- One Year Ago -

Birds sang to the beautiful scenery surrounding the Sunnyville Park in the sun. Faith sat down next to Buffy on the edge of the bridge that was overlooking the road below. Traffic streamed past underneath them, but it was far enough away that you could talk comfortably. Faith handed Buffy one of the ice cream cones she had bought from a stand down the stone path.

"Chocolate covered vanilla with a cherry." Faith listed.

"You know me so well." Buffy said as she took the cone.

"I pay attention. I mean, could be the difference between life and death, or between a happy Buffy and a not so happy one." Faith said, tucking some hair behind Buffy's ear.

"I'd be happy without ice cream. I've got you." Buffy said with a smile.

Buffy looked out onto the light traffic and couldn't help but grin, "There's so many people out there... But I'm happy with just one."

"Yeah? Why's that?" Faith asked, licking her ice cream.

"Because I love you." Buffy said

"Buffy... I think I love you too. You mean more to me than any guy ever has. I haven't been out drinking ever since that night." Faith said, staring out at the park with the road running straight through the grassy woods, "I used to drink a lot. It was stupid, but it made me feel like there was no pain. Now I've got you to take it away, B. Every time you kiss me... Nothing else matters."

Buffy looked at Faith, touched by her words. Faith rarely said much, but when she does it means so much to Buffy. Faith was more about action than words. A lot of action was Faith's style. Buffy wasn't sure what to say, so she just leaned over and kissed Faith's, tasting the chocolate mingling between their lips.

"Get a room!" Some jerk yelled while walking past.

Faith broke the kiss and turned to the guy, "Hey, screw off!"

"Thanks, Faith. You're my sweet super hero." Buffy said, licking off more ice cream.

"We're both super heroes, B." Faith said, hugging Buffy gently.

"I wish I wasn't. I wish I could run away with you and live a happy life. A Slayer-free life. A life with just you and me." Buffy sighed and picked up a stone from the path. She chucked it at the lake nearly 50 feet away. It landed square and hopped to the other side of the lake in one movement, "Wish I couldn't do that."

"Come on, B. You like slaying... A lot." Faith teased, "You like the rush. Especially when they've got you pinned down, looks like there's no way out. I think the only thing you like better is when I pin you down."

Faith leaned over and grabbed Buffy's wrists, pinning them down into the soft grass beside her. She leaned down a kissed Buffy, which was kind of difficult since they were both giggling.

"I thought I told you two to get a room!" That same guy said, passing by again.

"And I thought I told you to go screw off." Faith said, releasing Buffy and standing up.

"Faith, don't bother with him. He isn't worth it." Buffy said, sitting up in the grass and glaring at him.

"Well, if you guys weren't gaying up the place." He said, stopping.

"You don't know who you're messing with." Faith said, trying to stay calm.

"All I see is a pissed off dyke." He laughed.\

"Can I deck him, B?" Faith asked.

"Faith, calm down." Buffy said.

"Listen to the lady, if she's even a lady." The man mocked.

That was the last straw. Faith swung her fist and landed a blow on his jaw. He flew back into a tree and laughed part way through a cough.

"You can mess with me all you want, but you cannot pick on Buffy. I'll end you." Faith spat.

Buffy stared wide eyed at the dent in the tree that the guy had made. She felt horribly useless. She could defend herself, but she was nowhere near as good of a fighter as Faith. She felt strangely safe, and at the same time, like she should be the decking the bastard. Buffy was standing next to Faith now, she didn't realize she was holding onto the denim jacket Faith loved so dearly.

"Didn't know you liked my jacket, B." Faith said.

"So you're that bitch's bitch?" He said after a moment of coughing.

"If you like it so much, you can hold on to it for me." Faith said, shedding her jacket into Buffy's arms and stomping towards the man, "What did you call her?"

- Present -

Buffy held onto the denim jacket Faith gave her so long ago, snuggling it as she lay in her bed. The jacket still smelled like Faith. She wanted to go in the other room and see Faith sitting there happily, and the jump into her arms. She wished none of this had happened. If she hadn't gone down that alleyway where Faith killed that man, if Faith hadn't confessed to Giles, if Giles hadn't called in the council, if Faith hadn't run from the council... If she hadn't left Faith for Angel... Tears burned hot trails down Buffy's face. Buffy might be happy if those things hadn't happened. She didn't care that Willow was researching post-coma side effects. She didn't care that Anya and Xander went back to get something nearly an hour ago, and are probably not even looking for that something. She didn't care that Giles locked himself in his book room. She didn't care that Tara was trying to avoid everyone. She didn't care that Riley left nearly two hours ago and hasn't returned. All she cared about was that Faith was sitting unconscious in the next room, probably never going to love her again.

"Buffy?" came a hoarse voice from the door.

Buffy looked up to see Faith leaning against the door, looking very sickly and staring straight Buffy.