Disclaimers:-

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and all the characters belong to Joss
Whedon, Warner Brothers and anyone else who own them - and that does
not include me.  I am making no profit from this - I'm just borrowing
them to write a story and entertain.

Author:-  Steff

Information:-

This may seem a little weird but I have never watched Buffy the
Vampire Slayer.  I have, however read a ton of fanfic and been
totally enthralled by it.  So much so that I wanted to write a story
myself.  With that in mind, I can safely say that there should be no
spoilers in here!  Please remember that I have no idea about canon
though - so if I put Buffy living at home with her mum, then don't
worry about it too much.  It's the characters that I'm borrowing not
the plotlines!

Having read a fair bit of fiction, I have set this approximately
three years after Faith confesses to the police in LA.  I have not
included the Dawn/Glory storyline as that just confuses the hell out
of me.  Any other glaring errors should just be glossed over - just
enjoy the story (I hope!)


Rating: PG-13   I think - but if anyone thinks it should be higher
let me know.

Pairing: Faith/Cordelia along with W/T A/X

Feedback:  yes please:-  rebelgirl_uk@yahoo.co.uk  
 
Summary:  Faith returns to Sunnydale in pursuit of a demon but is not
well received by Buffy and the Scooby gang.  However, it appears they
have to join forces with Faith and the LA gang when they discover the
history of the artefacts.
______________________________________________________________________
 

Angel had kept the briefing of the rest of the meeting as short as
possible.  He left out the majority of the conversation that centred
around Cordelia's brush with the Powers That Be and Faith's
rehabilitation both inside jail and since her release.  The
discussion had turned into an all out slanging match at one point,
with all sorts of history getting thrown around the Magic Box until
Gunn, of all people, stepped in and reminded everyone how
ridiculously childish they all sounded.  Angel had seized on the
silence that followed and tried again.  It had been difficult to
explain to Buffy and the scoobs how he knew that Faith had changed
without revealing too many of the events that had happened to her
since Buffy last saw the brunette slayer.  He knew however, that it
was up to Faith whether she decided to disclose that chapter of her
life and he respected her privacy on the matter.  The dark vampire
understood that he hadn't convinced any of the Sunnydale crowd about
Faith's turn around, but he had at least managed to persuade them to
give her a proper chance to demonstrate her new attitude.
 
Once they had talked the subject out, the meeting returned to its
original agenda.  Buffy had been forced to admit that Faith was right
to want to hide the artefacts.  After hearing that the demons had
gone after the jade artefact, it was imperative to find a secure hold
for them.  In the end, however, Giles suggested that the best way of
hiding them was to keep them amongst the many boxes and artefacts in
the back of the Magic Box.  Perhaps their presence would be masked by
putting them in with so many other potential magic items.  Tara and
Willow placed a ward over the shop to deter unwanted visitors and
provide additional cover for the statuettes.
 
The problem of the third piece was the most difficult to solve
though.  Buffy did not want to wait for Varos' demons to find it. 
She argued that if that happened and they discovered that the other
two artefacts were hidden in the shop, the demons would stop at
nothing to get all three.  Unfortunately, as Wesley pointed out, they
had no idea where to look for the final piece.  The young ex-Watcher
hypothesised that there must be a way of focusing on the energy that
the artefacts held and that their signatures  were probably how the
demons detected the objects.  If they could discern that energy, then
they could locate the last statuette.  His theory intrigued Giles and
the two wiccans and between them, they decided to pursue that course
of action.  In the meantime, the remainder of the two groups,
including Faith, Buffy acquiesced to grudgingly, would patrol tonight
for any demon activity.  If the search proved fruitless, they would
start again tomorrow.
 
So it was with a mixture of frustration and relief that the members
of the Scooby Gang and the LA group met back at the Magic Box after
three hours of careful investigation with nothing to show for their
efforts.
 
"There aren't even any vamps out there," complained Faith, annoyed
that she hadn't been able to dust anything.
 
"Something's definitely up," Buffy replied.  "Vamps always go to
ground when something big is brewing."  She tried to keep her voice
from sounding curt.  After the seemingly endless argument with Angel
about Faith, Buffy had reluctantly agreed to give the rogue slayer an
opportunity to prove herself.  The blonde girl refused to call it
another 'chance' as she was adamant that Faith had used all her
chances, but the bottom line was that it had been a long time since
Faith had terrorised her friends and mother.  She had to admit that
she had changed herself in those years.  The older slayer had to
concede that perhaps Faith had too.  However, as they met inside the
Magic Box after the reconnaissance, she noticed that the scoobs stood
separately from the LA gang, reluctant to mingle with Faith and now,
by association, the others.
 
