Title: Blondes Aren't Fair

Author: Alan Hitchen

Email: darkmere2000@yahoo.co.uk

Disclaimer: BtVS belongs to Joss Whedon and other. Purple Girl (Taz) belongs to Star. To whom, many thanks.

Rating: R (Bad language)

Information: Follows on from the episode 'Bad Girls'

~ The Past ~

"But who," said she, "who is this scourge of the unfaithful, this Anyanka, of which you speak?"

"That," replied he, "is beyond my knowledge. All I can tell you for certain is that her eyes are laughing, and that she is without mercy."

~ The Present ~

Faith smashed the vampire in the face, forcing it to the ground. She swiftly stabbed it with her stake. Nothing happened except for the dull snap of a rib breaking and the pitiful groan of agony emitted by the creature.

"Ooops! Missed," Faith said gleefully.

She withdrew the stake and tried again, stabbing and stabbing, again and again, without result, except for ever increasing pain for the vampire she was straddling.

"You sure you've got a heart in there?" Faith enquired of the bloody mess that squirmed beneath her.

"Faith," Buffy sounded a warning note.

Faith turned her head to catch the disapproving stare of her blonde companion.

"What? It's just a thing. A creature that lives on death, pain and suffering. A disease that needs wiping out."

"Yes, a disease... it's catching. Don't sink to their level, Faith," Buffy pleaded.

Faith slammed the stake into the vampire's heart and stood up, not even bothering to watch it explode into dust as she strode across the cemetery to face Buffy.

"Who the fuck do you think you are, B?!" Faith retorted angrily. "Oh, but I'm forgetting, you're Buffy the good Slayer and I'm Faith the bad Slayer. Look, we're both stuck with this gig until the day we die. Which, if we did things your way, would be next week. I intend to live a little longer than that, and have a little fun while I'm doing it. Get it?"

Buffy sighed in resignation. "Faith... I get it. Do what you want. Just don't do it here."

"What?" Faith asked in bafflement.

"I'm telling you to leave Sunnydale," Buffy replied calmly but firmly.

"You've gotta be shitting me," Faith countered in alarm.

"No, Faith, I'm not. The Finch business was the last straw. I don't know what to do with you anymore. He's gone, but he'll never be forgotten, no matter how deep you think you've buried him. I don't want to turn you in, so I've only one option left. As they say in the westerns: The stage leaves at noon, be on it."

"Or what, B?" challenged Faith.

"Or I'll personally haul your ass all the way to England and have the Watchers put you down like a rabid dog."

"The Watchers. That figures. Can't get your lillywhite hands dirty now, can we?"

"Don't push it, Faith. Be gone tomorrow or I'll do as I say," Buffy said before walking away grim faced.

Faith pulled a cigarette from the pack and lit it. She sat on a tombstone and rode the nicotine rush until her nerves had stopped jangling.

"Fuck!" was all she could say, giving vent to the thought that she'd finally blown it.  In times past she ran from trouble. She would have run after Finch's death, but this time was different. This time there was Buffy. She had hoped that... but who was she kidding.

She doesn't love me, she doesn't even care about me, Faith mused. I - we - fuck up and the only thing she wants to save is her scrawny blonde ass. Well, fuck her! I can make it on my own, I always have, I always will.

~ Later ~

"Excuse me."

Faith turned to tell the girl to fuck off. Ever since she'd entered the bar she'd been hit on from all sides and her patience was wearing thin. Her eyes were assaulted by the sight of a girl wearing the purplest purple hair she had ever seen. Not that she could recall any other purple headed girls. So taken aback was she that she nearly swallowed her Marlboro.

"What can I do for you, Purple Girl," she all but cooed at her.

"Could you pass the potato chips please," the purple girl replied.

"Oh, sure," Faith responded with disappointment, sliding the bowl over to the girl, who smiled appreciatively before turning to share the bar snack with her girlfriend. Faith stared at the happy couple with envy, imagining it was herself with Buffy.

"She's not the one," said a voice in her ear.

"And you are?" said Faith as she turned to face the annoying blonde at her shoulder.

"That's not what I mean," Anya replied.

"Then what 'do' you mean, blondie?"

"It's Buffy, it's she you really want isn't it?"

"Yeah, so?" Faith replied laconically, wondering how she knew but not really caring.

"She doesn't want you."

"You gonna tell me something I don't know?"

