DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Buffy The Vampire Slayer stuff belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. All other characters that appear belong to me. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. There is some subtext in this story. If this kind of stuff is not legal where you live, if you're under 18 or if you don't like the notion of two women being in love, then you should read no further. This story is a sequel to Picture Perfect.

The Sentinels
By Kristjan Brezovnik

"Mom, Jasmine and I are taking Alice out," Faith said as she and Jasmine got ready.

"Okay, honey," Mrs Chase said with a smile. "Oh," she remembered, "you wanted to know when Buffy's mother is coming around."

"Yeah?"

"She coming today."

"When?"

Mrs Chase looked at her watch.

"In about half an hour."

"Okay, I'll wait then." She turned around. "Hey, Jasmine, you and Alice go ahead, I'll wait for Mrs Summers."

Jasmine grinned.

"Another Slayer mom to Slayer mom talk?"

Faith grinned back.

"Yeah."

"Okay. When will you come?"

"About forty-five minutes."

"That long?"

"Yeah. She's coming in half an hour."

"Oh. You wanna show her that painting?"

"Yes."

"You can do it when we come back."

"I know, but I want to let Nici know what Mrs Summers is going to say."

"Oh."

"Don't tell Nici that."

"Okay." She turned to Alice. "Come, little lady, let's go."

Alice giggled and took her hand. Then they left.

"Hello, Mrs Summers," Faith said when Buffy's mom arrived.

"Hello, Faith."

"Em, can you come with me for a moment, I want to show you something."

Mrs Summers glanced at Mrs Chase, who nodded, smiling.

"Go ahead, you'll like it."

Faith led Mrs Summers to her bedroom and Mrs Chase followed them.

"Well, what do you think?" Faith asked when they entered the bedroom.

"About what?" Mrs Chase asked, looking around, confused.

"That," Faith said and pointed at the painting.

Mrs Summers looked.

"That's a very nice photo," she commented.

Faith smiled and looked at her mother.

"Are you sure?" Mrs Chase asked. "Look closer," she added when Mrs Summers looked at her, confused.

Mrs Summers did and frowned. She gently ran the back of the nail of her middle finger across the surface.

"That's a painting?" she then asked, still finding it hard to believe.

"Yes," Faith said.

"Who made it?"

"Nici. She's a friend of mine. I've seen some other things she's done and they're all impressive."

"I'd say. This puts even Sorayama to shame."

Mrs Chase laughed and Faith found herself blushing.

"You know Sorayama?" Faith asked.

Mrs Summers nodded.

"He's one of my favorite artists."

"He is?"

"Yes." Then it hit Mrs Summers. "You know Sorayama?"

"Yes."

"Oh." She blushed a little. "Well, I know some of what he's done is, well, X rated, but I just love his style."

"Oh," Faith said, grinning slightly when she noticed that Mrs Summers was also blushing. "Em, do you think people would be interested in going to a gallery to see her paintings?"

"Oh definitely. Tell her she can bring her paintings to the gallery or to my place and I'll have a look at them."

"Great! I'll tell her," Faith said and left.

"Sorayama is also her favorite artist," Mrs Chase said when Faith was gone, "and she said the same thing."

"Oh," Mrs Summers said, blushing slightly deeper.

"So, what's the verdict?" Jasmine asked when Faith came to the park.

Faith flashed a big smile.

"She was impressed. First, she thought it was a photo and when she saw it wasn't," Faith paused for dramatic effect, "she said it was better than Sorayama."

Jasmine started laughing.

"She said that?"

"Yes. She also said Sorayama's one of her favorite artists."

"Yeah?"

"Aha."

"What are you two talking about?" Renee asked.

"Nici's paining," Jasmine explained.

"The one she made of you and Cordelia?" Renee asked Faith.

"Yes. I'll go tell Nici."

"Okay."

Faith walked to Nici, who was playing with Alice and Cassandra.

"Hey," she said when she got to them.

"Hi, Faith," Cassandra said.

"Nici, I have a great news," Faith said and Nici looked at her. "Remember that painting you made of me and Cordelia?"

"Yes."

"I showed it to Mrs Summers today and she loved it. She said you can bring your paintings to the gallery or to her place and she'll have a look at them."

"Really?" Cassandra asked, surprised.

"Yes," Faith said and grinned. "She also said it was better than Sorayama."

