DISCLAIMER: The Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel characters are the property of Mutant Enemy, Joss Whedon, and Fox Studios. The story contents are the creation and property of Djinn and are copyright (c) 2001 by Djinn. This story is Rated PG-13.

Gravity

Part 6 – Truce

by Djinn

"Come on, put your back into it. A Watcher scoffs at gravity." – Giles to Spike, Restless

Buffy walked quickly back to the house. It was stupid to have gone out. Anyone could have seen her and wondered why a supposedly dead woman was walking around the neighborhood again. But she had been worried about Dawn, had needed to make sure she went to school. It had been a jolt to see her sister with Faith. Buffy's first reaction had been anger, her second jealousy.

She could still see the impulsive hug Dawn had given the other slayer. It was clear her sister looked up to Faith, loved her even. And it was also clear that Faith loved Dawn. Would do anything for her, even if it meant making peace with her enemy. Buffy had been flabbergasted when Faith had put away her weapon and declared that they were not going to fight. She couldn't imagine the Faith she remembered walking away from any fight.

But this wasn't the Faith she had known. As much as Buffy wanted to deny it, the rogue slayer had truly changed. Her whole attitude was different. The angry young woman was gone. Which was not to say she wasn't still a dangerous young woman. Buffy wouldn't have wanted to try to hurt something Faith loved. But she could see that the other slayer's need to pay the world back, and Buffy with it, seemed to have eased.

Even the way Faith looked was different. Her makeup was softer, her clothing less extreme. She was sexy now without being slutty. Was that Giles' influence? Or the months in prison? Or was it Angel's?

Buffy didn't want to go down that road, resolutely steered her mind to other issues. Such as how she was going to explain her sudden reappearance. Dawn had been right, Buffy did need to talk to Giles about this.

She bounded up the stairs and into the front room.

Spike looked up quickly. "Shouldn't have gone out," he said in disapproval.

"I know."

He seemed surprised at the admission. "See anything interesting? Kill anyone?"

"Very funny." She walked into the kitchen, poured some orange juice.

He stood in the doorway watching her.

She tried to pretend he wasn't there, concentrated on her drink. Finally, she turned to him in exasperation. "Don't worry, Dawn didn't know I was following her."

"Good. She's mad enough at us as it is."

"At me, you mean," she edged around him and headed for the couch. "I doubt that she could get mad at you at this point."

He shrugged. "She's been mad at me plenty of times. Just not lately is all."

She smiled. "I ran into Faith there too."

He watched her intently.

"We made peace. Or our version of it."

"Good. Faith's alright."

She laughed mockingly. "I hardly take that as a recommendation, Spike." She looked around, as if reacquainting herself with the living room.

"How's it feel to be back?"

"Ok. Getting better. Willow filled me in on what's been going on but I think she left out some stuff."

"Wasn't much time last night for the full story."

"Or else she didn't want to make me any more angry than I already was."

"That too I suppose."

"Well, why don't you catch me up the rest of the way. Say for instance, what happened to that damned robot? Did Willow rebuild her again?"

He shook his head. "Didn't have the heart, none of us did. She took it apart and we melted what we could. The rest she used in other projects or threw away. Said she wanted to make sure that nobody every rebuilt her again."

"Thank god for that." She sighed. "What about Riley, he didn't come back did he?"

"Captain America didn't show his face. You aren't still mooning over him, are you?"

"He's a better man than you, Spike." Her tone was neutral despite the harshness of the words. She wasn't sure anymore if she really believed in Riley's goodness, or Spike's wickedness.

"Sure he is." Spike got up, his face carefully controlled.

"I'm sorry," she surprised herself by saying. "I shouldn't have said that."

"No, I imagine you shouldn't have." He walked away, then stopped and without turning around said, "Thing is, I guess when you were dead I made up this little fantasy that you'd come back and see all the good I've done and how Dawn is alright because of me and you'd think the better of me for it. Maybe a lot better." He sighed. "From where I stand now, that fantasy looks pretty dim."

"Spike..." She wasn't sure what she wanted to say.

He walked out of the room before she could continue.

She sat alone for a while, then wandered upstairs. Willow and Tara were out. She was suddenly very tired. She pulled off her boots and walked to her bed. Not bothering to get undressed she crawled under the covers and quickly fell asleep.

She woke hours later. Had the sense of someone watching her. Turned quickly in annoyance, expecting it to be Spike. It was Giles.

"Oh," she said in surprise.

