Disclaimer: None of the characters are belong to us. Something tells me, however, that my brain isn't even under my own control at times. Joss Whedon created great stuff- I just play with it.
Notes: Faith just returned to Sunnydale. Everything up until that action in both BtVS and Angel have indeed happened with the exception of Kennedy's existence. She never was and never will be... other than that, it pretty much follows everything that's happened, although what happens now is a completely different story...
Buffy's House- First night since Faith's arrival.
"It's funny, B. I never really stood up here and... ya know, took a gander at the stars. Never used to worry what people thought of me and everything, did stuff my own way. I figure you gotta live for the moment, that's what life and slaying is all about. I mean, I've made choices that I wish I could take back- but those are the moments... they're the moments that break you," Faith whipped her head to look at the sister slayer standing silently beside her. Tapping her hands softly against the rail of the porch, she bit her lip and shifted her gaze to look away. "So then I look at you... fighting the good fight, making choices that... that I don't think I could've made under the circumstances," she allowed herself a soft chortle to fill the silence, "And look at you- still standing."
"They broke you, B.Your friends... for the better, I suppose. Dragging you outta someplace where you finally felt welcome... I understand why now. You're something else. You've faced death... you've lived it, fought it, and someday you're going to finally be at peace with yourself... but me?" Offering another smile, the familiar laugh started up once more, "The highlight of my life's been falling off the roof of a building, breaking through a coma... walking in your shoes, fighting off prison scum... hey, even saving Angel- hardly equates to the five by five formula, B. The witch gave me the lowdown on what you've been up to since I hit the cell... Wanted you to know I was sorry- never got to actually say it to you."
"Faith, I-"
"I'm different now... solitary confinement will really work it's wonders on you. Time to think, time to remorse... to change. Only thing that kept me in that place was myself, I could've busted out at any time. I'm a new person, B. I know you don't wanna hear it from me, but Angel never gave up on me- he's the reason I'm here now... here to help you. He coulda killed me, that night... after he found me torturing Wes. Clear shots all around... stupid vampire... the bastard just wouldn't fight back." She shook her head now, remembering that night all too clearly, and it was obvious she'd played it over and over in her head time and again. "I was so... scared, so angry... but I was lost."
Buffy looked down at her hands, she'd clasped them together and allowed herself a heavy sigh while taking in everything Faith was saying. "I didn't want to believe it... at the time... he was convinced you were crying out for help. It didn't matter to me, as long as I got revenge for what I... well, what I thought I deserved," Buffy bit her lip after her voice cracked slightly. Leave it to Angel to prove her wrong. Flashes of that visit to LA began to fill her mind and make her uncomfortable. "I wasn't completely fueled by rage, you know... I was also concerned- for... for my friends- my family."
That reminded Faith- something she wasn't around for, "Sorry about Joyce, B. She was... I-I didn't know her long and I even got to thinking she was a mother to me, too. She was just so- inviting... Guess I screwed that up too. Her last impression of me isn't anything better than I left with you in Sunny D. I don't have time to make things up, tell my tales of life in the slammer, stopping Angel, or what I've been dreaming about for weeks on end when I'd finally taste freedom once again. All that right now just seems irrelevant and pointless. I'm here because I'm needed, and the reason I'm here is because of Fate. You may be the Chosen One, but you're not alone."
"Thanks, Faith. That means alot to me," Buffy let out a defeated sigh and offered a shaky smile to the dark slayer. She never in a million years imagined that she'd be having a conversation like this with the same person she tried to kill off and feed to her forbidden love. Something stirred inside her, however. It was a truth that needed to express itself, "B-but I can't help feeling... I'm still alone."
"Look, I've put you through some wicked hell, B... I know that, but I'm still on your side. I knew I'd be coming here, you know," Faith gripped the railing a moment and pushed off it to walk back towards the door to the house. "Before I was attacked in the jail, I knew I'd have to come out here. Don't know how, or why... even when- but somethin's goin down here. I can feel it, you can feel it- and when we were connected to each other in that coma together," her eyes moved over to match Buffy's now. Despite the fact that it was a long time ago, it was evident both slayers remembered the visions like yesterday. "You knew what you had to do then." She studied Buffy a moment, "Yeah, I remember that too- wasn't just your mind..." She sighed and then continued, "I didn't tell you what happened in LA- that's for Angel to explain in detail with time..." She ran her hand down the doorway with slight unease, but watching Buffy intently. "but I got knocked into another coma..." Crossing her arms now and leaning against the door, the smile at the irony of being knocked out again was evident. "Should just up and die, if comas're all I'm good for. Anyway, something connected our minds to share the same vision- and whatever that something was... it wanted me alive. Angel reminded me that I needed to live... Next thing I know, I come here and realize why."
Buffy's puzzled look seemed to intrigue Faith, causing her to cock her head slightly, "B, you're broken. I don't know who... or what got you thinking on this alone deal... but I'm not going anywhere."
After a long silence, Faith picked the floor back up, "I'm gonna throw a round of punches before the potentials wake up." Turning on her heel to walk into the house, Buffy was left outside to wonder what exactly did happen in LA. Faith had also left her with a strange feeling that, if she considered it remotely, she didn't feel so lonely anymore. Maybe now they had a chance with The First... just maybe.
What Buffy failed to realize with the tingling slayer senses of hers, however, was the fact that she was, indeed, not alone. She was being watched now... and it wasn't by Faith.