Disclaimers:

These are obviously not my characters, I'm just borrowing them from Joss Whedon and anyone else who owns them.

If you have issues with people of the same sex loving each other, or live someplace where that's illegal (in which case, consider moving) please move on.

Time frame is when Season 7 would have been happening, only none of it is. Plus, Tara isn't dead, and Xander and Anya got married. Deal with it. This is a happy fic.

Pairings: Willow/Tara, Buffy/Faith, Dawn/f, Anya/Xander

Rating: PG-13

Dawn lay on her bed staring up at the ceiling, contemplating the events of her day. Why did she have to be so different? She had finally come to terms with the knowledge that she was the Key and had only been created in her human form by the monks recently. Now this? Well, she thought, at least if anyone threatens me I can have Buffy beat them up. Buffy! Oh no! How would she react to the news that her little sister had a serious crush...on a girl? She had been bad enough when she caught Dawn making out with a boy for the first time. Granted, it was with a vampire who tried to kill her shortly after that. But it did not occur to Dawn to keep this a secret from Buffy, since things had a way of coming out anyway, and with the lifestyle the Scoobies kept up it was not good to have secrets. Anyway, Buffy had been okay with Willow being gay right?

She decided to talk to Willow or Tara first however, for obvious reasons. She had always loved both of them, and their relationship had been so accepted within the Scooby gang – nobody appeared to see them any differently than Xander and Anya or Buffy and Riley. Dawn had been questioning her sexuality for some time now, but like most people she hoped that she was straight, especially since her life was strange enough already. But she was smart enough to recognize this crush on Kelly for what it was.

Should she talk to them together? No, that might be weird. Dawn had always had a special bond with Tara, so she decided that she would be the first. Once she had made up her mind, she wasted no time going to find her.

She found Tara and Willow downstairs, working together on the computer. Well, to be honest Willow was working on the computer and Tara was being helpfully supportive. They looked up as Dawn came into the room.

"Hey Dawnie, we're looking up information on the Traglar demon Buffy saw yesterday on patrol, wanna help? How was school, anything exciting happen? I mean good exciting like a test, not something bad like the Hellmouth opening or anything." Willow asked.

Dawn smiled, she liked Willow's babbling because she sort of did it too. Anyway, something good exciting had happened, and that was why she was here. But suddenly she got scared for no good reason and almost ran upstairs again.

"Um I um...I was wondering, I mean, I wanted to talk to Tara about something but um, it's ok you guys look busy so I'll just go back upstairs..."

But as she turned to go Tara spoke up, "No Willow's fine aren't you honey? What do you want to talk about?"

"Um....ok well....um can we go upstairs?"

"Sure...we'll be back soon okay Will?"

Willow nodded absently without taking her eyes off the computer screen.

As they walked upstairs Dawn reminded herself that she was being silly. This was Tara!! Who was gay too for goodness sakes!! Why was she scared to talk to her about her feelings?

Dawn shut her bedroom door behind them.

"Dawn, is everything all right? Are you okay?"

"No I'm fine, I just....well let's sit down."

Okay Dawn just spit it out, she told herself.

"I think I'm gay."

The blond witch looked a little thrown for a second by the sudden outburst, but quickly regained her composure.

"Oh...okay, um, wow. Did you just figure this out? Do you like someone particular?" Tara said gently.

"Yeah, it's someone particular. Kelly." Dawn twisted the fabric of her skirt nervously.

"Oh. Okay. Does it bother you, liking her?"