He smiled, the gentle smile she loved. "Did you sleep well?"

She nodded, sat up in bed.

He came to sit next to her. Stared at her for the longest time. "To see you again is a luxury I never thought I'd have."

She swallowed hard. "About what I said last night..."

His expression was stern. "I'm not going to explain myself to you. Or defend the choices I've made."

"I know."

"I'm with Faith now. I know you don't like it, but you'll have to accept it."

"She and I talked."

"Yes, she told me."

Buffy nodded. "Dawn really loves her."

"So do I." Giles voice was slightly defiant.

"Yeah." She looked down. Her voice was very small. "Do you still love me?"

"Oh, Buffy, how can you even ask that?"

She looked up to see him smiling at her, realized his eyes were bright with unshed tears. "Giles? I've been so scared. It was so hard to hang on."

"I know." He held his arms open to her. "But you're safe now."

This time she didn't hesitate; she lifted her own arms up, held him tightly.

"Buffy," he murmured. "I thought I'd lost you forever."

"You can't get rid of me that easily." She smiled into his chest. Her watcher. She had her watcher back. Then doubt crept in. "Are you still my watcher, Giles?"

"Why? Did you want to switch over to Spike?" His tone was gently teasing.

She laughed softly. "No. As in please god no." She buried her head tighter into his chest, whispered, "It's just that you have Faith now, too."

"And I imagine that there will be quite a bit of adjustment for all of us. But you were my first slayer and you will always be that. My relationship with Faith doesn't change that."

"Ok," she said, not quite believing.

"Let's go downstairs now. Everyone is here. Amy wants to go home and we have to decide how to explain her absence."

"And my reappearance. I can't stay in the house forever."

"No, you can't." He got up, held his hand out.

"You go on. Just give me a minute, and I'll be down there."

"Of course." He smiled at her, his expression full of joy. "Welcome home, Buffy."

His delight was infectious. She found herself grinning back broadly even if she still wasn't exactly sure what home meant.

---------------------------------

Xander looked around the living room. This was all so weird. And so great. Buffy was back, Amy was human, even seeing Spike and Faith was somehow normal now. Dawn came in holding a soda, she seemed subdued. "Hey, Dawnster, come sit next to me."

She smiled and joined him on the couch.

"So what's with the long face?"

"School sucked."

He chuckled. "I hear you there. It's really unfair we have to sit in school for all those years and miss out on some quality sleeping time."

She giggled. "Where's Anya?"

He rolled his eyes. "She's up with Tara searching the internet for a wedding dress she liked. Someone she once granted the power of the wish wore it."

"How long ago?"

"Oh, 1481 I think she said." He shrugged. "Apparently the blushing bride sat for some famous painter. If Anya can find the portrait she can get the dress copied."

"Seems like a lot of work for a dress," Dawn observed.

"Preaching to the choir here." He saw Anya and Tara coming down the stairs. Anya held some papers in her hand. "Looks like they met with success."

"See," Anya said as she sat down on the other side of Xander and held out the picture. "Isn't it beautiful?"

He looked at the dress. It was white and sort of involved. He wasn't sure why it was prettier than any of the other dresses she'd shown him. "It's great, An. Whatever you want, you know that."

She kissed him. "I know. I want our wedding to be perfect."

"As long as you're in it, it will be," he responded, trying to ignore Dawn who was making gagging motions.

"I saw that," Anya told her. "Keep it up and you won't be the flower girl."

"I don't want to be the flower girl. And I'm like way too old."

"I have to have a flower girl. All the books say so. A young girl to strew lovely petals ahead of me. It's required. And you are the only young girl I know."

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Fine, I'm the strewer."

"Strewer. Slayer. Man, are you multi-talented," Xander winked at her.

Buffy walked over and Anya dug into her purse. The ex-demon pulled out a fabric swatch and handed it to the slayer. "I've decided you can be one of my attendants."

"Oh, joy." Buffy eyed the peach taffeta dubiously. "Who else is going to be in it?"

"Well, Willow and Tara of course."

The two witches looked over with identical expressions of dismay.

Anya ignored them. "But I think I need more attendants. Three is not enough." She stood. "Faith, Amy, I'd like you in my wedding."

Amy seemed to be frantically thinking up an excuse, but Faith just shook her head. "I don't do weddings, Anya."

"Nonsense. You will look stunning in this color." She handed a fabric swatch over. "There's a picture on the other side."

