Passing the money to Faith along with the sticky note, she shrugged. "I guess breakfast's on April today."

Faith nodded. "And then, shopping. She's right, we're gonna need equipment."

---

Buffy woke up to Dawn's radio blaring a room away.

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin

"Good morning, Buffy," Buffy grumbled to herself as she eased out of bed trying not to wake Willow who, apparently, could sleep through anything.

After a quick trip to the bathroom, Buffy headed downstairs for breakfast, but hearing Giles on the phone, stopped on the stairs.

"Yes, April, I have complete confidence in her." Giles paced back and forth on the phone, listening to the other end. "No, I feel Faith is fully capable of training a new potential…You have told them both that their presence is rather, er, necessary?" Giles took off his glasses and then replaced them on his face. "Splendid. Well then, I would say give them a bit of time, perhaps a week, and bring them out here. No, let them decide the mode of transport, I know Faith is uneasy when flying." He leaned against the desk, visibly relaxing. "Wonderful, then. I appreciate you contacting me. Yes, I'll speak with you soon. Goodbye."

Buffy stood up and slipped back to her room to find Willow waking up.

"Morning Buff." Willow stretched seductively, and looked up at Buffy.

"They found Faith," Buffy's tone fell flat.

"I know." Willow's eyes went wide. "I mean, I was gonna tell you, we found out as we were leaving England, but well, what with the lovey-ness and all, it kinda slipped my mind."

"Slipped your mind." Buffy sat on the edge of the bed, nodding to herself. Her back was turned to her longtime best friend and newfound lover, "Apparently she's training someone. And soon, we'll be all with the homecoming."

"Really? That's great…" Willow trailed off and moved over on the bed, wrapping Buffy in her embrace. "Buff? What's the matter?"

"Well, with Faith coming back, you won't need me anymore, right? I mean, she's the big bad Slayer and all. I know it killed you when she left." Buffy allowed her head to droop ever so slightly, her shoulders slumping in perceived defeat.

Willow turned Buffy to face her. "What's really up, baby? I know you too well to believe this is simple jealousy."

Buffy's shoulders fell further, knowing that Willow was right. "Fine, I admit it. I'm all nervous-Buffy about her coming back. I mean, it's kind of my fault she left, isn't it?"

Willow slid off the bed and pulled a bathrobe around herself. She crossed the room and turned the radio on, flipping stations until she found something she liked. "You shouldn't be nervous, Buffy. I know Faith, trust me, she's probably even more nervous than you are about seeing you. I mean, not that you get nervous about seeing you, but that you're nervous about seeing her." Willow took a deep breath, stopping herself mid-babble. "I mean, she felt threatened, but instead of doing something that might send her back to jail, she just walked away." Willow shrugged, sitting back on the bed next to Buffy. "She basically gave me up to you."

"God, it sounds like that thing with Xander when we were in high school," Buffy sighed. "But if you think it'll be okay, I'll bite." She looked Willow in the eyes. "I trust you."

The song ended and another began, the words stirring Buffy.

I am unwritten, can't read my mind, I'm undefined
I'm just beginning, the pen's in my hand, ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find

"Ooh, Dawn was listening to this earlier. Y'know, its strange - lately, everything I hear on the radio or on TV seems to just…fit; like someone's playing DJ with the universe or something." Buffy leaned back on the bed, listening to the song's lyrics.

Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

"I know what you mean, Buff." Willow sighed. "It's like someone's watching us somewhere and speaking to us through music." Willow abruptly sat up. "You don't think Sweet is back, do you?"

Buffy shook her head. "No, I'm pretty sure that whatever or whoever is maybe trying to encourage us."

---

Stepping away from her scrying bowl, the very being Buffy and Willow discussed moved around her home gathering up her ritual tools and various herbs and things she would need for the magick she would soon work. She turned on some soft music, the better to aid her meditation.

