DISCLAIMER AND AUTHOR'S NOTE: All Buffy The Vampire Slayer stuff belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy and Warner Brothers. No copyright infringement was intended in the writing of this fiction. All other characters that appear belong to me. This story cannot be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may be made for private use only and must include this copyright notice and disclaimer. There is some subtext in this story. If this kind of stuff is not legal where you live, if you're under 18 or if you don't like the notion of two women being in love, then you should find something else to read. This story is set after the Buffy episode Who Are You? So this will be more easy to understand, I will use the names Buffy and Faith to refer to the persons, not to the bodies. Or something like that.

I'm Buffy
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Faith, in Buffy's body, was frantically trying to defend herself against a vamp who had been indoctrinated by Adam. Suddenly, he turned to dust and she saw Buffy, in her body, there with a stake. She immediately attacked her.

They rapidly exchanged blows for a few moments.

"You can't win this," Buffy then said.

"Shut up!" Faith screamed. "Do you think I'm afraid of you?" She grabbed Buffy and threw her to the ground. Then she sat on top of her and started punching her. "You're nothing! Disgusting!" She grabbed Buffy's hair with both hands and started banging her head. "Murderous bitch. You're nothing." She started punching Buffy again. "You're disgusting," she said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Buffy reached up to stop a blow, but Faith noticed that she was holding something. She pulled back her hand and caught Buffy's arm by the wrist.

"Nice try," she said when she saw that Buffy had a similar device as the one the Mayor had left her. "But it won't work."

She started slamming Buffy's hand at the ground, but Buffy held the device tightly.

Buffy used the distraction and punched Faith, who immediately retaliated with a head-butt.

"You're not getting my life, you worthless whore," Faith said and started punching her while trying to hold the other arm immobile.

Then Riley came in.

"Buffy!" he said, shocked, when he saw Faith hitting Buffy.

Faith looked at him.

Buffy used the distraction and pushed Faith aside.

"Get out, Riley!" Buffy yelled and Riley looked at her, confused. "Get out! No…"

She trailed off when Faith kicked her in the head.

Faith continued her attack, but Buffy quickly recovered. They exchanged blows for a few moments, until Buffy feigned a sweep kick. Faith jumped up to avoid it, but Buffy stopped the motion, turned her body and gave Faith a backward kick. Faith was thrown between the pews and Buffy quickly ran toward Riley, knowing that she would lose if they kept fighting.

"Come on," she said as she passed Riley, grabbing him and dragging him along.

"Hey!" Riley protested. "What's going on?"

"She's not quite… me," Buffy said.

"Huh?" Riley said, confused.

"It's a long story. I'll tell you as soon as we get to the guys."

Faith, who had quickly recovered, saw that Buffy was running away.

"I'll get you, Faith!" she screamed and ran after her.

Buffy, who had reached the door, glanced at her briefly, surprised, and then continued out.

Faith quickly reached the door. She wanted to go after Buffy, but when she saw the crowd and the police, she decided to leave.

"Faith? Buffy?" Willow asked when Buffy and Riley came to them.

"It's me," Buffy said.

"What happened?" Giles asked, worried, when he saw the bruises.

"She kicked my ass."

"You're Faith?" Riley asked and Buffy looked at him.

"No, I'm Buffy."

Riley frowned, puzzled.

"But Buffy called you Faith."

"First of all, that wasn't me, it was Faith, she was just wearing my body, just like I'm wearing hers now."

Riley's frown deepened.

"You mean, you're Buffy?"

"Yes."

"But…" He blushed as he remembered the previous night. "How's that possible?"

Buffy shrugged.

"Magic."

"Where is she now?" Xander asked.

"I don't know. I think she followed us out," Buffy said and everyone looked around.

"I can't see her."

"Now what?" Willow asked.

"We go to my place," Buffy said.

"And Faith?" Xander asked.

"Right now, I'm in no shape to fight her. Not that we know where she is."

"Oh."

"What about your mother?" Giles asked.

Buffy sighed.

"We tell her the truth. She needs to know that if she sees me, I mean, my body, that that's not me but Faith." She frowned. "Or something."

"Oh, hello," Joyce said when she saw Giles and the gang. "Buffy's not home."

"We know," Giles said. "Actually, that's why we're here."

Joyce's face became serious.

"Did something happen?" she asked, worried.

"Sort of, yes."

Giles stepped aside and Joyce saw Buffy in Faith's body.

"Faith," Joyce said, surprised.

"Actually, it's me, Mom," Buffy said.

Joyce frowned and looked at Giles.

"It's true," Giles said.

"Mom, do you remember any strange device Faith might've had when we were fighting?"

Joyce thought for a moment, puzzled.

"Yes. She… You…" She frowned. "She destroyed something. She said it was a weapon."

"It was. It enabled her to switch bodies with me."

Joyce stared at her for a moment.

"So you're Buffy?"

"Yes."

Joyce shook her head.

"This is getting stranger and stranger." She gave Buffy a once over. "You look like you could use medical attention."

"Yes."

After Joyce took care of Buffy's bruises, Buffy went to her room. As she took fresh clothes from the closet, she noticed that some were missing. She searched her room and discovered that more things were missing. She quickly dressed and then went downstairs.

"Guys, I think we have a problem," she said. "I think Faith may be planning to leave Sunnydale."

"Leave?" Giles said.

"Where would she go?" Xander asked.

"I don't know," Buffy said. "But if she leaves, I'll never get my body back." She looked at Willow. "Can you use magic to locate her?"

"I can try," Willow said.

"I can ask the Initiative to track her down," Riley offered.

"No, no Initiative," Buffy said. "I don't want them to get fascinated, I don't want to end up as a research object." She looked back at Willow. "How soon can you know?"

Willow glanced at Tara.

"It might take a couple of hours."

"Sorry, it took so long," Willow said the next morning, when she and Tara came to Buffy.

"What happened?"

"She was traveling. She ended up in Boston, but then we lost her."

"Lost her?"

"Yes. I mean, we're pretty sure she's in Boston, but then she just disappeared."

"She probably did a spell to hide her presence," Tara said.

Buffy frowned.

"She doesn't know any spells."

"Then she had somebody do it for her," Willow said.

"Oh." Buffy sighed. "Looks like I'm going to Boston."

"You should take Giles with you."

Buffy frowned.

"Why?"

"Because you're wanted."

"Me?"

"Well, Faith is, but you're wearing her body."

"Oh. Damn." She sighed. "I guess." She thought for a moment. "I'll have to make an excuse for college."

After a month of unsuccessful searching for Faith, Buffy was getting desperate. She and Giles had heard rumors that the Slayer was in town, but so far, they hadn't seen her. They had ran into vamps who were running away from her, but no Faith.

Then they finally had luck. They were passing a community center when they heard a couple of young girls mention Buffy's name.

"Did they just mention my name?" Buffy asked.

"Seems like it, yes," Giles said.

They listened for a few moments.

"They're comparing me to Xena?" Buffy said, surprised.

"At least it's good to know that you could, eh, kick her ass," Giles said with a smile, and Buffy glared at him for a moment.

"Let's find out," she said and went to the girls, who were slowly walking toward the community center. "Excuse me!" she called and the girls looked at her. "Hi. Em, do you know Buffy?"

"Uh-huh," one of the girls said, nodding. "She's teaching us self-defense."

Buffy blinked, surprised.

"She is?"

"Uh-huh."

Buffy looked at the building.

"Right now?"

"Yes."

"Oh." She smiled a little. "Thanks."

The girl smiled and then she and her friends left.

Buffy looked at Giles, who had slowly walked up to her.

"She's teaching them self-defense," she said.

"I heard."

"Let's…"

"Faith!"

Buffy trailed off and looked around. A moment later a girl hugged her tightly and she looked at her, surprised.

"You're back!" the girl said, excited, and let go of Buffy. "I missed you. Where've you been?"

Buffy looked at Giles for help.

"And you are?" Giles asked.

The girl looked at him, startled.

"And you are?" the girl echoed.

Giles blinked, startled.

"I am Rupert Giles, a… friend of Faith's. And Buffy's."

Dawn glanced at Faith.

"Oh. I'm Dawn, I'm Faith's sister."

"Excuse me?" Giles said, surprised. "I didn't know Faith had a sister."

Dawn nodded.

"I'm not her biological sister," she explained, "Faith adopted me. I mean, not legally, but she took care of me."

"I see."

She looked at Buffy, smiling.

"Where've you been?" Dawn asked Buffy. "You've been gone so long."

"Eh, around," Buffy said.

"Are you staying?"

Buffy glanced at Giles for help.

"For now."

"So, you know Buffy?" Giles asked.

Dawn glared at him, annoyed that he was interrupting her conversation with Buffy, whom she thought was Faith.

"Yes, she's teaching me self-defense." She looked at Buffy. "For free."

"Really?"

Dawn nodded.

"Uh-huh. She saw me watch a class and she said I could participate."

"Oh."

"Then why don't you go in, you'll be late," Buffy said.

"Will you come?" Dawn asked, excited.

"For a while. I don't want Buffy to see us yet."

"Oh. Okay. Will you wait for me?"

"Eh, I don't know yet, Giles and I have some errands to run."

Dawn's face fell.

"Oh. Okay," she said, disappointed.

Buffy smiled a bit.

"Go, you don't want to be late."

"Okay," Dawn said and left, feeling a bit disappointed at Buffy's lack of enthusiasm.

When Dawn was out of hearing range, Buffy looked at Giles.

"Faith's sister?"

Giles shrugged.

"I don't know."

"I wonder why she never mentioned her." She sighed. "Let's go see."

"Right now?"

Buffy frowned.

"No, let's wait until she starts the class."

"Okay, girls, we've done the basic defense punches. We'll be repeating that later on, but first let's see what other options you have. For example, when an attacker grabs you from behind." She looked at her assistant. "Sandy."