Faith studied it. "This is like a prom dress. In hell." She handed it back. "I don't think so."

Xander tried and failed to imagine Faith in the poufy dress Anya had picked out. Faith may have changed, he thought, but not that much.

Giles stood up. "All right, everyone. It's time to figure out some things. Let's start with Amy's situation." He looked over at the young woman, who smiled at him gratefully. "I imagine you would like to go home, my dear. And I know your father is missing you."

"He really is," Willow confirmed.

"But you've been missing now for two years. You can't just reappear without a decent reason for your absence. Especially with Buffy showing up at the same time."

"I thought I could say I had amnesia. That happens after a bump on the head, right? And that MOO group did hit me when they captured me."

"People can go for years not remembering," Tara agreed. "And nobody really knows what triggers their memory when it does come back."

Giles nodded. "I was thinking along those lines too. But Amy, I think that it would be better for you and better for us if you were found in LA and not here. Will cause less questions all around."

"Plus then you won't have to explain to your dad why you were in Sunnydale and didn't come to him at once," Willow offered with a wry smile.

Faith spoke up. "Angel can help. He knows a woman who runs a shelter for kids on the street. He did her a favor or two, she could probably vouch for you having come in a few times."

When Faith mentioned Angel, Xander turned to see Buffy's response. Her face tightened a bit but otherwise she didn't react.

Amy looked around. "I can do that. But how will I get there without being seen?"

"I'll take you," Tara said before anyone else could reply. "I have no connection with Angel or LA."

Buffy spoke up suddenly. "I'd like to ride with you."

Giles frowned. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not?"

"Maybe because you're supposed to be dead," Faith answered sharply.

"Or maybe because you don't want me to see Angel?" Buffy's voice was bitter.

"Why should I care who you see?" Faith sounded serious. "It's just seems kind of stupid for you to go with them, if the whole point is to make it like there's no connection between your reappearance and Amy's."

Buffy's lips tightened but she didn't argue.

Giles nodded. "Ok then. I'll call Angel and see if he can arrange things. If all goes well, Amy can be in LA in a few hours and back in Sunnydale by nightfall. I'm sure your father will be thrilled to see you."

Amy smiled at him happily.

"But what about Buffy?" Xander asked. "How we going to explain her coming back from the dead? I mean there's a tombstone and everything."

There was an uncomfortable silence.

"And it's not like your face was all mooshed so that we couldn't tell that it wasn't really you that died," Dawn said pensively.

"Evil twin?" Willow offered. "You know, sort of like in the Parent Trap. You were separated and then impersonated each other?"

Buffy raised her eyebrows.

"It could work," Willow objected.

"Well except that Dad won't remember any twin," Buffy objected.

"Maybe he didn't know. Maybe the twin was stolen by a crazed nurse that wanted a child of her own?" Willow was running with the idea.

Giles smiled. "Yes, well, I supposed that's a possibility."

Spike spoke up, "Well you could do like a vampire does. Remain officially dead. Then live a life outside of society."

"Good idea, Spike. Hey, maybe she could move in with you?" Xander scoffed.

"I'm just saying it's the way we come back from the dead. Happens all the time."

"I'd prefer to have my old life back, thanks." Buffy looked at Giles. "There must be a way."

"Plastic surgery," Anya offered. "Someone wanted to kidnap you. But they didn't want us to know. So they hired a strange woman to impersonate you and they redid her face so she looked exactly liked you. Unfortunately she slipped and fell off a big tower and then you got away from the kidnappers and came back."

Xander laughed. "Well it worked on Bionic Woman, it could work for us."

Buffy closed her eyes. "Scary as these ideas are sounding they just might work."

"Why not make people forget?" Dawn looked around. "Make whole new memories. Like the monks did when they made me?"

Everyone looked at her. Then they turned and looked at Willow.

"I know. Ask D'Hoffryn for the spell." She looked around. "Do I have to go to Arashmaharr now?"

Giles shook his head. "Let's see if we can come up with another idea before we resort to him. Lord knows what he'll want in return for this spell."

"Don't think you'll be out and about tomorrow, Buff," Xander noted sadly.

She sighed. "Well, I'd rather we do this right than rush it. But we should get Amy home. Are you going to make that call, Giles?"

He nodded. "Maybe you'd like to say hello to Angel before I get into the details with him?"

She smiled gratefully and rose to join him. "That would be great."

They went into the kitchen.