So come real close
Close enough to see
The shape of things
If you'll follow me

Down into my pool of dreams
Take you down
Let me take you down
Into my pool of dreams

Sitting on her small bed, her features schooled into a frown, she thought of what she would need. She was of no slight stature, and her crimson hair, close cropped, save for the wisps near her ears shone in the sunlight streaming through her window. She was tattooed with mystical designs and sigils covering her nude body. And her face, ears, and torso were pierced in several places. Standing, she shooed the cat from her altar and watched in amusement as he left the room, tail held high.

Nowhere have I heard
That letting go must be the hardest part
All the world around us burns
A different flame for each and every heart

Turning back to her work, she set to preparing for the high ritual she would hold three days hence. Kneeling before her altar, her three sets of wings and three tails swishing around her, she dropped slowly into a trance; she drew forth the energy she would soon need.

---

Faith and Eevee stepped out of the diner on 8th Avenue and walked towards the subway. "So where can a girl get some sharp and pointy things in this city?" Faith asked.

"Chinatown. They've got all sorts of things down there - swords, crossbows… anything you need." Eevee stopped at the vending machine at the bottom of the stairs and bought subway fare.

"Cool, I'm following you, V." Faith reached over and ran her hand along Eevee's shoulder.

Eevee motioned for Faith to precede her going through the turnstile and swiped the little plastic card through the reader. Swiping it once more, she followed the slayer through and they descended another set of stairs to the downtown "A" train. They rode the train to Canal Street and climbed the stairs to the street.

Faith looked around and took in the chaos that was Chinatown in the early afternoon. "Dude, this is insane. I hope you know where you're going."

Eevee nodded and pointed to a set of stairs ascending into darkness. "See that?" She continued when Faith nodded. "That's where I buy my piercing supplies." She pointed down the block, "And that's where we're going."

The slayer and the potential walked into a sprawling mini-mall and ran headlong into Dire Wolf. "Hey Wolf, how's it going?" Faith shook hands with him and moved aside as Eevee stretched up to kiss his cheek.

"Can't complain; no future in it." Dire Wolf smiled down at them. "What are you two in the market for today?" he asked, walking back inside with them.

Faith searched for something to say and faltered. Eevee cut in, saying, "A couple of swords and maybe a crossbow." Faith's eyes went wide.

Dire Wolf simply said, "Cool." and pointed down the hall. "Those guys will give you a fair price, but I can come with you if you'd like."

Eevee nodded. "Thanks. We're planning on doing some sparring today; you know of anyplace good to go?"

He thought a minute. "Well, you could come up to my place. I train on the roof all the time."

She looked at Faith, who shrugged and nodded. "That'd be awesome, thanks." As the girls walked away from him a bit, Eevee whispered to Faith, "This isn't such a big deal to all of us, remember? Chill or you're really gonna attract attention. Sparring on the roof isn't a big deal."

Faith shrugged and a little while later hefted the packages containing bokken - or wooden training swords - actual swords, a crossbow and packages of paper targets, padded protective gear, and various other things grumbling about how much the equipment had cost them. "I can't believe you paid that much for a couple of bokken, V. We'd better stop and get more money on the way to wherever it is we're going."

Eevee nodded. "Can we meet you uptown, Wolf? I need to make a stop on St. Mark's."

Wolf nodded. "Sure, not a problem." Producing a twenty dollar bill, he held it out to her. "Want to pick up dinner on the way up?"

Eevee waved it away. "I'll get dinner; don't worry about it. How's pizza sound to you?" she motioned in Faith's direction. "She's never had real pizza."

Wolf chuckled and nodded. "Sounds fine. I'll see you both in a bit." He turned and strode down the street, disappearing into the crowd.

Eevee took some of the packages. "Here, let me help." They walked down the street to the "N" and "R" trains and down onto the platform. Emerging a little while later, she led Faith down Astor Place and past the large cubic sculpture to St. Mark's Place.

Hours later, Eevee, Faith and Dire Wolf sat in his apartment, happily munching on pizza and wiping away sweat from their exhaustive training session. "I gotta hand it to ya, Wolf. You gave me a run for my money." Faith took a long swallow of water and passed the liter bottle to Eevee. "And I think I learned a few things about sword work."

