Part 11

"Oh, my god!" I howled in anguish. I looked at the doctor in terror, who was frantically working with his team to restart her heart. "She can't be dead! She can't be!"

"Sir!" the doctor snapped. "Would you please shut up and let us work! If you want her to live, you must control yourself!"

I nodded meekly, and backed away against the wall. I slumped to the ground, my knees giving out. "Buffy," I sobbed. "Buffy." I put my head in my hands, and sobbed brokenly. She was dead. I knew they wouldn't be able to revive her.

So it came as no surprise when the doctor tapped me on the shoulder gently. I looked up at him in agony, my eyes crazed. I stared at him for a long time.

"Is she dead?" I asked finally, my voice displaying no emotion. He nodded. "I'm sorry, sir. There's nothing we could do. If there's anything I can do . . ." Numbly, I shook my head. I stood up and moved past him silently. He made no move to stop me.

She lay on the hospital bed, a sleeping beauty. But this was one princess who would never wake up.

I didn't want to accept it. I couldn't. She wasn't dead. She wasn't. I suppose I was in shock. For the longest time I just stared at her.

Then, finally, something inside me snapped. "No!" I yelled loudly, trying to deny it. "You can't be dead! You can't be!" I stumbled to her bed, falling to my knees.

"I need you, Buffy." I mumbled into her chest. "Please come back. Please, I need you."

In the midst of my despair, I grew angry. I punched her weakly, unable to think or move besides that one horrible thought running through my head over and over: *She's dead. She's dead. You killed her because you didn't do everything in your power to save her. This is all your fault.* These tears that streamed down my face wouldn't stop. My pain was a never-ending tunnel of helplessness and hopelessness.

"Why aren't you here?" I shouted. "Don't you die on me, Buffy! You can't die! I won't let you!"

I gently stroked her hair, my tears falling onto her soft locks. I took her hand and kissed it. Clasping her hand tightly, I wept for what I had lost. Then, just I was about to die inside, she made a small sound. I felt a hand on top of my head, stroking my hair gently.

I looked up, and saw her.

She was alive.

"Buffy?" I asked in surprise. "You-you're alive! You're actually alive!" I couldn't take it anymore, and fell forward, wrapping her in a tight hug. "You're alive." I sobbed over and over. "You're actually alive." I couldn't stop crying. And I hated myself for showing her that part of me.

But I couldn't stop it. I kept crying and crying, just grateful that she was breathing.

"It's okay." she murmured. "I love you, Angel. I'm not gonna die on you. I love you too much. And," this she whispered with her voice of honey, but the words threw me deeply. "I'll never forget."

I fell out of my chair. Clinging to her bed and pulling myself up, I gasped in shock and amazement, "Buffy? You remember? But how?" Even as I said those words, my mind flashed back to what the Oracles had said: We'd better return her memories to her. I drew in my breath sharply. Maybe she truly . . . but no, that's couldn't be possible. the more rational part of my brain exclaimed. I must have misheard the Oracles. That day has been swallowed. It never happened.

But, somewhere, in the midst of all my sensible arguments, I felt a long dead hope spark up inside me. Maybe she did remember . . . Please, God, let her remember. I'm not strong enough to carry the burden alone, not when I could just reach out and touch her. Please let me be happy . . . I prayed silently.

Because of my mental debate, I'd missed what Buffy had said. I asked her to repeat herself.

"I said, 'Yes, Angel. I remember you.' When I woke up, I had the memories." She grinned at me. "I don't know how."

"I do." I broke in quickly. "The Oracles. They thought you were going to die. So they gave you back your memories." I trailed off painfully, remembering how I'd screamed at her to live. "I thought you were going to die." I mumbled tearfully to myself, thinking Buffy wouldn't hear me. I looked down at my feet, fighting the urge to start crying all over again. I'd been so afraid she was going to die . . .

But she heard. Of course she heard.

When I looked back up her eyes were filled with tears. She cupped my face in her hands, penetrating my invisible barrier with her loving gaze. "Angel," she whispered. "Don't worry. I won't die on you. I'm right here. And I'm alive."