"No, it's nice somehow. I get all warm and happy when she is around...." Dawn smiled unconsciously thinking about Kelly. "I guess it's just scary....I mean everyone here is so great about you and Willow but I know not everyone is that cool. I don't want to be any weirder than I already am, but I guess I can't help it." Tara just nodded, not wanting to interrupt the teen, knowing she needed to talk. "See I've been thinking about it for awhile, girls I mean. I think I've liked a couple girls before, but I didn't really know what was happening. Last year. I guess the monks didn't put any gay feelings in my head then...but now that I'm me I like girls. I think that made it harder, because I had written about boy crushes in my diary, you know? And even though I know none of that happened, it still feels real to me. But they don't happen anymore. Anyway last year I sometimes thought that I might be gay but I tried to focus on the boys and just not think about it. I don't know why Kelly is different. She's new, she just moved here from San Francisco two weeks ago, and she's in my math and english classes. I just couldn't stop thinking about her. We got to be friends really quickly I guess, she sits next to me in math and we talk. She's really nice. And today after math we stood up and brushed hands and I really noticed it. So the whole rest of the day I've just been thinking about it. Putting together all those times I really wanted a certain girl to be on my team in gym, or hoping to walk by and see another one on the way to my locker. And of course, thinking about Kelly. Tara I'm not weird am I? Is it weird that I liked touching her hand? Weird to think about her so much?"

Tara waited a moment to make sure that Dawn was finished. "No Dawn, it's not weird. Are you sure that you don't think it's weird just because it's another girl? I know it took me a long time to be comfortable with the fact that I liked girls. It's definitely not weird to think about someone you like a lot, and not weird at all to like touching her."

"But I don't think it's weird, two girls I mean! Hello, I don't think you and Willow are weird! You dating a guy, that's what would be weird." She grinned at Tara, who grinned back.

"Well, I'm glad you don't think we are weird. But it's a lot different when it's you." She pointed out gently.

Dawn sighed. "Yeah, it is. I'm worried about Buffy." She stated.

"Oh. Do you want to come out to her?"

Dawn nodded. "I think so. I mean, I really want to figure out a way to see if Kelly likes me back, but even if she doesn't, this isn't going away. I've learned that you shouldn't keep secrets in this crowd." She explained. "So I might as well tell her now. But that doesn't mean I'm not worried she'll freak."

Tara thought for a minute. "Well, I don't think she'd do anything really drastic, Dawnie. She might be a little weird at first, but I'm sure if she isn't great at the start she'd come around. You could talk to Willow about when she came out to her. She told me about it then of course, but she'd remember it better. I mean, if you think you could talk to her. Don't worry, I won't tell her, by the way." She reassured Dawn.

"Oh, no, I was going to talk to her too, but yeah thanks for not telling her first...and maybe that would help, but Willow isn't her baby sister." Dawn pointed out.
"That's true. But it's a start."

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Dawn didn't get a chance to talk to Willow alone that night, but the next day after school she came home to find the redhead alone in the house. She was sitting in the living room doing a problem set, but she looked up when Dawn entered.

"Hey, Dawnie, how was school?"

"Oh, you know, the usual. You got a minute to talk?" she asked timidly.

"For you, of course. What's up?"

Dawn sat down on the sofa next to Willow. "Can I ask you a question?"

Willow just nodded.

"So um, I was just wondering, when did you come out to Buffy?"

Willow was slightly taken aback by the question out of the blue, but she remembered that day as if it were yesterday. "Well, it was the day Oz came back. I was torn up because I was just starting to date Tara but he was Oz....and it was super hard because nobody knew about Tara and they didn't understand why I wouldn't want to get back together with him. So I told her then. I remember she asked why I was upset, and I just said 'It's complicated...because of Tara" and let her infer from that."

"So she figured it out then?"

"Well, actually she thought Tara had a crush on Oz at first, but I just looked at her and suddenly she figured it out and she said OH! Oh. oh. And then she started saying my name a lot, I still don't know why she did that....and then we just talked a little bit about how it was new to me but that it just felt right."

"You didn't know before? Or just the dating part was new?" Dawn asked curiously.

"Well....I think I knew before, but I tried not to think about it. It wasn't hard really, since I was always obsessed with Xander and then Oz I didn't have a lot of time to think about girls, and it was easy to be in denial anyway. My vamp self sorta made me think about it more but even after that it took Tara and realizing that I liked her as more than a friend to really make me realize....you probably don't want to know all this huh, why are you asking?"

