Special thanks goes out to Spike's Pet & Jada_Kat for betaing this chapter.
Chapter 1 – November 2000
It took a long time for everything to settle in for Faith. She had finally earned her place among the Scoobies, despite Willow's dissent. They had a civil relationship, but nothing very friendly. She and Buffy were for once good friends, and of course Dawn had become her pseudo little sister; but for the last couple of days Buffy had been acting weird. The two Slayers walked back to Buffy's house in near silence
"B, what's up?"
"Nothing." Buffy sighed, opening the door, "Its just Dawn."
"What's up with Nibs?"
"Nibs?"
"It's a Spikeism." Faith smirked as they continued to walk into the house shrugging off her leather jacket and placing her package on the table.
"It's just that…I need you to protect her."
"Of course B, she's your sis. Hell, she's been like my family ever since I came to Sunnydale even during…" Faith turned away from Buffy, "But do you think that this chick you told me about is the new big bad? Why would she come after Dawn?"
"Cause...." Buffy hesitated and Faith sighed.
"Whatever B. I knew things never changed." She grabbed her coat and was about to leave until Buffy caught her arm.
"You gotta swear not to tell anyone, not even Spike."
"I swear." Faith looked at Buffy's face wondering what melodrama was going to come next.
"Dawn. She's, she's not my sister."
"Huh?"
"The monks they made her. They sent her to me to protect."
"Wow. So that chick from the warehouse?"
"She's something pretty big and pretty strong."
"But I remember Dawn I remember meeting her the first time I came to Sunnydale. I remember lots of stuff."
"They were all planted in our minds by the monks. Moments that never happened." Buffy slumped on the nearby sofa.
"Who else knows?"
"No one but you. But I got to tell Giles. And what the hell do I tell my mom?"
"Your mom's sick, I don't think you should lay this on her now, and Giles, well I guess you have to tell him, he's our Watcher."
"I know. It's hard for me to look at her. I mean I love her, she's my sister, but then she isn't really. They made her out of me. It-it's weird to even think about it." Buffy continued, "I guess with everything else that is going on, with mom and school, I have been stretched too far. And with this Glory I don't exactly know what to expect. She's super strong Faith, stronger then even Adam. It's just that as you know I can't be near Dawn all the time."
"B, I get it. I'll be there for her. No probs. I won't let you down." Faith couldn't believe how far she had actually come from where she was two years ago now she was actually honoured to be helping Buffy. For once in a long while she was actually needed and it made her feel good. Faith pulled on her leather jacket. "I gotta get home. Fang breath is probably grumbling where his dinner. We can talk some more tomorrow."
"Sure Faith." Buffy smiled, "Go on home to your hubby."
Faith stopped dead in her tracks and gave Buffy a look of death, "Later B." Faith smiled as she closed the door behind her.