Faith's Hope
by Buckster
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: I don't own them. If I did, I wouldn't be working as a
cashier in a dead end job.
Feedback: Please.
"I hate it when I can't sleep at night," Kennedy thought as she lay in the bed she and Willow usually share, now that she talked the red-headed wicca into moving up there from the floor. This has been her usual routine for a little over a week now. She had no clue as to why though. She didn't feel over-tired from the lack of sleep though. All she felt was an immense feeling that someone, somewhere was in trouble and needed her. She hadn't felt that feeling for about three years now. She had decided to talk to Willow about it a couple of days ago, but that was the day her girlfriend got the call from someone in LA saying they needed her help down there. She had begged Willow to take her with her, almost got her to agree, but Buffy vetoed that idea. Said Kennedy was needed more up here, helping to train the other potentials. Only Kennedy's heart wasn't in it much anymore. Her thoughts on the feeling that she was needed elsewhere. So when she decided to try to explain to Buffy why she wanted to go, the slayer decided it was time to take the potential out on some routine patrols with her. Tonight was the second time they would be going out. They didn't find much action the night before, which made Kennedy very relieved. She really couldn't concentrate on patrolling. The feelings had just gotten worse when Willow left. Kennedy hoped she would be back soon. She knew she had to talk to someone about what she was feeling, and felt only Willow would really pay attention and understand what she was going through.
After a few hours, about the time dawn was about to break, the feeling suddenly lifted, leaving Kennedy drained. Thank God she had a few hours till she went out with Buffy for patrol. With that thought, she rolled over and finally fell asleep.
*That night*
Kennedy and Buffy had been out for a couple of hours and hadn't run into any trouble. That left Kennedy free to think of other things, like the fact Willow called and let them all know she would be home later tonight, and she was bringing someone with her. Kennedy just hoped she didn't fall asleep before the two got some quality time in. She had slept most of the day, but she could still feel the effect of the week of sleepless nights. So that is where her thoughts were when she was suddenly attacked from behind. Before either she or Buffy knew what was happening, Kennedy had been pushed face first into a tombstone, knocking her out.
Buffy quickly took care of the vamp and ran over to check on her slaying partner for the night. When she turned Kennedy over, she noticed the large gash across her forehead caused by the impact with the granite marker. Noticing the younger girl was still unconsciece, she decided to get her to the hospital as quickly as possible.
Once she got to the hospital, the staff took Kennedy into the back to treat her, making Buffy sit in the waiting room. Buffy sat there frustrated that this would happen tonight of all nights, with Willow expected home at any time. After sitting and waiting for about 15 minutes with no news how Kennedy was, she decided to call the house to see if her best friend had gotten in yet. Just as she was about to go find a pay phone, she heard someone familiar calling out to her.
"Yo, B. I was just going out to find ya. How did you know Red and me were here?"
"Faith, I should have known you were the person Willow was bringing back with her. What with her being all secretive about who it was and all."
"Touching, but really, how did you know? I didn't call ya, and I don't Red had a chance to either. So whatcha doing here?"
"I was out patrolling with one of the potentials, and she got blind-sided by a vamp. Hit her head on a tombstone. I thought it would be best to make sure she was ok, especially since she also happens to be Willow's girlfriend, and I happened to promise her that nothing would happen to Kennedy before she got back."
As she finished her explanation, the doctor came out to talk to Buffy about Kennedy.
"Are you with the young lady with the head wound that was brought in?" the doctor asked the two.
"I am. How is she doing, doctor?" Buffy replied.
"Well, she has a concussion and we had to stitch up her forehead. We have to wait till she wakes up to be sure of anything else."
"Can we go back and see her?"
"Sure, but don't stay too long. If you notice any changes, let one of the staff know. She's in bed four till we can get her up to a room."
"Thanks doctor." Turning to Faith she asked, "Do you want to come back with me? I just want to see how she is for myself, then maybe we can go somewhere to talk."
"Sounds like a plan to me, just can we make it fast, this place is beginning to freak me out."
With that the two slayers made their way to Kennedy's bed. As they walked past the curtain, Faith got a good look at the potential lying on the bed. As soon as she did, she started shaking and turned pale. After a second, she turned and ran out of the room. As soon as she left, Buffy was on her heels to find out what was wrong. As far as she knew, Faith had never met any of the potentials before, so she had no clue why the sight of one in a hospital bed would bring out this type of reaction.
She finally met up with Faith in the park, sitting on a bench. "Care to tell me what that was all about?" Buffy asked.
"B, the girl on the bed, what's her name?"
"Kennedy, why?"
"Are you sure? What's her full name?"
"Faith you are started to scare me. Why is this so important?"
"Just please Buffy, do you know her full name?"
"No, all we know her by is Kennedy, why?"
"Cause I'm beginning to think the PTB just love to fuck with us. I never told you my last name did I?"
"Not that I recall, no. What does this have to do with Kennedy?"
"That's my last name. I think she's my sister."
"What do you mean, your sister? I didn't even know you had one. Plus I don't think sisters can both be called."
"To tell ya the truth B, I hope you are right about the last part. I do have a sister though. I was six and she was four when our parents split up. Dad took her, and I stayed with our mom. We kinda lost touch after that. God B, I haven't seen her in like 14 years. So it is possible I am wrong and that isn't her. It's just, what are the odds that someone I think is my sister actually is named Kennedy? Do you know where she is from?"
"Originally or recently?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well, when we found out about all the potentials being in danger, Giles brought three with him to my house from England. Kennedy was one of them. From what I got from Willow though, she is originally from somewhere in New England."
"Ok, then the only way we will know for sure is to find out her full name, but the more I find out, the more I think she is my sister Hope."
"Hope? What your parents into the bible or something?"
"Huh? B, I think you lost me there."
"Don't tell me you never heard the bible verse 'And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.' "
"Not really into the whole bible thing and all. Guess they were though. Wonder if there was a third girl, she would have been Charity."
"She was, er is," someone said from behind them.
As the slayers turned around, they saw Willow and Kennedy standing there, the latter with a slight look of fear on her face.
"Willow found me in the ER, raising a fit trying to get out. She finally talked the doctors into releasing me. On the way here, she told me who she brought back with her. I had to see if it was really you, Faith. Last I heard, you were dead."
"Well, guess you heard wrong then. The only one out of the four of us that has died is B here, and she just won't stay that way."
"Funny F. Now seriously, who told you she died, Kennedy? Or should we call you Hope?"
"Stick with Kennedy please, I gave up Hope long ago, no pun intended. My watcher told me Faith had died about four years ago. I didn't really believe him though. I wondered a little how he would know how she was. Guess now I know. Damn, he could have told me you were the slayer. He told me about there being two, told me Buffy's name, but never yours, Faith. I guess I really didn't want to know. By the way, what happened to you three years ago, then again last week?"
