2002

Sunnydale

Faith had been walking for hours now, re-discovering the streets she had walked so many times years before. It was past three in the morning by now, the streets mostly deserted, with hardly any vampire or demon activity. She could feel that familiar tingle of dissatisfaction after a fight that didn't leave her completely exhausted. A restlessness that seeped into her bones and made her feel wired, like she'd just downed a couple pots of coffee and taken a few bottles of speed. Every nerve ending stood at attention; add to this her tense muscles from worrying over everything the past few days, and Faith was a walking bomb.

She found herself in front of the Bronze, staring up at the new sign with knitted eyebrows. She hadn't been here in ages, not in this body anyway. She remembered her celebratory night with Buffy here, dancing whatever cares she had left away, exhilarated from the hunt and the adrenaline. Mere hours later she would kill a man...

Faith was shaken out of her thoughts when she was suddenly grabbed from behind, a snarl audible at her shoulder. Her senses screamed * VAMPIRE! * and she mentally thanked TPTB for the send-down as she flipped the vamp over her back, slamming him to the ground. A quick once-over revealed a mud-caked shirt. This guy was newly risen. Piece of cake. She had him dusted in a split second, but hadn't been counting on any pals of the fledgling being around until she was once again attacked from behind, and two more vamps appeared in front of her.

"Oh, shit." She managed, knowing she was stuck as the vampire pushed her face-first against the wall of a building, pinning her from head to toe. She struggled, sensing more vamps circling.

Faith managed to break free, glancing about long enough to count nine vamps, at least, before running like hell.

2003

Sunnydale

Buffy accepted the glass of water from Willow gratefully, taking a long sip. "It's Drusilla." She said softly, "He...he could be dead..."

"I'm sure he's fine." Xander cut in, "Dru wouldn't hurt her precious Spike...not too much anyway."

Buffy sighed, "I won't be able to take Dru on alone. I did some digging and found out she's been assembling an army of vamps and demons to take me down."

"So we call for back up. Right?" Tarah offered.

"Yeah, call in the LA troops?"

Buffy thought for a moment, "I'll give Angel a call...Faith will definitely want to help."

"Wow...reunion time, huh?" Willow muttered, "Only in Sunnydale..."

2002

Sunnydale

Faith was far into Sunnydale by the time she allowed herself to stop running, her breath coming in short gasps. Slayer strength only stretched so far, and being attacked by ten vamps *and* running a few miles was her limit at the moment. She took in her surroundings and found herself int he swankier part of Sunnydale, with designer shops, hotels, and the art gallery. She leaned against the wall of a shop she recognized. She had bought her Homecoming dress here. April Fools...

"Not so much has changed, I guess." She muttered absently, pushing off the wall and looking behind her shoulder for any signs of the vampire gang as she went, not seeing the person walking toward her, head bowed.

The two figures collided, two simultaneous yelps of "OUCH!" Interrupting the quiet night. Faith whirled around to face a possible attacker, but stepped back as she realized who it was, "Wesley?"

The Englishman glared at her, rubbing his shoulder, "Walk much?"

Faith made a noise of disbelief, then laughed, "Oh, you're sarcastic now...Wow. That's new."

Wesley smiled sheepishly, letting his un-bruised arm fall to his side, "Yes, well..."

"So, what are you doing out so late?" Faith asked casually, starting to walk and he fell in step beside her.

"Just walking. You?"

"Getting attacked by vampire gangs." She replied with a shrug.

Wesley's eyebrows rose slightly, "Are they still around?"

"I lost them a while back." Faith assured him, "Sunrise is in about two hours, so they probably won't be back. I'll get them tomorrow when I can have some back up. Maybe you could come with?"

He smiled, but it was too dark for her to catch, "Maybe."

After a few beats, Faith cleared her throat, "Um, Wes...About earlier, I didn't really get to say what I wanted to say."

"What's that?"

"I really am sorry." She said slowly, "And I'm not saying it just to get you to forgive me; I'm saying it because it needs to be said. I really hate myself for the things I did. I wanted you to know that if I could take it all back--" Faith trailed off as tears sprung to her eyes, "Dammit, I can't seem to quit with the water works lately."

Wesley stopped and grabbed her hand impulsively, "I know."

Those two syllables were enough for Faith. She tightened her grip on his hand and they stood still on the sidewalk like that for endless moments, looking eye-to-eye. Faith leaned into him as he mirrored the action, until they were mere inches apart. Then, without warning, they were knocked apart as two vamps came barreling out of no where, followed by three more that Faith recognized from the gang from earlier.

"These are the guys." She called to Wesley, who had taken on the first two. She immediately took on the other three, landing a hard kick to the stomach of a lanky vamp in faded jeans and a Green Day T-Shirt. Her fist jerked back and caught an unseen vamp in the jaw, and then she dropped down, sweeping the legs of the third vamp out from under itself. Green Day Guy was struggling to his feet when she sprung up, her stake hitting home. Before Mr. Green Day had even faded she turned, taking out the one she had hit only moments before. The last vamp had struggled to his feet by now, and she easily staked him, just as Wesley finished off the final vampire on his side.

"That was fun." She panted, heading over to him, "You OK?"

"Dislocated my shoulder." He ground out, pain etched across his face.

"I know the feeling." She murmured, "How far away is your hotel?"

"A block that way." Wesley replied, gesturing with the jerk of his chin. Faith nodded.

"Got a mini-bar?"

"Yes, why?"

"You'll need the alcohol to numb the pain."