Willow and Giles stared at the statue while Ethan was standing in front of it without Ethan being aware of their presences. The statue eyes were glowing green. Willow looked to Giles for answers.

"Janus, Roman mythical god. The division of self: Male and female, light and dark," whispered Giles.

Ethan turned around to see the strangers.

"Willow, get out of here now."

Willow hesitated not understanding but Giles repeated firmly.

"Now!"

Willow obeyed and ran out.

"Hello, Ethan."

"Hello, Ripper."

"This is sick, cruel, and it harms the innocent," said Giles, in disgust. "I should have known this was your Halloween stunt."

"What? No hug? It's been along time mate."

"Break the spell. And then leave this place and never come back."

"Why should I? What's in it for me?"

* * *

"Now the idea is not to appear too eager or too willing," began Buffy. "Boys and especially men will not think of you highly. You wouldn't want to be looked upon as a wench and that's not the kind of a reputation you want."

Faith nodded in understanding.

"However, you do not want to lose their attention either. You do not want to be unattainable then they will quickly lose interest and find someone else. Feed them small morsels and they will gladly come back for more."

"So it's sort of like the story of Goldilocks and three bears; you have to find the middle ground. Not too aggressive and not too passive."

Buffy raised her eyebrows slightly. "Something like that Faith. You want to hold their interest without coming across as a wanton woman."

"But I thought you said some men like that."

"Yes the world is funny like that but there's not point in quibbling," said Buffy as she leaned back on the headboard of her bed. "So let's begin."

Faith went on the bed and sat next to Buffy.

"After the initial deep kiss and during additional kissing there's the touching part," began Buffy, as she came up to Faith.

Faith relaxed and let Buffy hold her.

* * *

"Oz," said Willow began awkwardly. "Thanks for the lift home. It's been a strange night but in a good way. Don't you think?"

Oz sat and gazed at Willow as she talked. He was at a loss of words as he listened. He was also mesmerized by her and finally worked up the courage to speak.

"Willow you want to go out sometime?"

"Me! . . .You would go out with me," said Willow, as she clasped her long spidery fingers together.

He smiled back. "Why not. You're smart and attractive. . ."

"Yeah I look unusually attractive right now in a witchy way. You should see me on a bad day."

"I like that . . . I think if you were too perfect I wouldn't be interested. I'm not perfect either."

"Oh," said Willow. To her he seemed the perfect embodiment of a boyfriend. Not too desperate and not too clingy, and not too possessive. Willow felt warm and fuzzy inside.

"You see," began Oz. "I get a little wolfie for a few days each month."

Willow looked back at Oz with admiration and let Oz opened the van door.

"I get cranky too," said Willow.

"Oh this is a different, I turn into a beast," said Oz and helped Willow out.

* * *

"So now you understand what touching entails," asked Buffy as she stopped.

Faith breathlessly nodded as she looked at Buffy, which was all she could do at this moment. She had to hold to Buffy like a hot air balloon that was tethered if not she would have floated away.

"Now it's your turn Faith," said Buffy and switched positions. Faith had Buffy sit her lap and while holding her.

It had happened so fast that Faith decided to start by kissing again Buffy. She didn't know where to begin so to speak and looked at Buffy for several moments. She went on by instincts and by desire.

She began to caress Buffy's bare shoulder and then softly kissed her shoulder.

* * *

Back at the Costume Shop, Giles and Ethan were fighting. Giles punched him and had the upper hand, and started to choke Ethan.

"Tell me how to break the spell or else," demanded Giles, as he continued to choke Ethan.

"Break . . .Janus, break the statue," gasped Ethan.

Giles shoved Ethan aside and grabbed the statue. He lifted the statue and smashed it over Ethan's head. Ethan crawled away and on his way out shouted, "This isn't over."

* * *

Faith stopped and was slightly dizzy. Then she remembered everything and looked Buffy in a different light.

She held and then hugged her gently. "Oh Buffy," said Faith and giggled.

"Faith?!" said Buffy with surprise. "Oh my gosh." She tensed up in Faith's arms and sat up with a jolt.

Faith smiled and dreamily said, "Yes Buffy."

"Uh . . . I think we should stop what we're doing," said Buffy, as she disengaged from Faith. "Please let go."

It took a moment for that to register with Faith what Buffy had said.

"Faith let go of me," repeated Buffy.

"Oh right B," said Faith and she let go of Buffy.

Buffy gathered herself and scooted off the bed dragging the long dress. Faith was a loss while Buffy composed herself in front of the mirror. Her hands tingled all over and she whispered Buffy several times but Buffy didn't hear.

"Buffy . . . Buffy." said Faith but stopped when she realized she was shouting.

"Faith I . . . Please . . . .I can't deal right now," said Buffy with distress in her voice. Faith tried to get up but her body felt like it was glued to the bed and she sighed in despair.

"Buffy, Faith, is everything's alright?" asked Angel as he knocked on the door. "You wouldn't believe this but it was a spell. Are you Okay?"