"You hate her."

"I love her."

"There's a thin line between love and hate. I can help you."

"Do what, get her back?"

"You can't get back what you never had, you can't make her love you, but you can make her hate you, make her hurt as much as you do."

Faith smiled, this sounded interesting. "Tell me more," she said, and ordered another drink. 

~ The Past ~

"What bring you here?" D'Hoffryn asked innocently, as if he didn't know why Anya had requested an audience.

"You know why," the ex-demon replied sharply. "I want my powers back!"

"Why not ask the mortal who took them from you?" he said teasingly.

"You know that too. He destroyed my power centre. Only you can give me a new one."

D'Hoffryn frowned forbiddingly at her. "And why should I do that?"

"Because I'm the best vengeance demon you've ever had and over eleven-hundred years of faithful service has to count for something, doesn't it?"

"It does indeed," he agreed, "why else did I give you a new mortal identity, money and a place to live. You were my favourite."

"Favourite..." Anya was surprised, D'Hoffryn had no favourites as far as she knew. "I can be again, just give me a chance," Anya pleaded with renewed hope.

"Well..." D'Hoffryn pretended to think it over. "There is something you could do for me."

"Anything."

"You know of the Slayer?"

"Don't I just, it's all her fault I'm in this mess!"

"It would be most pleasant if she were dead."

"Agreed, but there's no point in that. Kill one and another is called."

"Ordinarily, yes, but if a Slayer is killed by another Slayer no new Slayer is called. The existance of two Slayers is a rare event, but at this moment there are two in Sunnydale. If you could somehow convince one to kill the other, or better yet kill each other, then you would be installed at my right hand. A demon among demons, the one who eliminated the Slayer."

Anya inwardly smiled, thinking perhaps a demon among demons might find herself in a position to replace her superior. "Consider it done," she said boldly. "Give me my powers back and I'll get started."

"Ah, no, you misunderstand me, do the deed, then you get your powers back."

"But... but..."

"But nothing. Will you do it?"

Anya didn't hesitate. "I'll do it. I don't know how but I'll do it. The Slayers will die."

D'Hoffryn grinned, he knew she would do her best and he knew why. To him she was like glass, entirely transparent, which is why he liked her so much. He felt sure it would not be long before Anya was Anyanka once again.

~ The Present ~

Willow was walking down the corridor, minding her own business, when suddenly a strong arm reached out and snagged her into a supply cupboard.

"Buffy, what the..." spluttered the startled redhead, struggling to hold onto her books.

"Sorry, Will, have you seen Faith today?" Buffy asked urgently.

"No. Should I?" Willow responded sourly.

"Have you heard the news?"

"No."

"They found Finch's body in the harbour."

Willow looked baffled. "And?"

"I... We... She... killed him. Faith killed the Deputy Mayor."

Willow gasped. "Wow... I mean... How?"

"We were on patrol and he surprised us. I realised he was human just too late to stop Faith staking him. She said she'd dumped the body and that was the end of it. I just knew it wasn't."

"So, she heard the news and took off?"

"No, not exactly, though I'm guessing that's what she would have done. Her attitude was bad enough as it is, but this... it was too much. I couldn't continue working with her, but I couldn't turn her in either. Last night I told her to leave town and this morning I checked the motel, she's gone. I don't think she knows about the body."

"Well, I can't say I'm sorry to see her go, but that's not what's bothering you, is it?"

"No. Thing is, the police will investigate. And with Faith out of town I'm gonna be the chief suspect. And if they can find the slightest evidence, they'll pin this on me."

"Oh, I see. Does Giles know about this?"

"No, only you, Will. What am I going to do?"

"Tell Giles."

"I can't. I know he's cut me a lot of slack in the past, but this is serious. A man is dead and I'm responsible. If he knew he'd have to take action against me or lie about it. I don't know which is worst."

"But Faith did it. He can't hold that against you."

"And I was there and didn't stop it. I'm just as guilty. Morally and legally."

"Hey! Just a minute! Buffy, this is me you're talking to. I know you like the back of my hand. The only thing you're guilty of is being human and being too soft-hearted where Faith is concerned. You're not seriously thinking of taking the fall for this. This is down to Faith. If anyone deserves twenty-five years in the Big House it's her!"

~ The Past ~

"Hmm, nice place you've got here, Anya," said Faith as she entered the luxury apartment, it looked like a five star hotel suite compared to her shoebox of a room at the motel.

