I loved Buffy's funny, rambling thoughts. I find her adorable when she's like that. She hasn't lost her sense of humor even though she's in a really messed-up situation. But running alone all by herself... -_-

In the end, she ended up in the same place as the gang. Hahahaha! That really made me laugh. With a bit of relief. Cause really?

Faith died? Does that mean there is another awakened slayer somewhere? Faith died?!?! I didn't know that happened. What?!?! Ok. She's alive now, but really! Faith died?!?!

The way they handled the possessed Sunnydale residents: I liked how you were mindful of them as still being humans as opposed to zombies. And the random injection of Faith's thoughts about Buffy not approving of her breaking people's kneecaps. Haha. These little things do matter and are very much appreciated.

About the setting: while reading through this chapter and the previous one, I am reminded of Pans' Labyrinth. Have you seen that movie? The images painted you painted in my head is this fantasy world, dark and scary, yet fascinating and magical. Did I mention creepy? You do have a knack for coming up with interesting environments. I love your imagination more than the real you *kidding.

I was trying to figure out how this whole debacle would end. I thought Willow was a lost cause, but that can't be. Because, TARA (and Faith's faith on Willow). I am relieved that the whole thing was not resolved by the death of Amy (or Buffy or Faith doing something drastic and action packed). That would have been copping out (sorta).

That Amy-as-a-rat section really got me sad. I didn't try to reread it cause it sorta threw me for a loop. You know how much of a softie I can be. Also, gullible. It was sad though... really. But in the end, she did end up being evil and vengeful. I wonder what will happen to her after this. I still am reminded of Amy-rat waiting for Willow's return. What sadness and loneliness feels like. I blame you for my sadness!!!

This chapter was looong, and full of details. No wonder you were complaining to me so much. You put a lot of effort into it. I am proud and happy for you. I won't tease you so much (but you have to remind me!!!). *hugs

I did miss the lack of fuffy. *oops here I am complaining again. heh.

Author's Response:

Always a complaint with you, eh? *flicks your horns* Buffy's humor is one of my fave qualities about her too. :)

Angst! I'm not really a fan of it because it makes me unhappy. Haha.

Darn I hate Giles for forcing Faith to go ahead with this mission. Suck it up? Not a very Giles thing to say. Makes me want to kick him in between the legs. Why can't he get other people to reel in the really bad ones? Why does Faith have to go through this torture alone?

*inhales and prepares for more angst ahead*

Ah thank goodness Faith didn't have to kill Dana. Buffy showing up at the right time was perfect.

I still can't figure out how Dana managed to learn about the words spoken by Buffy or Faith. Did I miss it?

:)

Author's Response:

Thanks. Like to think Buffy, as the slayer among slayers, has pretty decent timing in such situations or I would hope anyway. ;) As I gathered from the Angel episode "Damages" where Dana features, she is sort of psychic and has a mental link to all Slayers before and after her. While fighting Spike in the episode, she is able to channel the voices and memories of the two slayers he killed and therefore recognize who he was. I expanded it in this piece to include Kendra, even though she had technically never met Faith and of course Buffy and the rogues that Faith had put down as well as Wesley (I figured that if Dana had a link to all slayers past and previous, there was no reason why she wouldn't have a similiar one to their watchers on account of the shadow men, but I sort of bent the rules because I couldn't help but use Wesley's words about his experience with Faith and have them turned against her). Thanks for reading and glad that yuo enjoyed it! Thanks for reviewing as well. :D

"Not really. That ever stop you before?"

Lol! How come I just saw this fic. I need to get out more. Err, login here more.

But darn you made me laugh. You're very good with the funny oneshots. Thank you for lifting up my decidedly awful mood. I can imagine Faith's sassy look and tone while she voices out those ALL CAPS sentences.

Great work!

Author's Response:

Thank you!

I can already see myself anxiously waiting for Monday to come. And that will be my life for the next few months. *Sigh* I am not pathetic for hanging unto your stories like this, right?