Dire Wolf finished his fourth slice and smiled. "I'm glad I could help." He leaned back and sighed happily. "I don't know what kind of battle you two are headed for, but I'd like to think I was of some use in the preparations."

Eevee sat silently, wondering where her unusual hunger was coming from. She looked hungrily at the rest of the pie and with even more hunger at Faith. Faith pulled out a pack of cigarettes and looked at Wolf. "Do you mind?" He shook his head, lighting a clove one for himself. She extracted one with her teeth and lit it. Catching Eevee's expression, she chuckled. "Have some more pizza, V. We'll go home soon." Eevee flushed slightly, realizing Faith had noticed, but she nodded and took another slice.

The three said their goodbyes after some time and, heading to the Three train carrying their training equipment, Eevee finally spoke up. "I think it's starting to sink in, Slaya. I'm gonna fight. And maybe die, too."

Faith put her arm around the young potential. "I know it's freaky, V, but I'm gonna train you up right. I don't want anything to happen to you."

"I just never really thought I had much of a future, much less a destiny. It's kind of scary." She kicked at something and they turned the corner.

"I know, babe. I felt the same way when I was younger. When Melissa showed up at my mom's, I was in shock too. My mom knows I'm a slayer, too. Or at least she knew I was a potential - Melissa told her. But she didn't care and Melissa was more of a mom to me than anything. I guess maybe it made it easier on me having her care for me. It seemed so normal after a little while." Faith swallowed and motioned to a store. "I'm gonna get something to drink, you want something?"

Eevee shook her head. "Nah, I'm good." Eevee sat outside and thought to herself soon getting lost as music from an open window drifted down.

Reaching for something in the distance
So close you can almost taste it
Release your inhibitions
Feel the rain on your skin
No one else can feel it for you
Only you can let it in
No one else, no one else
Can speak the words on your lips
Drench yourself in words unspoken
Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten

Faith tapped her on the shoulder and took a swig of iced tea. "You on a private little trip or can I come with ya?" Faith chuckled and held her hand out to Eevee.

Eevee looked up at Faith and took the proffered hand, standing. "Nah, I was just listening to someone's stereo. The song gave me something to think about."

The two began walking towards the train once more. "Y'know, V, I know it's wigged. I mean, hell, sometimes even I have trouble believing it when I wake up in the morning, but it's everywhere. You've got awesome friends and family, but they're just role-players compared to what we're heading to Sunny-D to deal with."

Eevee nodded, silent as the two entered the station. She sat close to Faith on the train, leaning her head on the slayer's shoulder and didn't speak again until they were at Faith's apartment door. "I wanna see one."

Faith nodded. She'd been waiting for this. "All right. Let's drop this stuff inside and ask Merlin where the cemeteries are around here."

Faith and Eevee walked through St. Raymond's cemetery slowly and quietly. Eevee stopped and stared hard into space, her eyes losing focus. "I think I feel something. How do you usually feel when you're near one?"

Faith stopped and looked up slightly as if she were sniffing the air. "Yeah, there's a fresh grave not too far away. And basically, your whole body tingles and you get this rush of adrenaline." She stepped closer to Eevee and put a stake in the potential's hand, pulling the younger girl to her. "Kind of like this." She pressed herself to Eevee and kissed her hard, pulling away abruptly. "Feel that? The rush… The heat…?" Eevee nodded. "That's what it's like."

Eevee turned away and closed her eyes. "That way." She said, pointing.

"Good sense, V." Faith grinned and they walked in the direction Eevee pointed. Before long they came upon a large pile of earth, the headstone near, but not yet erected. "Now, we wait."

Eevee leaned against a tree and studied her stake. "I'm kinda nervous." She swallowed and looked at Faith.

"It's good to be nervous. It keeps your senses sharp." Faith sat on a great slab of a headstone not too far away and twirled her own stake between her fingers. "I'll tell you a secret, V, but you gotta promise not to tell B when you meet her."