Sandy came closer and grabbed Faith from behind.

"Now, if they grab you like this and your arms are free, you can do this." Faith lifted her arms and squirmed, causing Sandy to drop her. "Of course, the attacker will bow to grab you," Faith continued and Sandy bowed to grab her. "You can kick him in the head like this," Faith said and demonstrated. "Now, since you're still little and don't have much strength yet, the kick probably won't faze the attacker much, so you better get up and run." She got up. "But if the attacker pins your arms to your body like this," she said continued and waited for Sandy to grab her, "you can use your head to hit him like this," she demonstrated and mock head-butted Sandy with the back of her head, which caused Sandy to let go of her. "And remember, when you're attacked, use every means available to defend yourself, scratch, bite, kick, poke and then of course run like hell," she said, and the girls giggled. "Okay, get a partner and practice this. But be careful, you don't want to hurt one another."

The girls paired off and started to practice.

Outside, Buffy and Giles watched the class.

"Wow," Buffy said.

"Indeed," Giles agreed.

"It's like she's a whole different person. I mean, look at her, the girls adore her."

"Yes. She obviously wants them to be able to defend themselves."

"Yes."

"And she's a good teacher."

"Yes."

Buffy glanced at Giles.

"What do we do now?"

"We follow her, I suppose."

"And confront her?"

"Yes, when she's alone."

"Okay." Buffy sighed. "I hope this Katra thingy works."

"Hey, Dawnie, what's up?" Faith asked when she came outside during the break between classes and saw Dawn's sad face.

"My sister's not here."

"Your sister?

"Faith. She was here, but now she's gone."

"Oh."

"I don't think she likes me anymore," Dawn said, sad.

Faith put her arm around her.

"Or maybe she just has other things on her mind."

"Like what?"

Faith shrugged.

"I don't know. Could be anything. I'm sure she'll come back soon."

"And if not?"

"Then she's a lousy sister," Faith said and pressed her gently to herself.

Dawn smiled a bit and then sighed.

"I miss her."

"I know. And I told you, if you need anything, just let me know, okay?"

Dawn nodded.

From their hiding place in a café, Buffy and Giles observed the interaction.

"Looks like Dawn is special to Faith," Buffy said.

"Yes."

"This is so weird. I mean, look at her, she's so… so…"

"Kind and open?"

"Yes. It's like she's a whole different person."

"Yes."

After Faith's classes ended, Buffy and Giles followed her around for a while, but Faith was always in a public place, so they were reluctant to confront her.

When Faith finally went on patrol, they followed her, but they soon lost her, so they had to split in order to find her. Buffy was the first to find her again.

"Faith!" she called.

Faith looked around, ready to fight, but when she didn't see Faith anywhere, she looked at the source of the call.

"You," she said when she saw Buffy. "Great! Like you couldn't mess with my life enough back in Sunnydale, now you have to follow me here?"

"I want my body back."

"You got your body back, Faith, and I'm not giving you mine again."

Buffy blinked, surprised.

"What are you talking about?"

"You trying to steal my body."

"Why would I try to steal your body?" Buffy asked, perplexed.

"So you could pretend to be me."

"You? Why would I want to be you?"

"Because I have everything and you have nothing. You're a complete loser, Faith."

Buffy suddenly realized what was going on.

"You're Faith, I'm Buffy."

Faith grinned.

"In your dreams, Faith. I'll call Giles and tell him you're in town so he can tell the Council and they can put you out of your misery."

Buffy stared at her for a few moments and then attacked her, realizing that talking wouldn't solve the problem.

They fought viciously as only two Slayers can. Buffy tried to use the Katra again, but Faith caught her hand again and knocked the Katra out.

"Nice try, Faith," Faith said and quickly tried to destroy the Katra, but Buffy was faster and she kicked it away.

They fought for it for a while, until Faith managed to crush it.

"You're not getting my body again, Faith," she said with a grin.

"Damn," Buffy cursed, exhausted.

She hesitated for a moment and then ran away, knowing that she couldn't beat Faith.

"Oh no, you don't," Faith said and ran after her.

Giles was still looking for Faith when he ran across her.

"Giles!" Faith said, excited, and approached him.

"Eh, Faith?" Giles said, worried.

"I lost her."

"Her?" Giles said, confused.

"Faith."

"Buffy?"

"Yes, who else?"

"You got your body back?"

"Of course I got my body back. Faith tried to steal it again, but I destroyed that magic thingy she had."

"Magic… Oh," Giles said, suddenly realizing that he was talking to Faith, not Buffy.

"Listen, Giles, where are you staying?"

"In a motel."

"Okay. Go call the Council and tell them that Faith is here. I want them to send a team to capture her."

Giles blinked, confused.

"You want the Council to take care of Faith?"

"Yes, I've had it with her. She still claims she's me."

"Oh." Giles thought for a moment. "Why don't you come back to Sunnydale?"

"What for? Until you figure out how to defeat Adam, I'm fine here. Plus, I got a really great job," Faith said, excited.

"You do?"

"Yes. I teach self-defense to kids. It's really great. And I get to spar with experts."

"I see."

Faith finally noticed that Giles was tense. She frowned.

"What's wrong?"

"Wrong?" Giles said, startled.

"Yes, you're all tense."

"Oh. I am?"

Faith frowned and then her eyes went wide.

"You think I'm Faith too, don't you."

"Eh…"

"I can't believe it!" Faith said, upset. "My own Watcher! First, you don't notice that I'm not me and then you don't believe that I am me."

"Eh, Faith…"

"See! I knew it! I can't believe it. I need to call Willow, she'll know how to prove I'm Buffy."

Faith stormed off and Giles stared after her, confused. He knew that this was Faith in Buffy's body, but he couldn't help but start to doubt that.

"That was Giles," Willow told Tara after she hung up.

"What did he say?"

"He says he and Buffy came across Faith, but Faith kept saying she was Buffy. He said she'll…" She paused as the phone rang. "Call." She picked up the receiver. "Hello?"

"Willow?"

"Buffy?" Willow said and glanced at Tara.

"Yes. Listen, I need your help."

"Eh, okay. What can I do?"

"I need you to help me capture Faith. She claims she's me and Giles obviously believes her. I mean, can you believe it? My own Watcher!" Willow heard Faith take a deep breath."Anyway, can you come to Boston?"

"Eh, okay."

"How soon?"

"I don't know, I'll have to check when the plane leaves. Call me in an hour, okay?"

"Okay. Thanks, Willow, you're the best. I'll see you."

"Okay," Willow said and hung up.

"Was that Faith or Buffy?" Tara asked.

Willow looked at her.

"I don't know. I mean, Giles said Faith was still in Buffy's body, but she sounded so… so sincere and upset."

"Oh. What will you do?"

"I'll check when the plane leaves for Boston." She hesitated for a moment. "Will you come with me?"

Tara smiled shyly.

"Yes," she said, and Willow smiled back.

"Great."

The next day, Willow and Tara came to Boston.

"Guys! Over here!" Faith called when she spotted them.

Willow and Tara slowly approached her.

"Eh, Buffy?" Willow said.

"Of course it's me. Come on, let's go to my place."

"Eh, okay."

Faith led the way.

"So, how are things in Sunnydale?" she asked.

"Quiet."

"See? I knew it. Trouble's always where I am, so it doesn't really matter if I stay in Sunnydale. I mean, you wouldn't believe the amount of demons that showed up after I got here."

Willow and Tara looked at one another.

"So, you've seen Faith?" Tara asked.

"Yeah. I kicked the shit out of her, but we got distracted by vamps and she ran away." She sighed. "I can't believe she convinced Giles she was me."

"Well, you know, the body swap…" Willow said.

"I know, but that's over, I'm me again."

Willow and Tara looked at one another.

"So, how are things here?" Tara asked.

Faith shrugged.

"Busy. I got a job at a community center."

"Really? What do you do?"

"Teach self defense, what else?" Faith said with a smile.

"Really?" Willow said, surprised.

"Yes. I have at least four classes each day, so it pays nicely. And I get to work out."

"Seems like you're having the time of your life," Tara said.

Faith smiled at her.

"Almost. I miss you guys."

"You do?" Willow said.

"Of course I do, you're my best friends, my family."

Willow glanced at Tara, surprised.

"Then why don't you come back?"

"I will. But I promised Sandy, that's my boss, I promised her that I would finish the self defense classes, so I'm stuck here for a while."

"Oh."

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"How's Riley?"

"Riley?" Willow said, startled.

"He misses you," Tara said and Willow glanced at her, puzzled.

Faith sighed.

"I kinda miss him too." She noticed a cab and waved at it. Then she looked at the Wiccans. "I hope you can convince Giles that I'm me again."

"We too," Tara said.

"This is it," Faith said when they got to her place.

"Not bad," Willow said as she looked around.

"It could be better, but I'm saving the money."

"Do you wants us to call Mr Giles now?" Tara asked.

Faith looked at her.

"Well, if you're ready with the truth spell."

"It will only take a minute."

"Okay. I'll go downstairs to make sure that Faith won't follow him."

"Okay."

"And if you need anything, well, help yourselves."

"We will," Tara said and looked at Willow. "You call Mr Giles and I'll set up the truth spell."

"Okay," Willow said.

"How long will you need? After Giles arrives, I mean?"

"You can come right up. I mean, you only step into the circle and I'll ask you who you are," Tara explained.

"Oh. Okay."

Faith left, and Willow looked at Tara questioningly.

"What's going on?"

"I think she really believes that she is Buffy."

Willow frowned.

"But she's not."

"I know, but she believes it."

"Oh."

"We'll add that entrapment spell, so she won't be able to move."

"And when Buffy comes?"

"We'll do another entrapment… No, we'll conjure another Katra and then Buffy can push Faith out of the entrapment spell. They'll swap bodies and Faith will stay under the spell and Buffy will fall out."

