Buffy stepped out of the limo and involuntarily shivered. It felt as though the temperature had dropped at least 10 degrees since they'd left the radio station. Her hands went to her backside when she felt a sharp pinch.

"Hey!" she squealed, hopping away from the back limo door.

Faith chuckled as she climbed out the rear door. "If you don't want your ass pinched, next time, let me get outta this thing."

Buffy grumbled under her breath from Faith's antics and headed towards the front entrance of the restaurant. When she walked in, the maître d swept up to her.

"Ms. Summers?" the short, dark-haired man greeted, lilting up the final syllable.

Buffy was slightly taken aback, but nodded. "Yes, that's me."

Faith shuffled in behind the blonde. "I hope we don't have to wait long for food," she announced loudly. "I'm ready to strap on a feed bag."

The restaurant host eyeballed the two women. "If you and your date will follow me," he sniffed.

"She's just a friend!" Buffy blurted out defensively. The maître d didn't react to the blonde's outburst. Instead, he merely guided the out-of-place pair to their table in the center of the dining area.

Buffy followed deeper into the Italian restaurant with her head down and eyes glued to the floor. She was sure all the other patrons were staring at her, knowing she was on a date with a girl. When she'd originally asked the Boston slayer to split the radio prize with her, it had never occurred to her that people might actually interpret she and Faith being together as an actual date.

Did she give off gay vibes, or something? Not that there was anything wrong with being gay – her best friend was gay and she had no problems with it. But Buffy Summers wasn't a lesbian. She'd never done anything with a girl, at least not if you didn't count that one game of "Truth or Dare" at cheerleader camp back in high school.

Buffy allowed the host to pull out her seat and she sat down. The blonde finally lifted her head and hazarded a glance around the restaurant. She'd never been to the Italian eatery before, but she knew it to be one of the best – and priciest – restaurants in the area. The kind of place a date took you for a special occasion. The thought seemed to sour Buffy's mood. Her first fancy dinner in Cleveland, and she was going to waste it with Faith sitting across from her.

The Californian mentally shook herself. She needed to stop thinking like that – being so prejudiced against the other slayer. Cleveland, the new Hellmouth, was supposed to be a fresh start for all of them – Faith included.

"It's kind of, uhm, empty in here," Buffy noted, looking around the nearly vacant restaurant.

"What'd you expect? It's Christmas Eve, plus it's hella early for dinner," the brunette seated across the small, intimate table observed. "Why'd they drop us off here so early?"

"Because the show starts at 7," Buffy replied. She unwrapped her oversized silverware and carefully placed the red cloth napkin on her lap. "It was either that or we'd have a really, really late dinner."

"I guess this is better," Faith said, digging into the basket of complimentary bread on the table. "Wouldn't want to embarrass you with a growling stomach all through your fancy play. What are we going to see, anyway?"

"I honestly don't know," Buffy admitted. "Everything about this night is supposed to be a surprise," she glumly stated.

Faith leaned forward, resting her elbows on the white tablecloth, causing the other girl to flinch. "So you're telling me if some dude picked you up at your apartment for a date, and whisked you around from one fancy location to the next, you wouldn't like it?"

"I don't really like surprises," Buffy remarked with a small frown.

Faith smiled cheekily and leaned back. "Well, I guess it's a good thing you and I aren't dating 'cause I'd wanna surprise you all the time."

Buffy wasn't entirely sure how to respond to the other slayer, so she shoved a piece of ciabatta bread into her mouth instead.

Faith raised an eyebrow. "Hungry?"

The Californian took her time chewing and nodded as she swallowed.

Faith's gaze left Buffy's face and she caught the eye of a waiter in their area and beckoned him to their table. "My girlfriend and I are gonna need a bottle of wine, pronto, to soak up all this bread. Bring us your house red."

The thin man flicked his gaze from the blonde back to the brunette. "Right away," he murmured.

When the waiter was out of earshot, Buffy kicked the brunette under the table.

"Fuck, B," Faith hissed. She leaned down and rubbed at her tender shin. "Why you gotta keep beatin' on me?"

"Why do you keep telling people we're girlfriends?" Buffy countered. Her features revealed her displeasure.

"Because you keep changing the subject and ignoring me just when we're gettin' to the good stuff."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Define 'good stuff.'"

Faith opened her mouth to respond, but paused when their waiter returned with the bottle of red wine. When he left their table again, she continued. "I dunno," she shrugged. She filled her large wine goblet nearly to the top and took a long sip. "I'm just trying to hold a conversation with ya that doesn't involve killin' shit."

