Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: I Will Remember You, This Year's Girl, Who Are You?, A New Man, Graduation Day Parts 1&2.
Distribution: Ask first, but the BA_Fluff archive gets it first.
Summary: An alternate reality that branches off from the beginning of Who Are You? Buffy escapes the Council, and runs to Angel.
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Twentieth Century Fox own Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I do not. This is not intended as a copyright infringement.

She still felt slightly dizzy from the drugs she had been given, but it was passing quickly.

The Council goons didn't believe her, of course. Not that she could blame them.

Actually, I can Buffy reflected grimly. Her prison had been designed with one purpose. To hold a Slayer.

"We've got the kill order." she heard one of the goons say. Her muscles tensed as someone stuck his arm through the window. With a gun.

Her legs came up, catching his arm between her ankles. One squeeze, and the gun was on the floor of the van, within reaching. With one quick jerk, the chains that held her to the bench came loose. Aiming the gun at the door, she shot three times at where the deadbolt should be, and kicked the door open.

Sticking the gun in the waistband of her/Faith's pants, she got into the cab of the truck. Shouts sounded out as she searched for the keys. Come on, come on. Ah hah!

The keys fell into her hands from the sun flap, and she fumbled with them briefly before she managed to get them into the ignition. Then she was clutching the wheel for dear life as she hit the gas pedal, and busted through the garage door of the warehouse.

She drove until she reached the waterfront, and then ditched the van. Night found her on top of a warehouse, sitting under an overhang.

The sun had just set, and she sat watching the last rays of the sun fade from the sky, one leg tucked under her, the other idly swinging over the edge of the warehouse.

I can't go to any of my friends. she thought, eyelids lowered. Or the Initiative for that matter. So...?

With a sigh of exasperation, she stood up, and hopped down off of the concrete ledge. "The only person left is Angel."

***

Buffy reached LA as the sun was starting to rise. She parked the van behind an abandoned warehouse, and curled up in her seat, determined to get a few hours of sleep.

When she woke up, it was mid afternoon, and getting hot. Stretching, she yawned, and grimaced as the sun beat down on the leather clothes she was wearing. "Wonderful." she muttered, grimacing slightly. Faith seemed to be in good enough shape for having been in a coma for several months.

Hopping out of the van, she slid open the garage door of the warehouse, and then carefully drove the van into the warehouse. Turning it off, she pulled down the garage door, and looked around her temporary home.

The warehouse had two levels, and a freight elevator gave easy access to both floors. The afternoon sunlight spilled through barred windows high up in the walls. Old wooden crates were piled against one wall, bearing faded logos done in chipped paint.

Fencing closed off one corner, locked shut with a padlock that Buffy easily broke. Within the fencing was a rickety table and chair set that looked repairable.

Going back to the van, she rummaged through it. Under one seat, she found another gun with a silencer, a pair of binoculars, and a first aid kit. The compartment overhead held a set of very nice throwing knives, aspirin, some liquid in a vial, a hypodermic, and a flashlight.

Buffy grabbed the throwing knives and the flashlight. She tossed the gun she had acquired from the Watcher's Council goon in the top compartment, then went to examine the elevator.

The elevator still worked, and to her delight, there was a basement level! Turning on the flashlight, she flipped the switch on the elevator, and flattened herself into a corner.

As soon as she opened the elevator, two vampires leapt into the elevator.

With a curse, Buffy fumbled around as the flashlight was knocked out of her hands. She rolled to her feet in the darkness, staying absolutely still.

A creaking to her right alerted her, and she plunged forwards, grabbing the vampire. Pinning his arms, she dug through his pockets with her free hand. She pulled out his wallet, and a Zippo lighter. She lit him on fire, and the light off of the burning vampire illuminated the other vampire who whirled around in shock. She grabbed a piece of broken crate off the ground, and staked him with it.

Retrieving the flashlight and the wallet from the floor, she explored the basement until she was sure no more vampires lurked in the shadows. Then she examined the contents of the wallet.

She found a fake ID, several hundred dollars in cash, and five credit cards. Closing the wallet, she stuffed it in the pocket of her leather pants.

