The Hart of L.A.

After a few hours of torturing herself in her room, Buffy ventured out into her living room. The fight between Kennedy and Willow had ended some time ago. When she entered the living room, she noticed two things. One, Dawn wasn't all hyper or jumpy. In fact she wasn't doing much of anything. She was sitting in the reclining chair, writing in her journal. Willow had done a spell and gotten all of her old journals that Dawn had set fire to. Second, Willow was sitting on the couch watching television. Normally, this wouldn't strike Buffy as strange, but when you're on the verge of breaking up with someone, you don't watch t.v. as if nothing was happening. Buffy walked over and plopped down next to Willow on the couch. " Hey guys, what's going on?" Willow looked over at Buffy and grinned. " Kennedy won't come out of the bathroom. I think I really pissed her off." Buffy grinned back at her. " Good for you! That is good for you, right?" She nodded. " Oh yeah, it's about time I stood up to her. She'd been really bossy lately. Thinks she can tell me what to do, and who's the Goddess in this room? She's just a silly slayer, no offense, but she's only the slayer because I made her one. You're still the all powerful Buffy, and you're like unstoppable." Buffy looked at Willow with raised eyebrows. " Okay, my ego now loves you, but what's with the ken bashing and Buffy praising?" Willow didn't say anything.

Kennedy couldn't believe what she was hearing! The nerve of her own girlfriend! She thought that she couldn't take Buffy? She'd take her on right now, dammit! With that thought in her head, she stormed out of the bathroom and stalked right up to Willow and Buffy. " I can't believe that you're saying all these things! You knew I could hear you, Willow! You think that I can't take the "Buffster"? I can take you on right now, Buffy, if you think you're so much better than me!" At this Buffy stood up and faced her. " Kennedy, I so don't have a problem with you right now. Please don't make me have a problem with you, okay?" Kennedy just scoffed at Buffy and got right in her face. " You got in my face just the other day, and now you're going to deny it? I've been dying to have a go at you for some time now." Buffy raised her eyebrows. " I only had a problem with you because you threatened one of my friends. I have no problem with you now, but if you're stupid enough to think you can take me, then we will have a go." Willow jumped up then. " Guys, stop it! This is so stupid, and I don't understand why you're acting like this, Kennedy!" Kennedy rounded on Willow then. " That's why dammit! Everytime I get in a fight with one of your friends, you automatically take their sides, and tell me to back off! I'm just so sick and tired of it!"

Willow was completely at a loss. She had no idea why Kennedy hated Buffy so much. Sure, there were a few times when Kennedy had said something bad about Buffy, but then again all of the potentials had at one point said something bad about her. It seemed like Kennedy just wanted to fight Buffy with a vengence. Willow really didn't want that to happen, because Buffy could take Kennedy in a second. " The reason I'm defending them, is because you're being really mean and stupid about everything. Buffy could take you in a second, and you know that." Kennedy glared at Willow. " I don't know that at all. I think that Buffy has gone soft, and wouldn't stand a chance against me." Buffy started laughing. " You do realize that if you hadn't of kicked me out of MY house to begin with, some of you would still be alive. Faith is a great Slayer, she really is, but if she can't take me, what makes you think you can?" Kennedy grinned at her. " I wonder if Faith knows what you say about her behind her back."

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Andrew was a little hurt. He'd mooned over Dawn for a very long time, and as soon as the pretty boy walks through the door, he was dirt. He'd noticed how she'd started staring at that guy, and completely forgotten about him. They had started something before they'd came here, and now she was just going to forget it? It wasn't fair! Maybe he was being punished for all he'd done while he was in 'The Trio'. Although, if you think about it, he hadn't really done anything. So he'd summoned a few demons to go after Buffy, but only because Warren had made him. Warren had left him and Jonathon anyway. He really had to get over the whole Warren thing, but it still bugged him. He'd never really had a girlfriend to speak of, and now it looked like he got to have one for one whole week. Dawn was going to forget him now, especially after what that weird guy had said. He was going to be needed, but this guy was meant for Dawn? It wasn't fair!