Willow thought about it for a moment.

"Sounds like a plan. I'll call Giles and tell him."

"Okay."

Faith waited downstairs for a while, until Giles finally arrived in a cab. She watched him pay the fare and then she hid and let him pass. Then she watched the street for several minutes to see if Buffy would follow. When she didn't see her, she went upstairs.

"Hey, Giles," she said when she saw Giles sitting on the sofa.

"Eh, hello," Giles said.

Faith looked at Tara.

"What do I do?"

"Step into that circle," Tara instructed her and pointed at the circle she and Willow had made.

Faith did so.

"Now what?"

"Who are you?"

"Buffy."

Willow and Giles looked at her, surprised, while Tara sighed.

"How is that possible?" Giles asked, confused.

"See? I told you I'm Buffy," Faith said.

"Lie to me," Willow said. "What color is my hair."

"Red." Faith then noticed she couldn't move. "Hey, why can't I move?"

Tara glanced at Willow.

"Eh, that's our fault."

"What do you mean?"

"Well," Tara said hesitantly, "you're not Buffy."

Faith frowned.

"What do you mean? Of course I'm Buffy. I mean, I'm under the truth spell right?"

"Yes."

"Then I can't lie."

"You're not."

"Then how can I be Faith and claim to be Buffy?"

"Because you believe it."

"That's nonsense." She looked at Willow. "I can't believe it, my best friend. I trusted you," Faith said, feeling betrayed.

"We're not friends, Faith."

"I'm not Faith, I'm Buffy," Faith insisted.

Willow sighed and looked at Tara.

"I'll get Buffy," she said and left.

"Willow!" Faith called after her, upset, but Willow ignored her.

Faith desperately tried to move, but she couldn't.

Willow returned a minute later with Buffy.

Faith heard them and she tensed, scared. She tried to move her hands so that Buffy wouldn't be able to touch them, but she couldn't.

"I don't know how you managed to convince them that you're me, but you're not getting away with it," Faith said, glaring at Buffy.

"Knock it off, Faith, it's over," Buffy said.

"No, it's not. Why couldn't you just die when you jumped off that roof?"

Buffy blinked, confused, and looked at Willow.

"What's her problem?"

"She thinks she's you," Willow explained.

Buffy frowned.

"Me?" She looked back at Faith. "You really are crazy," she said and Faith glared at her. She looked back at Willow. "Now what?"

"Tara and I conjured another Katra," Willow said.

"Here," Tara said and gave her the box.

"Now what?" Buffy asked when she took the Katra.

"Well, she can't move, so…" Willow started.

"Can I push her out?" Buffy interrupted her.

"Yes, you can, but you'll only have one chance. If you miss her hand, she'll be free and you'll be trapped."

"I know. Giles, go behind her so you'll catch me."

Buffy waited until Giles was positioned behind Faith. Then she took a deep breath and ran toward Faith. She could see that Faith was afraid, but she didn't have the time to think about it. She stepped into the circle, touched Faith's hand and then she was falling out of the circle backwards.

"No!" Faith screamed, back in her body.

Giles caught Buffy and she quickly stood up.

"It's good to have… Uh-oh," she said when she saw that Faith was falling forward.

"Oh no," Willow said.

The inertia from Buffy's push carried Faith forward and she fell out of the circle. Her feet were still trapped, but she quickly pulled them out and then got up.

"I want my body back," she said and attacked Buffy.

Buffy defended herself, and Giles, Willow and Tara helped her, but Faith knew the apartment and she'd had a lot of practice, so she easily knocked Giles, Willow and Tara aside. Fortunately for Buffy, Faith's body was still hurting from the beating she got from Faith and hers was in a good shape, thanks to Faith's regular workout. They were more or less equal for a while when Faith suddenly stopped. Buffy carefully approached her, wary of a trap. She saw that Faith was staring at the window, so she looked as well, but all she could see was the building across the street and Faith's reflection. She frowned and looked back at Faith. She hesitated for a moment and then slowly approached her. She waved her hand in front of Faith's face, but Faith didn't react.

"Now what?" she asked and glanced at Willow.

"What happened?" Willow asked.

"I don't know, she just froze," Buffy said. She hesitated for a moment and then slapped Faith, but Faith didn't move. "She's out cold." She looked around. "Is she under a spell?" she asked and looked at Willow.

"No," Willow said. "Only that spot is under our spell," she said and pointed at the circle.

"Then why isn't she moving?"

"I don't know. You saw how she just froze."

"What is she staring at?" Giles asked as they all came closer.

"I don't know."

"Her reflection," Tara observed.

"What?" Buffy said.

"Her reflection. I-I think it caused her to remember."

"That she's actually Faith?"

Tara nodded.

"A-And she doesn't want to be Faith, she hates Faith."

"So she just zoned out?"

Tara nodded.

"To escape reality."

Buffy looked at Faith.

"So what do we do?"

"I-I don't know."

They were quiet for a while, thinking about what to do.

"I could get into her mind," Willow then said.

Giles looked at her sharply.

"Have you been looking at the books in the cage?"

Willow blushed.

"Eh, yes."

"You know you shouldn't."

"I know."

"How?" Buffy asked.

"Huh?"

"How can you get into her mind?"

"Well, that's pretty simple, it's what I might find inside that's the problem."

"Why?"

"Well, if I push too much, we might get hurt."

"Oh." Buffy thought for a moment. "Can I do it?"

Giles raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure you want to?" he asked.

Buffy sighed.

"Not really, but I want to know how I can help her. And besides, I know her best."

"You want to help her?" Willow asked, surprised.

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Yes. I want to know why she hates herself so much."

"Oh." Willow took a deep breath. "Okay, I'll show you what to do to get into her mind, but I can't tell you what you'll find there."

"Okay."

A few minutes later, Buffy was ready. They sat Faith on the sofa and Buffy sat opposite her and concentrated.

Suddenly Buffy found herself on a beach.

"Oh god, I'm not getting schizophrenic, am I?" a familiar voice asked.

Buffy turned and saw herself. She frowned, confused.

"Who are you?" she asked, confused.

"I'm you," Faith said.

"No you're not."

Faith looked at herself and then at Buffy again.

"You do see yourself, right?"

"Yes."

"Then I'm you."

Buffy looked around, puzzled.

"Who's mind is this?"

"Mine. And yours, since we're obviously both Buffy." Faith frowned. "You are Buffy, right?"

"Yes."

"Good. For a moment there I thought I was getting schizophrenic." She smiled. "I could use some company, it gets kinda lonesome here."

Buffy realized Faith still thought she was Buffy. She looked around.

"Where are we?"

Faith shrugged.

"Hell if I know. But it's what I imagined paradise would look like."

"Really?"

"Yes."

Buffy looked around.

"What's that hole over there?" she asked and pointed at the hole in the beach.

Faith looked.

"I don't know. A way out of here, I guess."

"Really? Why don't you go through?"

Faith snorted.

"You think I'm crazy? I'm in paradise."

"But you're alone."

Faith shrugged.

"Doesn't really bother me. And besides, I got you now." She smiled. "Or should I say myself." She shook herself. "How messed up is that?"

Buffy stared at her for a couple of moments and then slowly walked over to the hole.

"Hey, be careful!" Faith called after her and then followed her. "You don't want to fall through that."

Buffy looked at her.

"Why not?"

"Hello? This is paradise here."

"I know, but it's boring." She waved around. "There's nothing to do, no one to talk to."

"But there are no vamps either," Faith pointed out.

"And no friends either."

Faith frowned.

"You have a point. I do miss Mom. And Giles and the guys."

Buffy raised an eyebrow, surprised.

"Why don't we go back?"

Faith looked at the portal and shuddered.

"I don't know. There's something about the portal that totally freaks me out."

Buffy hesitated for a moment.

"We'll go together," she said and offered Faith her hand.

Faith looked at Buffy and then at her hand.

"I don't know," she said and looked back at the hole, nervous.

"You can come back here when you're dead," Buffy pointed out and Faith looked at her.

"I guess," Faith said thoughtfully. She hesitated for a moment and then took Buffy's hand. She took a deep breath. "Let's do it then."

Buffy nodded and they jumped through.

When she found herself in a room, Buffy looked around, but she was alone.

"You're not supposed to be here," a voice said.

Buffy turned and saw a little girl looking at her from another room. She frowned for a moment, confused, before she guessed that the girl was a young Faith.

"Where are we?" she asked her.

"Home."

"Oh."

"Faith!" a voice called, and Faith froze, terrified. "Where's my little firecracker?"

"You should hide," Faith said, scared, and hurried away.

Buffy looked around and then followed Faith into the room. She looked, but she couldn't find Faith. She frowned.

"Faith?"

"Come on, I know you're home!" the male voice called again, this time closer. "You know Daddy doesn't like it when you play hide and seek."

Buffy looked at the door and a few moments later, a man entered. Buffy decided that he could've been handsome if he wasn't fat, dirty and drunk.

The men went straight to the bed, apparently not noticing Buffy. He reached under it and a moment later Buffy heard a scream. The man grinned and pulled Faith out.

"No, Daddy, please," Faith begged.

The man slapped her.

"Shut up, slut. You know what Daddy wants and you know that Daddy gets what he wants. Now sit down," he ordered and started to unbuckle his pants.

Buffy shuddered as she realized what the man was about to do. She closed her eyes for a moment and turned her head.

When she opened her eyes again, she was in another room. She looked around and saw a woman lying on the sofa, apparently drunk. A moment later, Faith entered. She was maybe fourteen and she tiptoed into the kitchen, obviously trying not to wake the woman.

Buffy followed her. When she got into the kitchen, she looked around, noticing that it was a mess. Several dishes were broken and someone had vomited on the table. There were some dirty dishes in the sink, some on the table and there were some stains on the stove.

