Title: Heart
Author: Lowdeen
Disclaimer: The characters and show all belong to Joss Whedon, Fox, and Mutant Enemy. The story contains love between two women, so if such things offend you, are illegal where you live or whatever, please don't read it and upset yourself. It'll make life easier on all of us.
Spoilers:Up to and including the fourth season episode, "Something Blue"
Author's Notes: Most of the story occurs in an alternate universe kinda way. The split between canon and wishful thinking occurs around the episode, "Dopplegangland".
Rating: PG-13

Part 1

<<Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump>>

The heartbeat was steady and strong. Its echoes reverberating around the large cavern, bouncing off of one jagged wall only to be deflected by another. The source of the sound was as elusive as the sound itself. As the beating continued on in its constant fashion, a shadow flitted around the enclosure to finally settle, moments later, in the middle of the room. The torches placed haphazardly around the cave barely illuminated the figure. A dark cloak wrapped around a skinny frame hid all but its hands from the light.

If one dared to look closer, the cloak resembled more of a living fog than a piece of clothing for it swirled around, never settling in one place for more than a moment. Its ends trailed off until one couldn't distinguish where the darkness began and the shroud ended.

The hands that peeked out were blistered and decaying. Ribbons of flesh were either missing or hanging on by only the slimmest of margins. 

<<Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump>>

The heartbeat continued on unabated. Its owner, blissfully unaware of either the figure or the cavern where dark magic hung like a moldering perfume.

A soft chanting could be heard coming from the figure, growing exponentially louder with each passing minute until it rivaled that of the heartbeat. As the chanting rose in volume, the heart started beating faster and faster and faster---until everything stopped . . .

No chanting, no beating.

For the space of time that it takes a normal heart to beat once, there was absolute silence. . . silence everywhere except in the breast of the dark figure where there was a beat so faint, it would have been missed were it not for the absolute hush that had fallen.

Just as suddenly as the beating had stopped, it started again, albeit sounding weaker than it had before. In contrast, there was now only silence coming from the figure’s chest. Without seeming to move, the shrouded body began melting into the surrounding darkness, leaving nothing to mark its passage save for a slightly sickening smell in the air.

<<Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump>>

Part 2

15 minutes before: 

Buffy Summers, the chosen one of her generation to battle the forces of evil, the protector of the innocent, the only one that stood between hell on earth and a . . .a not so hellish earth, stood on the raised dais with tears of joy running down her face. Holding a large bouquet of roses that was threatening to burst from its plastic confines, she gracefully accepted the gold medal presented to her by the judge.

 “Thank you, thank you. This is the happiest moment of my life. I feel so proud to win this figure skating medal on behalf of the United States.”

As the crowd roared its approval, Buffy’s eyes scanned the spectators, finally settling on a familiar group of people cheering her on loudly. The Scooby Gang,--Giles, Willow, and Xander--were all there, supporting her like always. She beamed at them but still continued to scan the crowd, looking for...? Who exactly was she looking for? There were just too many faces all blending together, making features too hard to distinguish or pick out. Her eyes roamed to the back of the stadium and grew wider as she finally stopped on the lanky form of a woman she would know anywhere.

"Faith." She uttered it under her breath, afraid that even in this din, someone could overhear.

The other slayer was leaning casually over a balcony with her arms folded across the top and a knowing smirk on her face. Slowly, she raised an index finger to her full lips and made a shushing motion. She mouthed something to Buffy before she disappeared back into the crowd. A frown creased Buffy's features as she tried to interpret what had just happened. What was Faith doing here and what had she just said?

As Buffy examined this new mystery, she failed to notice that her surroundings were beginning to disappear, melting into a darkness that was fast approaching her from all sides. By the time she did notice that not everything was kosher, there was nothing left save an inky void which lay on all sides.

“H..Hello?” This isn’t fair, I wasn’t done with that dream yet. I want my stadium…I want my fans…I want my Faith! Wait, I didn't just think that did I?

Not getting any type of response, Buffy decided a more proactive approach was necessary.

“HEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!”

If I can’t get back to my dream, I’m going to, at least get out of this nightmare.

Deciding that there was only one sure-fire method to waking up, she started to pinch herself only to cry out in agitation a split second later.

“Owww. What kind of messed up dream…”

<<Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump, Tha-Thump>>

“Oooooh. How very TellTale Heart of me to dream this up. Well there’s no reason, I should be standing here like some brain dead idiot when there’s explorin’ to be done. ”

Picking a direction at random, she’d hardly taken a step before a stabbing pain in her chest doubled her over like a soft pretzel. It was as if someone were jamming their hand down her throat and squeezing her heart for all it was worth…only worse. As if that weren’t enough, Buffy began losing all feeling in her arms, legs, torso, head, and even her ears felt numb. Juxtapose the numbness to the excruciating pain and you’d get what she was feeling at the time, which was to say, she’d had better days. The beating became thunderous as it matched Buffy's heartbeat. For long, agonizing seconds, the torture continued until everything suddenly stopped, leaving total silence.

