Adjustments

See Part 1 for Ratings and Disclaimers

Chapter 26

Faith awoke with a little start, then relaxed back as her mind caught up and she realized where she was. Looking from one side the other, she laid back with a rare feeling on safety and contentment. Wrapped up in the arms of the women she loves, she feels warm and loved and satiated, with no real lingering doubts for her choices. She does feel a small sense of wonder, though, at the changes a week can bring.

She smiles. Less that a week, really, now that she thinks about it. She idly plays with red and black locks of hair and strokes bare arms as she thinks back to just over a week ago. When she was still confused and unsure what was going on with her and Willow and Kennedy, when they were still trying to figure things out.

Willow's suggestive flirting and Kennedy coming to her and giving permission to go after Willow, all that really confused the hell out of the once rogue Slayer. Then the almost ambush the two gave her in the training room, the one that lead to the best night of sex she'd ever had. [Well, to then, anyway,] she thinks wryly.

She also remembers all the fears, especially the next morning, that she would cause the women she loves to split up. It's a fear that she still hasn't completely shed. The thought that her lovers might split up because of her still sends a cold chill through her sometimes. She notices that, first Willow, then Kennedy are stirring and making little groaning noises, like they're waking up, so she stills her hands, content to just hold them.

As she lies there, she thinks about her girlfriends, what they mean to her already, how much she loves them. She smiles to herself, remembering the last week. Then she frowns slightly as a thought intrudes.

The three of them have been together almost constantly, only partially apart when she and Kennedy have gone on patrol. At that thought, her frown increases a little. She and Kennedy have spent a lot of time together without Willow, but neither has been near their witch without the other there as well.

[Okay, I wanna fix that. For me and Kenn both, cause she has to be missin time with Red without me around.] She thinks this without the self doubt and worry that had plagued her just days ago. Yes, she still has an occasional thought about hurting her girls, but they're getting fewer and further between.

[Okay, I think Kenn should get the first night alone with Willow. Something romantic, I think.] She rolls her eyes and softly blows out an exasperated breath. [Ah, who'm I kiddin! I don't know anything about that shit.]

The dark Slayer thinks for a few more minutes, trying to see a way through her problem. Finally, she admits something she doesn't really want to. [Okay, gonna need some help with this.] She considers her options and scowls at her first thought. [Not, B, no way! She'd make some stupid joke and I'd just have to beat the shit outta her and that'd ruin it.] She grunts softly as her thoughts speed up a little. [That leaves Patch, D and the Rookie.]

She considers for a few minutes, absently resuming her light stroking of her girls' hair. [Better go with Dawn, cause she knows Red better than Vi and Xander is about as romantic as I am.]

That decided, the brunette slowly begins extricating herself, being very careful to not wake her lovers. Even then, as she straightens, she hears a soft voice behind her.

"What's up?"

Faith turns and finds Kennedy looking up at her through half open eyes. She smiles. "Nature call, babe. It's cool." She leans over and kisses her softly, then straightens, saying, "Go back to sleep, okay?"

The younger Slayer nods sleepily and rolls over, snuggling into Willow's arms. The redhead sighs deeply, automatically pulling her close.

Faith stands and watches her lovers sleep for a moment, almost overcome by a wave of love surging through her for both women. Watching them cuddle and sleep, she realizes with a bit of a shock, she loves them both equally. Her, the person everyone thought incapable of love, in love with two women and wanting to spend her life with them.

She smiles once more at her two girls before slipping on some clothes, then she quietly turns and leaves. After a brief pit stop for the nature call, Faith heads for the kitchen, her stomach grumbling unhappily with her. Once there, she looks over her selections, then grabs a couple snack cakes and a cup of coffee, promising her stomach real food soon.

Never a patient person, she decides to go ahead and find Dawn and see if she'll help with her plan. Eating her last cake, she slips out of the kitchen, figuring, with the hour, the teen is probably watching tv, so she heads for that room. As she goes by the dining room, she catches movement from the corner of her eye and automatically turns to look.

She stops dead and stares as she observes Buffy go up on her toes to softly kiss Xander's lips. Shaking her head a little, she starts moving again, smirking to herself and thinking, [That's new.]

Swallowing the last of her coffee, she enters the living/tv room, but stops frowning. Not finding anyone in there, she turns and stops, then nods to herself and heads back upstairs. As she nears the teen's room, her Slayer hearing can easily pick up the sounds of Dawn moving around on the other side of the door, so she knocks, even as she slows to a stop.

"Come in."

Faith opens the door and walks in, beginning to speak immediately. "Hey, D, I need a little favor. Well, kind of a big favor, really, if you..." Her words sputter to a halt as her eyes finally focus on the brunette teen, and she feels her jaw drop and her libido restart. She can still remember her words the night she arrived at the Summers home during the fight with the First.

She'd looked at Dawn confronting her and drawled, "Brat's all woman-sized now." Looking at the gorgeous young woman standing in front of her, she realized what a woeful understatement that was. She raises an eyebrow and smirks. "Damn, girl! You' tryin to give people a heart attack?"

Warily, Dawn looks at the older brunette. "What do you mean?"

Faith just shakes her head, smiling at the girl's confusion. "Just wanted to know what's with the 'Take me now and ride me hard' look? You plannin on doin something I might've done?"

Dawn blushes, but still looks a little confused. "What are you talking about?" she demands, a little exasperated. Then she thinks abut what the Slayer said and puts it together with what Xander's reactions and words from earlier, and looks down and really looks at what she's wearing. She blushes harder, but angrily asks, "What is it with you and Xander?! They're just clothes!"

The once rogue stares at her for a moment, surprised by the outburst, then smiles wickedly. "It ain't the clothes, kid, it's what's in'em!" she tells the flustered teen with a wink. Dawn surprises her a little by blushing even harder, her cheeks looking like someone has beaten her.

As the teen looks away to hide her face, Faith is startled to see a tear coursing down the currently flame colored cheek. She immediately stops teasing. "Hey, I was just playin with ya, D," she tells Dawn, unsure of what else to do. "Well, sorta," she admits. "You do look pretty hot like that!" Faith tries for a reassuring smile.

"Stop it!" Dawn demands tearfully.

"Stop what?"

Dawn angrily faces Faith again, another tear slipping from her eye. "Stop saying things like that! Buffy's the pretty one, not me, so why pretend anything else!" She hisses, hugging her arms around herself. She whips her head down to look at the floor, more tears coming as a small tremor runs through her shoulders.

The dark Slayer stands there stunned and at a complete loss. She's never had to deal with something like this before and isn't really sure what to say or do, but she can tell she needs to do something. Now. Shaking off her stupor, she closes the distance and puts a comforting hand on Dawn's shoulder.

She smiles a little and chuckles. "Well, I gotta admit," she begins. "B does have that whole 'hot California blonde' thing goin for her. And the guys do seem to lose their minds over girls like her. Some of the girls too, if we're being straight about it." She smiles gently, as if in memory.

Dawn turns away a little more and her body shakes with her silent misery.

The older brunette wants to kick herself, then another argument occurs to her and she smiles. "But, hey, look at me! No blonde hair here and I've never had any real trouble getting pretty much who I want." She frowns ever so slightly, then amends her statement. "Well, there was those two, but one doesn't count, cause I only was after Angel cause the Boss wanted me to. As for the other one, well... I got over her a while back. So, see? Us dark haired girls can get anyone we want just as easy as the blondes, right?"

Dawn shrugs dejectedly. "Yeah, I guess you're right. For some of us."

"Still don't believe me that B's not the only hot Summers girl?"

"She is," the teen insists. "I mean, I know I don't scare people off, but I'm still not that pretty, so you can just stop trying to say I am!"

Faith can feel herself starting to get mad, both at Dawn and whoever it was that made her feel this way. "You're not that pretty?!" she asks, incredulously. "Dawnie, you're frickin' gorgeous! Don't you know that?" The Slayer sighs explosively. "I mean, if it wasn't for Red and Junior, I'd've been chasin you for months, now." She gives Dawn a somewhat lecherous grin and winks at her.

A small, embarrassed smile creeps across the former Key's lips as she blushes hard. "You're just saying that."

Faith shakes her head, a teasing smile on her face. She punches Dawn very lightly on the arm. "No, I'm not just sayin that. You really are damned good lookin'! Hell if I didn't already have my girlfriends, I'd be makin' yours so jealous, she wouldn't be able to see straight, and that's the truth, Squirt!"

The younger girl's flattered blush swiftly gives way to a confused expression, as she turns blue eyes toward the once rogue Slayer. "Uh, Faith? What girlfriend? I don't have a girlfriend. No boyfriend, for that matter, cause, Hello! I don't know anyone who doesn't live here," she complains, somewhat bitterly.

Faith herself now has a confused look. She was sure, with everything she'd observed and heard over the last few days, that something was brewing with the younger members of the house. "I thought you and the Rookie had something' goin'?"

Dawn shakes her head, a little too forcefully it seems to Faith. "No! No, we're just friends. Honest!" She grins ruefully. "Why is everyone trying to get me to start dating girls today? First Xander, now you. Did you guys talk or something?" The teen waves off the Slayer's protests. "Why would you think Vi and I are dating, anyway?"

Faith simply shrugs. "Just little things. Kinda what you were talkin about that mornin' you found out about me and Will and Kenn. Y'know, noticin things? You guys kinda act like there's something there, and sometimes the looks are there. A few times, the way something was said. Like that." She watches the teen's face and Dawn does look thoughtful, but that's not the reaction she was expecting.

Faith shrugs again. "No, huh? I've been wrong before." She smiles her lopsided smile. "Guess I'm not as good at this noticin' shit as you and Patch, huh?"

Dawn rolls her eyes at that and smiles sarcastically. "Like I told Xander this morning when he said something about me getting a girlfriend, I want boys right now!"

The Slayer laughs at the younger girl's vehemence. "Hey, nothin wrong with the boys, long as you don't let'em get close enough to hurt ya, y'know?"

"Hey!" Dawn protests. "There's plenty of good guys out there! I mean, look at Xander and... well... Xander," she finishes awkwardly, then her eyes narrow and Faith smirk and laughs. "Hey, is it my fault I don't know anyone in the town?"

Faith shakes her head, though her teasing smile is still firmly in place. "Nope, it's not. All B's fault for not lettin you out to meet people, right?" She chuckles when the teen smiles and nods. She suddenly gets an image of what she saw downstairs and has to ask. "Oh, hey, speaking of B and Patch, I saw'em down in the dining room is major lip lock. You know what's up with that?"

Dawn's good mood vanishes and she scowls. "Oh. That." She gives an annoyed sigh. "They've decided to date. Each other, I mean." Her tone is liberally lace with indifference and anger.

Faith catches both and really looks at the teenager. She can understand the indifference, she thinks. Buffy's sex life should be irrelevant to the girl. The anger, though, that confuses the older girl for a moment. She thinks for a few moments, but can't really come up with a reason why Dawn would be angry about her sister and Xander dating.

Then, she really looks at Dawn's face and remembers how she's been acting since the ex-carpenter got back. When she puts that with the brunette's clothing choices for the morning, an idea begins to form. She also thinks about herself, a month or so ago, when she was driving herself crazy watching Willow and Kennedy, knowing she could never get close to Willow.

[Aw, shit, NO!] She thinks, her eyes widening and locking on Dawn. An image of Vi appears in her mind as well as one of Xander and she gives a small groan as her mind connects the dots. [Whoa! D likes Patch?! Okay, didn't see that one comin'. And with B datin him now, kid's gotta be goin nuts! Oh, man, when we toss the Rookie in the mix...] She shakes her head violently.

[Okay, gonna stop thinkin' 'bout this shit right now! My own love life is confusing enough without worryin about Dawn's too.] She thinks of her girls and smiles without realizing it, but a glance up at the distraught teen makes the smile vanish. "Uh, listen, D, uh, Dawn. I, uh, I wouldn't worry about that. Buffy and Xander, I mean. I just can't see'em being a couple that long, you know? They've been kinda like, y'know' brother and sister way too long to be, uh, y'know, together like that." She smiles sheepishly, feeling way out of her depth with this kind of talk.

Dawn's face shows her even greater distress from Faith's words and the Slayer mentally kicks herself as she realizes that what she said could apply to Dawn herself. She decides to try again. "I mean, if it was Red, I'd be really worried about the gettin together, cause, y'know, she did have that thing for him once. B, on the other hand, she's never thought about him like that, I know."

Dawn scowls as she turns and faces Faith head on. Her tone is faintly disbelieving as she asks, "How the hell would you know that? Slayer's intuition or something?"

Faith just gives Dawn her brightest, most winning smile as she winks and informs her, "'Cause I asked her once, and she said she'd never thought about it at all. Kinda freaked that I thought she might, in fact."

The former Key can feel her eyes widen enormously. "You asked her if she wanted to date Xander?!? Just said, 'Hey, Buffy. Ever think about having Xander as your boyfriend?'?" Suddenly, her eyes narrow a bit and turn speculative. "Wait. When was this?"

"One time when we were patrolling in Restfield, we were talking." Faith replies, shaking her head. "And I never asked her if she wanted to date him. I asked her if she'd ever just grabbed him and rode him 'til he passed out after a hard night's slaying!" she finishes, grinning wickedly, and winking as her young friend. She chuckles to herself as she remembers the night she's talking about and Buffy's reaction.

Dawn stares at the Slayer for a moment, then a blush darkens her face rapidly as she gets what Faith is talking about. "Oh my God, you didn't!" She stares at the older girl for a moment, then smiles and shakes her head in astonishment and understanding at Faith's expression. "You so did. What did she say to that?"