"Don't tell me the vamps will team up with those things," Xander
groaned.
 
"They generally do," confirmed Giles.
 
"I told you not to tell me," the dark construction worker complained,
burying his head into Anya's shoulder at the thought.
 
"Well there isn't much more we can do tonight," Giles stated, rubbing
his eyes wearily. 
 
"What about the location spell?" Buffy suggested.
 
Willow and Tara both shook their heads.  "We haven't done enough
research yet.  And there are still some materials that we need,"
explained the red haired wiccan.
 
"W-we should b-be ready by tomorrow afternoon though," added Tara,
nervous about speaking in front of the LA crowd.
 
"Anything we can do to help?" Offered Wes, polite as ever.  Both
Faith and Cordelia smiled slightly at the gesture.
 
"No, no, we'll be fine," Tara replied.  "But there's still the matter
of destroying the artefacts once we have them all," she reminded
everyone.
 
"I suggest we meet back here in the morning.  Some of us can research
while the others," Giles looked at Faith knowingly as he spoke, "can
continue to search the area for any clues to the statue's
whereabouts."
 
Giles' plan was received with nods of agreement all round.
 
"I take it the search is off for tonight then?" Cordelia asked.
 
Buffy shrugged and looked at Angel.  "I can't see as there's much
more we can do tonight," she agreed.  Angel nodded at her statement.
 
Let's get out of here then," the Seer suggested and the LA gang stood
to leave the premises.
 
"Faith," called Buffy as they were about to exit.  "Back here
tomorrow morning at 9 for training."
 
Faith looked at the older slayer steadily for a moment before
answering. "Sorry B, but I train with Angel and Wes now." Gunn
coughed deliberately. "Oh and Gunn when he's around," the rogue
slayer added, acknowledging Gunn's invaluable assistance.  Faith had
spent many hours sparring with the tall black man, returning to the
use of her old street style of fighting against him, as opposed to
the carefully crafted movements that Angel and Wesley taught her. 
She considered both forms of fighting to be essential skills and
enjoyed switching between styles.
 
"What's the matter, scared to go up against a slayer again?" goaded
Buffy, surprised at Wesley's re-establishment as Faith's watcher and
annoyed that Angel now trained with her.  She leant back against the
counter and folded her arms across her chest.
 
Faith refused to rise to the bait but it took a great deal of
effort. "I've set up a routine with them that I like to follow," she
explained, knowing that she hadn't actually answered the blonde
slayer's question.
 
Buffy noted the evasion too and decided to push it a bit
further. "Well, if you don't think you can handle it..." she tailed
the suggestion off and waited for the retort.
 
"It's not that I can't handle it B," Faith refuted, her voice tight
as she fought against rising to the challenge.
 
"That's not what it sounds like from here."
 
Faith bristled.  "What do you want Buffy?  Another opportunity to
kick my ass and prove who the number one slayer is?"  The brunette
woman stepped towards Buffy as she continued.  "You don't have to,
B.  Everyone in this room is fully aware of who the *chosen one* is."
 
The two slayers stared at each other for a long moment, while the
Magic Box's other occupants looked on in silence.  "Just as long as
you do," Buffy stated eventually, before turning away from Faith. 
 
Once again the shop was immersed with a hostile tension.  Angel took
an unnecessary breath to sigh with and Tara shook her head slightly,
wondering how the issues between Faith and the others could ever get
resolved.  
 
"Are we finished now?" Cordelia interrupted the silence, irritated
over Buffy's little power struggle with Faith.
 
"I guess so."  Buffy looked at Giles for confirmation.
 
"Er, yes. Everyone back here tomorrow at 10?" He requested to the
room in general. The ex watcher was acknowledged with nodding all
round.
 
"Right," Gunn spoke up. "Let's blow this joint."  With that, he
yanked the door open and swung an arm out in an exaggerated gesture
for Cordelia and Faith.  "After you, ladies," he offered.
 
"Watch who you're callin' a lady," warned Faith, scowling at the dark
man. He grinned back at her as she accepted the gesture and stepped
though the open doorway, wanting to leave as swiftly as possible.
 

