So I got really sick and I've only recently have started to feel better enough to write and post. Hopefully, I don't get sick again. Hope you enjoy this chapter. Just a warning things do get a little dark before they start to get better BTW.


It took Buffy a little while to focus her thoughts enough to take stock of the situation, having two sets of memories warring inside her skull made it hard to concentrate.

She was laying on a full spring mattress that had a spring on the verge of coming loose and Buffy's Left arm was numb. The warm weight at her left combined with the numbness of her limb told Buffy that Faith was right next to her. Faith's groan confirmed her thoughts.

"Fuck," The darker-haired girl let out.

"Language" Buffy chided instinctively then frowned at the thoughts swirling around her head. Buffy didn't care what type of language Faith used unless it was in front of Dawn, but this world Buffy didn't want her sister Faith to make a habit of cursing. Rubbing a hand across her face, Buffy knew that especially now she and Faith were going to have to talk. Their relationship needed to be worked out because half of Buffy wanted to protect her, and half already knew she didn't need it.

"Seriously B?" Came a young voice and Buffy turned her head to look at her new sister. Faith was small and skinny with large dark eyes that Buffy knew she would eventually grow into. Faith in reverse her mind supplied. She watched as the younger girl sat up, rubbing her eyes and frowning. "This bed sucks," Buffy nodded then sat up and stretched shaking her left arm to try and wake it up.

She really hated the pins and needles sensation.

Making her way into the small bathroom she frowned at her reflection in the mirror. At the age of 17 otherworld Buffy was tanned with light blonde hair that she made sure looked good, and despite being out every night patrolling and getting up early to go to school Buffy always looked healthy and well-rested. This Buffy was pale with slightly oily dirty blonde hair that had grown long down past the middle of her back, and dark bags under her eyes with her lips slightly chapped, Buffy also looked skinnier than her original self did. This was probably due to the countless moves her family did and always being on edge around their dad.

Suddenly Buffy's eyes widen, and she ran towards the bedroom, letting out a curse of her own when she realized the time.

"Faith!" She yelled at the young girl who was still on the bed. "Get up we gotta get moving!" Chocolate eyes looked at her in confusion then widened. They were supposed to be long gone by now, Buffy had the money to finally get her sister and herself away from their father and they had fallen asleep.

Both girls moved around the room stuffing everything they needed into their duffels, but the opening and closing of the living room door and a slurred curse had them freezing mid-pack.

"Girl, where the hell is dinner?" Came a gruff yelled and Buffy let out a breath, looking over at her sister Faith's face was the combination of fear and anger. Buffy widened her eyes in a silent 'stay here' and turned to go into their living room.

"Hey, how was the hunt?" She asked with a fake perky voice, trying to keep down the trepidation she felt at seeing the man who was supposed to be this Buffy and Faith's father.

"Done, now answer the question!" He yelled hazel eyes that looked so much like her own narrowed in anger and Buffy refused to allow herself to show fear.

"It's only 4, I haven't started yet." She hoped that didn't get her a smack in the face, but that depended entirely on how much he's had to drink. Luckily for them, it wasn't at that point yet.

"Oh," He left out and Buffy almost let out a sigh in relief. That relief was short-lived when she felt someone come to her side and resisted the urge to shove Faith back into the bedroom when the man's gaze landed on her sister slayer. He licked his lips and them smiled at the girls, Faith surprised her by gripping her wrist tightly at it. "You know it's been a while since we had some take out, and you two have been very good girls. Honey, why don't you go and get us a bucket of chicken at that place up the road, get any kinda sides you want. You can even take the truck." He dug into his pockets taking out some cash and the keys, the entire time his eyes on Faith.

Buffy walked forward and the man's eyes glanced at her for a second as she grabbed the cash and keys then turned back towards the smaller girl. Buffy resisted the urge to sneer and grab the man who she had inherited her looks from, Faith had inherited her mother's looks and every day was looking more and more like the mother that had died in their house fire so long ago. Buffy knew that was the reason why the man had taken such an interest in the younger girl.

"Let's go, Faith," Buffy ordered, and the girl started forward but was stopped by the man, Buffy was not going to call him father, and she saw Faith's hands curl into fists.

"Hey now, you can go by yourself. You're a big girl, plus it's been a while since Faith, and I have spent any time alone together." Buffy had never in the 14 years, adult Faith's face popped in her mind for a second, but Buffy pushed it away, that Faith has been alive let her father ever be alone with the younger girl and she was not about to let it happen now.

"I may need help with the food," She started but the man cut her off.

