"Red?"

Willow froze. <Oh, goddess, no, please don't let it be...>

"Red? Is that you?" an impatient voice said behind Willow.

Willow turned around to be standing in front of practically the only person in the world she could honestly say she hated. "Faith," she scowled. "What are you doing here? Don't you have a jail cell to be sitting in?"

Faith winced. "I did. I sat in that jail cell for three years."

"Not long enough, I assure you." She picked up her bag and swiped her credit card out of the hand of the cashier in front of her. She hurryingly scribbled her name on the receipt. Handing the paper back to the cashier, she turned to walk away.

Faith stepped in front of her. "Red, wait...I wanted to say...I wanted...I mean..."

Willow sighed, rubbing her eyes. "What, Faith? That you've come back for more? That you are going to make my life living hell again? Sorry, but that doesn't work anymore. I'm tougher now. You can't get under my skin. Buffy and the rest, they are back in Sunnydale. Go annoy the hell out of them."

"I know," Faith said softly. "I went to Sunnydale, and did what I had to do. Then I found out you were living in Toronto, and so I came here..."

Anger raced through Willow's veins. "Did you hurt them? Faith, so help me goddess, I..."

"I apologized, Red. I just said I was sorry. Angel told me that in order to start my path towards redemption, I had to apologize for everything I did wrong. Giles told me that you were working with the Council, and that you were in Toronto, keeping an eye on the Slayer-In-Waiting."

Willow sighed, rubbing her face with her hand. "And now that you are all good, what do you want with me?"

"To say I'm sorry. Red, I am so very sorry for everything I've ever done to you. I know that doesn't make it right, but...I mean....I....was wrong."

Willow studied the Slayer for a good minute before she spoke. The depths of sincerity in Faith's eyes shocked the red head, but she kept her composure. She sighed. "Come on, Faith, I was about to eat lunch. Why don't you join me?"

Faith's eyebrows rose in surprise. "Really?"

"Yea," Willow sighed.

Faith bounced happily. "I'd like that. And then you can tell me what it's like being a stuffy Watcher. Maybe I can tell you how to keep your Slayer from becoming a hellion."

Willow chuckled. "I've got that base covered. Between you going evil on us, and Buffy just generally being a pain in Giles' ass, I think I can handle a Slayer."

Faith grinned as the two women walked out of the store towards the Food Court. "I'd say the new Slayer definitely has her hands full when she gets there."