* * *
 

"Thank God we're out of there," commented Cordelia once they had left
the Magic Box well behind them.
 
"They sure know how to create an atmosphere," agreed Gunn readily as
he loped behind the two girls.
 
"Drop it guys," Faith asked, her shoulders dropping slightly as she
once again considered the uphill struggle that faced her with the
Sunnydale gang.
 
"It will be worth it in the end," Angel told her quietly.
 
"I don't know if I can make it that far, Soul Boy," Faith retorted.
 
"Try to see it from their point of view," the vampire suggested.
 
Faith snorted.  "I don't think I can get my head that far up my ass."
 
The others smirked at the comment, before Wes caught Gunn's
expression and sniggered out loud.  His action prompted the others to
laugh and the tension that they had carried with them from the Magic
Box lifted, much to their relief.  Faith looked at her companions and
tried to shift her mood but it was hard.
 
"Would now be a bad time to suggest going out?" Asked Cordelia
hesitantly, wanting to divert Faith from the possible hours of
brooding the Southie slayer looked like she was about to embark upon.
 
Feeling the weight of her oppressive thoughts lighten at Cordelia's
proposal, Faith smiled at the ex-cheerleader.  "Sounds like the
perfect time to suggest going out to me," she responded, eliciting a
returning smile from the Seer.
 
"Is this just a girlie thing, or are we all invited?" Asked Wesley
with unusual insight.
 
"You want to come too?"  Cordelia was torn.  She was delighted that
the others wanted to celebrate her birthday with her, but selfishly
wanted to devote her attentions on Faith.
 
"I'd love to come.  To make up for forgetting your birthday," Angel
told her with a small smile.  Gunn and Wesley nodded in agreement.
 
Cordelia couldn't help but be touched by their gesture, despite
realising that her personal plans had been thwarted, at least for the
time being.  "That's great.  I just need to go home and change."
 
"What's wrong with what you're wearing?" Faith asked, stupefied.
 
"I've been trawling round dockyards and cemeteries in this," replied
the some time actress, confused that there was a problem.
 
"And?" Queried Angel, equally at a loss.
 
"And I now want to wear something else," retorted Cordelia, her voice
indicating a finality to the conversation.  The others shrugged and
followed the tall brunette back to the car.
 
Sometime later, four pairs of eyes became saucer wide as Cordelia
descended the stairs.  She was wearing a simple dark purple shift
dress that stopped at mid-thigh and had put her hair up into a loose
array on top of her head.  She grinned at them, before twirling round
in a 360 and asking, "so was it worth the wait?"
 
Faith had to swallow convulsively in order to try and lubricate her
suddenly dry throat.  "Hell, yeah," she eventually growled out,
surprised herself at how husky her voice sounded.  Wesley, Gunn and
Angel nodded quickly in agreement, prompting the taller brunette girl
to smile back at them, accepting the compliments with undisguised
pleasure.
 
Wesley frowned in confusion as a thought occurred to him.  "Cordelia,
this was only ever going to be a short stop over in Sunnydale to
locate the artefacts.  What on earth possessed you to pack an evening
dress?"
 
Cordelia was about to respond when she was prevented by a huge guffaw
of laughter from Gunn.  He slapped his arm on Wesley's
shoulder.  "Man, you have no idea how the female mind works, have
you?" He chuckled.
 
Cordelia looked affronted.  "It's a normal dress.  I've just jazzed
it up a bit," she justified.
 
"Yeah, by getting in it," responded Faith dryly.
 
Cordelia flashed a brilliant smile at the shorter brunette.  She
noticed that Faith had changed into fresh clothes and reapplied her
make-up and felt a small thrill at the thought that she might have
done that for her.  "Are we actually going out or are we just going
to stand around in the hall all night?"  With that, she yanked the
door open and stepped outside.
 

* * *
 

The Bronze was, well the Bronze.  Faith, Cordelia and Angel looked
round at the club with an air of disbelief.  "I can't believe it
hasn't changed in three years," the tall Seer commented, almost in
disgust.
 
"What's the matter, Cordy, feelin' old?" Faith teased.
 
"No, more like I'm in a time warp," the ex-cheerleader replied. 
Despite her initial misgivings at the place though, Cordelia soon
felt the beat of the music flow through her.  She glanced at Faith
and noticed the dark slayer succumbing to the rhythm.  "Come on,
let's dance," she suggested and made a beeline for the centre of the
dance floor.
 
Faith followed readily, with Gunn and Wes close behind.
 