A more thorough search of the basement yielded more comfortable clothes, no doubt property of the vampiress she had staked in the elevator. Finally, she found the lightswitch, and switched it on. Florescent light tubes flickered on, giving her a good look at the basement level.

There was a grate big enough for her to fit through that provided access to the sewers in the largest of the rooms. Several other rooms were fairly moderate sized, although Buffy briefly wondered why the vampires had bothered to set up a kitchen.

She ferried the things she had found in the van down into the basement dwelling, and hid the van in a pile of crates. By the time she had finished sunset was coming on, so she dressed in the far less slutty clothes of the vampiress who she had staked, and headed out.

An occult store in a lower class neighborhood provided plenty of Holy Water, some crosses, and the materials to perform the ritual that would keep vampires out of the warehouse.

Once that was finished with, she headed back to the warehouse, and performed the ritual. That done, Buffy carved some stakes, and headed out to go hunting for vampires.

She found her way into Angel's usual demon hunting grounds easily enough, and staked three that tried to peg her as an easy dinner.

Stalking the vampires that lurked in the shadows of doorways, and in darkened alleyways, she was unaware that she herself was being watched.

***

Officer Kate Lockley was patrolling on foot in plain clothes when she noticed the teenage girl come up to a man, and make him an offer. Figuring to make a bust, she stealthily followed them into the alleyway, staying behind a stack of rusting garbage cans.

She was understandably startled when the brunette proceeded to beat the hell out of the man, before plunging a stake into his heart. The man dissolved into dust.

"Vampire." she breathed. The girl brushed herself off, and hurried out of the alley, walking right past Kate's hiding spot.

Kate pondered what she had seen, then stood up, staring after the swiftly retreating girl. "Time to go call Angel." she muttered.

***

Cordelia looked up as the door opened, and pasted on her best fake receptionist smile. "Welcome to Angel Investigations! We help the hopeless... Oh, hi Kate. Supernatural creepy-crawly?"

"Something like that." replied Kate. "Where's Angel?"

"Either downstairs brooding, downstairs drinking with Doyle, or downstairs asleep." Cordelia answered. "Pick one."

"Oh, good day Officer Lockley!" Wesley chirped, bounding through the doorway of the office. "I assume you're here because of a demon of some sort?"

"No." replied Kate. "More like a vampire killing."

"Someone bit it because of a vampire?" Cordelia said, arching one eyebrow. "Old news."

"No, someone killed a vampire. Easily." replied Kate. "And the girl who killed the vampire look human."

Wesley and Cordelia exchanged looks. "Let's go see Angel." said Cordelia, standing up.

They took the elevator down. Angel and Doyle were discussing the most recent case, at the kitchen table. They looked up as the elevator descended.

"Kate!" said Angel. "What are you doing here?"

"I saw someone kill a vampire. A girl. I was wondering if you had any idea what's going on." Kate replied.

Angel sat up straight. "What did she look like?"

"I had a composite made." said Kate. Reaching into the pocket of her jeans, she pulled out the folded piece of paper and handed it to Angel.

Angel took one look at the picture, and stood up. With a grim look on his face, he handed the composite to Wesley.

"Dear Lord." said Wesley. "It's Faith!"

"Who's Faith?" asked Kate in confusion.

"Slayer turned psycho." replied Cordelia. "What is she doing here in LA? I mean, wouldn't she stick around Sunnydale for revenge and all that?" Wesley gave her a shocked look. "What? I'm just saying..."

"Delia has a point." said Doyle. "If Buffy and her friends destroyed Daddy dearest, she'd want revenge on Buffy first before she comes down here."

"Somethings going on." said Angel. "And I intend to find out exactly what. Wesley, get the tranquilizer gun. I'm going hunting."

"I'm coming with." said Kate. "If anything happens, I can radio for backup."

Angel nodded, and the two left, trailed by Doyle.

***

Buffy staked the sixth vampire of the night, and straightened, barely breathing hard. Faith's body seemed to have purged whatever the cops or the Watcher's had given her to keep her sedated. Which sat well with Buffy.

