armed humans.?

?There are bullet-proof vests in the armory.?

?Really? I had no idea.?

?They?re under the blessed suit of armor.?

?Good eyes Tara! You and Kennedy go grab those. Faith and I will 
finish setting our little surprise by the front door and meet you in the 
great hall. Willow? Can you go talk to the hobgoblins? Make sure that 
they?re not going to disappear on us??

?Yeah.?

?Hey, don?t pout. You know they like you best.?

?Gee, popular at last.?

==============

Willow?s fingers danced across the keyboard as she worked her way 
through the layers of security surrounding the council?s network. ?Uh uh, 
going to have to try harder than that to stop me.? She ran one of her 
custom made password breakers and chuckled evilly as it unlocked her way 
almost instantly. ?Oh come on guys! ?Watcher? in Sumerian? What kind of 
lame password is that??

Buffy watched the redhead work, unsurprised to find herself 
feeling more than pride in at her lover?s skills.

?What? You can?t be serious? A dedicated group of intellectuals 
sworn to fight the forces of darkness and that?s all the security you use 
to protect your system?!? Willow glared at the screen, her disappointment 
evident. ?A nimble-fingered orangutan could have gotten through that!? She 
trailed off as she realized that the others were staring at her. ?Um, I 
mean, Yay! We?re in.?

Buffy ruffled the hacker?s hair. ?Good job Willow. See if can find 
any reference to their plans for Faith. And just because I sympathize with 
your disappointment about it being too easy, I?m going to give you a harder 
goal to shoot for. I want you to copy every single file within their 
systems. And then I want you to seize all the council assets and funds 
before locking them out of their own network.?

A distinctly roguish gleam appeared in Willow?s eyes as she turned 
back to the monitor and cracked her knuckles. ?Avast me hearties! Prepare 
to be boarded!?

==============

Willow read the report again, just to make sure she wasn?t 
imagining it. ?Buffy! You better come see this!?

Buffy entered the office with Faith right behind her. ?What have 
ya got, Will??

?Project Lazarus.? Willow jabbed a finger at the screen, her 
expression disgusted. ?They want to take Faith back to England all right. 
And they want to kill her. And then bring her back.?

Faith was decidedly alarmed. ?What? Like a vampire??

?No. They want to stop your heart long enough to call another 
slayer and then start it again. Then stop it again, call another slayer, 
and so on and so on.?

?Why?? Buffy?s outrage was warring with her puzzlement. ?What good 
would it do them??

Willow was scanning through the report, reading the closing 
summary. ?An army of slayers either brainwashed or intimidated to follow 
their orders without question.?

Furious, Faith began to stalk around the room, wishing she could 
get her hands on Travers for just five minutes. ?I?m thinking that taking 
out the council is lookin better and better, B.?

?Yeah, but is every member of the council behind this plan? Any 
way you can find out if there was anybody against this little plot, Willow??

?Pretty easily actually. There?s a notation at the bottom of the 
file about several formal protests.? She called up the new files and 
skimmed the contents. ?Hm, this guy was protesting cause he felt the whole 
thing should be handled under his department. Jerk. Ah, hey! This woman, 
Maggie Pryor. She was like completely against it, called it immoral and 
monstrous. A betrayal of all that it means to be a watcher.?

?Sounds like our kind of watcher.?

?Two other women on the council filed similar protests.? Willow 
shot Buffy a wry look. ?I guess it?s really true.?

?What??

?Chicks rule.?

Buffy jokingly punched her lover. ?Willow! You sexist thing!?

Willow wrinkled her nose at the slayer. ?So, do still want me to 
lock them out??

?Yes. We?ll keep our three supporters off our hit list until we 
can find out more about them.? Buffy looked at Faith. ?What I don?t get is 
why you??

Faith shrugged. ?Easy. You?re more experienced and are alreadyin 
place in the worst trouble spot. I?m pretty much doing busy work in New 
York. Nobody?d miss me.?

Resigned acceptance of her position was evident in her voice and Willow 
found herself speaking without thought. ?Why not move back to Sunnydale 
where the action is?? She blinked in shock as she realized what she had 
just suggested.