"That is a very long story. I'm sure you heard I went all evil, killed a couple of people, tried to hurt or kill Buffy and her friends, sided with the mayor, who it turns out was a demon trying to take over the world. While I was doing all that, I shot a poisoned arrow at B's boy-toy and she decided I needed to be taken down. Which now I totally agree with. Well, all she succeeded in doing is giving me my own knife in the gut. I jumped from my balcony, which was pretty high up, landed on the back of a truck and was in a coma for eight months."
"Yeah I heard all that, what happened when you woke up?"
"How do you know anything happened?"
"Cause that is when I felt this urge to come out here and help. I just didn't know why. That is when my watcher told me you had died about a year before. I thought maybe it was you I needed to help. I think he only told me that to stop me from getting on the plane over here."
"Whoa, wait a second, you can feel me? Like what I am feeling and such?"
"No, only when you are in extreme need of help. Most of the last three years, I haven't felt anything. I basically forgot about it till last week."
"So that is why you couldn't sleep? I was worried about that. It's one of the reasons I agreed to take you to LA with me. If I had known about the feelings you were having, I would have fought Buffy harder to take you." Willow said.
"Ok back up here. I'm a little confused. Let's get this straight. Kennedy and Faith are sisters, right?"
"Yep," both Faith and Kennedy said in unison.
"Kennedy has a bond with Faith, that makes her know when Faith is in trouble."
"Sounds about right." Kennedy confirmed.
"The question I have now is, does Faith have the same connection with you? I know the two of us had a bond at one point, us being Faith and I, so is it because you are sisters and it was always there, or just since she woke up from the coma."
"Well, not too sure on feeling her B. I mean a few months ago, I had this restless feeling, like when I was first locked up. Feeling like I needed to get out there and slay something. But it went away after about a week or so." Turning to her sister Faith asked, "Is that about the time you started being hunted?"
Kennedy teared up a little, "That was about the time I walked in and found my watcher butchered. All I could think was, if I had been just a little faster getting home, I could have saved him. Shit Fai, I sat in that room with him for two days, thinking about joining him before Giles found me. Took him a day just to talk me out of there, then the rest of a week to calm me down enough to stop thinking about it. I mean by then, what did I have left. I thought you were dead, Dad didn't want me, and the guy I began to look at as my father figure was in pieces, because of me. What gave me the right to still be living?"
At that Kennedy broke down, finally able to express how she felt about it all. Faith went over and just held her, just letting Kennedy cry. When it seemed like she was done, Faith pulled back a little, looked her sister in the eye and said, "But I'm not dead, and Dad was always an asshole. It's his fault we were kept separated most of our lives. He's probably the one that told your watcher I was dead. I'm here now, and there is no way I am going to let anything hurt you. Do you understand that? If I had known sooner, I would have been in England trying to protect you. Do you know what a shock it was to see you lying in that bed tonight? Shit, Hope, I thought you were safe in New York. God." Then Faith started crying.
Once the two sisters had calmed down a bit, the foursome decided to go back to Buffy's house and talk to Giles about what they had found out that night. There were still many unasked and unanswered questions, but the emotions, combined with Kennedy's sleepless week, and the battle Faith had in the same time, brought both to the point of exhaustion. That meant they would have to wait till morning before anything else could be discovered.
When Willow woke up the next morning, she found herself alone in the bed she shared with Kennedy. After checking the upstairs bedrooms and bath, she decided to check to see if her girlfriend got up early and went downstairs. Once she got down there, she realized that Kennedy was nowhere in the house. Starting to get worried, she went to find Buffy and Faith to see if they had seen her. She found Buffy outside in the backyard getting setup for the training she was going to put the potentials through later that day.
"Hey have you seen Kennedy this morning? When I woke up she was no where to be found." Willow asked.
"Nope, haven't seen her yet this morning. Thought she would sleep the day away after not sleeping this week, then what happened last night," Buffy replied.
"That's just it though Buffy, I don't think she slept last night either. Once we got upstairs to the room, she just went to sit and look out the window. Her side of the bed doesn't look slept in."
"I don't think there is much to worry about. She has a lot to deal with right now, what with finding out her sister is alive, and a slayer, plus getting hit by that vamp last night. All that on top of what she was dealing with for the past week, I would be worried if she wasn't acting a little strange. She probably just went for a walk to clear her head. Nothing to worry about. Plus if there were, I'm sure Faith would know."
"Speaking of Faith, where is she? I thought she would be out here with you."
"She was still sleeping when I woke up, so I didn't wake her. Whatever she went through in LA really wore her out. Plus I haven't seen her cry like that since right before she turned herself in."
Just then they heard Faith scream. They wasted no time getting up to Buffy's room to see the younger slayer curled in a ball on the bed, crying in agony.
"Buffy, you have to find Hope. Something is wrong. She's hurt and needs us now." Faith forced out between the sobs.
"Faith, we don't know where Kennedy is. She was gone when Willow woke up this morning. Do you have any idea where she could be."
Faith concentrated a little, then looked up with determination in her eyes. "She's at the park, fighting a group of bringers. I think one might have stabbed her in the stomach."
"How do you know that much? I thought you two just knew when the other was in trouble." Willow asked.
"I think being near each other strengthened the bond. If I concentrate hard enough, it's almost like I can see out of her eyes for a second. We really don't have much time. I don't think she can handle this by herself."
The three then took of towards the park. When they got there, they saw a group of four bringers standing over someone lying on the ground. When they heard the group coming up to them, they took off running. As soon as the threat was gone, Faith looked down to see her sister in a pool of blood with a dagger in her stomach. The potential's breathing was shallow. Faith looked up to Buffy, asking her fellow slayer what she should do.
"Faith, we have to get her to the hospital. It looks like she has already lost a lot of blood."
"Buffy, after last night, they are going to have a lot of questions. Plus with this being a stab wound, they might want the police involved. With Faith being an escaped convict, it might be in our best interest not to involve too many people. Maybe we should take her home and see what we can do there." Willow said.
"But Will, she is so pale. I'm willing to risk getting picked up again to get her some help. I can't lose her again. I just got her back. Buffy, if this were Dawn laying here, what would you do?"
"Exactly what you are thinking of, but it's not Dawn, it's Kennedy. I agree with Willow. Let's get her to the house. She's a fighter, Faith. I'm sure she will pull through this just fine."
"Ok, but if she seems to be getting worse, or if she doesn't wake up soon, I am taking her to get help. Don't think you can stop me."
"Wouldn't dream of it. Besides, I will most likely have to fight both you and Willow if I tried. Now, let's get going. We can't exactly help her right here."