Eevee nodded, walking over to Faith. "I won't say a word. 'Sides, I don't even know her."

Faith nodded. "I know, but anyway, I still get nervous patrolling sometimes. I mean like creeped out, because I can sense a vamp comin', y'know?" She blushed a little and jumped down. "Speaking of vamps…" Faith trailed off, standing near the new grave. "You've got your stake, but let me handle him, k? Don't want anything happening to you."

Eevee swallowed hard once more and nodded. "No problem, Slaya. It's all you." She held her stake up at chest level - in ready position - anyway.

About a minute or two later, hands began clawing their way through the mound of soil, followed quickly by a head in full game face. Not seeing Faith just yet, he sniffed the air and grinned, his sharp fangs showing. "Fresh meat! Sounds great, I'm starving!" He pulled himself out of the dirt and stood, finally coming face to bumpy face with Faith. "Now aren't you a sexy piece of ass? I gotta get me some of that."

Faith rolled her eyes. "Damn, you got the clichéd New York accent and everything, don't ya? C'mere, big boy, and taste what I got for ya." She stood there, looking as innocent as she could, and when he got closer, she kicked him in the head, sending him sprawling. "Get this Guido, there's only one kind of vamp I'm interested in and she's still got a pulse." She kicked him once more in the side, smashing his ribs, and kneeled down, staking him smooth and fast. "So whatcha think, V?"

Eevee stood a few feet away from Faith and her new pile of dust, her eyes wide. She imitated a fish for a minute, opening and closing her mouth soundlessly. "Dude, that was a fucking vampire?" She rolled her eyes and began to laugh. "I almost feel sorry for Sarafina!" She laughed again and rubbed her eyes, calming down. "Seriously though, I didn't think they'd be that ugly."

Faith nodded. "It's because they have a demon in them. These vamps are demons that inhabit the bodies. Like a possession, I guess. They remember everything you'd remember, talk like you, everything, 'cept they're not you. And they're evil." She put her arm around Eevee as they walked. "Soulless," She added, remembering Angel. "Sometimes you get one that's a special case, but not usually."

Eevee looked at her. "Special case?"

Faith twirled her stake. "There's a vampire in LA named Angel. Remember I told you about him?" Eevee nodded. "He's got a soul. See, a long-ass time ago, when he was a soulless vampire named Angelus, he did something really fucked up to this gypsy girl. Her family decided to get revenge and they cursed him - gave him a soul. So he'd remember all the fucked up things he'd done and feel bad for 'em. It worked. He's a good guy now; only drinks pig's blood and stuff and he fights for our team. He helped me remember who I am."

Eevee nodded, taking it all in. "Hey, let's head back, okay?" She shivered a little and looked around her. "I'm getting kind of creeped out, my mind is like, running a mile a minute."

Faith smiled at her, "No problem, V."

Eevee and Faith walked up to the basement apartment the slayer shared with her new friend, Merlin, and saw a note attached to the door with duct tape. Chuckling, Eevee pulled it down and read it aloud. "Faith, I'm going out with Wrath; probably won't be home tonight. I'll call if I plan on being back. Merlin." She shook her head and stepped aside for Faith to unlock the door. "Guess we have the place to ourselves."

"Looks like…" Faith trailed off and opened the door. "How about some chill time, some more training, and then…" Faith blushed, trailing off once more.

Eevee grinned and stretched her neck, cracking the joint. "Sounds awesome to me; I got seriously creeped back in the cemetery, so I'm way up for learning how to kill 'em."

Faith nodded, stepping aside to let Eevee in and locked the door behind her. The girls walked into the bedroom, picked up their packages, and brought them through to the larger room. "Well then some book learning is probably due right about now. So I'm gonna call April; see if she can come over with some books." Catching the pout forming on Eevee's face, she added. "Tomorrow. I'll teach you what I know tonight." She walked back into the bedroom to use the phone.

Eevee blushed, realizing she'd been caught. "Awesome." She sat at the table and pulled the used paper targets out of one of the bags. [Not too bad, for my first time.] She fingered the holes spread out over the target and blushed. [And the target's looking pretty good too.]

