Part Seven: Party

"J!" Faith called up the stairs of her home. "Kiddo, you ready?" When met with no answer, the brunette looked to Xander, sat in the living room. "Jeez, she takes almost as long as B to get ready," she complained.

"Must be in the gene pool," Xander offered.

Faith smiled. She returned her attention to the stairs as Joyce made her way down.

"You got everything?" the slayer asked the young girl.

Joyce nodded, trundling downstairs carrying a rucksack on her back.

"Cool, let's go," Faith told her, grabbing the child's coat and handing it to her. She opened the door, turning to Xander. "If Buffy ever gets done, tell her I've gone to drop J off across the road."

"Will do," the brunette agreed with a nod. He watched as the two females left the house and continued to watch TV.

"So, what are you and Tyler are gonna do?" Faith asked Joyce, as the two of them crossed the road.

"Tyler said he was going to let me play with his new games," the seven year old answered.

"Cool," Faith replied. "If you get bored or you wanna come home, ask Tyler's mom to call me, ok?"

Joyce nodded as they reached their destination and Faith pressed the bell of her best friend's house. Looking up, she watched as Mrs Thompson opened the door.

"Hey Mrs T," Faith greeted, when Tyler's mother opened the front door.

"Hello Faith. Hello Joyce, Tyler's upstairs," she told the blonde, opening the door and allowing her to walk past and inside.

"Have fun, kiddo!" Faith called after the child.

"Ok," Joyce replied, running up the stairs.

Faith returned her attention to the middle-aged woman in front of her. "Thanks again for doing this, Mrs T. Buffy and I'll try to get back before too late."

"Oh, don't worry about it, pick her up in the morning," the woman told her.

"Yeah?" Faith asked.

"Of course. You two enjoy yourselves."

"We'll try," the slayer replied, grinning.

Mrs Thompson smiled. "Bye Faith."

"Yeah," the slayer replied, leaving the woman's doorstep. She walked back across the street and let herself back into her home.

"B still not down yet?" she asked Xander, upon entering.

"Nope," the brunette replied.

"Fuckin' hell, what's taking her so long?" Faith asked, exasperated. She called up the stairs. "Buffy!"

"I'll be ready in a minute!" the slayer called back.

Faith huffed walking to the kitchen. She grabbed two bottles of beer and an opener and took them into the living room. Sitting besides Xander, she opened one and offered it to him.

"Thanks," the brunette told her, taking and drinking it.

"What's on?" Faith asked, looking towards the TV set.

Xander followed her gaze. "Funnily enough," he replied. "I dunno. They've been doing infomercials for about a half hour."

Faith sighed. About to stand up and charge upstairs, she calmed as she heard footsteps descending the stairs. She looked towards the doorway as Buffy appeared, wearing a chic black skirt and top with a plunging neckline. Both brunettes stared, gaping at the vision in front of them.

"Fuck, you look hot," Faith finally observed.

"Yeah Buff," Xander agreed. "What she said."

"Thanks," Buffy replied. "Sorry I took so long."

"I'm not," Faith told her, standing. She walked towards her lover and kissed her fully. Breaking the kiss, she asked her, "How `bout we stay home and see Red in the morning?"

"We said we were coming," Buffy reminded her partner.

Faith groaned. "Fine," she replied. "Let's go."

"Do you have the present?" the older slayer remembered.

"It's in the car," Faith replied, grabbing her keys. She walked behind the blonde, besotted, as the three of them left the house.

Willow opened the door.

"Buffy, Faith, you made it," she announced.

"Wouldn't have missed it for the world, Will," Buffy told her, handing her a present and entering. "Happy birthday."

"Thanks," Willow replied, hugging her first and then Faith.

"Nice crib," the brunette slayer announced, before pointing behind herself and entering. "Yeah, this guy followed us here," she informed the wicca.

Willow peered behind the taller woman. "Oh my God, Xander!" she exclaimed, hugging him on sight. "You're back!"

"Yeah," Xander replied. "Happy birthday."

"Thank you," Willow replied again.

The man looked down excitedly at the gift in Willow's hand. "Open your present," he told her. "I'm dying to know what it is; Faith won't tell us."

"Oh," Willow replied, about to open the gift, but stopping when the youngest slayer placed her hand on top of it.

"I wouldn't open that just yet," Faith told her, grinning cheekily. "At least not with all of these people around."

"And why not?" Kennedy asked, arriving to meet with the ensemble in her foyer. "Hey Faith, Buffy, Xander."

"'Cause Faith picked it," Buffy answered the question, glad for an intermission.

"I see," Kennedy replied, giving the brunette a knowing look.

Faith winked at her. "You'll enjoy it too, K," she told her.

Buffy rolled her eyes as Willow blushed. "Why don't I introduce you to everyone?" the wicca asked her friends.

"Good idea," Buffy agreed. "C'mon, gutter mind," she added, taking Faith's hand.

The three of them were led into the back room of the four bedroom house, inside which a party was in full swing.

Faith nodded her head, dancing to the blaring music.

"Nice," she commented, pulling Buffy onto the dance floor.

Kennedy looked over at Willow, stood across the room introducing Xander to the other guests. She looked in front of her, seeing Buffy sat on Faith's lap. She watched as the two of them sat talking, laughing and kissing and she sighed.

Faith laughed.

"Sure," she answered, running her fingers up and down Buffy's thigh, stopping just underneath the hem of her skirt.

Buffy kissed her in response. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom," she notifed, standing up. "Be right back."

The brunette nodded and watched her lover leave. She grabbed her drink and took a sip. Looking around the room, she noticed Kennedy sat alone. Carrying her drink, the slayer stood and casually made her way across the room, sitting next to the lonely brunette.

"Hey Ken," she said. "'Sup?"

Kennedy looked towards Willow, who was still talking with others. She turned to Faith.

"How do you do it?" she asked.

"What?" Faith replied.

"You and Buffy. You guys have been together forever and you still..." she motioned with her eyes. "You're still...You...Y'know."

Understanding, the slayer almost choked on her drink.

"You don't?" she asked, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

Kennedy shook her head.

"Oh man," Faith sympathised. She took another sip of her drink. "Uh...I dunno," she answered. She thought about it. "I guess it's 'cause we never stop surprising each other. B, keeps me on my toes and I have to do the same, y'know? Plus, I never know what she's gonna do next and she's sexy like that."

"You're lucky," Kennedy decided.

"Tell me about it." Faith took another sip of her beer. "Have you tried talkin' to Red about it?" she asked the other woman.

"No," Kennedy replied. "I don't want her to think I'm not satisfied with the way things are."

"Screw that. No matter how great a relationship is, if you're not having sex, one of you is gonna start lookin' for it elsewhere."

"How often do you and Buffy...?"

Faith thought about it. "Once, sometimes twice," she answered.

"A week?" Kennedy asked.

"A night," the slayer answered, smiling at the younger woman's innocence. She looked up as Buffy returned and resumed her position on her lap.

"Hey Kennedy. What are we talking about?" the blonde asked.

"We.. I," the brunette replied, apparently shy about her situation.

"Nothing," Faith answered for the younger woman. "I was just about to go take a leak myself." She attempted to stand.

"I'll show you where the bathrooms are," Buffy offered, getting up and off the other slayer.

Faith stood up and gestured for her girlfriend to lead the way. She mouthed 'later' to Kennedy and followed Buffy upstairs. The brunette walked behind Buffy, stopping outside the room she was led to.

"Thanks," Faith told her, opening the door. She paused, confronted with a scenario adverse to the one she had had in mind.

"Huh," she stated, looking at the room's content. "Willow and Kennedy sure have a funny looking bathroom, 'cause it looks a lot like a bedroom."

Buffy smiled. "Y'know, I thought the exact same thing," she replied, entering and sitting on the bed.

Faith returned her smile. She scanned the outside of the room for witnesses, before entering. She removed her jacket and grinned at Buffy sat on the double bed. Walking over to the blonde, she bent to capture the slayer's lips with her own. Grabbing the hem of her top, Faith pulled it over her head. Admiring the blonde's bra with an appreciative look, she removed that too and kissed her again. Her tongue caressing Buffy's she ran her hands down the slayer's toned body and unzipped her skirt.

Buffy stood and allowed the garment to fall to a pool on the floor.

"Faith!" Buffy cried.

"Shit, Buffy, you're so wet," Faith observed, gliding her fingers out of the slayer's dripping channel.