"My retirement present," the ex-demon replied with a wry smile. "But you help me and it's yours."

"You're kidding?"

"I never kid," said Anya. "Now, put your bag over there, then we'll discuss the plan in detail."

"Do we have to? I'd sooner kick back a cold one," said Faith, throwing her bag into the corner and herself onto the sofa.

"Very well," said Anya, and went off into the kitchen. She returned with a bottle of Budweiser and a glass. Faith ignored the glass and drank from the bottle while resting her boots on the coffee table. Anya suddenly seemed to be unsure of herself as she sat down next to Faith.

"Er, Faith, can I ask you something?"

"Anything you like."

"Do you find me attractive? Anya asked as she idly stroked Faith's leather clad leg.

"Yeah..." Faith said cautiously, "but I thought I made it plain Buffy is the one I want."

"I know," Anya replied. "but she isn't here. I am, and I haven't had sex for over a millennium."

Faith almost choked on her beer. "How long?" she spluttered.

"A millennium - a thousand years - one thousand, one hundred and twenty years, to be precise."

"Jeez, I bet they didn't mention that in the job description."

"No, but there were compensations," Anya admitted. She removed her hand from Faith's thigh and continued in a business-like tone. "And the sooner we get started the sooner I'll get them back."

"Okay," Faith sighed, she had not been uninterested in Anya's attentions. "what's the first move?"

"You want to get Buffy's undivided attention. What say we kidnap Willow?"

"Oh yeah, Buffy's best bud." Faith grinned. "She'd be so upset if she went missing."

"So we grab her tonight?" Anya asked.

"No," said Faith, leaning over to kiss the blonde, "I think I've had a better idea."

~ The Present ~

"Is that everything?" Giles asked pointedly.

"Everything," Buffy replied.

Giles took off his glasses to massage the bridge of his nose. Buffy looked to Willow who shrugged in reply, she didn't know what Giles was thinking either. He replaced his glasses and spoke calmly.

"Collateral damage, to use the charming phrase the American military are so fond of, is not an unknown occurrence when slaying. It is unfortunate, but it is the price to be paid for the greater good to be served. The Watchers Council will do all they can to protect you and Faith from any police investigation."

Buffy sighed with relief. "So Wesley won't turn me in."

"To the police? No. But there will be an investigation by the disciplinary committee into the incident and there is the possibility of - sanctions - if they see fit. Now I will refrain from giving you a tiresome speech about your conduct and simply ask you to find Faith. Then you can both tell Wesley, he will inform the Council, and hopefully, all will be well."

"Thanks, Giles," said Buffy, grabbing Willow and propelling her quickly out of the library.

"Find Faith, that's easier said than done," Willow pointed out. "And do you really need to find her? She's committed a crime and gone on the run, surely Wesley and the Watchers will see where the blame lies?"

"I don't know, Will. I don't know. I've got to find her anyway."

Willow rolled her eyes and muttered. "Even when she's gone she's trouble." And then louder added: "Okay, I'll tell the others and we'll start searching tonight."

~ The Past ~

Willow waved goodbye to Oz as his van disappeared down the street. As she turned to walk up the driveway to her house a figure emerged from behind a bush to confront her.

"The word on the street is that you're looking for me. Congratulations, you've just won tonight's star prize." Willow fixed the brunette Slayer with an expression of contempt. "What's up, Red? Not pleased to see me?"

"I was hoping that you'd gone for good," Willow replied coldly. "But they do say the murderer always returns to the scene of the crime."

"It was an accident!" Faith barked defensively.

"Oh, and is that what happened to your Watcher, was that an accident too?" Willow jabbed back, watching with satisfaction as Faith's belligerent expression crumpled. Then, in a blur of motion, she punched Willow in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her. She motioned to Anya, who drew her car up at the kerb so Faith could bundle the wheezing redhead onto the back seat.

Soon after, in a quiet corner of Weatherly park, Anya held the struggling Willow tight as Faith opened an access hatch set into the pathway.

"Welcome to your new home," Faith announced, moving to take Willow from Anya. She twitched the redhead to one side and kisssed her blonde lover. "You can go home now, hun. I'll be back soon to tuck you into bed," she said with a smirk.

"I can't wait," Anya purred before kissing Faith goodbye.