"Ssssllaayyyerrr..." hissed something. Buffy twirled, eyes searching the shadows warily. "Who's there?"

A reptilian creature stepped out of the shadows. Most of his body was covered by a long, black cloak. The hood was thrown back so she could see it's face.

"I worked for Wilkinsss." hissed the creature. "He told me that if he died he wanted sssomeone to take care of hisss daughter, who had been reborn in the body of the Ssslayer. I have come to take you to sssanctuary."

"Sorry, not interested." said Buffy warily, hand dropping to a concealed knife.

"Then my debt hasss been payed." the creature hissed. It shuffled off, Buffy staring at it's back. "Huh."

So absorbed was she in thought that she didn't hear the soft sound of the dart wizzing through the air. As the tranq dart hit, she staggered, fighting the drug. But finally, she collapsed to the ground.

Angel and Faith emerged from the shadows. Reaching down, Angel picked up the unconcious Slayer. "This is Faith?" said Kate doubtfully. "But she looks so..."

"Appearances can be deceiving." said Angel. "Let's get back to the office before she wakes up."

***

For the second time in two days, Buffy woke up aching all over, and fighting through the haze generated by the tranquilizer dart. As awareness returned, she realized that she had been tightly chained to something, her arms and legs immobilized.

Lifting her head, she realized that she had been chained up in Angel's apartment. "Great." Buffy muttered.

"I was wondering when you would wake up."

Turning her head, she saw Angel sitting in a chair, wittling away at a stake. "Angel!"

"In the flesh. What are you doing in LA, Faith?" he asked.

"Faith... Angel, I'm not Faith!" protested Buffy, trying to wiggle into a more comfortable position in the chains. Easier said than done. It only made it harder to breathe.

"Sorry, you'll have to lie better than that." Angel said, scrutinizing her.

The elevator rumbled down, and Wesley stepped out. "Wesley?" Buffy gasped in surprise. "What are you doing here?" Then another fact hit her. "Where's Doyle?"

"Now Faith, you should relax a bit. I doubt lying will help your position." Wesley said soothingly.

Buffy snapped.

"TAKE IT EASY?" she screamed at him. "This is the second time in two days I've been pumped full of drugs and chained up. Faith stole my body and is probably right now shish-kabobing my friends, and wreaking other havoc in Sunnydale! The Watcher's Council has goons out looking for me that have permission to kill me, my own mother doesn't realize who the hell I am, and you're telling me to take it easy?!"

Tears ran down her face, and she sobbed, sinking down in the chains. Wesley gave her a truly pitying look. "She really is insane." he said sadly. "Let's go back upstairs, and phone Giles."

They left, and she bowed her head, sobbing quietly. "Oh, Angel." she whispered.

***

Angel paused in the doorway of the elevator. "How did she know about Doyle?"

Wesley, halfway to the doorway of Cordelia's office, stopped and turned around. "What?"

"I said, how did Faith learn about Doyle?" said Angel. "And if..."

"Angel!"

The two turned around as Willow came through the door of the building. "Willow? What are you doing here?" Angel asked.

"I caught a bus down here. Giles decided to send some artifact Faith tried to use against Buffy down here. Buffy crushed it after she managed to beat Faith, but maybe you can figure out what it is." Willow hesitated. "Angel, Buffy's been acting really wierd. Almost Faith-esque. She's been dressing different, and she's spending even less time with us than usual."

"May I see the artifact?" asked Wesley. Willow nodded, and they walked into Angel's office. Dropping the box on the table, Willow cut it open. One by one, she pulled out each piece of the artifact.

Wesley examined the pieces, then stopped as he turned over the center of it. "Oh my."

"What is it?" asked Angel.

"I believe that it is called the hand of Gemini." replied Wesley. "And as for what it does..." He stopped, a horrified expression on his face. "It switches the souls of two people!"

"Did Faith have a chance to use this?" asked Angel.

"I don't know... But Buffy's mother might." Willow replied. "Hand me the phone."