"I'll get a table and some drinks," Angel called out, receiving a
wave in acknowledgement from Gunn.  The vampire shook his head
slightly before approaching the bar.
 
On the dance floor, the group got caught up in the music and allowed
their bodies to respond to the beat.  Cordelia found herself not
minding that she was celebrating her birthday belatedly at the
Bronze.  It was fun dancing with Wes and Gunn, despite the ex
watcher's slightly stiff movements, and spending any time with Faith
was a definite bonus in the Seer's opinion.  Despite wanting to dance
more closely with Faith, Cordelia kept at a distance, acutely aware
of Wesley and Gunn's presence and not yet ready to alert them to the
fact that she was attracted to the renegade slayer.
 
Faith was happy to dance with the two men as well as Cordy, and moved
her body round her three partners as she lazily danced to the music. 
She smiled at Wesley's slightly stilted movements and slid up behind
him and placed her hands on his hips.
 
Feeling his personal space being invaded, Wes jumped at the touch and
spun round.
 
"Relax, Wes.  Loosen up a bit.  Let the music grab ya," Faith
advised, as she moved, not releasing her hold on the Englishman's
hips. 
 
Wes looked startled for a moment, before realising that Faith was not
making a move on him.  Around him, Cordelia and Gunn hemmed him in
and continued to sway to the rhythm, looking at him encouragingly. 
The ex-watcher swallowed and then forced himself to relax, feeling
his dancing becoming less stilted as he was guided gently by the
young slayer, whilst he tried to emulate the natural style of Gunn.
 
"Now you're cooking," Faith told him, grinning.  "You'll have the
girls falling over you now," she wiggled her eyebrows impishly before
moving away to dance  opposite Cordelia.
 
Stunned by her comment, Wes burst out laughing but continued to dance
anyway. The group stayed close together for a few minutes more,
continually shifting positions and swapping dance partner before
Cordelia edged away from the two men,  drawing Faith with her as she
moved, so that the girls no longer shielded their companions'
availability to the rest of the Bronze.
 
As soon as Faith and Cordelia were not in the immediate vicinity of
Gunn and Wes, two girls shimmied over and began dancing with the
men. 
 
At first, the young Englishman tried to back away from the attention,
but Gunn held him in place.  "I have the impression that these two
come as a pair, so I hope you're not thinking of bailing on me Wes,"
the big man commented as he sidled closer to the lithe blonde dancing
next to him.
 
The brunette stepped closer to Wes and smiled shyly, a look the
watcher couldn't help but return.
 
"Way to go, Wes," Cordelia called over, giving him an exaggerated
thumbs up.
 
"See, I told ya," shouted Faith as she gyrated near the tall Seer.
 
Wes blushed furiously, but not wanting to back out now that his
friends had all commented on his situation, he turned his attention
to the girl dancing with him and found that she really was very
attractive.
 
Now that Gunn and Wes were occupied, Cordelia concentrated on dancing
with Faith.  At first, she just allowed the music to envelop her, but
as the beat continued, she became hypnotised by the way Faith moved
to the sound.  She could feel the woman's energy radiating round her
and was entranced at how absorbed Faith seemed to be by the rhythm. 
Unconsciously, she moved closer, moving her body to match Faith's
gyrations.
 
Faith could feel Cordelia moving closer to her.  Her body could feel
the heat radiating from the ex-Prom queen as she danced in
synchronised step with her.  The Southie slayer could feel the
chemistry between them grow exponentially as she focussed on the
other woman's movements and shut out the distractions from the rest
of the club.  Faith sensed her heart rate accelerating and as she
looked into the dark, heavily dilated, hazel eyes of Cordelia, she
knew that something was going to happen between the two of them.
 
Cordelia gazed at Faith's dark eyes that were now almost black with
desire.  Her heart flipped and she felt dizzy with want as the rest
of the club faded into insignificance.  Unconsciously, the tall
brunette hooked a finger into the belt loop of Faith's leather pants
and tugged slightly, stepping forward into Faith at the same time. 
As their bodies came even closer, the Seer moved in time with Faith,
her hips mirroring Faith's gyrations. Her stomach flipped as she felt
the Bostonian lay a hand gently on her swaying hip, registering the
burning heat that radiated from the contact. Instinctively, the older
woman brought her face closer, till they were sharing the same air to
breathe and their lips were millimetres apart.
 
