A/N: I started out with this scenario of Kendrick trying to figure out how to approach his new feelings for Twillow by confiding in Helia, since she was the only woman he knew and she was Twillow's friend. Though it was kind of a fun interaction I decided Kendrick would be much too prideful to show weakness to a slayer and didn't think he'd trust her with such information. So instead I thought Sig and his wife would be a much better source.

Kendrick looked down at the lake's shore and saw Helia knelt near the spot he usually sat, "What the Hell are you doing here?"

The redhead looked up at him, procured her water container and shook it before him, "I needed water."

Kendrick snorted a breath of frustration but decided to sit anyway. He didn't bother dropping gently and Helia wobbled under the quake of his weight. She shot him a look of annoyance but went back to filling her water container. Out of the corner of his eye, Kendrick looked at the woman. What was on his mind he didn't want to share, especially not with a human slayer. However, he didn't have many options as far as conversation was concerned...and he was completely lost on this topic.

"Why would you ask a human...a slayer...anything?!" his mind spat angrily. "Just keep your damn thoughts to yourself!"

"But she's Twillow's friend...and she's a woman..." his other half protested.

"So what?! You shouldn't be asking it! She'd probably lie anyway. Don't waste your breath!" his mind growled back.

"No. I've got to know..."

"I'm going to ask you a question." He warned Helia, "And I want an honest answer."

Helia turned around at the randomness of that statement, "O-k. What question?"

He exhaled deeply, "Let's say, hypothetically, you met a man and you liked him. This man takes care of you, is loyal to you, and there was no chance he would betray you. But...he could not meet your needs as a woman...would you still want to be with him?"

Helia pulled her head back at the question. It was so out of the blue and seemed very atypical of the giant. Why would he be asking such a personal and strange question?

"And...why the Hell would you be asking me that?" Helia gave an uncomfortable look.

"Just... answer the question." His voice was low and impatient sounding.

Helia had to look away a moment but knew he wanted an honest answer, "I...might. That would be a hard obstacle for me to overcome."

Kendrick sighed deeply and looked away. Helia swore she saw a sadness in his eyes.

"But... I'm not every woman. Every woman has different needs and how important each one is varies from woman to woman. Her...desires... might not matter as much as being secure and stable."

Helia couldn't believe she was answering hypotheticals about relationships with Kendrick. Of all questions he could ask her...why that?

But suddenly, the puzzle pieces fell into place and Helia realized he wasn't truly asking her.

She looked up at him, blinked once and said, "You...you love Twillow."

Kendrick's whole torso jerked like he'd be shocked with lightning, his voice was quiet but intense, "WHAT?"

Helia's blue eyes got even bigger at his reaction, "Oh...my God."

"I-I never said that!" he thundered.

The woman stood up pointedly, "Really? Then why would you ask me such a thing?"

Kendrick's eyes seemed to search for an acceptable answer but none came to him. He dropped his head onto his knees and closed his eyes.

"Way to go idiot."

Helia frowned, "Have you...even told Twillow how you feel?"

His tone was bitter, "What good would that do?"

"Well it doesn't do any good to tell me. You have to tell her."

"No..." his voice sounded defeated, "It would ruin everything..."

Helia recalled Twillow's subtle reaction when she'd naively asked if Kendrick was the name of her mate; she'd blushed. She wasn't sure if that meant anything but she didn't react negatively to the assumption.

"Well... I can tell she likes you...perhaps a lot more than you think." Helia offered that tidbit.

Kendrick lifted his eyes at her a moment, regarded the comment, and then fell as he frowned, "It wouldn't matter anyway."

Suddenly, his huge hand shot toward Helia and she drew her sword in reaction. His fingers were bent in a clawed shape around her, menacing her with the threat of instant annihilation should they close.

"Don't you DARE think of telling her ANY of this!" his eyes were hard and deadly in their seriousness, "I might be prevented from killing you Slayer...but you'll wish I had if you breathe a word of this."

Helia tensed automatically but then exhaled her fear and turned her blue eyes to hardened ice as she sheathed her sword, "I wasn't going to tell her anything. But YOU need to. I'm not going to do it for you."

The giant huffed through his nose and slowly retracted his hand from around her. Again, he returned to his sullen stare out over the lake as if she didn't exist anymore. As much as Kendrick hated to admit it, he knew she was right. He'd never been truly afraid more than a couple of times in his life but this...this feeling terrified him.