Faith pov.

"I love you B." are the first words I say to those green eyes. Her eyes widen and she looks shocked and..hopeful.

"Y-you do?" she asks. I nod.

"Yeah, I do. I always have." I say. She looks a little stunned but I'm not backin down. Life is to short to not take action. Then a smile slowly spreads across her face.

"I-" she's cut off by Cordelia running in the room.

"Thank goodness you're up! I'm really sorry to interrupt what looks to be a serious moment but Julian really needs to see Faith." she says.

"Bring him in." I say. She nods and leaves the room. I look at B and give her a small smile.

"I love you too." she says. Guess she wanted to get that in the open. "God I love you, and you scared me." she says cryin a little.

"Sorry." I say brushin some hair outta her face. She leans into my touch then towards me. "Whoa, calm ya nerves B, I'm not goin nowhere. Save the kisses for later." I say. She pouts a little and Cordelia comes in with Julian who's cryin on her shoulder. "Hey what's wrong?" I ask as she hands him to me. He lays his head on my shoulder but holds her hand.

"You." he says calmin down a little.

"What about me?" I ask.

"You're sick but auntie Cordy say you gonna be ok but you still in the hospital." he says.

"Your auntie Cordy is absolutely right. I feel better already." I say. He leans back.

"You're not sick no more?" he asks snifflin. I shake my head.

"Nope. I feel great." I say.

"He was really worried. And earlier when they wouldn't let us see you..." Cor trails off. I nod understandin.

"I'm fine now guys, really." I say. She nods but I don't think she believes me. Julian is lookin at me like I'm a puzzle he can't figure out.

"You're different." he says. I furrow my brow.

"Whattya mean?" I ask.

"You're strong." he says. I smile at him.

"I know. I'm a slayer remember I told ya that." he shakes his head.

"Uh uh. I mean...like uncle Angel. You're real strong." he says.

"Sweetie I'm not a vampire." I say. He shakes his head.

"No mommy, you strong like him. Not a vampire but almost like it." I furrow my brow.

"You mean like a demon?" Cordy asks.

"Yeah. What auntie Cordy say but you're good too." he says. Then he says those words I heard earlier. "Your ready." he says. I look at him for a minute before I realize what he means. I'm ready. Whatever power I'm supposed to have cus'a who I am, I got it. I'm ready to embrace it. He smiles at me. "You gonna beat the ugly lady up mommy?" he asks. I nod.

"Yep. I'm gonna get her." I say. He smiles and gives me a kiss on the lips before hoppin off the bed and pullin Cordy away. He stops beside Buffy. He looks up before kissin her on the cheek.

"Don't hurt my mommy." he says seriously.

"Julian!" I scold.

"Huh? Oh sorry Buffy. Now c'mon auntie Cordy. You promised me ice cream!" he says pullin her outta the room behind him. She chuckles shakin her head.

"You two be good." she says. "I've got a date." then she's gone. I look to Buffy.

"Sorry B." I say. She shakes her head.

"Don't be. He just wants to protect you. Its cute." she says. "I'm sorry." she says. I know why she's apologizin.

"What's your name?" I ask. She furrows her brow.

"Buffy. Or in your case B. why?" she asks.

"Who told glory I was the key?" I ask.

"Riley."

"So why are you apologizin for somethin you had nothin to do with?"

"Becaus-"

"Don't. I'm still here. He tried to get rid of me and it didn't work. I'm not going anywhere. For along time. I have to much to live for." I say. And its true. He tried to get me down but, it aint gonna work.

I ain't dead (nah) I ain't done(nah)
I ain't scared(of what), I ain't run(from who)
Still I stand (yeah)
No matter what pimpin here I am
no matter what
I ain't break(never), I ain't fold(never)
They hate me more(so?)
Yeah I know
But here I go
No matter what shortie, here I go
No matter what shortie

"Alright." she says. I nod at her.

"Now, when the hell can I get outta here?"

Fred pov.

Cordelia shocked us all that day Faith was taken away. She took on the role of parental figure to Julian. And he took to her instantly:

"Julian?" she called him. He looked at her.

"She took my mom away." he said looking at the door. Cordy nodded.

"Yeah but we'll get her back. Don't worry sweetheart." she said. He nodded.

"You're auntie Cordy?" he asked tilting his head to the side. She nodded. "Mommy told me about you." he said. She smiled and knelt in front of him. He looked at her before hugging her and crying.:

its hard to believe that this is the girl that was deemed a bitch in high school.

It's been five years since Ive seen her face
She's the holy ghost lost without a trace
And now were left with the what ifs
It's been five years since she left for LA
She's an angel with a dirty face

but I feel like maybe they didn't really know her. Like they made assumptions. They have no idea what her home life was really like. The shadow she lived in.

And it seems to me
She's a causality of all the pressure
That we put on her
And now we've lost her for good

her parents wanted a perfect daughter. She had to be popular, she had to do this and that. Then the people at school and anyone else in her life expected it. She told me about herself one night.

It's such a shame shame shame
That our homecoming queen
Was a lot like you and a lot like me
And she never walked on water
Guess no one really saw her

believe it or not her first real friend was Faith. Not Angel, not Wesley, not the cordettes or the gang. Faith. She saw her. She didn't care about all of that. She would call her out and showed Cordelia how to love Cordelia.

She was so adored by everyone
When it came to looks she was next to none
But loved partying and having too much fun
Then she hooked up with the wrong someone
And he promised everything under the sun

she's been beautiful all of her life. She's always known it. The problem? She thought that was all she was. Beauty. A physical attraction. She loved Xander and when he kissed willow, she felt like even beauty wasn't enough to please anyone. That she needed to be more. She needed to become what her parents and grandparents wanted. So she became even more of a bitch.

And it seems to me
She's a causality of all the pressure
That he put on her
And now we've lost her for good
It's such a shame shame shame
That our homecoming queen
Was a lot like you and a lot like me
And she never walked on water
Cause no one really saw her

and what do you expect right? Everybody always said she was a bitch. Everybody only ever expected her to be a bitch. So she was. And it amazes me that they hated her for meeting their expectations that they set.

It's such a shame shame shame
That our homecoming queen
Had a lot to prove and so many to please
She's just somebody's daughter
Just looking for somebody to love her

I wish I'd known her back then. But then again part of me doesn't because I love the woman she is now. Because somebody dropped the expectations. I would have if I had the chance.

Well I never knew you
Wish I could've saved you
From losers that drained you
Before you got strung out
With so much potential
How could you let us down
It's such a shame shame shame
That our homecoming queen
Was a lot like you and a lot like me
And she never walked on water
Cause no one really saw her
Shame shame shame
That our homecoming queen
Had a lot to prove and so many to please
She's just somebody's daughter
Just looking for somebody to love her
She's just somebody's daughter
Just looking for somebody to love her

It's such a shame shame shame...

but that's alright. She's doing wonderfully now. She's finally at the point where she doesn't care about stupid expectations and she knows she's more than a face with a wonderful body and no brain. I must admit, she's a really good actress because when I first met her I thought she was indeed another air headed cheerleader. But she's proved me wrong then and now she's surprising me everyday. Everybody has expectations of ms Cordelia Chase, I do too. But all I expect is for her to be herself. No matter what.

Another update...that was quick! But seriously this popped in my head and I decided to type it before I forgot. The first song is the chorus to no matter what by T.I its off his paper trail album I think. Not sure. The second is homecoming queen by hinder. Review please.