*******

The setting was the same as before. The cavern was still bathed in shadows as the torchlight flickered weakly against the darkness that threatened to engulf it. The only change resided in the addition of a second figure whose stature was only slightly above that of his compatriot.

"How did it happen?" The second figure questioned in a rough monotone.

"There must have been a mistake in the incantation." The first figure replied in a slightly higher voice. "Everything was going according to plan. A minute longer and she would have been mine...I mean, ours."

"Yes." The second said slowly. "We'll have to fall back on the alternate plan. Do we know if anything else was...affected by our spell?"

"Only some minor details."

"For your sake, I hope these minor details do not affect our plans further." The second said with a touch of malice in his voice.

Part 3

Buffy awoke with a start, her hands clutching at her chest. That wasn't the best way to wake up. In fact, on the all time list of worse ways to wake up, that was down there with waking up in bed next to...Spike.

"Ewwww!" That was not a good visual. She was having all kinds of weird thoughts tonight. For the hundredth time, she promised herself that she would stop with the sugary snacks before bed. Flopping back down on the bed, she wiped a hand across her sweaty forehead and realized something wasn't quite right. Aside from the late night fright-fest, she noticed that this was definitely not her dorm room.

"Willow?" Buffy called out to her best friend but received no response. She turned on the lamp next to the bed and her heart almost stopped once again for the second time that night. She was in her OLD bed, in her OLD house, with all her OLD stuff exactly where it had been when she was still in high school. Either she was dreaming or there was something fishy going on. Considering that the town was situated over a hellmouth, the latter reason stood more than a fifty/fifty chance of being true.

Getting out of bed, she noted that it was 4:01 AM and the date was exactly as she remembered it--if she were still a senior in high school! She really wanted to talk to Giles about the dream as well as the question of how she found herself in her house, in the wrong time, without knowing how she got there. These, and more questions, would have to wait however since calling her watcher at four in the morning would no doubt result in a stern lecture on how inappropriate it was to call someone at four in the morning. So she opted to go downstairs instead and spend some quality time in front of the TV.

(Four Hours Later...)

"Buffy. Buffy, wake up. It's time for school. You'll be late...again."

Buffy rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand and looked up at her mother with a confused expression..

"Mom? What are you doing here?"

"Well this is still my house Buffy. The more important question is what are you still doing here? You might be the slayer young lady but you're still a high school student. Now go get ready. Breakfast will be waiting when you get down."

Joyce left a speechless Buffy half-lyng on the couch where she had fallen asleep last night.

"HIGH SCHOOL??! I really need to speak to Giles."

Part 4

Buffy was power walking to the library when she heard a familiar shout behind her.

"Buffy. Wait up."

Hurrying up alongside her, Willow said with a breathy smile, "Hi, where are you going in such a hurry? Class is the other way."

"I need to go to the library first. Willow...uhm...do you notice anything different today?"

"Aside from the fact that Principal Snyder hasn't shown up for work yet...no nothing's different."

Buffy's jaw almost dropped to the ground when she heard Willow's flippant response. She knew Snyder wouldn't think of missing school, not if it meant missing an opportunity to harass and derail a student's self esteem. As she was trying to process this new tidbit of information, she somehow managed to push a somewhat coherent, "Huh?" out of her mouth.

"Come on. I'll walk with you to the library. You don't look so good. Did you get enough sleep last night?" Linking her arm through Buffy's, she led a somewhat dazed slayer down the hall.

There are some things that one expects when one lives on the mouth of hell such as being attacked on a daily basis by vampires, magic going awry and turning innocent people into rats, and supernatural phenomena occurring right under the oblivious noses of the townspeople without them even batting an eyelash. But of all the things Buffy expected, she NEVER expected she'd have to walk the halls of her high school again. To see the faces of her classmates who, by all rights, should be resting peacefully 6 feet under the ground. Everything was just too surreal and she was definitely overdosing on that old deja vu vibe. So when they did finally reach the library, Buffy was feeling pretty off kilter.

"Are you all right?" Willow asked, "You 're awfully quiet today."

"I'm fine. Nothing's wrong." Buffy assured her friend. Except for the fact that my world is turning upside down and inside out all at once, nothing could be finer.

"Alright then. I have to go to class but I'll see you later 'kay?" Willow waved slightly as she took off down the hall.

"Yeah, I'll see you." Buffy said absently as she pushed the library doors open.

"GILES! Something weird is going on!" Understatement of the century though it was, she knew Giles would know what to do. She started to walk towards his office but stopped short when she caught sight of who came out. Quickly grabbing a stake from inside her jacket, she pivoted into a combat stance.

"Spike! What are you doing here. Where's Giles?"

Part 5

"And a good morning to you too." Spike said drolly as he approached Buffy. "Being the librarian of this fine American school, it's kind of a given that I actually be in the library on occasion. Now who is this Giles person you keep carrying on about?" Spike smirked in his very annoying way. "Not a new boyfriend I hope. Faith will be crushed...can I give her the good news?"

"Faith?" Buffy flashed back to her dream and Faith's gesture for her to keep quiet.

