Summary: What if Buffy had gone with Angel into that hell dimension on the finale of Season2? My first fan fiction, I think this would be considered AU.

Disclaimers: Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon own it all. This just all just for entertainments sake, I hope.

Oz and Willow drove Buffy and Angel over to his old apartment building, but not before making a blood stop.

Willow looked over at Buffy, "It's so weird to think of you as a mom, a mom who drinks blood. How does it feel Buffy? To be a vampire, I mean. Is it really different, were you scared, are you used to it now? There's so much I want to talk to you about. Since you left, I've really only had Oz, which is super, he's great. But Xander's all into his Cordy thing and I just so missed you."

"The guys are coming back Will, but I promise, chocolate, pop corn and a very long talk. We have tons to catch up on, 3 months for me, 20 years worth for you."

"Oh goody! I love our long winded, late night, girlie talks. Buffy, I'm so glad you're back and safe. I really missed you."

"Blood, diapers and baby formula, what every young couple needs to make it through the night." Oz handed the bags over to Buffy.

Oz dropped them off in front of Angel's apartment. "Sure you don't want us to hang in case the electricity is off or something?"

"No, but thanks, Oz. My utilities are drawn out of my account." Angel said, with a sideways glance a Buffy.

"We'll stop by tomorrow. Buffy, I'm soglad you're back." Willow gave her friend a hug and they drove off.

Although the night air was warm, Buffy shivered. This is where it all started. Most teens just had to worry about unwanted pregnancy and STDs, but not Buffy. No, she has sex for the first time and she drives her lover's soul right out the window.

"You okay, babe?" He took the baby from her arms.

"What? Yeah. Just some major flashbacks. Wow, your old place. Well. Let's go up."

"Maybe this wasn't such a great idea. Memories and all, I didn't think."

"It was a long time ago, sweetie. We'll all be fine. Connor needs a change and we need some sleep. It's weird, I feel like I should be out patrolling, but I actually think I feel the other slayer out there."

"You can. As vampires we can sense slayers. It's probably twice as strong for you." Angel opened the front door to the building. Luckily, his keys were still at the mansion.

"Guess we'll be meeting her tomorrow." Buffy looked up at Angel as she walked into the building. "The place hasn't changed at all, has it? "

"Buff, remember; only three months have past here. Are you going to be okay meeting your mom on your own? I can come with you, we both can."

"Oh yeah, I can so see that. 'Hi Mom, here's my vampire mate who, by the way, just happened to turn me about 18 years ago. And here's our son, human most likely.' That would so not go over the way I had planned. Can so not handle that."

Angel rubbed the back of his neck in frustration, "And I can so do without the sarcasm. Let's not become a typical, arguing married couple. Let's try to remember we love each other and we are both super stressed and we have a little one to get to bed. Come on, let's just go in."

Buffy rolled over and looked at Angel as he slept. He was so beautiful, in every way she could ever imagine, even after her pity me state last night, Angel changed Connor and made a makeshift bed for him and ran a shower for her, after which he joined her. He than carried her to bed and made love to her like it was their first time. After over 20 years together, it still amazed her how he could make her feel, so alive, like every nerve ending were exposed. She loved her mate and no one could come between them, no one had better try.

She kissed him and went in to check on Connor. He was awake and looked up to her as soon as she came into the room. Her good fortune seemed to be endless at this moment in time.

The tunnel was dark, dank and so smelly. Faith couldn't help a chuckle as she looked back to see Xander trudging through his fair share of muck. This idea of the Scooby gang backing her up in her slaying duties was a totally foreign concept, but during the last couple of months she had come to accept and even admire the loyalty of the group. Even Cordelia, to a certain extent.

And now, here she was with Xander, searching out a nest of vamps Giles had heard about. For having no slayer powers, Xander was more than willing to get into the thick of things, even when Cordelia had complained that she wouldn't put up with him being killed after she gave up her popularity for him. He was definitely plucky.

"You know, Xand, I've got a feeling G was a little off on this one. We've been through these tunnels two or three times, and nothing. I need to slay something. Let's take off. I'm heading for the cemetery so I can kick a little demon butt." With that, Faith headed for the nearest exit.

Unfortunately for them, 5 very large, leather-clad vampires were coming in the same entry way and they were about to cross paths with a very itchy slayer.