Faith laughs openly at the memory. "She reacted about like you did. Said he was just a friend and that she just couldn't think of Patch that way."

Dawn thinks about what Faith just told her and adds it with the Slayer's comment about them kissing. After a moment's reflection, she feels a little hope, then feels it dashed as she realizes that what Faith remembers was years ago. Things change in that length of time. [Why am I obsessing on this anyway?] she thinks to herself. [I should be happy for both of them, not mad.] Try as she might, though, she can't shake the feeling that Buffy and Xander shouldn't be together.

Faith watches the teen's face and makes the decision that they've been off the subject she wanted to talk to Dawn about long enough. "Hey, listen, D, enough about that kinda stuff. I didn't track you down to talk about B's lack of a love life. I kinda need to ask you for a favor."

Dawn stares at the wall, lost in her own thought for another moment, then Faith's words finally get through. She looks up and at the other brunette, her eyebrow raising. "Favor? What kind of favor?"

Faith looks away from the teen. She can feel heat on her cheeks and she doesn't want to take the chance that Dawn might actually see a faint blush on her face. "Okay, first, you gotta swear that you won't say anything to anybody, okay? 'Specially not, B, Red or Kenn. For God's sake, not B! I'm trying this whole being good thing now and I'd hate to have to break the streak by killin her, okay?"

Dawn giggles at the near panic in the voice of the 'big, tough, Slayer' in front of her. "Okay, okay! I promise. No telling Buffy." She grins and giggles again. "Besides, I think Willow and Xander are getting tired of the whole 'raise her from the dead' routine, so can't let you kill her."

Faith smirks a little in return, but it dies quickly as her nervousness returns with a vengeance. "Okay, then. I guess you wanna know the favor?" She swallows apprehensively as the younger girl nods and gives her a pseudo-sarcastic half smile.

"How can I tell you if I can do it if you won't tell me what I'm agreeing to?" the teen asks reasonably, her eyes rolling, just a little.

Faith grimaces. "Yeah, okay. That makes sense." She takes a deep breath, the let's it out in a gusty sigh. "I was wantin you to help me arrange a kinda romantic date kinda thing for Willow and Kennedy. Tonight. Can you do that?"

Dawn can feel her eyes bug out a little as she hears the request. A part of her simply can't believe that it's Faith that's making this request, even with everything that's happened in the past week. The Faith her memory keeps pulling up is someone who has become a good person and loyal to the whole defeat evil cause, but never a romantic. Not someone who cared about getting a dinner for her lovers right. The teen looks at the other woman, her eyes finally seeing the person Faith was becoming, all thanks to her girlfriends.

"Okay, let me get this straight. You want me to help you set up a romantic date for just Willow and Kennedy tonight, while you, what? Watch? And date where? Out, at a restaurant? Movies?" Dawn rattles off her questions, trying desperately to keep her face neutral.

Faith growls a little, then blows out her breath, trying to regain her cool. "Yeah, that's what I want, but hey, If you don't wanna help, it's cool. I'll just get lost, then." She turns to go, her temper still getting the better of her.

"Faith wait!" Dawn said quickly, moving to stop the Dark Slayer. "I didn't say I wouldn't help, I just wanted to make sure what you wanted is all." She moves in front of the older brunette. "Come back in?"

Faith waits for a second, weighing her own natural tendency to never ask for help versus Dawn's assurances that she would help her make her lovers happy. Finally, she nods and goes back in the teen's room, turning her desk chair around to face the bed. She sits as Dawn flashes a smile, warmed by the thought that Faith must trust her. She goes to her bed, tucking one leg under herself, she sits, facing the dark Slayer.

Dawn pauses, then restates her earlier questions. "Okay, before I can help, I still need to know a few things. Are you gonna be there, or just them?"

"Well, since B seems to have a date and I wanna set up one for Red and K, I was figuring I'd grab yo- the Rookie and do the patrollin tonight, so just them."

The brunette teen nods, ignoring the comment about Buffy's date. "Okay, then dinner or movies or something else? And if dinner's what you wanna do, here or at a restaurant?"

Faith thinks for a minute, her brows contracting. This is getting a lot more involved than she thought it was gonna be. "Hell, I don't know, D. Most of my 'dates' are a few shots and good hard screw, y'know?" She sees the other girl blush a little. "Oh, sorry 'bout that, Squirt. Wasn't thinkin, you know?"

Dawn fights to control and banish the blush that's still creeping across her face. "That's okay. I, uh, I've kinda heard about that. Your, uh, old way of looking at dates, I mean."

Faith ducks her head. "Yeah, well, I'm still sorry." She pauses a few seconds, then asks, "So, since we know I have no idea what to do, what do you think I should do?"

The former Key sits and thinks seriously for a moment or two, then smiles. "Okay, dinner is probably a good idea, but unless you have a bunch of money you can slip the restaurant and hope they don't go over it, that won't really work.

"How about this; I go on patrol with you guys tonight, we tell Buffy and Xander to stay out a little later and set up a dinner for them down stairs?" Her smile gets bigger as her excitement grows. "Oh! We can even load up the cd player so they can dance, too! Set a bunch of candles around for the right kind of lighting..." She turns her attention back the older brunette looking at her, a bemused expression on her face. Dawn feels her smile dim a little. "What do you think?"

Faith just looks at the teen as she rattles off the details of the 'date' she's planning out, marveling at what the girl has come up with off the top of her head. Especially since, except for the part of her half formed idea of using her old bedroom, there's a lot of what she kinda thinking about in what her young friend has just described.

"Well," she says slowly, "except for the part with you goin on patrol with me and the Rookie, It's kinda what I was thinkin too, so cool." She pauses, frowning. "Wait, what about you stayin here to serve'em dinner and who cooks? I mean, I can do little stuff and if it's somethin you toss in a nuker, but a real dinner?" She shakes her head, scowling at her inability.

Dawn grins a little. "I said I could go with you guys so we could all be out of the house. Tara taught me to cook, so I can do that, and we can put it out just before we leave and it'll still be hot. If we go ahead and set everything out the right way, they can... No, that won't work." She stops, her face showing she's in deep thought for a moment, then she smiles. "Okay, tell you what. I'll still cook and even stay long enough to do the waitress bit, but then I'll catch up with you and Vi at the Dairy Queen near Highland Park and you can buy me an ice cream cone!" Dawn smiles, pleased with her reasoning.

Faith, a little more dubious, slowly nods, then smiles a bit. "Yeah, okay I like this plan. What do you need from me?" She grins wickedly. "Besides the chocolate dipped chocolate ice cream cone, I mean."

The teen smiles in anticipation, then gives her head a little shake. "Well, we should probably go to the store and pick of the stuff I'll need to cook. Xander and I are done with the measuring stuff he wanted to do, so we could go now, if you want."

Faith starts to agree, but a loud angry sounding growl sounds and she gives the other brunette a half smirk. "Gimme an hour, okay? I kinda need to eat and grab a shower."

Dawn nods and smiles again. Okay, that'll give me time to check what we've got here and what we need to buy." She stops and gives Faith a serious look. "You do know, you're gonna owe me a favor after this, right?"

"As long as it won't break any serious laws or make you sister wanna kill me, sure," the Slayer agrees easily, grateful for Dawn's help.

Dawn giggles a bit. "Promise, it won't be any of that." She stands grinning. "Wanna get started? I need to be back before Vi gets home, cause we're supposed to hang out tonight until it's time to patrol and I want to be here when she gets home."

Faith smiles evilly. "Thought you said you guys weren't together? Sounds a lot like a date to me!"

Danw blushes and scowls at the older woman. "No! I told you, we're just friends! We-we're just gonna grab some burgers and maybe see a movie or something." She sees Faith's expression and her scowl deepens. "Keep this up and I won't help!" She threatens.

Faith holds up her hands in surrender. "Hey, don't be doin that. I'll behave," she chuckles. She starts to get up, when she feels a pair of hands sliding along her neck and down her front. She looks down and sees them clasp together on her upper chest, so she tilts her head back to see which of her girls it is. She has a split second glimpse of a smile surrounded by red hair before she receives a slow, upside down kiss.

After a moment or two, Willow pulls away slowly, still smiling. "Morning baby."

Faith smiles goofily for a second before she remembers her rep and it changes to a smirk, then a scowl as Dawn giggles.

Dawn tries to stop laughing, but she can't quite contain it. "Sorry!" she giggles. "It's just - You got it so bad!"

Willow joins her laughter and, after another dirty look, Faith gives in and joins them. Getting herself under control, Faith looks around at her girl and smiles again. "Yeah, I guess I do," she agrees

Moving quickly, she turns and grabs Willow, who squeals a little as Faith pulls her onto her lap and into her arms. Smiling devilishly, the dark Slayer gives her girl a proper morning kiss. It's a lot like Faith herself these days, powerful and sensual, but playful and full of promises of things to come once they're alone. Things the redhead will enjoy every second of.

They finally pull away, both panting a little. Faith smiles delightedly. "That was for this morning." Her smile gets a little bigger as she remembers. "It was amazing. And really great!"

Willow gives her a little smirk and playfully kisses the tip of her nose. "It was our pleasure!" she assures her older Slayer.

Faith's smile turns wicked and teasing as she winks at the redhead. "Funny. Felt like it was all mine!"

The witch blushes and swats at the other girl, but the brunette easily avoids the slim hand, pulling Willow closer to her. She begins to nuzzle and kiss at the alabaster skin of the redhead's throat, causing delicious shivers to travel up and down Willow's spine.

Dawn just groans and rolls her eyes at the display. After hearing then so early this morning, she really doesn't want to watch them make out now. "Okay, look," she says, her tone exasperated. "The PDAs were bad enough when Willow only had one girlfriend. With two of you, so much worse!" She lightly slaps at the arms of both older women. "Can you guys just stop for a few minutes?"

Faith pulls away from Willow's throat and smirks. "Got your watch, Red?"

Dawn groans and rolls her eyes while Willow smiles. She gives Faith one more chaste kiss and stands, pulling Faith to her feet. "Come on, Spice. Let's go find Kennedy and grabs some breakfast and let Dawnie get on with whatever she's got planned for today."

Faith smiles at her lover. "Spice, huh?" she asks, considering the nickname. Finally, she grins. "Okay, I can deal with that," She agrees before looking back at Dawn. "I'll find you in a little while, D, and we can go do that shopping you wanted to do, 'k?"

"That's cool."

"What's that about?" Willow asks as the couple walks out into the hallway.

Faith glances at her girl, then back forward. "Oh, D wanted me to go shopping with her. She probably just wants a pack mule," she says easily and indifferently. "What are you in the mood for for breakfast? Anything special?"

The wicca shakes her head. "Not really." She's quiet for a moment, then grins. "Why don't you go grab a shower and I'll get breakfast started, okay?"

Faith smiles and stops, pulling Willow into her arms and kissing her lightly. "Sounds like a plan. Want me wake Junior up and send her down to you?"

Willow smiles knowingly. "Actually, she's already awake and should be just getting in the shower now."

Faith grins. "Why, Red, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were sayin it's okay to have my way with your girlfriend!" she teases.

The redhead laughs and kisses Faith quickly before pulling away a little. "Hey, she's your girlfriend too, so have fun!" She turns serious for a second. "I expect my own smoochies and stuff later, though!" she warns.

"I'm all for that," Faith agrees. "Love Kenn and all, but I really want to have you to myself for a little while and soon!" Her smile dims a little as she looks a little apprehensive. "Would that be okay?"

Willow's expression softens and she steps back into Faith's arms. "Of course it's okay, sweetie! I want to spend time with just you, too. I mean, I love Kennedy, deeply, but I love you too, just as much and I want you to myself for a little while as well." She smiles quickly before pulling Faith into a kiss that swiftly becomes heated, then searing.

Tongues duel playfully for dominance as lips move against each other. The lovers pull away just long enough to suck air into starving lungs before resuming, ending with Willow sucking on the dark Slayer's tongue for a moment as she moans and whimpers in need. Pulling away slightly, foreheads pressed together, they both pant for much needed air for a few seconds.

Finally, Willow smiles and kisses Faith once more, a small, chaste peck. "Consider that a down payment, Spice!" Faith just grins, her eyes showing the lust that's ignited in her once more. The redhead just smiles once more and pulls away after one last quick kiss. "Go shower baby. I'll have some food ready when you two get downstairs, 'k"

The Slayer reluctantly release her. "Okay. Sounds good to me, Red." She turns and starts to walk away, then stops and turns back. "Hey, Red!"

Willow stops and looks back at her Slayer, a little smile on her lips and an eyebrow raised.

Faith smiles. "Love you too, you know."

Willow's smile gets bigger. "Yeah, I know you do, baby. Don't be too long in the shower, okay?" She responds as she turns and starts down the stairs.

Faith turns and walks over to the bathroom the triple usually uses and listens for a second. She easily hears the sounds of someone in the shower and her enhanced sense of smell detects Kennedy's scent. Smiling, she quietly opens the door and slips inside. Looking at the translucent shower doors, she can make out the mass of dark hair that tells her she was right about the current occupant.

She smiles to herself, slipping out of her shorts and tank top. Crossing over to the shower stall, she opens the door, her breath catching at the sight before her. Water sheeting from and beading on a bronzed exquisitely toned body, she can't remember Kennedy ever looking that hot and sexy and her mouth waters as her libido kicks into overdrive.

"Need someone to wash your back?" she asks huskily.

Kennedy just smiles and nods before grabbing the taller Slayer and pulling her into her arms for a deep soulful kiss.

Chapter 27

"Faith, are you ready to go yet?" the younger Summers asks as she walks into the kitchen.

