A/N: Sorry for the delay hope those that are reading are enjoy!

6 months ago…

"Looks like the Hellmouth is officially closed for business." The Rogue Slayer walked over to were all the other Scoobies had gathered at the edge of the huge crater that now was Sunnydale.

"There is another one in Cleveland. Not to spoil the moment." Giles picked up a rock and threw it into the canyon.

"We saved the world." Xander stated proudly.

"We changed the world. I can feel them, Buffy. All over. Slayers are awakening everywhere."

"We'll have to find them." Dawn added.

"We will."

"Yes, because the mall was actually in Sunnydale, so there's no hope of going there tomorrow." Giles's attempt at a joke was a relief for once.

"We destroyed the mall? I fought on the wrong side." Dawn said sarcastically.

"All those shops gone. The Gap, Starbucks, Toys "R" Us. Who will remember all those landmarks unless we tell the world about them?"

"We have a lot of work ahead of us."

"Can I push him in?" the asked the Wicca.

"You've got my vote."

"I just want to sleep, yo, for like a week." Faith shoved the watcher playfully.

"I guess we all could, if we wanted to."

"Yeah. The First is scrunched, so... what do you think we should do, Buffy?"

"Yeah, you're not the one and only chosen anymore. Just gotta live like a person. How's that feel?" The brunette slayer asked at Buffy's back.

"Yeah, Buffy. What are we gonna do now?" Dawn turned to her sister.

The blonde Slayer smiled, she realized they were right. "I think Faith had the right idea." She turned back towards the group. "Let's live."

"How are you?"

"You know me, B…"

"Five by five." She smiled pulling out of the embrace.

"What's the matter?"

"It's nothing." She said running her hand through her hair.

"Come on, B…I've always been a little slow here, help me out."

"I'm getting that now." Buffy said, leaning up against the counter. "I'm feeling a total dump-o -rama signal coming from you."

"What are you talking about, B? We're all good here." The brunette frowned.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Totally five by five, B." She said cupping her hands to her cheek. Leaning in, she brought their lips together. After a moment, she pulled back with a smile on her face. "Are we done wigging now?"

"Wig free." Buffy grinned "I'm done with the wig. No more wigging for me." Her babbling was cut off by yet another kiss.

"Have I told you lately how cute you are when you babble?" Faith was giving her a crocked smile.

"Not lately." She wasn't able to contain her own smile. "I can always do for the cute talk."

"Well, you are." the dark Slayer grinned at her dimples on display.

"Thanks, a girl could get used to that." Taking her hand, she led her to the living room. Pulling her down to the couch, she laid her legs across her lap. "Everyone should be here in an hour..."

"Plenty of time for some girl-on-girl action. Whad'ya say, B?"

The blonde nodded, slowly trailing her hand up and down the girl's leg. "Faith." Her hand suddenly froze "Honey, did you hear what I said?"

"Yeah big bad coming and all" Faith shrugged, knowing perfectly well what Buffy actually meant. The disappointed look on the blonde's face told her she needed to deal with this now.

"Sorry babe." She said with a sigh. "Guess we need to talk uh?"

5 Months Ago…

"Damn, B.!" Faith shut the door to the last Hotel room. "These girls are wicked bugging, yo." Even though they were no longer the only two Slayers, they knew they couldn't just leave them on their own. "How the hell did you deal with them all this time?"

The other young woman held herself against the railing. "I'm just as clueless as they are…I had help, Kennedy's pretty good with them. I don't know if you've noticed, but I'm not perfect." Smiling weakly at her. The two Slayers stood in silence as the nights air began to consume them. "Why'd you come back?" Buffy asked curiously. It had only been a few weeks since the former rogue Slayer had left her and the gang. She wasn't sure if she had gone back to her old ways, and a part of her hoped she hadn't.

Taken aback by her question, Faith just stared at the older girl. Opening her mouth to say something she quickly shut it, when she realized she didn't really know what to say.

"I can't have you around if you're gonna-"

"If I'm gonna what, B?" Turning from her. "Damn it Buffy! I'm done with all that…I'm on your side. I thought you knew that already."

"I…I just don't want you to come back and stab-"

"Did you forget, B? You're the one that stabbed me!" The dark slayer asked pulling up her shirt reveling her scar. "Don't you remember that?" grabbing the other Slayers hand and forcing her to feel the pain she had caused.

Yanking her hand back, Buffy just stared at her. "That's not what I meant, Faith."

"Then tell me, oh wise Chosen One, what did you mean… 'Cause I'm getting the vibe that you didn't want me to come back…I'm sick and tired of having to prove myself to you, B…I just tired."