Faith bent down and gently picked up Kennedy. She left the dagger in, knowing it was better to take it out once they would be able to put some pressure on the wound. She quickly, but gently carried the younger girl back to the house, and took her upstairs to lay her on the bed. While she was doing that, Willow ran to the bathroom and got the first aid kit and got the supplies ready that they would need to take care of the injury. Buffy went to find Giles to let him know what was going on, and to let the rest of the potentials know they had the day off from training. When Buffy finally got up to the bedroom, Faith had the dagger out of Kennedy and was using pressure to stop the bleeding, taking care not to press too hard and creating any worse injury. When she pulled back up to check on it, she noticed the cut was already starting to heal.
"Ok, I thought only slayers healed like that. Didn't know potentials got the whole healing thing too." Faith said to Buffy.
"As far as I know, they don't. None of the other potentials heal this fast. Looks like we have a lot more to talk about than we thought. Why don't you bandage her up, then let her sleep. We can get the answers when she wakes up."
*Kennedy's POV*
Once the foursome got home, they broke off in twos to go to bed. Willow and Kennedy went into their room and Buffy and Faith went into Buffy's. After Kennedy and Willow were ready for bed, the potential realized she wasn't ready to go to sleep just yet. Instead she sat in a chair by the window looking at the moon, thinking about what had happened that night. After awhile, exhaustion overtook her and she fell asleep in the chair. Almost immediately she started having nightmares. At first they were just the normal ones she had been having since her watcher had been killed, but then they started to look like she was watching someone else's life. After the first few scenes of watching what appeared to be someone's memories of being abused, she realized whose dreams they were, Faith's. She never realized how hard life had become for her sister after she was taken away with her father. It just made the respect she had for her older sister grow. She knew that Faith had protected her from her mother's anger when they were younger, but she didn't know how her sister had done it. Now she did.
When Kennedy woke up, dawn was breaking. After having a night filled with experiencing her sister's memories, she didn't think she could deal with all the questions she knew would come up once everyone else was awake, so she decided to take a walk. So she got dressed and left the house, being careful not to wake anyone.
While she was walking, she thought about all she had learned about her sister that night. When she finally came out of her thoughts, she realized she was at the park. It was then that she noticed she had been followed there by a group of four bringers.
'Brilliant Kennedy. You know you are being hunted by these guys, and you decide to take a walk, alone, and unarmed. Guess it's time to find out if this bond works both ways.'
~Faith, if you can hear me, I need some...~
She didn't get a chance to finish trying to send any sort of message through. One of the bringers chose that moment to attempt to stab her. She fought them off the best she could, but there were too many of them to take on by herself. Before she knew what was going on, she felt one of their daggers enter her stomach. As she was falling to the ground, her last thought was 'Oh that's going to leave a mark.'
By the time Kennedy woke up, it was late afternoon. It took both Willow and Buffy almost physically restraining Faith to keep her from taking her sister to the hospital when she didn't wake up after an hour. Buffy had decided the best thing to take Faith's mind off of Kennedy was to do some training in the backyard. So that is where the two slayers were when Willow found them to let them know. Willow had spent most of the day in the bedroom, watching over her girlfriend, and researching why Kennedy seemed to be able to heal at a faster rate than the rest of the potentials. So far she hadn't found anything to account for it. She was about to give up and go find Giles to ask him, when she heard Kennedy waking up.
"Hey sleepy-head. Welcome back to the world of the living. How are you feeling?"
"Like someone tried to see what my stomach would look like on the outside of my body. How long have I been out?"
"Since this morning, and since it is about four in the afternoon now, I would say about eight hours. Why don't I take a look at how your wound is doing, ok?"
"Yeah, just be careful."
Willow went over to the bed and carefully took the bandage off Kennedy's injury. She was shocked to see that it had closed up even more since they had applied the bandages that morning. When she looked to see how Kennedy would react to that, she noticed the other girl wasn't all that surprised.
"Care to tell me why you seem to heal faster than most people, other than a slayer?"
"Do you mind getting everyone else first? Between last night and this morning, my body has taken one hell of a beating, and it takes a lot out of me. I'd rather just have to explain everything once."
"Ok, I can totally understand that. Oh, we still haven't told Giles anything about what happened. Well other than what we had to tell him after Faith brought you home. Do you want me to get him too?"
"Sure, just gather everyone and I'll meet you guys in the living room. I think I can make it down there on my own."
"Are you sure? I can help you get down there and settled, then go gather the troops."
"I'm sure. That way we can get this done faster. By the time you find everyone, I should have made it down there. If not, that means I needed your help after all."
"Ok, if you're sure. If you need help, just yell. I'm sure one of us will hear you."
Willow left to go gather the slayers, the scoobs, and Giles into the living room. Kennedy got up and slowly made her way downstairs, silently thanking whomever was thoughtful enough to change her out of her bloody clothing so she wouldn't have to attempt to get dressed first. Just as she told Willow, she made it down there as the last of the group made it into the living room.
As soon as Kennedy was in the room, Faith rushed over to make sure she was really ok. She then let her sister get settled on the couch next to Willow and started to explain to everyone who wasn't in the park last night what they had discovered.
"I knew Kennedy reminded me of Faith for some reason. It all makes since now." Xander exclaimed.
"I don't know what would make you think that. I haven't seen her since I was four." Kennedy told him.
"You say you can tell when the other is in trouble. And that is how you knew to go look for Kennedy this morning? Interesting. I wonder if there is anything in any of my books that would explain this." Giles said, looking happy to have something other than The First to research.
"Hope, I do have one question for you. When I was treating your wound this morning, I noticed it had started closing as soon as I took the dagger out. Since you were able to make it down here alone, I'm taking that to mean you are even more healed. Plus it looks like we should be able to take the stitches out of your head tonight. What I want to know is, how is this all possible? You're not healing as fast as B or I would, but it is still faster than you should be." Faith asked.
"Well, a little over half a year before I felt the bond between us, I noticed I had gotten a little stronger, my senses were a little more sensitive, and I started to heal a little faster. When I told my watcher, he was a little shocked. He hadn't been informed of the death of a slayer. So he tested me to see if maybe one had died and the council wasn't aware. He discovered that, while I was stronger than before, I wasn't exactly on par with a slayer. That is when he was told that you were in a coma, Faith. I guess a part of my slayer powers were awakened when that happened. Now I have a question for you. How did you know where to look for me? I thought only something like distress signals passed between us."
"I think us being together has strengthened the bond, Hope. After I felt you were in trouble, I concentrated and it was like looking out your eyes for a second. It wasn't long, but it was enough to know where you were."
"Ok, I have a question," Xander piped in, "Why do you keep calling Kennedy, Hope, Faith."