"Oh Faithy," a male voice sang.

Faith tensed and turned around.

"Mom's here."

"I know," the man said, "but she's out cold." He grinned. "And besides, she doesn't really care, as long as she gets her dope," he said, and Faith gulped. "Now come here and pay for it."

"No," Faith said, obviously scared.

The man's face became serious and he started walking toward her.

Faith tried to escape him around the table, but the man lifted it and threw it aside. Faith started running, but he was on her before she reached the sofa. He knocked her down, straddled her and slapped her a couple of times.

"Don't fuck with me, whore," he said, holding her throat tightly.

Faith looked at her mother and her eyes went wide.

"Mom."

She let go of the man's hand with one hand and then checked her mother's pulse.

Buffy, who had followed her, noticed that the woman's eyes were open and that she was probably dead.

"Mom," Faith whispered.

Suddenly there was a scream.

Buffy turned and found herself in a warehouse. There were a lot of vamps. She noticed Faith, who was being held by four vamps.

"No!" Faith screamed.

Buffy looked and nearly threw up. Tied to a post was a woman who had obviously been tortured. In fact, she was still being tortured. When Buffy noticed Kakistos, she realized that the woman was Faith's Watcher.

Kakistos slowly approached Faith, grinning maliciously.

"Do scream some more, Slayer, it's music to my ears," he said.

He touched Faith's cheek with a red hot stoker and Faith screamed.

"Bastard!" she yelled and kicked at him.

Kakistos captured her leg, but Faith kicked him with the other and then pushed herself into a flip. Kakistos took a step back and Faith quickly shook off the vamps. She grabbed the stoker and as Kakistos attacked her, she swung at him, giving him a nasty scratch across the face. Kakistos roared, and Faith quickly ran away.

"Giles is okay."

Buffy turned and saw Faith talk to Gwendolyn Post.

Gwendolyn, who had been sitting on the bed, stood up.

"His methods are unfathomable to me. I find him entirely confounding. But that is not important. Let him have his games and secret meetings."

"What meetings?"

"Oh, I don't know. Something with Buffy and her friends."

"Oh, right. I guess that doesn't include me."

Suddenly lightning stroke and Buffy jumped, surprised. She looked around and saw Gwendolyn wearing the Glove of Mynhegon.

"What's going on?"

Buffy looked around and saw herself and Faith stare at Gwendolyn, confused.

Gwendolyn smiled at them maliciously.

"Faith! A word of advice, you're an idiot."

Buffy could see that Faith was hurt.

"We're never gonna make it to the warehouse," she suddenly heard herself say.

"If they keep coming one at a time, we got a shot," she heard Faith's reply.

She turned, startled, and saw herself and Faith. She looked around and recognized the scene. An Eliminatus jumped in front of them and jabbed at Faith with his short sword, but Buffy quickly dusted him.

The two Slayers then continued, and Buffy knew what would happen.

At the end of the building, a hand reached out and grabbed Buffy. Buffy reacted and threw the owner against a dumpster. He slumped to the ground, dazed, and Faith moved in for the kill.

"Faith, no!" Buffy yelled, but it was too late and Faith stabbed him.

Buffy quickly moved to see the wound.

"Don't move," she told Finch.

"I didn't… I didn't know. I didn't know," Faith said, shocked.

"We need to call 911, now!" Buffy called to Faith, but Faith was paralyzed with fear and didn't move. "Don't move, i-it's okay," she told Finch, who convulsed. She tried to apply pressure to the wound, but the blood kept on coming. "I-I need, I need something to stop the…"

She trailed off when Finch began to convulse and then died.

"We gotta go!" Faith said, panicking. She grabbed Buffy and pulled her up. "Come on, we gotta go!"

The two Slayers disappeared from the scene, but the scene didn't change. Buffy looked around and then at the corpse. She realized that she had been partially responsible for his death and she shuddered at the thought.

Nothing happened for a minute and then Faith returned. She slowly stepped up to Finch's body and after a moment of hesitation kneeled beside him. She slowly reached out for the wound and touched it, but then immediately pulled her hand back. Buffy could see that she felt guilty and scared. Then she threw up.

There was a knock on the door and Buffy turned, startled. She saw a demon frantically packing his suitcase and she recognized him as the one who wanted to sell them the Books of Ascension. Then Faith kicked the door in.

"Hey, Slayer! You know, I wasn't expecting company. Give me a minute and I'll have the place tidied up for you," the demon said, nervous.

"You got the books?" Faith asked.

"Well, that depends. You got the money?"

Faith hit him.

"You're tough in negotiations and I respect that," the demon said. "Check 'em out. Now, uh, that is quality merchandise. That's worth five grand easy."

"Books of Ascension."

"Mhm. Original editions and everything. Uh, great condition. Okay, it's a little worn on one spine, some slight foxing, but otherwise, perfect. Now, the five grand, it's, uh, you know, negotiable."

"I don't like to haggle," Faith said.

She pulled out the knife the Mayor gave her and stabbed the demon. They rolled around the floor for a while, but Faith finally killed him. Then she stared at the blood on her hands, shocked.

"What isn't?" another Faith said, and Buffy turned. "You know, I come to Sunnydale. I'm the Slayer. I do my job kicking ass better than anyone. What do I hear about everywhere I go? Buffy. So I slay, I behave, I do the good little girl routine. And who does everybody thank? Buffy," Faith ranted in front of Buffy, who was chained to the wall.

"It's not my fault," Buffy said.

"Everybody always asks, why can't you be more like Buffy? But did anyone ever ask if you could be more like me?"

"I know I didn't," Angel said, watching them.

"You get the Watcher. You get the mom. You get the little Scooby gang. What do I get?" Faith continued. "Jack squat. This is supposed to be my town!"

"Please," an old man begged.

Buffy turned, startled, and saw Faith hold and old man. She guessed it was Professor Wirth.

"Sorry, friend, boss wants you dead," Faith said.

"Why?" Professor Wirth asked.

"You know, I never thought to ask," Faith said as she started stabbing him over and over like she was in a trance.

"The Mayor was supposed to be here in person with the money. Well, the price just went up. I don't like surprises."

Buffy turned again and saw an unknown man carrying the all too familiar Box of Gavrock. Suddenly an arrow hit him from behind, piercing his chest.

"Surprise."

Buffy looked and saw Faith with a crossbow. Then she suddenly heard a crash and the sound of broken glass. She turned and she saw herself and Faith as they fought on Faith's terrace.

"Stick around," Buffy said as she cuffed Faith to herself. "What's the matter?" she asked after a few moments of intense fighting. "All that killing, you afraid to die?"

Faith spun Buffy so she could get some leverage to use her legs and managed to snap the handcuff chain. Faith grabbed a length of pipe and they faced off. Buffy pulled out Faith's knife.

"That's mine," Faith said, recognizing it.

"You're about to get it back," Buffy said.

They exchanged blows again, Faith dodging the knife. They slowly moved to the edge of the terrace and Faith held Buffy at the edge.

"Man, I'm going to miss this," Faith said.

Then Buffy broke Faith's grip and stabbed Faith. Both of them looked stunned for a moment.

"You did it," Faith said with a smile and pushed Buffy away from her.

Buffy heard peeping and she turned. She saw Faith as she woke up in the hospital. Faith got up, ripped out the IV tubes and then left the room. She saw a woman come up to Faith and she remembered that Faith had beaten up a woman when she woke up.

"Excuse me. You know how to get to third floor west?" the woman asked.

"What?" Faith said, confused.

"I see…" the woman said, giving Faith a once over. "You need some help or something?"

"Graduation," Faith said.

"What?" the woman said, startled.

"Graduation. I gotta get to Sunnydale High School graduation now," Faith said.

"Well, you can't. I mean, Sunnydale High School isn't even there anymore."

Faith blinked.

"What day is it?"

"Friday."

"What date? The date."

"February 25th."

"What year?"

"Maybe I should get you a nurse…" the woman started.

"What happened to the school?" Faith asked, having a sinking feeling.

"Don't you just wanna…"

"Just tell me," Faith interrupted her.

"Well, it was a tragedy really. Lots of students died. The Principal, the Mayor. I really think maybe I should get you some help."

Faith just stared at her blankly for a couple of moments and then hit her.

"Hey!"

"You can't win this."

Buffy turned, surprised, when she heard her own voice.

"Shut up!" Faith in Buffy's body screamed. "Do you think I'm afraid of you?" She grabbed Buffy in Faith's body and threw her to the ground. Then she sat on top of her and started punching her. "You're nothing! Disgusting!" She grabbed Buffy's hair with both hands and started banging her head. "Murderous bitch. You're nothing." She started punching Buffy again. "You're disgusting," she said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"You're not supposed to be here," a voice said, and Buffy turned yet again.

"You again?" she said, startled, when she saw the little Faith.

Faith nodded.

"Uh-huh." She looked around. "This is a bad place."

"Faith!" a voice called and Faith froze, terrified. "Where's my little firecracker?"

"You should hide," Faith said and hurried away.

Buffy watched as the man found Faith and started unbuckling his belt. She wondered if she could change something.

"Hey!" she called.

"It's too late."

Buffy turned and saw Faith tiptoe past her dead mother.

"No, you can change things," she said as she followed her into the kitchen.

"I can't."

"Oh Faithy," a male voice sang from the kitchen door.

Faith tensed and looked at the man.

"Mom's here."

"I know," the man said, "but she's out cold." He grinned. "And besides, she doesn't really care, as long as she gets her dope," he said and Faith gulped. "Now come here and pay for it."

"No," Faith said, scared.

"Fight him, Faith," Buffy said as Faith started backing off.

"I can't," Faith said and screamed as the man knocked her down.

There was another scream and Buffy turned, knowing what she would see.

"Faith, this is your mind, you're a god here."

Faith's eyes went wide.