Faith came back in, saying "April said she'll be here tomorrow at noon. She's got some vamp anatomy books with her and the slayer's handbook which you can hang on to." She sat across from Eevee and took the target from her. "You didn't do too badly, V. My first time with a crossbow, I nearly took Melissa's cat out."

Eevee nodded. "Thanks, I was just thinking that I can hit the broadside of a building, but vamps are a little skinnier."

Faith rose from her seat and walked to the door leading to the boiler room. "Speaking of which, we should check on our houseguest." She opened the door and taped to the boiler where Sarafina should have been in chains, was a note. "Geez, Merlin's been all with the note-writing." She waved the note at Eevee then read it. "Faith, some weird shit happened early this morning. Someone came to kill Sarafina. Managed it, apparently, but I took it out along with two others. I'm going with Wrath to take care of the bodies. See you." She looked up at Eevee. "Looks like we missed some excitement." She looked down at the pile of dust and sniffed it. "Hey, c'mere, V. Wanna smell some vampire dust?"

Eevee stood up and walked around the large table to stand next to Faith, "Sure." She leaned down and sniffed the air above the dust gingerly. "Smells weird… Like lots of gross shit, dirt, blood… But good somehow."

Faith nodded, "Yeah. I was never able to figure out why, exactly, but I love the smell of it." She looked into Eevee's eyes letting a little of the slayer show. "It smells like power, I guess. Something like that. I get like, a major burst of energy when I smell it."

Eevee slowly shook her head up and down, looking back into Faith's eyes. Her eyes widened and she flinched just a little, her eyes narrowing and filling with lust. She moved forward, claiming Faith's lips. Pulling back again, she looked questioningly at Faith. "That reminds me, how come I got so…" She blushed and trailed off unable to say the words to describe her emotional state after sparring.

Faith laughed lightly and smiled at Eevee. "Babe, it's the classic case of slayer 'h and h' syndrome." She grinned and stood back up. "Hungry and Horny; it happens every time I slay. The adrenaline rush just makes a girl…crave things."

Eevee blushed. Standing up and turning away, she mumbled, "I've never craved…a chick before."

Faith strode across the room and put her hand gently on Eevee's shoulder, turning her to look into her eyes. "V, are you okay with this? I don't wanna push you into anything." [Oh Gods, she didn't want this.]

Eevee half smiled and looked down at the floor, blushing. "No, you didn't push me, Slaya. I wanted it and I still do. I'm just getting used to the idea."

Faith breathed out. [Oh thank the powers that be!] Faith shifted uneasily and then leaned forward, making the first move. [I hope this is okay.]

Eevee smiled at Faith as if she could hear her thoughts and leaned forward to kiss the slayer back. She put her hands around the older girl and pulled gently on her neck, pulling her down. Eevee licked Faith's lips and when she opened them, Eevee deepened the kiss, sighing into Faith's mouth.

Faith walked forward, pushing Eevee towards the couch she'd spent most of her recent nights on. And finally, pushed her a bit more firmly, catching the girl before she fell and lowering her to the soft cushions. Faith fluttered her fingers across Eevee's shoulders and down her arms, trailing the tips along her forearms. Grasping Eevee's hands in hers, Faith lifted first one to her lips, then the other. Smiling at Eevee - a smile so wide it actually reached her chocolate-brown eyes - she took a deep breath, got up abruptly and reached for her cigarettes. "I told you, learning first."

Eevee groaned and got up from the couch. "Yes Mistress." She dropped into a chair by the table and looked at Faith with a smirk eerily like the slayer's. "So teach me. I wanna know everything."

Faith sat down next to Eevee, took a drag of her smoke, and began. "Well, it's like this..."

---

Spike paced the basement occasionally throwing punches at the heavy bag suspended from the ceiling. He strode over to the army surplus cot he'd been sleeping on and grabbed his leather duster. Reaching into the pocket for his cigarettes, he heard a sound on the stairs and spun around, coming face to face with the petite slayer. "What do you bloody want?"

