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.

"Wow, Giles, that's some story. So, where do I come into all this? I sort of doubt Buffy is going to be cool with me taking over her territory, I wouldn't. Am I out of here with a new watcher of my own?" Faith's head was lowered over her cup of coffee and she couldn't look Giles in the eyes. She couldn't bear the thought of him sending her away, but she had been ready for it all summer.

Giles put his hand under her chin and lifted it to face him. "Faith, don't be ridiculous. You will be needed more than ever and I am certain you and Buffy will sort everything out regarding slayer status. You must realize the council may not even accept Buffy as a slayer once they learn of her being turned into a vampire. This whole situation is totally unprecedented and we will all have to be flexible and try to work this out together."

Faith had never felt so relieved in her life, although she would never show. "Okay, so I guess I'll be meeting her tomorrow. What did you tell her about me?"

"Just that we had a new slayer who wore leather at all times and caused Xander to drool endlessly and Cordelia to continuously hit him."

"Yeah, I'm sure that's just what you told her."

Angel stood in the doorway, watching Buffy hold his child. This was a site he could never have imagined in his wildest fantasies, and he had had plenty concerning this woman. "Couldn't sleep?"

She looked up, startled. "Did I wake you? Sorry, just thought we'd spend some quite time together, looks like the next few days are going to be pretty well filled. I just met him after all. Things are moving a little too fast."

"Well, this is Sunnydale, not Ragnor. Some demons yes, but no hellmouth to speak of. Can I join you two?"

Buffy scooted over to let Angel have a seat. He put his arms around the both of them and took an unneeded breath. He loved the smell of them, he could recognize it anywhere. It was strange how quickly he was adjusting to the role of father. His fear of being a bad father had abated, as had his fear that he would resent Connor for taking Buffy's attention away from him. Angel hadn't told Buffy about that one and he hardly admitted it to himself, but the moment he saw his son, he knew it was unfounded as well.

Buffy handed Conner over to Angel and got up from the couch. "I think I'm going to get dressed and head over to mom's before the sun comes up. I just can't sit here all day waiting. So, think you can handle it? I really need to take care of this."

"Of course. I know you have to deal with this, just remember, I love you more than anything in all the worlds, now and forever. You will always have me and Connor." Angel came over to Buffy and held her close. She looked up at him and kissed him.

"I love you, too. So much."

The walk to Revello Drive was uneventful. It appeared all the beasties had called it a night, so Buffy had a little time to ponder how she was going to break all this news to her mother. She really loved her mom and she certainly didn't deserve this. All she ever did was give birth to a daughter and then the universe took over and decided what her destiny was going to be. Her poor mom never had a chance. As for her father, well, no need to involve him in any of this since he didn't seem to want to be a part of her life anyway. Strange how one little decision, like jumping into an inter-dimensional vortex with your lover, could take one in such a different life path. Wow, way too deep. Let's just stick with the facts.

Buffy looked up and found herself in front of the house she had called home for 2 years. It was almost 5 and the sun was coming up. Oh crap! She forgot, she now needed to be invited in, she'd have to knock. Okay, here we go. She heard a car pull up and turned around to see Giles dropping off a drop dead gorgeous girl.

As he turned the corner, Giles saw Buffy standing outside the house and the sun was just about to come up over the trees. "Faith, you have to get Buffy into the house."

"Is that her?" She was so small, so this was the infamous Buffy, the vampire slayer. Guess she couldn't wait. As Giles pulled up, Faith jumped out of the car and ran towards the first slayer.

"Hey B., I'm Faith. Want to come into the house before you turn into a pile of dust? That is an invitation, in case you were wondering." With that, she grabbed Buffy and ran into the house.

"It's you. I don't know quite what to say." Buffy just stared at the dark haired girl.

"I can so tell Giles is your watcher, you talk like him. Cool." Faith just smiled at Buffy's discomfort. She thought she was going to be the one to feel like the outsider, but looking at Buffy's face, Faith could see the insecurity, the questioning. The fear? "Your mom is going to be so jazzed to see you. She's been super worried, but like I told her, you're THE Slayer, so it's all 5 by 5. Right?"