"I don't wanna be a god," she said, obviously terrified by the idea.

"You're in control, Faith," Buffy amended. "You can do anything you want here. You can stop Kakistos."

Faith looked at Kakistos, terrified. She was hyperventilating, wondering if what Buffy was saying was true.

Suddenly lightning stroke Kakistos, turning him into dust. Buffy turned and saw Gwendolyn Post.

"Faith! A word of advice, you're an idiot," Gwendolyn said.

"You're not," Buffy quickly told Faith as the other Buffy threw the glass shard at Gwendolyn. "She had us all fooled. And she's the idiot for thinking she could beat us."

Gwendolyn screamed as lightning struck her, and turned to ashes.

"I trusted her," Faith said quietly, looking at the pile of ashes.

"We're never gonna make it to the warehouse," Buffy heard herself say again.

"If they keep coming one at a time, we got a shot," she heard Faith reply.

Buffy turned and saw herself and Faith again. An Eliminatus jumped in front of them and jabbed at Faith with his short sword, but Buffy quickly dusted him. Again.

"Faith, you know what's going to happen," she said. "You can change it."

Faith looked at her.

"I can't."

"I'm a murderer," another Faith said from behind her.

Buffy turned and saw Faith straddling the demon who had offered to sell them the Books of Ascension.

"It was an accident."

"Was it?"

"How about him?" another Faith asked.

Buffy turned and saw Faith holding a knife, which was plunged into Professor Wirth's stomach. She gulped.

"I don't know why you did that, but you had to have had a reason. I'm sure you didn't just go and kill him for fun."

Faith looked at Professor Wirth and shuddered. She pulled the knife out and let the body fall to the ground.

"Because I'm evil," she said quietly.

"No, you're not."

"Oh really?" another Faith said, and Buffy turned again.

"I…"

Faith smiled.

"You did it."

"Did what?"

"You saved me."

Buffy frowned.

"I did?"

"And then you forgot about me."

Buffy turned yet again and saw Faith in the hospital bed after she woke up from coma.

"You don't know the first thing about Buffy. Or me," Joyce said and Buffy looked at the new scene and realized that Joyce was being held prisoner by Faith after she had woken up.

"Don't I?" Faith said. "I know what it's like. You think you matter, you think you're a part of something and you get dumped. It's like the whole world is moving and you're stuck. It's like those animals in the tar pits. It's like you just keep sinking a little deeper everyday and no one even sees."

"Were you planning to slit my throat any time soon?" Joyce tried to keep up her courage.

"Don't tell me you don't see it, Joyce. You've served your purpose, squirted out the kids, raised her up, and now you might as well be dead. Nobody cares, nobody remembers, especially not Buffy fabulous superhero. Sooner or later you're going to have to face it. She was over us a long time ago, Joyce. Too busy climbing onto her new boy toy to give a single thought to the people that matter. I mean, you're her mother, and she just leaves you here to die."

"See?" coma Faith said and Buffy looked back at her.

"I didn't. I just…" Buffy sighed. "I didn't want to think about you, because I didn't want to remember what I'd done. But I did want to help you when I found out you'd woken up."

"Right."

"I did. And I still do."

"Why?" the little Faith asked, and Buffy turned to face her.

"Because I understand you better now. And I could've been a better friend."

"His methods are unfathomable to me," Gwendolyn said and Buffy turned to witness the scene again. "I find him entirely confounding. But that is not important. Let him have his games and secret meetings."

"What meetings?" Faith asked.

"Oh, I don't know. Something with Buffy and her friends."

"Oh, right. I guess that doesn't include me."

"I just need you to stay with Mom in case he comes back," Buffy then heard herself say.

"Yeah, I'll play watchdog," Faith said. "I don't really get it, though."

"I'll explain later. Everything. I promise," Buffy said and hurried out the door.

"Faith, you don't get it. You killed a man," another Buffy told Faith, who had just hung her shirt to dry on a drawer.

"How's my little firecracker?" the first daddy's voice said, and Buffy turned yet again to see the man approach the little Faith's bed.

The little Faith had pulled her covers up to her eyes and was staring at the man, terrified.

"Come, you little slut, time to please Daddy."

"I'm a slut," another Faith said.

Buffy turned and gasped when she saw Faith straddling Xander, having sex.

"And a murderer," said the Faith who had just killed Professor Wirth.

"You're not a slut," Buffy said.

"But he said I am," the little Faith said and pointed at her daddy, who was approaching the bed.

"He lied."

"Oh really?" another Faith said.

Buffy turned and gasped when she saw herself having sex with Riley.

"Riley…"

"He certainly is trying," the other Buffy said and grinned. "I bet you're not happy about it."

Buffy bit her teeth as she realized that it was Faith in her body.

"Okay, so you like sex," she said, "there's nothing wrong with that. And Riley told me about… this." She hesitated for a moment. "Okay, so I also get… horny after a fight," she admitted, blushing.

"You killed a man," another Buffy told Faith, who had just hung her shirt to dry on a drawer.

"I'm a murderer," another Faith said, staring at the dead Allan Finch.

"It was an accident," Buffy said.

"You killed a man," her own voice immediately contradicted her again.

"But he wasn't," Faith said, staring down at the dead Professor Wirth.

"Or him," another Faith said, standing over the man who had brought the Box of Gavrock.

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Why did you kill them?"

"And everything went smoothly with Mr Wirth?" the Mayor asked.

Buffy turned to look at the scene.

"Not if you're Mr Wirth," Faith said from another room.

The Mayor giggled.

"Well, that's swell. You know how I feel about loose ends. And the big day is so close, you can smell the excitement in the air. Say, are you ever coming out of there?"

"I don't know."

"Aww, come on."

A moment later, Faith entered, wearing a pink and white dress. She was barefoot.

"Wow, aren't you a vision?" the Mayor gushed.

"I feel I look stupid in this," Faith said, obviously uncomfortable.

"You look lovely," the Mayor assured her. "Perfect for the Ascension. Any boys that manage to survive will be lining up to ask you out."

"It just isn't me, though."

"Not you? Let me tell you something. Nobody knows what you are. Not even you, little Miss Seen-it-all. The Ascension isn't just my day. It's yours too. Your day to blossom, to show the world what a powerful girl you are. I think of what you've done, what I know you will do," the Mayor said and caressed her face, "no father could be prouder."

"I hope I don't let you down."

"Impossible. Now come on, change back into your street clothes. I'll buy you an icee."

They shared a smile.

"He told me to," the little Faith said from under the covers, and Buffy looked at her.

"And you didn't want to let him down."

Little Faith nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"You had to tie me up to beat me," Buffy heard herself say. "There's a word for people like you, Faith. Loser."

"You're not a loser," Buffy assured the little Faith. She frantically thought for a moment. "You use sex as a relief after slaying, but you're afraid of commitment. Riley told me that you seemed almost afraid of making love. To you, sex is about control, that's why you only do one night stands. You're not a slut. And you're not a murderer either. Finch, he was an accident." She sighed. "I know you're the one who actually stabbed him, but I was also there. It wasn't fair of me, and the guys, to blame only you. I should've known that you were scared. And I understand why you killed Professor Wirth. The Mayor was a father figure to you and he cared about you in spite of the fact that you'd killed someone. And you didn't want to lose that." She frowned as a thought struck her. "But I still don't understand why you betrayed him."

The little Faith hesitated.

"I didn't want him to kill you," she then said quietly.

Buffy blinked, surprised.

"Me?"

The little Faith nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Why?"

The little Faith pulled the covers over her head.

Buffy frowned, confused. She hesitated for a moment and then approached the bed. She sat on it and then slowly pulled the covers back. Faith resisted for a few moments, but Buffy quickly managed to uncover her.

Faith stared at her with wide eyes.

"Why?" Buffy asked her.

"It doesn't matter," the coma Faith said.

Buffy looked at her, startled. She got up and walked over to her bed.

"Of course it does. We managed to kill the Mayor thanks to you."

"You would've done it anyway." She hesitated for a moment. "You always save the world."

Buffy stared at her for a moment.

"You saved it too."

Faith snorted.

"You know, I come to Sunnydale. I'm the Slayer. I do my job kicking ass better than anyone. What do I hear about everywhere I go? Buffy. So I slay, I behave, I do the good little girl routine. And who does everybody thank? Buffy," another Faith ranted to the chained Buffy again.

"But that doesn't mean you never saved anyone," Buffy said.

"You'll live," she suddenly heard her own voice.

She turned and frowned, puzzled.

"Uh, he was so strong, uh…" a girl said.

Buffy suddenly realized that it was actually Faith in her body.

"Yeah, well, he's gone now." Faith turned and the girl grabbed her hand.

"Thank you. Thank you."

Faith stared at her for a couple of moments, expressions flashing across her face.

"Yeah." She shrugged. "It's cool."

"I don't want you risking…" Riley said as he tugged at Faith's arm.

"Don't tell me what to do! I'm Buffy. I have to do this," Faith in Buffy's body said.

"See, I only get thanked when I'm you," the little Faith said from the bed. "And people only worry about me when I'm you."

"I'm sure I'm not the only one who cares," Buffy said.

"Faith! Faith!" Buffy looked and saw Dawn kneeling over a badly beaten Faith, tears running down her cheeks.

The beaten Faith slowly opened her eyes.

"Dawnie."

"Are you okay?"

Faith forced a smile.

"I will be," she said and reached up to caress her.

"Faith! Oh my god, are you alright? What happened?"

Buffy looked and saw a woman rushing to support another bruised Faith. She recognized her as Faith's Watcher.

"Just some freaky demon."

"Do you know what kind?"

"No."

"Did you get wounded?"

"No."

"Good. Let's get you patched up and rested, you can tell me the details tomorrow." She shook her head. "You really should be more careful, Faith."

"I just hope she gets some kind of help," Joyce said.