Anyway, back to the review. This first chapter is an intriguing beginning.

I felt sorry for Buffy. Faith's been living in England for over a year, that means Buffy's been struggling financially just as long. I could imagine how humbling it must be to ask for financial support from her friends. And her offering to pay for Faith's tickets is a very generous offer... which makes it all the more heartbreaking if you ask me.

As for Faith, I can see that she's got some feelings for Buffy. Not sure what kind of feelings. But the way she reacted clearly showed she's very much affected by her. And why was she relieved that it wasn't a 'recreational call'?

Which leads us to the HER at the end of the chapter. Is this in any way related to the title of your story? or things being 'complicated'?

Should know by now that's it's pointless to guess what's coming next. I will just have to wait for Monday, and the Monday after that. And the Monday after that. *here we go again... and I love it.*

Sorry for the late review. This turtle is extra slow this month. I'm happy to see that someone other than Buffy is genuinely excited to see Faith in SF. And I never knew that NKOTB is an effective ice-breaker :D But the Dawn and Xander kissage, still icky for my imagination.

"Sounds like a nice game of role-playing," she observed. "...'cause I need more of that in my life," she mumbled to herself. ~ Hmmm... Faith, are you hiding something else, aside from that lady in your motel room?

I can imagine Faith's attention shifting from Simone to Satsu. She obviously felt the change in Buffy's demeanor, saw the teary eyes. But the kicker was when Buffy said, "...we might have slept together a few times." Now the job has turned from professional to personal. How did Faith's laugh sound like? The sound says a lot. Too bad I can't hear it :)

Hmmm, why is it that Buffy seems to be interested in befriending Faith ("Buffy's putting a lot of...faith in you")? Not that I'm against the idea. Just wondering if it's a genuine interest, brought about by the loss of magic. Or she's feeling lonely again and Faith is pretty kissable *kidding*

BTW, I liked the retorts and comments that Faith is spewing whenever she's around the scoobies. So impatient and funny :D

You know what's starting to look suspect? It's Buffy and her actions towards Faith. Was she checking out Faith and her disheveled attire and hair? Why was she so awkward at the motel? So conscious. They're both acting like inept teenagers around each other. Cute.

I didn't like it one bit when Faith offered to not go out just cause she thought her gf was jealous. Really? She's that whipped? Really!?! (Yeah, it's my being a fuffy-lover that's causing the irritation). The rational part of me is telling me that Faith is just being a good gf. It just irritates me that it's so easy for her to drop Buffy and the scoobies. I guess that's what happens when someone provides her with the love and care she so desires. She knows where her priorities lie.

LMAO on Dawn's toast :D :D :D

What I do love about this chapter is it shows that no matter how much Faith's into her gf, she's still unable to control her body's reaction towards Buffy. That dancing was hot. What are you doing Buffy? Why are you being so forward with Faith? I hope I'll read your thoughts soon, heh :D

Also, why does SHE have perfect timing -_- ??? Grrr... SO irritating!!! I'll hold my tongue now >_>

Faith's really matured over the year. She's in a stable relationship, and now we find she's able to maintain and value her friendship with these two guys. It's nice to see her having a life, even if these are just snippets.

So this is how they met, and that is what why she looks like Buffy. Gotta hand it to her friends, they gave Faith the best gift to date, "...Without even knowing her, this woman, whoever she was, had managed to capture her greatest fantasy." I would have been powerless to leave too. If it was me being asked 'by the woman I desire the most', I would have blindly followed her. We've all got fantasies we'd like to live out. Faith's living a dream, I won't take it against her cause it's her birthday after all.

"The woman even had the same freckles as the Chosen One." LoL, can't help thinking that Faith really inspected Buffy's body during that swap. Which makes me wonder, why is she STILL wearing Buffy's face after all this time? Do they always make love with HER looking like Buffy? Oh so many questions. Faith, how can you live like that, seeing Buffy in HER?!? Torture!!!

