Chapter Two

15th April, 2003

Faith wandered though the Summers' house, standing tall. 'Come on, Faith,' she thought to herself, 'No time for sentimental crap, these people all hate you.'

Oh yeah, that made her feel better.

Besides, all these Slayer wannabe's didn't even know her, so she needed to make a good, tough impression on them.

There, that's better. Tough façade; in place.

"Oh my gosh," Faith heard a girl whisper, who sounded strangely familiar.

"Wha-" Faith stopped dead in her tracks. It was. It was Kennedy.

"Are you the Slayer we've all been hearing so much about?"

"Are you a potential?"

The two girls exclaimed to each other at once, then Faith smiled and blushed a little.

"I'm sorry. How have you been? All. Slayer-like."

"I've been. Good. Good." Kennedy looked behind her shoulder nervously. "I, um. I need to get some lunch. It was nice seeing you again, Faith!"

Faith watched the younger girl retreat quickly to the kitchen, and sat down on the couch thinking, as Willow came into the room.

"Faith? What do you look so worried about? Anyone would think you were concerned about something." Willow joked, hoping to get some kind of reaction. It was no fun talking to Faith when she was sitting like a stone.

"What? Uh, no. No! I'm- I'm fine. Fine."

"O. kay." Willow quirked an eyebrow. "Have you seen Kennedy? Cute girl, dark hair."

"Yeah. Yeah. Went into the kitchen. Said she wanted something to eat."

Willow walked toward the kitchen, giggling and muttering to herself. "Could have just asked me."

Faith turned back to staring at her hands, as she tried to process what Willow just said. Willow would've gotten Kennedy lunch? She shook her head clear of any thoughts as she felt the couch sink lower beside her, and a hand being placed on her back.

"Faith? Something wrong?"

Faith jumped a little at the sound of Buffy's voice. "No. I'm fine. Just a little. Um, reminiscent."

"About?"

"Stuff." Faith kept staring at her hands, trying not to blink.

"Yeah. Me too."

Faith turned around quickly. "What?"

"You know. With. Everything. When you first came here. How you left."

"Buffy?" Faith asked tentatively.

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry." Faith sighed; after all these years, she'd never actually gotten the words out. She'd tried, and she'd said it without meaning - But she'd never said it in full, and meant it. It felt good. Like she'd accomplished something.

"I know you are. Me too." Buffy leaned over, and gave the formerly badass Slayer a hug. "I've gotta go give another somewhat depressing speech," Buffy said, half-joking, "You wanna come?"

Faith gave her a half smile, "Sure, sounds like fun." Both girls stood up, and made their way to the kitchen, where they assumed all the potentials would be.