Buffy turned and saw her mother and Faith in her body watch as the cops took her in Faith's body away.

"The first thing is to keep her from hurting anybody else," a plainclothes officer said.

Then the scene changed.

"Why do you think she's like that?" Joyce asked Faith in Buffy's body.

Faith shrugged.

"You know. She's a nut job. Huh."

"I just don't understand what could drive a person to that kind of behavior."

"Well, how do you know she got drove? I mean, maybe she likes being that way."

"I'll never believe that. I think she's horribly unhappy."

"Well, could be things are looking up. I mean, a little stint in the pokey, show her the error of her ways. I'm sure there's some big old Bertha just waiting to shower her ripe little self with affection."

"Buffy!" Joyce chided her.

"See?" little Faith said.

Buffy sighed and looked at her.

"You must have some happy memories. From when you were in your own body."

Little Faith frowned, thinking.

"Open your present."

Buffy turned and saw the Mayor standing across the table from Faith.

Faith opened the present and her eyes went wide when that the present was a knife with an intricate design. Buffy immediately recognized it as the one she had stabbed Faith with.

"There. That look on your face is my reward," the Mayor said with a smile.

"This is a thing of beauty, boss," Faith said, amazed.

Then loud techno music suddenly started booming and Buffy turned. She saw herself and Faith dancing and she remembered that it was the night before Faith… before they killed Finch.

"That was fun," little Faith said excitedly and the music abruptly stopped.

Buffy looked at her.

"That's it?" she asked, and little Faith shrugged. Buffy thought for a moment. "What do you want?"

"Doesn't matter," little Faith said, her face serious.

"Of course it matters. Everyone has dreams."

"But not everyone deserves to have those dreams fulfilled," coma Faith said and Buffy looked at her.

"You feel you don't deserve it," Buffy guessed.

Faith opened her mouth and then closed it again.

"Do I?" she asked quietly, and Buffy realized that Faith was reaching out to her.

"Yes." She thought for a moment. "I mean, yes, you did kill three people and work for the Mayor, but I understand now why." She paused for a moment. "If the roles had been reversed, I might have ended up like you."

Faith gave her a skeptic look.

"Right."

"I mean it. It's not like I never did anything wrong, I messed plenty of times. But I had the luck to have Mom and good friends, you didn't."

Faith looked down and played with the wires that were stuck into her arm.

"You think I can be happy?" little Faith asked, and Buffy looked at her.

"Yes."

"But I'm a bad girl."

Buffy sighed.

"You're not a bad girl, you just did some bad things. But you can make up for them."

"How?"

"By doing good."

Little Faith frowned.

"But that won't bring back the dead men."

"No," Buffy reluctantly agreed.

"Then how can I ever make up?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"I don't know," she finally admitted. "But you can make up for some of it. You can still do good. If you want."

"Happy birthday, honey," Joyce said, and Buffy looked at the new scene and frowned, confused, when she saw Faith's Watcher instead of Joyce.

Little Faith squealed, got out of bed and ran to her Watcher and the Mayor.

"Happy birthday, sweetie," the Mayor said, only he had Giles' voice.

Buffy's frown deepened.

"He so cute," little Faith fussed over a puppy, wide-eyed. Then she looked back at her Watcher and the strange Mayor. "Thank you, Mommy. Thank you, Daddy."

Buffy suddenly realized that this was what Faith wanted, a family, a mother like a cross between her Watcher and Joyce and a father like a cross between the Mayor and Giles.

Faith's imaginary parents kneeled beside her and the puppy and caressed her.

"You're welcome, honey," the imaginary mother said in Joyce's voice, and kissed her on the temple.

Little Faith smiled.

"What's his name?"

"It's a she," her imaginary father said.

Little Faith's eyes went wide.

"She can have puppies?"

Her father nodded, smiling.

"Yes."

Little Faith squealed, excited.

"What's her name?"

"Whatever you want to call her," her mother said.

Little Faith knit her eyebrows, thinking.

"Can I name her Fluffy?"

Her parents smiled.

"Of course."

Little Faith looked up at Buffy, excited.

"Isn't she cute?"

Buffy smiled a bit.

"Yes." She thought for a moment. "Is that what you want?"

Little Faith's face became serious and she looked at the puppy.

"Come on, honey, come to bed," Buffy heard herself say.

Little Faith looked up, wide-eyed.

"Coming," Faith's voice replied.

Buffy turned and saw herself lying in bed. She frowned when she realized she looked older.

Then Faith walked into the room and joined her in bed.

"Feeling horny?" Faith asked, wiggling her eyebrows, seductively.

The older Buffy blushed a bit.

"You know I am."

"Good," Faith said and hugged her.

Outside, the thunder was heard.

Buffy blushed when she saw her older self and Faith kiss.

"Mommy! Mama!" a girl screamed.

Buffy groaned.

"Must be the storm."

"Yeah," Faith agreed. "Are we decent?"

Buffy looked under the covers.

"Yes."

Then two little girls came running in.

"Can we sleep with you?" the older one asked as she jumped on the bed.

"There's a storm," the younger one said, following her sister.

The older Buffy and Faith smiled.

"Of course," Faith said and pulled the covers back a bit. "Come."

The girls scrambled under the covers, between their mothers, and cuddled up to them.

"Night, girls," Buffy said.

"Night, Mama," the girls said in unison. "Night, Mommy."

"Night, girls," Faith said.

"A dog!" a woman's voice said, and Buffy turned to look. "You don't deserve a dog, you little slut," the woman said and slapped little Faith hard.

Buffy felt like beating the woman, Faith's mother, up.

Little Faith covered her cheek and struggled not to cry.

"Go to your room, you worthless little worm."

Little Faith ran past Buffy.

"Bitch," Buffy murmured and then followed little Faith to her room.

The door was closed, so she knocked. There was no response, so she slowly opened the door and peeked in. She couldn't see Faith, so she entered. She listened for a moment and then heard quiet sobbing. She followed the sound and found Faith behind the bed, hugging her knees. When little Faith saw her, her eyes went wide and she immediately stopped sobbing.

"It's okay to cry," Buffy said softly as she kneeled before her.

"Crying is for sissies," little Faith said.

"No it's not," Buffy objected. "I cry too sometimes when I'm hurt."

"You're weak."

"No, I'm not. It makes me stronger."

Little Faith frowned.

"How?"

"It helps me release the tension, so I can deal with my problems."

"Oh."

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Are you in love with me?" she then asked.

Little Faith's eyes went wide for a moment, but then she shrugged.

"Doesn't matter."

"Of course it does."

"Why?"

"Uh…" Buffy frowned. "I…"

"See? It doesn't," little Faith said when Buffy hesitated.

Buffy stared at her for a moment.

"It matters to you or you wouldn't have shown me that… scene. And besides, it doesn't have to be me…"

"It does," little Faith said determinedly and then quickly hid her face behind her palms as she blushed.

"Oh." Buffy sighed, thinking. "We can still be friends."

"After everything I've done?" she heard herself ask.

Buffy turned and saw herself on top of Riley. She realized that it was Faith in her body again. She sighed.

"Yes."

"Why?" little Faith asked.

Buffy looked at her and thought for a moment.

"Because I want to make it up to you. I've been a lousy friend not to notice that you needed me. I mean, sure, I had a lot on my mind, but I could've tried harder."

"I don't need your pity," little Faith said with a pout, and glared at her.

"I don't pity you, I just want us to be friends again."

"Why?"

Buffy sighed.

"Because I care about you."

"No you don't," little Faith objected.

"His methods are unfathomable to me," Gwendolyn said, and Buffy looked at her. "I find him entirely confounding. But that is not important. Let him have his games and secret meetings."

"What meetings?" Faith asked.

"Oh, I don't know. Something with Buffy and her friends."

"Oh, right. I guess that doesn't include me," Faith said and Buffy could detect bitterness in her voice.

"I just need you to stay with Mom in case he comes back," Buffy then heard herself say again.

"Yeah, I'll play watchdog," Faith said. "I don't really get it, though."

"I'll explain later. Everything. I promise," Buffy said and hurried out the door.

"See?" little Faith said and Buffy looked at her.

"I know, but I didn't want you to feel excluded."

"Um, we're having Christmas Eve dinner at my house, and I thought that, um, if you didn't have plans…" Buffy heard herself say and looked at the new scene.

"Your mom sent you down, huh?" Faith said with a sharp smile.

"No," Buffy said, taken aback, but it was obvious that she was lying.

Faith looked at the real Buffy.

"You wouldn't have invited me if your mom hadn't sent you."

"I…"

"Go away," little Faith and Buffy looked at her.

"No," she said determinedly.

"You were never my friend, you just used me, like everyone else," little Faith said accusingly. She paused for a moment. "Except Mrs H," she then said quietly.

Buffy stared at her, feeling uncomfortable.

"I didn't mean to you use you," she then said. She sighed, thinking. "I was still getting used to being back from LA when you showed up and I guess I felt threatened by you and your tall stories. And then Angel came back and I was confused. I didn't know why he was back and I wanted to find out. I was so occupied by him that I neglected you and the guys. I didn't mean to exclude you from anything. And your lifestyle made me… nervous. It was so different from my own." She thought for a moment. "But when we went slaying together, it was… incredible." She blushed a bit and took a deep breath. "I still love Angel, but I don't love him. And Riley…" She thought for a moment. "I guess I don't really love him. He's nice and normal, but I don't… love him," she said more to herself than to Faith. She sighed. "I don't know, Faith. I don't think I'm gay, but that doesn't mean I couldn't fall in love with you. But first, we'd have to be friends."

Little Faith stared at her for a while, thinking.

"What's gonna happen to me?" she then asked quietly.

Buffy thought for a moment.

"You'd have to go back to Sunnydale with us."

Little Faith sighed.

"I'm scared," she said quietly.