"Because that is her name, or least that is the name I know her by. Seems she is going by our last name now," Faith answered.
"Wait, you're a Kennedy? As in related to JFK?"
"I don't think we are. Then again, I wouldn't know. I grew up living in Boston with our mom. Hope, do you know if we are related to them?"
"Actually, we are, but they disowned dear old Dad when he married Mom. So I never got to meet any of them. Not that I would have wanted to. Could you imagine how the press would have handled me being a potential? As it was, because of Dad's business partners, we had to lie and say I was in a boarding school in England when my watcher came to get me." Kennedy told Faith.
"Wow, so that is why he never talked about his family before the two of you left. Makes sense now."
"Well, this is all very fascinating, but let's get back on track. What I believe, from what you have told me, the bond between the two of you is sort of like the bond you share with Buffy, Faith, only not as strong. Can you sense when the other is near?" Giles said, to get the conversation back on track.
"So far, no. Then again, anytime I have been near Hope lately, I have been with Buffy. So I could just not notice because of that."
Noticing Kennedy was starting to nod off, Giles decided to end the meeting, "Ok, I think we covered enough for today. Kennedy, when you are feeling a little better, I would like to test to see what level you are at, and also what the strength of the bond is between you and Faith. For now, though, I think it would be best if you went back upstairs and get some more rest."
"Thanx Giles. I've only been injured this bad one other time. I ended up sleeping almost non-stop for a week. For some reason, the healing really wears me out." Kennedy told the ex-watcher.
"I would imagine it would. It takes and incredible amount of energy to heal that fast. Will you be able to make it to your room alright"
"I should." Kennedy said, then tried to stand up. As soon as she was upright, a wave of dizziness hit her, and she fell back down onto the sofa she was sitting on. "Then again, maybe I could use some help. Faith do you mind? Besides, I want to talk to you alone anyways."
Faith went over and carefully picked Kennedy up then carefully carried her upstairs to her room. Once there she placed her sister on the bed. She looked down and saw how tired Kennedy looked, and decided maybe it was better if they talked later. Kennedy noticed the look on Faith's face, recognizing the feelings behind it.
"It's ok Fai. I really do need to talk to you a bit. Please sit down, ok?"
"Only for a minute, Hope. You need to rest if you want to get better quicker."
"I know. I.. I just wanted to say I was sorry. I remember what it was like before I left. What I never knew was what happened after."
"How do you know now? I never told anyone what happened to me growing up. Just that mom was a drunk and an addict."
"Last night, I saw your dream. This bond really is getting stronger Faith. I'm..I'm afraid of what will happen if one of us really gets hurt. I mean worse than what happened today. I can tell you're still worried something will happen. You just have to trust in me and the training I've had. Can you do that? Not worry about me quite so much?"
"Hope, it's been what, about 14- 15 years since I've been able to protect you. My biggest wish was you weren't a potential slayer, and were safe with Dad. Even if he is an asshole. But I know that isn't going to happen."
"But that's just it. I'm more than a potential. True, I'm not quite a slayer either, but I can take care of myself. I was stupid this morning, I admit that. But I am not that little four year old you need to protect. I've been with my watcher since I was 12. I'm not sorry I was chosen for this. My only regret is that I wasn't there to save Derrick. He was there for me when I thought I had lost it all. When I thought I had lost you."
"Hope, if you had been there, you wouldn't be here now. There is a reason you weren't there. Just like there was a reason I didn't die when I fell off the balcony."
The two sisters hugged, letting go of the regrets they had about not being there for each other. As the broke apart, Kennedy tried to stand, but fell back down.
"Now where do you think you are going?"
"I have something for you. Can you give me my bag, please? It's over by the closet."
Faith looked around the room and noticed the bag. She got up, retrieved it, and brought it back to the bed. Kennedy rummaged through it, and when she finally found what she was looking for, looked up to Faith with a slight grin on her face.
"You know that asshole father of ours? Well you know how before we got split up, he was always trying to start a business? Well he finally succeeded. Once he was able to, he opened accounts for you, Charity and myself and deposited $1000 a month into them. Right after I was told you had died, I received a new account book in the mail. He had transferred your account into my name. I guess he knew you weren't really dead and that I would be the one to find you. He's still been putting the deposits in, every month like clockwork." Pulling out the small book, she handed it over to her older sister, "So I guess this is yours now. Maybe tomorrow or something, we can call and have it switched back to your name."
"Oh man, he... he did that. He cared enough to set up this for me. Wow, and all this time I thought he was a cold selfish bastard. This, this changes things a little."
"I know. It's a lot to take in, isn't. How just one little act can change all your views about a person."
"Yeah. I'm... I'm going to go and let you sleep. Thank you for this. Want me to send Red up here?"
"Please. And don't thank me. All I did was give you what is yours. When you are ready, I'll give you his number so you can thank him."
*Later that night*
Faith was just sitting on the bed, looking at the book Kennedy had given her when Buffy came up to bed. When she noticed Buffy was in the room, she quickly put the book in her pocket and moved over so the other slayer could sit down.
"So, did you talk to Red about the girl we found? Any word on how she is doing?"
"Yeah. She woke up before Willow left and said she had a message for me from the guy that stabbed her. Said his name was Caleb and he had something of mine."
"Any idea what it could be?"
"Nope, as far as I know, I am not missing anything. I'm thinking maybe tomorrow you and me go out to this vineyard he is supposedly holed up at and take a look around."
"Sounds like a plan to me."
"So, now that that is over with, how is Kennedy doing? She seemed pretty out of it when you took her up to bed."
"She's doing ok. We had a nice talk about some things. The connection is getting stronger, and not just on my end. She was out this morning because she couldn't sleep. Seems we were sharing dreams. She found out what happened to me after Dad took her away. She basically found out everything I was trying to protect her from."
"Like what?"
"Basically, our mother's temper. For some reason, she really hated Hope. Nothing she did was ever right. I did the best I could to keep her from getting hit, but I couldn't be there all the time."
"Where was your dad when this was going on?"
"He was always working. He had these grand dreams of starting a business and striking it rich."
"So money was more important than his kids? That is just sick."
"Yes and no. He always stood up for us when he was home, but that wasn't very often. When it got really bad, he did what he could do. At least he got Hope out of there."
"Why did he only take her? Why not both of you?"
"Mom wasn't really abusive to me back then. Plus it happened when I was in school. Dad found out when the hospital called him for the insurance information because Hope had 'fallen down the stairs' and had a few broken bones. He went, picked up Hope, and tried to get me, but because he wasn't on my birth certificate as my father, he wasn't allowed to take me out of school. He did try, but in the end, he did what he thought was best."
"If you understand everything, why do you seem to hate him so much?"