Buffy resisted the urge to reach out and check the redhead for signs of a 
fever. ?Something to talk about after this mess is straightened out.?

Willow could see Faith?s distressed face over Buffy?s shoulder, silently 
pleading with her to keep her mouth shut. She whirled back to the keyboard 
and went back to work. ?Right.?

==============

Buffy stood at the head of the long table in the dinning room. 
?Faith and Tara will take the first watch, then Willow and I.? She saw 
Kennedy?s protest forming and headed it off. ?Kennedy, you?ll be taking the 
third watch by yourself. Admittedly there?s less of a chance that an attack 
will come during the day which is why you should be able to handle this alone.?

Willow held her hand up. ?The memory spell is going to need some 
pretty special ingredients that we don?t have here Buffy.?

?Already ahead of you, Willow. Giles is dropping off what you need 
later.?

Faith was sitting silently at the other end of the table, as far 
away as she could get from the others and still be in the same room. She 
was spinning a knife like a top, the fine point scratching the smooth wood. 
Waiting was the hardest thing in this kind of situation and she was glad 
that Buffy had assigned her the first watch. She sheathed the knife and 
stood with quick, sharp motions. ?I?m gonna run another check around the 
walls.? She strode out, wanting to put as much distance between her and 
Buffy as she could.

Buffy?s exasperation at the dark slayer?s attitude was obvious. 
?Okay then, anything else we need to cover? No? Then I?m off for a nap. 
Wanna join me Will??

?Yeah. I?ll be there in a minute. Got to finish something first.? 
She hurried after Faith, catching up with her outside near the side door. 
?Faith, wait.?

Faith hooked her thumbs in the pockets of her jeans and adopted an 
indifferent stance. ?What??

?I?m sorry about before. I spoke without thinking.?

?Yeah well, scribes tend to do that kind of thing a lot.?

Willow leaned back against the door behind her and realized that 
she could see right through the cloak of bravado that Faith habitually 
wore. ?Do any of us know who you are??

Startled at the question, Faith stepped back. ?Uh oh. Out comes 
the psychobabble. I?m outta here.? She dashed off, disappearing around the 
corner.

?Slayers.? Willow?s quiet comment was both a question and a curse.

==============

The night found Tara and Faith keeping watch together. Faith 
leaned back in her chair, booted feet resting on top of Kennedy?s desk. ?So 
what?s it like??

Tara looked up from the book she was reading and smiled. ?What?s 
what like??

?Come on T. The handmaiden thing. Must be pretty wild, the four of 
you.?

?Jealous??

Faith?s salacious grin faded a little. ?Naw, just wondering who 
plays top bitch. Or do you all take turns??

Tara?s book closed with a snap. ?Buffy is the Chosen. Our mistress 
and our mate. You should guard your tongue while in her house. You might 
just lose it.?

Hands up in surrender, Faith backed off with a snigger.

One of the candles on the desk flared to life, bringing the witch 
to her feet in a rush. ?Faith.?

Faith glanced at the drawing of mansion grounds that was laid out 
under the candles and nodded. ?South wall. Stay put. I?ll be back in flash.?

?Wait! We?re supposed to be working? together. Or not.? Tara 
wondered if recklessness was a slayer requirement. Another candle lit and 
then another. ?They?re coming in force.? She ran down the hall and upthe 
stairs shouting, ?Buffy! Willow!?

==============

Faith had knocked the first black-clad intruder out and tossed him back 
over the wall before her slayer hearing picked up the sounds of someone 
else coming over. She let him reach the ground before striking, a 
roundhouse kick that sent him face first into the wall. There was a muffled 
sneeze and Faith felt something burning her upper arm. Rolling behind the 
bulk of a tree, she traced the deep gouge that had been left by the bullet. 
?Shit. Now I?m pissed.?

Buffy could hear the silenced shots being fired at her and the 
members of her house and her anger grew. She yelled in the direction Faith 
had gone. ?Faith! Play hardball!?

Faith heard the order to start killing the invaders and found she 
didn?t have as hard a time doing that as she had thought she would. She 
hadn?t started this fight but boy she sure was going to enjoy finishing it. 
Grabbing the rifle from an attacker, she smashed the butt of the gun into 
his face, hearing the distinct crack as his skull shattered.

