Chapter 2

"And then the whole town just...collapsed..."

"It was...breathtaking...except for all of the death and screaming..."

"Yeah, the Hellmouth was roaring, too!"

Vi, Rona, and Kennedy were all busy telling their stories of becoming Slayers to the newbies. Buffy was using violence against the big screen TV that refused to work. Dawn was stuffing fratadas into her mouth and Belle was goofing around with Haley.

Everyone was vibrant and colorful, except for one girl in the corner of the living room--Miley--Candice's best friend.

Faith knew her pain. She remembered what it was like to lose someone she loved, too. Though this time her thoughts didn't revolve around Robin, they were centering on Diana Dormer--Faith's first Watcher.

The dark Slayer made her way to Miley. She sat down next to her and nodded her head. "I know what you feel."

Miley exhaled heavily. She looked into Faith's eyes. "You--you do?"

Faith nodded again. "Sure do, kid. I know what you're thinkin', too. See, what that Turok-Han did to your gal pal, is exactly what a vampire did to my Watcher."

Miley's jaw dropped. "You mean, a vampire ripped your Watcher's throat out?"

Faith remained still.

Miley knew what Faith was thinking.

"You okay?" the new Slayer asked.

Faith jerked her head and looked at Miley. "I will be, and so will you. Just hang in there, won't be long 'til you gotta drop by the hornet's nest again."

"How do you deal with it, though?" Miley asked, curious. There was a tint of hope in her eyes.

Faith recognized that hope, too. "You just live. Life's not a song...it's just...living..."

Miley smiled. "Thanks Faith, man you helped. I think I'll go lie down."

Faith grinned. "Yeah, you better. I think I should, too."

Later that afternoon...

Faith leaned on the balcony that overlooked the entire mansion's grounds.

"What's up?"

Faith spun around to find Buffy looking at her. "What?"

"Up."

Faith tilted her head, confused. "Oh! Nothin'."

"Robin. It's about Robin, isn't it?"

Faith looked away.

"I know what it feels like. When I killed Angel, when Riley left, when Spike died...it was all the same thing." Buffy pleaded. "So...you can get through this. I have...except for the death of Riley which really hasn't happened yet..."

"Riley?"

"The one you boned in my body." Buffy said, smirking.

The dark Slayer flashed her trademark grin. "Oh, that one...he had some skills."

Buffy smiled. "Who do you think taught him those moves?"

Faith chuckled. It evaporated quickly and she frowned. "How did you...how did you get over Angel?"

The Slayer looked at her feet. "All the wrong ways. I ran away, hiding. I went as far away as I could...I thought I could get away from everything...and when that didn't work and I eventually brought all of my nasties with me, I realized I had a job to do. And I had to do it to forget."

Faith seemed to ponder this. "I miss him Buffy, I really do."

Buffy closed her eyes. "I know."

Faith turned around. "Buff..."

Buffy looked puzzled. "Since when did you start calling me 'Buff?'"

"I had a dream..."

Buffy nodded her head. "About Robin. Which is wierd...I had a dream about Angel..."

Faith turned back around. "Smelling something funky?"

"Defy...funky."

Faith gulped.

"Apocalyptic."