"She did?"

"Yep." She looked at Nici. "If you decide, let me know and I'll tell Mrs Summers."

Nici nodded.

"Okay. Nici need to think first."

"Sure. There's no hurry."

"It looks so… respectable now," Faith said as she and Jasmine entered the newly reopened Bronze in the evening.

"Yeah," Jasmine agreed. "Maybe we should get another troll to do some serious damage this time."

Faith grinned.

"Then it would be a five star hotel," she said and Jasmine chuckled.

"We don't want that."

"Oh look, looks like Buffy's got a new honey."

Jasmine looked.

"Isn't that the guy from the hospital, Ben?"

"Yeah, looks like it."

"And Spike seems to be the jealous boyfriend."

Faith looked at Spike, who was staring at Buffy and Ben.

"Yeah," she said with a grin.

"Let's go get a drink."

They went to the bar.

"Hi, guys," Xander said.

"Hey. Everything okay?"

"Spike stole my money."

Faith laughed.

"Yeah?"

"He bought drinks."

Spike glared at them and left.

"My, touchy," Faith said.

"So, is Buffy dating Ben or what?" Jasmine asked.

Xander glanced at the two.

"I don't know. She likes him. I guess."

"I hope this one turns out better than the last… all."

"Yeah, me too," Xander agreed. "Listen, we're over there."

Faith and Jasmine looked.

"Okay," Faith said and looked at Jasmine. "I have to go to the ladies. Get me something non-alcoholic."

"Okay."

Xander and Faith left and Jasmine ordered the drinks.

An hour later, Buffy, Xander, Willow and Tara had left and Faith was sitting with Renee, Amir, Rochelle, Eddie and Monique while Jasmine had left to get them fresh drinks.

"Jasmine?"

Jasmine turned and saw it was Dawn the vampire.

"Hey."

"You are Jasmine, right?"

Jasmine smiled.

"Yes."

"I've heard rumors."

"About?"

"The Sentinels."

Jasmine blinked.

"Never heard of."

"They're supposed to be a really bad bunch of demons. They're like the Scourge."

"I've heard of them. They're bad."

"The Sentinels are worse."

"Great," Jasmine said sarcastically. "What about them?"

"Someone is planning to free them."

Jasmine rolled her eyes.

"Figures. Any idea who?"

"No, but they're hiring demon sorcerers to do it."

"Shit. Any idea where we can find the Sentinels? Or the sorcerers?"

"No."

"Damn. Thanks."

Dawn nodded and left.

"Bad news?" Monique asked as she and Renee came to the bar to get new the drinks for their boyfriends.

Jasmine nodded.

"Time to visit Giles."

"Do we have to come?"

"I think so."

Renee sighed.

"Damn. So much for our dates."

"Bad news, Giles," Faith said as she entered.

"Ever heard of the Sentinels?" Jasmine asked.

"The Sentinels?" Giles asked, alert.

"Yes. Dawn said someone is hiring demon sorcerers to free them."

"Oh dear."

"Who are they?" Faith asked.

"They are a dangerous group of demons who were guarding the Gates of Hell."

"You mean the Hellmouth?" Monique asked.

"Yes."

"Any idea where they are?" Faith asked.

"No," Giles said, scratching his head.

"You said they were guarding the Hellmouth," Lara said. "From what?"

"I don't know."

"What happened to them?" Renee asked.

Giles scratched his head again.

"I'm not quite sure. I believe they fought someone and lost."

"So they're dead?" Faith asked hopefully.

"Well, no, they were trapped."

Faith shrugged.

"It was worth a try."

"Anything else we should know?" Jasmine asked.

Giles thought.

"As a matter of fact, yes. They were sorcerers."

"Great," Renee muttered, realizing that Hope might be in danger. "How do we stop them?"

"I don't know. Yet. I will have Willow look them up on the Watchers' Council Network."

"Okay."

"You want us to do research?" Raelee asked.

Giles glanced at his watch.

"It's late. Tomorrow."

"Okay."

"Okay, you wanna tell me what the hell you were talking about in there?" Rochelle asked when they were outside.

Faith grinned.

"Just the end of the world."

Rochelle blinked.

"You're kidding," she said. "You're not," she added when Faith gave her a serious look. "Demons? Sorcerers?"

"Yes?"