Willow sat down in Angel's chair, and dialed up Buffys house. "Hi, Ms. Summers? Yeah, it's Willow. Um, did you see the end of the fight between Buffy and Faith? Uh huh. Did Faith use some sort of weapon on her hand against Buffy? Uh huh. Buffy grabbed the hand that Faith had the gidgit on? Right. Thanks." Hanging up, she looked up at Angel. "Faith used the hand of Gemini against Buffy. Which means..."

"Dear Lord, we've chained her up in the basement!" Wesley gasped. The three ran for the elevator.

***

Faith shuddered, and turned her head to the side. Riley wrapped his arms around her waist, and whispered "I love you."

Her/Buffy's eyes widened, and she rolled out of bed, clutching the sheets around her. "I... No..."

"Buffy?" whispered Riley. Faith bowed her head, and stared down at the moonlight as it pooled on the sheets. Riley sat down beside her. "Buffy, what's wrong?"

"Nobody ever..." For one moment, Faith was speechless. "Nobody ever told me that before. I just..."

"Ssshhhh." whispered Riley, wrapping his arms around her. "It'll be alright."

As the two sat there on the floor, moonlight spilling through the window, Faith wept inside. For the first time, someone had told her that they loved her. But Riley had meant it for Buffy. Sweet, innocent, little Buffy. She'd never be Buffy.

Never.

***

Buffy groaned, and stretched. "Will, you're a lifesaver." she told her friend with a grin. "God, can't people make padded chains or something?" she grumbled.

"I think that defeats the purpose." deadpanned Angel.

Willow grinned. "Wesley actually saved your butt. He recognized the artifact that Faith used on you. It's called the Hand of Gemini."

"Who was Gemini?" asked Buffy.

"Actually..." began Wesley.

"Forget it." said Buffy. "Right now, we need to deal with Faith, and figure out a way to get me back in my own body."

***

Faith punched the vampire in the stomach one more time before she threw it up against the side of the mausoleum, and staked it. Tossing back her hair, she grinned. The dirty feeling of the night before had receded with the staking of three vampires, one of which had babbled on about "Adam", whoever that was.

"Buffy."

She turned, and saw Riley. "Riley! Hey. Um, I'm just staking some fledglings."

Riley closed the distance between them, and pulled her chin up. "Hey, whatever it is, you know you can talk to me about it." he told her.

Faith lowered her eyes. "I'm... I'm not ready yet... I think..."

"It's all right." said Riley.

Staring into those eyes lit with love for Buffy, Faith felt a stab of guilt. "Right." she murmured. "Then I guess... You wanna go have something to eat?"

"Dinners good." said Riley. The two headed off towards the dorm.

***

A warm hand brushed back her hair. "Um." Faith murmured, rolling over. "Whazzup?"

"Church." Riley murmured, kissing her neck softly.

"Lemee wake up." grunted Faith.

"Up." Riley said, unrepentantly yanking the pillow away from the Slayer.

Faith cursed, and shot straight up in bed. Riley was already dressed, and ready to go. "That was mean." she pouted, her eyes raking up and down his figure. "Maybe you can make it up to me."

"You're insatiable." Riley replied. "And beautiful. But you need to get up."

Groaning good naturedly, Faith rolled off of the bed, covers clutched around herself. Riley tossed a bag of clothing at her. "Aren't you glad you left some clothes here?" he asked her. Nodding, Faith grabbed the bag, and dropping the covers, stepped into the small bathroom.

Once safely within, she stepped into the shower. Once that was done with, she straightened out the kinks she'd put in the blonde hair. *Hmmm. Bit too much for B.* she thought. Opening the bag, she rifled through it, and pulled out some typically concealing clothes that Buffy seemed to specialize in.

Dressing at breakneck speeds, she hurried out of the bathroom, and found Riley waiting for her. Without another word, they left for church.

**Faith genuflected, and sat down in the pew by Riley. And then...

Two vampires exploded from a side door, their game faces on. The parisioners screamed.

"Nobody leaves." snarled one of the vampires. Reaching into her pocket, Faith pulled out a stake. "Adam was right." the vampire continued. "There's nothing to fear here! This is the house of the Lord, so where is he?"

