Love Through Touch

Disclaimer: See Part 1
______________________

Faith sat in the chair worrying her lower lip. Though her posture made her seem at ease, she was nervous inside.

She sat keeping watch over her fallen sister slayer, and the blondes lover. Ready to scream for either of the Wiccan's should they get worse.

She'd offered to watch over them while to other's slept, knowing they truly needed it. And because she knew she wouldn't rest herself without Mycah by her sidee'de'd grown accustomed to the girls added warmth in her bed at night, though the others weren't as privy to it.

Her eyes were drawn to the blonde slayer when she sighed deeply in her sleep, muttering something before whimpering and reaching out.

They'd gently moved the slayer and Hyatt into their bed earlier in the night, hoping they'd rest comfortably in the known surroundings and wake in the morning.

When Buffy's arm connected with Hyatt's skin they both jerked before relaxing and rolling towards each other.

She watched, as asleep they wrapped around each other. Buffy's arms circumferencing Hyatt's shoulders, tucking the girls head under her chin, as Hyatt curled the rest of her body into the firmly muscled body of the slayer.

Faith could only smile. She'd awoke many a morning in the same position with the girl's look alike.

"Man you two are so gone" she spoke aloud to herself.

Buffy's lashes fluttered at the sound of her voice, she gave a fretful sound and buried her nose in Hyatt's hair.

The action gave Faith pause "Buffy?"

"Hmm" Buffy's head turned up as if unconsciously answering.

"Buffy wake up" Faith moved to the bed, resting a gentle hand on the blondes shoulder.

"No. Sleep good" Buffy whimpered brushing her hand away.

"Come on B. You had us worried, wake up" Faith shook her shoulder.

"Damn you" Buffy's eyes fluttered before opening once again.

Faith stepped back as the faint yellow glow in Buffy's iris flared for a moment before disappearing.

"What? I'm awake now you're quiet?" Buffy complained sitting up.

Hyatt's head slid down to her lap.

"You remember what happened B? In the cemetery?" Faith sat back in her chair, pushing the dark strands of her mussed hair out of her face.

"Mmm, skanky vamp with a knife" Buffy rubbed her belly "that hurt" she pouted a bit "Ruined my shirt huh?"

"Yeah" Faith chuckled.

Buffy sighed in resignation and looked down to the girl in her lap "Hyatt bought me that shirt"

Faith laughed outright, forcing herself down to muffled chuckles so as not to wake the household at 3 in the morning.

"Man B. Only you could get nearly fatally wounded and worry about the shirt" Faith snorted into her hand.

"Well" Buffy stopped at lost for what to say "I.." she trailed off as she looked down at the girl resting in her lap. "What did she do?"

Faith shrugged "I dunno, and Willow's not talking. Whatever Hyatt did tossed us all for a loop. Everyone's sleeping"

"Except you" Buffy finished. She eyed the darker girl for long moments "Can't sleep without her?"

"How'd you-?" Faith started looking astonished.

"I could smell her on you.." Buffy looked away, stroking Hyatt's hair softly "She kinda smells like magic, but it's different"

"B, sniffing people is kinda gross" Faith rolled her eyes.

"Oh and sleeping with your sister slayers, lovers, identical cousin and not telling her isn't?" Buffy rushed out.

"Wha-?" Faith blinked several times staring incredulously at the blonde.

"You-" Buffy started only to be halted by softly spoken words in her lap.

"Both of you shut up, I'm trying to sleep" Hyatt opened one eye and stared at Faith "You can leave now, but Buffy has to stay and cuddle"

Faith gave a smirking half smile and pushed out of the chair "Okay, but if you guys need anything"

"Don't worry we'll call" Buffy interrupted her.

"No don't call me, get Red or her girl, they 'like' you" Faith laughed as she pulled the door closed. She dimly heard a pillow impact it as she made her way to her room.
____________________

Kole sat on her knees in her window seat, looking out into the inky night when her mother entered the room behind her.

"What are you looking at?" Mycah looked over her daughters shoulder seeing nothing.

"Shadows I guess" Kole climbed down and got into her bed "I miss Faith, do you think she misses us?"