Buffy gave a short laugh. "And you think all this wine will help our conversation skills?"

The Boston girl looked smug as she lifted her glass to her lips once again. "I'm kinda hopin' it loosens you up so we can have a good time."

The blonde raised an amused eyebrow. "Is that so?"

Faith gulped again from her glass and swished the dry, red wine around in her mouth. She was more of a beer girl, but as long as it was alcohol, she was game. "Uh huh," she confirmed. "Plus, if we're gonna go to some Broadway show, I'm not gonna make it without at least bein' buzzed.

Buffy snorted at that and allowed herself a generous sip from her own wine glass.

A little fun wouldn't kill her, after all.

Faith leaned across the armchair that separated she and the blonde girl. "So this is like the Wizard of Oz or something?" she whispered to the other slayer.

Buffy's eyes never left the stage. "Kind of," she replied quietly. "Think of it as the prequel."

The blonde could hardly contain her excitement as she sat in the orchestra pit and waited for the curtain to rise. Dinner had been lackluster, the highlight being the never-ending supply of wine and breadsticks. But when the limo had pulled up in front of the Playhouse Square's State Theater after their meal was finished, she had literally squealed out loud.

The theater lights slowly dimmed and dramatic music filled the Cleveland playhouse. A large metal dragon, which seemed more a part of the theater than simply a prop, began to flap its wide-spanning wings. It dipped its head toward the crowd and clouds of smoke plumed from its nostrils.

Buffy glanced at the Boston girl out of the corner of her eye to gauge her reaction, and was pleasantly surprised to see a look of awe and wonder on the normally stoical girl's face.

Small, costumed creatures that resembled winged monkeys scampered to center stage and jumped around in a choreographed frenzy. The curtain rose, revealing a handful of strangely dressed actors and actresses. Music swelled and the ensemble cast burst into song.

"Oh God," Faith groaned, sitting deeper into the red cushy seat. "It's a musical."

Buffy giggled and wiggled down into her own chair as well, making herself more comfortable. "Keep an open mind," she instructed the other girl. "You might actually enjoy this."

Faith snickered quietly. "That's what she said."

Buffy hummed one of the major soundtrack themes to herself and practically skipped out of the theater towards their waiting limo. Faith begrudgingly followed behind, dragging her feet.

"Wasn't that amazing?" Buffy gushed.

"Uh huh," the Boston woman deadpanned.

Both slayers stopped at the back end of their elongated vehicle and waited for the driver to open the door for them.

"Only one stop left, ladies," the driver said cheerily.

Buffy ducked her head and entered the vehicle.

"Where to now?" Faith asked weakly. Dinner had been fine, but she just wasn't built for Broadway musicals. She couldn't imagine a dude having fun on this kind of date. Maybe she'd get a medal at the end of the evening for putting up with all these girlie-Buffy-type activities.

The driver smirked at the despondent girl, clearly recognizing her reticence. "Time for ice skating."

Buffy breathed in deeply, enjoying the smell of the cold ice. It was about the only time she enjoyed the chill, actually, because inside the ice pavilion it was a controlled temperature. You never had to worry about a blizzard or sub-freezing winds when ice skating inside.

Buffy stepped out onto the empty ice rink and made a tentative stride. She hadn't been skating in a number of years, but knew that after a little while she'd be back to her old form. Gaining confidence, she started to skate faster in a wide loop around the oval rink. She crossed her right foot over her left, making a sharp, crisp turn around the first corner. The sound of her sharp blades cutting into the ice was familiar and comforting, bringing her back to simpler days.

A loud crash pulled Buffy out of her trance, and she looked in the direction of the noise to see the Boston girl awkwardly opening the large gate to the rink. Faith stumbled out onto the ice surface and immediately grasped onto the sideboards surrounding the hockey rink to keep from falling.

"Devil shoes," she complained under her breath. "God never intended for people to fly or to skate."

"Well, for starters, you didn't tie your laces tight enough." Buffy pointed to the younger girl's unsteady feet and laughed. "That's why your ankles are wobbling around like that."

"And here I thought I'd just gotten skates made out of Jello," the Boston girl quipped.

Buffy cocked her head to one side, amused by Faith's lack of balance. "How does a girl from sunny California learn how to ice skate when someone from Boston doesn't?" she posed.

Faith scowled and her legs continued to wobble unsteadily. "It's Boston, not the fuckin' North Pole."

The Californian skated easily over to the other girl and wrapped her arm around Faith's waist. 'C'mon," Buffy cajoled, "I'll help you."

