Secret Smile
by Jahan
Rating: PG-13

Buffy Summers is my little secret and that's the way I like things. I keep putting her off and telling her that we should wait to tell the Scoobies that the time isn't right. In the beginning she agreed she even thought it was a good idea and life was perfect. I could pin point that exact moment that she wanted our secret 'relationship' to be more. We were watching television on the couch in the living room. I had my arm wrapped around her shoulder with my bare feet propped up on the coffee table. Her head was resting on my shoulder her thighs were resting in my lap and her legs and feet were dangling off the edge of the arm rest. She let out a soft sigh and I could instantly tell that something was wrong. So I decided to bite and find out what was wrong with her big mistake.

"B what's the stitch?" Faith asked.

I continued to stare at the television though I didn't want to fall into the trap of those green eyes it was so incredibly easy to get lost in them. I started to rub her arm softly as I scratched the bottom of my foot with my big toe.

"Do you like me?" Buffy asked.

"Of course I do." Faith replied.

"Why haven't we told anyone about us?" Buffy questioned.

"We agreed that when the time is right." Faith replied.

"It feels right to me? Doesn't it feel right to you?" Buffy quizzed.

I shrugged my shoulders I didn't know exactly what to say to her. I hadn't had a lot of experience when it came to relationships. I had been with a lot of girls before Buffy but none of them meant anything to me. I didn't want them to mean anything to me I didn't give them a chance. I'm not quite sure why I know it has to deal with my family stuff but I'm not ready to dig into my past. I can't change the things I had to endure I try not to look back. It only messes with your head and I already have enough on my plate. The whole being a slayer thing takes a lot out of me.

"Why make things complicated?" Faith asked.

"You view me as a complication?" Buffy snapped.

"I don't view you as a complication." Faith replied.

Buffy quickly removed herself from my lap and sat on the other end of the couch. She crossed her arms over her chest and crossed her legs.

"You view us as a complication." Buffy said.

"I don't view us as a complication. I don't want to hurt you." Faith replied.

It was the truth I didn't want to hurt Buffy and I knew if we made this public and continued to date she could except things from me and I didn't want to disappoint her. I leaned forward grabbing my checkered vans and slipped them on.

"I should probably go." Faith said.

"I do think it would be a good idea if you left." Buffy snapped.

"B you don't have to be like this to me." Faith groaned.

"I'm not being like anything." Buffy replied.

Buffy stood up from the couch and walked over to the front door and opened it. I walked over to her and leaned in for a kiss but she offered me her cheek instead. I kissed her cheek and I walked out with my head hanging low if I had a tail it would have been hanging between my legs. I heard the door shut behind me as soon as I stepped outside. I made it to the end of the walkway in front of her house and I heard something that no one else could, I heard Buffy crying. It wasn't loud sobs but soft crying and her whispering my name to herself. I felt like such crap in that moment for hurting the person that meant more to me than anyone else. I was an idiot but Buffy could never stay mad at me in a couple of days everything would be fine and she'd invite me over to her house after patrol. A week had passed and she hadn't invited me over she had been giving me the cold shoulder.

I stopped a few feet short in front of the library I could hear Giles and Buffy discussing her birth right Giles seemed more uptight than usual. I was usually the one who would get him spouting off about my birth right and taking responsibility for being a slayer. It was funny and refreshing to hear him giving Buffy the 'talk' instead of me. It felt pretty good so I just had to go inside the library and witness this for myself I might never get another chance.

My mouth dropped open when I walked into the library because B was wearing a cheerleader outfit and that definitely appealed to my hormones. Giles and Buffy stopped talking and both looked at me.

"Faith maybe you could talk some sense into Buffy about cheerleading interfering with Buffy's slayer duties." Giles suggested.

Giles was in full mode today as he took off his glasses and furiously wiped at them with a cloth with a stressed look on his face. I just shrugged my shoulders it's not everyday that a fantasy comes to life in front of your eyes.

"I think she looks good." Faith replied.

"What was I thinking? Asking you to talk sense into Buffy I need someone to talk some sense into me." Giles sighed.