"I don't know. Hope gave me a lot to think about tonight. I'm still pissed at him for leaving me, but he didn't know what would happen after he was gone. It's really complicated, and I haven't really figured everything out yet. Listen, I'm tired. Let's talk about this more tomorrow, ok?"
"Yeah, see ya in the morning."
*The next afternoon*
All the potentials, the Scooby Gang, Giles and Andrew were sitting in the living room, waiting on their daily speech from Buffy. They were all anxious about what the girl that Willow and Faith found had said.
"Ok guys, I know you have all heard the message I got from Caleb. He has something of mine, and I intend to take it back. Faith and I will be going out to the vineyard to see what is going on. The rest of you will be here researching and training. Kennedy, I want you resting. That means in bed, trying to get better. I know you are doing better, but I want you in tip-top shape if we need to actually go into battle with this Caleb guy."
"But, who's going to lead the training, with both you and Faith gone?"
"Giles can handle it. Willow, can you make sure Kennedy rests. And I mean rest, no making out up there you two."
Blushing, Willow answered, "Yeah, I think I can handle that." Turning to Kennedy, she said, "Ok, you heard her. Up to bed with ya."
Once the two were in the bedroom, Kennedy started to feel tired and laid down. Almost immediately she fell asleep. Willow waited till she was sure the other girl wasn't going to try anything, and when she was sure, she went back downstairs to work on some research Buffy had asked her to do about Caleb.
After a few hours, she decided to go check on Kennedy. When she got up there, she noticed her thrashing around on the bed. Willow ran over to try to comfort her girlfriend. When she got there, Kennedy sat straight up and said, "Will, you have to lock me up now."
"What are you talking about? Why would I have to lock you up?"
"Look, I don't have time to explain it to you. Just, how strong are the chains in the basement?"
"Strong enough to hold Spike when he had blood lust."
"Ok, those should.....AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH"
Kennedy's head went back, as if she was in incredible pain. When she looked at Willow again, the red-head saw something she thought she would never see again. Kennedy's normally brown eyes were now the yellow eyes of a wolf.
"Kennedy, how could you keep something like this from me? This is big, and I don't mean in the, 'My girlfriend has a tongue ring' kind of way."
"Will, just please, I can't hold it off much longer. I'll explain everything later, honest. Right now you need to go get some help."
"The only one here that can maybe help is Spike. Buffy and Faith left already."
"No, not Spike. He'll make it worse. Do you guys have a tranq gun?"
"Yeah. We used to need it for my ex-boyfriend."
"Go get it. Don't bring anyone else. I don't know if I can control myself around anyone else."
"Ok." With that, Willow ran out of the room and got the gun. When she got back to the room, she noticed it was empty. Looking around, she saw the window was broken.
"Oh goddess. I'm too late. I have to go get Giles. We need to find her before she hurts anyone."
Meanwhile, at one of the cemeteries, about halfway between the house and the vineyard, Buffy and Faith were walking and talking.
"Good thing there is a full moon tonight. Should make it easier to see what is going on out there."
"Don't you have night vision? I thought that came with the whole slayer package. I haven't had a problem seeing in the dark since I was called."
"Maybe we just got different skills. Everyone is different."
"True."
They fell into silence for a while after that. Suddenly Buffy heard Faith call out.
"Faith, what's wrong?"
"I don't know. All I know is something is wrong with Hope, but it feels different. Like she is in pain, but not." She then doubled over, clutching her stomach. "Oh God B. It hurts."
Buffy ran over to the other slayer. When she got over there, she pulled up on Faith's chin to get her to look at her.
"Faith, open your eyes. You need to calm down and concentrate."
When Faith opened her eyes, Buffy was in for a shock. Instead of Faith's normal brown eyes looking at her, she now had glowing yellow eyes.
"Oh God Faith, what happened to you in prison?"
"What do you mean? Nothing you wouldn't expect to happen. A few fights, but nothing out of the ordinary."
"Did anyone in there bite you? Think hard. It's important."
"Eww no. I think that would rate as out of the ordinary. Why do you want to know?"
"Faith, I think you are changing, and not in a good way. We need to get you back to the house."
"B, what's happening? Oh man it hurts."
"Think Faith. You were around when Oz was."
"Can't think. Pain too bad. Hurts all over. Can't feel Hope anymore." Then Faith fell to the ground. The only sounds in the night were those of Faith's transformation. Next time Faith looked up, it wasn't the slayer looking at Buffy, but a wolf. The older slayer didn't know what to do. She wasn't prepared for this, so she didn't have a tranq gun, and she knew she couldn't take on Faith in this form without seriously hurting or even killing the other girl. Just when she thought Faith might attack her, another wolf came running up. She watched the two wolves sizing each other up, then the two took off into the woods together. When Buffy regained her senses, Willow had caught up to her.
"Buffy, we have a major problem. I need your and Faith's help. Kennedy is a werewolf and she escaped." Looking around, she then noticed Buffy was alone. "Buffy, where is Faith?"
"Seems Kennedy isn't the only one. Faith is one too. I guess the other wolf that came was Kenn. How could we not know about this? Shit, how could Faith not know?"
"Huh? Kennedy acted like she knew what was going on. I have no idea how she kept this from us all this time. If both of them changed tonight, maybe it is hereditary. We have to find them before they hurt someone."
"They ran off into the woods together. Kennedy kept Faith from attacking me. I think she may have some control of herself in wolf form. Willow, they weren't really like Oz. They were actually wolves, not like a cross between a wolf and a human. I'm not sure if the connection I have with Faith will work with her in this form, but I'll go see if I can find them. You go back to the house and get them both some clothes. They'll need them in the morning when they change back. Meet me in the clearing in the middle of the woods, ok?"
"Ok, here take this," Willow handed Buffy the tranquilizer gun she had with her. "Just in case. Even if Kenn can control herself, we don't know if Faith can. Better to be safe than sorry."
"Did you bring any stakes or anything? You going to be ok by yourself?"
"Buffy, I have been doing this for years, of course I will be fine. Just take care of yourself. I'm just worried about Kennedy and that injury of hers. There was blood in the room after she changed. I think she tore it open again. Please find them and make sure they are ok.'
"I will. I'll make sure nothing happens to them, or because of them. God, I thought we were through with this when Oz left. With everything else happening right now, this is the last thing we need."
"I know. Ok, get going before they get too far away for you to find. I'll meet you in about an hour or so in the clearing."
After searching the woods for almost an hour, Buffy still had no idea where the two wolves had taken off to. She decided to go meet Willow and start searching again. When she got to the clearing, she found Kennedy and Faith laying down being pet by Willow.
"I guess this means we don't have to worry about them hurting anyone." Buffy said to Willow.