At her words I finally dropped the facade.

I fell into her arms, sobbing openly. She hugged my head to her lap, stroking my hair, muttering sweet nothings in my ear. I couldn't take it anymore. I'd come so close to losing her before, and now, faced with her living, breathing body, I lost control.

And, with our tears mixing together, we healed each other.

Part 12

She tossed and turned fitfully in her sleep, crying out softly. *I did this to you, didn't I, 'Delia?* I thought guiltily. *If I hadn't gone and killed myself for the greater good, you wouldn't be having this nightmare now. *

"Wake up, honey." I murmured as I caressed her hair. "It's only a dream."

She moaned and shouted, "No! Doyle, please! Come back to me! Please, Doyle!" at the top of her lungs.

That was enough. She'd already been pushed too far.

"Cordelia!" I yelled firmly, rolling on top of her and gripping her shoulders tightly. "It's a dream, darlin'! It's just a dream!"

She opened her eyes and stared at me in confusion for a long time.

Wetting her lips, she asked softly, "Doyle?"

"Yeah." I said. "It's me. What did you-"

She turned her head to the side and sobbed into the pillow. I lay beside her, hugging her close, just letting her cry. When she finally calmed down enough to talk, she said, "It was horrible, Doyle. I couldn't find you. I kept on searching and searching, but I could never find you. I could never find you."

"Cordelia," I said gently. "I'm so sorry."

"For what?"

"For everyday that I haven't been here. For everyday I've left you alone." She sighed, and snuggled closer to me, her head fitting comfortably in the nape of my neck. "It's okay." she mumbled, her voice muffled. "It's not your fault. I've left myself-" she broke off sharply, clutching her head in pain.

"Cordy?" I asked, worried. "What is it?" I instantly recognized her twitching and asked quickly, "What do you see?"

"Faith," she managed to once it was over, rubbing her head tenderly.

"Faith?" I asked, uncomprehending.

She smiled without humor and said matter-of-factly, "The meanest, most badass Vampire Slayer Sunnydale's ever seen," She paused dramatically. "Is awake."

Part 13

Meanwhile, back in Sunnydale . . .

The young woman's hand twitched. Oh so slowly did her hand lift off the bed and rip the IV out of her arm.

She sat up.

Then, only then, did she open her eyes and look around. She smiled. The bitch was back.

But in what form?

Part 14

I was in the middle of reintroducing Angel to the wonderful world of my kisses when someone knocked timidly on the door.

"Come in." I said crankily.

A man entered nervously, eyeing Angel with contempt and fear. I looked back and forth between the two men, amused. Apparently they knew each other. "Ms. Summers?" the guy stuttered.

"Yes, that's me." I answered.

"There's a phone call for you and someone named Angel at the front office. Should I put them through?"

"Sure." I said nonchalantly. "Who is it?"

"A Cordelia Chase and Doyle." he replied. "They say it's urgent." I looked at Angel curiously. He shrugged and mouthed "I don't know." to me. I glanced back at the man standing by the doorway, growing more concerned by the second. Somehow I managed to say calmly, "Yeah. Put them on."

He nodded and left quickly.

A moment later the phone rang.

"Hello?" I asked.

"Buffy!" Cordelia said breathlessly. "Thank God! We've got a problem!"

"Slow down, Cordy." I said, trying to calm her down. "What is it?"

"Starts with an F ends with an H."

A chill ran through my blood at her sardonic words. "Faith." I whispered tightly.

"You win the prize! She's awake!"

"Thanks. Cordy, gather some weapons and get down here. Bring me a spare change of clothes. We're going to Sunnydale."

"What about you? You just got of a coma. Aren't you still weak?"

"I'll take care of that."

"Sure thing." she agreed reluctantly. "We can be there in an hour."

"Get here sooner than that." I said firmly. I hung up the phone, and tore the IV out of my arm.

"What are you doing?" Angel asked quickly.

"Faith's back." I muttered, not looking up.