Before the gap closed to nothing, Faith moved slightly and
repositioned her mouth to just over Cordelia's right ear.  "Tell me
this is for real Cordy," she whispered.  "You're not just playing
me?"  The rogue slayer sounded distraught at the thought.
 
Cordelia moved her head to return the whisper.  "I've never been more
serious about anything in my life," she told the shorter girl
sincerely, pleased to see Faith flush as her breath caressed the
slayer's cheek.
 
Faith backed her head away once more and studied Cordelia's visage
intently, as if boring into her soul.
 
Cordelia returned the stare, trying to see into the complicated
depths of Faith's personality but seeing only her own desire
reflected in the slayer's obsidian eyes.  Suddenly, her words gave
her confidence again, and the ex cheerleader brought her lips down
towards Faith's.
 
Just before she made contact, Cordelia felt a hand clasp her shoulder
and she spun round angrily, the spell between herself and Faith
broken instantly.
 
"What?" She asked aggressively as she saw Xander standing right next
to her.
 
"Hey Cordy," the dark haired man returned nervously, "Angel just told
me that you're out celebrating your birthday.  Come over to the
table, we've bought you drinks," he requested, deliberately not
catching Faith's eye.
 
For a moment, Cordelia couldn't think of a single thing that she
wanted to do less, but she forced herself to calm down when she
followed his gesture and realised that Angel, Wesley and Gunn had
joined the scoobs at their usual spot in the Bronze and she wondered
who it was that had sent Xander on his errand.  She returned her
attention to the young construction worker and read his open face,
deciding that he had meant well, after all.  "Sure," she agreed, her
voice sounding strained.  The Seer stared at Faith who had instantly
distanced herself and was now dancing alone.  Looking once again at
Xander she continued more firmly.  "But let me make myself clear.  My
night out includes Faith, so if that's too much for you, you'd better
say so now."
 
Xander squirmed uncomfortably for a moment, looking back at the other
scoobs nervously.  His face reflected his thoughts as he mulled the
situation over.  "We'll behave if she does," he stated, wondering if
his words would apply to Buffy and Willow.
 
Cordelia turned back round and then grabbed Faith's hand.  "Come with
me?" She asked tentatively.  The Seer knew that if she just invited
Faith over, the rogue slayer would simply decline the offer, but by
making it a request, Cordy hoped that Faith would accept.
 
Faith looked into the expectant eyes of the ex cheerleader and sighed
inwardly.  They had come so close to taking that next step and now
she was extremely frustrated.  She was determined to dance it out but
Cordelia looked so anxious for her company, that the younger girl
couldn't help but cave in to the plea.  Squeezing Cordelia's hand,
she nodded agreement and followed the tall woman and Xander to the
table, noticing happily that Cordelia maintained the grip on her hand.
 
There was a chorus of hellos for Cordelia and acknowledging nods for
Faith as the two women joined the others.  Faith returned the nods
with a tight-lipped smile but felt better when Cordelia's hand
squeezed her own in support.  There was a small gap at the end of one
of the sofas, so Cordelia wedged herself in and Faith sat on the
armrest, happy to be right on the edge of the group.
 
"What happened to your conquests?" Faith called across to Gunn and
Wesley.
 
Gunn snorted disgustedly.  "Mr 'English gentleman' here wouldn't put
out so they moved onto some other dudes," he told her.
 
Faith laughed.  "Well get back out there and try again," she advised.
 
"Next time I go hunting, I'm going solo," Gunn told her.
 
"Sorry to cramp your style," Wes shot at him.  "I just don't do that
sort of thing on a first encounter."
 
"Man, you don't know what you're missing," Gunn shook his head at the
ex-watcher and laughed.
 
"Someone who thinks the same way you do, Faith," Buffy commented
dryly.  "What do you do, have competitions?"
 
Faith opened her mouth to shoot back a retort but was beaten to it by
a suddenly serious Gunn.
 
"Is that an insult to me or to Faith?  Cos let me tell you, I don't
like either."
 
An uncomfortable silence descended on the group.
 
"So, what did you get for your birthday then?" Tara asked Cordelia
brightly, hoping that a change of subject might ease the tension.
 
"Faith made me a pill box," she replied and flipped open her bag to
retrieve the gift.  It was passed round for everyone to inspect. 
 
Cordelia felt Faith squirm uncomfortably and suddenly wished that
she'd kept the gift a secret.  Glancing up at the dark slayer, she
caught Faith's eye and mouthed 'sorry' at her, relieved when Faith
nodded her understanding.
 