"Yes Faith. You know, the one you've been mooning over like a lovestruck cow for the last week?" Grabbing a chair, he sat primly on it before eyeing Buffy with what seemed to be the tiniest bit of concern in his eyes. "Don't tell me the invincible slayer is experiencing memory loss already. Next thing you know, you'll be at the Old Slayer's home fighting over who gets the last tapioca pudding," he joked half-heartedly. Buffy would usually have fired back a couple of zingers at him by now but by the looks of it, she could barely make her mouth work to form even the most rudimentary of syllables.

Buffy continued to stare openly at Spike the vampire, the librarian, or whatever the hell he was now. Two things began to filter through the haze that seemed to have taken up permanent residence in her mind. One, that Spike was sipping from a cup of tea. Two, that Spike was dressed in tweed. Spike, tea, and tweed did not go together...not ever. This analysis led to only one logical conclusion. The person--her spider sense had remained tingle free--sitting in front of her wasn't Spike...at least not the one she knew and loathed. Shaking out of her reverie, she went into slayer mode and sat down at the table opposite Spike.

"Tell me what's going on I want to know everything, starting with who are you?" At the confused look she received, Buffy decided to elaborate a little further. "Look, I woke up today from a wicked weird dream and find out everything in my world has changed. I'm supposed to be in college right now. High school is supposed to be a pesky little memory but here I am, sitting across from...whoever you are...and I just want to know what happened?" Buffy looked up at Spike who had an unreadable expression on his face. The staring contest went on for what seemed like forever before Spike finally averted his gaze. Suppressing a sigh, he started to talk.

Part 6

Spike, who later said he preferred to be addressed by the name William, was currently in his office researching the possible causes that could have turned the world upside down as Buffy so succinctly put it. Buffy, meanwhile, was charged to go back to class and act as normally as possible.

You'd think he could have at least written me a note excusing me from school for the day. I mean, can't he see that I'm emotionally fragile right now? Same old Spike--Willy...whatever. Wouldn't do me a favor if I stabbed him in the heart with a stake.

Buffy walked into the school cafeteria with these homicidal thoughts churning around in her head. She automatically stood on line, waiting for her share of the gruel they considered food around here. She gave the evil eye to the lunch lady as her portion was ladled onto her plate. Mental note to self--make sure the lunch lady doesn't go anywhere near the rat poison. Turning around, she spotted Willow and Xander already seated at their usual table waving her over. She shook her head at the familiar scene and walked over with a small smile on her face.

"Hey Buffy, you look a lot better. Not that you don't always look good but you know, better than today...this morning...better."

"What Willow's trying to say is, you look good Buff," Xander interjected before Willow really started on her babble rant.

"Thanks guys. About this morning...we're going to have to pow-wow at the library after school today and go into serious research mode. Something funky is going on around here."

"What's the sitch Buffster?" Xander inquired, leaning forward slightly. Before Buffy could respond, however, someone tapped her on the left shoulder. When she turned her head around, that same somebody used the opportunity to give Buffy a light peck on her right cheek. By the time the slayer turned back around, Faith was already seated comfortably in the once empty seat next to her.

"You always fall for that old trick B," Faith said with a smug expression on her face. "Is that meat?" Changing subject abruptly, she eyed the food on Buffy's plate, trying to determine if the subject in question once had a mother.

"Well the menu did indicate meatloaf was the special of the day." Willow mentioned helpfully.

Faith raised one eyebrow slightly, "Since when is meatloaf green?"

"The school's trying to poison us by serving us green meat. Hey Buffy, is that the situation?" Xander directed the question to Buffy but received only silence in response.

The slayer was oblivious to the mini-conversation that was taking place right in front of her. Instead her attention was focused on one point--one person actually. Faith, the other half of the Chosen Two was sitting not one foot from her. Faith, the same person who had once threatened to kill Angel, Xander, and Willow was sprawled on a chair talking companionably with two of the aforementioned people...two minutes after kissing her! When she had asked Billy about Faith, he had said that the two slayers had managed to patch things up before Faith had gone completely over to the dark side. He obviously left some details out. Buffy could just picture Willy getting his jollies at her expense. The lull in the conversation snapped her out of her thoughts as she noticed six pairs of eyes looking directly at her.

"What?"

"Buffy, are you sure you're all right?" Willow asked worriedly, "You're not acting like a person that's all right."

"B." Faith placed a hand on Buffy's arm, "Is something wrong?"

Buffy closed her eyes briefly at the comforting touch and when she opened them up again, she was staring directly into the liquid warm pools of Faith's brown eyes. Inside, she was a mass of confused emotions. Sure, she was glad that they had somehow settled their differences before any more people could be hurt but what was she supposed to feel for this girl? Judging by the kiss and the look in Faith's eyes, it was definitely anything but platonic.

"Yeah," Buffy managed to choke out, "something's wrong." Averting her gaze from the other slayer, she continued, "Look, hopefully I'll be able to give you guys a better explanation later but right now, let's just say that I've landed in Wonderland and the only thing missing is the white rabbit."

Fortunately for her, the school bell rang, indicating the end of lunch period. Buffy scooped up her bookbag and belted out of the room before anyone could object, leaving a suspiciously green piece of meat as the only evidence that she had been there at all.