"Alright, so I should never doubt the G-man. Xand, heads up! Five soon to be dusty vamps heading this way!" She was so in the mood for a good fight and she couldn't hide her excitement, Joyce would not be pleased. Just this morning she was mothering her, "Faith, you have to make self preservation a priority, it's not just you anymore. You have a lot of people counting on you making it through everyday. I couldn't bear to lose you, too."

Yeah, Joyce was alright. A little over protective, but considering she never had that from anyone but her dead watcher, it was okay.

The vamps made their move as soon as they saw her. She did a quick back flip and dusted two of them before Xander even pulled his stake out. One vamp landed on him and was about to tear his throat out when Faith threw a dagger through his heart. He looked wide-eyed at Xander before, he too was dust.

"Thanks Faith, I owe you major big time."

"Yeah, well Cordy would never let you patrol again if I let you die."

The biggest of the 5 rolled his eyes, "Are you two gonna keep yammering or are we gonna finish this?"

Faith just smiled at him, "Oh big guy, we're already finished, you're just a step behind." With that, she tossed another knife to Xander and jumped kicked the big one onto the ground. With a quick look at Xander, "You can finish off the little one, can't ya X?" Faith jumped on top of the vamp and dusted him with a quick jam to the chest.

With a shrug, Xander took aim and threw the knife at the last vampire. When he opened his eyes, this one too was dust.

"I did it, Faith. Yea me!" He looked at her with a side-long glance. Didn't I?"

"You so did it. I'm thinking we're going to have to test you in some other areas. If you can do that with your eyes closed, what other hidden talents are waiting to be used?"

After she dropped Xander at his place, she took the long way home. Her life had changed so much this past summer. Once her watcher was killed she wasn't sure what to do. She just knew she didn't want another one. She had heard nothing but how great Buffy, the original slayer was, so she thought a little trip to Sunnydale might just be the ticket. If she could take on this slayer and win, well, there would be no more comparisons and she'd be the best, the first.

But things didn't exactly go as planned. By the time she hit Sunnydale, Buffy had just been sucked into some alternate dimension or something. And not just that, she got sucked in with her vampire lover. Man, what a friggin' soap opera. But they all took her in without question. Giles, Willow, Xander, even Buffy's mom wouldn't let her stay at that dive called a motel. She made her move in and gave her the guest room. It was the nicest place she had ever slept in. And Joyce was the ever present mom. Faith had never experienced that either and she treasured her late night talks with Joyce, although she'd never admit to anyone else.

Giles contacted the council and was made her temporary watcher until the Buffy thing was cleared up. Faith trained with him everyday and had to admit she'd developed more than a little bit of a crush on him. She always had a thing for older guys and this one was totally hot. "I mean if a slayer can have a vampire with a soul for a lover and Will could have a werewolf, who's to say I couldn't make it with a watcher?" Hey, a girl could dream.

Faith could tell something was up the minute she walked into the house on Revello Drive. Giles was in a quite and desperate conversation with Joyce and she was crying. Giles saw Faith and stood up.

"Faith, how was patrol?" He took his glasses off and started rubbing furiously. Now she knew something was up, for sure.

"5 by 5, we dusted 'em, no prob. So, what's up?" She fell into the chair across from Joyce.

"Faith, dear, I'm so glad you're home safely. I need to go up to bed, we'll talk in the morning. Giles, please fill Faith in on what's going on. There's some dinner in the oven."

She waited until Joyce had made her way up the stairs, then she looked at Giles, under heavy lids.

"Okay, G, so what's the story? Buffy come home?" Giles knew Faith was playing the tough as nails slayer, but during the past few months he had learned to read her. She was at her most vulnerable when she felt Buffy was being held up to her. So this was not easy for her.

"Actually, yes. I only cover a few of the facts with Joyce, Buffy wants to talk to her mother about the past few months, or years, depending which side of the vortex you're coming from. We need to discuss more than a few things and I don't want to disturb Joyce any more than needed. Can we go out for coffee of something?"

"Yeah, give me five minutes." Faith was in and out of the shower and dressed in five minutes. It never was a good idea to keep a hot man waiting and Faith was more than a little curious to find out what was going on.