Faith's Point of View

I started when I heard a quiet knock on the door. I hadn't really been sleeping; just dozing and watching B sleep. We didn't have to get up in the morning or anything because tomorrow was Saturday. Anyway, I was right at that point between sleeping and being awake – the point when you find that your thoughts are slowing down and it's harder to switch subjects to the thing you want to think about when you fall asleep completely – when I heard the knock.

Just as I was about to call out, Dawn's little voice came through the door.

"Faith? Are you awake?" she sounded scared. I cleared my throat so I wouldn't sound groggy.

"Yeah little D, I'm here. Come on in." I shifted my weight on the bed a little bit so I scooted Buffy to the far edge, and I was in the middle, with enough room for Dawn on the end. Dawn came in and closed the door softly behind her. I could tell in the moonlight that was coming in from the window that she had tear streaks trailing down her cheeks. Poor kid.

Dawn walked over and paused next to the bed. I shifted again so that I was propped up on pillows, somewhat sitting up. I moved my arm that had been around Buffy and motioned to Dawn to sit down. She hovered at the edge for a moment more.

"I had another bad dream and Mom's still not home," she said softly and she tried to speak as though she hadn't been crying, but she still hiccupped every few words. Finally she sat down on the bed and laid her head on my shoulder. Buffy's head had migrated a little so that it was on my stomach, and her arm was around my thigh. One of Dawn's arms curled up and the other she laid tentatively across my upper stomach – just above Buffy's head. I wrapped my arm tightly around Dawn's back and hugged her to me.

"Do you remember what you dreamed about? I don't always remember what my dreams are, but if you remember, you can tell me."

"I – I don't remember. But it was scary," she hiccupped. I hugged her a little tighter and kissed the top of her head. With my other hand, I absently rubbed B's back.

Dawn kept hiccupping for a while. I felt bad for her. I remembered having lots of nightmares when I was a kid – even before I got the hand-me-down slayer dreams – and those were scary enough. When I thought that Dawn had finally fallen asleep, she spoke quietly.

"You love her, don't you? Buffy, I mean," she said, her voice heavy with oncoming sleep.

"Yes I do, Dawn. I love her a lot. Is that alright with you?"

"Mm. Yeah. Just…be nicer to her than Angel was, ok?" I wondered if Dawn had found the letter. I thought that Buffy had left it on the coffee table after I had put it down.

I smiled. "No problem, little D. I'm not going to hurt your big sis."

"Good. You know, you're my big sister too," she said.

"Thanks Dusk. I always wanted a little sister, so I'm glad I finally got one." I felt her smile into my shoulder. "Goodnight, Dawn. I love you."

"I love you too, Faith." Soon after, she was asleep.

I stayed awake for a long time after that. I wasn't restless; I could have slept if I wanted to, but I didn't want this particular moment to end. It looked like my life was finally taking a turn for the better, and I loved it. I never wanted it to change. I wrapped my arms tighter around both of the girls in my arms, and eventually I drifted off to sleep.

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I know that Faith's been out of character in the last chapter or two, so I hope this is a little better. Let me know what you think.