Smoothing back her hair with a pinky finger, Faith stood up, and walked into the aisle. "God ain't here. I am."

The vampires gawked at her for a minute. "Kill her." snarled the first vampire. His comrade dove at Faith.

Faith easily knocked aside the vampire's blow, and staked him in the heart. As the dust settled to the floor, she looked up at the second vampire. And smiled.

As she dealt with the second vampire, more vampires spilled into the church. Faith knocked the first two down, and staked each in quick sucsession. Then a big burly vampire barelled into her, knocking her to the floor.

His hands squeezed her neck, and she gasped for air, wheezing slightly. *I'm going to die.* she thought, eyes bugging out. Then the vampire disintigrated. Faith lay there on the church floor. As her vision cleared, she saw Riley standing over her. She coughed, and sat up.

More vampires rushed them. Faith ran through an empty pew, and found a small fountain of holy water. Ripping off the banadana she was wearing, she dipped it into the holy water, and started flailing at oncoming vampires.

Five hit the ground, clawing at their faces before the vampire that seemed to be leading them backed off. Faith staked each of the five vampires, and backed up to her position by the fountain.

Riley came around the fountain, and stood behind her. Faith stared at the vampires. There were four left. "Come on, you guys chicken?" taunted Faith.

"Never." snarled the vampires. Taking the bait, they dove at her.

The first went face-first into the fountain. The next suffered a staking, while Riley grabbed the arm of the third, and slammed him into one of the stations of the cross. The vampire howled as it's face contacted the cross, and as it turned around, clawing at it's face, Riley staked it.

Backing away, the leader ran for the door of the church. Unfortunately, he forgot about the bright sunlight.

Faith leaned against Riley, and wiped the sweat off of her face. "Let's go." wheezed Faith. "Somehow, I don't want to stick around for Mass."

***

Considering everything, Faith was enjoying herself.

Riley had decided to make up for the interrupted Mass by packing a picnic lunch. So now they were lounging in a sunny clearing in the forest.

"This is beautiful." sighed Faith blissfully. Taking a bite out of her tuna sandwich, she put it down on top of the wicker picnic basket.

"I'm glad you like it." said Riley. Reaching over, he hugged Faith to his side. "I found it while I was on patrol before the Adam incident, and Walsh dying." A shadow crossed his face as he remembered. Picking up his sandwich, he took a bite out of it.

Unsure of what to say, Faith squinted up at the sky. Then she looked back at Riley. "Hey, it's alright. Walsh is gone, and nothing can change that. We've got to move on."

Riley shot up to his knees. "Buffy, how can you say that? Walsh tried to kill you and then she made Adam..."

Faith winced inwardly at her slip. "But it's over now, except for Adam." Lifting her chin, she said "I tell you what. Let's just enjoy this picnic, this moment. Afterwards, we'll hunt down Adam, and make him pay for what he's done."

"Right." Riley relaxed, and sat down. "Live for the moment."

"It's what we've got." whispered Faith. Drawing Riley to her, she kissed him. And for a moment, she almost believed that nothing mattered. That she really loved Riley, and he really loved *her*.

***

Buffy yawned from where she sat, perched on a stool in Angel's apartment. The pile of books that Doyle thought might be useful was growing. Putting aside the book she was reading, Buffy groaned softly, and rotated her shoulders.

"Hey, why don't you get some rest." said Angel. Bending down, he kissed the top of her head.

"Right." murmured Buffy. Standing up, she walked over to the couch, and lay down, surrendering herself to oblivion.

***

She stood over a bed, covered with white sheets, pillows, and a snow white comforter. Faith stood across from her, staring down at the bed.

"It's done." said Faith. "I kept getting the sheets dirty, dripping blood on them, and now, it's finished."

"Blood?" asked Buffy, staring at the bed. A mirage flickered across it. Riley. Dear sweet Riley who she could almost believe was normal, that could replace Angel. Turning to regard Faith, she stated "You're in love with him."

"I'm sorry." said Faith.

Buffy stared at her. "Don't be."

Startled, Faith looked up at Buffy. "Why? He's yours, and I've... used him. He'll never love me."