Tara looked over at Xander. "Can I borrow your car?" At his nod, she looked over at Willow, "We can put a glamour on it, make it look completely different."

The other witch nodded. "Sure we can, good thinking."

Amy smiled. "I'll be home soon. This is so great."

Xander saw her smile fade. "Do I hear a but coming on?"

She nodded. "I've missed two years. I'll never catch up."

"I graduated with no real schooling to prepare me. You can finish too. It's not that hard," Anya countered.

"Or you can go for your GED. I'll help you study," Willow offered.

"We need another rat," Tara said. At their looks, she explained. "We don't want anything to look funny right? Willow's been caring for you as a rat, Amy, since high school. How do we explain the sudden disappearance? I'm going to look at the pet stores when I'm in LA. A brown rat shouldn't be that hard to find."

"Good thinking," Willow smiled at her.

Faith nudged Dawn. "We could be patrolling."

Dawn looked uncertainly into the kitchen. "Buffy?"

Faith shook her head. "Shouldn't come out till she's officially alive again. That doesn't mean we get to slack off."

Xander watched the two slayers. Dawn was growing up so fast around Faith. On the other hand, he wasn't sure there was anyone better to keep her alive.

"Mind some company?" Spike asked.

"The more the merrier," Faith smiled back. She turned to Amy. "Good luck and all."

Dawn smiled at Amy and followed Faith out. Spike was about to go but Amy held out her hand and stopped him.

"So did you find out the answer to that question I asked?"

He shook his head. "Jury's still out. But it's not looking good for the defendant."

She gave him a dazzling smile. "Is it tacky to say yay?"

He grinned back, "I wouldn't say tacky, exactly."

Dawn's voice sounded from the hall, "Spike, you with us or not?"

He gave Amy another grin and hurried out.

"He's yummy," Amy observed.

"You really have been a rat too long." Xander made a face at her.

She just laughed.

Anya picked up the fabric swatch that Faith had rejected and handed it to Amy. "Maybe while you're in LA you could look for shoes to match this?"

Amy gulped.

Willow took pity on Amy. "Anya, she can't be in your wedding. That would make no sense if she's trying to look like she's been away forever. Three attendants and a flower girl will have to be enough."

Anya pouted. Then she looked at Xander. "Maybe you could work on Faith?"

"Oh no." He held up his hands. "I'm staying out of this one, An."

She glared at him but it didn't change his mind. There was little his fiancée could do to him that compared to what he could expect from Faith if he pressed the subject of wearing a peach bridesmaid's dress in his wedding. He might be kind of slow on the uptake sometimes, he thought wryly, but he wasn't a fool.

---------------------------------

Buffy watched Giles dial the phone, her heart hammering wildly. The last time she had seen Angel had been the night of her mother's burial. She could still recall standing by the gravesite and sensing his presence, holding out her hand and feeling his envelope it.

Giles' voice brought her out of her reverie. "Hello again, Cordelia."

Buffy made a face.

"Yes, it's me. No, I don't need help with Faith. She's really quite all right. I was hoping to speak with Angel please. Thank you." There was a pause as Giles waited.

"She hasn't changed much." Buffy smiled.

"According to Wesley she has but it's damned difficult to see any difference from here." He perked up. "Angel? I have a bit of a pressing problem now. No, not that spell you and Wesley were helping us with. Do you remember Amy the Rat? Yes well she's been deratted and now I need to be able to get her back into human life without attracting undue attention. Faith thought perhaps your friend Anne could help with that?"

Buffy couldn't wait any longer. Nudging Giles to get his attention, she pointed to the phone, then to herself.

He nodded in understanding. "We can work the details out in a minute. I have someone that wants to tell you why we no longer need that spell." He handed her the phone and walked away to give her some privacy.

She took a deep breath before lifting the receiver to her ear. "Angel?"

There was silence, then an incredulous, "Buffy?"

"It's me."

There was no sound from the other end. "Angel?" she said worriedly.

"I'm here. Just trying to take this in." More silence. "You're really back?"

"I'm really back." She smiled at his bewilderment.

"But...how?"

"Magic. I was trapped in the portal I fell into. They figured out a way to bring me back."

"Wow." There was more silence. Then he chuckled, "I guess I should be used to the idea by now, I mean I came back from hell, Wolfram and Hart brought Darla back from the dead, now you."

Just the thought of Darla made Buffy jealous. Angel had told her as they sat by her mother's grave how his sire had come back to life a human, how he had tried to save her. Buffy could remember the sorrow in his voice when he told her how he couldn't stop Drusilla from turning Darla again. There had been something more, something he wasn't saying.