"They were here when I got here. It's weird Buffy. They didn't even think to try to attack me. It's like they are aware that we are friendly. I mean, things were a little tense at first, but when they got a hint of my scent, they relaxed. We have a couple of hours till sunrise. Might as well just stay here till then since they are calm."
"Sounds good to me." Buffy sat down next to Willow. Suddenly the bigger of the two wolves went to Buffy and laid her head in the slayer's lap. The four stayed like that till the sun came up and the two wolves changed back to their human form. Once they were dressed, the four slowly made it back to the Summers' house. They were all tired, but they knew they needed to talk about this before anyone would be getting any sleep. Once they got home, they all gathered in the living room to discuss what happened.
"Kennedy, why didn't you tell us about any of this? We could have been helping you this whole time." Willow asked.
"Usually I can control the change. I haven't lost that control for over a year now. I guess with everything that has happened in the last few days, on top of my worry about Faith tonight, was just too much. I know I should have told you sooner."
"When did all this start? Were you bitten? And what about Faith?"
"Well, it runs in the family. I first changed when I was 15. Freaked my watcher something awful. The morning after the first time, I called home and talked to Dad about it. He never told us, cause he was hoping it skipped us. Usually the first change happens at the start of puberty. I guess because of the slayer potential in both Faith and me, it held it off. With Faith, I think her being called held it off even longer. The connection we share probably triggered her change last night." Turning to Faith she said, "I am so sorry I didn't warn you sooner. I was hoping it skipped you like it did Charity. I just didn't sense it in you. Can you forgive me?"
"It'll be hard, but I think I can. Is there anything else you have been holding back?" Faith asked her younger sister.
"No, this is it. Now you guys know everything."
"How much control do you have exactly?" Buffy asked.
"Usually I have full control. I can change whenever. I just need more concentration to hold it back on the three nights of the full moon. I thought everything was ok when I didn't change the first night of it, but now I think it was just because my body was too exhausted. I guess I let my guard down and well, you saw what happened. I'm sorry I scared you guys."
"Goddess, Kenn. This is a big secret to try to keep to yourself."
"I know, but how exactly was I going to tell you? 'Oh Willow, I love you, but three nights out of the month, I may get a little hairy?' It's not something I really like to think about."
"Do you think you can teach me to control it?"
"I can try. It may be easier for you because you are a slayer. Your body is just naturally stronger than most people's."
"Did your watcher ever tell you what you were like after your change? I mean, you aren't like most werewolves we come across. The others were more like a cross between a wolf and a human. You were totally wolf."
"I think that is because it is a family trait and not a curse. That and the fact I accept it when the change comes. Faith probably felt my acceptance, and that helped her also."
"Do you remember your time when you are the wolf?"
"Yeah. My human mind is mostly in control. That is one reason I got out of the house last night. That and the fact I had to go help Faith."
"How did you know I needed help? Near the end, I lost the connection with you?"
"No you didn't, it just changed. Your human mind couldn't sense me, but the wolf did. That is why you didn't attack me or Buffy."
"Once I have control, I'll remember? Because basically everything about last night is blank."
"Yeah. That happens the first few times. Once we get some sleep, I'll start to help you with everything. Tonight though, it might be a good idea to chain the two of us up. Not sure how strong my control will be when the moon rises."
"Sounds good. After we wake up, I'll look into getting another set of chains for the basement. Or should I look into collars and leashes instead?" Buffy said jokingly.
"I know you were just joking, but I don't think ankle and wrist restraints will work on the two of us."
"Ok, if this is over, I think it's time for some sleep. I guess we'll have to hold off checking the vineyard for a few nights."
When the four got upstairs, they split up to go to their rooms. Once Buffy and Faith were ready for bed, Faith noticed Buffy looking at her a little strange.
"What's up B?"
"Just thinking about something. I can understand why Kennedy would be submitive to Willow in wolf form, but why would you feel that way towards me? It's not exactly like we have been the best of friends most of the time we knew each other."
"I never really hated you. Even when everything was going on with the Mayor. I did my best to try to protect and help you."
"You had a funny way of showing it. I mean you tried to kill all of us at one time or another."
"Do you really think I couldn't have killed you all if I really wanted you dead? Think about it. The only one of your group I might have had a hard time killing was you Buffy. I had to act that way to keep the boss from thinking I had a soft spot for you all. I even helped you to kill him."
"Then why did you go to him in the first place? I wanted to help you so bad after what happened with Finch, but you just turned me away. Why wouldn't you let me help then?"
"Because I was ashamed. All my life I was told I was no good. You almost had me believing all that was a lie, then I go and kill a man. Even if it was an accident. All I kept thinking was, if it was you, you would have stopped. You realized before I did that he wasn't a vamp."
"That is only because I realized he was too easy to throw around. Even then it was too late. I don't think anything would have changed if the rolls were reversed."
"Maybe so, but there is no way to know for sure. We were connecting in such a great way till that happened. I'm sorry I didn't let you help me. I just didn't know how to take the support you tried to give. Will you ever be able to forgive me?"
"I did the second I realized how much you trusted me when you put your head in my lap last night. The vuneralbility there was mind blowing."
"B, Buffy, what you saw last night, was me without the walls. I.. "
"You what? Talk to me Faith. Tell me what you are thinking. Don't put the walls back up now."
"I can't. Not yet. I need to come to terms with everything first. Just, do you think you can hold me tonight. I don't want to feel alone."
"Yeah, I think I can do that. Let's try to get some sleep."
They laid down with Faith in Buffy's arms. Buffy just laid there watching Faith as she fell asleep. Once she was sure the younger girl was out, she softly kissed her forehead and softly whispered, "I love you too. Please don't shut me out this time."
The next afternoon, Faith woke up to the feeling of being held.
'Oh yeah, I can get used to this.' Faith thought as she looked over at the blonde she was in bed with. She then thought back to the dream she had the night before. The one where Buffy had kissed her and told her she loved her.
'At least I think it was a dream. I mean, what reason would she have to love me? Especially now. God when will whoever is running things decide to give me a break?' With that thought, Faith got up and went to take a shower. By the time she had made it downstairs, she had a full-head of steam going. Thinking about what happened the night before, well, what she could remember of it anyway. She would just have to take everyone's word that she didn't hurt anyone. Now she was looking for her sister so they could start their training.
At that moment, Kennedy was upstairs, just waking up in the arms of her girlfriend. They stayed up a while when they got into their room, talking about what had happened. The SiT just couldn't believe how accepting Willow was to what had been revealed the night before. She was so sure the red head would not want anything to do with her ever again once she found out. That is what happened before, with her last girlfriend. Suddenly she felt a wave of anger coming through the link she shared with her sister.
'Well I should have known Faith took all of this too well last night. Maybe I should go down and talk to her or at least keep the others out of her way while she blows off some steam. Guess this means we won't be working on control today. Not with her as angry as she is now.'