With a minimum amount of convincing, Faith released her tight clutch on the boards and allowed the other slayer to glide her back towards the zamboni entrance.

"If I'd known this was all I had to do to get ya to feel me up, "the brunette joked as they slowly made their way to the side of the rink, "I woulda strapped on a pair of skates a long time ago."

Buffy released her hold on the Boston girl. Without Buffy's support, Faith immediately spilled onto the ice.

"Hey!" the brunette loudly complained, her back flat on the ice. "What was that for?"

"I'm sorry." Buffy held a mittened hand over her laughing mouth. "I didn't think you'd fall so easily."

Buffy reached down and pulled her sister-Slayer off the slick surface and back onto her feet. The two slayers wobbled unsteadily, both threatening to tumble, until Buffy planted her feet in the ice for better balance.

"Don't you dare let go," Faith grunted through clenched teeth.

Buffy laughed. "I've got you," she reassured the shaky girl. The blonde steered the taller slayer back through the rink entrance and helped her step off the ice and onto the thick, black rubber flooring.

Faith wobbled over to a wooden bench and sat down. She breathed a sigh of relief to be on solid ground again. Buffy stood in front of her and grabbed onto the brunette's right ankle and elevated it so she could rest the skate blade between her knees.

"This is how my dad used to tie my skates for me when I was little," Buffy explained. She undid Faith's skate laces and retied the Boston girl's shoddy work. "You gotta get the laces really tight, especially around your ankles."

Faith grunted slightly when Buffy pulled the laces tight. "Damn, B. You trying to cut off the circulation to my feet?"

"Do you wanna flop around on the ice like a fish out of water, or do you want my help?" Buffy asked, raising an eyebrow. Without waiting for the Boston girl's answer, she grabbed her other foot and retied her laces on that skate as well.

With both feet back on the ground, Faith flexed her toes, coaxing the blood back into her tiny appendages. "I don't think magic shoelaces are gonna keep me from fallin' on my ass," she stated sourly.

Buffy laughed. "That's why you've got me to help you out," she reassured.

"Sure," Faith rolled her eyes. "Help me fall on my ass again, you mean."

"Oh, c'mon," Buffy protested with a soft laugh. "It was just that once. I won't let you fall again, I promise."

Faith sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Why am I doing this again?"

"Because it's almost Christmas, and you don't want me to have to skate all by myself," the blonde lightly pouted. Her bottom lip made an appearance, signaling the end of Faith's protesting.

"Fine."

With the help of the Californian, the normally graceful brunette stumbled back onto the ice. Once again, she clung to the hockey boards on the perimeter like an amateur swimmer staying afloat in a pool.

"Here," Buffy stated with a smile. "Do what I do."

The Bostonian hesitantly allowed the smaller slayer to wretch her grip from the sideboards. Buffy held onto one of the brunette's gloved hands and carefully pulled Faith towards the center of the rink.

The lights turned off in the pavilion accept for an overhead spotlight that focused on the two skaters. Romantic slow music began to play over the P.A. system.

"This is kind of creepy," Buffy mumbled, looking around at the darkened edges of the hockey arena. If a demon were to suddenly pop out at them, she wouldn't be surprised. Her body tensed at the thought.

"Really? I thought you'd be all over this," Faith remarked, allowing herself to pick up speed. Her legs felt more solid, but she was still unsure about letting herself go too fast.

"Sure, if I was on a real date," Buffy noted, "and there wasn't some creeper DJ watching us skate."

Faith gingerly turned her skates, causing her to slow down. "You want this to be a real date?"

Buffy wasn't quite sure what Faith was asking or what the right answer was, so she merely shrugged.

The Boston girl made a move towards the small blonde, but her toe-pick caught on a divot in the ice and she started to fall. Her arms flailed comically at her sides as she tried to latch onto something to catch herself, but it only resulted in her plopping down hard on her backside.

Buffy tried to not laugh as she stared down at the brunette. "You're not particularly graceful tonight."

Faith growled and rubbed at her tailbone. Falling on the ice felt like wiping out on concrete, only you got wet. "That's what I get for trying to kiss you, I guess."

"You were doing what?"

Buffy suddenly lost her balance and fell onto the ice surface, joining her sister-Slayer.

The blonde groaned unhappily. "I did that on purpose."

"Uh huh."

Buffy rolled onto her stomach and stared intently at the brunette girl. "Why would you try to kiss me?"

"You know, so you'd be on a date."

Buffy's features scrunched together. "That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard for kissing someone."