"He was never mine. And I'm not in love with him." admitted Buffy. "I wouldn't kill you for him, like I did Angel."

Fait laughed harshly. "Angel? You really don't..."

"I love Angel, and you love Riley." said Buffy. Bending down, she ran one hand over the sheets. "But Riley thinks he loves me."

"It'll never work." said Faith. "He thinks I'm you."

Buffy considered this. "Then show him who you are."

"What if he hates me?" said Faith, suddenly sounding younger than she ever had.

"He won't hate you." Buffy told Faith.

The light flashed around them. "Hey, I'll see you." Buffy called to Faith as the dream began to evaporate. "Hold the fort."

"You know it, sis."

***

Faith's eyes snapped open, and she sat up, clutching the red top sheet to her chest. Something had woken her up. Alert now, she glanced down at Riley, who was sound asleep.

What had woken her?

Slipping out from under the sheets, she got dressed. Noting a hunting knife laying on Riley's dresser, Faith grabbed the knife, and slipped out of the room.

Lowell House was eerily silent. Faith pivoted on one heel, studying the doors of the dorm rooms in the hall. No, the threat wasn't _in_ the house.

Frowning, she hurried towards the front of the house. Jerking open the door, she stepped outside, and shut it quietly behind herself.

"I've been thinking... About Slayers." said a too-calm voice. Faith blinked as an odd hodgepodge of demon, mechanics, and human stepped out of the bushes. From the description Buffy had left with Giles after Riley had been injured, this was...

"Adam."

"Yes."

Faith spun into action, kicking his chest. Adam stumbled backwards slightly, but didn't seem fazed. Asessing the situation, Faith did the only smart thing.

She ran.

The campus seemed to blend into one blob, as she hurried away. Looking back once, she noticed Adam following her. Then she took note of something. He was somewhat slower than her.

"Let's dance, kitty." she hissed. Ducking into an alley, she slowed down, and carefully waited for her breathing to slow as well. Then she walked over to a manhole cover. Pulling it up, she climbed in, pulling the manhole cover after herself.

The sewers were drier than she remembered, but they still stank the same. Faith ducked into a crack in the wall, into the cave system.

The cave floors were covered with dirty water. And one of their perks was that they were twisted back, around, and into each other. However, Faith had navigated them many times already by touch alone. Plus, the Mayor had shown her a map of them.

She found the chamber where the Mayor had payed tribute to Lurconis. Stepping through the hole in the wall next to the basin of water, she idly noted burn marks on the walls. Then she was back in the sewers again.

Not for long, though. Grabbing a ladder, she swung herself up, and began to climb. Reaching the manhole cover, she pushed it up, and climbed out of the sewers.

She emerged in an alley across from City Hall.

Closing her eyes briefly against the stab of regret and remorse, Faith put the manhole back into place as quietly as possible. Then she ran towards the three level building that held her apartment.

It was insanely easy to get back into her apartment. Locking the door behind herself, she turned around.

Someone, probably the Mayor's flunkies, had cleaned up the apartment, and replaced the broken window. A vase of dried flowers sat on an endtable. Faith picked it up.

"Roses." she murmured. There was still a faint smell of sweetness around them. Faith put the face back down. True, the Mayor had been manipulative, power-hungry, insane, and a demon, but her had been a father to her.

"Only thing is, sis killed him." Faith muttered. And truth be told, she didn't mind that so much anymore. "What I gained..." she whispered, opening the door to the bathroom. Riley. The renewed friendship of Buffy, however strange under these circumstances.

Shucking off her clothes, she stepped into the shower.

Ten minutes later, she stepped out of the bathroom, wrapped in a long red terry robe. Flopping down on her bed, she rolled over, and smiled. Then she sat up. "I'd better call Riley." she decided. Reaching over, she picked up the phone. After three rings, Riley picked up.

"Hello?" he said sleepily.

"Sorry to wake you up." said Faith contritely. "But I've got a problem."

"Buffy? What's going on?"

"Problems of the psycho cyborg type." replied Faith.

"Adam's after you? Where are you?"

