"Hey, guys," Faith said as she and Alice came to the park and Alice went to her friends.
"Hey," Raelee said.
Faith stretched. "Can't wait for the summer holiday," she said, grinning.
"Are you going somewhere?" Renee asked.
"No, but Cordelia is coming home for the summer. And unless there's some major problem, she's staying for two months."
"So that's why you're grinning," Monique said.
"Yeah. Ouch," Faith said and massaged her temples.
"You okay?"
"Yeah, just Cordelia having another." Faith screamed and fell to the ground, clutching her head.
"Faith?" Monique, Raelee and Lara ran to her while Renee held Hope.
"Faith, are you okay?" Raelee asked the trembling Faith.
"Something's. wrong," Faith said. "The vision. won't stop. Concentrate, Cordelia," she whispered. "I'm here."
"We better get her home."
Lara concentrated and lifted Faith in an upright position. Then she and Raelee supported her.
"I'll get Alice," Monique said and went to the girl.
"Can you hold her like this all the way home?" Renee asked after she put Hope back in the carriage.
"I think so," Lara said.
"Faith?" Alice asked when she came running. "Are you okay?"
Faith managed a smile. "Just a bad. headache."
"Let's go," Monique said and took Alice's hand.
"Alice, why don't you run ahead and get your mom," Monique said when they got to the house.
Alice let go of her hand and ran to the house. "Mommy! Mommy!" She opened the door and entered while the rest slowly followed her.
"Faith?" Mrs Chase said when she got out and saw Faith supported by Raelee and Lara.
Faith's eyes slowly focused. "Cordelia," she said. "Something. happened."
"What?"
"I don't know."
"Put her on the sofa," Mrs Chase said when they entered.
Lara concentrated and quickly floated Faith to the sofa. Raelee caught her when she staggered, and helped her to a chair. Alice kneeled beside the sofa and took Faith's hand, worried.
"Is there anything I can do?" Mrs Chase asked.
Faith shook her head. "No. It's Cordelia. She's having. a vision. and it won't. stop." She moaned.
"Concentrate, Cordelia. I'm. here," she whispered.
"Can she hear you?" Mrs Chase asked.
"No. She can feel me."
"Oh." Mrs Chase thought for a moment. "I'll call Angel."
Faith nodded and Mrs Chase went to the phone.
"Tell, Giles," Faith said.
"We will," Raelee said.
Mrs Chase quickly returned. "There's nobody there," she reported.
"We'll go tell Mr Giles," Monique said. Then she looked at Alice. "Alice, do you want to go back to the park?"
Alice looked at her, then at Faith and finally back at Monique. She shook her head and looked back at Faith.
"Thank you for bringing her here," Mrs Chase said.
"No problem," Monique said and looked at her friends. "Let's go."
When they were gone, Mrs Chase sat beside Faith. She was worried about her and Cordelia and she wanted to be at Cordelia's side as well, but she couldn't be in two places at the same time. She sighed, wishing she could. She noticed Faith was murmuring something and she leaned closer. She thought Faith wanted to tell her something, but Faith was merely talking to herself and Cordelia.
"Will she be alright?" Maria asked.
Mrs Chase looked at her. "I don't know, Maria." She looked back at Faith. "I hope so."
"Oh Goddess," Faith said when the headache stopped.
"Faith?" Alice said, looking up from TV.
Faith looked at her and smiled. "It's over," she said and Alice ran to her.
"Mommy!" she called. "Are you okay?"
Faith nodded and took her hand. "Yes."
Mrs Chase was quickly down. "Faith?"
"I'm fine and so is Cordelia."
"Really?"
"Yes. We can go to her tomorrow, I think she'll stay in the hospital tonight."
"Oh. Okay."
"Did Angel call?"
"Yes. He said some evil warrior caused this."
"Oh. Then I guess he took care of him." She took a deep breath. "I think I'm gonna take a shower now."
"Do you want me to call Mr Giles?"
"Yes, please. And tell him to tell the others."
"I will."
Mrs Chase went to the phone and Faith got up. She staggered a bit. She checked the time. "You're still up?" she asked Alice, massaging her temples.
"Mommy said I could."
"Oh. Then why don't you go to bed now, we're going to visit Cordelia tomorrow."
"Really?" Alice said, excited.
Faith smiled. "Yes."
Alice quickly turned off the TV and then ran upstairs. Faith chuckled at that.