"Wow, you're all bad-moody." She watched the vampire pull out an empty pack of cigarettes, crush it and throw it to the side. She reached into her pocket and tossed him a new pack. "I just wanted to tell…"

Spike interrupted her, catching the smokes in mid-air. "Yeah, I know. You and Red are shaggin' now, so I hear. Little girly fun, right love?"

Buffy blushed. "Spike, you don't understand…" She grimaced as he cut her off once again.

"Oh I understand, pet. You and your little witch upstairs and Spike sleeping in bleedin' chains. Some fun for me, lemme tell you. Y'know…" Spike began a fresh rant, only to stop again and look at Buffy strangely. "What'd you want, anyway?"

Buffy looked down at the floor and pulled the amulet out of her pocket. "I wanted to give you this."

Spike looked at the large pendant and snorted. "And just what would I want that for, Slayer?" He turned away and took his Zippo out of his pocket, striking it and raising it to the cigarette in his teeth.

"Angel said the amulet was meant to be worn by a champion." Spike turned away smoking his cigarette and Buffy stepped forward. She took his hand, dropped the necklace into it, and closed his fingers over it.

Spike looked over at her and sneered, "I've been called a lot of bloody things in my time, Slayer, but a…" He trailed off, spinning around to face her. "A champion, did you say? Surely tall, dark and forehead meant to wear it?"

"It's volatile. We don't know every…"

Spike cut her off again. "You'll be needing someone strong to bear it then. Or do you plan on giving it to Andrew? Maybe your big, strong, dark slayer? Oh, that's right, you ran her off when you and Witchy-witch had your little snog-fest. You can't buy me off with shiny beads and sweet talk. You've got Willow-breath. I'm not going to just let you whack me back and forth like a rubber ball. I got my pride, you know." Spike turned his back on the slayer again.

"I understand." Buffy started up the stairs. "She's been found, you know. She's on her way back."

"Bet Red's doing jumping-jacks." Spike tossed the amulet on the cot. "Just get out."

Buffy opened the door to the basement, nodding, not really caring if he could see her or not.

---

Eevee stood up to make yet another pot of coffee while Faith went the store for cigarettes. She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and she slowly slid her stake out of the waistband of her pants. Waiting until she felt that whatever it was got closer, she spun around aiming her stake at the heart of the intruder. Her eyes went wide as Faith grabbed her wrist, stopping the stake mid-thrust. "Damn, Slaya, you scared me half to death."

Faith nodded, her eyes showing her pride. "You did good, V. You didn't lose your cool - just turned to fight. I'm proud of you." She motioned to where the stake was still poised, Faith's grip on Eevee's wrist freezing it place. "And you'd have got my heart, too. Nice work." She let go of Eevee's wrist tossing a black plastic bag on the table and motioned to a couple of others sitting on the floor by the door. "I got groceries; wanna help?"

Eevee nodded. "Sure, I'm starving. What'd you get?" She picked up two of the packages and walked over to the table. "Oh damn, Slaya, there's enough food here for an army."

Faith chuckled and pulled out some steaks. "Nah, just a slayer and potential after a night in the graveyard, that's all."

The two women prepared dinner and while the steaks were cooking, sat down on the couch. Faith set Merlin's playlist to shuffle and put her arm around the potential. "So how do you feel now? A little better prepared?"

Eevee nodded and leaned over to Faith, nuzzling her, "Yeah, I mean, I'm not a Slayer. And the way things are, I hope I never will be. I mean, you gotta die, right? Anyway, yeah, I think I'll be fine."

Faith smiled and got up, walking to the stove and turning it off. "I think you'll be better than fine, V." She walked over to Eevee and straddled her, facing the potential. "I think you'll be incredible." She leaned forward and trapped Eevee's lips with her own. "Hell, you already are incredible."

Eevee moaned into Faith's mouth and slid her arms around the slayer, pulling her closer, then pushing her away. "I'm starved, Slaya. Let's eat."