"Baby it's" Mycah checked her watch "3 in the morning I think she's dreaming right now" she retucked the sheets around the child for the second time "But we'll see her in a few hours"

Kole smiled, kissing her mothers fingers as she carefully tucked the sheet up around her neck she wished her good night, again, and closed her eyes.

Mycah sighed and lay on top of the sheet next to her daughter. She too had been unable to sleep without Faith near her, though she thought perhaps with was Dawn and Star in the same room that Kole was missing.

She waited for Kole to slip into the deep even breaths of true sleep before leaving. Trudging back to her own room she wondered how one night away from the slayer could be so difficult.
_________________

"Aww she misses her girlie" Naida clutched at her heart and made a pouting face "It's touching in a, really and I mean 'really' pathetic way" she ran a hand through her dark hair before turning back to tampiampire in the Jeep "Do you have any ideas about catching her?"

"A few" Kalindi said mysteriously.

"Are you going to share?" Naida pressed up against her Mistress, leaning partially across her shadow clad lap.

"When the time comes, you will know" Kalindi assured her, her eyes remaining trained on the window the child had been at.

She wasn't positive, but it seemed as if the girl had been staring right at her.
_________________

Buffy and Hyatt woke again to the early morning sun.

Hyatt lay half on top of Buffy, her head resting on the slayers firm breast.

"Well I can tell your happy to see me" Hyatt commented to Buffy's hardened nipples, wiggling her eyebrows and licking her lips.

Buffy winked and tugged Hyatt up for a soft kiss "Thank you"

Wrapping her arms firmly around Buffy's shoulders, Hyatt buried her face in the blondes hair "I just got you back, I can't losu yeu yet" she whispered, stirring the soft strands.

"Oh good, you're up" Stars stern voice came from their doorway. The little girl marched into the room to sit non to gently on the bed beside them.

"Star sweetie you can yell at us later-" Buffy tapped the little girls knee. She was surprised however when Star interrupted her.
o. Io. I'm here now, and I'm gonna be heard. You" she pointed at Buffy's reclining figure "need to be more careful slaying. If you get all dead and stuff, she's gonna go crazy!" Star pointed to Hyatt as she stared Buffy in the eye "Do you know how 'deeply' in love she is with you? It would break her heart. Do you want to break her heart?"

"N-no" Buffy managed before Star ranted on.

"And you. Hyatt you 'know' better. That spell could've killed you if she were too far gone!" Tears sprang to the little girls eyes "I know you love her Mommy, I 'get' that, I love her too"

Both young women sprang apart, scooping the crying child into a warm hug.

"How do you think she'd would have felt Mommy? You're not supposed to die for her, you're supposed to 'live' for her" Star sniffled and buried her nose in Buffy's nightshirt "and for me too"

Tara and Willow stood in the door, watching as the two women tried to calm the little girl down. They'd come running when they first heard Stars raised voice.

Dawn and Faith stood behind them in the hall, the younger girl worrying her hands, the older girl agreeing, with silent nods, to everything the child was saying.

Downstairs on the couch Anya listened in, a sleeping Jeanie cradled in her arms, blissfully unaware of the raging emotions above stairs.
____________________________________

Late morning rolled around and Mycah just couldn't seem to get out of the house. She had their essentials packed and hidden in the trunk of her car, and Kole was ready to go. But for some odd reason her family had chosen that day to complain about her constant absence.

"Mycah dear, who 'are' these friends of yours that you're disappearing with?" her mother asked her when she cornered her in the library "You haven't come home in nearly 3 weeks!"

"I was with Hyatt, and some friends of her's" Mycah shrugged loosely hoping she could escape with that answer alone.

"You were with 'her'. What were-" Mycah's mother stopped herself and took several deep breaths "Hyatt's father kicked her out. Did you know that?"

"Yes. He also kicked Star out. They've been staying with her friends. Made quite the little family" Mycah smiled sweetly though her mothers tone had been condesending.

The woman scoffed and left the room, unable to formulate words beyond the repetitive "Are you crazy?" that raced through her head.

Day was waning into dusk before the harrassment tapered off enough for them to escape.

As it was, Kole was making them later. She outright refused to get into the car.

"Sweetie don't you wanna see Faith?" Mycah tried urging the child towards the car again.