"Where did she go?" Mrs Chase asked.
"To bed. I told her we were gonna visit Cordelia tomorrow."
"Oh. I'll tell Maria she can stay home tomorrow."
Faith took a deep breath. "Thank Goddess for Slayer healing," she said, massaging her temples again.
"Does your head still hurt?"
"It's getting better. It's probably psychological. She had one vision after another. It was almost like a horror movie." She gulped. "So much suffering."
Mrs Chase hugged her and Faith hugged her back.
"Thanks," Faith said when she broke the hug.
Mrs Chase smiled. "You're welcome."
"I'll go take that shower now."
When they met in their dreams, they immediately hugged.
"Are you okay?" Faith then asked.
Cordelia nodded. "Yes." She smiled. "Thanks for your support. I could hear you, you know."
"Really?" Faith said, surprised. "You could hear my words?"
"Yes."
"Wow. And after that?"
"No, just feel you."
"Oh."
"Did it hurt you?"
Faith smiled. "Like I had the worst hangover ever. I was so out and I could barely concentrate."
"I couldn't even do that. If it weren't for you, I would've gone crazy."
"I'll always be there for you," Faith said and caressed her.
"I know," Cordelia said, capturing Faith's hand, and kissed it. She thought for a moment. "You think that was Gabrielle's gift?" she then asked.
Faith raised an eyebrow and thought about it. "Could be. I mean, it's not like she's gonna give us money or anything, it would be something very subtle, something we would barely notice."
"Yeah, I guess," Cordelia agreed.
"We're coming to LA tomorrow. Alice is coming too."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Mom gave Maria a day off."
"Okay. Then I'll start packing. I'll start my vacation earlier."
"There's no hurry. Wait for me and I'll help you."
Cordelia smiled. "Okay."
"So, did Angel kill the guy that did this to you."
"Yes."
"Good."
"Well, unfortunately, the guy blew up the building. Wesley got hurt."
"Really?" Faith asked, worried.
"Yes. He's okay now. Mostly. Unfortunately, we still don't know what Wolfram & Hart resurrected."
"They succeeded?"
"Yes."
"Great," Faith said, not happy at all. She sighed. "So, how about we cuddle now?"
Cordelia smiled. "You sure know how to lift a girl's spirits."
Faith smiled back. "It would've worked with me."
"Cordy!" Alice screamed when Cordelia opened her door.
Cordelia smiled and picked her up. "Hey, little lady. Hi, Mom," she said and then kissed Faith.
"Are you okay?" Alice asked, worried.
Cordelia looked at her. "Yes, I'm fine now. The bad guys are gone." She looked at Faith. "I have a good news."
"Yeah?"
"Angel's going to become human."
"Really?" She looked at Angel. "Way to go, Angel." Then she looked at Wesley. "Hi, Wes."
"Hello, Faith," Wesley said.
"You okay?"
"Yes, I'm feeling fine."
"Good." She looked back at Cordelia. "When?"
"When what?" Cordelia asked, puzzled.
"When's Angel going to become human?"
"Oh. We don't know for sure. He has to survive a couple of apocalyptic battles first."
"Oh. Figures."
Cordelia looked at Wesley. "Wesley, this is my mom. Mom, Wesley."
"Hello, Mrs Chase," Wesley said and they shook hands.
"Hello. You used to be Faith's Watcher, right?" Mrs Chase asked, remembering what Faith had told her.
"Yes," Wesley said and looked at Faith. "Faith, I owe you an apology."
"It's okay, Wes," Faith said. She smiled. "I hear you've been a demon hunter or something?"
"Well, yes," Wesley said, blushing a bit. "But I find working for Angel more satisfying."
"At least he gets paid," Cordelia said.
"That too, yes," Wesley agreed and Faith grinned.
"Is Dennis around?"
The curtains moved. "Yes," Cordelia said and looked at Alice. "Alice, I have a roommate. His name is Dennis and he is a ghost."
"A ghost?" Alice asked, her eyes wide.
"Yes. He is invisible, but he can move objects."
As on cue the cup on the table moved.
"Is he good?" Alice asked, staring at the cup.
"Yes. He won't hurt you. I'm telling you this so you won't be scared if something moves unexpectedly."
Alice nodded and Cordelia put her down.
"Ready to pack?" Faith asked.
"Yes."
