A/N: Hope you enjoy this next chapter! Special thanks to RandomSelection, Divine Fighter, Kenyon87, and Seventh Theory for your reviews.

Chapter One- Faith

~*~*1 Year Later*~*~

So much had happened in the last year since Faith had escaped Sunnydale with Angel. Angel had encouraged her to grow as a person in ways she never thought where possible. Faith lay on her bed staring at the ceiling as she reflected on the last year of her life. After arriving in Los Angeles Angel had set up a detective agency so he could help the ones that the cops were not able to. He had encouraged Faith to go back to get her GED so that afterwards she would be able to get her detectives license to make the business more legal. Faith had finally finished getting her GED and soon she was going to head down for her mini graduation to get her diploma. She was happy there were not that many of them graduating so that they could hold the ceremony inside. This meant that Angel could be there when she received her diploma. However, Angel was not the only one that was going to come watch her. After they had arrived in L.A they had met Gunn and Lorne. Gun was the leader of a local gang who were also trying to defend their community from the things that went bump in the night. Lorne was a demon who ran this local demon bar. He was able to read your soul and tell you things about your future or past after you sang a song. Then there was Fred. They had rescued her from Lorne's home dimension. That was there humble demon fighting group. She wouldn't have had it any other way. She often wished that a certain blonde slayer were able to be there too. That was the one thing she regretted. She wished she would have had the chance to tell Buffy how she really felt. She desperately wanted to know if Buffy could ever feel the same way as Faith. It was true that Faith was happy with her new life in L.A, but a better life would be one where she could be with Buffy. A knock on the door jarred her from her thoughts.

"You read Faith?" Angel asked.

"Yeah," Faith replied as she climbed to her feet.

Angel opened the door and stood in the door way. Faith knew he was proud of all that she accomplished since they had come to Los Angeles. Faith was proud of herself as well. She never thought she could get this far. Angel pulled his hand from behind his back to reveal a box.

"You got me something?" Faith asked.

"Well you deserve it," Angel replied with a small smile as he handed her the box.

Faith fingered the box for a moment before she took the lid of the box. Inside the box was a knife about fifteen 15-5/8" and the blade was 8 ΒΌ". The blade was stainless steel and the handle was made of simulated red bone with a relief carved texture. It looked hot and Faith loved it. She could not wait to go patrolling and use that knife on a demon.

"Thanks," Faith told him.

"Anytime Faith," Angel told her, "Now let's get going so we're not late."

Faith nodded and followed Angel out of her room as they headed to the main hall of the Hyperion Hotel where the others were gathered. Fred, Gunn, and Lorne sat talking about how they should go celebrate at the demon karaoke bar that Lorne owns. Lorne stood up first when they noticed Faith and Angel walk into the room. He went over and pulled the slayer in for a hug.

"I just wanted to say Congratulations before you all left," Lorne told her, "I wish I could go as well, but I have to set up Caritas for tonight."

"Thanks," Faith said, "And it's cool. We'll see you later."

Gunn and Fred stood up and joined the group.

"We should get going," Gunn pointed out, "We don't want to be late."

Faith nodded. She followed the gang out into the night. After a quick goodbye to Lorne they piled into Angel's car and took off for the school. Faith was happy she could share this moment with all her friends, but at the same time she couldn't help but wish that Buffy was there to celebrate as well. Faith had come such a long way and she wished Buffy could see her progress.

A/N: I wanted to show the progress of Faith before I let her and Buffy meet up. I have a very interesting way that this is going to happen, but if anyone as any suggestions please let me know. I love suggestions.