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A.N. This is story stuck with me after I had kind of dreamed about it for three nights straight. Weird I know…so I decided to write it down and it turned out to be okay.

Summary: Buffy became a rogue slayer instead of Faith after Riley left her. Dawn never showed up till after that and was Faith's sister. The whole "key" thing did happen, but it was Faith who jumped off the ledge in to the ball of energy. She died, but for only a couple of minutes. It was enough to call a new slayer forward. It is a couple years later and still no one knows who it is till mysterious demon killings happen all over Sunnydale. Although Faith did take over the Summer's house when Joyce died when she left it to Faith in her will. With Faith never completely dieing the whole "First" evil thing never happened, but Tara did end up being killed by Warren. Everything else after that is the same. Willow has just returned to Sunnydale when the killings started and Faith has assigned her to lead the investigation to find the new slayer. Also Faith is now head of the Scooby gang and Giles returned back to Sunnydale with Willow. Boy is that a mouth full…

So here you go…

[RUNAWAY SLAYER]

Chapter 1: Run in with a Stranger

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Willow was on her laptop sitting at the table in the Magic Box researching possible slayers. Getting nowhere, she was frustrated because she had engrossed herself in this search since she had gotten back three days ago. Willow decided it was time for a break and got up to grab her coat.

Right as she stood up Anya walked in. "Any luck?" She asked. Willow shook her head and looked at the clock surprised it was eleven thirty at night. "What are you doing here Anya? I thought you would be home by now." Anya scoffed, "Well I was and then I realized I didn't count my money a fifth time so I just had to come back and make sure they were all in order." She emphasized as if it were common knowledge for her to count her money.

"That was just a nice way of saying you still don't trust me do you." Willow remarked defensively. Anya replied without a thought, "Yep that's right. Wait... can you read minds now!? Oh! Could you read a bunny's mind to see what they were planning next." Willow just had to laugh because she knew that Anya was being dead serious because she was well…Anya.

"No I can't read minds and if I could I wouldn't. Anyways, it was just common sense is all. I will be back in a bit. I forgot to grab some tea back home so I going to go get some." Willow retorted. "Fine," Anya said as Willow walked by her, but then she pointed at the witch, "But if you ever get that mind reading power you call me first so we can destroy the bunny's plans okay!" Willow rolled her eyes as she walked out into the street. It was a clear night and she looked up into the sky. Willow then saw a shooting star and took it as a message from Tara.

"I love you to baby…" She whispered to the sky.

Willow continued to walk until she passed by a play ground and decided to sit on one of the swings.

At that moment Faith was returning from her patrol when she saw Willow sitting there. She walked over and sat on the swing beside her. Neither of them spoke. They both knew they were just glad to have each other's company with no appending doom except for a missing slayer.

"Anything?" Faith decided to say something first. "Not one thing…I swear this girl either doesn't exist or is one hell of an undercover slayer. I mean I even tried to break her pattern in the demon killings but there isn't even a pattern…"

"Whoa chill Red!" Faith chuckled, "Don't worry. Just give it some time I mean these things did start to just happen so she is bound to show up anytime. Till then why don't you just go home and sleep. Start fresh tomorrow ya know?"

"Yea but Anya will get suspicious when I don't show up. I told her I was just getting some tea." Willow said sadly. Faith touched her shoulder in comfort, "Done. I will go and talk to that bunny fearing women." "Thanks Faith." Willow laughed and sighed in relief. "No prob Red…" Willow continued, "No Faith I mean for everything, for stepping in when Buffy left, taking care of the Scooby gang, I mean you're the heart and soul of this group…"

Faith took her hand off her shoulder and held it up to Willow, "Whoa Red, don't go all babble mode on me but you're welcome and if you ever say that in front of every one else there will be something to pay."

Willow smiled and got up. Faith got up to and started to walk away but couldn't when someone's arms wrapped around her. She was tense at first but then relaxed into the hug. After a few moments Willow pulled away and rubbed Faith's shoulder before walking away.

Faith had one more thing to say though, "Hey Will?" Willow turned around. "Yea Faith." "Could you check on Dawnie for me?" As much as Faith has a tough act, her soft side always comes out when it comes to Dawn. Willow smiled, "Of course I will. Now hurry up! No more delays!" Willow shooed her off.

Both the witch and slayer went on their different directions content that everything between them would soon turn to normal. Willow decided to take a short cut through the cemetery since she felt like she knew it so well that nothing could possibly go wrong. Especially this early in the night...

Out of nowhere a group of demons, showed up in front of her ready to charge. They were running so fast Willow was just frozen staring at them with frightened eyes. If there weren't so many she would be able to defend herself, but the six was too great a number. Then she heard a voice to her right and turned quickly to see a body coming at her.

"Look out!" Is what the body screamed at her as she tackled her into the bushes. Willow got knocked out as she hit the ground with someone else's weight on her. Within a few minutes the stranger had easily dispatched all six demons.

After assessing her new cuts and bruises were minor the stranger remembered the girl she accidently knocked out. Willow was still out cold, so the girl with brown eyes, now easily seen by moonlight, decided to check for some kind of identification. Luckily Willow had her driver's license on her.

"Well hello miss…Willow Rosenberg. Great born and probably raised in Sunnydale. Man these Sunnydale people really have no idea where they live…And who goes for a stroll through a cemetery this late at night, really?!"

Shaking her head the mystery woman picked up Willow and carried her to the address written on the license. It was also her luck that the address, the Summer's home, had the front door unlocked. Again the woman shook her head at the lack of security as she carried Willow up the stairs and set her on the floor. She peaked in the rooms till she found one with pictures of person resembling Willow and another women with long light brunette hair. She guessed this would be her best bet for her room.

She came back and carefully picked Willow up, brought her into her room and set her on her bed. After removing Willow's shoes she pulled up the covers and tucked her in. It was then that the new slayer got a good look at Willow's face. The wild red hair and rosy cheeks apparent on Willow's face in the moonlight.

"Damn…" The women let out looking down at Willow. Without thinking she leaned in and gently brushed a good night kiss on the red heads lips. With the new contact Willow opened her eyes to look in to chocolate eyes. Kennedy was a little taken back by the sudden eye contact and got off the bed quickly.

Suddenly a crash was heard downstairs from a frantic Faith entering the house. "Will?! You okay the door was open! Will answer me!?" Faith yelled as she ran up the stairs, taking two at a time. A sleepy Dawn came out of her room and saw Faith running towards her. She was caught up in a hug. Faith yelled Willow's name again. Willow motioned for the girl in front of her to stay where she was and walked out in the hall. Kennedy obeyed for the moment, not sure what to do.

"Yea Faith sorry the door just kind of slipped my mind. There is just a lot of stuff going on up here tonight," Willow tapped her head, "It won't happen again." Faith sighed as she reached Willow's room. The two walked into her room followed by Dawn. Faith look around and saw the window was open. "Man!? Aren't you cold? Your window is like wide open…"

Willow, shocked by her own disappoint at the stranger's fast exit, just stared at the open window. With a million questions zooming around in her head of the evenings events she murmured, "Yea I'm freezing…I guess I didn't realize it was opened…" Subconsciously she found her hand brushing her lips where the only heat on her body was located, reminiscent of a kiss shared moments before.

Faith and Dawn just looked at each other not sure what happened.

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