After a beat, Xander quipped, "Anyone else who found that weird, please raise your hand." Willow and Xander's hands shot up in the air while Faith continued looking at the double doors that Buffy had just exited through with a slight frown on her face.

Part 7

Buffy managed to wander through the rest of her classes in a world of her own. She had been caught by surprise at Faith's appearance even though Willy had told her that the other slayer was now attending school--sporadically. When her last class rolled around, she situated herself in the back and prayed that she could avoid the teacher's attention since class participation was the last thing on her mind at the moment. She struggled to pull herself together before the meeting with the Scooby Gang commenced but it seemed that the harder she tried, the more she felt herself falling apart.

Pull yourself together Summers. You ARE the slayer right? And slayers DON'T fall apart. That's for heroines in bad melodramas. You've averted the apocalypse, this is small potatoes in comparison---Then why do I feel so out of control?

(I'll tell you why, a little voice inside her crowed. Reliving High School is bad but you can take that in stride. Having Spike as your Watcher is a double-bad with mocha on top but you would have learned to live with it eventually. Now here comes the part where you're not so good at dealing---having Faith as your girlfriend...)

T-That has nothing to do with nothing.

(I can't believe you're trying to lie to me. In case you've forgotten, I AM you and you ARE me. We're the same person---with different opinions on certain points granted but still the same person.)

If we're the same person, then why am I talking to you? That would be like talking to myself. On second thought, that IS talking to myself which can't be good whichever way you put it.

(Hey, don't blame the messenger. I'm just the errand girl for your subconscious who doesn't like to come out and play all that often but when she does---you'd better listen.)

So what's the message?

(Don't try to deny your feelings for Faith---and I konw you do have some. Sure she was Miss Homicidal Lunatic of the year but that was in the other reality. In this reality, things never got that far. And you know what happened with Allan was an accident---You've been given a second chance, use it.)

The bell rang at that moment signaling the end of yet another school day. Buffy packed up her books and headed slowly to the library. Was her annoying little voice right? Could she have feelings for Faith that went beyond friendship? And if she did, what then---this wasn't her reality. She didn't belong here and as soon as she figured out a way to fix everything, this world and everybody in it would be just another memory. One thing she knew for sure, things were getting way too complicated, way too fast.

Stepping through the library doors for the second time that day, Buffy scanned the room. Willy was standing alongside Xander with an annoyed expression on his face. Willow was seated at the table next to Oz murmuring amongst themselves. Faith sat across from them, idly carving in the table with a small pen knife. When she heard Buffy come in, she aimed a sheepish grin at the other slayer and put the knife back in her pocket.

"Look!" Willy raised his voice in an irritated fashion, "This has nothing--I repeat--NOTHING to do with green meat or any kind of meat for that matter. Honestly, I don't know where you get these bloody ideas from.: Now that Buffy is finally here--punctual as ever I see--let's get this over with before I strangle this boy."

"My ideas are valid and well thought out," Xander huffed indignantly, "And, mock my words, one of these days, one of them will even turn out to be true." Everyone rolled their eyes at Xander's pronouncement--everyone but Willow who gave her longtime friend a sympathetic look.

As soon as everybody was more or less seated, Willy started to speak. "It seems that a situation has developed over the night. Buffy came to me this morning claiming that the world as she knows it has changed."

"Changed--how?" Willow interjected.

"There are certain major elements she remembers occurring that, as far as I'm concerned, have never occurred before and vice versa. Unless she's been smacked on the head one too many times by the forces of evil..." Buffy shot her watcher a menacing glare. "The only other explanation is that she is not from this---reality." Willy paused a moment to let his last statement sink in. "In Buffy's reality, her watcher was named Giles whereas in this world, Wesley was her first watcher. After he died, that responsibility was left to me. It also seems that in this other world, Faith went through with her plan to aid the mayor in his Ascension, essentially turning completely evil. The third major change is in time itself. According to Buffy, she was attending her first year of college prior to today."

"You mean she's time travel girl?" Xander asked.

"That is a possibility although if it were just time travel, the changes I've just mentioned should not have occurred. I was thinking more along the lines of alternate realities, like what happened with vampWillow."

"We could ask for Anya's help," Willow suggested, "this kind of thing should be right up her alley."

"Exactly as I was about to propose. Willow, Xander," Spike directed, "why don't you two track down Anya and convince her to help us. Meanwhile, the rest of us will research everything we can on alternate realities."

As Buffy watched everybody going about their assigned tasks, she was suddenly startled by a voice whispering in her ear, "We need to talk---now." Without looking back, Faith walked quickly into Willy's office. Buffy hesitated only a second before following.

Part 8

As soon as the door closed behind Buffy, Faith turned around, pinning her fellow slayer with a burning gaze. "What Willy-Boy said out there--about me going completely evil--Is that stuff true? What did I do?"

Buffy squirmed a little under the direct scrutiny, "Faith, whatever happened, you have to understand you're not the same person as the one I knew. In this world you never went to that level..."