Alice took Mrs Chase's hand and Faith and Cordelia started packing. "How about we go to the kitchen," Mrs Chase said.
Angel nodded and they all went to the kitchen.
"So, everything okay around here?" Faith asked when they were alone. Cordelia sighed.
"Yes. Oh, Angel said he cut off one of Lindsay's hands."
"Lindsay. That's that cute lawyer, right?"
"Yes."
"Too bad he chose the wrong side."
"Yes," Cordelia agreed. "We could use a good lawyer on our side."
"Definitely. What about that detective, Kate?"
"I don't know. Angel said she was investigating the explosion, but I got the feeling that he wasn't very happy about it."
"Well, opposites attract," Faith said and Cordelia burst into laughter.
"What, weirder things have happened."
"Yes, us."
Faith smiled. "Exactly."
Cordelia thought for a moment. "I don't know, could be. I mean, she blames him for her father's death, but before that, I think she liked him. A lot. And I think he liked her too."
"As long as she doesn't give him a happy."
"I don't think we have to worry about that for a while."
"I hope not. Maybe after he's human."
"If he doesn't die first."
Faith smirked. "You're pessimistic."
Cordelia shrugged. "I had a really lousy day yesterday."
Faith smiled. "I know, I was there."
"Yes."
"So you're staying for two months?"
"I hope so. Unless the Powers send me another vision."
Faith looked up. "Please don't."
Cordelia chuckled. "You're so cute."
Faith stuck out her tongue at her and Cordelia stuck out hers. Then they both laughed. "What are we, two kids?" Faith said.
"I feel old," Cordelia said.
"You still look very sexy."
Cordelia smiled. "Thanks." She looked around. "Okay, that's it. Let's go to the kitchen."
"Are you going on patrol tonight?" Cordelia asked in the evening as they sat in front of the TV at home, Faith sitting between Cordelia's legs, leaning back at her.
"No, I'm planning to be with you," Faith said.
"Good," Cordelia said and leaned her chin on Faith's shoulder. "I was thinking about taking a shower and turning in earlier."
Faith flashed a smile. "Mind if I join you?"
"As a matter of fact, I insist on it."
Faith checked the time. "Right now or do you want to wait an hour?"
Cordelia checked the time as well. "Damn, I thought it was later."
"We wait?"
"We wait."
"Okay," Faith said and ran her fingers across Cordelia's legs, making Cordelia squirm.
"Faith," she said. "Alice and Mom are in the kitchen."
Faith grinned. "Scared?"
"Well, they're family."
Faith chuckled. "Okay. So, any plans for later?"
Cordelia smiled. "Oh yes."
"What?" Faith asked, curious.
"You'll see."
"Hey, Giles," Faith said as she and Cordelia came to his house the next day.
"Hello," Giles said. "How do you feel?"
"We're both fine. Just. unnerved by the visions."
"Perhaps you should rest."
"Later. How are things with Adam?"
Giles shook his head. "Not good. He seems undefeatable."
"Damn. Anything we can do?"
"Not right now, I'm afraid."
"Oh."
"Can we go resting then?" Cordelia asked and Faith looked at her, grinning.
"Yes. I'll call you if things change."
"Okay."
"See you later then, Giles," Faith said and she and Cordelia left. "Horny much?" she asked when they were outside.
Cordelia smiled. "No, I just want to cuddle with you. And spend some time with Alice."
"Oh. Okay, I'm up for that."
A couple of days later the call to arms finally came and Faith, Cordelia, Lara, Raelee, Heidi, Dennis, Renee and Monique were outside the Initiative, where they thought the demons would come rushing out. Buffy, Giles, Willow and Xander had gone Inside to kill Adam. Giles said one Slayer could do the job, so she stayed outside for the clean up job. Not that she really minded, she knew it would be a tough fight.
"Nervous?" she asked Cordelia, who was pacing around.
"I'm always nervous when I have to fight slimy demons. It's not good for health."
Faith laughed. "Tell me about it."
"What the hell is taking them so long?"
"I don't know, but I'm sure they have everything under control."
Cordelia made a face. "Yeah, right."
Finally, the demons started rushing out and then gang attacked them. Faith felt the adrenaline and she was excited. But she kept herself under control, she had Cordelia to think of, and her friends. She pounded the demons mercilessly, watching over her friends at the same time.