Kole steppeck eck eyeing the shadowed car fearfully "I'm not going"

"I'm not leaving you here" Mycah put her hands on her hips, fully agitated now.

"But-" Kole began only to be cut on when Mycah grabbed her arm and dragged her to the car.

"Last night you couldn't sleep, you wanted to see Faith" Myach pulled open the back door and secured the little girl inside "Tonight we're going back to Faith for good and you're stalling. What is there a party or something?" Mycah spun on her heel slamming the door and moving towards the drivers side.

Kole flinched away from the shadow that the dusk threw across the seat beside her "Something like that"

Mycah climbed behind the wheel happily starting the car "See kid, it's not so bad. Just a nice quiet car ride"

Kole's little hands clinched the seat beneath her as she fought back tears. She wished she could remember Buffy's phone number. Because she had the sinking feeling they should have called ahead.
_____________________

Naida sneered as the followed Mycahs car "You people really do ignore the classics"

Kalindi blinked, though Naida couldn't see it through the think black blanket the vampire wore to conceal herself from the dying daylight "Classics?" she asked turning to her Seer.

"Yeah, the things witches and phrophets have been saying since they thought they could measure time. From the mouths of babes" Naida quoted sending her Mistress a dry look.

"You mean the child knows? What's to come of this night?" Kalindi began to panick. If the little girl was that powerul...

"No. Not that one. Another" Naida assured her "But she won't be a problem after tonight either"
_____________________

Faith slept most of the day only to be awakened by Buffy at dusk.

"Slay date?" the little blonde smirked leaned over her darker counterpart.

"You're on" Faith sat up quickly pulling on a pair of Mycah's jeans over the panties she'd slept in.

"Waiting for your girl?" Buffy asked as the trampled down the stairs.

Jeanie who sat on the couch with Anya reading a book rolled her eyes at whatever comment the ex-demon made about the noise.

"Yeah, it's wicked itchy man" Faith grabbed a few stakes and a cross bow as Buffy swung the door open.

"Low down itch?" Anya questioned making Jeanie squeak.

Buffy laughed as she exited the house.

Faith tossed Anya the bird and blew the mini-Xander a kiss before disappearing after Buffy slamming the door.

Jeanie bit her lip to keep from laughing "I take it she didn't think it was your business"

Anya tickled her.
__________________

Leisurely they walked towards Restfield Cemetery, having time before the sun truly set.

"This whole prophecy thing B. You scared?" Faith fained non-chalance as she asked tossing the stake in the air and catching it in quick hands.

"A little. But that's normal, I mean 'hello' end of the world....again" Buffy frowned as she added the last part "It's really starting to get old"

"But we, or you, always beat it" Faith turned and walked backwards so she could watch the blonde think.

"Yeah" Buffy gave a thoughtful look "That 'never' gets old" she chuckled.

"Did you know that there's three vamps in those tree's about 30 feet to 'my' left" Faith commented in the same unworried voice she'd been using.

Buffy nodded as the last of the sunlislipslipped behind the trees "Yeah, I was thinking stakes now, and save the crossbows for the horde we'll undoubtedly run into later"

Faith shrugged "Works for me" spinning so fast she appeared to be a blur, she took off in the direction of the trees.

Buffy stopped dead, surprised at the burst of speed Faith had "Well..." she shook her head when she heard the first vampire scream and caught the familiar scent of the dust in the wind "That was sporting"
_________________

"Geez Kolby calm down" Mycah glanced in the rearview mirror once again. The child was still clutching at the seat beneath her, leaning towards the window and away from the shadow on the seat.

"Maybe you should worry" Kole snapped uncharacteristically.

"What's wrong with you? We're going home where's your happy spirit?" Mycah glared into the mirror.

Kole pouted before screwing up her face. Tears began to make their way down chubby cheeks, as she whimpered softly and rubbed at her eyes.

"Aww baby, what's wrong?" Mycah slowed the car at a stoplight.

A jeep pulled up behind her.

"It's all gonna go bad" Kole whined "We shouldn't have left"

"What?" Mycah pulled away, turning right onto the road that ran along Restfield Cemetry.

"It's all bad" Kole yelled.