Faith looks up as she puts the last of her, Willow and Kennedy's breakfast dishes in the dishwasher, her eyes automatically locking on the teen fidgeting in the doorway. She grins at the teen and her impatience. It was times like this she wondered if Dawn wasn't maybe her sister and a joke had been played on Buffy. Then she would remind herself, like now, that Buffy could be way more impatient than her and Dawn could only have gotten that whine from the blonde Slayer.

"Don't get your panties inna twist, Squirt. Be ready in about five."

Chestnut hair bounces as Dawn gives one sharp nod. "Okay. I'll wait for you in the garage." She walks passed the stand alone island type counter and towards the door leading to the garage, then stops and gives Faith a scowl. "And stop calling me 'Squirt'! I'm taller than you and Buffy both!"

The dark Slayer smiles and nods amiably. "Anything you say... Squirt." Her smile becomes a wicked grin.

Dawn's scowl turns grumpier and she sticks her tongue out at the older girl before yanking the door open and stalking out of the room.

Faith just laughs and straightens, closing the door on the dishwasher, setting and starting it. Turning, she heads for the tv room, hoping to find their 'fearless leader'. She frowns a moment later as the room turns out to be empty, then groans to herself as she remembers the older woman coming through the kitchen while her and her girlfriends were eating, heading for the basement. Since she can't remember the blonde coming back upstairs, that sounds like her best bet.

Retracing her steps, she opens the door to the basement and is rewarded with a sound that wouldn't make sense to ninety-five percent of the people on the planet, but it's one she's intimately familiar with. Making no particular effort to be silent, she heads down and finds Buffy doing exactly what she knew would be happening from the sounds.

The blonde looks up from where she's slowly and systematically running a whetstone across her favorite hand axe, returning it to a razor's edge after the last time she used it. Beside her lay what Faith knew was her favorite dagger, the knife they used to make stakes and a small pile of wooden blanks. "Hey," the elder Slayer calls as her eyes return to her careful stroking of metal on stone.

"Hey, B," Faith answers, closing the distance. The brunette sits down, reaching for the knife and a piece of wood to start turning a blank into a usable stake. "Dawn tells me congrats are in order." At the other Slayer's blank look, Faith adds, "You and Patch gettin' together. D tells me you have a date tonight, right?"

Buffy's face clears as she gets what Faith is talking about and she smiles a little. "Oh, yeah. To both, I mean. We talked last night after I got back." She looks at the other woman slyly and lightly(for a Slayer) punches her shoulder. "Mostly, 'cause some noise was keeping me awake!"

Faith, far from blushing, just grins and shrugs her shoulders. "I'd say I'm sorry, but we both know I ain't, so..." She flashes her trademark smirk and goes back to work, shaving slivers of wood from the forming weapon.

Buffy laughs sharply a couple times, letting it turn to a sardonic smile as she shakes her head. "Yeah, I kinda figured that would be your attitude." She turns her smile on the dark haired woman, then tests the sharpness of the her axe. Frowning, she concentrates on a small area as she resumes speaking.

"Anyway, Xander and I talked and decided to see if we could have anything between us. More than friendship, I mean," she adds, then grins. "I did find out he's a pretty good kisser!"

The dark Slayer smirks and glances at the older girl. "I coulda told you that, girlfriend!"

Buffy looks back at her, the blonde's face going blank, then coloring up, looking like she's angry with her counterpart. Then a memory surfaces and she tentatively smiles a little. "Oh, right. I guess I forgot you two had a little thing way back when."

Faith stops her work and looks directly at Buffy. "What I 'had' with Xander was simple tension relief for me and what he told me later was very special for him." She looks back at the forming stake and starts whittling again. "I've thought, off and on for years, that maybe I should tell him I'm sorry about what happened that night, but you want the truth, B?" She didn't wait for an answer. "The truth is, I'm not sorry, cause someone has to be your first and maybe it shoulda been Anya, but it was me and I'm really kinda glad."

"Even back then, I knew Xander was a good guy and thought of him as a friend. Or a potential friend, anyway. Even if I didn't intend, at the time, for anything but a quick bit of rough and tumble to happen, to him it was something good and special and he liked it." She turned a grin on Buffy. "How do you say sorry for making someone feel good?"

Buffy's face had remained mostly impassive during Faith's explanation, but now she smiled back at the younger woman. "You don't. Thanks for letting me hear your side of it, Faith."

The brunette shrugs. "No big, B. I'm guessin' you want me to cover patrollin' tonight?" She blows a last shaving off the tip of the newly formed stake and holds it up to her eye for inspection. Apparently liking what she sees, she lays it aside and starts another one.

Buffy nods, laying her axe down, and picking up her dagger. She starts sharpening it as well. "You and Kennedy, yeah."

Faith shakes her head, explaining, "Sorry, B, but K's busy tonight, so I'll be taking the Rookie with me." She seemed to remember something, adding, "Oh and lil' sis wants to tag along, too. That okay?"

The blonde looks up sharply, studying her counterpart for a moment, then he slowly nods. "You know what happens if she gets hurt, right?"

Faith waves dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. Slow painful death. Sing me a new tune, B. Kid's all grown now and a pretty good fighter." She looks at the blonde and smirks. "For, y'know, a regular girl." She looks back at the stake she's shaping. "'Sides, I'm pretty sure Little Red'll keep her safe. She did promise you that, remember?"

The new nickname confuses Buffy for a second, then she realizes the other Slayer is talking about Vi. "Yeah, I know she did and I know she will, but I'm counting on you to keep them both safe." She stops the steady strokes of her dagger for a second and looks at Faith with a smile. "Sorry. I know you'll all be okay, but I worry, you know?"

Faith smiles and chuckles a little. "Yeah, I know. Big sister and leader and all that." She holds up her current stake and inspects it, nodding. Laying the finished weapon down, she also lays the knife beside Buffy and stands. "D and I are goin' shoppin', so be back in a little while." She walks toward the stairs, then stops and looks back. "You want anything from the store?" When Buffy shakes her head, the brunette nods and turns back, calling, "Later, B." over her shoulder.

As Faith clears the top of the stairs, she sees Dawn coming back into the house, her expression one of half worry, half exasperation. "Geez, I was just going to get the search parties started! Where've you been?"

Faith shrugs and grins a little. "Just tellin' B where we were gonna be so she doesn't do somethin' crazy, like hunt me down or call the national guard or somethin'. I also told her you were goin' with me on patrol tonight. Got the usual threats, but you're good to go." She walks up to the girl and throws an arm around her shoulders. "Were you worried about me, D?"

Dawn looks at the dark Slayer through narrowed eyes. "Worried? About you? Hell, no!" She scoffs, though the older woman can hear the amusement running through her words in an undertone. "I was just worried I might have to find someone else to drive the car, since Buffy won't let me drive without another person in the car."

Faith rolls her eyes. "Reminds me..." She makes a tossing gesture with her free hand, the car keys flying toward Dawn's chest.

The teen has a split second to notice the soaring bundle, but her hands come up and she tries to catch them, fumble it a couple times, but finally, she's holding the key ring in one hand. She moves away from the once rogue and glares at her. "You could've just handed them to me!" she admonishes.

The older brunette chuckles and smiles. "Had to see if your reflexes were still okay, you goin' along tonight and all. Been a while since you did and the last vamp you faced bit you, remember?"

Dawn rolls her eyes and smacks Faith on the arm. "That is so not fair! I wasn't expecting a vamp to attack me, so I wasn't looking for it. It's different on patrol and you know it!" She stops for a second, then resumes her train of thought once they're in the car. "Besides, Buffy told me about a few times you got caught off guard and surprised, so you can't pick on me!" She sticks her tongue out at the older woman, then turns to start the car.

"Not talkin' 'bout me, Dawnie. I'm a Slayer, so surprised or not, I can pretty much always get back on top. You ain't a Slayer, so you always need to pay attention, 'specially when you're not expecting something to grab you." She stares at the girl long enough to drive home her point, then shrugs. "Then again, tonight anyway, me and Little Red'll be there, so everything should be okay."

Dawn glances at Faith, then back at the road. "Little Red?"

"Your girl, Vi."

"She's not my girl!" Dawn said in an exasperated tone.

The dark slayer shrugs again. "Yeah, yeah, I know. You're just friends. So were me and Kennedy 'til just a couple weeks ago."

"Yeah, but you're in love with her. I'm not, and I stress, not in love with Vi! I. Like. Boys!" The former key replied stridently.

Faith smiles at how easy it is to bait the younger girl, but says, "Actually, Squirt, I was in love with Red, then, Kenn just came along with the deal. A'course, now, I wouldn't trade either one of them, but then? I just wanted Willow and I was jealous as hell of Kennedy cause she had her and I didn't."

The teen nods absently, glancing at Faith. "All this is interesting, but since I still don't want to date Vi, it doesn't really matter to me, does it?"

"Who said I was talkin' about the Rookie?" Faith asks, smiling enigmatically.

Dawn looks at her, then quickly back at the road, then back at Faith, trying to figure out what's she's talking about. The Slayer's knowing smile doesn't help at all and nothing more is said for the remainder of the trip.

"Okay," Faith asks as she sets a handful of plastic bags on the counter. "How long do you need to fix all this?"

Dawn struggles through the door with her burden, setting/dropping her bags beside Faith's. She gives the Slayer an evil look, then sighs. "Well, first, you need to make sure Willow and Kennedy are going to stay away from the kitchen, so you can do that for now." She started unpacking the bags. "Then we can start fixing dinner, cause I'm not doing it all by myself."

She starts putting various items away, then stops and looks at Faith. "You gonna help or not?"

Faith smirks and starts putting some of the groceries away. "Sure, I can do that, D. And I thought of how to get my girls out of the house, but you'll still have to do all the work, cause we won't be here at the house."

Dawn frowned. "How's that fair? It's your date and I'd still have to stay and serve it while you and Vi leave me behind for patrol."

Faith stopped what she was doing and turned to face the younger girl, her face set in an angry frown. "You're the one who said I would need to get Will and Kennedy out of the house for a few hours and the best way I know to do that is to talk them into going with me to the movies or some such shit." She stops and takes a deep breath, visibly willing herself to calm down.

"As for fair, you said you'd help and I was figurin' on a bigger favor than an ice cream cone. This would just make it a little bigger, y'know? Besides, you could always ask Vi to help you, then you wouldn't have to do it all yourself."

Dawn's frown grew in size somewhat, but it was in thought, not anger. She realized instantly that Faith owing her a favor would be a good thing, in the long run and she was right about getting Vi to help her. She was confident her friend would help her, especially once Dawn had told her what was going on. The only thing that even partially bugged her was she and Vi had planned a little outing of their own for later in the day. Cooking for Faith would kill that.

Appearing reluctant, the younger brunette said, "Okay, I did agree to help and you are gonna owe me big time. Vi and I both, cause we were gonna do something tonight after she got home. What with cooking and then patrolling, we can't now. Maybe you can treat us both to a movie or something one night this coming week." She smiles wickedly. "Oh, and the ice cream cones tonight, too!"

Brown eyes narrow as the Slayer glares at the younger girl. She gives a little growl, then replies, "Fine. It's a deal." Her angry expression melts into a smirk. "Tell you what. I'll go find my girlfriends and let you get started." With that, she turns and walks out of the kitchen, ignoring the indignant demand she come back and help put the groceries away.

The dark Slayer lets her stew for a couple minutes, listening just outside of the kitchen as Dawn puts things away with unnecessary force. Finally, an innocent smile on her face, she walks back in. "So, what do I need to replace now?"

Dawn spins to look at her, then glares. "Oh sure, come back when the work's done." She turns back and sets the last two cans on the shelf, then gathers the bags up and throws then away.

Faith walks to the fridge and gets out two soft drinks and moves back to the breakfast bar. She sets on in front of her and one on the side opposite and looks at Dawn, her eyebrow raised, then looks pointedly at the other chair. When the teen crosses her arms and refuses to move, she sighs, and says, "Oh, come on D. It wasn't that big of a thing and you know I'll make it up to you. We still need to talk about times and stuff, so truce?" She holds up the soda again, moving it a little closer, enticingly.

The teen tries to maintain her scowl, but suddenly looks away for a second as she starts to smile. She finally walks over to the bar and accepts the drink and sits down.

Faith smiles and nods her thanks, popping open her soda and taking a drink. Setting down the can, she says, "Okay, since we normally eat about seven thirty or so, that would probably be the best time for things to kick off, you agree?"

Dawn nods, swallowing the sip she has in her mouth. "Yeah, sometime between seven thirty and eight, which means I need to start cooking by six fifteen, latest. That also means you need to have Willow and Kennedy gone by six, no later, okay?"

"Not a problem," Faith replies, waving off that concern. "I was just thinking that getting the Rookie to help would probably be a really good idea, since it would make it easier to get the room set up and the food cooked without rushing things. What do you think?"

Dawn gave another, slower nod. "If she agrees to help, which I'm fairly sure she will, but you'll need to ask her when she gets home." The former Key smiles. "I think she'll be okay with helping, though. She's got a pretty big romantic streak."

The Slayer smiles broadly. "Good!" She glances at the clock on the microwave, then back at the other girl. "Actually, can you ask her about the helping?" She sees the teen about to protest and holds up her hand. "I only ask, cause I was thinking that, considerin' the time, I could go find my girls and get them to come shopping with me, cause I could use their opinion of some new leather pants and some shirts I've had my eye on."

The younger girl's frown turns into a smirk. "You just want to drive them crazy watching you modeling tight clothes, right?"