Discarding the gun, she drew the two short swords she had slung 
across her back and began cutting a path back to the mansion.

Buffy dropped her assailant with a quick wrench of his head and 
then heard her next target coming up behind her. Her sword swung in a high 
arc, and the body fell one way while the head went another.

Three more intruders approached but she didn?t have a chance to 
take them out. A spray of knives shot in front of her, skewering the 
attackers with enough force to pin two of them to trees several yards away. 
Buffy looked in the direction the weapons had come from, unsurprised to see 
Willow coming towards her at a brisk jog. ?Nice move.?

?Thanks. Tara says that there?s only about five of them left.? 
Willow jerked as something struck her high in the shoulder. She glared down 
at the hole in her shirt. ?Well that?s going to bruise. They?re in the 
trees.? Willow fired a spell in the direction the bullet had come from and 
the top of a nearby tree was suddenly illuminated as the sniper was struck 
with the electrical equivalent of a lightning bolt.

Buffy had stopped breathing when she saw Willow hit and she had to 
remind herself that they were all wearing bullet-proof vests. Something 
stirred her hair and she dragged Willow to the shelter of a tree. Not that 
the vests would stop a shot to the head. ?Stay here. I?ll be back in a second.?

Willow ignored the command and followed, tossing several more 
shock spells as she ran.

By the time Buffy reached the opposite side of the grounds, there 
was no one left for her to fight. She couldn?t help but glare at the 
crumpled bodies in disappointment. ?Well darn. I might as well have stayed 
inside.?

Faith strolled into view, her face flushed with adrenaline, her 
blades covered in blood. ?Hell of a party B.?

Tara joined them, her hands glowing faintly. ?There?s no one left.?

?Anybody get away??

?Doesn?t feel like it.? Tara looked around. ?Where?s Kennedy??

==============

Inside the mansion, Kennedy was staring at the bundle that had 
been dropped by the intruder she had shot. Why the bomb hadn?t gone off 
when it fell was a mystery. The rack of glass vials was filled with what 
she presumed was nitroglycerine and the rack itself was imbedded in an 
ominous gray substance that she knew wasn?t the block of clay it appeared 
to be. The digital timer was counting off the dwindling seconds and she 
realized that she had about fifty seconds to either get this thing far 
enough away or defuse it.

A quick inspection didn?t reveal any wires into the clay itself 
and she wondered what would happen if she just pulled the thing apart. 
Kennedy eased the rack of vials out of the clay-like material and set the 
block aside. Twenty-five seconds. She didn?t see anything else in the block 
and she flipped the rack over to see a series of wires running along the 
tops of each vial. ?That?s bad, I think.?

She ran out the side door, passing Buffy and the others. ?Take cover!? The 
trigger sailed through the air and suddenly Kennedy found herself on her 
back as the explosion knocked her off her feet.

Her ears were ringing from the blast and Kennedy felt concerned 
hands on her. She opened her eyes and met Buffy?s furious glare. She didn?t 
have to be able to read lips to know what Buffy was saying. ?Are you 
crazy?? was a pretty distinctive sentence.

Kennedy felt herself being lifted and could also feel the rumbling 
vibrations from Buffy?s chest as she was carried back into the mansion. 
Letting her head rest against the slayer, Kennedy wondered if she should 
let Buffy know that her lecture wasn?t being heard. After a particularly 
violent rumble, she decided not to.


==============

Tara wrapped the freshly cleaned bullet wound in Faith?s arm and 
tried not to laugh as Buffy continued to berate her scribe.

Faith on the other hand was loving it and her laughter was 
beginning to undermine Buffy?s tirade. Willow was patching up the various 
cuts Kennedy had received from both the battle and the bomb, but Buffy was 
still giving her down the road.

?- you could have been killed!?

Kennedy should have been cringing as the Slayer?s voice rose but 
she wasn?t. In fact she seemed pretty calm in the face of Buffy?s obvious 
displeasure.

Willow stared at the scribe in suspicion. She reached out and 
snapped her fingers next to Kennedy?s right ear. The brunette didn?t react.