"Oh, God....that feels... so good," Buffy managed.

Faith added a third finger, matching the rhythm Buffy had created. She leant in and kissed the slayer, who could hardly find the energy to respond.

"Mmmm," she moaned into Faith's mouth.

The brunette's mouth left the blonde slayer's, working its way down her body. She stopped at Buffy's dripping cunt. Grabbing her lover's thighs, she separated them and drank from it.

Upon feeling Faith's tongue inside her Buffy immediately rose to allow it more access. She grabbed at the sheets of the bed with one hand, while the other entangled itself in Faith's hair.

"F...aith," Buffy moaned, thrusting to meet the brunette's skilled mouth. "Oh God...Faith"

Faith licked along Buffy's slit, clamping her mouth on her girlfriend's clitorist and lightly biting it.

Buffy moaned louder, almost chanting her lover's name with each thrust. She felt as the younger slayer added her fingers into her body again and could no longer hold on. Gasping as she came, she allowed herself to fall back onto the bed and relax, releasing her grip on her lover's tresses.

Faith smiled, as she felt Buffy cum onto her fingers. She slowly removed them from inside the slayer, proceeding to lick the fluid from her hand. The brunette lay beside the older slayer and cuddled her.

The two of them lay together, silently and with their eyes closed. Tired, Faith idly ran her fingers up and down Buffy's naked arm.

After some time, the blonde opened her eyes.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked.

"You," Faith answered, looking down at the Buffy and tenderly kissing her on the forehead.

"Mmmm," Buffy replied. "Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?"

"For bein' you. For makin' me happy. Y'know, that sorta shit."

"Oooh, romantic," the older slayer teased.

"I'm serious, B," Faith told her, prompting the blonde to look up at her and into her eyes. "I love you."

Buffy appreciated the tone in her lover's voice. "I love you too, Faith," she replied. "What brought all this on?"

"I dunno," the brunette replied, in earnest. "Something Ken said got me thinkin'."

Buffy smiled. "I should get Kennedy to talk to you more often," she decided resting her head. She suddenly stilled her movement, listening out. "Wait, do you hear that?" she asked.

"What?" Faith replied, unable to hear anything.

"The music," Buffy replied. "It's stopped."

"Shit!" the brunette exclaimed, hurriedly getting up. "The party's over."

Both slayers quickly left the bed and began searching for their clothing.

Xander said his goodbyes and left the house ahead of the slayers.

"Great party, guys," Faith told Willow and Kennedy, leaving behind him.

"Yeah, happy birthday again and sorry we couldn't talk more tonight," Buffy added. "Call me tomorrow and we'll do something," she told Willow.

"Ok," Willow agreed, letting the blonde past her and outside.

"Remember what I said, Ken," Faith called, opening her car door with its remote, allowing Xander to enter. "Oh and enjoy the present." About to leave, she added. "Oh and guys, you might wanna change your sheets."

Buffy blushed, swatting Faith's arm.

"What?" Faith asked her.

"Bye," Buffy said, grabbing the brunette and pulling her from the doorstep.

Part Eight: Double date

"How long do you have 'til you have to get up for work?" Buffy asked, lying in bed and clutching at the arm Faith had draped around her.

Faith looked over the blonde to the clock on their bedside table. "Six minutes," she answered.

"Ooh," Buffy replied. "You know what we could do in six minutes?"

The younger slayer kissed her lover's naked shoulder. "I think I have a pretty good idea," she returned.

Buffy smiled, about to engage when there was knock on the door. She rolled her eyes before asking the person to,

"Come in!"

Xander opened the door, silently berating himself for having again interrupted the slayers.

"Hey," he started. "Do you guys mind if I pick up Joyce on my way out?"

"Not at all," Buffy replied. "Why?"

The tall brunette smiled. "I have a date with Lydia. We're taking our kids to the park."

"You realise Joyce isn't your kid, right?" Buffy teased.

"I know," Xander replied. "But what Lydia doesn't know, might get her to fall madly in love with me."

Buffy smiled as Faith attempted to recall where she'd heard the name.

"Was Lydia as in the hot brunette from the party?" the pensive slayer finally asked.

"Yep," Xander replied, his grin growing.

"Oh, man. She was fine," Faith remembered sitting up.

"Still in the room," Buffy reminded her girlfriend, glancing over to see that the brunette had left her upper-body completely exposed. "Faith!" she exclaimed lifting the sheet.

Faith laughed. "Relax B. Xander's seen my rack before."

"That is true. Plus the image is still imbedded in my brain so I can really see it whenever I close my eyes. See," Xander interjected, demonstrating with a grin on his face and causing Buffy to angrily huff and turn in the bed.

"Aw c'mon babe," Faith coaxed. "He was only playing."

"Yeah, I'm sorry Buff," the construction worker added..

Faith kissed the blonde's shoulder as if in apology. "B?" she asked, before looking to Xander, who mouthed a 'sorry' and took leave. The brunette raced down the stairs hoping the chosen two would sort out the problem he had created, before leaving the house for his date.

"Full name; Alexander Harris. Fondly called by both his friends and colleagues, 'Xander', he's an old friend of slayer one and they met in their high school....Sunnydale high."

The lieutenant stood silent for a few moments.

"This will complicate matters," he decided. "We really don't need civilian interference."

"Sir, if I may," one of the soldiers offered. When given a nod, she proceeded. "I don't see how. From transcript one-eleven, we have the subject tell the slayers that he is to leave their home 'as soon as [he] can find out if his old place is ready.' As I see it, he should be gone when he finds an alternative place to stay."

"Yeah," the man in charge agreed. "Chambers, Matthews, I want listings of all available apartments in Sunnydale to appear in the Summers' household a.s.a.p.," he ordered, prompting two soldiers called, to stand up and leave the room.

"Everyone else, continue with your assignments; the deadline stands."

The room was filled with movement as those in the room began to relocate.

"Sir!" another soldier called, over the noise.

"What is it, captain?" Hammond asked, when the solider was significantly in hearing range.

"Sir, I don't see how we are going to meet the deadline with things as complicated as they are. I think it would be better to seek an extension."

"Captain, I would have thought you'd know better than that we were given x-amount of time to rescue Cadet Finn and that after which, the funding falls through and we're to begin another operation."

"I know, sir, but I think we could just split up and have team 1 head out and team 2 return to base as soon as the task is completed."

Hammond took the man by the shoulders. "Thankfully we don't pay you to think, Captain. We pay you to follow orders." He smiled. "Look, have faith. The major assures me everything is going smoothly and we're on top of everything those girls do. I'll be damned if we don't have Cadet Finn by time-up."

The man nodded and saluted his superior before leaving.

"You're shitting me," Faith exclaimed. She waved bye to the customer, who took their order and left the store.

"Nope," Kennedy replied the brunette. "As soon as you guys left, she said she was tired and went to bed." She paused, clarifying, "I told you. We don't..."

"This is serious," Faith concluded. "That thing cost me shit-loads and I'm not about to let it sit in Red's underwear drawer forever." She searched her mind momentarily as she served another customer, eventually deciding, "I didn't wanna have to do this, but we're gonna have to use 'the plan'."

"The plan?" Kennedy asked, a little sceptical.

"Don't gimme that look, K? This is fool proof. I usually use it. It's called 'Plan B' but in your case we'll call it 'Plan W'."

Kennedy chuckled at the play on words, before asking, "Ok, what do I have to do?"

Hammond turned to the audio technician on duty.

"What's going on now?" he asked.

"Nothing, sir," he was replied. "The house is empty."

"I know that, but where are they?"

The technician looked through transcripts on the desk in front of him before answering.

"Slayer two is at work....Civilian one, on a date.... and slayer one is...." he scanned the words, answering, "shopping."

"Shopping?" the lieutenant asked.

"Shopping," Buffy answered Willow as they walked through the mall.

"I-I don't think so, Buffy," the redhead replied her friend.

"There is absolutely no problem that cannot be solved by shopping," Buffy adamantly decided.

"What about wars and the fact that people are fighting all over the world."

The slayer tried to think of an intelligent answer and when finding none, decided to joke, "If there were more malls, then people wouldn't fight, they'd just shop."

Willow looked at her, the two of them laughing at the direction the conversation had taken.

"Interesting logic," Willow concluded, reminiscent of her and Buffy's high school days.