"Cut the bull B. We both know people change at the drop of a dime. Your Faith and me---we're both cut from the same cloth. So just tell me---tell me what I did." Am I a masochistic SOB or what? I never could leave well enough alone. Why do I even want to know? What's it gonna prove?...That I'm a fucked up piece of shit? Hell, I knew that already.

"The mayor--you helped him ascend. You were basically his right hand girl---doing the dirty jobs." Buffy took a deep breath before going into the really bad stuff. "Y-you shot Angel with a poison arrow right before the mayor was set to ascend. The only antidote was a slayer's blood." Buffy paused in order to gauge Faith's reaction but was unable to read the other girl. "I did the only thing I thought I could. We fought---I s-stabbed you." Buffy reached over hesitantly and placed her hand lightly over Faith's torso as if to remind herself of what she had done. "Right here. You were in a coma after that." That was the worst mistake of my life. It wasn't supposed to go that far. Everthing was just happening way too fast. I'm so sorry Faith.

"So let me get this straight, B. Cause you know I'm not the brightest bulb in the pack." Faith took a step back, severing all physical contact with Buffy. "First off, you were gonna feed me to your undead bimbo boyfriend. Second, you gutted me like a goddamn fish and FINALLY, you left me for dead lying in a freaking coma---Did I cover all the bases? Do you really hate me that much?"

"No!" Buffy quickly shouted. "Of course not. If I could change how things turned out, I would. Faith, I never said this to you before but--I'm sorry. I should have been there for you after Allan died. Things wouldn't have gotten so out of control but this is like a second chance for me--a do-over. Can't we just wipe the slate clean?"

Just like that, any residual anger Faith had been feeling on behalf of her other self vanished. How do I stay mad at you if you keep looking up at me with those puppy dog eyes? You don't play fair, B. She grudgingly said, "All right. I guess we both kind of messed up. Let's say we do put all of that aside...then there's only one other question left. You know I don't like to beat around the bush, B. So let's get right down to the nitty gritty...What happens now? What happens to us?" Please don't let this be it. This can't be the way it ends for us. Not like this. We're too good together.

Buffy's eyes had started to wander over everything in the room when the question she had been dreading all day was finally posed but her attention eventually returned to Faith. Hesitantly meeting the other slayer's gaze, she said, "Faith---I'm not the same person---the same Buffy that you know." I don't know if I CAN be that Buffy. If things had been different...I just don't know. I need more time.

"No that's where I have to disagree with you, B. You're still the same person I'm crazy in love with. Just because you don't remember it doesn't mean I can't or don't." I can't believe how mushy I'm getting. Six months ago, if someone had told me I'd go this soft, I'd have cut their fucking heart out and fed it to my cat---if I had one.

"Faith..."

The slayer in question suddenly closed the distance between them. Placing a hand gently on Buffy's cheek, Faith brought her mouth within inches of the other girl's.

"I'm not asking for alot," muttered Faith in a husky voice. "I don't know what'll happen tomorrow or the day after that but I do know I won't be able to handle any of the shit that flies our way if you're not right there with me." If I'm gonna go sappy, I might as well go full out. I'm not going to mess this up like everything else in my piss poor life. I can't---I'll kill myself first.

Faith leaned in, kissing Buffy with a tenderness that managed to convey all the love and adoration she felt. Sometime during their kiss, Buffy's eyes had closed of their own accord and her breathing had increased exponentially. When the door to the office suddenly burst open, she was ready to kill whoever was standing on the other side. So apparently was Faith, who separated only enough to growl out a barely coherent, "Get out."

"What? They didn't teach you civility in grammar school?" Willy leaned casually against the doorframe with his arms crossed.

"No, but they did teach me how to spell and if you annoy me any more, I'll carve out my initials on your face," Faith spat out.

"Look, if you two lovebirds are done cooing at each other, try to remember that we do have a serious situation at hand and your presence is required at this time." Willy left without another word but he had the decency to close the door behind him.

"Was he an asshole in your world too?"

Buffy cracked a smile. "Things like that don't change." They were still standing close together, their bodies almost touching. Neither one was inclined to move but duty called. "I guess it's time for us to make an appearance."

"Yeah." Faith frowned a little. "So---we're five by five?"

Buffy let a slow smile spread over her face. "What do you think?" And then proceeded to return the kiss that Faith had given her earlier.

Part 9

The two slayers walked into the Bronze, instinctively scanning the club for any would-be vamps that had come out to play. Their patrol earlier had turned up nothing more than a couple of newbies who were better at running than fighting. It might be a good cardio workout but it sure did put a crimp in a girl's mood. Whatever happened to fighting the good fight?

But at least she and Faith had managed to squeeze in some quality bonding time despite the lack of cooperation from the undead community. She had missed it---not the running part but the hanging with Faith part. Their relationship was new territory for her but it was new in a good and 'tingly feelings all over' kinda way. The only weird part wasn't that Faith was a girl---having a two hundred year old vampire as your first true love vastly broadens ones horizons---the problem was not knowing, but aching to know, how she measured up to her other self. Where but on the hellmouth can these kinds of issues come up? Jerry Springer, eat your heart out. Spotting Willow alone at a nearby table, Buffy tugged Faith along.