"What's wrong with wanting to have a social life outside of slaying?" Buffy asked.

"I don't think there is anything wrong with Buffy wanting to be a cheerleader she has the right hair color. Besides there is two of us to carry the whole slayer deal so if Buffy want to play dress up I don't think it should be a problem." Faith said.

"I don't need your help." Buffy snapped.

"Okay fine you don't need my help." Faith replied.

At least she wasn't ignoring me I knew she would come around eventually she had to she couldn't stay mad at me forever. I just had to keep telling myself that we would get through this rough patch we had hit. Xander and Willow walked into the library and Xander's mouth immediately dropped open at the sight of Buffy. It was common knowledge that Xander had a 'thing' for Buffy and I knew it shouldn't bother me because Buffy was drool worthy with or without the cheerleading outfit. I didn't like him staring at Buffy in that way. Sometimes I would get jealous and Buffy would assure me that I had nothing to worry about. I still wanted to knock that stupid grin off of his face.

"Buffy you look great." Xander stated.

"I bet you will make the team." Willow grinned.

"Don't tell me that the both of you agree with Buffy trying out." Giles said.

"I think it's a great idea." Xander replied.

"You think it's great to see her jumping around in a cheerleading outfit." Faith interjected.

"I have some books that just came into the library today and I'm going to go through them." Giles said.

Giles walked away from us Buffy and Willow headed toward the library doors. Xander grabbed onto my arm.

"Faith and I will catch up with you later." Xander said.

"What are you two up to?" Buffy asked.

"Nothing…we just have to talk about the thing." Xander replied.

"Okay will see you two in the gym." Willow said.

Xander took his hand off my arm and dug into the front pocket of his pants and pulled out a ring box.

"You and Buffy spend a lot of time together doing the slayer thing. You probably know her a lot better than anyone else." Xander said.

I wish I could agree with Xander but the truth was sometimes I didn't even know what Buffy wanted.

"You know what she likes I bought her this good luck bracelet for cheerleader tryouts." Xander said.

He opened the box and showed me the silver bracelet and it was beautiful and it made me feel like a complete chump and totally unworthy of Buffy.

"It's nice." Faith replied.

"Do you think that Buffy will like it?" Xander asked.

"She'll love the bracelet." Faith replied.

Xander closed the box and crammed it back into the front pocket of his jeans. We walked into the gym and it was something else. Seeing all of these fit girls running around doing back flips and hand sprints was pretty hot. Xander and I walked over to Buffy and Willow and watched from the sidelines as people warmed up before tryouts.

"I can't believe Giles didn't approve." Willow said.

"Neither can I cheerleading was the best thing that could have ever happened to Buffy." Xander replied overly enthusiastic.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence Xander but could you tone it down just a notch?" Buffy asked.

"Sorry…" Xander trailed off with a sheepish grin on his face.

"It's been a couple of weeks since we last saw a vampire. Giles totally lost his water he needs to find a girlfriend too bad he's so old." Buffy said.

"You've got us to support you." Willow said.

"Yeah why try and save Sunnydale from vampires when you could jump around in a cheerleader outfit." Faith remarked.

"We all can't be all moody and brooding like you. Some of us actually think that there are better ways to spend our time." Buffy shot back.

"I'm all for Buffy showing her school spirit." Xander remarked.

"You're all for seeing Buffy's breast bouncing up and down." Faith said.

"Just ignore her Xander and she will go away." Buffy said.

Xander cleared his throat and reached into the front pocket of his pants and I knew what he was going to do what I didn't know was how Buffy was going to react. He opened the box and handed her the bracelet.

"What's this for?" Buffy asked.

"Yeah what is that for?" Willow questioned.

"It's a bracelet for good luck during tryouts." Xander replied.

Buffy looked over at me briefly for a few moments before looking at Xander.

"Xander I can't accept this." Buffy said.

"It's a good luck charm I want you to have it." Xander replied.

"It's really pretty." Buffy said.

Buffy flipped over the bracelet and read the inscription with her eyes before reading it out loud.

"Yours always…" Buffy trailed off.

"They all said that." Xander quickly replied.