"So you're just going to have a showdown with her? Buffy, you just got out of a coma. You're not-"

"So did she."

"She what?"

"She just got out of a coma. She's not as strong as she used to be."

"And what makes you think you are? You were just in a car accident that nearly cost you your life. She's perfectly fit if you disregard the fact that she's been in a coma." "I'm stronger than her." I said solemnly, still concentrating on tearing the wires out of my arms. I finished, and looked up into his eyes for the first time. I knew my gaze must have been steel, but he didn't flinch. "And you know it." I said dangerously.

"What makes you so sure?" he persisted.

I sighed, exasperated, and said angrily, "You want proof?! Fine, I'll give you proof." I got out of the bed, ignoring his cry of protest and attempt to stop me.

I ignored the wave of dizziness that came over me, and, with a mighty warrior cry, I whipped around and punched a hole in the wall. When I pulled my hand out, the plaster stuck on my arm up to my elbow.

Angel stared at me in amazement and horror. I grinned at him, knowing I must have resembled a young lioness closing in on her prey. "I'm strong enough." I repeated, walking out of the room, straight and tall. He followed, coming to stand behind me.

"I promised you I wouldn't die on you again, Angel. I always keep my promises."

"No, you don't."

I turned around slowly, staring at him. "What?"

"You promised me you'd never forget. But you did."

At first I had nothing to say to that. I finally came up with, "But I remembered, didn't I?" I didn't wait for a reply, and strode out of the hospital room, trying not to faint.

I know that he must have seen how I was barely able to stand, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he answered my previously unanswered question with a cynical, "Yeah, you did, but only after you nearly died."

Part 15

Angel Investigations

"Come on, we gotta go." I said quickly, grabbing his arm and pulled on it. "Buffy needs our help."

"Yeah, I gotta agree with you there." Doyle replied. "Da Slayer, she's pretty weak now."

"She doesn't want to admit it, but she's about to pass out." I said without thinking.

Doyle stared at me in surprise. "How do you know that?"

I shook my head, dismissing it. "I don't know." I said, shrugging. "It just popped out. We got all the stuff, right? Let's go."

But he wouldn't let my sudden connection with Buffy go. "Hit me, 'Delia."

"What?" I asked, taken aback. "Why?"

"It's just a hunch I have. Punch me."

"I don't know how to punch!" I protested, a sneaking suspicion of what was going on surfacing in my brain. I quickly tried to squelch it. "What are you trying to do?"

"Just punch me."

I shrugged, and did what he asked. I punched him lightly, I swear I punched him lightly, but somehow he ended up on the floor.

"Cordelia," he gasped, rubbing his slightly bleeding nose. "You're the-"

I turned away and hefted a battle-axe expertly, though I'd never held one in my entire life. "The Slayer." I finished for him. "I'm the new Vampire Slayer."

Part 16

I got dressed, and climbed out the window. I clutched my head in despair.

All these weird images went through my head. I couldn't make sense of any of them.

It was only as I landed outside in front of the hospital that I realized I didn't know my name.

Or my age.

Or anything about my past.

"What happened to me?" I muttered aloud. I stopped quickly. I didn't recognize my voice.

"Your boy can't have me, though, B." I whispered viciously. I shook my head in despair. Who was B?

As soon as I said that, I recalled someone blond and beautiful who could fight extremely well. "B." I said to myself. "Buffy."

I looked around, and spotted a mansion in the distance. I walked resolutely towards it. Maybe it could give me clues to my identity.

Part 17

I walked closely behind her, in case she fell over. To anyone who asked what Buffy was doing walking around in her hospital gown looking like she just came from Hell, I'd vamped out on them.

There were no more questions.

But when we reached the exit, she fainted on me. "Buffy, I told you weren't strong enough." I chided gently, gathering her unconscious form into my arms. Luckily I didn't have to wait long. Doyle and Cordelia pulled up within 15 minutes.

"This is just great." I muttered sarcastically, carefully getting into the back seat, Buffy's head lolling gently back and forth as I moved. "How's she gonna face Faith if she's injured?"

