So I have to give this a shot, mostly because Buffy is my favorite show of all time, and my two favorites are Tara and Faith. This is an AU story though, Faith never went to jail and she comes back right at the start of The Gift (I also ignore a lot of the Angel story to make things less complicated). I'll stick to the major plotlines (but change most of the dialogue and such), but just add Faith in there. I hope you enjoy.

They say the path to redemption is a long one. They also say that the grass is greener on the other side. Guess which one's a lie. You'd think I'd get a little cheat sheet for the whole redemption thing considering I was in a coma for eight months, but apparently not. I'm still working on it, the redemption path is a hard one, and I've gotten lost more than once. At least I stuck with it, that's more than I can say for a lot of people. As for the grass being greener, Sunnydale was never exactly my safe haven, considering it was on the mouth of hell, but this hell is a lot better than a lot of places. It took me a long time to realize it, but maybe this hell was worth saving after all.

Then again, I was never really the one. I wasn't a sidekick, but I was never the chosen, you know? Some girl died, in comes me, but perfect little Buffy was already standing there. She's the one, I've always been number two. It seems to me like I won't be doing a lot of saving, maybe some helping if I'm lucky, probably some dying too. Frankly, when Angel started getting all biblical about some she-god roaming Sunnydale trying to find the key, I sort of zoned out, but when he told me the whole world might end because of it that caught my attention. It might be nice being on the other side of evil this time. And if Buffy couldn't save Dawn then I would, because she deserves one hell of an award for having to deal with Buffy her whole life.

Or not her whole life? I still don't quite understand the whole false memory thing.

Right now I was just worried about appearing genuine. The last time Buffy saw me we sort of fought, to make things a little more confusing I happened to be in her body when I was throwing the punches, it made me see things a little differently. The last time I saw Buffy, things weren't such a riot, luckily she didn't see me though. I only came there to show my respects, Joyce was a nice lady, I was sad to see her go. I knew it'd be tough for Buffy, so I didn't go butting in, but I felt really bad I wanted to help I just couldn't.

"B-but you're just a girl." I'd been watching Buffy this whole time, slaying that vamp like it was nothing. She looked tired to be honest, but I'd never tell her that, tied for her was still stronger than anyone I've ever known. Buffy stopped as if she was thinking over the guys words for a moment.

"That's what I keep saying." Buffy's so calm, you'd think she'd be a little more intense considering the world's gonna end but I guess she's in the zone. Once she goes inside I follow. I already know that everyone's in the Magic Box, including that prick of a vampire, so I lag a little. I'm thinking about what I'm going to say, how I'm just going to throw myself into the middle of this all and make it right. That hurts my head so I just walk through the training room and lean against the threshold of the door out of sight, but close enough to hear what they're saying.

"No! No, you don't understand. We are not talking about this!" Buffy snapped.

"Yes we bloody well are!" The silence that follows even has me on edge and I'm just observing. What Giles is saying makes sense, but he always makes sense. There's nothing rational about letting Dawn die, it'd be killing her, it'd be wrong.

"Hey I thought killing people was my job." Of all the things to say that was the worst, but Buffy hadn't punched me yet so that was a good sign.

"Faith." Buffy didn't exactly sound shocked, but thrilled was nowhere in her tone either. I stepped further into the room, feeling a little more comfortable now that Buffy had said something.

"Yeah it's me B, congrats on having eyes." I joked, no one laughed though.

"Are you okay?"

"Are you? Look I wanna tell you everything, all of you, but we don't have time. We've got a key to save, that's why I'm here, it's the most important thing right now." At least she didn't disagree, though I could see Willow protecting her friend, though the girl looked a little lost right now. "So lay it on me B, what's the plan and where do I fit in?"

"At this point we've got nothing." Xander said with a sigh. "Glory's too strong-."

"Maybe for one slayer, but when you've got two that changes things." I reminded him.

"How do we know little Miss Murder won't turn on you again?" I could recognize that bleach blond hair anywhere, William the Blood. Or I guess they call him Spike now that they've gotten all buddy-buddy with him.