"Yeah, well resurrection still isn't your everyday occurrence," she teased.

"Guess it's that whole higher purpose thing," he mused. "You and I are necessary and all that."

"I guess. It feels strange though, being back I mean."

"I know. Nothing has changed but everything's different. I felt the same way."

"I remember."

He chuckled. "You at least seem to have come back sane. I guess Giles isn't having to chain you up the way you did me?"

"Oh I'm sure he gets plenty of that kind of action with Faith," she said sarcastically.

"Huh?"

Buffy felt guilty. She shouldn't have said that. She tried to backtrack. "I mean as his new slayer and all."

He wasn't fooled. "They're lovers?"

Why, she wondered, are you jealous? "Yeah."

"Wouldn't have seen that. But she's changed a lot since you saw her last."

"Yeah I know." Buffy didn't want to talk about Faith anymore. "So what about you, how are you doing?"

"Me? Oh I'm good." He suddenly seemed distracted.

Buffy thought she could hear someone else talking "So you're busy? I mean with the detective business?"

He was whispering, "Not now. I'll look at it later."

Another voice was arguing in a crazy singsong way. It sort of reminded Buffy of Drusilla. Angel wasn't trying to reform her too, was he? "Who is that, Angel?"

"That? Oh, that's Fred."

"Fred?"

"Yeah."

"Voice is a bit high for your typical Fred."

"Oh. Well, that's because this Fred is a woman."

"Used to be a cow though. Heh. Got away and ate bark in a cave," the woman said.

"No bark now, Fred. Why don't you go get some oatmeal?" Angel's voice was gentle.

Buffy felt her heart sink. She wasn't sure what she had been expecting. Angel picked up strays all the time. That's what he did, helped those that had nowhere else to turn. It didn't mean anything. But something about this one bothered her more than most. "Listen, you sound really busy with Fred and all, and I know Giles needs to talk to you, so I'm going to let you go."

"Buffy?"

She didn't say anything, just waited.

"I missed you."

"I missed you too." She felt tears threaten. Sniffed several times. She motioned to Giles. Before she handed the phone to him she said to Angel, "I'll see you around?"

"Count on it," he said softly.

The voice in the background was clear, "Don't just count. Make it harder. See like this. One, four, nine, sixteen, twenty-five, thirty-six, forty-nine..."

Buffy passed the receiver to her watcher, tried to fight the irritation she felt. She wandered into the front room.

Willow came over. "How'd it go?"

"Good," Buffy remembered that Willow had told her she had been the one to tell Angel that the slayer had died. "You saw this Fred person, right?"

Willow thought back. "Oh, yeah, the one they rescued from that demon world."

"So, umm, what does she look like?"

Willow frowned. "Gosh, Buff. I don't remember."

"Will, was she pretty?"

Her friend grinned sheepishly. "Well ok, maybe I noticed a little. She's small, long dark hair, real delicate looking. But she's like totally loony on account of too long a stay in that demon place. I mean in a mad scientist kind of way because she seems really smart too."

Buffy frowned. "I think she's staying there."

"Oh, Buffy, you know that doesn't mean anything. Angel is still totally in love with you."

"Sure. I know." But she didn't know anymore. He seemed to love so many people. Faith, Darla, now this Fred person. Buffy might believe she was his soul mate but it sure was getting crowded in his soul.

She looked around. "Where's Dawn?"

"Patrolling with Spike and Faith." At her look, Willow defended the others. "You really shouldn't be seen, Buffy. You know that. That's why they didn't ask you to come."

"It's like they snuck out," Buffy complained.

"Oh there was nothing sneaky about it. They got up, announced their plans, and left same as always."

"You know what I mean." She dropped the subject as she saw Giles come out.

"We're all set, Amy. Angel is already making some calls. It may take a bit longer than we thought. He wants you to become a familiar face around the shelter so that when you do 'suddenly' remember who you are there will be a number of people to back the story up. Do you mind living a lie for a week or so?"

Amy shook her head. "I was worrying about how I would explain being gone. This sounds good. Kind of scary though."

"Just think of how happy your dad will be when you call him from LA." Willow shared a smile with Amy.

Tara stood up, took the directions to the shelter from Giles. "Well, we can go then. Xander, Anya, you want a ride back to your apartment?"

They both stood and followed Tara and Amy out.