Suddenly, she felt different. She looked at Cordelia and Cordelia looked at her. She noticed Cordelia's eyes were glowing and she figured her own must be as well. She guessed that the enjoining spell effected her as well, and through her Cordelia. She reached out and tore out the throat of a vampire. It was time to clean up.
Cordelia came closer and they stood back to back and started chanting in unison. Suddenly every demon in sight dropped dead. The rest of the gang looked at them, surprised.
More demons came out and Faith and Cordelia faced them. They said something in Sumerian and the demons dropped. They started to walk toward the entrance, killing the demons as they went. Then it suddenly stopped and they dropped to their knees.
"Holy." Faith whispered and looked at Cordelia. "Are you okay?"
"Mmm," Cordelia said, nodding. "Tired."
"Guys, are you okay?" Monique asked as she and the rest of the group came to them to protect them from the remaining demons.
Faith nodded. "Yeah. Just beat."
"What happened?" Renee asked.
"The enjoining spell affected us too."
"Really."
"So it's over?" Heidi asked.
"I think so, yes." Faith frowned. "I think I saw Buffy take Adam's power source or something."
"Yes," Cordelia agreed.
"Let's go home," Faith said.
Cordelia nodded and they helped one another get up. Cordelia then leaned on Faith. "I've never been so tired before," she said.
"Me neither."
"Do you want us to talk to Giles?" Dennis asked.
"Yeah, sure. Tell him we'll come by tomorrow."
Dennis nodded. "Will do."
"Okay, this is weird," Faith said after they lay in bed for over an hour and still haven't fallen asleep.
"Yeah," Cordelia agreed. "Why can't we sleep? I mean, I'm tired."
"I don't know. Must be the spell."
"Oh." She smiled. "Want to do something more than just cuddle?"
Faith grinned. "Need to spend some excess energy?"
"Yes."
"I'm all yours."
"Hey, Giles," Faith said as she and Cordelia came to his house the next day. "Guys."
"Hello."
"Did the guys tell you how it went?"
"Yes. But I do have some questions."
"Shoot," Faith said as she sat down in an empty lounge chair and Cordelia sat in her lap.
"Em, how did you feel?"
"Like I was on steroids. And Cordelia was affected too. Her eyes were glowing and I think mine were too."
"Yes," Cordelia confirmed.
"And I felt drawn to Cordelia." She frowned. "But I didn't get drawn to Buffy, so I guess this has to do with our bond. Oh, and we could do some serious magic. The demons just dropped dead. And I think I could see what Buffy was doing." She thought for a moment. "And Cordelia too."
"Yes," Cordelia agreed.
"You saw me fight Adam?" Buffy asked.
"Yes. He was shooting at you with his arm. And when he shot you with a rocket or something, you turned it into birds."
"Yes."
"And then you kicked his ass, reached inside him and destroyed his power source," Faith said.
"Yes." She frowned. "Now that I think of it, I think I saw you destroy those demons."
"You did?" Giles asked.
"Yes." She looked at Faith and Cordelia. "You were standing back to back. And then you went toward the entrance."
"Yes," Faith confirmed.
"Wow."
"Interesting," Giles said.
"So, what happens now?" Cordelia asked.
"The Initiative is history," Xander said. "Thank God for small favors."
"Good." She looked at Giles. "Does that mean we're on vacation till further notice? I mean, I've head enough weird stuff going on recently and I could really use a break."
"Yes, I suppose so."
"Good," Cordelia said and rested her head on Faith's shoulder.
"I never thought either of you was so cuddly," Xander said and both girls in question glared at him.
"Our times as bitches are over," Faith said. "You don't want us to go back to that."
Xander raised his hands in surrender. "Peace," he said and Faith grinned.
"Cordelia?" Faith said when she woke up in the middle of the night, worried.
"What just happened?" Cordelia asked. "I had a weird dream."
"Me too."
"Did you also meet that weird chick?"
"The first Slayer? Yes."
"And what was up with that cheese guy?"
Faith laughed. "Yeah, he was weird." She thought for a moment. "You think Buffy had the same dream?"
"I don't know. Could be. We'll ask her tomorrow." She sighed. "You think we'll dream of that Slayer again if we go back to sleep?"
"No, I think she said what she wanted to say."
"Good," Cordelia said and cuddled up to Faith. "You ready to go back to sleep?"
Faith smiled. "Of course."
"Ready to share?"
"Always," Faith said and kissed Cordelia.