"Wow. It's gorgeous," commented Tara.  "You really made this?"
 
Faith nodded shyly.
 
"Why do you need it?" Xander looked confused.  Surely pill boxes were
for old people.
 
It was Cordelia's turn to look uncomfortable.  "The visions I get
aren't exactly pain free, unfortunately," she explained, fidgeting in
her seat. 
 
"They cause pain?" Willow looked at the ex Prom queen with a new
respect.  The 'old' Cordy would have gone to great lengths to ensure
everyone knew about her suffering, yet this was the first time they
had heard of it.
 
"How much is it worth?" Anya asked, cutting to what she thought was
the most important part of the conversation.
 
"It's priceless," answered the Seer noting, with satisfaction, a
slight flush creep up Faith's neck.
 
"Hardly," refuted the ex-vengeance demon, rolling it over in her
hands several times to check if she'd missed anything. 
 
"It is to me," insisted Cordelia as she grabbed the box and returned
it to her bag.
 
"You didn't get anything else?" Buffy asked.
 
"No."
 
"Not yet," amended Angel with an apologetic smile at his
receptionist. 
 
Cordelia smiled back.  "Ooo, goody.  A pay rise for my birthday?" She
suggested lightly.
 
"Nice try," commended Angel, his smile widening at the expression
Cordelia pulled as he quashed her hopes.  The rest of the LA gang
laughed and the conversation drifted into small talk, the two groups
feeling more at ease in each others' company for the time being.
 
When Faith had excused herself to get a round of drinks in, Cordelia
found herself pounced on by her old school friends.  "Are you mad?"
Queried Xander.  "Dancing with her," he added, explaining his
question to a mystified Cordelia.
 
"No, I'm perfectly all right.  When will you get it into your thick
skull that she has changed?"
 
Xander looked at her incredulously.  "Not heard of the leopard theory
then," he commented sarcastically.
 
"Look, she's my friend.  If you don't like that, well there's nothing
I can do about it, but don't sit there and tell me where my loyalties
should lie."
 
"You looked like more than just friends out on the dance floor,"
commented Willow.
 
"For one thing that's none of your business, and for another, hello? 
Pot and kettle springing to mind here," Cordelia shot back.
 
"But it's Faith," protested the red haired witch, as if that
explained everything.
 
"Who is no longer the same person."  Cordelia spoke slowly, as if
explaining something to a small child.
 
"I'm with Xander on this one," Willow responded.
 
Cordelia rolled her eyes and sat back.  "Let's try this another way. 
Tell me Willow, you've not changed in three years have you?"
 
"W-well some things have changed," the wiccan refuted.
 
"No they haven't.  You're still the same nerdy computer geek I
remember," Cordelia continued.
 
"I don't think so, Cordelia.  I'm a witch now, a powerful one I might
add."
 
"Oh really?" Cordelia sounded scornful.
 
"Yes, really.  And I can quite easily prove it to you," Willow leant
forward rising to the challenge.
 
"Only if I want to see you prove it.  Otherwise, it won't matter what
you do, I'll always be convinced that you're the same mousy Willow
with the big chunky jumpers and no friends."  Cordelia hated
resorting back to her old bitchy ways but she felt as though she'd
run out of alternatives.  From the corner of her eye, she could see
the expression on Tara's face and realised that Willow's lover had
understood what she was trying to do.  The Seer was relieved.  She
didn't want to have to deal with two irate witches.
 
At first, Willow missed the point.  "I will show you," she bristled,
wracking her brain for a suitable spell.
 
"Show me what you like, I'll never be convinced."
 
Willow was about to grudgingly admit defeat when something caught her
attention.  She turned to the dark haired Seer again.  "So Faith's
changed.  And you and her want to make a go of it then?" She asked
innocently.
 
Cordelia blushed.  It was the first time anyone else had uttered her
thoughts out loud.
 
"I know that Faith isn't playing me, if that's what you mean."  The
ex-cheerleader decided to play safe and avoid the question.
 
"Really?  So why is she leaving then?"  Willow nodded towards the
exit of the Bronze.  Cordelia followed her look and felt her heart
lurch again, this time with a sickening feeling of betrayal or
jealousy, she wasn't sure which. 
 
With one arm draped heavily over her companion, Faith led a tall,
blonde woman towards the exit.
 
To be continued...