"You don't, I'm always a gamble, but B's smart. She knows what she's doing." Buffy and I exchanged looks before Xander's ex-demon current girlfriend raised her hand slightly.

"Okay come on, now that we've got one more brain in the mix, we have to come up with something." The girl was enthusiastic I'll give her that.

"Okay but what about Ben? He's made of people parts, we could…um…well I mean we could kill him…right?" Everyone sort of got quiet, thinking over what Xander had said. I had no clue what he was talking about so I just took a seat on the steps and waited for someone to respond.

"We can't." Was all Buffy said and that was that.

"Okay, but here…Olaf's enchanted hammer, we could use this." Buffy walked over and picked up the hammer.

"Good call Anya." Buffy stood there twirling the hammer for a second before nodding. "Okay right. I've got a plan…" I sort of zoned out, mostly because the plan didn't really involve me. Xander and Anya went downstairs, Buffy and Giles to the back training room. Spike went outside to smoke, leaving me, Willow, and her girl alone.

"Why'd you come back?" Willow said angrily.

"To help, that's all." I assured her. I looked over to her girlfriend, she was staring up at the ceiling for a moment before she looked towards me. "What's up with the girl?"

"Her name's Tara, and it's none of your business." Willow said.

"She looks scared-."

"Shut up Faith! Just shut up! You can't just show up out of the blue and expect everything to be okay. You killed people, you lost control, and you don't just get to rejoin the team-."

"I'm not asking for that. If you think this has been easy for me then you're wrong, but I came back to help Buffy and that's that. So get off your high horse Red, we're all on the same side here." Buffy walked out a look of determination on her face, she stopped and walked over towards Willow.

"Willow…I need to know what we're dealing with. Anything that can help-."

"To be honest Buffy, I've spent half my time freaking out and the other half working on a way to help Tara, I know that shouldn't be my main focus but-."

"No, it should be. Of course it should be, I just know that you're my most powerful weapon. I need you." Buffy chanced a look at Tara, she had to know that Red was hell-bent on saving her girl right now, because even I could tell.

"Me? Powerful?" Even I knew that and I'd been away for a long time.

"For such a genius sometimes you're a real dumbass. You gave Angel his soul back of course you're powerful." Willow and Buffy looked at me like I was getting in the middle of things so I got up and walked over towards the entrance. If this was going to be my last night on earth I had to at least say one thing. Buffy had apparently finished giving her pep talk to Willow because she was heading right towards the door trying to bypass me but I stepped in front of her to stop her. "Buffy-."

"Faith we don't have time to process this, you're here and you're going to help, that's two points we didn't have before, but we're nowhere near even with Glory." Buffy paused and pushed her hair back behind her ear. "You've got really great timing, or the worst timing…depending on how you see things."

"About last time I was here…I'm sorry-."

"I know." Buffy cut me off, her eyes meeting mine briefly. "I felt it. Just stick to the fighting and if I don't make it I'm counting on you to save Dawn."

"I always was the next best thing." I joked.

"We're slayers, we are the best thing. If you want me to trust you again, then save my sister." Buffy sighed and looked around for a moment as if she was making sure no one could hear us. "We won't all make it, some of us will die, but I know you aren't afraid. That's what separates you from the rest of us, you were never afraid." I gotta hand it to B, she did make a kick ass hero. Her speeches were inspirational, she always went with her gut, but for once she got something wrong: I was terrified.

Okay so the plan was good, did I expect anything less? It was Buffy's mind at work after all, she always came through in the clench. I wonder how long it took her to decide on killing me way back win, more or less time than this. Whatever. I'm over it, water under the bridge, the only thing I have to worry about is keeping the Scooby Gang alive, and saving Dawn. Nothing too important after all.

I was surprised Buffy put so much on my shoulders. I mean maybe a little fighting here and there, that's what I expected, but Buffy was so focused right now I could feel it all slipping out from under her. Too focused would get you killed, ask my predecessor, too loose and you're in end up like, Buffy was the happy medium, but right now things were different.