"Now," said Faith, returning her attention to Willow, "do you want to do this the easy way, or the hard way?" Willow didn't reply. "We haven't got all night," Faith growled. "Climb down, or I'll knock you out and carry you down."

Willow reluctantly began to descend the steel ladder attached to the side of the concrete shaft and was closely followed by Faith, who lit the way with a flashlight.

Some way down the narrow shaft opened out into a larger chamber. The ladder terminated at a narrow platform that spanned the chamber. Another ladder reached down from the platform into the gloom below.

"That's far enough," Faith instructed, joining Willow on the platform and switching on the light, a dim fluorescent fitting that barely illuminated the platform area. She gestured to a bundle at one end of the platform. "Sleeping bag, food and drink, all the comforts of home," she explained.

Faith then produced a length of steel wire from the bundle, and using a small wrench and clamps, bolted a loop around Willow's neck and the free end to the ladder. "There, all done," she stated with satisfaction.

"Why, Faith?" Willow asked, nervously tugging at the loop that was already chafing her neck.

"No need to worry your pretty little head  about that," Faith sneered at the redhead, then looking more closely at her, she continued, "I take back the pretty."

Willow snorted. "That's a compliment coming from you. Oh sure, you're attractive, and you've got the make-up and the clothes and the attitude that screams, 'I'm gorgeous, fuck me!' But underneath the surface gloss you're deep-down ugly - ugly as sin." Almost as soon as she'd said it she wished she hadn't as a ferociously angry Slayer prepared to strike.  

~ The Present ~

The Scoobies gathered around the access hatch in the park. "Well, here it is, just as the note said," Giles noted as Buffy easily tossed the heavy lid aside. She switched on her Maglite and called down to Willow. No answer came back.

"Let me go down first," said Oz.

"No, it's too dangerous, it's probably a trap," Buffy replied as she started down the ladder.

"Or a hoax," Giles pointed out. "Kidnappers send demands, not instructions detailing where to find the hostage."

"I don't understand any of this. Why would Faith want to kidnap Willow anyway?" Xander interjected.

"Can you see anything?" Oz asked as he monitored Buffy's descent.

"Nothing yet," came the muffled reply. "No, wait... Oh God! No!!" Buffy screamed. Minutes later the blonde Slayer emerged, white-faced, from the shaft.

Oz moved to climb down. She blocked his way, but couldn't meet his questioning gaze. She turned instead to face Giles. "She, she's... down there. There's a platform at the bottom of the ladder. That's where Faith was keeping her. She put a wire noose around her neck." Buffy was now crying freely as she squeeezed out the words that her friends hoped against hope she wouldn't say. "I found her hanging from the noose. Willow's dead."

Xander fell to his knees in anguish and Oz started again to enter the shaft. "No, Oz, no, leave it to the police. We must call them at once," said Giles, trying hard to control his own surging emotions.

Buffy stopped crying abruptly and looked hard at Giles, her face now set in grim determination. "She'd best pray that the police find her first, because wherever she is, whatever it takes, I'll find Faith - and then I'll kill her!"

~ The Past ~

In Anya's apartment, Faith idly switched on the television. The images on the breaking news report startled her. She grabbed the remote and turned the sound up loud.

"Here comes the body now," the reporter was saying. A black body-bag emerged from the shaft and was transferred into the back of the Coroner's vehicle as she spoke, "The body of a young woman, apparently killed by an unknown extortioner. Detective Paul Stein is now in charge of the investigation and will hold a press conference later today to reveal the victim's identity and that of the female suspect he is seeking in connection with her murder. This is Tori Miller, live at Weatherly park, reporting for..."

Faith turned off the television in sheer disbelief and turned to Anya, who had entered the room to see what was going on. "I didn't kill her!" she proclaimed.

"I didn't say you had," said Anya. "But you did do something to Willow?" she questioned.

"I hit her - a bit - it was nothing, just a few bruises. I didn't kill her."

"That's okay then," Anya said brightly.

"What?! She's dead! I only wanted to throw a scare into Buffy and Willow, not this!"

"What's the problem?"

"Buffy loved Willow."

"I thought you said it was Angel she loved?"

"Not like that, like a sister. The cops I can deal with, if it's me they're looking for, but if she finds out I had anything to do with this - I'm dead!"