Willow looked over at Buffy. "I'll be right back. I just want to help Tara enchant the car. Well and to say goodbye." She grinned.

"No problem." As she watched her friend walk out to join the others, Buffy sighed. The house seemed very quiet and close with everyone gone.

Giles moved close. "Everything all right?"

"Sure," she tried to fake a smile, knew she failed. "What could be wrong?"

"It will get easier. And soon you'll be able to come and go as you please." His hand fell gently on her shoulder.

She reached up and placed her own hand over it for a moment. "It all feels so strange." She walked away from him, began to pick things up aimlessly from the tables, stopped when she came to the photo of Joyce with Dawn and her. She touched the glass softly, tracing the outline of her mother's face.

"I miss her too," Giles voice was soft. "She was an extraordinarily good woman."

"People lose their mothers everyday. How come they don't tell you it will be this hard when it happens to you?" She fought back tears.

"I don't know," he said. "I suspect even if they told you, you wouldn't believe them."

"I never knew anything could hurt this much."

She fought the sadness for a moment, tried to be strong. It was too hard. "God I miss her, Giles."

"I know," he said, his voice a bit ragged. "I know you do."

---------------------------------

Tara drove carefully, not wanting to attract any attention. Amy stared out the window.

"You want some music?"

"No, that's ok."

A few more miles passed in silence.

"You ok?"

"Uh huh." Amy's response lacked any real conviction.

"You don't seem it." Tara glanced over at the other witch. "You purple?"

"What?"

Tara giggled. "Just checking to make sure you were paying attention." She glanced at Amy again to see the reaction.

Amy smiled. "I'm sorry. I'm just really caught up in all that's happened. I'm trying to make sense of it. Little things like who everybody is and what happened to things. It's confusing."

"I imagine it is."

"Like you for instance. I remember what I saw as a rat, so I know that you and Willow are involved and all. But where did you come from?"

"Hell," Tara replied bitterly.

"Yeah? Wow."

"You really are a Sunnydale native." Tara laughed. "No, not real hell. But my family, well everyone but my mom, they were pretty hard on me when I was growing up."

Amy stretched. "I'm just the opposite. It was my mom who made my life a living hell. She was a witch too."

"Yeah, so was mine. Only maybe with a different outlook."

"She didn't switch bodies with you so she could relive her youth, did she?"

"Nope," Tara confirmed.

"Definitely different."

"Where's your mom now?"

"Tartarus, I hope," Amy sneered. "What about your mom?"

"She died. When I was seventeen."

"I'm sorry. How did it happen?"

"My dad said she fell. Said it was an accident. But he lied about some other things." Tara remembered how she used to fear that she would become a demon. "And he had a really bad temper. In public he was all upstanding but when he got mad, he'd whale on us."

"So you think he killed her?"

Tara shrugged. "Wouldn't put it past him."

"But you got away." Amy observed.

"Yeah. I did." Tara smiled tightly. "They can't hurt me anymore."

"So did your mom teach you witchcraft?"

"Some little things. Most of it though I learned on my own." Tara saw the exit that Giles had told her to take. She moved off the freeway and into LA proper.

"I taught myself too." Amy trailed off as she stared out the window. "Wow. LA looks so big."

"I imagine everything looks big after living in a cage for as long as you have."

"It wasn't a bad cage. You could have changed the bedding more often though," Amy was only half teasing.

"Sorry. I'll remember that for the replacement rat."

Amy didn't say anything.

"You scared?"

"I am. I've never really been on my own, not even to camp."

Tara pulled over across the street from the shelter. "Angel said to look for Anne. She's tall, blonde, runs the shelter. Introduce yourself as Jane Smith and Anne will explain the plan."

Amy sat unmoving.

Tara leaned over, touched the other girl's shoulder. "Your dad really needs you back, Amy. This is the first step. Anne will look out for you."

"Ok. I'm going." Amy took a deep breath. She waited till some teenagers had walked into the shelter, then got out of the car and hurried across the street to the shelter door. She turned to look at the car, frowned for a moment.

Tara realized that Amy was seeing the glamour they'd put on it. Tara would appear as an old man, and Xander's car would seem to be a large sedan. She smiled and waved, saw Amy wave back then walk inside.

Tara let out the breath she'd been holding. They were asking so much of Amy. It was necessary but Tara couldn't help but feel for the other girl. It was really hard to live a lie.