"It's going to be okay," Buffy said.

"You promise?" little Faith asked with anime eyes.

Buffy smiled.

"I promise," she said and offered her her hand.

Little Faith stared at it for a few moments and then hesitantly took it.

Suddenly Buffy found herself in real world again and she blinked, startled. She looked at Faith and saw that she was trembling.

"Faith…" she started, but Faith got up, ran to the sink and vomited.

Buffy quickly followed her, passing the surprised Giles, Willow and Tara, and held back her hair. She looked at her friends.

"Could you leave us alone for a while?" she said.

Willow nodded and she, Tara and Giles went to another room.

When Faith stopped vomiting, she slid down to the floor and hugged her legs. Buffy hesitated for a moment and then sat beside her and put her arm around Faith's shoulder.

Faith tensed and looked at her with wide eyes.

"It's okay," Buffy whispered.

Faith swallowed.

"I'm… Faith."

"Yes."

Faith took a deep breath and looked away, but she let Buffy hold her.

Buffy suddenly felt that Faith was shaking. She looked at her and saw that her cheeks were wet. She wondered how the others would react.

After a while, Faith stopped sobbing and sat up straight. Buffy slowly let go of her.

"How do you feel?" she asked softly.

Faith sighed.

"Tired."

"Then why don't you lie down on the sofa and rest."

Faith tensed.

"I don't want to sleep."

"I'll stay with you and I'll wake you up if you have a nightmare."

Faith thought about it.

"The others…"

"The others can wait."

Faith sighed and got up. Then she noticed that her face was wet and she quickly started wiping it.

Buffy, who had gotten up as well, stopped her, and Faith looked at her with wide eyes.

"It's okay, Faith," Buffy said.

Faith swallowed and looked away.

Buffy reached out and lifted Faith's chin, making her look at her.

"It's okay to cry, Faith," she said.

Faith stared at her for a few moments and then sighed again.

"I… Uh, I need to refresh myself," she then said.

Buffy smiled a little and let go of her.

Faith then took a deep breath and turned to the sink. She rinsed it first and then washed her mouth. After splashing her face with water, she took a paper towel and wiped it. Then she took another deep breath and went to the sofa.

"Buffy?" she said after she sat down.

"Yes?"

Faith hesitated for a moment.

"Did you… Did you mean what you said?" She hesitated for a moment. "About… helping me and being… friends?"

Buffy stared at her for a moment and then nodded.

"Yes."

Faith sighed and looked at her boots for a moment before lying down.

After Buffy was sure that Faith was asleep, she went to her friends.

"Hey," she said when she entered.

"How was it?" Willow asked, curious.

"Dizzy."

"Huh?"

"Scenes kept changing and I had to turn all the time."

"Oh."

"And Faith?"

"She's sleeping."

"Sleeping?" Willow said, surprised.

"Yes, she was tired. Emotionally, I think."

"Oh."

"Were you successful?" Giles asked. "I mean, I know you got her out of her, uh, stupor, but…"

"Yes, I was successful," Buffy said. She sighed. "And I understand her much better now. I'm going to help her."

"And you're sure she's honest?" Willow asked.

Buffy nodded.

"Yes." She ran her hand through her hair. "How long was I… inside her mind?"

Willow glanced at her watch.

"Almost seven hours."

Buffy raised an eyebrow.

"That long?"

"Yes."

"Wow."

"What did you see?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"Well, it was private. Let's just say that she's not evil."

"Not evil?" Willow echoed, surprised.

"No. She didn't hurt us because she wanted us to suffer, she just wanted to… protect herself."

"Oh."

"So we're going to Sunnydale?" Giles asked.

"Yes."

"And what do you plan to do?"

Buffy sighed.

"I'm not sure yet. I need to talk to Mom first, but I'd like Faith to move in with me."

"With you?" Willow said, surprised.

"Yes. That way she would have company and supervision."

"And you're not worried that, you know…"

"No, she's changed. I mean, she not changed, more like broken."

"Oh."

"Where's the phone?"

"In the next room."

"Okay. You guys can go to our apartment and you can pack my stuff. I'll call you in the morning."

"Okay."

"And remove that spell, will you?"

"Sure."

"Be careful, Buffy," Giles said.

"I will."

Giles, Willow and Tara left, Willow and Tara stopping to remove the spell, and Buffy went to the phone. It had a long cord, so she took it to the bedroom. Then she called her mother.

"Hello?" Joyce answered.

"Hi, Mom, it's me."

There was a brief pause.

"Buffy?" Joyce asked, uncertain.

"Yes, Mom, I got my body back." She frowned. "Although I guess I should let Giles tell you that." She sighed and thought for a moment. "Anyway, when I had psychic powers, I heard you think that Giles was like a stevedore during sex. Want me to continue?"

"Uh, no, thank you, I believe you," Joyce quickly said.

"Good. Anyway, we're coming back tomorrow. With Faith."

"How is she?"

"She's recovering. She believed that she was me."

"Really?" Joyce said, surprised.

"Yes. But she's okay now. I mean, not okay, but she's finally starting to accept what she's done."

"Oh."

"Anyway, I was thinking she could move in with us."

"With us? Are you serious?"

"Yes, Mom. She looks up to you."

There was a brief pause.

"How do you know?"

"I was in her mind."

"You were where?"

"In her mind. Look, trust me, Mom, she's okay now. And she's not evil."

"I know that."

"So she can stay?"

Joyce sighed.

"Very well."

"Thanks, Mom. I'll tell you more tomorrow."

"Okay, honey."

"Night, Mom."

"Night, Buffy."

Buffy hung up and then went to check up on Faith. Faith was still peacefully asleep, so Buffy decided to freshen up.

"Morning," Buffy said when Faith woke up the next morning.

Faith blinked, startled, and then remembered what had happened. She sighed.

"Morning."

"How do you feel?"

Faith shrugged.

"Been better," she said and looked away as she remembered that Buffy had woken her up and held her every time she had a nightmare.

"Ready to go home?"

Faith sighed again and then her eyes went wide. She abruptly sat up.

"Dawnie!" she suddenly remembered.

"Your sister?"

Faith looked at her, surprised.

"You know her?" Then she frowned as she remembered Dawn complaining to her. "Oh." Then she remembered something and her eyes went wide. "Oh no."

"What is it?" Buffy asked.

"Her mother died. She's all alone. We have to go find her."

"We will," Buffy said, and Faith got up. "Now?" Buffy said, startled.

"Yes."

"Uh, okay."

"So, how did you meet Dawn?" Buffy asked Faith as she hurried after her.

Faith glanced at her.

"We lived in the same building."

"Oh. And how did you end up being her sister?"

Faith shrugged.

"Her parents were real bastards and she often ran away. I hid her in our apartment when Mom wasn't home. Later we made a hiding place in the attic."

"Oh." Buffy thought for a moment and then smiled. "I'm glad you had someone to love."

Faith looked at her for a moment, startled, and then quickly looked away, still trying to get used to them being friends again.

"You lived here?" Buffy asked when they arrived to a neglected apartment house.

"Yes," Faith said as she hurried up the stairs.

Buffy looked around, curious, wondering how people could live in a dump like that.

When they got to the top floor, Faith went to the end of the hall, where there were holes in the wall, as well as a larger hole in the ceiling, which was covered with a wooden plate.

"Dawnie?" she called as she started climbing up the wall. "Dawnie?"

She lifted the plate a bit.

"Faith?"

"Yes," Faith said, pushed the plate aside and climbed through the hole.

Buffy decided to wait downstairs.

When Faith came though the hole, Dawn stared at her, uncertain about their relationship.

"Are you okay, Dawnie?" Faith asked.

Dawn shrugged.

"Yeah."

Faith smiled a bit.

"I missed you."

Dawn frowned.

"You did?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah."

"You didn't look too excited to see me a couple of days ago."

Faith frowned and then remembered that Dawn had met Buffy in her body.

"Oh." She sighed. "Sorry, I wasn't… I wasn't… myself then."

Dawn frowned.

"And now you are?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah." She thought for a moment. "I… heard your mom died."

Dawn shrugged.

"Yeah."

"Didn't the social services take care of you?"

"I ran away."

"Why?"

Dawn hesitated for a moment.

"I was hoping you'd come back."

Faith smiled a bit.

"I'm back."

"Are you staying?"

Faith sighed.

"No."

"Oh," Dawn said, disappointed.

"You can come with me," Faith said.

Dawn's eyes lit up.

"Really?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah."

"Where are we going?"

"Sunnydale."

Dawn frowned.

"Where is that?"

"California."

"Oh. Why are we going there?"

Faith sighed.

"There are some people there that I… betrayed and hurt. I need to make up to them."

"Oh. What did you do?"

Faith took a deep breath and looked at her hands.

"I… I killed… three people," she confessed.

Dawn's eyes went wide.

"Why?"

Faith sighed.

"It's a long story."

"Oh."

Dawn stared at Faith, and Faith stared at her hands. Finally Faith gathered the courage and looked at Dawn.

"Are we… Are we still… sisters?" she then asked anxiously.

"Of course," Dawn said and hugged her, feeling that she needed to be comforted.

Faith hugged her back and took a deep breath.

"I love you, Dawnie," she whispered.

"I love you too, Faith."

Dawn held Faith for a few moments and then let go of her.

"Thank you, Dawnie," Faith said.

Dawn smiled.

"That's what sisters are for."

Faith smiled back a bit.

"Yeah."

"When are we leaving?"

"Right now."

"Now?" Dawn said, surprised.

"Yes."

"I need to pack."

"I'll wait."

Dawn quickly moved and packed her meager belongings into two bags.

"I'm done," she then declared.

"Give them to me."

Dawn gave the bags to Faith, who looked down through the hole.

"Buffy, catch," she said and dropped the bags one after the other.

Buffy caught them and put them down.