"I thought so," Buffy replied, reaching into her bag as they heard a phone ring. "Is that you or me?" the slayer asked, looking for her phone.

"I think it's both of us," Willow replied, finding her ringing phone and answering it almost simultaneously to Buffy.

"Hello," Buffy answered.

"Hey babe, you still mad at me?"

"Yes," Buffy lied.

"Good, 'cause I know the perfect way to make it up to you."

Buffy smiled.

"You smiling yet?" Faith asked.

"No," Buffy replied, forcing her smile to fade.

"Huh," came the reply. "Babe, meet me at that fancy Spanish place tonight at half seven, k?"

"Ok," the blonde agreed.

"Alright, it's a date. Love you," Faith replied her.

"Bye," Buffy replied, cutting off. She closed her cell phone and turned to Willow, who was sporting a puzzled look on her face.

"Yeah. Well I'll see you there," she answered, before adding, "bye," and switching off her phone. She turned to Buffy. "That was Kennedy," the wicca told her. "She's taking me out tonight."

As if putting pieces together, Buffy completed, "let me guess, to a fancy Spanish place?"

"Yeah, how d'you know?" Willow asked.

"'Cause that was Faith and she's doing the exact same thing," Buffy answered.

"You think they're up to something?" her friend inquired.

"Totally."

Kennedy laughed. "Willow was so totally floored."

"Yeah. B was all trying to hide that she was excited," Faith replied. "They're probably both, like, freaking out, like 'what are they doing?'"

"Yeah," Kennedy agreed. She let her laughter subside. "Thanks again for doubling."

"No problem," the slayer told the younger woman. "I could probably use it myself. I'm totally in the dog-house."

"No, no, no," the waiter berated Kennedy. He performed the trick again, pulling a rose out as if from thin air. "Like this," he instructed. When Kennedy failed to master it again, the brunette threw his hands up in the air. "It not hard. Look, your friend got it and I only show her once. Look again." He demonstrated again.

Kennedy attempted the procedure again, dropping the rose in the process to the amusement of a watching Faith.

"I cannot deal with this," the waiter decided, leaving them.

Faith smiled and watched as Kennedy practiced in vain.

"Give it up, K, you're never gonna get it."

"Yes I am," the brunette argued. "We've got lots of time. It's only," she looked at her watch. "Seven twenty-five."

"Show time ladies," a waiter informed Kennedy and Faith, breezing past them.

"Thanks," Faith replied. She looked towards the entrance to see Buffy and Willow talking to the people on the door. "They're here," she told Kennedy.

The brunette in turn followed the slayer's gaze and exhaled audibly. "Oh God, they're early."

"Relax Ken," Faith told her. "Just remember everything we talked about and you'll do fine."

"Ok," Kennedy replied, calming herself.

Faith stood upon Buffy and Willow's approach. She feigned amazement,

"You two look awesome," she told them, leaning in to kiss Buffy. She pulled back and pulled out a single long-stemmed flower as if from thin air, handing it to her lover.

Buffy smiled. "Thanks," she replied, inhaling the rose's scent.

"No problem," the brunette returned, pulling out a chair for her.

"I couldn't get mine to work," Kennedy confessed to Willow handing her an identical rose. "Here."

The wicca smiled, planting a kiss on the younger woman's cheek before seating herself.

Kennedy sat down and signalled for the waiter, who walked over to them.

"And what can I do for you beautiful ladies this evening?" the waiter inquired, handing them menus.

"A bottle of your most expensive wine," Kennedy told him.

"Coming up," the man replied, leaving.

Willow picked up her menu, scanning it. "This is all in Spanish," she announced, flicking through the pages.

"It's ok," Kennedy replied, leaning over. "I'll translate." Resting a hand on Willow's thigh she pointed out, "that's a chicken dish with rice on the side."

The redhead reddened at the contact. "I'll just have that," she told the brunette, placing her menu on the table.

Uneasy, Kennedy resumed her original position. She looked to Faith, who merely shrugged at the exchange.

An awkward silence upon them, Willow decided to speak. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom," she told the others, standing up.

"I'll come with you," Buffy added, concerned for her friend.

Faith kept silent, signalling to Kennedy who was preparing to follow the other women.

Taking the hint, the younger brunette remained seated and watched Buffy and Willow make their way across the restaurant. Convinced they were out of earshot, she abruptly leant in to ask Faith,

"Why didn't you let me go with them?"

"'Cause they've gone to talk about us and they wont be able to do that, with you there."

"Oh," the woman replied. She began to fiddle restlessly with her cutlery. "I wish I knew what they were talking about," she groaned.

"It's just that she's trying so hard and I don't know what to do," Willow confessed to the slayer.

Buffy stood speechless attempting to advise the wicca on what to do. She thought about it, before asking,

"You still love her, right?"

"Yes," Willow assured the blonde. "But the age gap is starting to show. I'm twenty-seven years old, what am I doing with a girl fresh out of high-school?"

"Why all of a sudden does it matter?"

"I don't know. It didn't until we moved in together. She stays on the phone 'til late. Out with friends all the time, you know how we were at that age."

"And you don't like it?"

"It's not that," the redhead attempted to clarify. "It's just.. Been there, done that, y'know? Plus, what if she gets bored of being with me and starts wanting to date someone younger?"

Buffy nodded. "Y'know what?" she asked her friend, prompting a reply of:

"What?"

"Out there, you have a beautiful woman who loves you and needs you. The age-gap is large, I've gotta admit, but it's not important. All that matters is that you love her."

The wicca pondered the notion, agreeing with a nod. "You're right," she decided. "I-I'm over thinking it. I should take each moment as it comes."

"That's the spirit," Buffy announced, opening the bathroom door to leave.

"What are you going to do about Faith?"

"I've let her stew enough, don't you think?"

"Yep," Willow replied, following her friend back to the table.

"We ordered for you," Faith told the two of them as they returned to the table and seated themselves. "Food should be here any minute."

"So what d'you guys talk about?" Kennedy added, trying but failing to sound breezy.

"Nothing much," Buffy replied her. "Idle gossip. What about you two?"

"Nothing," the brunette answered. She sat back in her seat glancing briefly at the gent a few tables away.

"What d'you do today, anyway?" Faith offered, breaking the silence upon them.

"We went shopping followed by excessive ice cream bingeing," Buffy answered.

"And then followed by more shopping," Willow added. "What about you?"

"Uh...." Faith started, losing concentration as she felt Buffy's foot make its way up her leg, suggestively lifting the material of her trousers as she did so. She stifled a moan as the slayer's shoe came into contact with her naked leg before Buffy let the trousers leg fall and repeated the procedure.

Noting Faith's apparent distraction, Kennedy answered her girlfriend's question, "we were at the store for most of the day."

Willow nodded desperately seeking a subject topic while Faith attempted to regain composure as her girlfriend teased her. She smiled when the waiter returned with a glass.

"From the gentleman over at that table," he told Kennedy, placing the drink in front of her. All four women turned to the direction in which the waiter pointed, to see a good-looking blonde raising his glass at the young brunette.

At a loss for different action to take, Willow threw her arm around the Kennedy, forcing the brunette to turn in her direction. The redhead placed a tender kiss firmly on her girlfriend keeping an eye on the man and noting his reaction. Once satisfied that the message had been received, she stood up.

"Buffy, Faith, we'll see you guys later," she said, holding her hand out for the brunette.

Kennedy took the offered hand and stood. She smiled at Faith who winked and watched as the two sped out of the restaurant.

"What was that about?" Buffy asked, watching the display.

Faith took a sip of her wine. "They've gone to make some magic," she answered.

Buffy smiled, leaning in close to the brunette and slipping her hand down into the inside of her thigh.

"What's say we go home and make a little magic of our own?" she asked.

In response, the younger slayer pulled out her wallet and fished out a hundred dollars. Getting up, she dropped the money on the table and allowed Buffy to leave first.

Entering their home, Buffy called out,

"Joyce! Xander!"

"See babe, I told you they weren't home; his car's not in the drive."

Buffy smiled. "So we've got the place all to ourselves," she stated, receiving a grin and a reply of:

"Looks like it."

"Ok. Let me check the machine. You, upstairs."

"Mmm," Faith moaned, kissing her. "Yes ma'am," she replied, running up the stairs.

Buffy walked to the machine and pressed play. She stood and listened to a message that had been intended for Faith. Once the message had played through, the blonde switched off the machine, turning when she heard the front door opening.