"Damn," said Buffy, softly as she finished composing herself. "Angel give me a moment please."

Faith stretched on Buffy's bed and finally sat up.

Buffy quickly went to the door and rush to him. "Oh Angel! Thank goodness . . . I've missed you so much," said Buffy. "What a night!"

Faith watched Buffy hug Angel. She hugged him like her life depended on it. "How I've I missed you," murmured Buffy and buried her face in his chest. "Hold me." Angel could feel how tightly she held on.

"Buffy, I missed you too," whispered Angel, as he returned the hug. He bent down, and kissed her forehead.

"What happened?" asked Buffy, as she let him in the room. As he came in, he noticed Faith.

"Hey Faith, are you alright? . . .You look pale."

"Yeah, Angel I'm alright. I had this tension headache and B was *kind* enough let me use her bed," said Faith, flippantly and then she her swung legs to the floor.

"So tell us about this spell," asked Buffy.

Faith couldn't take anymore of this and felt an awkward pause coming. She dreaded these moments and could hardly say a word.

Then she blurted out, "Later love bunnies."

She made it to the doorway when Angel spoke.

"Don't you want to know what happened?" asked Angel.

Faith turned around and faced the couple.

"Not tonight. I've think I've had enough for one night and besides B can get me the cliff notes version."

"Do you need someone to drop you off?"

"Thanks Angel but no thanks."

Faith also forced herself to smile thinking I loved to stay and chat but I rather get high and naked.

* * *

Back at her motel room, Faith had changed out of her costume and was getting ready to go out. She looked at her face in the mirror and sighed heavily. All the makeup in world could not conceal how her eyes looked: puffy and red. However, she didn't care though as she put on a jacket. Nightclubs were dark and she planned to dance the night away as she slammed the motel door on the way out.

* * *

"And what happened next," asked Willow.

"It's turns out he didn't have a high regard for high society women. He thought they were dull. Angel said women are more exciting now."

Willow mouthed the word, "Ooh."

"So what happen after the Spike fright fest?"

"Oh that . . . not much to say other than we were all in the house. At the time, the men were downstairs on guard protecting the 'women'. Of course we were told to hide upstairs and then . . . well nothing happened," said Buffy and paused clearing her throat. "Really, nothing happened. Then the spell was broken."

"It sounds like a yawner to me. Well at least nothing dramatic happened."

"Will forget me. I want to hear about you and please spare no details," said Buffy, as she walked beside Willow on the way out of Sunnydale High.

"Oh Buf . . . It was drooling fun," began Willow. "I sat there watching him play in the band. It got so intense as he played. You know how he gets into that stoicky mode. Every time he took a break he came up to see me."

"Aww Will that's so cute . . . So it's official, it was a date."

"Almost, more like impromptu datage," sighed Willow. "Next, time I think it will be date."

"Will I'm so happy for you."

"Guess what? Oz gets a little wild when there's a full moon."

"No way," said Buffy. "The quiet and reserved Oz is a Wildman!?"

"Actually he gets wolfie."

"Oh my!" Then Buffy grinned. "I told you wild was in this year."

"Yeah, I'm okay with him. And he's okay that I'm into spells."

"Sounds like coupledom," smiled Buffy.

"Thanks Buf . . . By the way have you seen or heard from Faith lately?"

"No . . . Why do you ask?" asked Buffy.

"It's nothing really, I have her cigarette lighter. Oh, oh this is my stop. I'm meeting Oz at the coffee shop. . . Bye Buffy."

"You go girl," said Buffy and watched her best friend go.

Buffy was so happy for her and she realized that Willow was blossoming into a young lady. Buffy mused thinking how nice it would be if they all went on a triple date: she and Angel; Willow and Oz; and Xander and Cordelia. She glanced down at her smart phone she had promise Faith she would meet her at the park and took a deep breath as she walked in that direction. She found Faith sitting on a park bench near a pond. She was feeding the ducks with breadcrumbs.

"Hey Faith," said Buffy as she came up to Faith.

"Hey B!" greeted Faith and smiled. "I have your cute little rascal, he's little dirty though."

Faith gave Buffy the stuff animal. She held the toy animal in her hands and then contemplated what to say next.

"Faith . . ." said Buffy after a few moments of silence. "Um Faith we have to talk."

"Oh we do, do we?" said Faith, as she occasionally tossed a few breadcrumbs attracting more ducks towards her.

Buffy braced herself expecting the worse. However, she was taken aback by Faith's atypical reaction and then she started to look at her feet and fidget with her hands. Buffy couldn't read Faith's face or her tone of voice.

"Hells bells it must be St. Buffy's day. So are we fessin' up?"

"You know Faith," began Buffy, and paused.

After a few more moments of silence, Faith spoke up. "Yes?"

"Halloween night was really wacky. Everybody and even this," said Buffy, as she held up the stuffed animal. "Weirded out. We said things, we did things and some cases sang."