"Buffy's here?" Dawn said, surprised.

"Yeah." Faith hesitated for a moment. "She's one of the people I hurt."

"Oh."

Faith sighed.

"Come, let's go."

She climbed back down and Dawn looked down.

"Hi, Buffy," she said with a smile.

"Hi, Dawn," Buffy said.

When Faith reached the floor, Dawn followed her, covering the hole with the plate again.

"How are we gonna get to Sunnydale?" Dawn asked when she reached the floor.

"By bus," Faith said as she picked up Dawn's bags.

"Bus?" Dawn frowned. "But California is on the other coast."

"I know, but I'm wanted, I can't travel by plane."

"Oh. Okay."

"We can go by plane," Buffy said. "Willow took care of everything," she explained when Faith looked at her, confused.

"Oh." Faith thought about it for a moment and then looked at Dawn. "We're going to Sandy now, so I… so Buffy can say goodbye."

"Okay." Dawn looked at Buffy. "Are you still gonna teach me self-defense?"

"Uh, sure," Buffy said and glanced at Faith. "But Faith can do it as well."

"Really?" Dawn said and looked at Faith.

Faith shrugged.

"Yeah."

"Can you kick Buffy's ass?"

Faith laughed for a moment.

"Sometimes." Faith put both bags into one hand. "Come," she said and offered Dawn the other.

Dawn took it and they left.

When they got to the community center, Faith looked at Buffy.

"Can you handle this?"

"Yes," Buffy said. "Hey, Sandy!" she called.

Sandy turned.

"Hey, Buffy. You're early."

"I know."

Sandy glanced at Faith and Dawn.

"Everything okay?"

"Yes. I just came to tell you that I'm going back home."

"You are?"

"Yes."

"May I ask why?"

Buffy glanced at Faith, hesitating.

"Because my friend needs me."

Sandy glanced at Faith.

"Okay. But the girls are gonna miss you."

"I know. I wish I could stay, but…"

"I understand. Are you coming back?"

Buffy glanced at Faith.

"I don't know yet."

"Okay." Sandy looked at Dawn. "And you, Dawn?"

"I'm going with Faith," Dawn said. "She's my sister."

"Really?" Sandy said, surprised.

Dawn nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Okay then."

"Uh, goodbye, Sandy."

"Goodbye, Buffy."

Buffy hesitated for a moment and then left. Faith and Dawn followed her.

"How did it go?" Buffy asked outside.

"Okay."

"Good. Now let's go to my apartment and let the guys know everything's settled."

Faith tensed for a moment.

"Okay," she said, nervous.

"Faith?" Dawn asked, worried, when she felt Faith tense.

Faith looked at her and smiled a bit.

"I'm okay."

"You sure?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah," she said and gently squeezed Dawn's hand.

"Okay," Dawn said, not completely convinced.

When they got to Buffy's apartment, Buffy knocked. A few moments later, Giles opened.

"Buffy."

"Hey, Giles."

Then Giles noticed Faith and Dawn.

"Faith." He frowned. "Dawn?"

"Hi," Dawn said and smiled.

"Come in," Buffy said and entered.

Faith and Dawn followed her.

"Buffy?" Willow asked.

Buffy smiled.

"Hey, guys."

Willow glanced at Faith.

"Everything okay?"

"Yes." Buffy pointed at Dawn. "That's Dawn, Faith's sister."

"Her sister?" Willow said, surprised. "I didn't know she had a sister."

"Me neither."

"Dawn, these are Willow and Tara," Buffy introduced them. "And you've already met Giles."

"Hi," Tara said with a smile.

Dawn smiled back.

"Hi."

"Listen, you guys go to the airport and get us the tickets, we still have to go to Faith's apartment and pack her stuff," Buffy said.

"Okay," Willow said.

"We'll see you later."

On the flight to Sunnydale, Dawn and Faith sat together and Dawn leaned on Faith, who put her hand around her. Dawn did most of the talking and Faith listened attentively.

Buffy quietly observed them, still a bit amazed that Faith had adopted the girl. And she could see it in Faith's eyes that she cared deeply for her. She hoped that Faith would open up more now that she was with Dawn again.

"You sure you don't want us to come in?" Willow asked when the cabs stopped in front of the Summers house.

"Positive," Buffy said. "And thanks for helping. I'll call you."

"Okay," Willow said and then her cab moved on while Buffy's left.

Buffy looked at Faith, who was staring at the house, obviously nervous.

"You okay?"

Faith looked at her and sighed.

"I… I'm… scared," she admitted quietly.

Buffy took her hand.

"It'll be okay."

Faith sighed again.

"I hope so."

Buffy smiled encouragingly and then led the way to the house. She tried the door and it was open, so they entered.

"Mom! We're home!" she called.

"Buffy?" Joyce immediately came running downstairs. She stopped when she saw Faith. "You're really Buffy?" she asked Buffy.

Buffy nodded.

"Yes."

Joyce hugged her.

"I'm glad you're finally you again."

"Me too, Mom," Buffy said, hugging her back.

Faith stood off to the side, staring at them, nervous, while Dawn was curious.

Joyce finally let go of Buffy and gave her a once over.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Mom."

"Okay." Joyce then looked at Faith, who immediately looked down. "You don't look so good, Faith" she observed.

Faith swallowed and forced herself to look at Joyce.

"I… I'm sorry," she said quietly and immediately looked away again.

Joyce stared at her for a few moments and then stepped closer and hugged her.

Faith immediately started sobbing and she hugged Joyce back for a few moments before she pulled herself together and gently broke the hug.

"Sorry," she murmured, furiously wiping her tears.

Joyce touched her chin and made Faith look at her. Faith stopped wiping her tears and she looked at Joyce with wide eyes.

"It's okay, Faith," Joyce said, smiling softly.

"But…" Faith started with a frown.

"I'll help you."

Faith stared at her for a moment.

"Why?" she then asked. "I mean, I'm not…"

"Because I like you," Joyce interrupted her.

"Oh."

Joyce smiled and looked at Dawn, who was staring at her, surprised, when she saw Faith cry in Joyce's arms.

"And you must be Dawn."

Dawn nodded.

"Uh-huh."

Joyce's smile widened.

"I'm Joyce, Buffy's mom. Welcome to Sunnydale." She glanced at Faith. "I'm afraid you'll have to share the room with Faith for a while, until we get your own room ready."

"Okay."

Joyce looked at Buffy.

"Why don't you take them to Faith's room."

"The spare room?" Buffy asked.

"Yes."

"Okay." Buffy looked at Faith. "Come."

Faith stared at Joyce for a few more moments.

"Thank you," she then whispered and then she and Dawn followed Buffy upstairs.

Joyce stared after her, glad that she was back.

When they got to Faith's room, Faith and Dawn looked around, curious.

"You can change anything you want," Buffy said.

"It's okay," Faith said.

"Buffy," Dawn said and Buffy looked at her.

"Yes?"

"I need to pee."

Buffy smiled.

"You don't need my permission. Go, you know where the bathroom is."

"Okay," Dawn said, a bit nervous, and left.

Faith went to the bed and dropped her and Dawn's bags next to it. Then she sat down and looked around again, lost as to what to so next. She took a deep breath and it sounded to Buffy like she was on the verge of crying.

Buffy hesitated for a moment and then went to the bed and sat next to Faith, who looked at her, startled. Buffy smiled softly and then put her arm around Faith's shoulder.

"What are you doing?" Faith asked in a raspy voice, confused.

"Comforting you," Buffy said and Faith frowned. "That's what friends do."

Faith sighed and looked at her hands.

"You're not alone anymore, Faith."

Faith took a deep breath.

"I… I just need to think," she said quietly.

"Do you want me to leave you alone?"

Faith hesitated for a moment and then shook her head.

"No."

Buffy smiled a bit.

"Okay."

Faith looked at her hands again, and Buffy quietly held her.

After a while, Buffy could feel that Faith was trembling slightly. She looked at her and noticed that tears were running down Faith's cheeks. She rubbed her shoulder and Faith looked at her, startled.

Then Faith realized she was crying and she furiously started wiping her tears.

"It's okay, Faith," Buffy said softly and slowed down Faith's wiping. "It's okay."

Faith swallowed and then took a deep breath.

"Faith?" Dawn said, worried, when she came back and saw Faith had been crying.

Faith looked at her, and Dawn ran to her and hugged her. Faith hugged her back.

"Are you okay?" Dawn asked when she let go of her.

Faith smiled a bit and touched her cheek with one palm.

"No, but I'm better than I have been."

Dawn smiled a bit.

"I'll leave you two alone," Buffy said and got up.

Faith looked at her.

"You don't need to…"

"I'll be back," Buffy interrupted her. She hesitated for a moment. "Or you can come to my room," she offered. "To talk or to just not be alone or something."

Faith stared at her for a moment and then nodded.

"Thanks."

Buffy smiled.

"You're welcome," she said and left.

Dawn sat beside Faith, and Faith looked at her.

"Everything went okay in the bathroom?" Faith asked.

Dawn smiled.

"Yes." She hesitated for a moment. "What is Buffy's mom like? Is she always that nice?"

Faith smiled.

"Yes." Then she remembered something and sighed. "Unless she feels threatened. Or worried about Buffy. Then she can be a real bitch."

"Oh."

Faith put her hand around Dawn's shoulder.

"She's a mom," she said conspiratorially, "a real mom."

Dawn looked at her with wide eyes.

"Really?"

Faith nodded.

"Yeah."

Dawn thought for a moment.

"Do you… Do you think, maybe, she, um, I mean…"

"Maybe," Faith said, guessing what Dawn was trying to ask.

Dawn smiled.

"I like her," she said and leaned on Faith.

Faith smiled as well.

"Me too."

They sat together in silence for a while, holding one another, both feeling happier than they had in a long time.

The End