"Oh my poor baby," Anya cooed. She soothed her distraught lover and promised her everything would be alright, while at the same time inwardly smiling to herself. Now Buffy was on the warpath it would be only a matter of time before her plan to kill the Slayers was complete and she would be a vengeance demon once again.

~ The Present ~

"It is something to have wept as we have wept,
and something to have done as we have done;
it is something to have watched when all have slept,
and seen the stars which never see the sun.

It is something to have smelt the mystic rose,
although it break and leave the thorny rods;
it is something to have hungered once as those
must hunger who have ate the bread of gods:

To have known the things that from the weak are furled,
the fearful ancient passions, strange and high;
it is something to be wiser than the world,
and something to be older than the sky.

Lo, and blessed are our ears for they have heard:
yea, blessed are our eyes for they have seen:
let the thunder break on human, beast and bird,
and lightning. It is something to have been."

Buffy closed the book of poetry and placed a single rose on Willow's grave.

"And it was something to have known you, Willow. Something to have been your friend. Something I will never forget."

The hackles on the back of her neck rose as she realised she was no longer alone. She turned to face her sister-Slayer. Neither one spoke, until Buffy, cocking her head to one side, announced: "Faith in a cemetery. Now, what's wrong with this picture? Oh, yes, you're still alive." And without another word she threw herself at Faith with murderous intent.

~ The Past ~

Exhausted by Anya's insatiable demand for orgasms, Faith slept soundly as her lover crept out of the apartment and headed for Weatherly park. Even using the special tool the ex-demon found it hard work to dislodge the access plate from the top of the shaft, but she eventually managed it and climbed down inside the concrete tube.

She found Willow sitting on the sleeping bag, quietly sobbing to herself. Fearing the new arrival's intentions, she sprang to her feet as the blonde stepped onto the platform.

"Who are you? What do you - what does Faith - want with me?" Willow asked timidly.

Anya ignored the questions and instead, noting Willow's black eye and her awkward stance, tutted her disapproval. "Did Faith hurt you much?" she asked kindly, reaching out to stroke away the hair concealing the livid swelling on Willow's face.

"Yeah, I thought she was going to kill me," said Willow, wincing as Anya touched the bruised ribs where Faith had worked her over with brutal efficiency.

"Oh, no, she'd never do that," Anya responded. "You see, despite the tough exterior, she's really quite soft-hearted." She smiled warmly at the redhead. "Unlike me. Unlike Buffy."

Willow looked perplexed by that statement, so Anya spelt it out for her. "My plan needs you to be dead, and Buffy to think Faith is responsible." Then before Willow could react to this she pushed her over the side of the unguarded platform.

Willow grabbed at the platform's edge and stopped the fall that would have snapped her neck instantly. She begged the blonde to help her up, but Anya's only reply was to stamp on her fingers. She stood impassively, watching Willow's desperate attempts to clutch at the wire with broken fingers, to escape the cruel grip of the noose that was slowly choking the life out of her. She waited until the twitching had stopped and she was quite sure that Willow was dead, before she flipped the 'ransom note' out of her pocket. It was working out just as she'd planned it.

"Now, all I have to do is persuade Faith that attack is the best form of defence, and the scene is set for the Slayer showdown." She giggled, "Can't wait to see that," and turned out the light. 

~ The Present ~

"Aaaaagghh!!" Buffy screamed and went straight for Faith's throat. The brunette Slayer fell backwards, pulling up her legs and booting Buffy high into the air. The blonde flipped herself to land on her feet and immediately returned to the attack.

"Buffy, wait!" Faith yelled. But Buffy wasn't listening, wasn't waiting, she was just killing. Faith did her best against an unstoppable force, but when Buffy broke her right arm she knew she was finished. A final flurry of blows that broke her left arm left her defenceless. The stake through her heart proved that a Slayer could die like any other. Only then did Buffy cease to move and begin to think there was something wrong with the situation.

'Pfft!' Went the dart, as left the blowpipe and struck Buffy in the back of the neck.

Buffy turned stiffly to espy the new menace emerge from the trees behind her. "It's poison," Anya informed the Slayer. "A very special poison. The plan was that you and Faith would kill one another. But she was weak. She loved you, did you know that? So she came here to talk, not fight. Ah, but you want to know about the poison, don't you? It won't kill you, quite the opposite, you have a very long life ahead of you. There's just one drawback, you won't be conscious to enjoy it."