Closing her eyes, Buffy began to see how much pain she really had caused Faith; it was definitely a two way street. She was just as tired as the girl standing across from her. "I'm sorry." the blonde Slayer said barely above a whisper. "I'm just so lost right now…everything is hitting me, I just don't-"

"I'm done with that, Buffy…all the running, I'm trying to make amends here, Buffy, for everything. Including what I did to you. I hurt you the most, that's why I came back."

Reaching out timidly, Buffy placed a gentle hand on the scar that was once again covered by the red tank top the dark slayer wore. "I hurt you, too…I'll never forgive myself."

Shrugging, Faith moved away from her touch. "It's all good, B." Avoiding the awkward silence, Faith quickly changed the subject. "You up for some slayage? I'm getting antsy just sitting here…besides there has to be some badies around." She punched her fist into her hand.

Buffy tilted her head to the side and stared at her. "Nah. But I could use some company down at that diner I saw a few blocks down."

"I'm down, B, let's go."

Making their way through the empty street, Faith knew the other Slayer's senses were on guard just like hers. It felt so natural now; she didn't even have to focus to be aware of her surroundings. Plus, the bond she had been sharing with her counterpart acted as a backup.

"So I was thinking, B..." she said stuffing her hands into her pockets. "Traveling... you, me and the Scoobies for a while. You know, do some good."

"I kinda figured you wouldn't be going back to prison." Buffy kept her eyes on the street ahead of them. "I don't blame you." she shrugged and ran a shaky hand through her hair "I can see it… the change. And as you would say, we're all wicked stressed from saving the world." She chuckled softly, getting a half-smile in return from Faith as they walked through the door of the diner. "Angel said you were doing better…He was right." The pair took seats in one of the booths."

Thanks. That means a lot." Faith picked up the menu. "I'm not looking for a hand out though, B."

"I'm not looking to give one. I know what Angel went through to get to where he is. And I know I can't give you what you're searching for but…I…I can try not to be so hard on you. You deserve that...you went to hell and back with me and I can never thank you enough for that." Looking at her, Buffy felt like she was seeing her for the first time. "I've kinda given you an unfair shake since we met." She heard someone clearing their throat, looked up, and noticed the waitress with an annoyed look on her face. "We haven't made our choice yet." She shot her a deadly gaze, and the waitress took it as her cue to leave. "I think it's time for a new fresh start… for all of us."

Smiling her first real smile in days, Faith looked up and met hazel eyes "That's wicked cool of you…and I know it'll take some time, but I hope we can really be friends this time around."

"Yeah." Buffy replied softy. They had been playing this come-here-go-away game for months now. "I just can't have another Angel disaster" The blonde said so softly that if it wasn't for Slayer hearing, Faith wouldn't have heard her. "I can't fall for you and have you leaving."

Feeling the girl move under her, she sighed. "But you have already, haven't you?" Faith stood in front of her. "Haven't you, B?" she asked the blonde again when she didn't get answer.

"So what if I have?" The Chosen one replied. "Would that be so wrong if I thought you were girlfriendly?" She noticed the girl cringe at her word. Pulling her legs into her, Buffy watched as the girl began to pace.

'Damn it! Don't screw this up Faith she wants you, you want her.' The voice in her head tried to win the internal battle that was raging inside the dark Slayer. "She wants me." She whispered to herself.

"Yes, I do." The brunette's brown eyes met the other Slayer's hazel pools and Faith knew those three words implied much more than what they seemed.

4 months ago…

The two Slayers drove down the empty highway. It was late, but they needed to get food for the house.

"You know, B…we really should have picked a place a little closer to civilization." The brunette chuckled as she flipped the right turn signal so she could merge into the lane.

"Yeah, I know…I just need to get out of there."

"I know." Sighing as she turned her head to check her blind spot. Seeing that the lane was clear, she began to merge. "B…"

"Yeah." They blonde replied as she stared out the window into the moonlit sky.

"Can I ask you something?" she glanced over at her passenger. "Since Will did all her magic mojo on the scythe…" she paused, not knowing how to phrase what she wanted to say next. "Do you think the connection… is stronger?" the brunette turned her attention back to the empty road.

"Yeah…The Slayer connection is stronger because there are thousands of us."

"That's not what I meant, B…. I meant the connection we had before all the mojo." When she didn't get an answer, Faith began again. "Forget I said anything it's…"

"It's not stupid, Faith." Buffy interrupted her "It was there…before. And now it's..."

"Overwhelming." the dark Slayer finished for her.

"I was gonna say intense…but overwhelming works, too." She chuckled as they finally got on the exit that led to L.A.

"Intense but…but good." She saw the blonde nod from the corner of her eyes and released the breathe she had been unconsciously holding.

TBC...