Joyce walked inside the house with Xander closely behind. Seeing her mother, the blonde, waved and with a:

"Goodnight mommy," rushed upstairs.

Her expression showing her concern, the slayer turned to Xander.

"What's going on?"

"I dunno. She's been like that all day. I took her out for doughnuts, ice cream. Took her to Chucky Cheese, but nothing. I think something might have happened at Tyler's."

Sighing, the blonde told him, "I should go and find out."

Receiving a nod from the brunette, she walked up the stairs and into her daughter's bedroom finding the youngster already tucked in and ready to go to sleep.

"Hey sweetie," she started, getting the attention of her daughter.

"Hey mommy," the weary child replied her.

"How was Tyler's?"

"Ok."

"Are you sure?"

Joyce nodded.

"If something was wrong, you would tell me, right?" the slayer tested.

"Yep," Joyce replied. She remained silent before after a while replying. "I'm really tired."

Buffy felt her daughter's forehead for a temperature. When finding her temperature normal, she decided,

"Ok, if you say so, I believe you." The blonde reached over and hugged her daughter. "We'll talk in the morning, ok sweetie?" she told her child, deciding against quizzing her so late.

Joyce nodded again as she received a kiss from her mother.

"Goodnight," Buffy told the blonde, leaving the room upon receiving her daughter's reply. She walked into her own room, next door, inside which Faith was waiting on the bed.

"Babe, what took you so long?" Faith asked, as Buffy changed her clothes.

"I was saying goodnight to Joyce," Buffy replied her.

"Oh, J's back?" Faith returned, about to get out of the bed.

"No," the older slayer uttered, stopping her lover. She continued to explain, "I just put her to sleep. I don't know what's wrong. Xander said she hardly said a word all day."

"She was probably homesick," Faith concluded. "I'm sure she'll be fine in the morning."

"You think so?" Buffy asked, entering the bed.

"I know so, babe," Faith assured her, wrapping her arms around the blonde. "Now kiss me."

Buffy smiled, obliging as she kissed the brunette's soft, full lips. Her tongue making its way inside Faith's mouth, she repositioned herself atop the brunette, straddling the slayer's thighs. Reaching over, the slayer turned off the light, her eyes adjusting to the darkness.

Instinctively, Faith sat up and reached to undo her blonde lover's clothing. Surprised when Buffy caught her hand, she broke the kiss.

"I heard an interesting," Buffy started, undoing her shirt. "Message from Kennedy tonight." She slipped her hands over Faith's naked shoulders crossing her arms behind the brunette's neck. "Seems she wasn't the only one who needed advice," she explained before enveloping her lips over Faith's, slipping her tongue in and slowly removing it. She added, "So you might as well just relax, 'cause tonight's all about you."

Grinning, Faith lay back placing her hands behind her head on the pillow.

Buffy smiled. "How do you want it?" she asked, already knowing the answer.

"Surprise me," her lover replied.

"Ok," Buffy agreed. Placing her palms either side of Faith on the bed, she kissed her before raising her hand to Faith's mouth and offering it her middle finger.

Parting her lips slightly, Faith took the digit into her mouth and coated it with saliva before releasing it.

Steadying herself on her left arm, Buffy's arm moved down her lover's body to Faith's entrance. The blonde roughly inserted the finger into Faith, surprised to find it enter easily. Buffy removed the finger to find it covered in Faith's natural lubrication.

"Thought that would take longer," the slayer observed.

"You kidding me?" Faith replied. "I've been thinking about this all night. Playin' it over and over in my head."

"Oh," Buffy replied. "So how did it go?"

"Fuck, B, don't stop!" Faith screamed, clutching the sheet beneath her as Buffy pleasured her.

Running her tongue inside Faith's pussy, the blonde briefly came up for air, before resuming the task. Using her left hand to stimulate the brunette's clitoris, she separated the younger slayer's thighs pressing down on one of them with her right hand. She continued to lick Faith's slit, listening to the moans of her lover.

"Oh God, B. Shit that feels good," Faith coaxed. She moaned, feeling her climax approaching.

"Fuck B...oh God, uh!"

Bucking against her girlfriend's mouth, she called and repeated the blonde's name feeling Buffy's tongue pay attention to her clitoris. Exclaiming profanities, she bucked against Buffy's mouth for the final time as she came into it. The brunette slayer lay back, satiated and barely aware of Buffy's exit from the room. She closed her eyes and assumed a comfortable position. Feeling Buffy's return, the slayer opened her eyes and allowed her girlfriend into the bed, covering the both of them and wrapping her arm her. About to lean in and kiss Buffy goodnight, Faith stopped, detecting a strong scent of mint. Biting back the urge to speak, the slayer closed her eyes and attempted to fall asleep.

Part Nine: Kids

Buffy walked into the kitchen upon seeing her daughter sat at the counter, looking at a bowl of cereal.

"Morning sweetie," the slayer said to her, giving the child a kiss.

"Morning mommy," Joyce replied, poking at her food.

"Did Faith come down yet?"

"Uh-huh. She left already and Uncle Xander told me to tell you he was going to look at some apartments."

Buffy nodded. She walked towards the cupboard and began fishing around for utensils. Turning around to address Joyce, she watched as the youngster hopped off her chair and made her way to the living room. Noticing the food on the counter had remained untouched, Buffy followed her daughter. Seeing her sat on the living room couch, the slayer walked inside and took a seat next to her.

"Come here," she told her child.

When Joyce obliged, Buffy wrapped her arm around her, pulling her daughter into an embrace.

"Joyce, I know something's wrong and if you tell me, I might be able to make it better."

The blonde youngster pondered this before answering.

"Yesterday, Tyler called me weird," she told her mother. "He said that I didn't have a dad like the other kids." The child looked up at the slayer. "Why don't I have a dad, mommy?"

Buffy took a deep breath. She tenderly stroked her daughter's golden hair, answering, "you did... have a dad. He's just not around anymore," she thought on the statement, qualifying, "just like Amber's dad or Jason's dad. Joyce, lots of children only have one parent."

"But Amber sees her dad at weekends and Jason's dad came to show and tell. I've never seen my dad."

Buffy gently lifted her daughter's head from her lap and stood up. She walked over to the cabinet where she kept her photo albums and picked one out. Opening it, she flicked through the pages, analysing the various photos of herself, Faith and her friends. Eventually finding one of herself and Riley, she stood up and walked back to the couch. Sitting down, she showed it to Joyce.

"Is that him?" Joyce asked, pointing to the tall marine.

"Yeah," Buffy confirmed.

"He looks a little like me," the youngster pointed out.

Buffy smiled.

"What was he like?" the seven year old inquired, studying the photograph.

"He was great," Buffy remembered. "He loved you so much, even before you were born."

"Where is he now?"

Buffy pointed to the child's chest. "In here," she told her. "He's always watching you. Making sure you do your homework and behave like a good girl. More importantly, he's loving you and protecting you."

The child silently analysed the picture before asking her mother, "did you love him? You look very happy."

"I did. And when he left, I cried for a long time," Buffy recalled. "But do you know how I got through it?"

Joyce shook her head.

"I had Faith. And whenever I cried, she'd tell me that it'd be ok. She reminded me that I had you."

Joyce looked at the picture a last time before closing the album. "I like having a mommy and a Faith," she concluded.

Buffy smiled.

"But I wish I had a brother or a sister. Tyler's brother and sister are fun."

"I'm sure they are," Buffy agreed. She silently held Joyce for a little while eventually looking down and asking her, "Y'know what we haven't done in a while?"

"What?" Joyce replied her.

"Gone to the beach," Buffy answered.

Joyce beamed. "I love the beach, can we go?"

"Ummm." Buffy feigned a pensive expression. "Only if you're ready in thirty seconds," she told her daughter.

"Yay!" Joyce called. She quickly stood up and raced up the stairs.

"Are we nearly there?" Joyce asked, looking out of the window of the car and still seeing buildings on her side.

"We'll be there soon," Buffy replied, pulling into a parking space. She stopped the car and switched off the engine. "I'm just going to pick up something from my office. Do you wanna come?"

Joyce nodded.

"C'mon," Buffy told her, leaving the convertible. She waited for the youngster to exit the vehicle before locking it. Taking her daughter by the hand, she led her inside the building.

"Oh, hi Dr. Summers," the slayer was greeted by the secretary, almost as soon as she entered. "Didn't know you were working today," the woman added.