Now that Willow's gone all darkside on us and zapped Glory and Tara's brain it's time to fight. I told myself not to kill the patients, to go for the gremlin looking things, because if the world doesn't end I'd like to have a clear conscious. Somewhere between punching one of those creeps in the face and slitting one's throat I saw Tara laying on the ground. I couldn't just leave her there, no man left behind right?

I jogged over and tapped her face. She slowly regained consciousness and looked up at me. "Who…um what?" I lifted her up and laid her down by Willow's side. I didn't have time to chat, Dawn was in danger, Buffybot's head was twenty feet away and Buffy was fighting Glory. I looked up and saw Dawn up there, tied to something unable to move.

"Buffy! Buffy save me!" Dawn yelled. I looked up and tried to see why Dawn was suddenly so freaked out. There's someone up there. Wait what was that? That's what I was thinking but that sounded a lot like-. Faith it's me, Willow, I'm communicating telepathically it's a long story…someone's up there with Dawn. You've got to help her. I looked towards the steps, there was a whole hoard of patients and demons blocking the way. I was strong but I couldn't fight them all.

Faith just go, trust me.

I started running for the steps. Then suddenly everyone was just tossed aside like nothing, I looked back briefly seeing Willow and Tara's hands intertwined, those girls were mad strong, I thought. Dawn was still yelling for Buffy. Even she wanted Buffy more than me, like I said I was always second best. But second best would just have to be good enough right now. I was quick, quicker than I remember and, it took less than a minute for me to reach the top.

There was some freak of nature guy up there, he was cutting Dawn. I could see shimmers of light below us, the portal was opening. "You're too late." The guy said, he tried to hit me but I punched him square in the jaw and threw him off the balcony. I ran over to Dawn and untied her. "F-Faith, what are you…are you working for Glory? Is this like your revenge or-."

"I'm here to help." Dawn looked at me and then down at the portal. "Let's get you down there."

"No! I-." Dawn looked at the portal, demons were beginning to climb out, I was too late to stop it all. "It's already open, I have to-." I grabbed Dawn's arm before she could even think of moving. I wasn't going to let her jump, I couldn't.

"No, Buffy said to get you down from here. She told me to save you, and this is the only thing I've ever done right in my life so don't mess that up." I started walking Dawn back from the ledge just as Buffy made it to the top. "Buffy, let's get Dawn out of here."

"We can't." Buffy was so frightened, I could feel her emotions heighten at the sight of the portal. "It's already open, we have no choice."

"What? Buffy no, you said that protecting Dawn was the most important thing-."

"It is." Buffy cut me off. "Death is my gift." Buffy whispered. She started moving towards the portal she was going to jump.

"No!" Dawn ran after Buffy, and they both grabbed one another tightly. I couldn't do a thing but watch.

"Dawnie I have to." Buffy looked towards the portal again. "Dawn, listen to me. Listen. I love you. I will always love you. But this is the work that I have to do. Tell Giles... tell Giles I figured it out. And, and I'm okay. And give my love to my friends. You have to take care of them now." Buffy eyes caught mine for the briefest moment, she wasn't just talking to Dawn anymore, this was for both of us. This was Buffy telling me that I was forgiven, she couldn't say it a few months ago, she couldn't even say it in LA. This was it, this was all I'd ever get. "You have to take care of each other. You have to be strong. Dawn, the hardest thing in this world... is to live in it. Be brave. Live. For me."

I didn't try to stop her. That was my biggest regret, but I knew stopping her would change things, everything wouldn't turn out right. It felt selfish in the moment though, it felt like I was going for the role of the one and only chosen one, but I wasn't. Buffy and I had a connection so I felt what she felt in that moment, she wasn't scared or content, really. Buffy was free.

And that was more than I could ever say for me. Dawn's cries pulled me out of it, her bone crushing hug made me feel like hell. I knew she was hugging me because I was there, but for the briefest moment maybe it felt like I could belong. For the briefest moment I did belong. Death was her gift? Maybe it could be mine too.

So how about it Buffy fans, should I continue on with this?