I wasn't the only one who seemed bothered by the idea of Xander giving Buffy a bracelet it also seemed to bother Willow. Cordelia walked over to us and stood next to me. Buffy looked over at the two of us and I could tell with that one little look she gave me she was jealous. She didn't have anything to worry about. I mean of course I thought Cordelia was hot you would have to be blind not to see that. I wasn't interested in Cordelia even though she had dropped her fair share of hints that she was willing to get it on.

"Who does Amber think she is? If she thinks she's a Laker Girl she is so wrong." Cordelia said.

Willow waved to a girl and she approached us.

"Amy you look so different you lost weight." Willow said.

"I had to." Amy replied.

"Amy these are my friends Faith and Buffy and Buffy is trying out too." Willow said.

Cheerleading tryouts started with Amber. I'm not into cheerleading but Amber was doing a wicked routine it was very athletic.

"She trained with Benson one of the best cheerleading coaches." Amy said.

"They have cheerleading coaches?" Buffy asked.

"I train with my mother three hours before school and three hours after school." Amy replied.

"Talk about quality time." Buffy said.

"I know it might sound silly but my mom is the best." Amy replied.

I looked over at Cordelia who rolled her eyes in irritation and crossed her arms over her chest. She suddenly bent down to tie a sneaker that didn't need any tying. Then something happened and Amber's hands started to smoke.

"Amber's on fire!" Willow exclaimed.

"Okay I get it enough with the hyperboles." Cordelia snapped.

Cordelia stood up and saw what we were staring at as Amber's hands ignited. I ran up the bleachers and grabbed a championship banner half way down I tossed it to Buffy. She ran over to Amber and knocked her onto the mat and snuffed out the flames. Even when we were snapping at each other Buffy and I made a pretty good time.

"Wow she really is on fire." Cordelia said.

After the incident in the gym cheerleading tryouts were called off for that day. We all headed to the library for answers from Giles. I was sitting on the checkout counter my usual spot. Xander and Willow were sitting at one of the study tables. Buffy was pacing back and forth as Giles walked out from the cage.

"Her hands just caught fire." Faith explained.

"I've never seen anything like this." Buffy said.

"I don't think we are dealing with vampires." Faith said.

"Okay if it isn't vampires then what is it?" Buffy asked.

"Human combustion is rare and scientifically unexplainable but it does happen and usually all that is left is a pile of ashes." Giles explained.

"She got off easy." Faith said.

"I don't think her hands being toast is any better." Buffy snapped.

"What's better having a pair of burnt hands or being a pile of dust?" Faith asked.

"Neither one is good." Buffy said.

"If it weren't for Buffy all that would have been left was a pile of ashes." Willow interjected.

"If it weren't for Buffy aren't you forgetting about the person who actually reacted and got the banner so Buffy could put out the human campfire marshmallow?" Faith asked.

Buffy turned and looked at me and rolled her eyes in irritation before she focused her attention back on Giles.

"It's not important who did what all that is important that the young woman is still alive. Let's get back on track." Giles said.

"So we have no idea what caused Amber's hands to catch fire why don't I feel comforted by that thought?" Xander asked sarcastically.

Giles got that excited look in his eyes.

"That's the thrill of living on the Hellmouth. I see the glass as half full." Giles said.

"In cases of human combustion taking place are there any common denominators?" Buffy asked.

"Rage is a common denominator." Giles answered.

"Maybe Amber has the ability to set herself on fire." Xander said.

"Why would she do that though?" Faith asked.

"I hadn't really thought that far." Xander replied.

"We need to find out what's the stitch with her." Faith said.

"I could help. I could hack into the school's computer system." Willow offered.

"I could ask around school about her." Xander suggested.

"You guys don't have to do that." Buffy said.

"We are a team." Xander replied.

"I just don't like putting you guys in danger." Buffy explained.

"Less work for us to do." Faith interjected.

"I laugh in the face of danger." Xander said.

"Yeah then you hide until it goes away." Faith remarked.

"Just be careful I mean Amber might not be the one who is causing these problems." Buffy said.

