"Happy birthday to you,  happy birthday to you,  happy birthday dear Buffy and Faith,  happy birthday to you."

Faith grinned excitedly at her twin as they simultaneously took huge breaths and each blew out the eight candles on their cake.

"Presents" Buffy screamed excitedly and ran to the pile in the corner of the room.   Feverishly she tore the paper from various boxes barely pausing to look at the contents, Faith hot on her heels.  Faith found a card in her pile with writing she didn't recognise.  Reluctant though she was to pause her present opening curiosity made her open the envelope. The card inside was pink.  Faith screwed up her nose, she didn't like pink.  Inside the card read:

Dear Faith,

Happy Birthday.  I can't believe it's been so long since I saw you last.  It will never be so long again because guess what you're coming to live with me! 

See you soon honey.

All my love

Dad

Faith looked at her mum her eyes wide in disbelief, she knew there would be no arguing.  Joyce looked back at her daughter and choked back a sob.  She held out her arms but Faith walked straight out the door.  When Joyce followed Faith to her room she found her pulling all her clotes out of her wardrobe, a holdall on the bed and a steely look on Faith's face.

"Honey stop this you're not going for a little while.  You know I don't want to lose you don't you darling."

"Why do I have to go Mom?  Why me and not Buffy?"

"I don't know darling.  Your dad filed for custody, I tried to block it for ages but he finally won.  You know we both love you though, I just wish we could both have both our twins.  I guess this is the closest we're going to get."

Faith nodded but her heart hardened slightly against her mother and for the first time she felt bitterness against her twin.  Much as she and Buffy bickered they shared a deep affection for each other and a connection that seemed to run between their souls.  People thought it was just a twin thing but the future proved otherwise.

Over the next few days Faith gradually grew more and more distant.  Buffy didn't quite understand what was happening but was upset by the growing frostiness with which Faith treated her.  She grasped that Faith was going away but until the day her dad arrived didn't fully realise that it was forever.

"Hey there Buffster" called Hank as he spotted his daughter's blonde head.  He gave her a hug as she came to greet him but as soon as Faith appeared Buffy felt like an outsider.

"Bye honey" Joyce whispered as she held her daughter close, rivers running from her eyes.  She placed a silver necklace around Faith's neck and held her as if she'd never let her go.

Buffy pulled her sister from their mother's grip and gave her a hug. "You Ok Faith?"

"Five by Five B, Speak to ya soon."

And with that Faith and her father left leaving Joyce and Buffy to live their own lives.