"Don't worry about it, Angel." Doyle said cheerfully, glancing at Cordy for an instant then going back to his driving. "We've got it covered."

"What?" I asked incredulously. "Then enlighten me, Doyle. Tell me how it's covered! 'Cause let me tell you all I can see right now is Buffy getting her ass kicked by a vengeful psycho. Not a pretty picture."

"Man, calm down. There's Cordy."

"Cordy?" I asked in disbelief. "No offense Cordelia but how in the hell are you gonna stop Buffy's ass from getting kicked?"

"Relax, Angel." she said nonchalantly. "Even if I can't help out, you and Doyle can fight."

"But how?!" I interjected impatiently. "How do you think you can even remotely hurt a fly, let alone kick Faith's ass? Will someone please tell me what the fuck is going on?!"

She didn't answer. Instead, Doyle asked bluntly, "Your Slayer. She died in dat hospital, didn't she?"

I bristled immediately at the painful memory his words invoked in me. "Yeah." I said softly. "Yeah, she did. But what does that have to do with-"

"The new Slayer was activated when Buffy died, is that how it goes?"

"Yes. Why?"

"So," he continued, ignoring my question. "This girl who was activated wouldn't show any new strengths till the instant the previous Slayer died, right?"

"Right." I said slowly, still not getting it. "So?"

"Angel," Doyle said with exaggerated patience, "The new Slayer is-"

"Me!" Cordy interjected angrily, tired of the games. "I'm the new Slayer." I chuckled, for lack of anything better to do, coming up with an extremely intelligent, "I'm sorry. What?"

She turned to stare at me, a deadly glint hidden in her eyes. "Want me to prove it to you?"

I glanced at her sardonically. "Sure."

"Doyle, pull the car over."

He obeyed, and Cordy hopped out, saying, "Come on, Angel. We gotta hurry.

The sun's almost up." Doyle got out of the car and came around to watch.

I got out, still skeptical.

That is, until she knocked me flat on my ass without even trying.

"Hey! That hurt!" I exclaimed indignantly.

"See? Now do you-"

Laughter wafted out from the car. "You're kidding right?" Buffy asked, still giggling. "I'm out for a few hours, and when I wake up, my replacement is Cordelia Chase. What a trip!"

"Hey Buffy, I'm not too happy about it either." Cordy burst in angrily. "You think I want to spend the rest of my life killing things? No thanks."

"Sorry babe, but you don't have a choice. You, for some strange reason, have been Chosen. Pardon me while I go into Giles mode for a sec. In every generation there is a Chosen One. She alone (yeah, what a joke!) will stand against the demons, the vampires, and the forces of darkness. She is the-"

"Slayer." Cordelia supplied glumly. "Great. So what do I have to do?"

Buffy was taken aback. "You actually want to do it?"

She shrugged. "It won't be any different than helping you or Angel out 'cept this time I'll be able to fight back."

Buffy chuckled again. "You really think that's all there is to it? You're in trouble, Angel's not around; you can fight for yourself; woo hoo; go on with your life?"

"Well, yeah."

"Sorry, but that's not how it works. You've known me for three and a half years, you've seen my life. Welcome to my life, Cordy."

"Holy shit!" I shouted, clutching my hand in pain. I'd been so wrapped up in their argument that I hadn't even noticed sun the coming up. I leaped into the front seat of the car, narrowly escaping bursting into flames. I looked for at Buffy sheepishly, handing her a plastic bag. "Here. Clothes."

"Thanks," she said, taking it.

I tactfully averted my gaze while she changed.

I remembered how my soul was now bound to hers. "Buffy, why did you come back to L. A.?" I asked of the blue. "You tried to tell me before, but . . ."

"I woke up at about 3 thinking of you. Something . . . I don't know something happened, and I knew I had to see you."

"3 AM." I echoed thoughtfully. That was around the time I'd kissed the ring. "Buffy, my soul, it's . . ." I trailed off awkwardly.

"Angel, what are you trying to tell me?" she asked gently.