"Hey guys," Willow greeted them with her usual cheerfulness. "Happy hunting?"

"Let me put it this way, Will," Buffy summed up as she sat down, "if they were fish, we'd be forced to throw them back."

"Nothing but guppies," Faith added disgustedly.

"At least you didn't have to clean them, o-or gut them, ewww." Willow made a scrunchy face. "And you didn't have to cook it and pretend to like it." Receiving an amused grin from Buffy and the usual smirk from Faith, Willow sheepishly said "I thought we were still on the fish metaphors."

Buffy decided that this would be as good a time as any to change subjects. "So did you and Xander find Anya?"

"No," Willow shook her head, "but I did crack into the school's database. We know her address and we know her class schedule. It's only a matter of time before we find her."

"Good job, Will."

"Yeah Red. Nice sleuthing. I'm gonna go get something. Anyone else want?" After Faith left to fill their orders, Willow immediately turned to Buffy, "Well?"

"Well what?" Asked Buffy innocently.

"Don't try to play dumb with me." Willow had on her interrogation face. "What happened with you and Faith?"

"Well...we talked. We're going to take it slow, but the thing is..." Buffy hesitated slightly, trying to verbalize what she was feeling inside. "On the one hand, it's so natural---there's this connection between me and Faith that I've never felt with anyone else before, not even with Angel."

"But..." Willow prompted.

"But it wasn't me she fell for. It wasn't me that stood by her when she needed it the most. It was alternate me, hence, not me---I don't think I deserve her." Buffy finished up the mini-outburst in a hoarse whisper. She still couldn't deal---and it was knawing her up inside.

"Buffy, don't do this to yourself. You're still the same person inside. You might have picked different choices than the Buffy I know but that doesn't mean you're a completely different person either. Who knows how any of us would choose if we're presented with such a difficult situation. I bet if we're given the same problem a hundred times, half the time, we'd pick one path and the rest of the time, we'd opt for the other. All that matters now is that you love Faith and Faith loves you--- And, if it makes you feel any better, you're still my best friend." Willow placed a reassuring hand over Buffy's own.

"You always did know how to cheer me up Will."

"I've been reading up on my Slayer's Manual."

"I didn't even know I came with instructions," Buffy said with a wry smile.

Part 10

"...so that's how you stopped him? Damn, I'd give anything to see the expression on his face---must've been a hell of a fireworks display," Faith enthused as she walked Buffy home from a night of Bronzing. They walked hand in hand as Buffy recounted the gory details of her graduation.

"Yeah, aside from the little bits of mayor meat that rained down on us, and the whole 'school blowing up' thing, it was a blast." Things had been looking a lot better since her little heart to heart with Willow. Knowing Sunnydale, her good mood wouldn't last long so she decided she'd just run with it for as long as she could. When they reached her house, Buffy found that she was reluctant to leave Faith's company. But wasn't that always the case? Even when they hadn't been involved, there was just something dynamic and refreshing about the other girl which drew everybody to her and even Buffy wasn't immune. "So, here we are," she announced unnecessarily.

"Yeah. Looks that way." Faith replied.

Seeing the skittish look on her girlfriend's face, Buffy wrapped her arms around Faith's waist and looked up at her. "What's the matter?"

"Are you happy?" Faith blurted out. At Buffy's confused expression, she elaborated, "I mean---with me. Are you happy with me?" She hadn't meant to broach the subject. The words had bypassed her brain and come tumbling out of her mouth. Now she'd have to accept the consequences. Who was she kidding anyway? She was damn lucky that Buffy had fell for her once before. There was no way in hell she'd do it again. Couldn't she just be happy that B was willing to hang out with her at all? No, of course not. Faith was never one to take the easy road. Now, she'd have to stand here and listen as Buffy set her straight. People like her didn't deserve any happiness.

"Faith," Buffy said softly, trying to call back the other girl's attention from whatever dark place it had been dwelling. "To tell you the truth, I haven't been this happy in a long time." And it was the truth too. Not since before Angelus had she felt like this---like there was something to live for besides slaying and duty. "If you didn't already know it, I'm falling in love with you."

Faith was speechless. How could B love her? After all the crap that had happened in her world, how could she stand here and say that? When she finally found her voice again, she had to ask, "Why? It's not like I'm the best catch in the world. I think you had the right idea before B. Kill me and get it over with. I'm scum and if you keep trying to hold on, I'm just gonna drag you down with me." All the old insecurities came rushing back until Faith became overwhelmed. So she did the only thing she knew how---she lashed out. It had always worked before---whenever anyone got too close for comfort, she'd just back 'em off with a dose of reality.

And it would've worked if Buffy didn't have the uncanny ability to see right through the bravado. "Faith, you are the furthest thing from scum---you're scumless as far as I'm concerned. And if you think I'm going to suddenly wake up one day and realize what a big mistake I've made , think again. That isn't going to happen. You're stuck with me and I'm not letting go anytime soon." To back up her statement, Buffy tightened her hold on Faith's waist.