Buffy halted in mid tirade when she realized what that action 
meant. ?Willow??

Willow repeated the sound with the other ear. Again no response. 
?She can?t hear you Buffy.?

Kennedy saw Buffy pale and glanced at Willow who was watching her 
in alarm. ?Ah. Guess the jig is up.? She could feel the vibration of her 
words as she spoke but she couldn?t hear herself. ?I think this is just 
temporary so don?t get all stressed out.?

Buffy sat down next to her Third and pulled her into her arms, 
holding her tightly. ?Willow, call the doctor. Let?s make sure this isn?t 
permanent.?

==============

If Kennedy thought that her temporary bout of deafness would save 
her from Buffy?s wrath then she was mistaken. A fact that made itself clear 
the next morning when Buffy rolled on top of her and held her down while 
she proceeded to read her the riot act.

?Can you hear me now??

?Loud and clear.?

?Good. Then would you care to tell me what the hell you thought 
you were doing last night?!?

Kennedy squirmed under her mate?s glare. ?I know, I know, but 
there wasn?t time to stop and explain.?

?I... damn it. I don?t want you to get hurt.?

Reaching up, Kennedy smoothed her fingers over the frown lying 
heavily between the slayer?s eyes. ?But you can?t protect us all the time, 
Buffy. We knew what we were getting into when we chose this path. We knew 
the risks.?

?She?s right.? Tara kneaded her hands across the tense muscles in 
Buffy?s shoulders. ?Just being a scribe has its dangers. Look what happened 
to Oz.?

Buffy snorted. ?Oz got eaten by a demon on his way back from the 
movies. That was just life in Sunnydale.? She ran a gentle fingertip overa 
scratch on Kennedy?s cheek ?This is different.?

The bedroom door swung open and Willow entered, struggling to keep 
the tray she was carrying from tilting as she pushed the door closed again. 
?Good morning!?

Once in the center of the bed, the cloth was removed from the 
tray, revealing a decidedly unusual repast.

Willow chose a cherry from the bowl as Kennedy dipped a finger 
into what appeared to be chocolate syrup.

Buffy saw a zealous gleam enter the redhead?s eyes. ?My my. What do you 
have in mind??

Grabbing the can of whipped cream, Tara reached out and sprayed a 
dollop onto Buffy?s breast. ?A Buffysplit of course.

==============

Faith crouched near the tree, her eyes fixed on the crimson stain 
near its base. The smell of her cigarette didn?t hide the scent of death 
that still lingered in the cool air, but she drew on it anyway. The 
hobgoblins had cleared the bodies away in the hours before dawn and now all 
that remained was the blood. And the smell.

Winter grass crackled under foot and Faith stood, turning to face 
Buffy as she approached. ?Morning B.?

?Faith.? Buffy glanced at the blood and then at the dark slayer. 
?You all right??

?Five by five.?

?I?m feeling more like three by seven myself. Not a night I?d care 
to repeat.? Though this morning was a place I?d like to go to again.

?Me either.? Faith nodded towards the house. ?They get it done??

?Yes. The three members of the council we left intact are going to 
make sure that the spell worked.?

?Hmm. So they just forget all about us, all about the watchers and 
the council they used to be part of. What if one of Willow?s chicks turns 
on us??

Buffy shrugged, slipping her hands into the pockets of her coat. 
?Then we finish what we started. Either way we?re back to waiting.? She 
started walking, unsurprised when Faith fell into step beside her. ?So, 
what are you going to do now??

Faith shrugged, not sure herself. ?Go back to New York I guess.?

?You could stay.?

?Yeah, right.? Her derisive tone hid how much she truly wantedto 
do just that. She hated New York. It was hot in the summer and freezing in 
the winter and there was no beach. The towering buildings made her feel 
closed in and she seemed to spend most of her time busting muggers rather 
than slaying vampires.

Buffy stopped. ?I?m serious.?

Faith saw the awareness in the blonde slayer?s eyes and groaned. 
?Fuck. She told you.?

?Faith...? Buffy touched her arm only to have Faith pull away.

?I don?t need your pity B.? She stomped off but Buffy followed.