Kennedy got up and took her own shower. While in the bathroom, she took a moment to check on the wound in her stomach. All that was there was an ugly pink scar, about the same size and shape as the one Faith had. Once she was dressed, she went looking for the dark haired slayer.
When she finally found her, Kennedy just sat and watched as her sister pounded away at the punching bag in the basement. After about fifteen minutes, Faith realized someone was watching her, and instead of turning around to see who it was, just stopped and used the connections she shared with Buffy and Kennedy to see if it was one of them. Those two and Willow were the only people she really wanted to be around that day. Once she realized it was her sister, she took a deep breath to try to calm down some, then turned around.
"Hey sis. You're up early."
"Faith, it is four in the afternoon. To most people, this is way late."
"True, but I have a feeling you and Willow stayed up and talked about what happened. I didn't expect to see you till almost sunset."
"Yeah, well it's a funny thing. I was laying there, just watching Willow sleep, when suddenly I felt a wave of anger I know didn't come from me. So, do you wanna talk about it?"
"What's there to talk about? Seems just another way the powers that be have of fucking with my life. First it was being the second string slayer, then when I finally come to terms with that, I kill a guy. To deal with that, I go evil. Finally decide enough is enough and the only way to stop myself is to die, but guess what, that was just asking for too much. Instead I got a nice little eight month vacation to my own mind. When that is finally over, I was thinking, ok I should try to make things right with Buffy and the gang. But no, I screwed that up too. So I go to LA to try to start over, when this damn law firm decided to try to get me to kill someone. Good part was the person they wanted dead was a vamp. Bad part, it was Angel. So when I finally think I got the nerve to try, I realized what a mistake it would be. I knew it would be best for everyone if I was gone. Not just out of the city or state, but really gone. But no, Angel wouldn't do that for me. Instead, he got me started on the path of redemption. Then Buffy comes to LA and suggests I go to jail to make up for what I did. So I went. Spent three years in there. God it was worse than hell. The whole time I felt I should be out there, killing vamps and demons. Then Wesley comes and tells me Angelus is back and he needs my help. I didn't even think twice. I just busted out. So with Willow's help, we finally get Angel back, she talks me into coming here with her to help with this big bad they have here. So I get here, and find out that my sister, who is supposed to be safe on the other side of the country, is not only a potential, but because of my little coma, is halfway between that and a slayer. While trying to come to terms with that, I then find out that not only her, but myself as well, are werewolves. So, sis, what in the hell is there to talk about?"
Kennedy just sat there in shock. She knew some of what her sister had been through, but not all of it. The part that really upset her was when Faith said she wanted to die. That just cut her to the bone. She felt partially responsible for some of what Faith was feeling. So instead of yelling back at her, she stood up and walked over and just hugged her older sister.
Faith didn't know how to respond when she felt the younger girl's arms go around her. She was still in shock that she told her everything she just did. She hadn't meant for her sister to find out how much of a screw up her older sister was. When she felt the tears on her shoulder, she knew she had gone too far.
"Oh God Faith, I... I didn't know. I thought I did, but.... God, do you realize how strong you are? To have gone through all that, with you sanity intact."
"Who said it was? All I know is, right now, it's not a good idea to have me around a group of people."
"I know that. I feel the same way. Willow said she would keep the rest of the potentials away from us till we are ready. Unfortunately, we don't have the time to really get ready. Not with the First out there trying to destroy us. Let's just deal with tonight, then we can worry about everything else tomorrow. Sound good to you?"
"Yeah, that sounds real good" Faith stepped back, breaking the hug. "So did you want to work on my control?"
"No, I think it would be a bad idea to try with everything going on inside that head of yours. We'll just have Buffy and the gang chain us up tonight. Then we have a month to worry about working on everything. I'll try not to fight the change tonight, to make it easier on you."
"I thought you accepted it?"
"I do, but that doesn't mean I like it. Why do you think I worked so hard to get the control to stop it? Besides, it hurts like hell. Just be glad you don't remember."
"You said the first time you changed you were 15, right?"
"Yeah, why do ask?"
"That was around the time you were told I was dead, wasn't it?"
"I think so. A lot happened that year."
"I wish I could have been there for you."
"Well, you're here now."
"Yeah. I don't plan on losing touch again."
"I don't think either of us have a choice in that. With this link we share. Why don't I let you get back to your training. I'm going to find Buffy and Willow and get things arranged for tonight."
"Ok." Reaching over, she gave Kennedy a small hug. When the younger girl got to the stairs she turned around. and said "By the way, I ever hear about you wanting to die again, I'll kick your ass. I finally got ya back. Don't plan on losing you again for a long time." With that, she took off running up the stairs.
On her way up the stairs, Kennedy was still reeling from what Faith had just told her. It explained a lot of the anger she felt from her. The only thing she wondered is why Buffy never knew how Faith felt. Kennedy could sense something had happened between the two slayers before everything fell apart. That was why it was so easy to keep the wolf in Faith from attacking Buffy the night before.
When she got to the the top of the stairs, Buffy and Willow were opening the door, on their way down. When Kennedy saw the older slayer, something in her snapped. She suddenly attacked the other girl, pushing her back into the kitchen and yelling at her.
"Where were you when Faith wanted to die? How could you not know she needed help? Oh wait, now I remember, you were shoving a knife in her gut. How could you do that to her? How could you turn your back on your mate like that?"
A pin drop could be heard after Kennedy said the last line. Once she said it, she realized what she had sensed between the two slayers. They had mated. That is why she took Buffy's reaction to the accident so hard. Kennedy knew, but Faith didn't, wolves mate for life. That is one reason she was taking it slow with Willow. She knew how she felt, but not how the red head did. So she let Willow set the pace of the relationship.
Faith had just made it to the top of the stairs when Kennedy said the last line. She was frightened by the emotions coming through the link that she shared with both her sister and Buffy. Then the yelling started. When her sister said what she did about Buffy and her being mates, her jaw hit the ground. She knew she didn't tell anyone what had happened that night after her and Buffy had danced at the Bronze and was sure Buffy hadn't either. So how did her sister know what she did.
Buffy was too shocked to say anything. All she could think was why did Faith tell Kennedy what had happened. When she heard Faith enter the room, she realized Faith didn't know how Kennedy knew that either. The dark haired slayer was as shocked as she was at that revelation.
Willow was the first person to come to her senses. She quickly went to her girlfriend's side, trying to calm her down. "Kennedy, sweetie, you need to calm down. A lot happened back then. You can't know everything Buffy and Faith were going through."
When Kennedy felt Willow put her hand on her side, the cloud of anger that had her suddenly lifted. She then realized what she had said. She couldn't believe she just went off like that at Buffy. Silently, she lowered her head and let Willow lead her to the living room.