She knew Buffy was telling her the truth. The look in her eyes verified as much and even though she still couldn't bring herself to totally believe it, Buffy's confession had quieted her misgivings...for now. "Sometimes, you're too stubborn for you own good," Faith mildly protested.

"I thought that was one of the qualities that attracted you to me," Buffy pouted, trying to lighten the mood.

"No," Faith amended with a wicked grin on her face. "This was what first attracted me." As she said that, her hands wandered to Buffy's posterior, squeezing lightly when they reached their final destination. She found it funny that Buffy jumped a little at the contact which only resulted in pressing their bodies closer together...if that was possible. Unfortunately, Buffy caught the amused smirk that Faith had tried to suppress. She got that glint in her eyes that could only mean trouble. The next thing she knew, Buffy was all over her. Faith's lips and body melted wherever Buffy kissed or touched her. By the time she was released from the passionate assault, for that was the only way to describe it, her legs were threatening to give out.

"See you tomorrow?" Buffy asked smugly.

Faith nodded, not trusting her voice just yet. If this was how Buffy was going to react, she'd have to grab her ass more often.

*****

She was on the dais, again. The judge was just about to hand out the awards. Buffy's eyes immediately searched the back of the stadium. She found Faith in the exact same position as the night before. And as before, she made a shushing motion with her hand before speaking.

"Faith, I can't hear you!" Buffy shouted. Throwing aside the flowers in her hand, she ran quickly up to Faith's location before the other girl could get the chance to disappear again. She almost stumbled when Faith suddenly appeared right in front of her Regaining her composure, she reached out, intending to touch the other slayer but Faith stepped back before any contact could be made.

"Not yet, B. It isn't time. Snyder's on the loose."

"Snyder?" Buffy questioned. "What about the little dwarf? What's going to happen?"

"It'll be a good time for all." Faith continued as if Buffy hadn't spoken at all. "One hell of a bitching blast."

Before Buffy could ask any further questions, Faith was gone-disappeared without a trace.

Part 11

Everybody was gathered in the library, sans Oz who was tracking down Anya. Buffy finished recounting her dreams and asked, "So, do you think they were prophetic?"

"You do have a tendency to get those types of dreams so we can't discount the possibility," Willy said thoughtfully. "Plus Snyder's been absent these last two days. Highly unusual for the little weasel. I think it's past due we pay him a visit. I'm not sure of Faith's part in all this but, hopefully, it'll become clearer after we speak to Snyder. In the meantime, we've managed to catch a bit of a break. Buffy, since you've dealt with the mayor before in your world, we should be able to use your knowledge to our advantage. Try to think of the most vulnerable point in the mayor's Ascension plan where we can strike at him before he has a chance to turn into a demon."

"Gavrock!" Buffy exclaimed immediately. "The box of Gavrock. He needs that to ascend. And before you ask, no, I don't know where it is. Someone's supposed to deliver it to him in a couple of days."

"We'll have to be on the lookout for it then. I'll contact Angel. He should have sources that will prove to be helpful."

At the mention of her ex-boyfriend, Buffy was taken slightly aback. She had barely thought of Angel since she had been stranded in this world. Most of her waking thoughts now involved Faith---which wasn't a bad but it now left her feeling guilty. She wondered how her other self had handled this situation. Did Angel approve of her new relationship? Why did she even care what he thought? This train of thought was thankfully cut short as the doors to the library swung open.

"All right, all right. I'm here what do you people want now?" The ex-vengeance demon asked as she came in followed by Oz.

"Well, Anya," Willy had a forced smile plastered on his face. "We need your expertise. It seems that someone might have been tampering with alternate realities..."

"So what do you want me to do about it?"

"We thought you could help us find out if that's the case," Willow explained.

"If you haven't already noticed," Anya said sarcastically, "I lost all my power. And even if I could help you, why should I?"

Faith walked up to Anya until they were standing almost nose to nose. She smiled widely before asking in a conspiratorial tone "Do you like your teeth?" When Anya nodded apprehensively, Faith asked, "Do you want to keep them?"

"Maybe I misspoke earlier, "Anya swallowed reflexively, "Just call off the muscle and I'll see what I can do." She made little shooing motions at the slayer while at the same time backpedaling beyond Faith's reach.

"Start talking." Buffy stated as she went to stand next to Faith.

"There's a spell I know that will tell us if this reality has been compromised but I have to go get some ingredients to perform it."

"Will?"

"I'm on it Buffy. Anya, let's go to the magick shop."

Anya didn't look too pleased when she left with Willow but her happiness was the least of Buffy's concerns at the moment. She was suddenly having second thoughts about the whole thing. Did she really want to return to her own world? It had only been two days but she felt herself falling and falling hard for her fellow slayer. Would she be able to leave when the time came?

"Hey, you all right?" Faith asked gently as she observed the sad expression on Buffy's face. She had first noticed the change in demeanor when Angel's name was mentioned. Damn, that bastard was always in the way, even when he wasn't here. Deep down inside, Faith knew she could never supplant Angel's place in Buffy's heart. And this knowledge always ate at her until, at times, she could barely restrain herself from hunting him down and driving a stake through his undead carcass. In fact, the only thing that prevented her from carrying out her plan was Buffy's inevitable disapproval. And disapprove she would. But that didn't stop the stab of jealousy that lanced through her whenever his name was mentioned.