?Can we talk about this??

?Hell no we can?t! Will you quit following me? I don?t want to 
talk to you right now.?

Buffy grabbed her arm. ?Tough, because I want to talk to you.?

Faith wrenched loose and turned on her. ?Why are you doing this? 
It?s my fucked up problem. Let me deal with it!?

?Damn it Faith. Can you stand still for five seconds?? They were 
approaching the mansion now and Faith broke into a run. She slammed the 
door behind her and went straight to the training room, yanking her jacket 
off and throwing it across the room. As she furiously attacked a punching 
bag, Faith fought back what she was feeling, forcing it down. I don?t care. 
I don?t care.

Buffy watched her for a moment before entering. Faith was a 
Slayer. She was Chosen. And despite all the perks that came with the job, 
Buffy knew just how hard it was to be the Slayer. ?Faith.?

Growling at the intrusion, Faith whirled, her fist catching the 
older slayer in the face, knocking her back. ?Just leave me alone!?

Buffy came back swinging, sending the dark slayer spinning to the 
matt-covered floor. Wasting no time, Buffy pinned her down. ?Enough Faith! 
Stop fighting me!?

Faith bucked wildly under her captor, though part of her was 
asking why. Isn?t this where you?ve wanted to be from the beginning?

?Calm down Faith.? Buffy could see the struggle going on within 
Faith, but was still surprised to see her eyes fill. ?Faith.?

?Can?t you just let this go? Let me go B.? Her plea fell on deaf 
ears as Buffy bent her head to kiss Faith.

Startled at the touch, Faith jerked, unable to stop a moan. Buffy 
plunged into her mouth, demanding and taking. Tasting and exploring.

Faith relaxed suddenly and Buffy freed her wrists. Instantly her 
arms embraced the blonde, pulling her tightly against her. Angry with 
herself, she tore her mouth free and gasped, ?I won?t be your fourth B.And 
I don?t need a pity-fuck.?

Buffy tangled her fingers in the chestnut strands of Faith?s hair 
and held her still. ?I?m not offering you either.? She gripped the neck of 
Faith?s shirt and tore it away, leaving her open to Buffy?s intense 
appraisal. Going right to what she wanted, Buffy dropped her head and 
wrapped her lips around Faith?s breast.

?Damn!? Faith arched her back, crying out as the nipple was seized 
between Buffy?s teeth. ?God!?

Buffy worked the excited bud, teasing the crest until Faith tried 
to buck her off. She let go long enough to shove the brunette back down and 
then resumed her explorations of the body under hers.

Faith planted her feet and thrust upwards, throwing Buffy aside 
and then flipped to a standing position. ?What the fuck do you want from me?!?

Buffy whipped her shirt off and tossed it aside. ?Well your body 
for a start. Your fealty after that.?

?Feel what??

?Fealty.? Buffy kicked her shoes off and approached her prey 
again. ?Your loyalty. Your recognition that I?m in charge.?

Startled by Buffy?s words and her own reaction to them, Faith 
didn?t react immediately. Instead she watched as Buffy removed the rest of 
her clothes. Now that?s a sight worth seeing twice!

She shook her head, trying to dispel the lust that was clouding 
her mind. ?You think I?m just going to agree to that? Call you mistress 
like the rest of your little bitches??

Buffy nodded. ?Yes. You are.?

Challenged now, Faith summoned a sneer. ?As if. Why shouldn?t I 
just kick your ass and make you my bitch??

?Because you can?t beat me in a fight and you know it.?

?Like hell.? Faith moved, her foot barely missing Buffy?s head as 
it snapped forward. Buffy swept Faith?s other leg, bringing her down. Faith 
rolled away and gained her feet again.

Buffy pressed forward, throwing punches in a flurry that was 
almost moving to fast to be seen. Faith dodged and blocked where she could 
but she could feel herself being pushed back. With a roar, Faith abandoned 
defense and went on the offensive. She charged Buffy, knocking the blonde 
to the ground. Straddling her hips, Faith held her wrists against the mat. 
?Don?t look like you?re on top now B.?