Faith hesitated. "I'd rather not say over the phone." she replied.

"Right. Adam may be able to pick this up somehow. I'll alert the Initiative." Riley said. Then he hung up.

Faith put the phone back in its cradle, and lay back on the bed.

"I thought I'd find you here."

Her voice. Calm, and cool. Faith sat up.

"B?"

"Yeah. I had to duck Adam a few blocks ago." replied the temporarily brunette Slayer. "What's up?"

Uncomfortably, Faith stared at the floor. "About the Hand of Gemini thing..."

"Hey, it's alright." said Buffy. "It's actually kind of informative."

"Word of the day." muttered Faith.

"You can say that again. Seen any Council goons?"

Now alert, Faith stared at Buffy as the other Slayer sat down on the upper level of the apartment. "The Council?"

"Yeah. They grabbed me while the police were dragging little old me down to jail. Then they tried to shoot me."

"The tweed. Love it or leave it." cracked Faith. "So who else came up here?"

"Angel, Cordy, Wesley, and Doyle."

"Wesley?!" Faith said, eyes wide.

"Yeah, he actually got fired from the Council. He's working for Angel now." Buffy said.

"I gotta see this." said Faith. Then the sounds of combat below reached their ears. "Awe, damn, they started the party without us."

"Let's crash it." Buffy said, an unholy gleam in her eyes. "Got any weapons up here?"

Reaching under the bed, Faith pulled out a broadsword that had been a gift from the Mayor, and tossed it hilt first to Buffy.

"Oh yeah..." Buffy pulled out something covered by a leather bag. "Here."

Faith pulled the bag off, and stared. "My knife..." she whispered.

The sound of a yell from below echoed eerily in the streets below. "Let's go." said Buffy.

They left the apartment, and took the steps down. Bursting out th front doors, they saw three dead soldiers. Riley's team was backed up against the wall by some vampire minions. Adam was watching.

"Hey!" shouted Faith. "Big and ugly!"

Adam turned around. "What..."

"Yeah, we're talking to you." Buffy said, stepping forwards. "Why don't you pick on something your own size?"

"Like you?" said Adam. He jumped towards them.

Faith and Buffy dodged away. Buffy swept the sword at Adam's side, giving him a shallow cut. Adam whirled around, to face her. "Faith Malone." he said. "Born in Boston. Mother died of drug overdose. Father unknown. Sister is Hope Malone. Faith Malone is suspected of theft, assault, and arson."

"Watch out for his arm." Buffy warned Faith as the girl tensed, eyes narrowing dangerously.

"Right." said Faith, watching Adam warily.

The two Slayer's circled around Adam, watching for an opening as he continued his monolouge. "Disappeared from foster home, seen hitching rides across country. Seen in the company of the late Mayor Wilkins."

At that, Faith attacked.

Adam instantly extended the bone arm spear. Faith dodged to the side, bringing up the knife.

Buffy closed from the side. Adam twirled, bringing the bone spear to bear. Bringing up the sword, Buffy blocked the spear, and delivered a kick to Adam's midsection.

As Faith moved to help out Buffy, two vampires attacked her from behind. She turned around to be met with a hard punch to her face. Faith hit the ground and rolled, coming to her feet on the other side of the street.

She grabbed one of them aws he came at her, throwing him into the side of a brick structure. Faith stooped briefly to grab a branch, and straightened, breaking the branch over her knee. The vampire burst into dust as she staked him, and the other followed rapidly.

Meanwhile, Buffy and Adam were still duking it out. Buffy sported a shallow cut across one arm, and Adam had suffered a cut across his stomach.

"Hey ugly!" shouted Faith. Adam turned ever so slightly, and Buffy's sword descended. Adam looked back, but it was too late for him. The arm with the bone spear hung limp and useless at his side.

"Clever." said Adam. "However, it will not work twice."

"It doesn't have to." Buffy replied cooly, eyes tracking him. Faith and Buffy both attacked at once.

Faith laid open the other arm with her knife. Adam swatted at her, and she flew backwards, hitting the wall hard.