"Two things. One where you'll probably love it and another which you'll stake me for."

She laughed, climbing up into the front seat with me. She was wearing blue jeans and a white tank top. I looked into her eyes.

"Angel, whatever it is, you can tell me. Is the world coming to an end?"

I shook my head. I blurted out in a rush, "My soul's bound to you. It's permanent. And we've been married for a year and a half and I never told you."

"What? We're married?! How is your soul bound to me?" She blinked and whispered pitifully, "Were you even gonna tell me?"

"I was going to tell you last year on your 17th birthday, but we got interrupted."

"The Claddagh?"

I nodded.

"Do you have my Claddagh, Angel?"

"You accept it, Buffy? You wanna marry me?"

"Of course I do." Then, as an afterthought, she added, "How did you know your soul was permanent?"

I explained to her about what had happened with the Claddagh. Then, grinning stupidly, I pulled her ring off the silver chain I always wore.

"Here." I rasped. "Put it on."

She smiled, saying, "It's beautiful."

Buffy slipped it onto her ring, kissing it softly, just as she had on her 17th birthday. She pulled me to her, and we kissed joyfully.

Until Cordelia knocked on the window impatiently. "I hate to interrupt this little lovefest." Cordy said through the glass. "But don't you need to help me?"

We broke apart, and Buffy said dreamily, "Gotta go train Cordy."

"I understand." I replied, belatedly remembering the vampire thing. "I'll just wait here." Buffy rolled one window down, careful not to let any sunlight touch me, and squeezed through it. I rolled it back up, suffering only minor burns. "Let's see what you got." Buffy yelled in a challenging tone. "Come on, kick my ass."

I had to laugh at Cordelia's attempted bravado. She had no idea who was she was dealing with.

Part 18

"Is that the best you can do?" I crowed as Cordelia doggedly punched at me. I dodged her with my hands behind my back each time, throwing insults at her left and right. She was attempting to prove to me that could kick my ass. I'd laughed in her face. and yelled, "Prove it!"

So now this was her pathetic attempt to prove it.

She stopped trying to punch me and slumped over, panting.

"Give up yet?" I asked triumphantly.

"I . . . give . . . up." she gasped, out of breath.

"All right then, let's teach you how to be a real Slayer."

The training began. I had to admit, though I wasn't at my top strength yet, and at first I was letting her think she was gonna beat me . . . But take all that away, and Cordelia definitely had potential.

Especially when she caught me off guard with a roundhouse kick that knocked me on the ground.

Cordy grinned as she helped me up, saying smugly, "Looks like I'm learning."

I had the good grace to try not to be bitchy about her improved fighting skills. I answered with a cocky, "Yeah, you're learning. Still got a long way to go, but you're learning."

"Buffy, gimme a break!" Cordy exploded. "Is it so hard to compliment me once in a while? Would it be too much to ask if you showed a little compassion?"

"She's got a point." Doyle interjected.

"Shut up!" we both yelled.

Cordelia continued without skipping a beat, "We've been doing this for hours! Praise me or something! I know you're pissed because you're getting beaten by me, but that's not my fault! The person you're really angry at is yourself! What you need to do is-"

I lost my temper, and, catching her off guard, I whipped her down to the ground, clutching her throat. "You are never going to be stronger than me, Cordelia." I growled viciously. "And let me tell you why." I let her go, and we sat facing each other.

"You don't take this seriously. If you don't take this seriously, you are gonna die. And I really don't want to see that happen. I've seen it too often already. Now I will offer you no praise until you can show me you can take care of yourself and be serious about it.

"This is a job, Cordy. A job that you absolutely have to go to every night for the rest of your life. A life which will not last long if you're not careful. So my job, besides slaying vampires, has now become you're strong enough to stay alive. All right, let's continue."

No more complaints came from Cordelia.

Part 19

God, I never knew that training could be so grueling! I felt like my whole body was on fire! And I had a vague idea why. Buffy was training herself as well as me. She was trying to zap herself back to full strength, and taking me along for the ride.