Buffy?s leg rose sharply, her foot connecting with the back of 
Faith?s head and knocking her off balance. Buffy twisted out from under her 
pushed Faith face down onto the floor, her knee pushing into the middle of 
her back. ?Looks can be deceiving.?

Unable to draw much oxygen with Buffy?s knee on her lungs, Faith 
could feel the world begin to spin. She struck backwards with a fist only 
to find it caught and held fast. Within seconds, Buffy had both of Faith?s 
hands pinned behind her. ?I think we can call this little match over.?

Faith strained against Buffy but she had no leverage. She tried 
twisting. She tried bucking, but no matter how she tried, she couldn?t get 
loose. ?Sonofabitch!?

?Like I said. It?s over. Willow!?

Faith saw Willow appear in the doorway and started swearing when 
she saw what the witch held. ?Damn you! You set me up!?

Buffy held Faith still while Willow fastened the manacles around 
her wrists. ?Thanks. I?ll take it from here.? Willow left, but not before 
revealing a delighted grin at the dark slayer?s current predicament.

Faith scowled. ?Laugh now witch! Payback?s are a bitch!?

Buffy yanked on Faith?s hair. ?None of that. You aren?t in any 
position to be calling anybody bitch.? Standing, Buffy moved to the weapon 
rack and selected one of the smaller daggers.

Faith rolled onto her side and watched her approach. ?So now what? 
You think a little slap n? tickle is going to-.? She broke off as the cold 
metal slid into the waistband of her jeans. Not daring to breath, Faith 
remained motionless as the material parted with an insistent hiss.

Buffy drew the blade down Faith?s thigh, carefully tracing the 
curves of the flesh underneath. Once finished with that leg, Buffy slipped 
the knife into the opening of the other leg and worked her way back up. ?I 
have to warn you, moving would be a really bad idea right now.?

The blade veered inwards and Faith tensed as she felt it moving along the 
inside of her thigh. The tip lightly parted the thatch between her legs 
before continuing up across her abdomen. Buffy completed the final cut and 
the material fell away, revealing Faith?s body to her.

With her hands bound behind her, Faith?s upper body was pushed 
forward, thrusting her high breasts into prominence. Buffy lightly sketched 
her way across them with the tip of her knife, drawing invisible flowers 
and lines, always careful not to mark her.

Faith was trembling by the time Buffy grew tired of this and she 
watched the knife sink into the target across the room with relief. ?Never 
realized that you had a knife fetish B.?

Buffy pushed Faith onto her back and straddled her. She bent over 
her prisoner and began rubbing the hyper sensitive flesh of Faith?s 
breasts. ?You have no idea.?

?When I get loose-.? Faith gasped as Buffy pinched a nipple 
between her fingers and held it.

?When I let you loose, you?re going to beg me to chain you back 
down again.? There was no arrogance in her words, just sure knowledge. 
Buffy stood and dragged Faith to her feet. ?Time to move this to the bedroom.?

==============

Her body was betraying her. Faith strained against the restraints spreading 
her across the bed and tried in vain to fight her own arousal. Buffy?s 
patience had proved infinite and as time flew by, Faith?s resolve grew weaker.

Buffy?s nails raked lightly down the inside of Faith?s thighs, making the 
dark slayer shudder. ?Surrender to me Faith.? Buffy sank her teeth intothe 
soft skin near Faith?s core and suckled until a mark rose. ?Surrender and 
I?ll take you places you can?t imagine.?

?I?ah! I can?t?? Faith yanked on the chains holding her again, not feeling 
the rubber-lined metal cutting into her skin.

Buffy laid her head on her prisoner?s thigh and looked up at her. Saw the 
desperate struggle taking place. ?You really can?t, can you? You can?t 
surrender.?

The rattle of chains being tested to their limits filled the room. Buffy 
sat up and stroked Faith?s stomach in small circles. She watched the woman 
under her hands calm and suddenly understood what she should have seen all 
along.

Faith was Chosen. She was a warrior. To surrender was to admit defeat. To 
give up. She could no more do that than Buffy herself could.

The abrupt release of the manacles around her ankles didn?t register at 
first. Faith felt her left hand become free and looked up to see Buffy 
undoing the right manacle as well. Uncertain, Faith didn?t move, not 
knowing what to do now that she was free.

