This was the 2nd week in a row that I'd had the same dream. I couldn't shake it. I tried writing it down, talking about it, ignoring it...It just wouldn't go away. I felt like I was going crazy. And the worst part? It was about a girl. The same girl, same dream, same beginning and ending.

But this wasn't just any girl. Oh no. This girl was something else. She and I had a bit of a history. Nothing major, but it still existed. Countless relationships had ended because they couldn't handle it, and I finally stopped putting my heart out there. Many times I'd thought I'd gotten over her, and many a time I told her this. Finally she just walked away, completely out of my life. She told me she was done trying, done getting hurt by my indecisive heart. I can't blame her. I mean, if someone told me they loved me, then they didn't, and again they did...Well, being who I am, I probably would've broken their face, but you know what I mean.

I got out of bed, damp from sweat, though I couldn't figure out if it was because of the dream, or because of the 100 degree weather. I decided a shower would help, so I stripped down and climbed in. My mind was wide awake, and my body was screaming for sleep. It was a horrible place to be.

When I was done showering, I then decided to go on patrol. The shower had helped calm me down, but I still couldn't shake the dream. It felt so real, just like every other one. I played it over and over in my head, broke it down into pieces, tried to figure out why I kept having it, but it just left me with more questions. Where was she? Could I ever fix things? Why was constantly on my mind lately?

My thoughts were interrupted by a couple vamps trying to be sneaky. I told myself I'd finish the conversation later and pretended to not notice them. I kept walking for about 20 feet when I heard a third person in the bushes nearby. They startled me, so I grabbed my stake, only to find it was Faith.

"Hey, kid. Long time no see," she said with a smirk.

"Uh...hi. Yeah. What are you--"

"Be right back." She took off towards the vamps, staking both in just a couple minutes. I think she intentionally let them put up a fight. I just leaned against a tree and smiled. It was good seeing her, even if she was pummeling vampires at the moment. I watched as she dusted herself off, then walk back to me.

"So, not that I mind, but why the surprise visit?" She shrugged.

"Guess I just missed ya." I raised an eyebrow, and she knew I didn't buy it. "The whole lot of us are back. Somethin big's stirrin' up, and you know G-Man. He's got his panties in a twist about it. Could be something real serious, though. Almost as big as The First." My smile quickly faded. I remembered all too well the fight with The First. Willow and I had drifted apart shortly after, Buffy had gone off by herself due to the loss of Spike, Faith and Robin moved in together, and I kind of lost track of everyone else.

"That bad, huh? So who all's here? Last I knew, the main group kinda, well...broke off." She nodded and pulled out her smokes.

"It's me, Giles, Buffy, Dawn, Xander, Robin, Willow...everyone's back. Now all we need is you." I scoffed because of habit and she looked at me.

"I just don't understand why you guys need me. You've got two Slayers, a witch, and everyone else to fill the rest of the needs you might have. So why do you need me?"

"Willow asked for you to be there." I just stared at her.

"Come again?"

"You heard right. She just said, 'We need Kennedy.' I'm sure B knows the whole story, but...Kenn?"

"Hunh? Oh, right. Sorry. Um...Can I think about it?" She tossed her half-smoked cigarette to the side.

"If you need to. I'm just the messenger. I'll be at the Sheraton." I raised an eyebrow. "Angel's paying for us to stay, since we don't have a mainstay here yet."

"Gotcha. You got a number I can reach you at?" She handed me a piece of paper.

"That's the number to Buffy's room. Call when you decide. I gotta get back, though. Y'know...research and whatnot." I laughed.

"Once more, with feeling? Alright. I'll give her a call before the night's over." She nodded and started through the trees, and I started on my way.

"Kenn?" I turned around.

"Yeh?" She smiled a little.

"It's good seein' you." I smiled back.

"Same to you. See you later." She nodded again and we were both off. Thoughts were swimming in my head like crazy. Willow ASKED for me? But that didn't make any sense. WHY would she ask for me? I sighed when I realized the only way I'd find out was if I met up with the group.

I got back to my house and laid down with a huge headache. The whole reason for my going for a walk was to clear my head, not fog it up even more. I threw a pillow over my head, trying to get rid of the headache, and fell asleep before I even had a chance to get comfortable.

(((Kennedy's dream)))

I opened my eyes and looked around.

"This definitely is NOT where I fell asleep. Double you tee eff." I started walking down the street I was on and recognized the houses right away. I groaned and continued walking, hoping it might be different this time. So far I was 0 for 1. I started whisteling, hoping to change the atmosphere, but it didn't work. Then again, it was what, 3 in the morning? I grabbed my cell phone without realizing and dialed a number. When I heard the voice on the other end, I knew it was going to be all the same, through and through.

"Hello?" she said in a groggy voice.

"Uh...hi."

"Who is this?"

"It's, um..Kennedy." Silence. Boy, I was REAL good with the ladies. Oh yeah. Look at the swooning and falling to my feet. "M?"

"Yeah, I'm here. Kenn, do you know what time it is?" I pretended not to know.

"Oh, no. I hadn't realized. I was just...in town and thought I'd stop by. But, you know me. Silly o'clock in the morning is my afternoon kinda thing."

"Yeah, well." She sighed. "Anyway. Is everything okay?" I stopped walking and turned to face a set of houses.

"Yeah, everything's fine. I just thought I'd stop by, see how you were."

"At 3 in the morning."

"Yep." I was sure she could hear the smile in my voice. Anyone miles away could hear it. She sighed again. "You know, with all that sighing, you'd make a girl think you were annoyed."

"Not annoyed. And that was a yawn. Cuz, you know...I'm tired?"

"Oh, right. Well, um..I'll let you go back to sleep. I'm headed back towards town." She was quiet for a minute.

"Uh huh. Okay. Call me later."

"Okay. Goodnight."

"Night." Okay, so I lied. I was still standing right outside her house. I wasn't trying to be creepy. I knew that she knew I was there, but what she didn't know is that I knew that...Do you see why I'm always confused?

I walked across the street and into the backyard, to a set of sliding glass doors. I put on my best innocent smile when I saw her standing there.

"Back to town, huh. Funny, last I knew this was the suburbs."

"Well, you know, um...Right. So I lied. I just couldn't resist seeing you." She raised an eyebrow. "Because it's been so long. And I didn't notice the time when I called, but I figured since I was already down here I'd stop by anyway--"

"Kennedy."

"Yeah?"

"You're rambling." I caught myself mid-blush.

"Sorry." She smiled and moved out of the doorway, motioning with her hand for me to come in. I smiled back and walked in, grabbing a seat in the kitchen.

"Want something to drink?"

"Sure." She grabbed a couple waters and sat across from me. There was dead air between for about 10 minutes. Then she started saying my name over and over again. I looked at her, confused.

"KENNEDY!"

I snapped awake.

"Hunh? Wha--Faith?"

"Yo, dude. It's noon."

"Noon? What? It should only be--" I looked at the clock. "Oops."

"You had everyone worried, kid. You okay?" I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and sat up.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I guess I was just really tired. I got home, laid down, and BOOM. Unconscious Kennedy." She looked at me funny, trying to read me, then stood up.

"Pack your shit, kid." I scowled.

"Fiesty much?" She kept a straight face. "What's up? You're all serious. It's scary."

"Things got worse. C'mon."

Worse? Great.