Faith tries for an innocent expression, but Dawn's fairly sure that the Slayer couldn't have pulled one of those off when she was three years old, let alone at twenty one. "Not working, Faith. Just make sure you keep them gone until after seven thirty and Vi and I'll have everything ready, deal?"

Faith puts out her hand and the two women formally shake on it. "Deal. I'll leave you to it, D. Gotta find my girlfriends. Thanks for everything!" she calls as she leaves the kitchen.

Dawn watches her go and smiles, already having an idea what kind of favor she's going to ask for in return for tonight.

Going in search of her mates, Faith starts looking in the dining room, thinking maybe Willow might be researching something, but she finds the room empty. Trying to tv room next, she smiles when she finds her girls snuggled together, watching something she doesn't recognize. Looking closer, she realizes they aren't watching the tv, but trading slow, passion filled kisses.

Entering quietly, she comes up behind then and bends over Willow and presses a feather light kiss to the back of her neck. Pulling away, her redheaded lover turns her head, then smiles at her older Slayer. "Hey, Spice. Shopping all done?"

Faith kneels beside the couch, then leans forward and kisses Kennedy as well. "Sorta, Red. D's shopping is all done, but I was thinkin'. I need some new pants and some other stuff as well. You guys wanna come with me? Make sure I look okay in'em?" She grins wickedly and waggles her eyebrows at the two.

She looks at the younger Slayer and winks. "Besides, I thought me and the Brat here could team up and convince you," Faith runs a teasing hand up Willow's spine. "to try on a few pairs of leather pants." She casts an appraising eye over the slender form of her redheaded lover, smiling at the mental image. "What'cha think, Kenn; Red here in a pair of tight black leather pants, maybe an equally tight top. Thinkin' blue or dark green."

Willow's eyes open wider at Faith's description while Kennedy's narrow. The younger Slayer slowly smiles. "Yeah, I can see that, Fai. On the other hand, you know you and I are gonna be really mad the whole time she's wearing something like that, don't you?"

Faith looks at her dark haired lover in confusion. "Lost me, babe. How will Willow looking good enough to eat make either one of us mad? Horny enough to bark, yeah, that I get, but not mad."

Kennedy smiles wickedly as she reaches up and kisses Willow quickly. Pulling back, she looks at Faith and smiles again. "Think about it, Tough girl. If Will's dressed like that, you and I are gonna be fighting off most of Cleveland trying to convince them she's taken!"

Faith laughs and nods at the thought while Willow blushes. "Yeah, you got a really good point there, K," the older Slayer concedes. She appears to think about it for a few minutes, then smiles. "Worth every bruise, fight and argument,though!" She declares, leaning in and kissing Willow's lips, once, twice, before moving over to nibble and presses little kisses to Willows neck.

"Absolutely worth it," Kennedy agrees. "You both are." She smiles and threads her hand into Faith's hair as she leans up and captures Willow's lips once more. The redhead whimpers and moans as her senses are suddenly on overload.

Both Slayers continue their sweet assault for a few more minutes before Faith reluctantly pulls away, panting a little. She takes a few seconds to catch her breath, then touches each of her girlfriends on their shoulder. "Hey," she says, then tries again with a little more volume. "Guys, if we're gonna go shopping today, we need to go, bein' sunday and all. Shop'll close in another couple hours, so we need to go."

Kennedy looks at her Slayer, smiling at Willow as the redhead tries to pull her thoughts back together. "Any particular reason you wanna do that now? Shop'll be open longer tomorrow, so why not wait 'til then?"

The dark Slayer shrugs. "Just wanna go now is all. Maybe even catch a movie before we come back home." She sees that the other Slayer is still dubious, so she turns her attention to persuading Willow. "Come on, Red, whadda ya say? The three of us haven't been anywhere together, just us and just for the hell of it since we got together. Maybe today's a good day for that."

Willow smiles at her older Slayer as she considers her words. "So what you're really saying is, you want to take your girlfriends out on a date and you're not taking no for an answer, is that it Spice?"

The redhead's words stop the once rogue cold, even as Kennedy smiles. She hadn't really thought of it that way, but now that Willow has mentioned it, she realizes her wicca is right. She is asking them both to go out on a date. Shaking her head, she slowly smiles and admits, "Well, I wasn't really thinkin' of it in that way, but you gotta point." She gives one sharp nod, her smile becoming a little bigger and her eyes sweep over both women. "Okay, then, Will, yeah. I'm askin' you both to go on a date with me for a little shoppin' and then whatever we wanna do. Whatcha say?"

Willow looked at Kennedy for a moment, then turned back to her older Slayer with a smile. "I say we need to get changed. She leaned up and kissed Faith lightly. "Meet you in the kitchen in ten minutes or so?"

"Make it fifteen," Faith answered. "No need to kill yourself." She stands, then helps Willow to her feet while Kennedy rolls to her own. The dark Slayer smiles again at her girls. "I'll be waiting for you," she tells them both. All three women walk from the room, then separate as Willow and Kennedy go upstairs and Faith heads to the rear of the house.

Walking into the kitchen, she finds Dawn still there making herself a snack, and she grins at her as she walks over and starts to rummage in a drawer. Pulling out a pad and pen, she moves to the breakfast bar and sits down before looking at the younger Summers again. "Hey, Will, Kenn and I are goin' out for a while, like I planned. I'll make sure we get back by seven thirty and that we come in through the front door, okay?" She starts to write, but continues her conversation as well. "You and Little Red'll have everything set up by then, right? Enough that me and her can head on out for patrol without worrying about it, anyway?"

Dawn rolls her eyes as she takes a sip of her drink, washing the bite of her sandwich down and clearing her mouth so she can speak. "Geez, Faith. Obsess much?" she asks sarcastically. "I know what I gotta do, but if you keep up with the bugging, I might change my mind."

Faith blushes a little. "Sorry, Squirt. I just want tonight to be right, y'know?."

"I know you do, and everything will be perfect, so no more worries!" She smiles brightly and nods decisively.

Faith returns the smile, although hers doesn't have as much assurance. "Okay, D. I believe you. Everything will be fine." She takes a deep breath and quickly finishes what she was writing. Tearing the sheet from the pad, she folds in in half, writes a little more, then drops the pen and stands. "Here," she says, extending the paper to Dawn. "Put this somewhere safe 'til I get back, would'ya D?"

"Sure," the teen mumbles through a mouthful of food. She takes the paper, noticing as she does that it has the words 'Willow and Kennedy' written on it. Swallowing quickly a couple times, she looks at the Slayer. "Um... you're not planning on leaving or anything, are you? Cause this looks like a goodbye letter." She waves the paper slightly, her expression worried.

Faith looks surprised at her words, then defensive. "A what?! Hell no! Why the fuck would you think..."

Dawn waves her hands in a stopping motion frantically. "Whoa, whoa! Hang on!" She finally grabs the older woman by the arms to stop her beginning movements. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean I thought you would... Faith! I'm sorry! I know you're not going anywhere, okay? I shouldn't have said that." Dawn looks down and away from the Slayer, her face and body language showing her contrition.

Faith stops trying to move and looks at the younger girl, plainly seeing her sorrow. "Hey, it's okay, Dawn. Don't sweat it. I'm just kinda touchy about that, that's all." She smiles a little and lightly slaps Dawn's arm. "I know you didn't mean nothin'." When the former Key releases her, Faith walks over and picks up the note from where Dawn dropped it. She then extends it toward the girl, saying, "Listen, like I was askin', can you put this somewhere 'til I get back? All it is..."

Dawn cuts her off. "Is your business," she says with a smile, taking the piece of paper. "Yours and your girlfriends. I'll keep it safe for now." She turns away from the Slayer for a few seconds, then turns back, minus the paper. "So, if you guys are going out, where are Will..." she stops as Willow and Kennedy walk into the kitchen. She smiles at them. "Hey guys!"

Willow smiles brightly. "Hi Dawnie!" she chirps, walking over to hug the girl. Kennedy smiles and waves a little greeting as well.

The teen returns her 'sister's' hug with a smile that turns teasing as she pulls away. "I hear you guys are going out?"

"Just a little shopping and maybe a movie," Willow confirms, glancing at Faith. Her older Slayer nods, smiling at her. "We should be back in a few hours, don't worry."

"Yeah," Kennedy adds. "Faith and I want to see if we can talk Willow into some leather pants and stuff." She looks at her redheaded girlfriend with a lustful expression, practically licking her lips. "We were thinking she'd look so much hotter in some dark leather pants and tight top!"

Dawn smiles uncertainly. "Um, sure, if you say so." She catches the look Faith is sending her way. "I-I mean, yeah, she'd look really nice dressed that way. Well, don't let me hold you guys up."

"Nice?!?" Kennedy asks, a bit indignant, glancing at her girls, then back at Dawn. "Is that all you can say? 'Nice'?"

Dawn casts an imploring look at Faith and the dark Slayer reaches out and touches Kennedy's arm. "K, babe, we need to go. And it's okay. I'd worry more if D thought different. I mean, it's kinda creepy to wanna make it with someone who's basically your sister, right?" She gives Willow a loving, but apologetic look.

Willow smiles a little and touches Faith's cheek. "It's okay," she whispers.

Kennedy looks back and forth between the other three women in the room, then thinks of her own sister and what Faith said. She shudders at the thought of considering her own sibling as a bed partner.

"Kenn, sweetie, are you okay?"

Willlow's concerned voice breaks through the younger girl's thoughts and she smiles reassuringly. "Yeah, I'm fine. I must be standing near the air conditioner vent or something." She smiles again at Willow, then turns to Dawn. "Sorry, Dawn. 'Protect and defend Willow' is kinda automatic now, y'know?"

The teen smiles. "Hey, I know and we're cool. Now get out!" She grins to take the sting from her words. "Like Faith said, you guys need to go." She smiles at the triple as they all smile or grin in return and head for the garage. "Have fun!" she calls after them, just before the back door closes.

Dawn goes to the door and listens carefully until she hears a car start and leave. She smiles softly to herself and moves back into the kitchen. She chastises herself a little for telling Faith a little fib. Well, not really, but she did make the older girl think she was only helping for the return favor. In reality, she loves the romantic gesture and wants to do this simply because she knows it'll make her friends happy.

Shaking her head, she pulls down a cookbook and starts reading. She has less than six hours to set everything up and she wants this to be perfect for her friends.

Chapter 28

The dark haired teen looks up from her book and smiles when she sees her best friend in the doorway. "Hey! Errands all done for the day?"

Vi smiles in return and moves into the room. "Hey. Yep, I'm all done with the j... junk for today, so what'cha got planned for us for the evening?"

Dawn grimaces lightly. "Would you be mad if I said being slave labor for Faith, then going on patrol with her?"

Vi frowns. "Okay, the patrol part is cool, but what's this about slave labor? What does she need our help with? And why are you telling me about this? Where is she?" The young redhead rattles off her questions, her frown deepening at her friend's increasingly bigger grin. Reaching out, she lightly slaps Dawn on the arm. "It's not funny! Tell me what's going on, will you please?"

Dawn schools her expression. "Okay, okay. Sorry, you were just doing the Willow babbling thing and it was kinda cute!' The younger teen smiles at the older one.

Instantly, the thought runs through Vi's mind, [She thinks I'm cute?], causing her to smile goofily.

Dawn smirks as she watches Vi's expression. "Anybody I know?"

The redheaded teen looks at her friend confused, her smile fading. "Huh?"

"The silly smile. Do I know the person behind it?" Dawn asks, her smile teasing.

Vi blushes slightly, then smiles mysteriously. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure you do." She shakes her head and asks, "Now, what's this about a favor for Faith?"

"Are they in any of our classes?"

Vi's smile fades. "Besides patrol, what does Faith want us to do?" She asks, pointedly ignoring the other teen's request for more information.

The former Key's smile has gone from teasing to frustrated as her friend refuses to play along. "Did you meet him at the mall?"

"The favor," Vi stresses. "And where is she?"

"Oh, all right," Dawn concedes, dropping the subject of the Slayer's lovestruck smiling with a profound pout. "Basically, Faith wanted to set up a date here for Willow and Kennedy, but doesn't want to be there, cause then it's not just them. She wants me to cook, though I was hoping you'd help, and both of us to get things set up. Then you leave with her and I stay and serve the lovebirds dinner, then join you guys about nine thirty or so at the Dairy Queen." She smiles at Vi. "Faith promised us both ice cream and a favor if we help."

Vi smiles broadly. "That is so cool! And so romantic!" She smiles thoughtfully at Dawn, who returns it, though the other teen doesn't really understand the look behind the Slayer's eyes. [I wonder if Dawn would do something like this for me if a miracle happens and we get together?] She thinks about it for a few seconds, then nods to herself that, yes, she would.

Giving her head a little shake, the redhead focuses on Dawn once more and asks, "So, what do we do first? You guys have a plan, right?"

Dawn nods happily. "Yep! Well, mostly." She eyes her friend speculatively. "Okay, can you get the dining room set up while I get dinner started?"

"Sure," the young Slayer nods. "Do you have the stuff somewhere, or just set it up for two people and not worry about other stuff?"

"Oh, the bag on the table has candles and stuff. Set those up the way you think will look best, okay?" She smiles and starts back into the kitchen, then stops and spins around. "Oh, and can you load up the cd player with romantic, slow dance stuff, too?"

Vi waves her hand at the younger girl as she walks over to the table. "Got it covered, don't worry!" She opens the bag and glances inside, then looks up suddenly. "Oh, hey! What are you fixing for dinner?"