"I'm not," Buffy replied with a smile. "I just came to pick up a case file."

"And your flowers," the woman added.

"Flowers?" Buffy asked, walking past and to her office.

"You'll see!" the secretary called after her.

Buffy entered her office to see a bouquet of lilies left on her desk. She picked them up and searched for a card. Finding one, she opened it and read, 'Thanks for lunch. Parker.'

Buffy returned to the hall.

"Faith is so romantic, huh?" the secretary asked, placing her hand on her heart as if in admiration.

Buffy faked a smile before asking, "Dina, is Dr. Abrams in today?"

"He's in his office," the secretary informed the psychiatrist.

"Thanks," the slayer replied. She looked to Joyce. "Honey, c'mon," she told her daughter. Hand in hand, they headed down the corridor to Parker's office. The door wide open, the slayer looked inside to see the brunette sat reading at his desk. Buffy knocked on the door.

"Hey," Parker greeted, looking up and seeing the two females at the door. He dropped his reading material, stood up and walked over to them. Looking to the child by Buffy's side, he smiled crouching down.

"Hi," he said, offering his hand. "Are you a doctor here?"

Buffy smiled as her daughter answered. "I'm Joyce."

"Hello Joyce," Parker replied her. "Is this your patient?" he asked, motioning to Buffy.

Joyce laughed. "No, she's my mommy. She's a psychatrist. Are you a psychatrist too?"

Parker laughed at the youngster's innocence. "Yes," he replied with a nod. "I'm a psychatrist too. So, we're all psychatrists."

"No," Joyce replied, laughing at the man's mistake. "I'm not a psychatrist. I'm only seven."

Feigning disbelief, the brunette replied, "Seven!?! I would have thought you were at least... seven and a half, eight."

"I'm almost eight," Joyce replied. "It's my birthday soon."

"Really?" Parker replied. "Are you having a party?"

"I dunno," Joyce looked up at her mother. "Mommy, can I?" she asked.

"We'll see," Buffy replied. She smiled at Parker, who stood to full height.

"So, what can I do you for?" he asked his colleague.

Having forgotten the reason she had come, the slayer replied, "How come you're here today?"

"Oh, I've got a report that's due in next week I thought I'd finish. You?"

"I just came to pick up a file," Buffy replied, showing him the file she had acquired. "Then Joyce and I are off to the beach."

"There's a beach here?" the brunette asked.

"Not so much a beach," the slayer replied. "More like a giant sandbox."

Parker smiled. "That's great. I haven't been to a good beach for a while, being from Chicago and all."

"Why don't you come with us?" Joyce interjected.

"Only if you can take a break from work," Buffy added.

"I might just do that," Parker replied, causing the slayer to smile. "Then we'll hopefully see you there," she replied, motioning to leave.

"Yeah," Parker replied with a slight wave, watching as the blondes left his office.

"Faith!" one of the assistants called into the brunette's office.

"What?" Faith called back.

"People," the reply came.

Faith sighed and stood up. Leaving the back room, she went out into the store.

"She's in a bad mood," she heard as she approached the counter to see a worker in conversation with Buffy who was stood on the other side.

"Rob, shut up and get back to work," Faith told the assistant.

"See," the man told Buffy, leaving to do as he was told.

"'Sup?" Faith merely asked her girlfriend. She looked down to see Joyce standing beside the slayer. Her smile widened as she picked up the child and balanced her on her hip. "Hey kiddo, how was your day?" she asked her.

"Fine," the youngster replied.

Faith looked to her lover, who spoke.

"Didn't hear you leave this morning," Buffy told her.

"Yeah, I had to rush off," Faith excused. "What's up?"

"Nothing. Joyce and I were just heading to the beach, wanted to see if you could come with us."

"I can't. We just got a rush of orders that have to be shipped off tonight. I dunno if I'll be able to get it done."

"C'mon," Buffy coaxed. "I packed the blue bikini."

"I can't," Faith restated.

"Ok," the older slayer replied, sensing tension. She left a moment for Faith to speak and when not taken, proceeded to say, "I'll see you at home."

"Yeah," the brunette replied.

"Ok," Buffy accepted, a little hurt.

Faith set Joyce down. "Later kiddo," she said to her, smiling. She looked to Buffy adding. "Bye."

"Bye," Buffy replied. Confused, she took Joyce's hand and led her out of the store.

Disappointed, the brunette slayer watched her family leave, before returning to the back of the store.

"Mommy, look!" Joyce called pointing at the piles of sand she had created.

Buffy raised her sunglasses onto her head. "That's great, sweetie," she replied. She smiled and watched Joyce play in the sand.

Alarmed when the youngster went further away, she sat up, calling, "Honey, do go out to far, ok?"

"Ok, mommy," Joyce told her, gathering sand from nearer to the strand line. She came back to her sandcastle and deposited the sand at the top.

Watching, Buffy was interrupted when a shadow cast was upon her.

"Room for one more?" the slayer heard. She looked up. "Parker, you made it," she acknowledged, almost immediately noticing his slender physique.

"Yeah," Parker replied, sitting on the sand beside her.

"I almost didn't recognise you without your lab jacket," she told him.

"Right back at you," Parker replied. "That is a *very* nice bikini."

"Thank you," the slayer replied him. "So, did you get the report finished?"

"Yep, all done."

"What was the case study?"

"Er, drawing links between patients with psychological disorders to do with witnessing traumatic events."

"What did you conclude?"

"That, er, it-" he started, distracted. "Hey, who's that Joyce's talking to?"

Buffy followed her colleague's gaze to see Joyce seemingly in conversation with a stranger. Her expression answering the brunette, he stood up and charged over to them.

"Hey Joyce," Parker said to the youngster, upon reaching and taking her by the hand. "Who's this?"

"Oh, hey man," the stranger answered for the seven year old. "We were just talking."

The expression on the brunette's face became an angry one. "You make a habit of talking to little girls?" he inquired.

"Nah, man, I was just-"

"Leaving?" Parker completed for him.

The stranger took a defiant stance. "I don't have to leave, it's a public beach."

"You're right," Parker replied, his tone clear but light. "But if I see you here again, I'm gonna have to pound your child-molesting face into the sand."

Unnerved, the other man threw his hands up as if surrendering, saying, "screw this," before walking away.

"What's going on?" Buffy asked, arriving.

"Nothing," Parker maintained as the man left. The brunette looked to Joyce. "Hey Joyce," he told her. "We're not supposed to talk to strangers. Not everyone out there is as nice as you and me and you gotta be careful, ok?"

Joyce nodded.

"Thanks," Buffy told her colleague.

"No problem," Parker replied. He looked to Joyce again. "Friends look out for each other, right?"

"Right," Joyce agreed. She looked to the sandcastle she had been building, to see another child approaching it. "My castle!" she exclaimed, running towards it.

Parker and Buffy walked behind the youngster, keeping her within their sights.

"You're great with her," Buffy observed. "She's known you a few hours and already she likes you."

Parker smiled. "I love kids," he explained. "One day I just want to settle down and have lots of 'em," he motioned with his hands, "just running around."

"Sounds...headachey," Buffy told him.

"True," Parker agreed. "But deep down I'd love it."

"How many?" the slayer further inquired.

"Two or three," the brunette replied. "Maybe four."

"Again with the headache," the slayer joked. "Do you not ever want to get any sleep in the future?"

"Is it that rough?"

"Ugh," Buffy replied him, strongly agreeing. "First few months after Joyce was born, I was a wreck. Bags under my eyes and everything."

"But that was for a few months and you've got a beautiful daughter out of it."

"That's true," the slayer agreed.

"So wouldn't you do it all again?"

"No. One's enough for me."

"But don't you want Joyce to have a little sister or brother? Someone to play with?"

Buffy thought about it.

Feeling intrusive, the brunette attempted to withdraw.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I guess I'm just biased 'cause I grew up an only child and I always wished I had someone."

"Me too," Buffy agreed, remembering how lonely she had felt before Dawn came into her life.

"What does Joyce's father think?"

"He passed away," Buffy returned.

Parker paled. "Oh God, Buffy, I'm so sorry. I didn't know-"

"It's okay," Buffy assured him. "It was a long time ago. Before she was born."

The two of them reached the place where they had set up base. Sitting down, not knowing what else to say, they stayed in silence and watched Joyce play.