Spike could tell the little man was trying his hardest not to frown. Really couldn't blame him. Any fool could tell he was crazy about the nibblet, but what the old coot had said really freaked him. It had messed with Spike as well. Why shouldn't he be the one for Buffy? He was the one who had gone out and gotten a soul for the little bint. Why should Angel always get the girl? It's not like he ever did anything noble unless he had to. He was cursed by his soul, and could never really give Buffy what she needed, but it was still all about him. No one ever takes into consideration his feelings. They just thought that because he was dead he had no feelings. Well, he was so tired of it! The lot of them were going to need him eventually, and he just might not answer the call.

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Faith was standing the in the doorway of Buffy's apartment. She'd heard pretty much the whole arguement, and it seemed to her, Kennedy needed to be taken down a peg. She walked into the room surprising all of them. " Actually Kennedy, Buffy isn't talking bad about me. I used to think I was so bad, and that I could take B., but I was very wrong. You see, she has something that all of us want, but can't have. Not only is she the one that was called, you know the one, but she's pure. When I was called, I was running on pure hate. I'd been abused since before I can remember, and now I had the power. Only when I heard that B was still up and running, I had to go to Sunnydale, because this was supposed to be my time. When Willow told me what was happening after I'd tried to help Angel, I had to go. I wanted to somehow repay Buffy, but then you and your little friends went and kicked her out. Do you know what you did to her? I know that wasn't just your choice, everyone of you made that one, but still. I led you straight into a trap, so if you want help, to be trained, B. is the one you want. I'll help gladly, but even I'll be asking for B's advice. After she said that, she turned and was about to walk into the kitchen, but Kennedy stopped her.

" I wasn't talking about, and you know it. She thinks she can take on everyone, and she used you as an example. What do you think about that?" Faith smiled at her. " You really are still just a child aren't you? Buffy put me in a coma, then caused me to put myself in jail. I was jealous of Buffy and Angel's love, so I tried to take it away from her. Angel wouldn't have anything to do with me that way, so I tried to get revenge on them both. I thought they were both just out to get me. I shot Angel with a type of poison that could only be stopped by a slayer's blood. She came after me so she could save her honey. I shouldn't have fought her, ya know? When I felt that knife go in my stomach, I was shocked. This was me, and I was supposed to be untouchable. Buffy had to sacrifice herself because she thought she'd killed me. Angel almost killed her when she saved him. I woke up eight months later out of a coma. I switched bodies with Buffy, and even as me, she kicked my ass. Buffy and I have an understanding. If you guys don't get it, than that's your problem. It doesn't involve you anyway, but I want you to know something." Kennedy was seething at about this point. " Oh really?, and what pray tell is that?" Faith was still smiling. " If you come after Buffy, you're going to have a problem. You'll have me, Willow, Oz, and pretty much everyone else. I just want you to think about that before you go and challenge B." Faith turned her smile onto Buffy. " Geeze, now I'm hungry, you got any food in here, B.?" Kennedy watched them go, and without a word walked right out of the front door.

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Dawn was more than a little pissed off at the moment. First Kennedy had threatened her sister, which you just don't do that! Now, she hasn't heard from Andrew at all. She'd seen his face when that guy had said that stuff, so she expected a friggin phone call! She paced around the house like a mad person, when finally Buffy stopped her. " Geeze, Dawn, if you want to go over to Spike's to see Andrew, just ask me! I need to talk to Spike anyway, so you can just tag along." Dawn made a little happy squeal and ran to her room.

The walk to Spike's place wasn't long, but it seemed like it took forever. She'd lied to Dawn, and she was starting to feel bad. She didn't have to talk to Spike, she just wanted to see him. Really all she wanted to do was curl up beside him and hold him. She hadn't had the chance to talk to him since she found out he was back. She'd been surprised how much she'd missed him. She used to talk to him about everything, and then he was gone. When they arrived at Spike's house it was a little too quiet. The door was slightly ajar. She told Dawn to stay back, and then entered the house.

The first thing she noticed was Andew in a corner repeating " Oh God, Oh God" She walked over to him, and kneeled down to him. " Andrew, what's the matter? Where's Giles, Oz, and Spike?" He didn't answer her, but he did start to whimper.

" Oh, how lovely, we've got a visitor." Buffy knew that voice. She turned around and faced the thing that was behind her. " Hello, Drusilla. I should have known you'd pop up eventually." Drusilla smiled at her, but before she could respond, someone walked up behind Dru.

" I think you should step away from Buffy." Buffy smiled, because she knew that voice too. " Hi, Riley. How've you been?" He smiled at her.

" Hey, Buffy."