Dawn smiles, but only a small one, as her confidence that she can pull this cooking thing off fades a little. "Well, we picked up some stuffed mushrooms at the store that I just need to warm up as an appetizer. For the main course, I'm doing veal parmesan with buttered noodles and alfredo sauce, garlic bread and Faith picked out a bottle of wine to go with everything. Oh, and salads, of course."

Vi walks across the room and lightly touches Dawn's arm. She smiles warmly at her and says, "Hey, it'll be delicious, cause you're a great cook. A chef, even!" She tries to just maintain the smile, but if quickly devolves into giggles.

Dawn glares at her for a second, then reluctantly, she laughs too. Vi drags herself under control relatively quickly. "Seriously, you're really good at the cooking thing, so Willow and Kennedy'll love it!" Her eyes twinkle as a thought occurs. "I bet one or both of them asks you to cook for them when the do something like this for Faith. You may have to start charging more than an ice cream cone, though!" She winks and smiles broadly, her eyes dancing with suppressed laughter.

The former Key grins and giggles. "If that happens, you have to help, okay? I'll split what ever I get with you."

"Deal," Vi agrees with a big smile, that immediately goes away as she puts on a stern expression. "Now, quit wasting time and get cooking! I got this." She makes shooing gestures, but grins at the younger teen.

Dawn giggles and walks to the door, but turns back for a second. "Remember, we've got less than two hours, so get a move on!" She's out the door before Vi can answer her, leaving the other girl to sputter and scowl at empty air.

Vi pulls all the stuff out of the bag, spreading it out on the table. She makes mental notes of what she's got to play with, then turns slowly in a circle, trying to plan out in her head how she wants things to be. After a few minutes study, she slowly smiles and nods to herself, then gets to work. All told, even with setting up the music, she finishes her part before Dawn gets dinner ready, so she heads into the kitchen to help.

Between the two girls, everything is set up and perfect before seven, the food ready to be cooked, the wine chilled and open, the dining room dark at the moment, so as not to spoil the surprise. Dawn and Vi have even raided Willow's closets, laying out clothing for Willow and Kennedy both in Faith's old bedroom, selecting a pale green evening gown with sandals for Willow and slacks and a silk blouse for Kennedy. The girls had argued a bit over shoes for the Slayer, then decided to let her pick her own when they couldn't agree on a choice.

Just passed seven thirty, the front door opened and Dawn hears Faith call out that they were home. Thus warned, the two teens rushed out of the kitchen to intercept the triple, trying to keep them away from the kitchen and dining room. They quickly discover that they don't need to bother. Both Slayers are loaded down with bags, though all three women are smiling and laughing.

"Hey, guys," Dawn calls brightly. "How was the movie?"

Willow turns a little to look at the brunette teenager and Dawn can see how happy she is. Her eyes are shining, her smile is bright and she doesn't seem to have any cares. "Hey Dawnie! We didn't go to the movies after all. Just a lot of shopping." She giggles, then holds up an arm load of bags. "I have new clothes! Wanna see them?"

Dawn smiled in return, caught up in Willow's enthusiasm. "Sure, Willow. Did they talk you into getting anything leather?"

The witch rolls her eyes, but Kennedy and Faith are wearing identical smirks, with Faith also raises an eyebrow sardonically.

Dawn smiles. "Let me rephrase that. How much leather did they talk you into?" Behind her, she can hear Vi giggling.

Willow blushes, remembering trying on the leather pants and the comments from her girlfriends. "I - We - A few things. Not much, really," she stammers.

Faith snort a laugh. "Three pairs of pants, all skin tight, a really nice vest and a jacket, to be exact. And God, did she look hot in that one pair!" She looks over a Kennedy with a big, lustful grin. "The red pair, K. Remember?"

Kennedy rolls her eyes, smiling wickedly at Willow. "Remember? Hell, it was all I could do to not follow her back into the dressing room!" The younger Slayer unconsciously licks her lips as she thinks about it.

"You too?!" Faith exclaims. "Damn! If I'd'a known that... Well, we'd have probably been thrown out!"

Dawn laughs at their banter until she notices that Willow has lost her smile during the teasing and has blushed a shade darker than her hair. She tries to catch the Slayer's eyes, trying to warn them they might wanna stop now.

Before she can, Willow heads for the stairs, her head down. Both of her girls immediately stop smiling and start after her, stumbling over each other trying to apologize, but they stop when Willow does.

The redhead looks back at them, her face blank at first before a seductive smile grows slowly. "Maybe you should've followed," she purrs, then runs up the stairs.

Faith and Kennedy look at each other, then run after her. Faith slows a bit as Kennedy beats her to the bottom of the staircase, then stops as Dawn grabs her arm. She looks at the teen impatiently, her mind more on the fact that her witch just gave her and their Slayer a 'Come play with me' look. Glancing back up the stairs, she barks a short, "What?"

Dawn rolls her eyes again. "Does your mind ever come above the belt?" When Faith looks angrily at her, she waves it off. "We've got everything ready for you. Since Will and Kennedy seem to be busy, wanna check it out now?"

The dark Slayer's train of thought switches tracks immediately. "Oh! Yeah, that'd be great." She gives one more long look at the top floor, thinking about the fact that her girls are more than likely up there making out, then shrugs and follows the teens, thinking, [Next time.] "Let's see what'cha got."

Vi shows her and Dawn the dining room set up she's done and both are impressed. Faith checks the cd selection the teen has made and, knowing a bit more about her girl's tastes, changes one cd, but that's it. She checks that the young Slayer has programed the player to play random tracks from the half dozen cds, then smiles and thanks her.

Dawn, too, thanks her for doing this part and tells her again how romantic everything looks. "You are so doing the decorating for any romantic things I wanna do!" She gushes, not seeing the split second of uncertainty and hurt before the older teen assures her that she'd be glad to do that anytime.

Faith does notice the look, though, and resolves to talk to the younger Slayer tonight while they're patrolling. For now, though, she just looks at Dawn. "Okay, Squirt. What about the food? And did you do anything else?"

The former Key leads the Slayers into the kitchen and shows Faith that everything's ready to go, as soon as Faith gives her the word. "Oh, and we picked out clothes for them. You know, something dinner datey, but we couldn't decide on shoes for Kennedy."

The older brunette's face clouds up. "Aw, shit! You mean I go to all this trouble to surprise'em and you guys leave clothes they know they didn't leave out on the bed?"

Dawn narrows her eyes and Vi looks uneasy. The young redhead has come a long way from the shy, timid potential she was when she arrived in Sunnydale, but she is still very much a non-confrontationist when dealing with people. Vamps, demons and monsters? Sure, she can wale on those, but dealing with regular people is scary. Besides, Faith has always intimidated her in a way that Buffy never did.

Dawn, on the other hand, has known Faith long enough to respond in kind. "Yeah, but I think the big poster I tacked to the door saying 'Hey, guys! Faith planned a secret date for you so act surprised.' is what really gave it away," the brunette teen scoffs. "Geez, Faith! How stupid do you think we are? We left the clothes in your old room."

Faith looks at the teens a little, well on anyone else, Dawn would say embarrassed, but with the dark Slayer, she's not sure that's possible. Still, the former Key is fairly sure she can see a faint blush on the Slayer's face. "Look, Faith. I know you're worried they won't like it and nervous and all, but we did everything you asked and they're gonna love it and love you for doing it.. Now, why don't you guys get changed for patrol and I'll get things started here, okay?"

"Yeah, okay, D." She smiles a little, then turns to leave, but turns back suddenly. "Oh, that note I gave you to hold. Got it?"

Dawn wordlessly retrieves the note and hands it over. Faith scribbles a bit more at the bottom, then folds it again, handing back to the teen. "Okay, we're gonna get ready and motor. When me and your girl here are gone, go give'em that note, then come on back down here 'til they come lookin' for you, okay?"

At the words "your girl", Vi's eyes get big as saucers and Dawn's narrow as she starts to protest again, but then decides to just ignore it for now. It's just Faith being Faith, after all. "Sure, I can do that. How long? I need to get the food started soon if it's gonna be ready before midnight," she explains.

"Makes sense." Faith looks at the youngest Slayer. "You need to change clothes or anything, or are you good to go now?"

Vi just stares at her for a second, still shocked by the "your girl" remark. "Huh? Oh! Um, I need to change my shoes, but otherwise I'm ready." She looks at Dawn, trying to gauge her reaction to what Faith said, but can't really tell. "Uh, I'll just go grab my boots, okay?" She hurries from the kitchen.

"Did you have to embarrass her?" Dawn hisses, her anger plain on her face. "You know she's not 'my girl', so why the hell did you call her that? Now she's gonna think I wanna date her or something!"

Faith just smirks. "You say that like it's a bad thing. And I still think you're kickin' up too big a fuss about this."

The teen glares at the Slayer hotly for nearly a full minute, then reluctantly concedes, "No, it wouldn't be a bad thing. IF both of us were into girls, which I'm not and I know she's not, so what's the point?"

The once rogue just stares incredulously at the younger girl. "Is this just like a Summers family thing or what? Un-friggin'-believable!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Dawn asks, her voice pitched low and full or anger.

At that moment, Vi comes back into the room, but stops dead when she senses the tension between the other two women. "Is something wrong?" She asks uncertainly.

Faith just returns Dawn's incendiary glare with one of forced boredom. "No. No problems here." She shifts her eyes to the redheaded teen. "C'mon, Rookie. Let's rock. " She immediately turns and walks into the garage.

Vi hesitates, looking at her friend as Dawn closes her eyes, trying to rein in her temper. "Hey, you okay? Did-did she say something she shouldn't have?" She can't help but think of the other Slayer's earlier comment. Looking at Dawn, knowing a bit about how to read her, she just knows that's what Dawn is upset about.

Suddenly she looks away from the brunette, fighting to keep her composure as she assaulted by feelings of sadness. Judging from Dawn's reaction, the idea of them together is repulsive to her. The sound of the powerful engine of Faith's Harley starting, followed by horn blowing distracts her, stopping the surge of emotions that threatens to overwhelm her.

She tentatively reaches out toward Dawn, but stops, then drops her hand. "H-hey, can we talk when I get back? I-I mean, I would now, b-but, y'know, Faith's not real patient, y'know?" The horn sounds again, proving her point. The redhead looks toward the garage, but doesn't move, turning her eyes back to Dawn. "Can we?" She asks, her voice wistful.

The brunette opens her eyes and looks at Vi, her expression much calmer. "We can always talk. Best friends, remember?" She gives the older teen a small smile. "You better go before she gets pissed, okay?"

Reluctantly, Vi starts to move toward the garage. "Okay, if you're sure."

"I am. And hey, I'll see you guys sometime between nine thirty and ten, right? You can tell me all about how Faith got knocked out by a newbie vamp and you had to save her sorry ass!" She grins and winks, her eyes brighter with contained laughter.

Vi rolls her eyes. "Like that would happen! See you later, Dawnie!" She calls as she runs out the door.

Dawn watches the door close, staring at the blank white panel, lost in thought. She thinks over everything that was said throughout the day, running it through her mind, trying to make sense of it. First Xander, then Faith, both her friends commenting on her dating a girl, then Faith's not even trying to be subtle comments about her and Vi being a couple.

[Okay, I admit, I'm kinda curious. I am,] she thinks to herself. [I mean, Will's had a boyfriend, but now three girlfriends and Faith always seemed to like boys, now she's with Willow and Kennedy. And it's not like I haven't checked out girls before, but I check out guys too.] The teen blushed at these thoughts, even though no one else could hear them.

[I'll also admit it, I might be okay with a girlfriend, depending on the girl,] she reluctantly thinks. [But why does Faith keep insisting it could be Vi? I mean, yeah, she's gorgeous and all and I don't think I'd mind, except it would so screw up our friendship, especially since she's not into girls.] Dark brows contract as the teen thinks harder. [I mean, I've never heard her say anything, one way or the other about dating, so I'm pretty sure she's into guys. I mean, I heard that story about an ex-boyfriend from Amanda way back when, but that's it.]

She shakes her head, hoping to distract herself from these thoughts. She gets her wish as an image of Xander floats through her mind. She groans to herself. [And what the hell is that all about? Why am I obsessing about Xander all of a sudden? And why am I so pissed at Buffy for them dating? It's almost like I'm jealous or something!] Her thoughts stop dead as she thinks this. Her eyes open wide as her own words register, then narrow a bit as she thinks it over again. {Nah, that can't be it. Yeah, I had that crush on him ages ago, but, hey, I had a little crush on Riley and Spike too and I'm not obsessing about them, now am I?]

She was pulled from her thoughts with a jolt by the sound of the phone ringing and she answers it by reflex. "Hello?"

"Yes, is a Miss... um, Buffy Summers there?"

[Not a voice I recognize,] the teen thinks. "Not at the moment. This is her sister. Can I take a message?"

"Yes, please. This is Global Life and Security and we are calling today to..."

"Whoa! Wait up! Are you a telemarketer? Are you wanting to sell us something?"

"Well," the voice said reluctantly. "Yes, I am. But, if I could just had a few minutes of your time..."

Dawn scowls. "Stop. No one in this house has any interest in whatever you're selling. Please put this number on your 'Do not call' list," the teen requests in a flat voice.

"Very well, Miss. And I will mark this number as do not call." The person sounded weary and annoyed at the same time.

"Thank you." Without waiting for a response, Dawn hangs up. Looking over at the clock, she sees that she really needs to get the evening underway if she was going to be able the meet up with Faith and Vi on time. Grabbing the dark Slayer's note, she heads for the stairs.

Vi hangs on for dear life as Faith drives through the darkened streets of Cleveland Heights like she fights; fast and aggressively. Twice so far, the older Slayer had taken corners so sharply, the teen thought they were going to crash. So now she maintains a death grip around Faith's waist, praying they'll get there soon.