As much as I wanna hear what Faith's thoughts are about this whole thing, I wanna see Buffy's reaction to seeing Faith in a relationship with this English version of her. Oh, you guys have us addicted.

You're right, this chapter did answer some of my questions. That dramatic exit by Buffy made me laugh; she had to pee, lol! I can imagine her face when she said, "Uh, guys....can we stop someplace? I still have to pee."

"Plus, I've never punished you over the fact that you're in love with another girl.", Aaaah, so Faith is still in love with Buffy. Which makes me think again, who is Faith thinking about when she's spending time with her gf? I am still unsure if Kate is able to read other people's thoughts. I'm still waiting for the explanation as to why Kate still looks like Buffy.

Gotta give it to Kate. How can she accept the position she's in? She knows that Faith's in love with another girl. And now she's listening to Faith moan and complain because her relationship with Buffy is in trouble again. She seems very secure in herself. Is there some kind of understanding between these two that we don't know yet? Or is it already understood that though Faith is in love with Buffy, she knows that she'll NEVER get a chance with her. So instead, she's accepted to settle with Kate.

Made me smile to see Buffy thinking that Faith bought a Buffy-bot for herself. Bet she also assumes that Faith is using 'IT' for her sexual pleasure :D

I will have to admit that I am actually enjoying this conundrum that Faith is in. I can't feel no angst yet. Might be cause you inserted some funny in between the seriousness. Can't wait to see what Faith's next move will be, or how Buffy will react to it. Excited for Monday :D

Is Faith going to be a Wolf? Cause that moon, and those eyes. I like your banner :) Faith has beautiful eyes.

The Wonderbrat is kinda persuasive, huh? Did she stick a knife to your knees? You could have kicked her. She's tiny. Or maybe lifted her by her hair. But then if you did that we wouldn't be blessed with this new story. And my imagination just went off-tangent again. Sorry.

Buffy visiting Faith. At last something that sounded humane. I know they had lives, as you've clearly mentioned here. But in canon, no one really mentioned that they visited Faith while she was in the coma. To me, that's just too harsh.

I love that Buffy involved Giles and her mom. Can't imagine her taking on this responsibility by herself, or in secret. I foresee Xander drama, Willow drama, and Riley drama (barf). Don't want Buffy to be without support.

I am scared about how Faith is gonna be for the next couple of chapters. Is she gonna be volatile? Probably. Gotta build up the angst after all. I will have a heart problem by the time you and the Brat finish you fics.

I so love that you are back E!!! Let's do Zumba to celebrate *trips on my shoelaces...

Author's Response:

Tis an ominous banner, no?  Haha.  I can't answer your questions just yet, Topak.  I must leave some mystery about the story, though I'm sure Alice will tell you about it if you ask nicely. She did not knife my knees; she did, however, threaten to cut off my hair and glue it to my face though.  Okay, maybe she didn't, but I'm sure she was thinking it.  ;)  I'm glad you like the banner though!  :)

Woot! So it took me a while to get here, but I'm glad the brat and you are writing again. So who won the writing challenge?

This looks interesting. I promise I've read the previous chapters, but I can't recall anymore what they were about. Old brain has ineffective memory. But if you're really gonna release every week, I Promise to reread from the beginning.

I liked that part where Buffy comes in to massage lotion into Faith's arm. That seems so intimate and loving. I can imagine it's also some form of therapy for Buffy. Being with Faith, touching her, talking to her. I really hope you to see the next chapter.

Oh man, this is becoming addictive. The intensity of emotions from both Faith and Buffy is so palpable.

I do feel a bit scared of how this will turn out. Like Faith said, this feeling of being insanely attracted to Faith is new to Buffy. If Faith were to push herself on Buffy, there is a big possibility that Buffy will blame Faith for taking advantage of Buffy's weakness.

Take advantage anyway, Faith!!! Dylan's gonna fix this. Hahahaha! Kidding. Can't wait for the next installment.