"I don't really want to know." She looked at her brother. "I'm going home. Are you gonna stay with Monique?"

Eddie looked at Monique.

"I think you better go home as well," Monique said. "I'm going too."

"Okay."

"Whose house is the closest?" Renee asked.

"M-Mine," Amir said.

The next day, Mrs Chase took Alice out as Faith and Jasmine went to Giles to help with the research. Tara went with Renee to the park and came to Giles later. Raelee and Monique went straight to Giles and helped with research. When after several hours of research they still found nothing, Faith and Jasmine went out to patrol.

Jasmine was just about to go back to Giles' place when Dawn found her.

"Hey… Jasmine."

Jasmine turned.

"Dawn. Anything new?"

"Yes. The Sentinels are trapped beneath that Indian burial site."

"The Chumash Indians?"

"Yes."

"Any idea how many sorcerers we're dealing with?"

"Five, I think. I've talked to one of their proxies and he said that they're not very good."

Jasmine frowned, confused.

"They're hiring so bad sorcerers that even their proxies know they suck?"

"Yes."

"Strange. Any idea when?"

"Sometime this week."

"Including today?"

"Yes."

"Shit. Come with me."

"Where?" Dawn asked, fearing the answer.

"To the burial site."

"Why?"

"In case you have to get the others."

"Oh," Dawn said, slightly relieved, and followed Jasmine.

"Hi, Giles," Jasmine said as she entered Giles' house. "I know where the Sentinels are."

"Where?"

"Beneath the Chumash Indian burial site."

"Of course!" Giles said and slapped his forehead.

"And guess what. Dawn said they're hiring bad sorcerers."

Giles frowned.

"Bad sorcerers?"

"Yes. We checked out the place. It's deserted, but people have been there recently. Undead people."

"Good."

"Dawn said it's supposed to happen sometime this week."

Giles went to the calendar.

"Ah, yes, tomorrow."

"You sure?" Faith asked, surprised.

"Yes. Tomorrow is full moon."

"Oh."

"Hey, guys," Buffy said as she entered. "Sorry I'm late, but Dawn was gone again."

"Yeah?" Faith said, worried.

"I found her in Spike's crypt. He was telling her stories."

Faith laughed.

"Spike, a storyteller? Oh boy."

Buffy smiled a bit and looked at Willow.

"Anything on the net?"

Willow shook her head.

"Nothing much. It's a level 6 knowledge and there's nothing in the higher levels."

"Level 6?"

"Yes, they have clearance levels. Most Watchers have level 4 or 5. The Watchers that are actually watching Slayers or Slayers-in-Waiting have levels 6 through 9, Giles had level 8, but now he has level 13."

"You got promoted, G-man!" Xander said with a grin.

"Special forces have levels 10 through 13," Willow continued, "various magicians and other important persons have levels 14 through 16 and the leadership has levels 17 and 18."

"What level did Mrs Fuller have?" Faith asked.

"Level 9."

"And Travers?" Buffy asked.

"15."

"What about Slayers?" Faith asked.

"Level 3."

"What?! We've saved the world more times that they can count and they give us a lousy level 3?"

"I guess we're replaceable," Jasmine said. "Bastards."

"So much for their trust," Buffy said.

"Don't worry, you have level 13."

"We do?"

"Yes. It seems they promoted you."

"All of us?" Jasmine asked.

"Yes."

"Oh. Good."

"Any idea what we should do?" Jasmine asked Giles.

"Slayers kill demons, wiccans kill sorcerers," Buffy said.

"Em, yes, something like that," Giles agreed.

"Will you need Hope's help?" Renee asked Willow anxiously.

"Probably not. If we catch them unprepared, we can get rid of them without Hope's help."

"Good," Renee said, relieved.

"I have a plan," Faith said. "Us Slayers and Lara go in and kick ass and Willow helps Tara do that demon killing spell. Everybody else watch the surrounding for any suspicious activity."

"Sounds good to me," Jasmine said.

"What about that murders at the train station?" Faith asked.

"Nothing. Yet," Buffy said. "I'll go check out the place tomorrow."

"Okay."

The bell rang, followed by knocking on the door. Giles went to the door and opened.

"Dawn."

"It's happening," Dawn said.

"What?"

"The sorcerers are freeing the Sentinels."

"Tonight?

"I thought you said tomorrow," Buffy said and looked at Giles.