When she isn't being terrified she's going to be thrown from the bike entirely, the redhead finds her thoughts going back to the pseudo-argument between Faith and Dawn just before they left. She can't believe the older Slayer she's clinging to so desperately called her Dawn's girl so casually, like it was just a fact and meant nothing other than that.

Inside, she smiles dreamily. To be Dawn's girl is all she's wanted ever since she followed Buffy and the gang to Cleveland. Before that, really, even before the final battle with the First. She can still remember, vividly, the night that they had all asked Buffy to leave her own home. That night, she'd watched Dawn stand up to her imposing big sister and make her back down, even though, from what Vi could read of the younger girl's facial expressions and body language, it was tearing her heart out to do it. When Rona had smarted off as Buffy left, it had hurt Dawn and it was all she could do to not punch the other potential. Secretly, she had hoped she would say something else so she could punch her.

The young Slayer feels her mind drifts back as memories of that night surface and she remembers more. After everyone went to bed, she was lying in her sleeping bag in the living room floor just staring at the ceiling, sleep eluding her once again. She was thinking about the next morning when Faith was going to lead the most experienced of the SiTs to find and destroy the Bringer's armory. She'd been selected to go and, as always when it came to fighting back then, she was worried she'd mess up, maybe get killed or get one of her friends killed. She knew that she wasn't a natural fighter, like Kennedy or Rona, that it was harder for her and therefore more dangerous.

As she was lying there on the floor, trying to will herself to sleep, she heard a soft step from near the stairs. She sits up quickly, afraid that Bringers had managed to infiltrate the house quietly this time instead of just breaking down the doors and windows like the last few times. Instead, she sees a single, slender shadow move silently through the doorway to the dining room, then reappear in the kitchen when she looks that way. Seconds later, she hears the back door quietly open, but not close.

Curiosity and worry get the better of her and she wriggles from her sleeping bag, padding quietly after whoever it is. She pauses at the back door, seeing a silhouette sitting on the back steps. Taking another step, she makes out long dark hair and the contours of a body she's been secretly admiring for weeks. "Dawn?" She calls out softly.

Hair flying, the former Key spins around, her eyes wide in fright for a second before she starts to breathe again. "Vi!" Her hissed words taking a scolding tone. "You scared the crap outta me!"

The redhead grimaces as she steps outside, closing the door behind her. "Sorry! I wasn't sure it was you at first." She approached her friend slowly, a little smile on her lips. As she sat down beside the slightly younger girl, she leans over a little, lightly bumping shoulders with the brunette.

It was something that everyone in the house had started doing, especially when they came upon one of the others alone, but no one talked about it, these little touches. They were an unspoken assurance that the person they were with was indeed a person and not the First. It had really started among the potentials after the thing with a supposed SiT named Eve. She'd turned out to have been the First the whole time she was in the Slayer's house, talking to the other girls, sharing stories, making them doubt Buffy and that they could fight and win.

Dawn smiles wanly at the touch, both for the reassurance and friendliness of the gesture. She and the redhead at her side had become friends in the time Vi had been in Sunnydale. They were nearly the same age, had similar interests and just generally like to hang out together. Plus, the nearest person to their age was Kennedy, the others being sixteen or younger, and everyone knew, if they weren't training, Kennedy would be with Willow. What had started a simple exchanges had turned to hanging out and real friendship, then, for Vi anyway, something more.

She wasn't sure when she'd started feeling more for the beautiful brunette at her side, but, by this point, she knew she was rapidly falling in love with her. The idea of that was both wondrous and terrifying for her. Her very religious parents had spent years telling her over and over that homosexuality was a major sin and very wrong, relentlessly drilling that "fact" into her head. Since she knew her parents wouldn't lie to her, it must be the truth. Which, in turn, meant all these feelings she had toward other girls in her classes were sinful and wrong. When she was with others, she chattered away about boys, even telling a story of an ex-boyfriend, a story she'd relayed so often, she half believed it had really happened. When she was alone, however, she railed against herself. telling herself she had to forget what her mind and body were telling her. To be 'normal', like everyone else.

Then, she'd come to Sunnydale and met Kennedy, a girl only a little older than her, openly gay and very comfortable with that fact. Kennedy had regaled the other potentials with stories of past girlfriends, mostly to get a rise of the more prissy of their fellow SiTs, and had started chasing after Willow within hours of her arrival in the Summer's home. Vi had watched with the others as Kennedy "stalked" Willow, then wooed and won her. She'd watched enviously as the new couple constantly traded looks, small touches, quick, stolen kisses, all without the shame she had always associated with her own desires.

After watching her fellow Slayer in Training and Willow together, she'd been forced to reevaluate everything her parents had told her. The two older women seemed happy, not guilt ridden. The behaved as if their being together was a cause for rejoicing, not shame. The always acted like they were perfectly normal. What's more, everyone else in the house, with one or two exceptions, acted like their relationship was normal. After spending most of her teen years denying her own yearnings, she'd finally begun to admit, very privately and only to herself, that she seemed to be gay and that it was okay.

Once she'd done that, the feelings she'd been ignoring every time she saw the Slayer's younger sister started making more sense. She started actively watching Dawn, always from a distance, trying to not let it show. While she had become a little more comfortable with her own homosexuality, she was still terribly afraid to let anyone else know about it.

Now, she'd found the girl she was outwardly becoming best friends with and inwardly falling crazy in love with upset on the back porch. Taking a deep breath, she asked quietly, "Still thinking about tonight?"

Dawn nods her head, sniffling a little. "I'm just really worried about Buffy. I mean, I know she can take care of herself and all. Hello, Slayer and all, but..." She trails off and stares at a point in the yard, not really seeing anything.

Vi waits a moment, then gently nudges the brunette. "But?"

Two fat tears break loose and course down the girl's cheeks and it's all the redhead can do to not pull the younger girl into a tight hug. "What if she won't forgive me?" Dawn whispers in a tiny, guilt ridden voice.

Immediately, Vi wraps an arm around her secret crush, hugging her tightly to her side. "Oh Dawnie," she says softly, calling her by the nickname she's heard from the Scoobies. "That is so not gonna be a worry! Remember, you told me she gave her life to save yours. She loves you, more than anything else. I'm sure she's already forgiven you."

Dawn shrugs, her tears continuing to drip down her cheeks at irregular intervals. "Maybe, but I told her we didn't need her! And that's so not true!" She looks up at Vi, and the older girl can feel her heart lurch at the pain she sees in those blue eyes. "I-I mean, I know Faith's a Slayer too, a-and Buffy was being a jerk and really careless with you guys' lives, but..." She stops talking, sniffling.

Vi looks at the teen, her heart aching from the misery she sees in Dawn's face. Half turning her body, she draws Dawn into a more proper hug and the brunette curls into her chest, accepting the comfort the redhead is offering. Vi gently lays her chin on top of Dawn's head. "But," she says softly. "She's your big sister and you love her and you're worried about her, right?" A tiny nod. "She'll be okay, I promise."

Dawn pulls away and looks at the potential. "B-but - but what if she runs into Bringers! Or - or - or another of those ubervamps! She won't be able to fight it, not like she was when she left! She could die! I can't lose her again! I just can't go through that again!" She wails as sobs start to wrack her body.

Vi pulls her into her arms again, hugging the former Key tightly, making soothing noises until Dawn calms enough to understand words again. Stroking long, silky brown hair, Vi finally whispers, "Dawnie, can you hear me?"

"Yes."

"Nothing is gonna happen to Buffy. She's gonna be fine, I promise." She hears Dawn start to protest, but stops her with a quiet, "Shh! I know she'll be fine because Spike went after her, remember? Even if they don't say anything, we all know they'd both do anything for each other right? So," she continues, not waiting for a response. "I know Spike found her really quick and he'll watch over her and protect her until she's okay again. Then, they'll both come home and we'll beat the First and everything can go back to normal!" She declares, her voice fierce with passion and belief.

Dawn sniffs deeply, then asks, in a tiny voice, "You really think so?"

A short, sharp bubble of laughter erupts form the redhead. "No, I know so. You'll see. They'll both be back by day after tomorrow, latest."

The two girls sat there in companionable silence for a few more minutes, then Dawn seem to become a little self-conscious sitting curled up in the older girl's arms. Drawing back, she smiles shyly. "Um, thanks, Vi. I feel a lot better."

The potential Slayer just smiles and chuckles. "Hey, what are best friends for, right?"

"Best friends?" Dawn asks, a little surprised. She hadn't really thought about that until right then. When she thought of a "best friend", she usually pictured either Janice or Kit, but they had both fled Sunnydale with their parents weeks ago and she hadn't spoken to either since then. Amanda was still here, but they hadn't really become friends until she was revealed to be a SiT and moved into the Summer's home. Even now, they were just casual friends because they were both from Sunnydale and went to the same school.

Vi, however, Vi had become her friend almost from the minute Buffy had brought her home. They'd gotten close, sharing secrets and fears, giggling over Kennedy's attempts to win Willow, hanging out when Buffy didn't have the potentials training. Looking back over the weeks and months, Dawn realizes that Vi has indeed become her best friend, the one she sought out when she needed comfort or companionship.

The redhead looks at Dawn apprehensively. "Uh, is that okay? I mean, you are to me. Okay?"

Dawn smiles. "It's cool. I was just realizing you're right. You're my best friend too." She holds up her hand and Vi readily takes it as the two girls beam at each other. "But," the brunette says after a moment. "We should try to get some sleep. Faith wants to drag you guys off to that armory thingie tomorrow morning, so you need some sleep if you're gonna kick Bringer ass!"She stands and turns a little offering her hand to the redhead.

Vi grimaces even as her heartbeat speeds up. "Don't remind me! I'm scared enough as it is!" The potential takes Dawn's hand and allows the other girl to help her to her feet.

Dawn nods sharply once. "Good! That's very good!" She smiles.

Vi looks at her confused. "You're glad I'm scared? Why?"

The former Key shrugs, but maintains her smile. "Simple. If you're scared, you won't take stupid chances and get killed and I won't have to look for a new best friend! I mean, who else am I gonna talk to about whatever new dumb thing Rona did?"

Vi giggles and feels her fears lessen. "Yeah, I don't wanna miss that!" She declares, remembering how she wanted to hit the younger girl earlier. She loops an arm loosely around the younger girl's shoulders and, grinning maniacally at each other, they go back in the house.

The feeling of the bike slowing brings Vi back from the past. She blinks and shakes her head a little, looking around, recognizing one of the bigger graveyards in the area. As soon as Faith stops the motorcycle and drops it over on it's kickstand, she hops off and removes her helmet.

Faith, for her part, takes her time locking the bike's handelbars, then takes another moment to run her fingers through wind blown hair. Since she doesn't normally use a helmet, it's a action she's well used to. [Well, not 'til recently.] She thinks, remembering a conversation with Willow. Thoughts of her redheaded lover cause a warm feeling to run through the dark Slayer and she smiles. [Red'll be pissed if she finds out I forgot my helmet again!]

Thoughts of Willow, of course, lead to thoughts of Kennedy and she wonders how things are going so far. Have they seen the dining room yet? Has Dawn even given them her note yet? After a second's reflection about how long it's been since she and Vi left, she figures that yes, they've gotten the note, but they may not have finished changing clothes. She smiles again as she thinks of the good job the youngest members of the house did for her and, even considering the little argument with Dawn before she left, she's gonna have to do something nice to make it up to them. [I mean, besides the ice cream later.] Looking over at the other Slayer, Faith grins inwardly and decides what she's gonna do.

Taking Vi's helmet, Faith opens a storage bin and drops it in, letting the lid slam closed as soon as she does. Walking around the bike, she opens the storage bin on the other side, this one strangely oversized. The dark Slayer pulls her crossbow from the bin and loops the sling over her shoulder, tucking several bolts in a back pocket. Reaching back in, she hands Vi the pistol crossbow the younger girl prefers and a handful of bolts. A dagger and a couple stakes for each of them completes their arsenal for the evening and she closes that bin as well. "Ready?" She asks, indicating the entrance of the cemetery.

Vi finishes tucking her assorted weaponry away into pockets specially sewn into her coat, keeping the crossbow in one hand for quick use. She smiles, still a bit nervous, even after all this time. "If you are." She steps aside, letting Faith take the lead.

Faith internally shakes her head at that. Vi is one of only handful of Slayers she's met so far that were much more comfortable following. All the others she knew were natural leader types, especially Buffy, Kennedy and herself.

No one among them talked much about it, but if they all went on a patrol, Buffy was in charge and everyone obeyed her. If the blonde wasn't there, Faith was the leader and again, no one questioned it. If both of the elder Slayers were missing, Kennedy took charge. No one questioned or challenged it, it was just the way it was, even as far back as the last fight in Sunnydale.

Vi, on the other hand, was content to follow orders and do her job. She could think for herself, of course and was a good Slayer, but being in the presence of three such charismatic women, all of them really good tacticians and great Slayers, she'd never felt the need to assert herself. She was perfectly happy doing what she was told and the only time that changed was when Dawn was along on patrol. Then the redhead was aggressive, actively seeking out and destroying anything she found long before it got near the brunette.

Now that Faith thought back over the handful of times when she'd patrolled with both teens, she realizes the younger Slayer has been doing that all along, but only when Dawn was there. Otherwise, she stayed in the background and obeyed orders. The sultry brunette smiles to herself as that confirms what's she's been suspecting since the two teenagers were jumped by that vamp outside the club the week before.

