So i just got another 3 people telling me they'd like me to continue this. So for these ten reviewers and nine followers I've written another chapter for this story. I actually really like writing it and I do have an idea of where to take it but that doesn't mean it's all set in stone. So if there's somethin you'd like to see, please review and tell me so. I can always use some ideas or input to make it better. Anyways on with the story.

Last time:

Dawn turned around in her arms and looked at her with such an innocent expression, my heart hurt for her. She was like the kid sister I never had. I mailed her as often as I could telling her all about missions and answering all her questions. I was patient with her in a way I hadn't known I could be and soon enough I found that the kid wormed her way into my heart and now it clenched painfully at the sight of her tears, shed for me.

"Look to your right dear, you'll see someone has graced us with their presence today.

Cordelia took a step back from Dawn who frowned for a minute there at the loss of contact. Huh, seems they grew A LOT closer in those three weeks.

I smiled at an awestruck Dawn who was looking at me like one would a new movie trailer. Her face changed from disbelief to relief and excitement in exactly three seconds before she shrieked and jumped on me. The impact of her long, tall body took out all the air from my lungs and I gasped for it as I puffed. Damn, that spell sure wrecked me. I refused to believe she wasn't a little girl anymore.

"Dawn!"

Cordelia was quick to pull her back off of me and check for damage. Luckily the stitches hadn't ripped and the bruising didn't seem worse. I hadn't asked Cordy why I had them, I knew they must be remainders of the spell. It sucked having to go through all of these past injuries again but I was sure the witches were doing what they could to speed it all up.

"Hi there kiddo! How's it all going?"

Dawn looked guilty until Cordelia sighed and went to sit down beside me before patting the spot in the bed next to her. I shuffled a bit to give them more room as a sheepish looking Dawn climbed up onto the bed again.

"Sorry." She shrugged at me and settled immediately against Cordy's body as she looked at my wounds pensively. I raised my eyebrow at Cordelia who merely raised an eyebrow in response. I smirked happily, I'd get it out of her later.

"S'all good kid, don't worry 'bout it. So the gangs haven't found anything yet huh?"

Dawn sighed before grasping my hand, running her soft fingertips over the knuckles.

"Nothing useful so far. It's driving everyone up the walls but we'll find something. We always do."

I sighed.

"I'm sorry kid. I wish I could tell you more but I had no idea I even remembered my father. Mother always said he took off right after I was born. Since I couldn't remember I figured she was telling the truth or at least somewhat."

Cordelia started running her hands through both our dark locks as she hummed softly.

"We'll find something Faith. We always do."

I looked at Dawn and her determined expression and it shook me then how much she'd grown up. Her face was delicate but with strong features such as a nice strong jaw, big eyes, full lips and straight nose. Yeah, she'd grown into a wonderful woman but I was glad to see her personality still remained completely hers after all the shit she went through. I felt weirdly proud in that moment. I looked at Cordy and saw a wistful expression settled upon her face as she stared at the back of Dawn's head.

"I know you guys will Dawn. Just gonna hafta be patient and all that jazz. Ain't really cut out for that the both of us but we'll suck it up and deal yeah?"

Dawn nodded firmly.

"Yeah, we will."

And so we laid there as Cordy gently combed our hair with her fingers as Dawn filled me in on what I had missed. Soon enough I'd felt my eyes droop and Cordy's gentle voice whispering I should just go to sleep again. She was right though, that spell had taken a lot out of me. Just for a few minutes I muttered, just closing my eyes for a bit here. I was only going to rest for a minute then I'd be back in the land of the living.

When I woke up to the sound of yelling downstairs and I watched the dark sky out of my window I realized I'd slept another entire day almost. I made a move to get up but stilled when the pain shot through my body again so I settled on the yelling.

"No Cordelia! You had the entire time she was awake with her and everyone else has been by to see her ever since. The night is my time, MINE. Now move out of the way and let me go up to see her. I won't wake her unless she's having a nightmare I promise. Now let me go!"

Cordelia snarked right back and I could feel her anger in her voice. Poor Cordy, winding herself up like that would give her a migraine. She had them often when under stress, which was like all the time.

"That's rich. What do you know about Faith's nightmares huh Princess? You weren't there when she had them so don't you dare tell me you know a damn thing about them!"

Buffy must've kicked something since I heard a loud thump followed by another.

"Dammit Cordelia how many times are you gonna throw that in my face huh? You don't think I regret what I've done to her? I gave up on her too quickly, I was stupid and young. I saw the world in black and white but I grew up Cordelia and I deserve another chance."