"We find out who or what did this and will deal with it." Giles said.

*****

I live with Giles I came to Sunnydale on my own and unlike Buffy I don't have a family. I was living in a crappy hotel on the seedier side of town. I blew through my money and Buffy went behind my back and talked to Giles for me and explained the situation. I was mad at her for awhile until I realized that she did it because she cared about me. Giles is an okay guardian he doesn't ask a lot of questions or have a lot of ridiculous rules for me to follow I even have my own room. It's kind of a cool place because Giles has all of these old books and artifacts around the house. He spent most of his time in his home office. I knocked on his door and opened it slowly.

"I'm going out patrolling." Faith said.

"Okay you and Buffy be careful." Giles replied.

Buffy and I were patrolling but there wasn't any action and no vampires to slay. I noticed she was wearing Xander's bracelet.

"Are you trying to make me jealous?" Faith asked.

"What are you talking about?" Buffy asked.

"You're wearing the bracelet that Xander gave you." Faith replied.

"It's nice and he gave it to me for good luck." Buffy said.

"Excuse me for caring that my girlfriend is wearing a bracelet that some guy gave her." Faith replied sarcastically.

"I wouldn't be wearing it if you would stop playing games." Buffy replied.

"I'm not playing games. How would you feel if I gave Cordelia a bracelet with 'Yours Always' written on the back of it." Faith said.

"I'm not your girlfriend." Buffy replied.

"You're going to break up with me?" Faith asked.

"This isn't a relationship sneaking around behind everyone's back." Buffy replied.

"Buffy we are so good together don't throw that away." Faith said.

I knew that she still cared about me that she wanted to be with me. I could see it in her green eyes as she looked up at me. I slowly moved into her and gently grabbed her face in my hands and looked into her eyes.

"I won't kiss you unless you want me to." Faith said.

"Kiss me." Buffy replied.

I leaned into her pressed my lips softly against her mouth. It had only been a couple of weeks since we last kissed but it felt like an eternity. Buffy's mouth was warm, moist, and soft her lips tasted like cherry because of her lip gloss. Buffy pulled out of the kiss she looked slightly upset.

"Why do you have to be such a good kisser?" Buffy asked.

"Do you forgive me?" Faith asked.

Buffy didn't answer me though she just leaned up and stole a soft kiss from my lips. That would be a continuing theme in our relationship. Buffy would push and I would ignore we'd get back together and nothing would be resolved.

"Are you going to watch me at cheerleading tryouts?" Buffy asked.

"You don't even have to ask of course I'll be there." Faith grinned.

She pushed me playfully and I laughed because she could be so cute when she pretended to be upset with me. I took a hold of her hand and we started to walk again.

"Maybe you should stay away." Buffy replied.

"I wouldn't miss the chance to see my girlfriend bouncing up and down." Faith said.

*****

Willow and I were walking down the hall way after algebra class. I wasn't the best student I would zone out during class it's hard to concentrate when you're thinking about vampires and all of that other weird stuff that would happen in Sunnydale. Willow was the smartest person I knew besides Giles. I asked her for her help but I made her swear she wouldn't tell anyone that she was tutoring me. If anyone found out they would actually want me to do well. I don't mind people thinking of me as a trouble maker. That way you can never really disappoint them because they are always thinking the worst about you.

"Thanks for doing this for me." Faith said.

"Sure it's not a big deal." Willow replied.

Amy hurriedly walked past us as Buffy stood near the trophy case looking at Amy's retreating form.

"What's wrong with?" Willow asked.

"She was just wigging out about her mom. Apparently she was some big cheer queen way back when." Buffy explained.

"Her mom is kind of…" Willow trailed off.

"Nazi like." Buffy finished.

"If she gains an ounce her mother padlocks the refrigerator." Willow explained.

"What you're saying is that mommy dearest is really mommy dearest." Faith said.

"Amy's a nice person though. When her mother would wig out on her and only let her eat broth Amy would come over to my house and we would stuff ourselves with brownies back in junior high." Willow replied.

"What did you find out about Amber?" Buffy asked.

"She's an average student nothing out of the ordinary got detention once for smoking." Willow replied.