"Hey Faith, is Rob here?"

"He's out back," Faith answered the woman enquiring. She added, "He'll be out in a few."

"Ok. Could you tell him that I'm waiting outside in the car."

Faith nodded. She continued to put up the remainder of the Christmas decorations around the store.

"Hey boss, sign these," Rob asked, coming out of the back room.

Faith took the pen the man offered her and signed on the dotted line.

"Thanks," Rob replied. He dropped the form and began to unload the box he had been carrying, stocking the store's shelves with its contents.

"Tanya came in," Faith told her co-worker. "She's waiting for you in the car."

"Cool," the blonde replied, finishing the stocking of the shelves.

The two fell silent for a little while, before Faith asked,

"Rob, how long you been with Tanya?"

The blonde thought about it. "A couple of months, why?"

"You go down on her?"

Rob paused for a moment, taken aback. He told her,

"Ok, random question, but yeah - she loves it."

"What about you?"

"I love that she loves it." Seeing Faith's expression change, he continued, "If you're talking taste wise? Then again, yeah, I like the Tanya taste right now."

"Whaddya mean, 'right now'?"

"Y'know," he replied. When finding Faith unresponsive, he continued, "Ok, well for me, anyway, I find that when I stop liking the taste of a woman, it's 'cause I wish I was tasting another woman." He paused, adding, "Y'know like 'the grass is always greener'? The pussy's always sweeter." He laughed to himself, his laughter subsiding when he noticed his boss' unappreciative expression. Rob cleared his throat asking her, "Why all the curiosity about my girl? You interested? 'Cause say the word and I could hook the two of you up. With my supervision, of course."

"Dude, I've got a girlfriend, remember?" the slayer, eventually replied him.

"Buffy doesn't have to know," Rob told her. He thought about it and then added, "Unless she wants to join in too," smiling hopefully and waiting for Faith's answer.

Ignoring the statement, Faith grabbed her jacket. "Lock up when you're done," she told the man, leaving the store.

Faith entered her bedroom. Slowly undressing, she lay her clothes in a pile at the side of the room, before entering her bed. The brunette slayer lay still and replayed events over in her head reminiscent of past events in her relationship. Jaded, she dismissed the ideas and decided she was over-thinking the situation. Almost giving in to sleep, she found herself alerted by Buffy's entrance into the room.

"Didn't know you were back," Buffy stated. Fully dressed in her night-clothes, she entered the bed and cuddled next to her fellow slayer. "How was work?" she asked.

"Alright," Faith replied.

"Faith, is everything ok?" the blonde psychiatrist asked. "You seemed a little... off today."

"I'm good," Faith replied, leaning to kiss her girlfriend. Her hands almost roving down Buffy's body, she broke the kiss when the older slayer grabbed and stopped them.

"Did you forget the date?" Buffy asked.

Faith shook her head. "I don't care," she answered.

Buffy swatted at the brunette's arm. "Gross, Faith. I do," she replied, causing the brunette slayer to recoil.

An awkward silence upon them, Buffy asked,

"Why don't I just do you?" in effort to lighten the mood.

"That's ok," Faith replied. "Wouldn't want you to do something you don't wanna do."

"What do you mean?" the blonde asked. "Of course I want to."

"It's cool," Faith replied her, attempting a more lax tone. She lay back.

Buffy shook her head in confusion. Lying back against the brunette, she lifted Faith's arm and wrapped it around herself closing her eyes.

Faith reached across and turned off the bedroom light. Looking up, she let moments pass before she closed her eyes in attempt to get some sleep, opening them when Buffy called her.

When the brunette replied, the older slayer continued,

"What do you think about us having more kids?"

"What?" the brunette asked.

"Y'know, give Joyce a little brother or sister."

Enraged, the brunette turned on the light, asking,

"You meet another guy who's kid you wanna have?"

Buffy sat up, stunned by the outburst. "I can't believe you just said that," she told Faith.

"What? Am I not allowed to be pissed off that you're talking about having kids with another guy?"

"I didn't say anything about another guy, Faith. You didn't even give me a chance to explain," Buffy tried.

"Explain what? You knocked up again?" the brunette sarcastically returned, memories from the past clouding her judgement.

In disbelief, Buffy merely looked at her, almost speechless. "I can't talk to you when you're like this," she decided, getting out of their bed and leaving the room. Taking a deep breath and fighting back emerging tears, Buffy walked downstairs.

Part Ten: Pals

"You ready?" Faith asked the blonde slayer, standing in the doorway to their room.

"Yeah," Buffy replied, putting on her last earring.

"Cool," the brunette quietly returned. She turned and left the room, making her way downstairs. Picking up her jacket and keys, she entered the living room.

"We're off," the slayer announced to Xander.

"'Kay. Have fun," construction worker replied, involved in a heated computer game with Joyce.

Upon hearing Buffy walk downstairs, Faith let herself out of the room. She made her way outside and towards her car.

About to follow, the blonde slayer glanced inside the living room to see Joyce out of bed on a school night.

"Hey Xander, Joyce has school in the morning," Buffy reminded him, wearing the garment that was in her arms.

"Aw c'mon," Xander pleaded. "This is her last night with her uncle Xan-man, let her stay up a bit longer?"

"Please," Joyce added.

"Ok," Buffy relented. "But you've gotta be in bed by ten at the latest."

"Uh-huh," Xander replied for Buffy's daughter, his attention still on the television screen.

Sighing, Buffy followed after her lover and entered the vehicle, seating herself and putting on her seat belt. She watched as Faith started the car and pulled out of the driveway and onto the road.

The two of them sat quietly, as Faith drove her silver jeep through the darkened Sunnydale streets. Eventually tired of the silence upon them, Buffy spoke.

"Faith, we need to talk," she quietly proclaimed.

"About what?" the younger slayer replied, nonchalant in her question.

"You know what."

Faith continued to stare at the road ahead. "There's nothing to say," she merely returned.

Buffy sighed. "Look, Faith, I've thought about it and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked about having more kids." She paused, waiting for Faith to speak. When the younger slayer failed to do so, Buffy prompted, "Faith, say something."

"There's nothing to say, B," the brunette merely repeated. "It's history."

"So we're ok?" the blonde slayer asked.

"Five by five," Faith returned, her eyes not leaving the road ahead.

Buffy sat back at a loss for what to do. She knew that she was powerless when Faith reverted back to her defensive nature. Her girlfriend would just sink further into her stubbornness like a typical Leo, until she'd finally realise that she was wrong. It was a routine the blonde slayer knew too well and was becoming tired of. Pondering the notion, Buffy was alerted back to the present when Faith pulled over.

"We're here," the younger of the chosen two stated quietly, turning off the engine. She freed herself of the seat's belt and let herself out of the car.

Buffy stepped out of the jeep, closing the door. She entered the clinic first with Faith following closely behind.

"Doctor Summers, you made it," she was almost immediately greeted by a lady assigned to the entrance area.

Buffy nodded.

"How late are we?" she asked, on her way to the meeting hall.

The lady checked her watch.

"Twenty minutes," she told the psychiatrist.

"Thanks," Buffy replied. She made her way to the auditorium, quickly reaching the meeting room. Grasping the handle, she quickly glanced behind her to ensure Faith's presence there. Taking a deep breath, the blonde opened the door and the slayers quietly slipped into the meeting hall, trying their best to remain inconspicuous.

"It gives me great pleasure," the speaker continued despite the interruption of the two late-comers. "To welcome to the stage, all the way from....well, Sacramento," she smiled, continuing with a gesture to the speaker, "Doctor Davis."

The room was filled with applause as the psychologist walked up to the stage.

"Thank you, Doctor Richardson," he said, once the noise of those in the room had subsided. "Well as I don't want to send you all to sleep," he began, "I'll make this brief. The study of the psychology of humans is one of full many complexities stemming from the fact that as individuals we are all very different. I mean, look around you," he told the audience, prompting them to do so. "No two people in this auditorium today, look alike." He paused, checking, "we don't have any twins here tonight do we?"

Most of the audience laughed as the brunette gave his presentation. Engaging them for a long while with his humour and wit, most of the attendees were enjoying it. Buffy sat fascinated as the man spoke. His intellect shone through his speech and she was almost mesmerised by it. She turned to her girlfriend to ask her opinion, sighing when she found the brunette slayer fast asleep on the chair beside her. Disheartened, Buffy returned her attention to the speech at hand.