Cordelia chuckled coldly.

"Oh do you now? And where was Faith's chance when she asked for it?"

That stilled Buffy and I could almost feel the guilt of the Blonde. Seems like our connection was still as strong as ever.

"Please Cordy, I know I messed up and I know you don't trust me but I have seen.. God I saw.. I missed her when she was gone y'know? I was too stubborn and to righteous to fix it, to pick up the phone and just call but now she's here and I don't want to waste this chance I have to fix things with us. I want at least some closure on some things and you know she wants that too. Just let me go up and see her for tonight okay? You can take over in the morning like you always do. Just give me tonight?"

I heard Cordelia sigh before gentle footsteps came up the staircase. Cordelia stepped aside probably. I heard the knock and saw the handle twist as I closed my eyes and pretended to be asleep. As the light of the hallway fell upon my face for a minute I could hear her hold her breath in before closing the door behind her and sighing tiredly.

"Oh Faith.."

My name fell from her lips in a tired, longing voice that reached into my very heart. It even skipped a beat.

"How am I going to save you Faith? How? I don't know anymore sometimes but I need to save you so I won't give up Faith. We won't give up on you. Not this time."

I listened carefully.

"I made so many mistakes by you already I don't want to make another one."

I felt her settle in the chair beside my bed.

"I know you woke up today. That's good. Dawn told me she filled you in so I guess for once I don't really have many things to tell you about my day."

I pondered her words, did she come and tell me about her day every night? I couldn't remember hearing her in the thick sleep I'd had.

"I meant what I said downstairs Faith. I've missed you, so much. I was just stupid and I'd been burned by you so bad before that I couldn't open my eyes to see what was right there in front of me."

I swallowed the lump hoping she didn't notice.

"I'm just so sorry Faith for all I did back then in Sunnydale. Especially for how I treated you, how I let my friends treat you. I let myself be fooled by your tough, bad ass exterior when I knew there was more to you than dark red lipstick and wrestling alligators. I was just a stupid teenager then."

I bit on the inside of my cheek to keep myself quiet.

"You really hurt me though when you turned on us. But it was mostly my fault anyway. I knew that the second I realized the only reason you even chose the mayor over me was because he manipulated you into believing he loved you. God knows maybe he did in his own twisted way."

She grabbed my hand and traced the palm of it with her fingertips as she shuffled closer. I held my tongue and figured she'd come sit on the bed once she was ready to.

"But that was all you ever wanted huh Faith? To be loved? To feel accepted? And I did all of the opposite. And Angel and his gang, out of all the people, were able to give you what we failed to. I don't think I've ever seen Cordelia defend somebody the way she always defended you whenever I was over at LA Headquarters. She's a piece of work but she cares about you Faith and I'm glad she does. She and I might not always have seen eye to eye but she's a good friend to have. I'm just jealous I guess of her easy bond with you. It's my own fault, I know but still."

She sighed again and squeezed my hand a bit before her one became even sadder than it already was. I fought the urge to open my eyes and cradle her face in my hands. God know that crush still hadn't faded after all these years. Seeing or hearing her hurt still made my heart ache.

" I told mom about you before she died. She told me I should have forgiven you already. You were just another victim just as I had been many times before. She told me not everyone gets the happy home and a good mother, loving and caring the way I did. I may have had a hard time with the divorce and my dad leaving the way you did, she told me you had it worse. She could tell."

I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I opened my eyes but Buffy was too busy staring at my hands to notice.

"She forgave you Faith, a long time ago and so did my sister. I was the only one of the Summers family to hold a grudge and I held one even longer than Willow did there for a while. God I'm so stupid. I really can be a blonde sometimes."

She chuckled humorlessly.

"But I do Faith. I do forgive you and I think my heart did a long time ago too. I was just too stubborn to admit it."

I cleared my throat ad she looked up at me with big wide eyes.

"I forgive you too B."

"Faith?"

I just smiled at her.

"Yeah B it's me. And I mean it too, I forgive you but that don't mean we ain't gotta talk about the shit that went down between us cuz it was fucked up Blondie. We need to work some of that out though. But we can do it."

Buffy seemed to lose her bearings for a second as I opened my arm and motioned for her to come lie down with me. She did as instructed and snuggled carefully into my side.

"You and me chick, we'll be alright."

All in all I thought, it was the weirdest but deepest conversation I ever had with the blonde. No matter what may come at us in the morning, at least I knew I was forgiven. By all of them. By her.

R&R people, it's the only thing to keep me going y'know apart from cookies. Those help too.