"What are you talking about" Mycah turned in the seat to look her daughter in the eyes.

"That!" Kole pointed ahead of them just as the car ran into an unresisting wall.

Mycah spun forward, watching the cars front end crumble in thin air, as if against an invisible barrier.

Kole screamed and turned her face away, curling fetally into the backseat.

Magically the car doors swung open, expelling both inhabitants from their seats and onto the soft grass of the cemetery.

Mycah crawled to Kole's side finding her unhurt, but crying with fear filled eyes.

"Aww, did the little witch fall down?" a sing song voice rang out not far from them.

Mycah looked up into the face of a dark haired girl, and her overly pale companion who was swarthed in shadows.

"Now is usually when you run!" Naida leapt at her.

In one fluid motion Mycah lifted Kole from the ground, leapt to her feet, spun and kicked Naida in the chest, and ran for her life.

"Well that was beautiful. Fatima has taught her young one's well" Kalindi remarked watchingMycah disappear further into the graveyard as predicted .

"Yes, but she was never a good strategist" Naida stood on shaking legs, clutching her sore belly.

"No she wasn't. But I aKaliKalindi began to move forward, that shadows beneath her mak making her mobile though her legs never moved "Make sure that girl doesn't leave this bed of death"

Naida nodded and took off in a different direction.

"Fun fun fun!"
______________________

Faith spun low, kicking the vampires feet out from under him "Aww come on, my dead grandmother fights better than that!"

The vampie snarled and pulled himself back up only to be kicked back down again by Buffy.

"Hello there's so two of us" she quipped before kick him in the head. And taking it completely off his body.

"Aww B I was havin' fun with that one!" Faith complained. She glanced around them. All seven of the vamps that had jumped them were now dust piles blowing away in the soothing night breeze.

"Sorry F. Didn't mean to take his head off. Got a little carried away" the blonde smirked at her counterpart "I go west you go east?"

"Deal, meet me at McPherson?" Faith tugged her leather jacket closer.

"Nah, just head home, whoever gets there first makes the food" Buffy waved and took off to the west side of Restfield.

"Man I'm 'so' gonna be last" Faith pulled out a new stake and trudged off to the east, listening for even the low rustle of a bush. She was in the mood to slay tonight.

She made her way slowly between the tombstones. Stepping carefully and looking around herself in obvious distress, she spun at the sound of a stick snapping somewhere off to her left, looking to her right.

She faked a stumble over a grave marker when another snap came. After which she took off at a dead run, giving a fake scream everytime she heard a sound near herself.

She was cresting one of the many hills and went to her knee's giving a delibrate loud whimper when she landed before rising and running with an uneven gate.

She heard rough laughter behind her and knew her ploy had worked. Stupid vamps thought they had an easy meal. She was the one who was going to have the easy kill.

Still running awkwardly she turned to look behind her, going down realistically and rolling her to back.

Four male vamps came to a stop near her.

"Hey girlie, whatcha doin' in a place like this?"

"Yeah, lookin' for a ride?"

"Maybe she's just out for a walk?"

Three of the vampires came closer to her, each taking long menacing steps, wanting to see the fear in her eyes before they killed her.

"I might turn her. Pretty thing she is. I'd like her undead" the fourth vampire stepped forward.

What surprised Faith was the vampire was female, not male as she'd originally thought.

"So tell me lipstick" the (s)him vamp asked advancing as well "What's a little treat like you doing in a place like this?"

Faith sat up pulled 3 stakes and a bottle of holy water from her jacket "Huntin' "

Before they knew what hit them, the three male vamps were dust. The female stood staring down at her in fascination.

"Slayer" she hissed.

Faith dipped the stake she'd originally pulled from her pocket in the holy water and threw it, catching the female in the neck.

"Yep. And a bitchy one too"

Faith stood and spun on her heel, walking away as the vampiress pulled the stake from her neck and charged. Only to stop and choke. She grabbed at her own neck and screamed obsenities at Faith's back at the holy water dripped through the inside of her.

She slowly crumbled to dust, screaming in a language long forgotten to humankind.

Faith stumbled and tumble for real. Head over heels down the hill she fell after something impacted her back.

When she came to rest at the bottom she stood up, picking up what had hit her when and made her tumble down the hill.