The two girls started walking along the paved pathway snaking through the dark cemetery, a little apart, but close enough for support and conversation, even though both women remain quiet. Faith waits for the younger girl to say something, but once it's obvious she isn't going to speak anytime soon, she grins quickly, then schools her expression to a light amusement. "Thanks again." When Vi looks at her confused for a second, she elaborates. "For helping D with settin' things up for me. I really appreciate it."

Vi blushes a little and looks of to the side to hide her flaming cheeks. "I-I didn't really do anything. You and Dawn did all the work, I just... threw a few candles around and loaded the cd player."

Faith smiles a little and shakes her head. [And I thought Red was the shyest person I'd ever meet!] She thinks, remembering what her redhead was like when she first knew her. She savors the memory for a moment, then refocuses on the redhead with her. [Okay, time for bombing run,] she decides. "No, seriously, thanks. I owe you." The redhead shrugs and still won't face her, but Faith's enhanced sight can easily make out the flushed skin of the teen's neck, showing that's she's blushing ever harder.

Faith smiles, an expression full of merriment, true, but also empathy and compassion. She knows what it's like to be in love with someone, but be unable to say anything. "Hey, I know a way I could pay you back," she says, as though the idea just occurred to her. "Tell you what, when you're ready to finally tell Dawn how your really feel about her, let me know and I'll set things up for you, okay?"

Vi stumbles to a halt, feeling the blood drain from her face as Faith's words echo in her mind. She's so shocked by the casualness of the older Slayer's statement, even the reflexive denial she might have otherwise have used fails her. She feels her head whip around as though she has no control and she stares at Faith with huge, guilty eyes "How...When... Who..." she stammers, unable to verbalize her confusion and mortification. Distantly, she hears a clatter and some still functioning part of her mind realizes she's dropped her crossbow.

Faith's expression instantly turns from playful to worried. [Aw, shit! I think I broke her!] "Easy kid! Breathe. Just breathe. Come on, in and out." She demonstrates, dramatically taking a deep breath, holding it a second, then releasing it. "That's it. Come on, you're okay." Seeing a little color return to the girl's face, she mournfully says, "Christ, Rookie, I'm sorry about that! If I'd'a known that was gonna be your reaction, I'd said it different, y'know?"

Vi just continues to stare at Faith, her eyes so wide, the older Slayer really expects them to fall out and roll on the ground. [How did she... Who told...] The girl's thoughts race incoherently for nearly a minute for she latches onto a single idea [Willow. She must have told her. But she promised not to!] "How could she?" The redhead whispers, completely unaware she's spoken aloud.

"How could who do what?" Faith asks, starting to get freaked out. [If I'd'a known it was gonna freak her out this much, I wouldn't have said nothin'] She thinks, the self-recrimination in her thoughts near overwhelming. Taking hold of both of Vi's upper arms, she gives the younger girl a little shake. "Come on, kid. Talk to me!"

Vi manages to refocus on Faith, her eyes haunted and full of tears. "She promised!" She says quietly, a hitch in her voice. "How could she tell you when she promised she wouldn't?"

Faith shakes her head, modulating her voice so that it's as comforting as she can make it. "Vi, nobody told me anything. No one's said a word to me about this." She gives the girl a little half smile. "They didn't have to, cause it was wicked obvious, once I knew to look for it." While she's speaking, the dark Slayer thinks back over the last week or so. She smiles more fully when she realizes who Vi is talking about. "You told Red, didn't you? She's the one who promised, ain't she?"

The redhead numbly nods her head, the shakes it. Her eyebrows drawing down in her confusion and shock, she near whispers her explanation. "No. She-she just... figured it out. When - when I was in the hospital, she told me she knew I was... in l-love with Dawn. She promised she wouldn't say anything!" The young Slayer's voice cracks with a sob as tears start streaming down her cheeks.

Faith smiles as gently as she can. She's still not all that good at this comforting stuff, but she's getting better, thanks to her girls. "Far as I know, Rookie, she ain't told nobody. Not me, anyway. Somethin' D said the night you broke your hands stuck out in my mind and I started thinkin'. I watched you two over the next couple days, 'specially you, and everything just kinda clicked into place." She moves her hands up to the girl's shoulders and gives them a little squeeze. "Besides, you've been lookin' at her like I used to look at Willow and God knows I know what that looks like! Seen it in the mirror way too many times!"

She smirks and shakes Vi. "'Sides, that little 'I'd die before lettin' her get hurt' thing you said when B found out about you guys gettin' jumped by that vamp? Dead give away to everyone in the room. Well, unless your last name is Summers, of course." She shakes her head, grinning ruefully. "How B can noticed damn near everything when we're patrollin', but be so friggin' clueless the rest of the time, I'll never know!"

Faith paused, then, looking dead at Vi, added, "'Course, Dawn's not much better, a lot of the time." She laughs at the younger girl as Vi narrows her eyes and looks ready to hit the older Slayer. "Damn, girl! If you were really want to keep hidin' that crush of yours, you really shouldn't look ready to kill every time someone says a little something about D, right?" She shakes the redhead a little, grinning at her until Vi calms a bit, even smiles back tentatively.

"All I'm sayin, kid," she continues, "I know Dawn hasn't figured anything out, cause she pretty much told that a couple times today. I'm also damned sure B ain't got a clue, just cause I know her and she just ain't got it in her to see this kinda thing, unless it's explained to her. Everyone else in the house? Not gonna bet on them not knowing."

Vi looks crestfallen at the news that what she thought was a complete secret most likely has been known all along by most of her friends. As she thinks over what Faith has said, her mind throws up one point the brunette made. "Okay, I'm a little freaked that everyone knows, but what did you mean Dawn said she doesn't know how I feel today? You didn't ask her, did you?" She asks, suddenly desperate for the answer, but terrified to know as well.

"About you specifically? Not really, although I told her I thought you guys had already got together. She said no, got a little crazy on me, said she was likin' the boys right now, and changed the subject." Faith pauses, thinking back over the conversations she's had that day with brunette teen. "Oh, she said something about me and Patch both buggin' her about switchin' teams and that it wasn't happenin' anytime soon. Oh yeah, she also thinks you're a little straighter than I'm thinkin' you are. In fact, she told me she just knows you don't prefer girls to scratch the itches." She grins at the younger Slayer. "You might wanna fix that little bit of wrong thinkin'!"

Faith's eyebrows contract down in thought as she thinks about what Dawn has said that day. "Oh, little bit of help for you. She fussed about me calling you her girl before we left, said she was worried you'd think she wanted to go out with you. I asked her if that was such a bad thing and she said no, it wasn't, but since you wasn't into girls, what did it matter?"

The redheaded teen's eyes have steadily widened at everything Faith's told her and now, they look in danger of falling out. She can't believe the older Slayer has said all these things, and not just to her, but Dawn as well! Then, the last thing she said finally gets through her shock and she looks at Faith, the beginnings of a smile on her lips. "She said she might want to go out with me?"

Faith pauses, suddenly hesitant to answer yes. "Well, it was more that she'd give it serious thought, but eventually?" She looks like she's thinking, then smiles a little. "Yeah, I think she would." The smile falls away and the dark Slayer gives the teen a serious look. "On the other hand, you're never gonna find out unless you tell her what you want and ask her. Sittin' back and pinin' away is just gonna make you crazy, and maybe, some night on patrol, dead from distraction."

She waits, letting the younger girl think about what she's said, then slowly offers, "Look, kid. I owe you for tonight, so if you want, I'll talk to D for you. Let her know you definitely are into girls and that you really like one girl in particular." Seeing Vi about to protest, she adds, "Don't worry, I won't just out and out tell her, 'D, you need to pull your head outta your ass and notice that Vi's in love with you'. Even though, with Summers girls, you kind of do need to be that blunt sometimes. Or, you could talk to Red, get her to talk to Dawn."

Vi closes her mouth from where she started to protest and thinks about Faith's offer. She blushed deeply when the older Slayer had said out loud that she was in love with Dawn, even though it's true. It was just too weird to hear it out loud. In fact, this whole conversation has been really weird and she can feel her mind on the verge of complete, gibbering shutdown, though it's not as bad now.

Faith watches the younger girl's face, seeing that she's still deep in thought and decides it's time to distract her for now. "Tell you what, Rookie. You think about it, okay? You can tell me if you want my help with it later. Right now, let's go find something to kill, take our minds off things."

Her words succeed in distracting Vi. The younger Slayer looks at her. "What are you worried about?" Even as the words leave her lips, she realizes what the older woman means. "Oh. The date. Right." She thinks for a minute, then smiles ever so slightly. "Yeah, I could stand some action."

Faith smirks. "Oh, I know that, but did you wanna go kill vamps with me too?" She laughs as the redhead blushes deeply and swats at her. Bending quickly and scooping up the crossbow the girl dropped, Faith straightens and loops an arm around Vi's shoulders, handing the weapon back to it's owner. "C'mon, kid. Let's go find some dead things to kill." [Oh, I shouldn't,] she thinks. She smiles evilly. "After all, D'll be here soon and you'll be too busy playing bodyguard to have any fun!" She just laughs as the girl growls and pushes her away.

Chapter 29

"Come on in, Spice!"

Taking a deep breath, the teen calls out, "Willow, it's not Faith. It's me. Can I come in?"

"Just a minute!" Through the door, she can hear the bed squeak a little and a giggle, then "You can come in now, Dawnie!"

The brunette pushes the door open and peeks in, then enters. Willow and Kennedy are sitting on the bed, the younger girl with her back to the headboard and Willow between her legs and in her arms. Their hair is disheveled, their lips kiss swollen and both are smiling. "Sorry. Didn't mean to interrupt, but Faith wanted me to give you this." She extends the note.

Willow hesitantly accepts it. "Where is she?" An undertone of worry creeps into the redhead's voice.

Dawn's eyes open a little wider as she recognizes her earlier assumptions on her friend's face. "Oh, don't worry! Since Buffy has a date, she and Vi went on patrol, that's all. I think that's part of what the note is." Dawn smiles as she thinks what else is in the note.

"She went on patrol without me?" Kennedy asks in a hurt tone as Willow asks, her tone also one of hurt, "Buffy's got a date?!? And she didn't tell me? Who with?"

Dawn laughs a little at Willow's words, but it dies quickly as she sees Kennedy's expression of near betrayal. "Just read the note. It'll explain everything." Faintly, she hears a ringing sound and realizes it's the alarm she set for part of dinner. "I gotta go. See you guys in a while!" She races out, closing the door behind her.

The Slayer and witch both look at the folded piece of paper in Willow's hand. Kennedy still looks hurt as she asks, seemingly rhetorically, "Why would she leave me behind for a patrol? We're partners!"

Willow strokes to distraught woman's arm. "It's okay, sweetie. I'm sure she has a good reason." Opening the note, she says reasonably, "Let's find out what it is."

Both women look down and begin to read.

Hey guys,

First off, this ain't a 'Dear John' letter or nothin'. I love you both and you couldn't get rid of me if you killed me, cause then I'd just haunt you! I'll see you guys after I get back from patrol tonight and you know how I get, so, no, not going anywhere.

Second thing is, Kenn, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about patrol tonight, but I knew you were gonna be busy, so I took the Rookie with me. B and Patch are on a date, so that left me and the kid with nothing else to do, so me and her took the tour tonight.

"Busy? What the hell does she mean, I'm gonna be busy?" She looks at Willow, confusion plainly written on her face, then a flash of uncertainty crosses her features. "Did we have plans and I forgot them?"

Willow shakes her head, equally confused. "Not that I know of." She smiles. "I mean, I love spending any time I can with you both, but no, no plans specifically." She glances back at the letter, then her girl, shaking the paper a little. "Let's see if she explains."

You're probably wondering what I mean by busy. Well, I got to thinking, and it seemed to me that Kenn and me were spending a lot of time together, just the two of us. I mean, between patrolling, and all the sex we've been having all over the place. On the other hand, Red and me haven't really spent any time, just the two of us and I'm pretty sure you two haven't been alone that much, either. Not since we all decided to try our little three-way thing.

Now, like I said, I was thinking about this and what I decided was this. We're not just a triple, we're also three couples. Me and Red, me and K and you guys. Now, I know I'm happy like things are and I hope you guys are too, but I was figuring that we could make sure and keep things going good and maybe even make'em better, and I'm all for that.

That being the case, I decided to get the ball rolling by arranging a date for the two of you tonight. That's how I knew you were gonna be busy, K. D helped me a lot with setting this up, even agreeing to cook dinner for you, then agreeing to stay and play the waitress bit for you til after dinner. You're on your own after that, since she's gonna join me and the Rookie.

"So that's what she and Dawnie were talking about this morning!" Willow exclaims, looking at her younger Slayer.

"Huh? When was this?"

The witch smiles, shaking her head a little. "When we got up. Remember? You went to get a shower and I went to see where she was? She and Dawn were talking, probably about this. We talked for minute, then I left to fix breakfast and she said she was going to join you in the shower." Willow blushes slightly, but grins at her girl. "I know she did, cause you came downstairs together and both of you were flushed and a little wet."

Kennedy smiles fondly. "Yeah, it was fun. And I can sorta see what she's talking about, about the three of us spending lots of time together, but not as much as couples." She looks into green eyes of her witch. "She also right about me and her spending a lot of time together, just the two of us, but it hasn't been just the two of us, you and me, since before she joined us. Not that I'm having seconds thoughts about that! I mean, I do love her and I'm pretty sure I'm falling in love with her, but I loved you first." Kennedy smiles as she squeezes Willow a little and nuzzles the redhead's neck.