"I guess we just have to wait it out." Buffy sighed.

We started to walk down the hallway Willow was in between us I threw my arm over Willow's shoulder.

"Good work Red." Faith said.

"Thanks Faith." Willow blushed.

"We find out today if we made the cheerleading squad." Buffy said.

"You were wicked awesome. Of course you made the squad." Faith replied.

The rest of the day went smoothly with Willow, Xander and I walking down the hallway toward the gym.

"Was she wearing it? Did she like it? It's like we are going out right?" Xander questioned.

"Except without the kissing, hugging, and of course her not knowing about you two being a couple." Willow replied.

"What do you think I should do? Do you think I should ask her out?" Xander asked.

I continued to walk down the hallway with them as I clenched my jaw determined not to say or do anything to hurt Xander.

"Seize the day." Willow replied.

"That's why you're my best friend. You're just like a guy but you have a woman's perspective on things." Xander said.

"Great I remind you of a guy." Willow muttered.

Willow walked away from me and Xander and I took this opportunity and slapped him in the back of the head it was obvious that Willow was crushing on him. It didn't take slayer sense to figure that out.

"What was that for?" Xander asked.

"You had something on the back of her head." Faith replied.

"Did you get it?" Xander asked.

I slapped him in the back of the head again that one was for me about the bracelet he head given Buffy.

"I got it." Faith replied.

Xander and I rounded the corner of the hallway and there was a cluster of young woman surrounding a wall with two sheets of paper taped against it. I never knew that people took cheerleading so seriously. A girl rushed past me in tears Buffy, Willow, and Amy were standing at the back of the crowd. Xander worked his way through a sea of girls. Cordelia made her way past Xander and over to us. She pointed her finger at Amy.

"You're so lucky." Cordelia said.

"I made it!" Amy smiled.

"No I made it." Cordelia shot back.

Xander made his way through the crowd and back over to us he was rubbing his eye.

"Someone just hit me in the eye. Those girls are really strong they should be tested for steroids." Xander said.

"I'll see you around Faith." Cordelia said.

Cordelia walked away and I looked over at Buffy and shrugged my shoulders.

"Not only did you two make the team but Buffy you're first alternate and you Amy are third." Xander said.

After Xander delivered what he thought was the good news Amy quickly hurried off.

"I know the perfect way to celebrate with a romantic drive." Xander said.

"The image of Buffy riding shotgun on the front of your bike doesn't sound romantic." Faith said.

"Xander alternates are the ones who don't make the team they fill in if someone gets sick." Willow explained.

"I should probably go after her." Buffy said.

"I'm such an idiot." Xander said as he smacked his forehead.

"I'm not going to argue with that." Faith said.

*****

I decided to do something nice for Buffy after she found out she didn't make the squad I knew that she really wanted to. I decided to take her out to a movie afterwards we were walking through her neighborhood toward her house.

"You still bummed about not making the squad?" Faith asked.

"No I'm actually more worried about Amy." Buffy replied.

"I'm sure she will get over it." Faith said.

"Yeah but will her mother?" Buffy asked.

*****

The next day at school nothing happened that is until Buffy and I had driver's education. A few other students and the teacher Mr. Poole were waiting for Cordelia. She walked over to us and had this dear caught in the headlights look.

"Thanks for joining us." Mr. Poole said sarcastically.

Cordelia didn't respond though she didn't even bat an eye at us. That was definitely a sign that something was up with Cordelia. Mr. Poole, Cordelia, and two other students piled into the car. The rest of us stood around and watched.

"What's the stitch with Cordelia?" Faith asked.

"I don't know. She is acting different though. She's not acting like her usual bitchy self." Buffy replied.

The tires squealed as Cordelia recklessly put the car in reverse. Then she put it into drive and burned rubber in the process hitting cones.

"What is she doing?" Buffy asked.