"Well I couldn't very well say it's because I wanted to kiss you," Faith snorted.

"Why not?

"Because I've got a little pride, Blondie," Faith sniffed, "and I know you don't swing that way."

Buffy scowled slightly. Who was Faith to assume things like that about her? She dug her toe-picks into the ice and pushed off, forcing her body to scoot across the ice, closer to where Faith still lay. She used her elbows to army-crawl until her body was parallel with the brunette.

"Are you a human zamboni now?" Faith cracked.

"No," Buffy pouted. "You've been calling me your girlfriend all night," the blonde observed, "I might as well start acting like one."

Faith's eyes went wide and she followed the trajectory of Buffy's pink mouth. She watched the Chosen One bite down on her lower lip before pressing her mouth fully against the brunette's. With their lips moving against each other's, Faith threw caution to the wind and shut her eyes, throwing herself eagerly into the embrace.

The golden-haired slayer was taken aback by how soft and pliable the younger slayer's mouth was. Although she'd often found herself staring at the brunette's thick, dimpled lips (although she'd always told herself that it wasn't unusual for one girl to admire another pretty girl), she'd never imagined anything about the hard-edged slayer being so tender.

Taking the lead from Buffy, Faith hooked her gloved fingers through the front belt-loop of Buffy's jeans and pulled the smaller woman closer. The Californian gasped into the other slayer's mouth when the material of her pants rubbed against her sex.

"Not that I want to stop what we're doing," the Boston slayer murmured into Buffy's mouth, "but my ass is freezing."

"Mine isn't," Buffy laughed. She kissed the other girl again.

The Boston woman used her size advantage to roll them over. Faith grinned down at the other slayer pinned beneath her. "How's that ass now, cutie?"

Faith looked up when she heard someone knocking on the Plexiglas surrounding the hockey rink.

"Ladies?" It was the limo driver. "An hour's up," he stated. "Time to go home."

The two slayers were quiet on the limo ride home. Buffy stared out the back tinted windows at the illuminated houses outside. She hazarded a quick glance in the direction of the Boston slayer, but Faith appeared to be more interested in the scenery as well. It was far easier than broaching the topic of the unexpected kiss they'd just shared.

The limo came to a stop and Buffy turned her gaze away from the colored lights outside to see the driver rolling the separation partition down. "Ms. Summers, I believe this is your stop."

The blonde glanced outside again and was shocked to recognize the brick façade of her apartment. She hadn't expected the driver would bring them back here instead of the radio station, where she'd left her car. It was late though, and she didn't want to make the driver feel bad. Plus, it would feel good to just be home after all the driving they'd done that evening.

"Ms. Lehane," the driver continued as he put the vehicle into park. "I'll bring you back to your apartment too, if you'd like."

Before Faith could answer, Buffy grabbed the other girl's hand off the backseat. "Do you...uh...wanna come up for a nightcap or something?"

Faith looked down at their enjoined hands, surprised. When she looked back up at the blonde's face she could clearly see the fear of rejection playing across the Chosen One's beautiful features. "Sure, B," she smiled easily. "I don't know what a nightcap is, but it sounds good."

Both slayers exited their respective sides of the limo, not waiting for the driver's help. When the driver stepped out of the vehicle, Faith fished out her wallet from her back pocket and began pulling a few of the larger bills from the inside folds.

The limo driver held up his hands. "Oh, that's not necessary, Ms. Lehane. The radio station has taken care of everything."

The Boston woman shrugged and put the money back inside her duct-taped wallet. "Okay. If you're sure."

The man tipped a finger to his hat and climbed back into the car. "You two have a nice night."

The slayers bid the gracious limo driver good night and watched as the long, black car drove off.

"That was a nice gesture," Buffy commented as they climbed the concrete stairs to her three story walk-up apartment. "I wouldn't have even thought of tipping him."

Faith put her wallet more firmly in her back pocket. "When you grow up in a blue-collar family, tipping everyone who has an hourly wage just comes naturally. You can appreciate how hard other people work for their crappy pay."

Buffy nodded, but remained silent. She knew all-too-well how hard it was to make ends meet on an hourly wage. She wasn't sure if Faith knew about her stint at the DoubleMeat Palace back in Sunnydale, but she wasn't going to mention it. There were some memories better left buried.

"Let's get inside," Buffy said briskly. "I'm freezing."

Faith allowed the smaller slayer to walk in front of her to unlock the apartment entrance. Her eyes reflexively fell to the blonde's perfect backside, and she tried to not think of all the ways they could warm up.