A Vivione Kadesh charm. One bar.

"Shit" she took west in a dead run.
_________________________

Mycah ducked and dodged between headstones and masoleums, Kalindi's laughter following her wherever she went.

Kole clutched her her shoulders, holding on tightly her face buried in her mother's chest.

"Shh" Mycah took a moment to breath, gathering the child close "I need to lead them away. You're gonna have to stay here"

"No Mom-" Mycah shushed her with two fingers to her trembling lips "I'll come back for you. I'll get you to Faith"

Mycah looked around, seeing no one she secured Kolby to her chest and leapt, grabbing the roof of the masoleum they were hiding behind. She lifted them gently to rest atop it. Laying Kole then herself flat.

"Stay here, you know the drill. Dire times baby" Mycah ran her fingers down her daughters dirty tear stained cheek "You got me?"

Kole nodded trying not to cry, taking broken breaths "No words, no sound"

"Be still" Mycah finished. She moved to the edge of the structure and slid herself down head first. Her hands hit the ground first. She pulled forward laying herself flat across the grass. Silently she slid off her own jacket and bunched it up, cradling it to her chest with one hand.

She pushed off the moist earth and ran, clutching at the jacket and darted towards one of the few groves of tree's.
_________________________

Jeanie sat looking through the book Clareth had given her. Anya had long since left to annoy the Wiccans. Dawn was in the kitchen humming to herself while she made herself something to eat.

Star was resting upstairs, having had a rather emotional day.

Hyatt was outside in the backyard 'shadow boxing' as Tara had called it.

So Jeanie read. She turned the yellowing page and froze as a familiar image filled her gaze.
She looked out the window at her side then back to the image in the book. "Oh no" she whined as she read and reread the passage.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when Orangi appeared behind her on the couch.

"It has begun. Bring her in from the dark. The rest will come" the demon instructed.

Jeanie nodded and tossed away the book as she ran for the back door, screaming Hyatt's name.

"Hyatt! Buffy's in trouble-" Jeanie managed just as she threw open the back door.

Hyatt was at her side in an instant "Jeanie? What are you talking about? They went slaying they'll be back soon" scooping her into deceptively strong arms Hyatt carried the girl away from the open night.

"No no no! The Elders have begun to awaken. The charms, they all had two or three bars" Jeanie argued as she was carried back to the couch "The elders have one bar, they're waking up now. Soon 'those who have none' will rise. The Most High" Jeanie talked fast knowing she wouldn't have a second chance.

"What?" Tara came to her side, kneeling next to Hyatt.

"It's in the book" Jeanie ran to where she'd thrown it "The moon is in the second house, on the day before a joyous day" she flipped frantically through the pages until she found it. Nearly shoving it into their faces "The single strength shall arise and make ready for the Reckoning"

"Oh my god" Tara took the book from the childs hands and began rocking herself.

"I gotta warn Buffy and Faith" Hyatt got shakily to her feet.

"I'll go with you. Better not to be out alone" Willow grabbed a sword and two-baton, tossing the latter to Hyatt.

"Ok" Hyatt barely stopped to pull on a jacket for the late Fall chill.

The two ran from the house foregoing cars in favor of a mad dash.
__________________________

Faith heard a scream to the left of her position, not far from where she and Buffy had parted not 10 minutes before.

There was a mad cackle and she took off in that direction.

Two women were fighting in the moonlight. One eerily familiar, the other a larger than life figure, the woman stood just over six feet tall, long shadow black hair swirling around her as she matched the woman blow for blow.

"Mycah!"

Faith ran in their direction, her yell distracting Mycah enough for the vampire to get a good hold on her.

"Your's slayer?" the rich voice cooed as Faith struggled through a sudden darkness to get to her beloved.

"Faith get away" Mycah struggled in the vampires hold, getting her arm free. She tossed her jacket aside reveiling a cross she'd torn away from the masoleum she'd hidden her daught on top of. She rammed the cross fully across Kalindi's chest.

The vampire let out an angered roar and swung the young woman by her arm away from her body "You dare..." she hissed dangling Mycah like a ragdoll.

The darkness was dispelled and Faith made her way towards them.