I took off running after the car as it hit the fence and knocked it down she came to a halt in the middle of the road as a car drove around the driver's ed car. I ran past the part of the fence that had been broken down with Buffy right behind me as well as the rest of the students. Cordelia was standing in the middle of the road with a dazed expression on her face. I see a van barreling towards her the driver honking his horn but Cordelia just stands there and finally screams. I run out in the middle of the street and lung forward knocked Cordelia to the ground we roll up onto the curb with me on top of Cordelia. Buffy rushed over to us and I looked up at her still on top of Cordelia.

"Do you two want to be alone?" Buffy asked.

"What's happening? I can't see anything." Cordelia screamed.

"It's okay Cordelia." Faith replied.

"I can't see." Cordelia exclaimed.

I looked back and looked into her eyes they had completely gone white.

After that incident we re-grouped in the library.

"Someone is using witchcraft. Blinding your enemy is a classic sign of witchcraft." Giles said.

"First vampires and now witches this just keeps getting better and better." Xander said sarcastically.

"What I don't understand is why someone would want to hurt Cordelia?" Giles asked.

"Have you met her?" Willow asked.

"I'm assuming that she isn't well liked." Giles said.

"What about Amber and her hands being set on fire?" Faith asked.

"They are both cheerleaders or at least they use to be cheerleaders." Xander said.

"Someone doesn't like cheerleading." Giles said.

"Or maybe someone likes it too much." Buffy said.

"Amy…" Willow trailed off.

"Willow's right I mean she's so desperate to get on that team because of her mother. I think she would do anything to be apart of the squad." Buffy said.

"You mean to tell me that she is casting these spells on people so she can be a cheerleader." Giles said.

"Parents can put a great deal of pressure on their children." Buffy replied.

"Her mother always made a big deal out of cheerleading. She told me they use to call her mother Catherine the Great." Willow said.

"She said the same thing to me." Buffy replied.

"Why are we sitting around we should go and grab her." Xander said.

"I can understand your enthusiasm but we just can't grab her. We have to make sure that she is a witch." Giles said.

"How do we do that?" Faith asked.

"There is a conclusive test we could do. Will just need some hair, quicksilver, and some aqua fortis and will be able to conduct this test." Giles said.

"That's easy we can get that stuff in science class." Willow replied.

"I forgot one other thing we will need eye of newt." Giles said.

"We are dissecting frogs today in science class." Willow replied.

"All you need to do is get it onto her skin and if it turns blue that means she has cast a spell within the last twenty-four hours that means she is a witch." Giles explained.

Willow gathered the ingredients and we set about finding out if Amy was a witch. I don't think anyone was surprised when Amy's skin turned blue. After class the four of us were walking down the hall way discussing the results.

"Why didn't we grab her? The test results were positive she is the witch." Xander said.

"We just can't grab her though. I mean she might not realize the seriousness of what she is doing." Buffy replied.

"We just let her get away with it. Cheerleaders are being hurt you could be next!" Xander exclaimed dramatically.

"Take it easy." Faith said.

"Here is a thought maybe we should talk to her mother." Willow suggested.

"Are you sure mommy dearest would be open to hearing that her daughter is a witch?" Faith asked.

"Maybe hearing that her daughter has taken to casting spells to make the squad will get her mother to change her attitude." Willow replied.

*****

The next day at school Buffy had been acting weird and by weird I mean overly enthusiastic. I figured it was just nervousness from making the squad now that Amber was out and Buffy had replaced her. I thought she wanted to prove herself. Willow, Xander and I were standing near the bleachers. She began to wave to us in the middle of a routine.

"Hey guys! Those are my buds Willow, Xander, and my special friend Faith! She's so dreamy!" Buffy exclaimed.

I turned to Willow and Xander who were both staring at me.

"Dreamy…" Xander trailed off.

"Anyone notice that Buffy hasn't been acting like herself today?" Faith asked.

Not only was I trying to throw Xander and Willow off but I was also making a good point it was the truth Buffy had been acting weird. The routine continued and Buffy did something to prove my point as she threw a cheerleader into a gym wall. We all rushed over to her as she tried to comfort the girl who she had thrown against the wall. They told Buffy she was off of the squad and that Amy was now on the team. Buffy was about to spill the beans about Amy's identity but I covered her mouth.