"B," I responded, as nonchalant as could be under the circumstances. So, instead of getting a beginning workout for a Slayer who was just starting out, I was getting one meant for someone who'd been doing it for four years.

And, let me tell you, it was working. I felt stronger now than I'd felt 10 minutes ago. I could imagine how Buffy must feel, coming out of a coma and all.

But she was still stronger than me.

And I knew she always would be.

Buffy leaped up into the air, and so fast that I didn't even see it, she kicked me in the throat.

I dropped like a stone.

"What the . . ." I gasped when I could breathe. "You've seen the Matrix too many times, haven't you?"

She laughed, glanced at the car where Angel was sleeping peacefully, and admitted with a small smile, "I think Keanu's hot. And that Trinity chick would make a kickass Slayer."

"Yeah, Keanu is pretty hot." I confessed with a grin, ignoring Doyle's envious glare. "He looks great in leather."

My remarks fell on deaf ears, for Buffy was too busy swaying unsteadily to concentrate on me.

"Buffy?" I asked with concern, coming over to her quickly. "Are you okay?" "Yeah," she mumbled woozily. "I just feel a little . . ." She crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

I sighed and slung her over my shoulder, thinking ironically that 12 hours ago I wouldn't have been able to lift her 6 inches, let alone swing her over my shoulder.

"Why does she love to faint so much?" I asked irritably to Doyle as I carefully put her in the back seat.

I glanced at the sun, and was surprised to see that it was almost gone. "We've been training all day?" I asked in disbelief.

"Yeah, I was starting to think you guys would be at it till dawn."

"Same here." I replied. "And we probably would have if she hadn't fainted. Angel, wake up!" I slapped Angel impatiently. I wanted to sit next to Doyle.

"She seems to be doing that alot lately." Doyle remarked, sliding into the front seat.

Angel opened his eyes and stared at me sleepily.

"Go lay down in the back with Buffy." I ordered softly. "She's asleep again."

He stumbled out with alacrity and snuggled next to Buffy, asleep again within seconds.

"They're so cute together." I whispered meditatively, getting in the car. I glanced at Doyle adoringly. "Do you think we'll ever have that cuteness when we're asleep in each other's arms?"

He grinned, taking my hand and squeezing it gently. "We already do." he assured me.

We drove on in peaceful silence. Gradually the strain of the day caught up with me and I slumped into Doyle's lap. I fell asleep to his loving touch patting my head, stroking my hair. I was lulled to a blissful rest by Doyle's tender hand.

Part 20

I was wrapped in a gentle cloud. A warm mist blew on my neck, making me remember what it felt like to be human.

I slowly resurfaced into reality, and found that the warm mist was Buffy's sweet breath gliding onto my neck, in and out, in and out. The gentle cloud was her body entangled with my own. I couldn't help but smile.

"She fainted again?" I asked candidly to Doyle, who had Cordelia comfortably asleep in his lap.

"Cordy had to carry her inside." he replied and, from his distracted tone, I gathered that he was stroking her hair, just as I was doing to Buffy. Speaking of Buffy, she sighed contentedly and stirred in my arms. "Hey," she mumbled soporifically. "We there yet?"

"We've reached the outskirts." Doyle answered. "Where to?"

"Head for the screams." Buffy muttered grimly, fully alert now.

Sure enough, a shrill scream resonated from the mansion. Doyle drove to it and parked.

Buffy stretched and climbed over Cordy, getting out of the car. I got up and followed her. I grabbed her wrist before she could enter the mansion. We stood in front of the car, staring into each other's eyes. I knew this might be our final goodbye.

That thought terrified me. It prompted me to say, "Be careful." tightly. "You'll be careful, right?"

She kissed me tenderly in response, whispering into my ear, "Don't you remember? I told you I always keep my promises."

"If there's any sign of trouble . . ." I began, but she silenced me with a touch of her finger. Buffy laughed softly. "There won't be. I can take care of myself." She left me then, her kiss lingering on my mouth.