Kalindi turned back towards the raven woman and smiled "Not tonight slayer. But soon. Very, very soon" she wrapped her arms about herself, dragging Mycah between her crossed arms. What Faith had thought was her hair was actually the shadows she clothed herself in. They wrapped around them both like a shroud, and they slowly disappeared. Blending in with the night.

"No!" Faith ran to where they'd vanished from, beating the ground with both fists, digging at the moist earth.

"Faith!" Buffy's suprised voice reached the other slayers ears as she screamed her anger at her loss into the night.

"Faith what happened?" Buffy pulled Faith up by her arm, having caught it midswing.

"Some shadow bitch took her. And some lumber dyke vamp had this" Faith held up the single barred charm "I was looking for you when I heard this scream" she got to her feet pacing in anger.

"When I got here Mycah was fighting this big shadow vamp" Faith paced back and forth, clenching and unclenching her fists as she spoke "I was trying to get to her when everything went black.."

Buffy noticed something glinting not far from Faith.

"Then Mycah hit the bitch with a cross, and she screamed" Faith continued though she now stood still staring up at the cloudless sky.

"This cross?" Buffy asked picking up the si orn ornament the size of her cross bow.

"Uh..." Faith got a closer look at it "yeah that's it"

Buffy read the inscription, then turned it so Faith could read it as well.

In bold silver letters across the bow of the cross read:

AL-FAQADI
_________________

Anya had the children huddled up together in the living room, watching television.

That was when the noises started.

Dawn jumped, looking worriedly from side to side when the first 'thump' came against the side of the house.

"What was that?" She asked dragging Star closer to her.

"I don't know" Anya too looked around. All the curtains and blinds had been closed, blocking them all from the outside world.

The second thump came from directily behind them, with enough strength to make the couch tremble a bit.

"Whatever it is it's big" Anya conceded, maybe it's a Titan!"

"A what?" Dawn looked terrified.

"Titans, big people, like giants. Didn't you 'ever' watch Xena?" Star rolled her eyes.

"No my mom thought it was too violent" Dawn sged.ged.

"Well the woman could fight. And in a skirt too" Anya nodded.

The calm knocking on the door startled them all.

"Anya? Buffy? Wills? Is there anyone home?" Xander's voice called out from the other side of the locked door "Hellooooooooooo!" he called again in a falsetto "Avon lady calling"

The girls giggled, and Jeanie ran to the door to let him in.

When she pulled the door open two things happened.

Xander was thrown forward into the house and into Anya who'd followed close behind Jeanie. Xander's body knocked into Jeanie throwing her off balance as well and she pitched towards the open door. Shadows came up from the floor boards and grabbed the little girl, wrapping her tightly and dragging her into the night.

"No!" Xander spun midfall and tried to grab for her, but she was too far away. Anya hit the floor with a thud and was knocked unconscious.

Xander and Dawn scrambled for the door when suddenly all but one of the shadows vanished. The one left behind took shape, the throbbing mass contorting and stretching into a semi human form.

Red glowing eyes appeared, the red flashing as if the creature were blinking. Wings took shape, and bulging arms with long clawed fingers. Looking like the devils clone of an angel the living shadow stared back at them "One down. One to go" it growled before flexing it's great wings and taking off into the night.

"Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit"

Xander turned to find Tara standing behind him, her fingers buried in her mouth, Star standing behind her looking scared.

"This is not good. Not good at all" Dawn stumbled back and slammed the door.

"I just hope they find Buffy" Tara whimpered.

"Before it's too late"
_____________________

"Someone in Hyatt's family is buried in Restfield? I thought they had a family plot" Faith muttered as the slayers made their way through the cemetery, towards the road.

"They do. But there's one person they didn't bury there" Buffy ducked and dodged her way through the the headstones.

"Who?" Faith followed at a slower pace, her fists still clenched in anger.

"Imadhi Al-Faqadi" Buffy growled as the masoleum came in sight. She slowed to a stop when she saw a shadow drift stealthily around it.

"Who?" Faith whispered again coming to a stop inches from Buffy's back.

"Star's biological mother" Buffy crept forward, pausing once again when she heard a voice singing out.