Applause caused Faith to wake up from her slumber. She joined in with the clapping of the other members of the audience and watched as the woman who had initially introduced the speaker returned to the microphone.

"Thank you Doctor Davis," she told him. Turning back to the audience, she announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes this evening and now you're all welcome to join us in the next hall for refreshments."

Faith stood up along with the other guests. She followed Buffy into the next room, queuing up with others for some wine. Grateful at the prospect of alcohol, Faith was distracted as one of the attendees approached them.

"Doctor Summers," the older woman said, addressing Buffy.

"Doctor Richardson," Buffy replied.

"That was quite an entrance you made."

"I know. I'm sorry," the slayer apologised. "There was traffic."

The woman nodded, despite not believing the excuse. She gestured to Faith.

"I see you brought someone," she noticed.

"Uh, yeah," Buffy replied, blushing slightly. "This is my... friend Faith Logan."

Doctor Richardson shook the hand of the seemingly slightly disheveled brunette.

"Are you a psychiatrist too?" she asked.

"Nah," Faith began. "I'm a-"

"She's in retail," Buffy abruptly interjected.

The older psychiatrist smiled. "Oh. Well, enjoy your evening, ladies," she told them, moving on to greet more people.

As if just regaining the ability to speak, Faith confronted the older slayer.

"What the hell was that?" she snapped. "So I'm your 'friend' now?"

"I know. I'm sorry," Buffy apologised. "It just came out-"

Exasperated, the brunette put up her hand to silence her partner.

"You know what? Save it. Where are the bathrooms?"

"Down the hall," Buffy replied. She cringed as Faith made her way out of the room. Feeling guilty she thought on following her girlfriend, to explain, but was distracted by a familiar voice.

"Buffy, you made it!" Parker exclaimed, happily. He handed the younger woman one of the drinks he was holding in his hands, taking a sip of the other.

"Parker," the blonde replied. "Yeah," she added, replying the question and taking the offered beverage. She walked over to the seats at the side of the hall, sitting and prompting Parker to do the same.

"So. What did you think?" the brunette asked his colleague.

"It was great," Buffy answered. "Doctor Davis is really good."

"The guy's a genius. His theories on psychological interpretations floor me."

"And the way he described the relationships between sociology and anthropology, completely...."

"Blew your mind?" Parker completed, causing Buffy to smile.

"Yeah."

The two of them burst into laughter, giggling like school children.

Parker stopped examining his wine glass.

"How much alcohol is in here, anyway?" he asked the pretty blonde.

Buffy groaned also examining her own.

"Not enough," she commented.

"Why, what's up?" the brunette asked, empathetically.

"Ugh, nothing," the slayer lied. She looked into the eyes of her concerned colleague and suddenly feeling desperate for a subject change, she smiled.

"Are you here with someone?" she asked.

"Yeah, I got people," Parker replied, pointing behind him. "You?"

Buffy nodded. "I've got people too," she imitated.

"Cool," Parker replied. He took a sip of his drink watching as Buffy did the same. "So what are you doing after this?"

Having returned to the conference room, Faith scanned it for her girlfriend. Locating her sitting alone with a young brunette, she felt herself overcome with both jealousy and anger. The slayer walked up to Buffy.

"Hey. Let's go," she interrupted.

Slightly embarrassed by her girlfriend's abruptness, Buffy was about to speak before Parker stood and offered his hand to Faith in handshake.

"Hi," he said, introducing himself as, "Parker."

Faith scoffed at the outstretched hand. Replying the man,

"Beat it pal. Neither of us swing that way."

"Faith!" Buffy scolded.

"It's ok," Parker replied her, under the icy stare of the brunette. "I have people waiting anyway. I'll see you tomorrow Buffy."

"Parker, wait," Buffy tried in vain as the brunette walked away. She turned to Faith. "You had no right-" she started.

"I had no right?" Faith asked a little too loudly. "I'm gone for two minutes, come back and find you throwing yourself at the first guy you find."

"This is not the place," Buffy replied the accusation, lowering her voice.

"You're right, B," Faith agreed. "Wouldn't wanna embarrass you any more in front of your college pals."

With that, the brunette slayer turned and left the room, ensuring she loudly slammed the double doors to the auditorium on her way out.

Part Eleven: Ice show

"Can I come in?" Buffy asked, at the brunette's office door.

"Sure," Parker replied, giving the slayer authorisation to enter the room.

"I just came to apologise for what happened yesterday," Buffy explained, walking into the spacious room.

"You kidding?" Parker replied her, smiling. "Yesterday is a complete blur."

"You don't remember it?"

"Not really," the brunette replied, his expression telling a different story. "Why don't you fill me in?"

Buffy smiled. She wore a pensive expression. "Let's see," she replied him. "Well after you got really drunk, you got up on the table and started doing this weird dance."

The brunette's smile grew wider. "Wow, that's, er, really embarrassing."

Buffy nodded.

"I can never look any of the other psychiatrists in the eye again," he told his colleague.

"I dunno," the slayer replied. "Give it a few days; I doubt anyone'll even remember."

"That's a relief," Parker replied, his eyes looking deep into the slayer's hazel ones. Noticing the silence upon them, the older psychiatrist cleared his throat. "I was on my way to see you actually," he told her, looking around for something. "Oh," he triumphed, finding it. He held up the tickets in his hands.

"Tickets," Buffy observed, looking at the brunette.

"To the Christmas ice show in town tonight. I heard it was really fun and I thought you, me and Joyce could go," Parker clarified, handing her the tickets and adding, "They're rink side."

"Wow, Parker. I don't know what to say," Buffy told him, taking the tickets and staring speechless at them.

"Hopefully 'yes' 'cause they cost me a fortune."

Finally bringing herself to speak, the slayer told her colleague, "I can't accept these."

"Sure you can," Parker told her. "It'll be fun and you'll be helping me get over my skating fear."

Buffy smiled, recollecting the story. Her smile faded as she thumbed the tickets.

"Can I think about it?" she asked him.

"Of course," he replied, optimistic and adding, "It starts at seven and hey, if you can't come don't worry about it. I'll just put extra jackets on the seats next to me and tell everyone my friends went to the car."

"Ah, the old jacket trick," the blonde replied.

Parker stared at her, his eyes revealing his expectancy.

"Hopefully I wont have to use it," he told her.

Buffy smiled. She held onto the tickets as her colleague stood silently in front of her. The two of their attentions, drawn by the intercom buzzing on Parker's desk, they both turned to look at it. The brunette smiled, moving towards the device.

"I'll leave you to it," the slayer told him, making a move to leave.

Parker nodded, pressing the intercom. He watched with a grin on his face as the slayer walked out of his office.

Buffy let herself into her home. Removing her coat, she was alerted by the light coming from the dining room. She walked inside to see her daughter seemingly doing her homework.

"Hi sweetie," she said, walking over and planting a kiss on the young girl's forehead.

"Hi mommy," Joyce replied, continuing her work.

Buffy looked over her child's shoulder. "How're you doing?"

"Ok," the youngster replied, adding, "I'm a little hungry."

The slayer grew concerned. "You haven't eaten?"

"Nope," the blonde child replied.

"Where's Faith?"

"I don't know," Joyce told her.

Buffy sighed. She walked into the kitchen, opening the fridge door. Seeing the refrigerator empty the blonde closed it. She returned to the dining room.

"Honey get your coat," she told her daughter.

"Where are we going?" Joyce asked, standing up.

Parker looked up at the arrival of his date.

"You made it," he stated, standing up and allowing Buffy and Joyce past and into the empty seats beside him.

"Hey Uncle Parker," Joyce greeted, beaming at the brunette.

"Hey Joyce." He reached beside himself, pulling out something. "Check it out," the man told the youngster, handing her a cap.

"Is this for me?" the blonde inquired.

"Uh-huh," Parker confirmed. "Do you like it?"

"I love it!" the child replied, putting the article upon her head.

Buffy smiled. "What do you say?" she prompted.

"Thank you, Uncle Parker," Joyce remembered.

"No problem," the psychiatrist replied.

"Wow," Joyce exclaimed, feeling the cap. She looked up at the one the tall brunette was wearing, noticing their similarity. "It's just like yours!"

"Yeah," the brunette replied. He turned his cap around. "'Cept I'm wearing mine the cool way."

Buffy smiled at the display, enjoying the banter between Parker and her daughter.