I chuckled. The chuckle grew to a laugh, and that laugh grew to peals of hysterical mirth. "What on earth could possibly be funny?" Doyle demanded.

"Oh," I muttered through titters, "Just that either way you look at it, whether or not Buffy kills Faith or not, I never laugh, or smile, or do anything fun. I'm always serious brooding guy. What's up with that?"

Cordy yawned and elongated, staring up at me. "What is his problem?"

"I think he's making a life-changing decision."

"Which is?"

Doyle shrugged, and said, "To go insane."

She snorted. "Oh, I already knew he was insane."

Part 21

I fingered the pieces of the broken table thoughtfully. What had happened here?

I shrugged it off, and strode to a couch slowly. It all came back.

I remembered what a charge it'd been to kill people with my bare hands. I remembered when things had gone bad, and I'd turned to the mayor for comfort.

I'd wanted to feel accepted, and, when I was with him, I did. It hadn't lasted long.

I'd longed to go back to the Scooby Gang, but I'd been too afraid to beg for forgiveness. Plus, I loved to kill people.

"I don't want to do that anymore," I said quietly. "I want to be part of the gang."

Something inside me changed. Maybe it was the whole almost dying thing, but I didn't want to be evil anymore. I wanted to stake vamps with Buffy again. I was interrupted in my thoughts when a familiar voice called out to me.

"Faith."

I turned around slowly.

Buffy.

"B," I responded. "How are you?"

"Oh, just fine," she said sarcastically. "A lot's happened since you've been asleep. I got put in a coma for one thing. So guess we're even in that department." She smiled at me with alacrity, a little too eager. A sparkle in her eye and a nervous twitching in a vein in her neck showed me that she was here for business, not social time. "You?"

I took a deep breath and prepared to do the hardest thing in my life. Apologize.

"I don't want to fight, Buffy,"

"No?" she asked cautiously, in an odd tone.

"No, I was hoping I could go back to the team. Do you think you could accept me?" I asked sincerely.

To my immense surprise she walked over and slugged me. I clutched my cheek in surprise. "Why did you do that?" I demanded.

"I've had bad experience with the word 'No.'" she remarked dryly. "It usually results in bloodshed."

"I'm serious, though." I protested. "I want-"

She lashed out with her foot quicker than the eye could see, and in a splitsecond I was on the floor, sprawled on my back. Buffy had pulled out a stake and was on top of me before I could move. "This time," she growled. "I'll make sure you stay dead."

"No! Don't!" I gasped. "Do you remember the dream? We made peace in the dream! Remember Buffy?!"

She blinked, and the deadly light went out of her eyes. "Yeah," she muttered softly. "I remember." She rolled off me and sat staring into space. I sat up too.

"I shouldn't have forgotten." the blond slayer said to herself, obviously forgetting I was there. "I told him I'd never forget." She glanced at me sharply. "What made you come back to the Jedi Knights?"

"Huh?"

She chuckled. "Never mind. Star Wars reference."

"Oh. Well, it's a long story. I had amnesia for awhile. So I came here to try and get my memory back. You were the first thing I remembered."

"But why do you want to be a good Slayer again?" Buffy burst in impatiently.

"For eight months when I was in a coma, I wasn't just asleep. I was in this limbo place. It was really weird. But, while I was there, I thought a lot about my life and what I'd given up. And it all came down to this.

"I liked being part of the Scooby Gang more than I liked working for the Mayor."

She was silent for a long time, pondering my words. Then, finally: "One thing, Faith."

"Yeah?"

"Don't try and kill my boyfriend again, k?"

I grinned. "Sure, B. Anything you say."

She stood, and helped me to my feet saying, "Welcome back to the team.

Let me introduce you to the new members of the Slayerettes. Oh, you'll never guess what happened."

"What?" I asked, caught up in the joy that emanated from her voice. "I died again."

"Really? So who replaced you?"

"You will never guess."

She led me to a black convertible where I saw some old faces, some new. They welcomed me like I'd never left. I grinned again. I was finally back where I belonged.

With my family.

Send feedback to Amber

Back to the Fanfiction Archive