Tara pulled the car away from the curb, eased into the light traffic. She needed to get a rat. It was a cinch there weren't any pet stores open this early in the morning. But that was ok. She could probably get a rat at her next stop. Tara smiled happily.

She drove for a few minutes, then parked in front of a warehouse in one of LA's seedier districts.

A young man came out of the shadows. His wary look eased when he saw her. "Hey Tara, check you out. All grown up now and quite the woman."

She laughed. "These things do happen."

"So they do. And I like, I like. You got a honey back at college or could I apply?" he teased as he walked her to a door.

"I'm spoken for, Colin."

He laughed good-naturedly and clutched at his heart. When her resolve didn't falter, he shrugged and keyed in a code to an access box on the wall. The door opened soundlessly.

"She'll be really glad to see you, Tara. It's been a long time."

"It's not like I don't call every week," she shot back gently. As she walked into the building, witch light sprang up ahead of her, showing the way to the stairs and down to the living area.

She opened the door slowly, saw several heads turn. They waved lazily but otherwise ignored her. She walked down the hall, stopped when she came to the right door. She knocked softly, a smile already forming on her face.

The door opened quickly. The face that looked out was snake-like for a moment, then transformed into an older woman. "Tara!"

Tara was pulled into a hug. "Mom. You don't have to go all human on my account."

Her mother held her at arm's length, inspecting Tara's face. Her face relaxed back into the reptilian features it had worn when she opened the door. "You look tired. And your energy is all off," she chided, pulling her daughter into the room. "Your father's not making trouble for you again is he?"

"No. We've been busy. We resurrected Buffy. Willow found the spell," Tara said proudly.

Her mother smiled. "Willow sounds like an exceptional young woman."

Tara looked down. "I wish you could meet her someday."

Her mother's hand brushed Tara's hair. "You know that won't happen, darling. I'm supposed to be dead. And how would she like seeing me like this? She thinks you're human, Tara. And for all practical purposes you are or you'd look like I do now. But just because she accepts that you might have been a demon, doesn't mean that she'll accept that your mother is one."

"I think you're wrong, Mom. Not everyone is like Dad."

"But enough people are, my dear, that it frightens me. When I think of the state you were in when I finally got you away from him. I'd do anything to prevent that from happening again."

"It's ok, Mom. I'm not going to tell anyone. I've kept your secret for two years now. No one is going to find out. Especially not him. He doesn't even suspect that you are still alive. He still thinks I just ran away." Tara felt terrible memories surrounding her, she whispered, "As if I ever would have back then."

"You're a different person now. Strong and capable. He can't hurt you anymore. Let's not waste our breath talking about him, hmm. We have hardly any time as it is," she led Tara to a couch. "How long can you stay?"

"Till nine. Maybe later if you can manifest a rat for me."

"For breakfast?" her mother looked worried.

"For a pet," she giggled.

Her mother was relieved. "Of course I can. What color?"

"Brown."

Tara's mother closed her eyes and muttered in a language Tara had only recently relearned. "Ketlblm rdzachk portlmb."

A brown rat appeared on the couch between them. It promptly climbed into Tara's lap and fell asleep.

"Cool," she said, awed as always by her mother's power.

"You should be able to do this too. I think whatever kept you human also makes it harder for you to do magic." She touched her daughter's forehead, closed her eyes for a moment, then smiled. "But you're much stronger than last time, must be Willow's influence."

Tara smiled happily.

Her mother laughed. "Alright I want to know what's happened since the last time you called."

Tara relaxed as she caught her mother up on everything.

---------------------------------

"So Spike," Faith said as she punched the ugly vampire that was threatening her, "What's the story with you and Amy?"

"Not much to tell," he replied as he dusted his own opponent then tossed Faith the stake.

"Uh huh," Faith said as she stabbed viciously at the vampire. His face turned to shock but she was already walking away before he exploded into ash.

"Sure looked like something from where we were standing," Dawn chimed in, flipping a huge male off her back and following him down with the stake. He was dust.

Faith looked around, surveying the area. There were no more vampires to be fought. She felt the normal hunger and horniness start to rise. She focused on the latter feeling, told it to hold off till she was alone with Giles again. He seemed to enjoy the enthusiasm she brought home with her. She grinned.

"Don't want to even ask what you're thinking of," Spike chuckled.

She gave him an amused look. He seemed to generally have a pretty good idea of what she was thinking.

"I'm hungry," Dawn complained.

Faith nodded. "Me too. Let's go grab something."