Buffy knew her mouth was wide open, but she could seem to shut it. Composure, she thought, you are almost 40, after all. "Yeah, 5 by 5."

The two girls sat down at the kitchen counter and shared a cup of coffee, waiting for Joyce to come down. "So, what's the what with you being a vampire? Did it totally wig you out? I mean, vamps are what we kill. Of course, not ones with souls. I don't know, B., seems you are holding all the aces here. Never gonna die, and from what the girls say, have a totally hot lover. Not to mention all the family and friends. Doesn't get much better from my point of view."

Faith continued to chat, on and on. Asking questions, but never really waiting for an answer. It gave Buffy the opportunity to study her counter-part. A very beautiful girl, a little too overtly sexual for her liking, but endearing, in that tough-as-nails way. Buffy could tell Faith was nervous, she could smell it. Her first inclination was to reassure her that her place as the slayer was never going to be questioned by her. But, Buffy wasn't sure that would be the truth. If the flair of possessiveness she felt when she saw Faith with Giles was any indicator, this wasn't going to be easy. She felt her familiar 17 year old self surface. Jeez, she was a 38 year old woman with a husband and baby son. This would so not do.

"So, like 20 years with one man, don't know if I would be able to deal with that, B. Hey, you don't mind if I call you B., do you?" Faith reached over for another donut.

"Um, no. Kinda gotten use to it during the past hour. You know what, I think I'm going to take a cup of coffee to mom and wake her up. I really can't wait to see her." With that, Buffy rose and poured a cup for her mom.

"Oh, she likes it white with one packet of Equal."

"It may be 20 years, but for some reason, I remembered, Faith." Buffy finished preparing the coffee and went upstairs, alone.

Buffy and Joyce walked towards the apartment she now shared with Angel. The sun was setting, and Joyce was concerned that her daughter might be burned to a crisp if they hit a spot of sunlight.

Buffy smiled at her mother. "Don't worry, mom. The sun's down far enough and we're totally in the shade. I know all the tricks from hunting vamps for all those years, I so have it covered."

Joyce couldn't help but look in awe at her little girl, who was no longer so little. She still looked like her troublesome teenager, but she could feel the maturity and confidence that wasn't there a mere 3 months ago. And now her baby had a baby and was "married" to her vampire soul-mate and was a vampire, herself. Life had certainly changed over the summer. Joyce just hoped she could accept Angel and the baby with some grace and dignity. It all frightened her a bit too much, she wished Rupert were here.

They had invited Faith to come with them, but she said she didn't want to intrude on family time. Buffy had just looked at her. "Well, I think you are family, Faith. But the introductions can wait." Faith just looked back at her with a blank face, unsure of how to react to that.

"Gotta go out on patrol, anyway. Hey, B., as soon as you guys are settled, let's make a date to slay some serious demon butt."

"5 by 5, Faith."

So, here were mother and daughter, walking to a new chapter in their lives. Please, Joyce thought to herself, let me be strong enough for this.

"Honey, I'm home!" Buffy looked sheepishly at her mother. "I always wanted to say that."

"Buffy, how did it go?" Angel came out of the bedroom with Connor in his arms. "Oh, Joyce, hello."

Joyce looked between Angel and his son. "Angel, welcome back and…I'm really unsure what to say next." Her eyes set on Connor. "Oh my god, is this my grandson?" Tears came to her eyes and she put her arms out to hold him, "Angel, may I?"

"Of course, Connor this is your grandmother. Joyce, this is Connor." He handed him over and realized that in this room were three generations of the Summers clan and he was now a part of that. And no matter how long he and Buffy lived, nothing would quite compare to the feeling of family that he was feeling at this moment. Joyce had a look of total unconditional love, the same expression he had seen when she looked at Buffy. Things were going to be okay, maybe not perfect, but what was?

Buffy came up behind him and put her arms around him. He looked at her, unable to articulate the feeling washing through him. She just smiled and looked into his eyes, "I know, babe, I know."