"It's nothing." Buffy shrugged it off. When she saw that Faith was going to press her about it, she switched gears. "I think this is the perfect time to visit our ailing principal, don't you think?" Faith nodded her ascent slowly but Buffy knew she was only delaying the inevitable---they'd have to talk about it soon. "Xander, you want to come?"

"What and pass up the chance to ridicule Snyder in his weakened condition? Never! These kinds of opportunities don't present themselves very often. Granted, I'll have to do most of my mocking behind his back but, yeah, count me in."

*****

"Who do you think would win in a fight? Daffy Duck or Donald Duck?" Xander asked.

"I'd bet money on Daffy." Faith said after thinking about the question for a minute.

"Why?!" Xander asked in disbelieve. "Daffy's got nothing on Donald. First of all, " Xander emphasized with a raised index finger, "Donald has navy experience."

"I wouldn't exactly call wearing a stupid sailor suit navy experience." Faith mockingly said. "And anyway, Daffy's got a wiry, strong body. He's also a little psycho which gives him a mental edge over his opponents."

"Face it Faith. The duck's nothing but skin and bones. Donald outweighs him by at least 2, maybe 3 pounds."

"Yeah, cause he's fat and pudgy."

"That's hitting below the belt."

"All right," Buffy interrupted, trying to inject a measure of sanity into the ridiculous conversation. "I can't believe you two are talking about this." Both Faith and Xander bore sheepish expressions at the reprimand. "And anyway," Buffy declared, "everyone knows that Bugs could whup both of them blindfolded."

"What?!!!" Faith and Xander both exclaimed in unison. But before the two could argue otherwise, they had arrived in front of Snyder's house.

Part 12

They knocked on the door, they rang the bell, they looked in the windows---it seemed that no one was home.

"Any suggestions?" Xander asked his two companions.

"I might have one. Let's go around back." Faith motioned for the others to follow. When they were all gathered at the back door, Faith raised her leg and delivered a healthy kick that nearly took the door off its hinges. "Oh look," Faith pointed out innocently, "someone's left the door open. The right thing to do would be to make sure nothing's amiss."

"I think what we're about to do is considered breaking and entering in certain law enforcement circles," Buffy argued half-heartedly.

"You have to crack a few nuts to get to the pulp, B. And anyway, if anyone asks, we're just securing the perimeter for our beloved principal." Faith stepped through the entrance way, followed closely behind by Xander and Buffy.

"So what exactly are we looking for?" Xander asked nervously. Even though he couldn't pinpoint exactly why, the place was seriously starting to creep him out.

It seemed he wasn't the only one feeling that way as Buffy asked, "Is it just me or is this place giving anyone else the shivers?"

"It must be the leftover Snyder vibes. Gets into everything like stale cigar smoke," Faith replied, looking around the room.

"Then let's get this over with fast. I'll take the upstairs. Faith, you search down here. Xander, you be the lookout. If anyone spots anything suspicious, yell," Buffy directed.

*****

After nearly a half hour, Buffy was ready to give up and call it a bust. She had looked everywhere; under the bed, in the closets, in the bureaus. They had revealed nothing but ordinary, everyday items. The only surprise that had surfaced from her fruitless search was a pile of magazines stashed in the back of the closet. Who knew Snyder was into that kind of thing? On the other hand, nobody could be that uptight without having a secret hanging over their heads.

She was just about to call it quits when she realized there was still one last place left unexplored. It was a long shot but, what was there to lose? She went into the bathroom and opened up the medicine cabinet. Jackpot! The inside of the cabinet was decorated with herbs and lined with half-melted candles. In the center of the 'shrine', on a shelf of its very own, sat a stone figurine. Buffy was reaching for the idol when a loud crash from downstairs startled her. Grabbing the figure and stuffing it into her jacket pocket, she ran downstairs, taking the steps two at a time. Once she reached the ground floor, she followed the sound of raised voices to the front of the house.

"Well, Miss Summers." Principal Snyder greeted standing in the middle of the room, "I should have known you would somehow be involved. Looks like you graduated from playing hooky to criminal behavior in two short years. Not even your mother or that pesky librarian can help you this time." He would have continued to gloat for several minutes more if Buffy didn't notice the tenseness in Faith's posture. She was standing to Snyder's right and, from the looks of it, getting ready to pounce on the little troll. Now, that would be all well and good but Buffy had the feeling that attacking the principal after breaking into his house would only garner them more trouble than they were already in for.`

"Faith." Once she was sure she had the girl's attention, Buffy shook her head, hoping that her message would be received loud and clear. When Faith relaxed her stance somewhat, she breathed a small sigh of relief.

Snyder must have sensed the unspoken communique since he decided to cut the gloating session short before his luck ran out completely. Crossing to the telephone, he dialed the police station while at the same time instructing his three visitors to "Stay right where you are."

Part 2