"Yep, we have Ethan to thank for," said Faith.

Faith groaned inward thinking that she sang and wanted to forget that as soon as possible. However, Buffy's little reminder didn't help and now one of those songs was playing nonstop in her head. She tried to think of another song to counter it.

Buffy looked at Faith, she wanted to say something but halted again.

"B, where are we going with this?"

"Uh I'm not going anywhere with this," said Buffy, defensively and she put her hands up. "No way near any of this. Don't ask, don't tell is my motto today."

"Good, I don't want anyone to know either," added Faith.

"Oh you too, same here," said Buffy, with a nervous laugh. "What a relief! No need to bring up embarrassing moments, I say just move on. Clean slate, clean plate."

"If people found out that I . . ." began Faith but she stopped feeling uncomfortable and shifted her stance awkwardly.

"Faith, I hear you loud and clear. Really, there's no need to discuss . . . and don't worry my lips are seal."

"Thanks, B. I don't think I could stand it. If word got out that I sang those songs. I can see the vamps and demons razzing me forever. Can you imagine how I would be looked upon?"

"What!? exclaimed Buffy. "Singing? . . . Is that what your big concern is about?"

"What did you think I meant?"

Buffy rolled her eyes and came up closer to Faith. "You must be joking?"

Faith was silent.

"Don't tell me you have forgotten what happened? What happened between us?"

"You got me B? What don't you enlightened me," said Faith, indifferently and threw more breadcrumbs into the pond.

"You know the us part, the slight connection."

"Oh the *slight connection*," chuckled Faith. She wasn't letting Buffy of the hook that easily and decided to let her dangle a bit

"Can you demonstrate the *slight connection* for me? And for the record it was connections not connection."

Buffy's eyebrows furrowed.

"Seriously B it's not the end of the world. . . I have to say it was great reaching second base."

When Buffy sat there like an impassive statue, Faith got up and started to walk away disinterested. She could not believe how Buffy wouldn't admit it for what it was, instead of hiding behind euphemisms. Can't you say it was a kiss with lots of groping thought Faith, with annoyance?

"Faith I wasn't myself," resumed Buffy, as she walked beside her. She grasped Faith's arms and held her still. "This wasn't truly me . . . I lost my head."

"So what's the big deal about it? It happened. We both enjoyed it, so get over it."

"Really Faith we weren't ourselves; we had on different personas. It's not fair to both of us to think otherwise . . . And for the record nothing happened . . . If I misled you I'm sorry. But you have to realize they're can never be an us."

Faith was unconvinced. "Uh huh."

"There is no us," repeated Buffy with emphasis.

Faith was unimpressed.

"When I was a child, I use to say 'the devil made me do it' when I got in trouble. No big deal if want to put your blames on a costume," began Faith. "Oddly, I kinda like you when you were this so-called lady. Now you're just a scaredy cat, Slayer. I don't know which I like best, but I know the lady in the gown was more forthcoming. But what the hey, that's my opinion in the world according to Buffy."

"Faith this is ridiculous, this was all based on a spell. This is nothing but a lie," said Buffy, exasperated. "What happened between us was a mistake. Please just drop this already and forget it ever happened. I'm so tired arguing."

Faith's heart ached when she heard the words 'mistake' and 'forget', and it gave her pause. To her, it still didn't feel like a mistake. That brief moment was special even though she was a different person. Faith vowed to treasure that moment even though it now tasted like bittersweet dark chocolate. The more she recalled the memory, the more it saddened her. What pained her the most was Buffy's reaction and Faith had look to away.

Tormented, Faith wrestled what to do next; she decided it was in her best interest to move on. She didn't want to go back and be overwhelmed with a sense of powerlessness. However, she wasn't about to forget what happened between them. She finally looked back at Buffy and could see how stubborn Buffy was. There was no use attempting to climb that mountain.

"Give me one good reason why B?" said Faith.

"One word Angel."

"Ah Angel, your good ole, bad boy lite," said Faith. "Funny why are you still holding on to me B?"

Startled, Buffy quickly let go of Faith.

"You were right about something . . . feeding small morsels makes them keep coming back for more," said Faith, as she tossed the empty bread bag in the trash bin.

Buffy was silent.

"My problem is I don't have anymore breadcrumbs . . . But hey B, I'm over this so don't sweat it. I see y'all next time on patrol."

Faith smiled and then she blew a kiss in the air. Not wanting to deal with Buffy at this moment, she sauntered down the sidewalk with no cares and started to sing and with occasionally hop and skip.

Echoes knocking on locked doors

All the laughter from before

I'd rather live out on the street

Than in this haunted memory

I've the called movers, called the maids

We'll try to exorcise this place.

Drag my mattress to the yard

Crumble tumble, house of cards.

This used to be a fun house

But now it's full of evil clowns . . .

* * *

Thank you for reading this story. I like to extend warm thanks to those who reviewed and/or put me on their alert lists.