“Why don’t you go and see if Amanda needs help preparing breakfast?” she said, swallowing the bile that burnt the back of her throat as she delivered the request in a pleasant tone.

Surprised by the politeness of Tara’s request, Kennedy turned sharply towards the house. “Fine, I guess if she’s getting killed, it means I’m still alive!” she snapped as she climbed the steps and yanked open the back door.

Turning back to Louise, Tara smiled apologetically. “I’m sorry about her, she’s well, apparently she’s really nice, just not to me!”

“Or me!” Louise agreed. “Why doesn’t she listen, it’s not my fault I’m a leftie!?”

Tara smiled warmly and hugged the potential suddenly. “Come on then leftie, let’s see what you got!”

Willow pulled the car to a stop outside the house and sighed deeply. The hospital had told her they would call with any news about the young girl and Willow was surprised how easy it had been to get that result. As she stepped into the warm morning light, she saw Faith and Buffy walking down the street towards her. Waiting on the sidewalk, she smiled at the slayers as they made their way home.

“Hey guys!” she called when they were within hearing distance.

“Hey Red!”

“Any news on the girl?” Buffy asked, she sounded fraught and tired and Willow suddenly wished she had been with Faith when the slayers had been reunited.

“Nothing yet, but they said they’d call if anything changed.”

Buffy nodded and turned up the pathway, leaving Willow and Faith standing side by side.

“Not glad to see ya uh?!” Willow asked.

“When’s she ever?” Faith replied before following Buffy up to the house.

What seemed to be an ever present argument filled Buffy, Faith and Willows ears as they stepped into the house and Buffy and Willow both rolled their eyes as they made their way up to their respective rooms.

“Wow, nice welcome, feelin’ at home already!” Faith grinned as she stepped into the dining room to try and catch a glimpse of what could be causing such dramatic outbursts.

Giles was sat at the table, seemingly oblivious to the arrival of the trio. As Faith stepped into the room, he caught the movement out of the corner of his eye and looked up.