Anya hoped she'd understood, but as Buffy had already slipped onto a deep coma she doubted it. She turned to D'Hoffryn. "How did I do?" she asked.

"Brilliantly as ever. I knew my favourite would not fail me." He produced a new power centre and placed it around her neck. "Welcome back, Anyanka, welcome back."

~ The Past ~

Everything was black and quiet until a distant voice tickled her ears.

"B-u-f-f-y... B-u-f-f-y... Buffy!"

"What?! Who?! Where am I?! Why is is so dark?!"

"This is your mind, Buffy, it's dark because it's not working."

"Who are you?"

"Buffy, it's me, Willow."

Buffy sat up, or at least she imagined she sat up, it was hard to tell as everything remained pitch-black, though she could see herself as if she were lit up from the inside. "Willow?" she called out.

"Oh, there you are," her friend replied as she appeared in front of Buffy. "I've found her," she said to someone Buffy couldn't see. Faith appeared by Willow's side.

"Faith." Buffy growled.

"It's okay, Buffy," Willow reassured as she took Faith's hand in hers. "Everything is going to be okay."

"But.. but.. you're dead!"

"Yes, B, and I forgive you for that," said Faith.

"You forgive me? You killed Willow!" Buffy yelled in rage.

"Hush, Buffy, Faith didn't kill me, Anyanka did."

"Who?"

"Anyanka, she... Well, it's complicated, but here's the short version. She's a vengeance demon who was called to Sunnydale then trapped here when Giles smashed her power centre. In order to regain her powers she killed me so you would kill Faith and Faith would kill you, thus eliminating the Slayer from the mortal plane forever."

"Huh?"

"I said it was complicated. Faith didn't do what she wanted, so Anyanka shot you with a poison dart that put you into a permanent coma."

"Permanent?"

"So she thinks, but she forgot about us. As unquiet spirits we are bound here until our murders are avenged. As such, we can use the power of the hellmouth to aid our cause. We can help you. We can shock you out of the coma, then you must bring Anyanka to justice so our souls can be free."

"How do I do that? And while we're here, can I ask why you're holding Faith's hand? As I recall you hate her, don't you?" 

Willow laughed, as did Faith. "I don't hate her. I love her."

"I say again, huh?"

"That's why I was jealous and resentful of Faith, because not only was she taking you away from me, I knew she loved you, not me."

"I must be in a coma. This isn't making any sense at all."

"It does to me, B." Faith interjected. "I loved you. Willow loved me. In both cases we couldn't tell our loved one what we felt, so it all came out in misdirected anger. I was angry with you and she was angry with me."

"So, you two are together now?"

"Not like you mean it, B. We're 'together' for the moment, but what happens next is pretty much up to you."

~ The Present ~

"Who dares to call Anyanka?" demanded the demon as she materialised in Giles's apartment.

"I do," said Buffy, snatching the necklace from around her neck and throwing it to Giles.

"No!" Anyanka screamed as, powerless in Buffy's grip, once again she watched Giles smash her power centre.

The doorbell rang as Giles finished tidying his spellcasting equipment away. "Perfect timing," he said, and went to answer the door. "Detective Stein, do come in."

The detective entered with two policemen, who took Anya from Buffy and handcuffed her as detective Stein addressed the prisoner.

"Anya Emerson, I am arresting you for the kidnap and murder of Willow Rosenberg, the attempted muder of Buffy Summers, and for inciting the unlawful killing of Faith McKenzie. You have the right to remain silent..."

"You bitch! I'll kill you for this! I'll kill you all!" screamed the struggling blonde as the detective continued unheard. She continued to rant and rage until she was dragged away to the squad car waiting outside.

"Well, that's that," said Buffy with satisfaction as she closed the door. Then her expression changed to one of thoughtfulness. "Do you think... Do you think that's enough? That when Anya is convicted Willow and Faith will be freed? Free to go to... Do you believe in heaven, Giles?"

"Buffy, you know there's a hell, so there must be a heaven."

"Must there? I hope you're right. I mean, if anyone deserves to go to heaven it's Willow."

"But you're worried about Faith?"

"Yeah."

"Well, I think the good she did outweighed the bad. And you say she has the love of Willow. I think that would count. I think that would count a lot."

"I think so too," Buffy replied. She went to the window, looked up into the sunny sky, and hoped someone was listening as she said: "Goodbye, Willow. Goodbye, Faith. I love you both."