When they got there, Willow sat Kennedy down on the couch and sat next to her, never letting go of the other girl.
"Kennedy, how did you know Faith and Buffy are mated? From their expressions, I don't think they told anyone that."
"I could sense something was going on between them since Faith came back to Sunnydale. I just didn't know what it was till just then. I wasn't thinking, I was just reacting to what Faith had just told me, then seeing Buffy before I could process it all." Her head suddenly snapped up, "I need to apologize to Buffy. I shouldn't have gone off on her like that. I don't know what came over me."
"I do, and think Buffy will understand. It was the wolf in you protecting her pack, her kin. You just lost control for a second. Don't worry about it. Right now, we need to get you and Faith ready for tonight."
"About tonight, I don't want you downstairs during the change. Then afterwards, don't come too close to me. After what just happened, I'm not too sure how my control will be. Can you promise me that?"
"But I want to be there for you."
"I know, but I am not too sure what will happen. It's different with Buffy and Faith. We don't have to worry as much."
"Because they are mates? That didn't stop Faith from hurting Buffy before."
"Like you said before. A lot happened. Plus Faith has changed now. I'm sure you can tell that about her. Even I can see it, and I wasn't here before. She would rather die herself than let Buffy get hurt."
"Yeah. You should have seen her when I told her what was going on here. It was like she couldn't get here fast enough. Ok enough about your sister and my best friend. I will be down there tonight. I've been through this before, Kennedy."
"You have? When?"
"In high school, I used to date a werewolf. Didn't you wonder how we knew what to do last night? Why we have tranquilizer guns?"
"I just figured you guys prepare for anything. Did.. did you mate with him?"
"That is a hard question to answer. Yes we had sex, but I don't think you would call it mating. He held back a lot. Then he cheated on me with another wolf. When that happened, he decided to leave to find himself, to try to get some control over his wolf. When he came back, I had already started to fall for Tara. He accepted this and left again."
"Ok. I still don't want you down there tonight. Nothing I can say will change your mind then, will it?"
"Nope. That is one thing girlfriends do. They are there for each other, no matter what."
"But I might hurt you."
"But you won't."
"How can you be so sure of that when I'm not."
"Because I know how you feel about me. You feel the same way towards me that Faith feels towards Buffy."
"But it's different between them."
"Why? Just because they mated, once, years ago? I would think we had a stronger connection."
"Willow, wolves mate for life. Faith will never feel complete without Buffy now."
Willow's face fell a bit. "Oh, that's the difference then? So if we..."
"Willow, I am not going to do this tonight. I'm not going to force you to do something you aren't ready for. I, I love you too much for that."
Willow stood up and paced across the room, "Oh wow. You really feel that way?"
Kennedy stood up and went to Willow. She gently placed her hand on the older girl's cheek. "Yes. That is why I can wait. I know it will take some time. Needless to say, I hope not much more, but I will wait."
Willow looked deep into Kennedy's eyes. She felt everything the young SiT felt for her shining through. She tried to let everything she felt shine through back. "And if I don't want to wait? Will you push me away?"
Kennedy was a little shocked at what she saw in Willow's eyes. Something she hadn't dared to hope for just yet. True, Willow hadn't said the words yet, but sometimes they weren't needed. "Are you sure? Once we do this, there is no turning back."
"I'm so sure about this. I need you, now." Willow then leaned over and slowly started kissing her soon to be mate.
Meanwhile down stairs Faith and Buffy were sitting on the cot in the basement, trying to get over the shock of what had happened in the kitchen.
"So, we're mated, huh? That wasn't just a get some, get gone we had back then?"
"I'm guessing not. I knew it felt different from my other, uh, encounters. I just thought it was because how I felt for you."
"Felt, as in past tense? You mean you don't feel that way now?"
"What does it matter to you how I feel now?"
"Because it does. What we shared that night was special. It was incredible. I'd never felt anything like that before, or since."
"Then why did you turn me away? When I needed your help the most, you turned your back on me."
"I was scared. I didn't know if it felt the same for you. Then when the incident with Finch happened, you seemed to shut down. I didn't know how to get you to let me in. So instead, I pushed you away. It was my fault you went to the mayor, wasn't it? Because I couldn't give you what you needed."
Faith turned and grabbed Buffy's hands. "No, don't you ever think that. I was messed up back then. The night with you had me on an incredible high, then when I killed Finch, I hit rock bottom." Faith dropped Buffy's hands, stood up and went to look out the window, "So much lost time. So much water under the bridge. Can we ever get that back?"
Buffy went over put her arms around Faith's waist and laid her head on her back, "I don't know. All I do know is I am willing to try again. This time we can do it right. No more walls. No more secrets. We have to be open with each other. Think you can do that?"
Turning around, Faith rested her forehead on Buffy's, "All I can do is promise to try. I've never felt for anyone what I feel for you. There hasn't been a day that I haven't thought about you. I feel sick everytime I remember what I did to you. How can you just let all that go? I was so cruel."
"Because you are not that person anymore. Heck, I'm not the same person as back then. We've changed, grew up. Maybe the time wasn't right back then. I don't know. All I do know is how I feel now. I want to give us a chance."
"It's going to be hard. Especially now, with me turning all furry three nights a month. Think you can handle all that?"
"I've dated two different vampires. I think I can handle dating a wolf. Besides, you are going to work with Kenn on your control. If there is one thing I do know about you, you never give up. It's one of the things I love about you. I'll be there for you. It won't be easy, but I think we can do this together."
"Together, I like the sound of that." Faith leaned down and kissed Buffy softly. Once they were done, they just looked into each other's eyes for a moment. Suddenly, Faith got a huge grin on her face.
"Ok, what is that all about?" Buffy asked with a smirk of her own.
"Seems we won't be the only mates down here tonight. Also looks like we are going to have to set up by ourselves. My sister and Red will busy for a bit."
"Huh, what are you..... OH!!!! Damn, it's about time they got to it. All that sexual frustration was getting to me."
"Well, we have some time now if you want to take care of all that."
"Maybe we should just take it slow this time. Sound good to you?"
"It just might kill me, but I can try. For you. Just not too slow, ok?"
Laughing lightly, Buffy replied, "No, not too slow." Then she got a serious look on her face. "You do know how I feel about you, right?"
"If it is half of what I feel, I am the luckiest girl in this house."
"No, I am. Now lets go get those chains and stuff for tonight."
"Wow, never thought you were into kink. Besides, what happened to slow."
Buffy lightly slapped the other girl on the arm. "What am I going to do with you?"
"I can think of a few things, but I don't think we have time for that right now. Come on. Let's get set up."
...continued in chapter 11...