Giles shrugged.

"I was wrong."

"Let's go," Faith said. "Dawn, you stay away from the place, Tara's gonna do a demon killing spell. But watch out for any suspicious activity."

Dawn nodded.

When they got to the burial site, the Slayers and Lara barged in just as the sorcerers completed the ritual and the Sentinels appeared.

"Shit," Jasmine said.

Lara didn't hesitate. She used her powers and everyone in the cave was thrown against the far wall. Buffy, Faith and Jasmine then quickly moved and killed three of the sorcerers, who were too surprised to defend themselves. Buffy and Jasmine then moved to kill the last two sorcerers and Faith moved to the Sentinels. Lara made sure that none of the demon proxies escaped.

But then a curious thing happened as the Sentinels turned on the demons and one of them even covered Jasmine's back as she took care of the sorcerer. Faith decided to concentrate on the demons first and see about the Sentinels later.

After several minutes of fighting, only three particularly resilient demons were left and they suddenly dropped, dead.

"They must've been practicing," Buffy commented.

"But they're still standing," Faith said.

Buffy turned.

"Shit."

The leader of the Sentinels said something.

"Anyone understand what she said?" Jasmine asked.

"Nope," Faith said."

"Were we…" Willow started as she and Tara came into the cave. "Oh," she said, stopping, when she saw the Sentinels.

"It didn't work," Tara said.

"It did," Buffy said. "Three demons were killed."

"What about them?" Willow asked.

"They didn't even flinch."

"That's either a good thing or a very, very, very bad thing," Buffy said.

"They're not demons," Lara said.

"But…" Willow started.

The leader of the Sentinels repeated her request.

"Sorry, still don't understand," Faith told her.

"I think she said something about a spell and language," Willow said.

"You understood that?" Buffy asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It sounds a lot like old Latin. Let me see."

She said something in Latin and the leader nodded.

"Well?" Jasmine asked.

"She wants to do a spell so she would learn English."

"Oh."

"She needs a volunteer."

"No."

"I'll volunteer," Willow said.

"Are you sure?" Buffy asked, concerned.

Willow shrugged.

"They're not demons and we're not fighting."

"Still…"

"Don't worry, Buffy."

Willow then turned to the leader of the Sentinels and told her she volunteered. The leader nodded and started to chant.

"Willow?" Tara said when the chant was over.

"I'm fine," Willow said.

"Can you understand me?" the leader of the Sentinels asked after a few moments.

"Whoa," Faith said.

"Freaky much," Jasmine said.

"Yes," Willow said. "Who are you?"

"What are you?" Buffy asked.

"I am Ceirdwyn. We are the Sentinels," the leader said.

"We know that," Faith said. "Are you demons or what?"

Ceirdwyn gave her a puzzled look.

"Demons? No, we are Humans, like you."

"Trust the Council to provide accurate information," Buffy murmured.

Ceirdwyn looked at them.

"You three are wiccans," she said, looking at the wiccans, and then looked at the Slayers, puzzled. "How many of you are Slayers?"

Three hands went up.

"I'm just a token Slayer," Jasmine said.

"Three Slayers? But…"

"Shit happened," Buffy quickly explained, "and then there were two. And when Faith was called, Jasmine also became a Slayer."

"Interesting."

"So, if you're not demons, what are you?" Jasmine asked.

"We were trained by the Council to kill demons and support the Slayer."

There were three blank blinks.

"You're kidding?" Faith said.

"No."

"Then why does it say in the Council's records that you are a murderous bunch of demons guarding the Hellmouth?"

"Hellmouth?"

"The Gates of Hell."

"Oh." Ceirdwyn frowned. "Why would the Council not know about us?"

"Beats me," Faith said, shrugging.

"I think I know," Willow said. "When were you captured?" she asked Ceirdwyn.

"I don't know."

"Any major event?"

"We had just defeated the Judge about seven years ago."

"The Judge?" Buffy asked.

"Yes, he…"

"I know who he is," Buffy interrupted her.

"He has been reassembled?" Ceirdwyn asked, worried.

"Yes," Faith answered instead of Buffy. "Buffy blew him op."

"Blew him up?" Ceirdwyn said, surprised. "Oh."

"We're getting off the topic," Willow said. "The Judge. That was several thousand years ago."

"Could be," Ceirdwyn agreed.