The vampires pinning the commando team against the wall moved away, attacking the dazed Slayer. But as they did, a blur in a long black coat jumped into the fray.

Riley and the commandoes watched in a daze as a vampire helped up Buffy, and smashed in the faces of two vampires that tried to attack him from behind.

Angel flicked his wrists as two vampires came at him from the side. The two stakes jutted out of the wrist braces, and the two vampires were dust. Then he pulled out the stakes, and went to work on the crowd of vampires attacking Faith.

Angel's convertible screeched around the corner, running down two vamps. It screeched to a stop. Willow, Tara, and Cordelia jumped out.

"Buffy!" Willow shouted. Faith turned slightly, then noticed that the redheaded witch was looking at the _real_ Buffy. The blonde dodged backwards towards Faith, and looked at Willow. "Catch!" shouted Willow, throwing something green at Buffy.

Buffy caught it easily. The two Slayers exchanged looks. Faith grinned. "Let's get busy."

The two slammed their hands together. The green light flashed between them.

Briefly startled, Buffy swayed, and looked down at herself. "I'm back." she said. "Hey..."

Faith turned around to face her. "Can I have my knife back now?" she said, head cocked slightly to one side.

They switched weapons, and dove at Adam.

The cyborg was trying to make an escape. Faith threw her knife at him, impaling him through the stomach. As he fell to his knees, Buffy swung the broadsword.

"Heads will roll." she remarked. Faith retrieved her knife.

"Damn. That's the best workout I've had in a while." commented the brunette Slayer.

"Excuse me, but what's going on?" asked Riley, warily eying Angel.

"Oh. Riley, meet Angel, the only good vampire in existence." Buffy said. "Angel, meet Riley."

The two men looked at each other dubiously. "Uh, right." said Riley. "Buffy, can I talk with you for a minute? Privately?"

"All right." Buffy said. She followed Riley around the corner.

"Can I trust him?" Riley asked bluntly.

"I trust him with my life." Buffy said immediately. A disturbed look crossed Riley's face briefly.

"Buffy, the last few days, it's been like you've... changed." he said. "And... I think I like it. You're brighter, and sweeter, and I think I've fallen in love with this new you. Don't change that. I love who you are."

Buffy stared at him as the impact of his words hit. "Um, Riley... There's something you should know."

***

The next day had been passed with resting, or in the case of the commandoes, reporting in. As the sun plunged below the horizon however, they were at Crawford Mansion, celebrating their victory.

Buffy and Riley didn't avoid each other, but the news of their breakup had spread quickly through the Initiative, and Buffy's friends.

To the surprise of all but Buffy, Faith showed up, bearing snacks and cans of soda for the party. She was let into the mansion with open arms.

Riley finally managed to corner her out in the garden, staring at the fountain. "Um, Faith?"

"Oh, uh, hi." said Faith. For once, the brunette Slayer was silent.

"I.. guess we have a lot to talk about." said Riley.

"I guess we do." Faith replied.

***

In a another part of the mansion, Buffy was staring, slack-jawed at Willow. "What do you mean, no clause?"

Nobody saw Buffy or Angel for the rest of the party.

***

Three Weeks Later-

"Mmmm. I like this." murmured Buffy, burying her head in Angel's chest.

"I know what you mean." said Angel, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"So what are we going to do now?" Buffy asked quietly.

"I don't know, but..." Angel reached for his pants, dislodging Buffy's head. She looked at him in confusion. Angel straightened up, holding a black jewelry box.

"I always wanted to give this back to you." he told her. "But now is as good a time as any." Flipping open the box, he asked "Buffy Summers, will you marry me?"

"Yes! Oh, Angel." Buffy cried out, throwing her arms around Angel. He caught her, and nearly lost a hold on the ring.

"Here, let me..." Holding her at arms length, he pulled the ring out of the box. Lifting her hand, he slid the claddagh ring onto her finger, kissing it reverently.

"To new beginnings." Buffy said, kissing him. They lost themselves in the kiss for a moment, then Angel pulled away.

"Forever. That's the whole point, isn't it?"

And they lived happily ever after. Well, at least until the wedding. But that's a story for another time.

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