"I wanna wear mine the cool way too," Joyce told him, turning her cap around.

Parker smiled. "Now we're all cool," he told her, a huge grin on his face.

Joyce looked to her mother. "Except for mommy, who doesn't have one," she noticed.

Parker searched beside him, finding the other cap that he had bought. "Yeah she does." He handed the article to the slayer. "Here, I got you one too."

Buffy thanked her colleague and put the hat on. She turned as a sudden burst of music began playing. Excitedly remembering her days at ice shows as a youth, she gripped her daughter's hand, expectantly watching the rink.

Joyce beamed and turned as the start of the show was announced. The three of them sat and watched as the performance commenced and ice-skaters, one by one, filed onto the ice, each performing various stunts and acrobatics.

Buffy pulled up outside her colleague's apartment.

"Thanks again for the ride," he told her. "I can't believe someone had the nerve to slash my tyres."

"It's no problem," Buffy replied. "Thank you for the show. Joyce and I loved it."

Parker looked to the child sleeping in the back seat. "She's a great kid, y'know. I can see where she gets it from."

Buffy smiled. "Thank you."

Parker nodded. He went to leave, opening the door of the vehicle. Suddenly stopping, he turned to the slayer.

"So I'll see you tomorrow," he told her, leaning in and kissing the blonde's cheek.

Buffy remained silent, looking into the man's convincing blue eyes. She felt breathless as he leaned in for another kiss. Catching herself at the last moment, the slayer turned away from his advancing lips.

"Parker, I'm sorry," Buffy blurted out.

Confused, the brunette asked, "Why?"

"I'm seeing someone," the slayer confessed. She turned to the brunette, repeating. "I'm sorry."

Clearly hurt, the psychiatrist attempted to hide his emotion. Speechless, for a moment, he eventually replied, "Me too," letting himself out of Buffy's car.

Overwhelmed with guilt, the slayer sat in her vehicle and watched as Parker walked up to his apartment, letting himself in. At a loss for what else to do, she started her car and headed home. Driving slowly, she questioned herself and replayed the event in her head. Convincing herself that she could not have behaved any differently, she parked on the road outside her home having found its driveway occupied by Faith's car.

"Joyce. Honey, we're home," Buffy told her daughter.

Joyce woke up. She looked around and recognising her surroundings let herself out of her mother's car.

Buffy used the remote's central lock before taking her daughter's hand and leading her home. She opened the door and let the two of them inside; the both of them almost immediately confronted by a worried Faith.

"Where've you guys been? I tried calling."

"Oh, my phone was off," Buffy replied.

"We went to an ice show," Joyce added.

"Yeah?" Faith asked, holding out her arms for the child. "Was it fun?"

"Uh-huh," Joyce told her, as the strong brunette lifted her up. "There were elves and Santa was there and there were funny dancers."

"You hungry?" the slayer interrupted the excited child.

The youngster shook her head. "Nope. Me and mommy went to dinner already."

Faith briefly looked to Buffy before turning back to the child in her arms. "So kiddo, you saw Santa?" the slayer asked her, taking the child upstairs.

Her guilt increasing, Buffy removed her jacket and hung it up. The slayer made her way to the kitchen, feeling even worse as she looked upon the neatly set table illuminated by candle-light with three dishes atop it. She opened the fridge to see it fully stocked. Melancholy, Buffy grabbed an alcoholic beverage, strongly craving one. The slayer made her way to the living room spending a mere ten minutes alone before Faith joined her. Buffy looked to her lover, having prepared a long rant laden with apologies. About to speak, she found Faith beat her to it, asking,

"So. Who's Parker?"

"Parker?" Buffy echoed, caught off-guard. "Er, a guy from work. You met him at the lecture yesterday."

Faith nodded. "You usually take out guys from work?"

"He had extra tickets to an ice show and asked if I wanted to go."

"And what, you forgot how to say 'no'?"

"I didn't think I had to," Buffy replied in earnest and slightly offended by the suggestion.

Faith shook her head in disbelief, her rage clearly apparent. "This shit's all starting to make sense now," she told her girlfriend, standing up.

"What is it?" Lieutenant Hammond asked, as he rushed into the meeting room having been summoned.

"Sir," he was told as he was handed a pair of headphones. "Listen."

Hammond put on the equipment, as the argument within the Summers' household continued. He listened to what sounded like one of the slayers shouting at the other.

"Faith, you're acting like a child," he heard. "Now you're fucking callin' me stupid?" the argument continued.

Listening to the row until he was fed up, he ordered, "Turn it off," with a huge smile plastered on his face. "This is unbelievable," he told the curious audio technician.

"Good news, sir?" the man asked.

"Very good," Hammond replied him. "But not quite good enough. We're still gonna need the icing on the cake."

Part Twelve: Icing on the cake

Christmas music blared through 'Greener's gifts' as the customers within it bustled around the beautifully decorated store. Watching the gleeful shoppers, Faith sat at the counter, moping. She grit her teeth remembering the fight she had had with Buffy the night before. Despite her girlfriend's assurances, she was convinced that the older slayer was sleeping with someone else. It had to be the reason for her behaviour. Distracted from her thoughts by the store phone's ringing, she picked it up and answered.

"Faith?"

"Hey Ken," the slayer answered.

"Hey. How are you?"

"You know me."

"Yeah, I do. And I know that you're not ok. What's wrong?"

"Nothing K," the slayer assured.

"Ok, I talked to Buffy," Kennedy confessed. "She told me you two were fighting. What's going on?"

Angrily, the slayer asked, "Did she get you to talk to me?"

"No," Kennedy replied.

Faith continued, "Well seein' as B thinks it's alright to broadcast our private life; she's cheating on me."

"What?" came the reply.

"You heard, Ken."

"Yeah, I heard it, but I don't believe it. Buffy loves you."

"That's what I thought but, hey, I was wrong."

"That's why you guys are fighting?"

"What are we supposed to do, go out for dinner?" Faith sardonically replied. "Of course we're fuckin' fighting."

"So you're gonna make it easier for her by driving her away?"

"What? No."

"Say if she isn't cheating and you're treating her like this...."

"She is," the slayer returned.

"So you caught her?"

"I don't have to. She's been seeing some guy from work," she told Kennedy, qualifying, "They went to an ice show with J last night."

"Oh, ok," the brunette replied sarcastically. "So Buffy's cheating on you and took your seven year old daughter as a witness?" She paused before asking, "Faith, do you have any solid proof she's not been faithful?"

Faith thought on it. Her silence answering Kennedy, the woman continued,

"I didn't think so."

About to answer, the slayer was caught off-guard when her name was uttered. Looking up, she beheld a familiar face.

"Ken I gotta go," she uttered into the receiver, dropping it and standing. She moved to the other side of the counter, hugging the woman there. "Mrs G. Good to see you."

"Hello Faith," the old woman replied her. "How are Buffy and Joyce?"

"Good," the slayer replied, once their bodies had parted.

"Is Robert not here?" Mrs Greener asked, looking around.

"Nope," Faith replied, returning to her position behind the counter. "It's just me today."

The older woman nodded.

"So, what are you doing here?" Faith asked, quickly adding. "I mean, you don't usually come down."

"I thought I should come and tell you my news in person." Mrs Greener paused before revealing. "I'm leaving Sunnydale and returning home."

"No way," Faith replied.

"I know. I love this place. But I'm getting old and I'd rather retire near my family."

"Shit," Faith exclaimed, in disbelief. "I'm gonna miss you."

"I'll miss you too," the woman confessed. "Though you could always visit."

"Yeah?" Faith replied. "How far away is New Zealand?"

"It's a while. But my home there has plenty of spare rooms. You, Buffy and Joyce would be more than welcome to stay as long as you want."

"Thanks."

The both of them remained silent before Faith spoke up.

"What's gonna happen to the store?" she asked.

"I'm going to have to sell it," Mrs Greener told the slayer. "Which is another reason I wanted to catch you. How would you like to own 'Greener's gifts'?"

"Me?" Faith asked. "Nah, Mrs G, I could never afford this place."

"I'm sure we could come to some sort of an agreement," the older of them told the brunette. "There is no one I'd rather own this place, Faith. You've been here for a very long time and if anyone could do this place justice, it'd be you."

Faith shook her head in disbelief. "This is amazing," she confessed. "Thank you."

"That's more like it," Mrs Greener told the young woman.