"Dammit, girl! I said go yourself!" He turned towards her anger set on his features, but Buffy didn't care She's faced hundreds of Vampires, a freaking hell god, and the first evil. There was no way this man was going to scare her, despite the tiny voice in the back of her head telling her this was bad.

"No," She growled out and the man's eyes widened.

"What did you say?" The sentence was said lowly with a hint of a growl and Buffy stood her ground.

"No, I am not leaving her alone with you." Buffy's eyes caught Faith's movement behind the man, and it proved to be a mistake. She didn't see the fist coming, and pain blossomed in her cheek. She hit the floor hard, landing rough hands and cursing her now hurt knee. Having no time to think the man was on her. A kick to her stomach had Buffy gasping for air. Trying to get up her hair was grabbed and pulled tight by a fist before her face was smacked into a wall. Her hair was pulled back again but suddenly let go.

Buffy blinked away the spots in her vision and forced the pain away, an action both world Buffy's were used to doing. Turning around she saw Faith had jumped onto the man's back trying to choke him out, but she got slammed twice in the wall and saw the small girl falter. Buffy stepped into action.

She knew she didn't have her slayer speed, strength, or stamina right now, but she didn't spend every day practicing different fighting and weapon styles with Giles to not have some of it stick. Getting into a stance she attacked the man, kicking one of his legs out then in the chest. He didn't go down but teetered slightly and Buffy aimed a punch to the face. It glanced off his ear as the older man dodged. A beefy fist was now aimed at her and Buffy barely dodge out of the way, but her knee twisted in pain and she was unbalanced unable to dodge the next punch that hit her in the chest.

She stumbled back and was tackled hitting her head on the floor. A hand made its way around her throat suddenly and she couldn't breathe. Gasping for breath she clawed at the hand, trying desperately to get it to loosen.

"Let her go!" She heard a voice cry out and saw Faith once again climb onto the man's back-scratching and biting. The hand not around her neck grabbed dark hair but the girl refused to let go. Through blurry vision Buffy saw something shiny at her side and reached for it, remembering vaguely that it had fallen out of the man's coat. Wrapping her hands around it she swung it at her attacker. Blood splatter against her face and took her by surprise, the hand at her throat loosened and she blinked through the tears to see what happened.

The object she had picked up with a silver knife, used to kill a number of supernatural things her mind whispered, and she had stabbed it into the man's neck. Staring in absolute horror, she realized she must have hit an artery because there was just so much blood. Buffy watched as he reached for his own neck, scrambling back as he started to fall then slump on the floor. She watched him take his last breath, her own breathing loud in her ears.

"Buffy," a voice whispered but she paid it no mind. She had killed a man, not a vampire or some other supernatural creature but a flesh and blood human being. "Buffy," The voice was louder, and Buffy realized that she had stopped breathing herself. "Buffy!" yelled Faith and time which seemed to stand still suddenly moved again and Buffy looked at the younger girl. Faith's own eyes, which looked old despite her age, were wide and intense. "We need to do something," She urged, and Buffy nodded.

At first teenage Buffy had been upset at the small house that had been rented because it was so far from a neighbor and no one would hear them if they cried for help, but now she was glad. She knew that they needed to get out of there, She may be able to call the cops and tell them it was self-defense but they would still take her into custody and separate her from Faith. Absolutely hating her next plan right now she saw no other choice.

"We need to get rid of the body," She told Faith, pushing away the memories that resurfaced at the term, she instructed Faith to grab the shovel, salt, and gas from the man's truck. The girl nodded snatching the keys away and running out to grab the items. Buffy felt like she was going to be sick, running on adrenaline and bad decisions, but forced herself to grab the rags and bleach from the kitchen. Then running to the bedroom and grabbing a blanket she worked to wrap the man up then proceeded to clean the blood from the floor. Faith ran in with the stuff and nodded at Buffy immediately moving to help her.

They worked in tandem silence each seemed to know exactly what to do. Buffy scrubbed at her face in the bathroom refusing to think of what exactly she was scrubbing or why it got thereafter she was cleaned, she set about cleaning the knife as well. Once a shallow grave was dug and all of the evidence was in, including Buffy and Faith's clothes, salt and gas was poured in and lit on fire.

Letting the events finally catch up to her, she kneeled beside the fire and started dry heaving for once grateful at not having been able to afford to eat earlier. A small hand rubbed her back and soothing words were murmured in her ear but couldn't really hear them. After a while, the two girls sat and just stared at the flames not daring to move until the embers died completely.

"If anyone asks," Buffy finally spoke.

"He died on a hunt," Faith answered nodding, and Buffy was grateful the other girl knew.