"I'm gonna kill a baby Al-Faqadi, won't Mahtov be very proud of me. I'm gonna chop her up fri-ka-zee, cook her right up to feed my family" Naida sang hoping to get the little girl to cry out.

Kolby lay atop the masoleum, her tiny hand pressed over her mouth so as not to make any noise. She'd made a promise, and she was gonna keep it. Dire circumstances Rule 1: No words, no sound.

Naida laughed and Kole realized she was inches from the Seer. Be still. She was glad she was above the mad womans head.

"Hey freak whatcha doin'?" Faith's cocky voice rang out from the darkness.

Naida stopped her mad dance and turned to face the slayer.

"Oh the kinky one" Naida purred strutting towards Faith.

Kole had to force herself not to cry out in relief, or move to the edge so she could see Faith.

"Kinky? Baby I'm more than kinky" Faith strut towards Naida as well, casually swinging the Al-Faqadi cross.

"Really?" Naida purred sidling up to Faith.

"Yeah. You have 'no' idea what I plan to do with this cross" Faith wrapped her arm around the girl and swong the corss down, spanking her with it.

Naida squealed like a naughty child and back pedalled away, grabbing her ass, which had erupted in flames the moment the cross had touched it.

Faith was laughing at the ludicrous sight and Buffy was forcing herself not to.

Naida rrounround, fanning her flaming bottom. She threw herself to the ground and began to roll around.

"You know that kinda makes me feel better" Buffy chuckled.

Kole lay still atop the masoleum, a shadow had just passed across the moon. It looked like an angel, but she had a bad feeling it wasn't.

"You bad bad nasty slayers" Naida growled "Alito won't like what you've done to me"

"Alito?" Buffy snorted "Who's Alito? Your 'boyfriend' or maybe he's your dog"

Both slayers erupted once again in racous laughter.

"No. Alito is 'him' " Naida pointed up to the sky as the 'angel' Kole had seen fly across the light of the moon, suddenly dove, claws extended aiming at the two slayers.

They barely had time to flip out of the way when the 'angel' swept between them, his deadly claws catching Buffy across the back, ripping through her clothing and narrowly missing her skin.

"What the fuck is that?" they said in unison as the 'angel' turned around to attack again.

"That's Alito" Naida said skipping between them "and he's 'very' angry at you two. So I'll leave him to it" Naida gave them both the aussie salut and slipped into the shadows, vanishing as Kalindi had, into the very night.

Alito swept down again, through the spot Naida had disappeared in. Feet from the ground he pulled up, barely missing the masoleum, and noticing the frightened little girl hiding on top.

"You! I was sent for you!" he rasped at Kole as he climbed higher to turn and dive.

Not time to be still. Kole took a deep breath she didn't know she was holding and screamed at the top of her lungs as she lunged for the side "Faaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiith!"

The darker slayer spun when she heard her name screamed, to see Kole rising to her feet and running to the end of the masoleum.

Alito reached Kole at nearly the same moment she reached the edge. The little girl dove for the ground and time stood still for Buffy.

Faith however was ignoring time itself. When Kole dove with Alito inches behind her she leapt above the child's head, her booted foot connecting with Alito's head, both of them miraculously missing the clawed hands. Faith spun after the kick, catching Kole in mid-air and saving her from a most painful landing.

Slayer and child landed on the ground unharmed. Alito landing hard, head-first on a headstone, burst in dust, still in his shadow form.

Faith fell to the ground, the weeping child clutched in her arms.

"They...got...her...didn't they?" Kole choked out between sobs.

"Yeah kid. I'm sorry" Faith rocked her gently. Buffy came to them and wrapped them both in her arms to comfort them.

Behind them Alito began to take form again. Legs first, then torso, the great clawed arms and wings came together once again. And she stalked towards them.

"We're gonna get her back" Faith promised, her words muffled in Kole's hair.

"Amitas amitas, suforo amitas" Willow's angry yell came, then the scream of Alito.

The 'angel' turned tail and flew into the night. Crossing the moon once again he vanished into the midnight blue sky.

"Home now. Hug later" Hyatt growled as she glanced around the masoleum. Her gaze turning sad when it stopped to read the name above the door "There's too much out here on this night"

"Way too much" Buffy agreed.
___________________________