"Wait, you knew about America?" Jasmine asked.

"America? Ah. Yes, the Council knew. They sent us here to guard the Gates of Hell. Hellmouth, as you call it. The Chumash and the Anasazi helped us. The Anasazi suffered severe losses during our last battle."

"They're more or less a myth today," Faith said. "And you?"

"We lost half of our people. The Chumash also."

"Yeah, they've been wiped out later."

"Are you guys immortal?" Jasmine asked.

"No, but we do live long. If we survive."

"Oh."

"And you are sorcerers, right?"

"Yes."

"At least some things were right."

"Willow, you said you have an idea?" Buffy prompted her.

"Oh, yes. Remember that someone is spying on the Council and the Council doesn't know about it?"

"Yeah?"

"Well, suppose someone founded an organization within the Council. That's the only way. The Council's about the most secret organization there is and only someone within the Council could manipulate information like that. And they had millennia to do it."

Everyone was quiet.

"Have you been watching Nikita too much?" Jasmine asked.

"She has a point," Faith said. "I mean, they don't control us anymore and they may want someone to do their dirty work. And I don't think the Council's that stupid to go freeing some bad ass demons. And they hired lousy sorcerers, demon sorcerers, because they knew that the Sentinels would kill them, no witnesses, but they weren't sure how strong the Sentinels would be after being trapped for millennia."

"You're scaring me, Faith," Jasmine said and Faith grinned at her.

"But she's right," Buffy agreed.

"I was afraid you were gonna say that."

"Oh, did I mention that the Council is not to be trusted?" Willow asked Ceirdwyn.

"And whoever freed you even less," Buffy added.

"Why shouldn't we trust the Council?" Ceirdwyn asked.

"Let me put it this way. Have you ever heard of a ritual when a Slayer turns of age, at about eighteen or so, and she is drugged and forced to fight a nasty vampire?"

Ceirdwyn frowned.

"Why would they do that?"

"They say it's a ride of passage or something, but we think it's designed to kill Slayers."

Ceirdwyn's frown deepened.

"Why would the Council kill Slayers?"

"Because they can't control us anymore. And we're not exactly conventional Slayers, we have friends who back us up."

"Of course. What so strange about that?"

The Slayers frowned.

"Slayers aren't supposed to have friends," Jasmine said.

Now Ceirdwyn frowned again.

"Slayers had always had friends, it gave them a motivation to keep fighting."

"You're kidding," Faith said.

"No."

"Listen, we need to find out who freed you," Buffy said. "I'm not saying you should just believe us, but don't trust them either."

"Yeah," Jasmine agreed.

Ceirdwyn nodded.

"We will be careful."

"Good. Now, any idea how we get out?" Buffy asked. "The entrance is probably being watched."

"Can you do an invisibility spell?" Tara asked.

Ceirdwyn nodded.

"Yes."

"A good idea," Willow agreed. "Wait till we're gone and then do the spell and follow us. Who ever freed you will probably have a sign of some sort you will recognize."

"And don't forget, you don't understand English," Faith reminded Ceirdwyn.

"Yes, you hid as soon as we arrived," Jasmine added. "And you think there's only one Slayer."

Ceirdwyn nodded.

"It's a good plan," she agreed.

"Then we better move."

"Wait, how will they contact us?" Tara asked. "I mean, they will probably take them to England."

"A good question," Buffy said.

"Don't worry," Ceirdwyn said, "We can contact you in your dreams."

"Just knock before you enter," Faith said, "I wouldn't want you to intrude on my quality time with Cordelia."

"A long story," Jasmine said when Ceirdwyn gave Faith a confused look.

"I see," Ceirdwyn said.

"Let's go," Buffy said.

"I'll do the invisibility spell and come back," Willow said.

Ceirdwyn nodded and the Scoobs left. Then she turned to the other Sentinels and told them what had happened.

Outside, the Scoobs moved out of sight and then Willow did an invisibility spell and went back.

"Anything?" Buffy asked Dawn when she came to them.

"Yes. There are several suspicious vans on the other side."

"Have you seen any faces?" Faith asked.

"Yes."

"Good, you'll look through the database later."

Dawn nodded.

"Go get the others and tell them to meet us back at Giles' place," Buffy said.

"Did you win?" Dawn asked.

"There was nothing to win," Faith said. "We'll explain later," she added when Dawn gave her a puzzled look.