"Well.....see, there's this girl at school..."

"A gay girl? Whoops interrupting..." Willow cut herself off when she realized Dawn hadn't finished.

"No...well sort of .... I mean I hope so....Willow I like her. In a more than friend liking way."

"OH! Oh. Wow I sound just like Buffy! I mean when I ... oh you got it. That's great Dawn! What's her name, she's not a vampire right, do we know her, oh gosh now I sound like a mom and shutting up now."

"Her name's Kelly, no she's not a vamp sheesh am I ever going to live that one down, and I don't think you guys have met her. I try not to bring my school friends here, I mean how would I explain it if Buffy came in all covered in demon gore?"

Willow laughed, "That's very true. When we were in high school, that was pretty much the way you got inducted into the Scoobies. See Buffy kill a demon, usually one who was trying to kill you, and you were in. Anyway, back to your girl. Is she the first one you've liked?"

"Well um, not really, I mean I think had a crush on Tara for awhile...like the one I had on Xander only nobody noticed of course. And I wasn't even sure really, it's so hard to tell you know? There were other girls at school, who now looking back I probably did have crushes on, but I told myself I just really liked them, you know?"

"Oh yeah, I totally do. Okay so go on, but this new girl you figured it out?"

"Yeah. With Kelly, I'm sure. She's so beautiful, she has this short curly brown hair and green eyes and she's on the swim team and she's really smart, you'd like her Willow she knows all about computers and she helps me with my math homework and I think she might like me too!"

"Whoa, why didn't you say so? Do you know if she likes girls?"

"No." Dawn said, looking down at her lap. "But we've just gotten close really quickly, and she seems to touch me more than friends usually do, just like to say hi or whatever. And she never talks about boys. And today, I told her about you guys, just dropped it randomly in the conversation, you know, and she didn't seem wigged at all! Actually she said she thought it was cool that I lived with three 21 year olds instead of regular parents. She already knew I lived with Buffy and about Mom, but I guess not you two. She didn't say anything specific, bad or good, but I think it's a good sign, right?"

"Could be. Hey, why did you want to know about me and Buffy?"

"Oh. Well I'm thinking about how to tell her, and to tell you the truth I'm kinda worried. Tara suggested I ask you how it went with you."

"Oh, I get it, that's what you wanted to talk to her last night about, wasn't it!" Willow had been wondering what that was all about.

"Yeah."

"Right. So coming out to Buffy...maybe you could make it about Kelly? Say you are thinking about asking her out and wanted to see what she thought about it or something. And of course, you know if you want Tara and me there, we're there."

Dawn smiled. "Thanks. I think I would like that. I'll let you know when I'm ready, okay?"

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The next day, Willow got a call.

"Tara, that was Fred. I have to go to LA. Do you want to come with, or stay here?"
Tara thought for a moment. "Maybe I should stay, just in case something happens and they need magic, you know? Is it something you can handle alone?"

"I hope so...Angel is Angelus again...long story, he did it on purpose and they put his soul in a jar, but someone stole the jar and she thinks I can help them find it or come up with an alternate plan. I don't really know the whole deal now, but apparently I'm re-souling girl for good."

"Okay, sounds like a plan. I'll miss you." Tara wrapped her arms around Willow's neck and pulled her close to kiss her long and hard.

"Ohhh, making it hard for me to leave, honey." Willow teased.

"That's the idea. To make sure you don't spend any more time there than necessary." Tara retorted.

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Dawn walked home from school, trying to decide if she should talk to Buffy tonight or wait. Maybe if something really did work out with Kelly, that would be a better way. But then Buffy might think she was only telling her because she felt she had to. Arg! Maybe she should just tell her and get it over with so she could stop worrying about it.

She reached her house and walked inside to find Tara and Buffy in the living room.

"Hi, guys, what's...Buffy? Are you okay?" she asked, seeing that Buffy's eyes were slightly red and puffy.