Buffy sank bank onto her heels and smiled sympathetically at Faith?s 
confusion. ?You can?t surrender to me and now that I see that, I know that 
I don?t want you to.? Chagrined, she continued. ?The Chosen cannot 
surrender. Cannot give up.?

?You? you?re Chosen too.?

?Exactly! I should have known better.? Buffy held her hand out to the dark 
slayer. ?So instead of surrender why don?t we form a partnership??

Partners? Faith eased into a sitting position. ?How do you mean??

?I mean an alliance between our houses. Between us.?

?What about your Handmaidens??

Buffy?s smile was impish. ?Does my having handmaidens bother you??

?N-no, I just wonder what the hell it is you?re proposing here??

?Proposing. That?s a good word. I propose that you bring your house here to 
Sunnydale. Considering that fact that we both like things our own way, it 
probably wouldn?t be a good idea for us to try and actually combine houses. 
So you would set up your own estate and occasionally,? Buffy ran her tongue 
over her lips, ?You and I could meet for the purpose of? mutual gratification.?

?Fuck buddies?? Faith dragged a hand through her hair. She had to admit 
that the offer was appealing. While she wanted Buffy and was more than a 
little in love with her, she wasn?t the kind of girl to settle down. ?And 
the others??

Buffy shrugged. ?If they want to join us then they can. But it?s their choice.?

?You?re awfully open all of the sudden to this kind of thing. Shouldn?t you 
be all shocked and shit??

Her eyes hard, Buffy stared at Faith. ?You and I are Chosen. Do you know 
what that means? Truly? It means a violent and painful death at a young 
age. I?m in my declining years as a slayer. Forgive me if I don?t feel the 
need to freak out over whatever moral taboo that happens to be the current 
fad. I don?t have time to be timid.?

Faith reached out to take Buffy?s still-offered hand. ?Okay, you got a 
deal.? She looked around. ?So now what??

Buffy pushed her back down against the pillows. ?Now we seal the deal.?

?Wicked.?

==============

Faith threw her head back, leaving her neck open to the exploring 
lips of Tara and Kennedy. She could hear Willow?s cries of passion nearby, 
as well as Buffy?s grunts as she took the witch. Talented fingers drew her 
attention back to her own corner of the bed and she couldn?t stifle a cry 
as Tara pushed her hand between her thighs. Faith wrapped her hands in 
Kennedy?s hair pulling her down into a deep, eating kiss.

As she savored the flavors of the scribe?s mouth, Faith became 
aware of the presence of a tongue delving her folds with a remarkable 
agility. She stopped her kiss with Kennedy long enough to gasp, ?J-Jesus 
Tara! Where the fuck did you learn that?!?

Kennedy answered her. ?Willowtongue 101.?

Faith trembled at the image and pulled the scribe up over her, settling her 
thighs around her face. ?Well let?s see if I can teach you Faithsucking 
202.? So saying, she buried her face into the dripping feast before her and 
began to drink.

Buffy pulled out of Willow and collapsed beside her, holding her First 
lightly as their breathing slowed. The sound of Kennedy?s scream made her 
chortle. ?I recognize that sound.? She rose up on an elbow to watch as 
Faith drove her scribe mad with her lips. ?Hmmm, I better get up.?

Willow protested, ?Why??

?Cause somebody?s going to have to catch Kennedy when she faints.?

?Get out of here.?

?I?m serious.? Buffy sat up and managed to steer Kennedy?s fall to an 
unoccupied portion of the bed.

Faith?s hips rocked up off the bed with her own release and she bit her lip 
to contain her scream. Tara slid up her body, smiling in triumph. ?And 
that?s why Willow?s the First.?

?Damned right.? Faith?s exhausted endorsement was met by concurring laughter.

Willow peered at the stunned expression on the scribe?s face beside her and 
looked at Faith in question. The dark slayer merely shrugged.

?I?ve got mad skills.?

?Really? How about an exchange of information??

Faith felt her body responding and once again thanked anybody listening for 
Slayer stamina. ?I?m there.?


The End.
(Maybe)


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