Dawn raised an eyebrow and left.

"What did you find out?" Buffy asked when Willow returned.

"Not much. They spoke in that ancient language. Ceirdwyn translated some things, but it wasn't much. Their leader called herself Smith and she said she worked for the Council."

"Did they say where they are taking them?" Faith asked.

"Somewhere in England."

"Figures."

"Let's go to Giles," Buffy said.

"What happened?" Giles asked when they arrived.

"We killed the demons," Jasmine said.

"And the Sentinels?"

"They're not demons."

Giles frowned.

"They're not?"

"Nope. They were trained by the Council to help the Slayer. They were sent here to guard the Hellmouth."

"What? But…"

"Remember that someone is spying on the Council?" Buffy asked. "They freed them and they're taking them to England."

"Really?"

"Yes. We told them, the Sentinels, about the Council. They're skeptical, but they said they'll be careful."

"Good."

"And they didn't know about Cruciamentum," Jasmine said.

"Yeah," Faith said. "And they said that Slayers always had friends."

"Really?" Giles said, taking off his glasses to clean them.

"Yeah."

"They said they would contact us," Buffy said.

"How?" Giles asked.

"In our dreams."

"Really?"

"Yes."

"Interesting."

"Willow and Dawn have seen some… Watchers and they're checking the records," Faith said.

"Nothing yet," Willow said, staring at the screen.

"Good," Giles said.

"I'm going home now," Faith said.

"Me too," Jasmine agreed. "We'll see you tomorrow."

While on patrol the next evening, Faith decided to drop by Spike to see if he had anything interesting to say about the Train Depot slaughter. But what she found, surprised her. She was worried when she saw that Buffy was all tied up, especially when she saw that Drusilla and Harmony were there, but then she noticed that Buffy wasn't worried at all and she decided to wait a bit and see what was going on. What she saw was a real show. She wanted to help Buffy kick the crap out of the three vampires, but she decided to let Buffy have fun.

"Buffy!" she called when she saw her fellow Slayer get out.

"Faith."

Faith grinned.

"That was real Romeo and Juliet down there."

"You were there?" Buffy said, surprised.

"Yeah. It was hilarious."

"Why didn't you help me?"

Faith shrugged.

"Looked like you had everything under control. And besides, it was fun." Buffy slapped her on the arm and Faith grinned. "Oh yeah, what did Willow find out about those guys from yesterday? I haven't seen her yet."

"Well, that woman wasn't in the Council records."

"Didn't think so," Faith agreed.

"We think she belongs to whoever's spying on them."

"Yeah."

"Oh, she also discovered a list of Slayers who weren't called yet."

"Really?" Faith said, curious. "How many are on it?"

"Seventeen. I mean, those that are still Slayers-in-Waiting. Then there's also a list of all those who aren't any more. They mostly work for the Council now."

"Figures, yeah."

"Oh yeah," Buffy suddenly remembered, "we're being watched by the government."

Faith frowned.

"Why?"

"Probably because of our involvement with the Initiative."

"Yeah? Shit."

"But it's not a strict surveillance, just, you know, they probably want to make sure that we won't go to the press or anything."

"As if."

Buffy smiled.

"Yeah. Are you done with your patrol yet?"

"Yeah, but I thought I'd go look for Drusilla now."

"Be careful, she's dangerous," Buffy warned her.

Faith nodded, her face serious.

"I will."

"I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Okay."

"You're late," Cordelia said when she and Faith met in their dreams.

Faith smiled and they hugged.

"I know. Drusilla was in town and I was trying to find her."

"Really?"

"Yeah." Faith grinned. "Wait till I show you what I've seen earlier."

"What?"

"Spike professed his love to Buffy."

"What?" Cordelia said, surprised. "You're kidding, right?"

Faith grinned again.

"No. I'll show you."

Cordelia smiled.

"Okay."

"And what's been going on in LA?"

"Nothing much. Same old, same old."

"That's a relief. We had to face some murderous bunch of demons and then we found out they weren't demons at all."

"They weren't?"

"No, they're actually our allies."

"Oh," she said and smiled. "Come here," she said and kissed Faith.

Faith responded and they shared a passionate kiss.

"Missed you," Faith said when they stopped kissing.

Cordelia smiled.

"I missed you to."

"Let's meld."

The End