Willow smiles and shivers from the caress, even as she leans into the touch of her lover. "Mmm, that's nice," she purrs. "She's right about the three couples thing, too, cause that's what we are, when you think about it." The redhead gets quiet and memories start playing through her mind. She smiles sadly to herself, giving her head the smallest of shakes.

Kennedy picks up on her lover's shift of moods and nudges her lightly. "Hey. What's wrong?"

Willow shrugs a little. "Nothing really. Just memories, I guess." She turns her head and smiles gently at her young lover, though it fades quickly. "I was just thinking of when Faith first came to Sunnydale, how she was then and how she is now." Earnest green eyes lock onto chocolate brown. "Do you think I could've stopped her going so wrong? I mean, I was so mean and dismissive of her then. Jealous, really, of her relationship with Buffy."

Kennedy looks a little confused. "Buffy? She and Buffy had a thing going? And why jealous? Did you kinda like her or Buffy, even then?"

Willow quickly shakes her head. "No, nothing like that and I don't think she and Buffy were, you know, doing anything except training and Slaying, but... I thought she was stealing my best friend! Buffy would regularly just blow off any plans we made to hang out with Faith and I hated that!" The redhead growls softly at herself. "Instead of making Buffy pay attention to me, spend time with me again, or even just let me tag along with them, I just blamed Faith and ignored her. I was almost glad when she went over to the mayor, because Buffy needed me again."

The witch sniffs a little and burrows back into her girl as she remembers how she felt about and how she treated her older Slayer all those years ago. Kennedy just holds her, stroking her hair and arm, trying to think how to make this better. "Hey, it's okay," she softly tells her witch. "It was a long time ago and you were both literally different people." She gently tilts Willow's head up so she can see the green eyes she adores so much and smiles. "Besides, you know she forgives you, right? How could she love you so much if she didn't?"

Willow grimaces. "I'm being stupid, aren't I?"

"Not stupid," Kennedy hastens to correct her. "Just overly concerned with something that can't be changed and doesn't mean anything now. She loves you and you love her. And I love you both," she adds, seeing Willow about to protest. "Since that's true, let's forget all that old stuff that happened and see what else she says in her note. I'm kinda curious now to see her idea of a date!" Kennedy smiles winningly at her girl, wiggling her eyebrows a little.

Willow laughs and kisses her Slayer quickly. "Okay, I'll stop worrying about it. I love you, Kennedy Langdon. You know that, right?"

Kennedy smiles and softly kisses the redhead's lips. "I do know that. I love you just as much."

Willow smiles happily and kisses the brunette again, then turns back a little and opens the message again so they can both read the rest of Faith's words.

So, anyway, enjoy tonight. Dawn and Vi helped set things up and I'm pretty sure D knows a lot more about romantic stuff than I do, so it should be pretty cool. If it's not, let me know and I'll make it up to you both, okay? When you're ready, just go downstairs and into the dining room. D should have everything ready for you. I love you both and I'll see you in a few hours. HAVE FUN!

Faith

PS D says she and Vi picked out some really nice clothes for you guys for tonight and left them on the bed in my old room. You might wanna check them out!

The two lovers sat quietly for a moment, reflecting on their girlfriend's words and what she had done for them. Both thought it was incredibly thoughtful and both were feeling a lot of love for the older Slayer.

Kennedy smiled and brought a hand up to gently turn Willow's face toward her. "So, how about it, Miss Rosenberg? Will you have dinner with me?"

Willow smiles brightly and giggles a little. "I'd be delighted to, Miss Langdon!" She giggles again and leans up to kiss her girl. Drawing back she asks, "Any bets that's why Faith wanted to go shopping so badly this evening? So Dawnie and Vi would have time to set things up?"

Kennedy shakes her head. "Uh uh, no bet!" She smiles and raises an eyebrow. "Wanna go check out their idea of nice clothes?"

"We could," Willow purrs. "Of course, we should probably shower first, since this is a date and all. That way, we could put them on immediately, if we like them, then go down and see what we're having for dinner."

Kennedy chuckles a little. "Very true and very smart. And since Dawn has probably already started cooking, we should try to save a little time and share the shower, don't you think?" She nibbles her way along her witch's neck as she speaks, delighting in Willow's shivers and gasps.

"T-That does make sense," the redhead replies, trying to suppress the moan that threatens to escape. "We - we should probably get s-started soon. Goddess!" She gasps as Kennedy bites her earlobe lightly.

"Mm-hmm," is Kennedy's only response as she continues to nibble and tease the sensitive flesh of her girl's neck and throat, her hands coming up to cup and lightly squeeze Willow's breasts. The redhead moans deeply and arches into her girl's touch, quickly becoming lost in what the young Slayer is doing to her.

"Hey guys!" Dawn's voice comes through the door a bare second after she knocks. "Hope you've read the note by now. Dinner'll be ready in about forty minutes and the appetizers are ready whenever you want them, so let me know when you come down, okay?" Before either woman in the bedroom can respond, Kennedy hears the teen's footsteps retreating from the door.

At the first sound of Dawn's voice, Kennedy pulls away from Willow's neck and looks toward the door. After a few seconds, Willow's mind restarts and she manages to make sense of most of Dawn's words as she, too, looks that way. Her breathing still rapid, but slowing, she looks back at her Slayer.

Kennedy returns her gaze, taking in the dilated pupils and lusty look in her lover's eyes. Smiling mischievously, she asks, "Maybe we should move this to the shower now?"

Willow grins and kisses her girl quickly before bouncing up and off the bed. "Good idea!" She giggles, almost running from the room.

Kennedy laughs as well as she jumps off the bed to follow the redhead. She starts out the door, then ducks back in long enough to grab their robes before following her girlfriend.

* * *

As Xander eases the car to a stop, Buffy looks out the window at the restaurant it seems he's selected and is visibly impressed and a little intimidated. The only time she's ever been to a place this fancy was the last summer she and Dawn had spent with their dad and he'd tried so hard to impress his daughters. [Too hard, really, but that was a long time ago,] the blonde thinks to herself. She smiles at the valet who opens her door and offers a hand to help her from the car. "Thank you."

As the driver's door opens, Xander gets out and slips the valet there a twenty as he accepts the card the young man hands him. "Thanks," he grins as he steps back, allowing the car to be whisked away. Looking across the newly empty space, he smiles at Buffy and steps quickly to the sidewalk to join her. Offering an arm, he asks, "Ready to go in?"

She looks back at the entrance again, then back to her date, her apprehension readily apparent to Xander. "Is this really where we're eating?"

"Unless you'd rather not," he replies, then smiles mischievously. "We can still go to McDonalds..."

"Don't you dare!"

He laughs lightly at her vehemence and leads her toward the entrance, nodding his thanks as the doorman holds the door wide for them. "Never crossed my mind, Buff," he assures her, ushering her inside with his hand at the small of her back. * * *

Willow comes downstairs a little while later, her eyes on the brunette waiting for her at the bottom. Willow is in the clothing the teens laid out for her earlier, but Kennedy didn't really think her outfit went with Willow's, so she said she'd find something else. Coming down the stairs, Willow sees she found a little black cocktail dress and that the young Slayer has put her hair up, with little tendrils hanging down to tickle her neck. The witch feels and hears her breath catch audibly at the sight of her young lover. With the barest hints of make-up enhancing the younger woman's looks, she can't remember ever seeing anyone look more beautiful. The very small part of her brain not entranced by the vision waiting for her makes a little note to reward Faith lavishly for this idea.

As Willow reaches the bottom of the stairs, Kennedy takes the redhead into her arms, smiling at her lover, her eyes shining. Softly, she kisses Willow's lips, then pulls back a little, smiling again, her eyes brim-full of the love she's feeling. "Do you have any idea..." She manages to choke out, then clears her throat. "I've always thought you were the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen, but tonight... Tonight I don't have the words." She stops, blushing and looking down a little. "Will, I - I'm just a Slayer, I can't tell you how beautiful I think you are right now. All I can tell you is how much I love you and that is more than anything else in the world!" Her eyes come back up and Willow can see the raw emotion bubbling there.

Willow smiles at her effusive girlfriend, laughing a little even as she blushes lightly at Kennedy's compliments. "Thank you." Her eyes twinkle as she teases a little. "For someone who didn't have the right words, that was pretty a good try!" Kennedy smiles, dropping her eyes again, her cheeks pinking slightly.

The redhead take a step back, holding both of the Slayer's hands in her own, moving them away so she can properly see all of her brunette. "Mmmm... You look just..." She pauses until Kennedy looks up at her, then smiles wickedly and finishes her thought. "Scrumptious!"

Kennedy laughs and blushes lightly. Pulling Willow close again, she kisses her slowly, her lips moving against the redhead's, their tongues caressing for a moment. Breaking off their kiss, both women pant a little, until Kennedy smiles. "Come on. We better see what Faith thinks of as a dinner date before I can't control my urge to take you back to our room. And if that happens, I think Dawn'll be really mad at us!" She winked at her love.

Willow just laughed merrily. "She'd forgive us," she proclaimed. The redhead waited a beat, then added, "Eventually!" She smiled moved to one side of Kennedy, releasing one hand, while interlacing their fingers with the other one.

Barely noticing their surroundings, paying much more attention to each other, they swept into the dining room, startled out of the loving haze by music starting. Kennedy looked one way, Willow the other, both visibly impressed. The lighting was relatively low and totally provided by candles and the fire blazing in the fireplace. Soft, instrumental music played in the background and the table was set for two people, sitting opposite of each other.

Willow caught a glimpse of Dawn disappearing back toward the kitchen before turning back to her girl with a bright smile. "This is... I don't believe it!"

"We're gonna have to do something nice for Dawn and Vi for helping Faith set things up for us," Kennedy agreed as she continued to look around the transformed room. Her eyes came back to Willow and she smiled both happily and conspiratorially. "And we're really gonna have to think up something as a 'thank you' for Faith!"

Willow nodded absently, looking around again. Kennedy took a half step away from her, pulling her hand free, then turned and offered the same hand with a playful flourish. "May I show you to your seat, my lady?"

The redhead giggled and took the proffered hand. "Of course, kind Miss."

The Slayer led her over, held out Willow's chair, then sat down herself, just as Dawn reentered the dining room with smallish tray. "I hope you like stuffed mushrooms, Kennedy. I know Willow does."

Kennedy reluctantly looked away from Willow. "Huh? Oh, yeah. They're great, thanks." She smiled at the younger Summers. "Thanks for doing this, Dawn. Everything is perfect!"

The younger brunette smiles and blushes a little. "Thanks, but it wasn't just me. Vi set things up in here. I just cooked." She ducks her head somewhat as she puts salads in front of her friends, then sets several different bottles of dressing in the center.

"Still, you both did a wonderful job, Dawnie." A twinkle in her eyes, Willow looks at Kennedy and winks. "So, what do you two charge?" Kennedy smiled and chuckled as she poured them both a glass of wine.

Dawn giggled. "I'll talk to Vi and see what she thinks, but we work pretty cheap!"

"That's good to know."

Kennedy smiled at her lover's response, then sniffed the air appreciatively. "Something smells good," she complimented the teen. "What are we having for dinner?"

"Veal parmesan with buttered noodles and alfredo sauce. With garlic bread, of course. Oh, and I'll bring the mushrooms out here in a minute, okay?"

Willow smiled at her, pouring a light vinaigrette on her salad. "Thanks Dawnie. Take your time." She took a bite of her salad, watching as Kennedy started in on hers as well. True to her girl's Slayer nature, she had nearly double the amount that the redhead herself had.

Willow smiled at Kennedy as she ate the last of her salad. She'd finished her own a moment or so earlier and, in a spirit of mischief, the witch slipped her right shoe off and reached out to run a stocking clad foot up the inside of her Slayer's left leg.

Kennedy's fork stopped halfway to her mouth as she felt the light touch and she raised an eyebrow at Willow, her lips curling into a half smile. "Having fun?" She asked, her tone light and teasing.

The redhead smiled. "Yep, lots!"

The brunette smiled back and closed her legs together, trapping her witch's foot between them. Looking right into Willow's eyes, she moved her hand from the table, reaching down to where she held her prize captive. With a devilish grin, she began to tickle the underside.

Willow immediately tried to jerk her foot away, giggling uncontrollably. Her laughter subsided, though, when her girl stopped tickling and started to gently caress and rub instead. She suppressed a moan of happiness as Kennedy started to hit all the right spots to relax her.

Dawn came back in right then, a largish serving platter of stuffed mushrooms in one hand and clean plates in the other. "Ready for these?"

Kennedy released her lover's foot and straightened, Willow following suit seconds later. "Sure. I think we're both about finished with the rabbit food now," she said with a sardonic grin.

Willow just shook her head reprovingly. "You, missy, have been hanging out with Faith way too much lately. You're starting to sound like her!"

The Slayer gave her the most innocent pout she could manage. "You say that like it's a bad thing!"

Dawn snickered and Willow smiled and took Kennedy's free hand. "Not a bad thing, but I already have a Faith. I want to keep my Kennedy, too."

Kennedy's eyes softened. "No worries about that, Red. I'm not going anywhere." Raising their joined hands, she softly kissed the back of Willow's, smiling at her witch after as she released Willow. With a little effort, the brunette turned her gaze from her girl to Dawn. "Smells great, Dawn!"

The teen smiles a little and blushes at the compliment. "You guys ready for these?" At Kennedy smile and nod, she places the platter on the table between the two women, then with a silent question, removes their salads plates and replaces them with clean ones for the mushrooms. After topping off the couple's wineglasses, she withdraws back into the kitchen.

Willow watches Dawn as she silently moves and leaves, then looks toward Kennedy. "I think she's found her calling," she quips.

Ken