Buffy wiped her eyes self-consciously. "I'm fine. Angel's in trouble, that's all, but Willow's gone to straighten things out."

"Angel needs Willow to help?" Dawn asked, confused.

"Well...it's kind of complicated. They took his soul out and put it in a jar, yeah I know stupid idea but I guess they thought it was the only way at the time, but of course things went wrong and now the jar is gone so they've got Angelus on their hands."

Dawn's eyes widened. Any thoughts she had about coming out were wiped from her mind. They had bigger problems, and besides Willow was gone.

"Don't worry, Dawnie, I'm sure Willow can fix it. She did it last time, remember?" Tara reminded the teen.

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Tara's fath in her girlfriend was not misplaced, and Willow wasted no time in LA. A day later, she was back on the road to Sunnydale, with one extra passenger in the car.

"So...Faith. You got out early on good behavior?" Willow asked.

"Don't sound so surprised, Red. I can be good when I want to be." She grinned. "So, you know what I've been doing the past three years, how about you? What's been happening in good ol Sunny D?"

"Oh, you know, the usual...vamps, demons, apocalypses...remind me again why you are coming back with me?" Willow said, having been reassured by Angel that the dark slayer was good again, but still not entirely trusting her.

"What, and miss out on a chance to torment B?" she teased, before sobering up. "No, really, it's actually the opposite." She turned and stared out the window. "I had a lot of time to think, Red. About what I did, what I didn't do...I did some really shitty stuff to Buffy and company. I guess I need to apologize, make it up to you all."

Willow was stunned. "Wow."

"So I figured I'd hang around Sunny D for a while, help out wherever I can. I know I can't change what I did but I can try to make it better now. Anyway, enough with the sappy stuff. Tell me all the gossip, last time I was here B was with that beefsteak guy, Xander was with Anya from high school, and you had that blond girl, what was her name..."

Willow's eyes widened. "You knew about Tara and me? Did Buffy tell you? Wait a sec...that was before Buffy knew! How did you know?"

Faith snickered. "She didn't know? Typical. Some people just see what they expect to see. It was painfully obvious Red. The night I saw you two at the Bronze, when I was Buffy, I totally knew. How long did it take B?"

"Um...I told her a few weeks later. She had no idea. I'm still wigging a little on you knowing, sorry."

"It's like gaydar. People who don't ever think about gay stuff just don't ever see it. People who do, see it. Simple as that."

"And you think about gay stuff because....."

Faith laughed. "Okay, starting to think yours needs some work! Cuz I like girls too, dimwit."

Willow turned to stare at Faith, almost swerving into another lane before turning back. "But...you slept with Xander." She said, confused.

"You were with wolf-boy too remember? Anyway, I like guys too. It's allowed ya know. I guess I'm bisexual, though I just like to think of myself as sexual." She said with a smirk.

"Oh my god, you totally had a thing for Buffy in high school, didn't you." Willow said suddenly.

"What? No, no girl, come on now, you're just here trying to win back some gaydar cred right? Ain't gonna work."

Willow lifted her eyebrow and glanced over to find the slayer studiously looking out the window again. "Nope, I know it. It makes perfect sense. But she has no idea, does she."

Faith sighed. "No, and she isn't going to, got it?" she admitted. "No reason for her to, she's straight as an arrow, and it'd probably freak her out."

"I did too you know. Well not that I'd have admitted in high school of course."

Faith rolled her eyes. "Why does everyone have crushes on B?"

"I'm sure it's the slayer thing." Willow assured her.

"Right, cuz hello, slayer sitting right here and not getting that."

"Excuse me? Where were you in high school? Xander got so hot and bothered whenever you were around Cordy couldn't stand it. And as for me, well, let's just say I couldn't get your story about naked slaying out of my head for a week." She blushed. "Sorry we weren't the Scoobies you wanted, but you weren't ignored by any stretch."

Faith laughed. "Okay, you got me there. So where were we, you never told me the Scooby gossip." She reminded Willow.