They walked across the street to the all-night convenience store. Faith warmed up a burrito while Dawn eyed the ice cream bars. Spike stayed outside. Mostly to avoid the shoplifter mirrors, of which there were many. The clerk tended to watch them all nervously whenever Faith came in. He remembered her from the last time she lived in Sunnydale. So I didn't always choose to pay for what I ate, she thought in amusement. No reason to get all bent.

She knew it was wrong but she couldn't help it. Making sure he was still watching, she stuck a lighter into her pocket. She saw his eyes widen. Yeah right, sucker, she thought.

"You ready there, squirt? We've got lots more to do tonight."

Dawn made her choice and hurried to join her.

Faith walked slowly up to the cashier, making sure her hips moved as seductively as she could make them. She put down the burrito, pointed to Dawn's ice cream, and said cockily, "And a pack of those," pointing over to the brand Spike usually smoked. The clerk tried to hide a smile as he pulled down the pack.

He was ringing it up and had almost hit total when she said, "Oh yeah, and this too." She pulled the lighter out of her pocket and tossed it on the counter. She almost laughed at his look of disappointment. She leaned in close, made her voice a delicate hiss. "I don't steal anymore so you can relax. But if I did steal, there's no way I'd let you catch me doing it."

He swallowed audibly.

She backed away and handed him the money.

He counted back her change uneasily.

With a sweet smile she put a dollar into the "Save the Children" box. She looked over at the clerk. "Now this is a good cause. You save them as kids, they don't grow up to be like me."

He nodded, then stopped as if wondering whether that had been a good idea.

"You have a good night now," Faith said breezily as she gathered up her stuff and walked out.

"Was that really necessary?" Dawn asked as she followed her out, already unwrapping her ice cream.

"Yep."

"Whatever."

Spike was drinking from a thermos when they joined him. He took the cigarettes, looked askance at the lighter. "The one I have is still good. Was this on special or something?"

"Don't ask," Dawn instructed.

"Just setting something to rights is all," Faith said as she handed Spike back his change. For once she didn't feel so bad about sponging off the others. "Hey, Giles heard from the Council today. They're freeing up my funds next week."

"So I can teach you how to use an ATM?" Dawn asked excitedly.

"Hell, I know how to use one. I've just never done it with my own card before." Faith smirked.

Spike burst out laughing. "Ah the nostalgia of the bad old days."

They shared a look.

"Not fair," Dawn said. "I don't have a bad past so I can't be in the club."

"Well now," Spike tried to cheer her up. "You don't know that for sure. Those knights seemed pretty set on killing you. So maybe as the key you were used for all kinds of horrible things."

Dawn seemed pleased at the thought. "And now I'm good. Cool. I'm one of the reformed gang now."

Faith shook her head and smiled over at Spike.

He grinned back. "So if you're coming into all this money, can I expect some rather large blood deliveries courtesy of you?"

"Yeah, yeah." She turned to Dawn. "And I owe you like a hundred by now. Don't worry, I'll pay."

"I know you will," Dawn smiled at her fondly. "I'm just glad you'll have your own funds. No more worrying."

"And lots more shopping. There's this wicked cool leather coat I've been eyeing."

"Can't go wrong with leather," Spike agreed.

"Yeah, until a big ugly vampire wrecks it, that is." Dawn turned to her watcher. "So you never answered the question about Amy."

"No. I didn't." His tone was clear. He didn't want to talk about this.

Dawn didn't care. "So you think you could like her?"

He sighed. "Why is this so important to you?"

"I want you to be happy. Amy might make you happy. And she's a witch and all so she's not just a normal person."

Faith saw his face tighten. "Kiddo, he's not in love with Amy."

He looked away.

Dawn wouldn't let up. "Well you just met her. How will you know unless you give it a chance? She sure seems to dig you."

Faith saw Spike's fists clench. "Leave him alone, Dawn. This isn't our business."

"He's my watcher. And he's in love with my sister. And she's not in love with him. And I'm caught in the middle. So how is that not my business?"

Faith shot her a warning look. "It just isn't, ok."

Dawn looked at Spike, saw something in his face that made her shrug in resignation. "Fine. Whatever." She threw her ice cream stick away and walked away from them.

Spike looked at Faith. "Thanks."

"For what it's worth, I agree with Dawn." She threw away the burrito wrapper and went after the other slayer. It was a few minutes before a subdued Spike caught up with them.

---------------------------------

Willow sat up in bed with a start.  </