"She's on medication it's not her fault." Faith lied.

Buffy mumbled a protest against my mouth but I wouldn't let her speak. We got her out of the gym and we started to walk down the hallway.

"I'm not on the team anymore." Buffy said.

"It's okay there is always next year." Xander said.

"Xander I like you so much." Buffy replied.

Buffy wrapped her arms around Xander's neck and pulled him close.

"Maybe you should let Xander go." Faith suggested.

"Faith I still think you're absolutely dreamy." Buffy replied. "Xander you're just like a girl even though you're a guy." Buffy said.

Willow began to smile and I began to laugh as Xander's face dropped. Buffy stepped back from Xander with a dazed look in her eyes she turned and looked at me.

"I don't feel too good." Buffy said.

Buffy collapsed into my arms. I was so afraid we rushed Buffy to the library and Giles explained to us that this was a vengeance spell we didn't have a lot of time. I couldn't loose Buffy she was my girlfriend and she was also a slayer we only really had each other that could understand what the other was going through. Giles told us the only way we could reverse the spell is to get a hold of Amy's spell book.

"Giles and I will go to Amy's house. Xander can go to the game and keep an eye on Amy and Willow you stay here with Buffy." Faith ordered.

"Don't leave me Faith." Buffy replied weakly.

"I promise I will be right back." Faith said.

"I want to go with you." Buffy replied.

"I can't let you do that. Stay here with Willow you're too weak. I'm not going to fight with you about this because we are running out of time. I care about you and I'm not going to let anything hurt you." Faith said.

I knew that the others were staring at us as we shared this slightly intimate moment and it made me slightly uncomfortable but I needed for Buffy to know how I felt just in case. Giles and I took off and headed to Amy's house with the information that Willow had given us. Amy's mother didn't want to hear what we had to say but Giles and I weren't going to give up I pushed my way into the house and stepped into the living room I saw a plate of brownies and something just clicked. I remembered Willow mentioning pigging out with Amy on brownies in junior high. I guess some things never change and somehow Amy and her mother had switched bodies.

"You're Amy aren't you?" Faith questioned.

At first she denied but soon enough she told us everything. About her mother telling Amy that she was wasting her youth. One day Amy woke up in her mother's body. She told us her mother spent most of her time in the attic. We figured that's where her mother cast her spells. We found the spell book and all of the personal items that Amy's mother had taken to cast her spells including the bracelet Xander had given her. We rushed back to school with Amy in her mother's body. We rushed to the library were Willow was with Buffy who was obviously weaker.

"I told you I would come back." Faith whispered.

I picked Buffy up and held her in my arms she was too weak to walk we rushed toward the science lab I laid her on a table as Giles, Willow, and Amy got the ingredients for the spell ready. I held Buffy's hand tightly but she wasn't holding it back half as hard we were loosing her and I could feel it. Amy's mother Catherine barged into the room holding an axe. Giles continued to chant and I went on the defense I wasn't going to let this witch anywhere near Buffy. Then something happened a flash of light and Amy dropped the axe to the floor.

"It's over. I have my body back." Amy said.

That meant if Amy was back in her own body her mother Catherine was back in her own body. I turned toward Catherine and rushed to her. She put up her hand and tossed me against a wall. I banged my headed pretty badly because everything was a blur. I saw Catherine float the axe into her hands. I saw Giles try to stop her from approaching Amy but she tossed him behind the desk. Willow came over to me and crouched down she held up her hand.

"How many fingers do I have up?" Willow asked.

"Twelve." Faith replied.

"Close…" Willow trailed off.

Catherine closed in on her daughter with the axe Buffy jumped off of the table she was back to her old self. Buffy and Catherine sparred as Xander ran into the lab rubbing his face. Buffy was kicking ass Catherine continues to chant her spell but something goes wrong and her own spell envelops her and she disappears. Willow helped me up slowly to my feet I was still slightly dizzy but it was wearing off. Buffy came over to me and we hugged and I held her tight. In the end everything was back to normal as normal as things can be in Sunnydale.

"Do you two want to be alone?" Xander asked sarcastically.

...to be continued...