"Oh yeah. Well, Tara and I are still together, Xander and Anya got married last year, and Buffy...well Riley left almost two years ago now, before she died. You did hear that she died, right?" she paused.

Faith nodded. "Angel called. He called again after you raised her up again. Hell of a power ya got there Red. I'm sure that spell today was child's play after that."

Willow winced. "Um, yeah, well I had some trouble with black magic after that...I guess it wasn't quite right to do but come on, how could I not. She's Buffy, you know? So I guess we have something in common. I had to do a lot of making up for after that."

"Right, you were big and bad, I'm sure." Faith said, not really believing it.

"I cast memory spells to make people forget things, almost got us all killed, Tara left me for a few months, I was like a junkie, nothing mattered but the fix. I brought Dawn with me once to the guy I went to, left her alone for hours while I got high and then nearly got her killed after. We were lucky she only had a broken arm." Willow admitted.

"Wow." Faith didn't really know what to say.

"Yeah, exactly. But I'm better now, I got clean for Tara. She came back, and everything's okay now. I can even do spells again, I just have to be careful. Oops, I forgot, Buffy...yeah after she died she was sleeping with Spike for a while, yeah don't ask, it wasn't good, but she broke that off when she realized it was stupid. Even when he came back this year with a soul she's stayed away."

"Spike? The vampire? Buffy slept with him? And he has a soul now?"

"Yeah, I know, crazy like I said. Oh yay, Welcome to Sunnydale." Willow read the sign.

"Home sweet home." Faith quipped.

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Faith paused at the door of the Summers house. "I don't know, Red, now that I'm here I don't know if I can do it." She slumped against the wall.

She didn't get a chance to chicken out though, because the door opened and Buffy stuck her head out.

"Will? I thought I heard your car, why're you just...." She trailed off, seeing Willow's company.

"She was at Angel's. They let her out for good behavior, she helped bring Angel back. Buffy...she's changed, she came back to prove that and apologize. Give her a chance, okay?" Willow said before slipping past her best friend into the house. She closed the door behind her to keep the slayers talking.

Buffy folded her arms over her chest and looked at the figure slumped against the side of the house. She almost looked frightened, but of course that couldn't be, this was Faith.

Faith raised her eyes to meet Buffy's. "It's true B. I want to make it up to you, I know I can't ever, but I want to try. I had a lot of time to think, and...you and your friends were the best thing to ever happen to me and I fucked it up. I couldn't understand you, being nice to me was just foreign. But...I know I don't deserve it, but give me another chance, please?" The dark slayer almost had tears in her eyes.

Buffy's resolve crumbled and she opened the door. "Well if you're going to stay you might as well come in." she said grudgingly. "I think there's still some food left over from dinner."

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Faith spent the next few nights on the Summers couch, as Buffy insisted it was stupid for her to get a motel room. Privately it was more because she felt she could keep tabs on the other slayer better that way. But as hard as Buffy tried to keep her out, Faith was working her way back into the gang, and her constant offers of any kind of help were wearing Buffy down. She was helping Anya out at the Magic Box, laughing with the witches, talking about applying to UC Sunnydale, as she had gotten her GED in prison. Buffy had even caught her helping Dawn with her homework. She had to admit, it seemed like the girl had changed. Three days after her sudden arrival, Buffy walked cautiously into the living room where Faith was watching TV with Willow and Tara.

"Hey."

"Hey B, what'cha up to?"

"I thought I'd go patrol for a bit. Um...do you want to come?"

Faith's eyes widened slightly and she glanced at Willow, who grinned at her.

"Sure, of course." She hopped up off the sofa and dusted off her pants. "Let's go!"

The Chosen Two dusted more vamps than ever that night, and almost forgot about the bad blood between them. When they finally returned home, tired but satisfied, Buffy paused at the bottom of the stairs.

"Faith...I know that sofa's not too comfy, and I've got a big bed, if you'd rather..."

Faith grinned. "Thought you'd never ask, B!"

Buffy rolled her eyes but led the way upstairs without a word.