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. Inspired by WyndGyrl's fantastic story I Have Never Been to Boston and its sequels. Some of the dialog is from the Buffy episode Faith, Hope and Trick. Oh yeah, for the purposes of this story, Dawn is a normal girl, not the Key. This story follows Summer Love.

Secret Love
By Kristjan Brezovnik

Faith was a bit nervous when she got to Buffy's house for dinner. Sure, she had been invited, but family dinners really weren't her thing. She hoped she wouldn't make a fool of herself. She took a deep breath and rang the bell. A few moments later, Buffy opened.

"Hi, come in," she said and Faith entered.

"Hello," Joyce said, coming from the kitchen to greet their guest.

"Hi," Faith said, a bit nervous.

"Faith?" Dawn said, surprised, as she came down the stairs. "Oh my god, Faith!"

She ran past her mother and Buffy and hugged Faith tightly.

Faith was shocked, the last person she expected to find here was Dawn.

"Dawnie," she whispered, shocked, as her arms wrapped themselves around the younger girl.

Buffy and Joyce could see a number of emotions scroll across Faith's face, some of them conflicting. They glanced at one another, surprised that Dawn and Faith knew each other.

"Em, Dawn?" Buffy said, curious.

Dawn let go of Faith and looked at her.

"What are you doing here? Are you…" She looked at Buffy. "Is she…"

"Yes, she's a Slayer," Buffy confirmed. "Now…"

"Oh my god, that so cool," Dawn said to Faith, ignoring Buffy. "I told you you were special," she said with a wide smile, causing Faith to glance at Buffy nervously.

"You two know each other?" Buffy asked.

Faith shrugged.

"Yeah. We met at a summer camp a couple of years ago."

"Really?" Buffy said and glanced at her mother, who was apparently thinking the same thing.

"Yeah, I was working there over the summer," Faith explained, wondering what was with the meaningful looks between Buffy and her mother.

"Come, let's go to the kitchen," Joyce said and led the way.

Dawn wanted to take Faith's hand, but Faith put her hands into her pockets, pretending not to have noticed. Dawn was surprised, but she didn't complain, happy to have found Faith again.

Buffy noticed that Faith was pretending, but she said nothing, not sure what was going on. She slowly followed her mother into the kitchen, deciding to have a talk with Faith while her mother had a talk with Dawn.

In the kitchen, Faith sat down opposite Buffy and immediately regretted it when Dawn sat beside her, wearing that big, infectious smile of hers. Faith tried to ignore her, but she couldn't help herself from glancing at her occasionally.

"So, Faith, do you like being a Slayer?" Joyce asked as she served the food.

"Oh yeah, love it," Faith said, excited.

"Really? Buffy never talks about it," Joyce said, glancing at Buffy. "Why do you love it?"

"Mom," Buffy groaned.

"Well, when I'm fighting, it's like the whole world goes away and I know only one thing, that I'm gonna win and they're gonna lose," Faith said. "I like that feeling."

"Well, sure, beats that dead feeling you get when they win and you lose," Buffy commented, not exactly thrilled by the conversation.

"I don't let that negative kind of thinking in," Faith said and Dawn smiled.

"Right, that could get you hurt. Buffy can be awfully negative sometimes," Joyce said and looked at Buffy. "See, honey, you gotta fight like that."

Buffy rolled her eyes.

"I'm working on it."

"Are you staying?" Dawn asked excitedly.

Faith glanced at her, nervous, and shrugged.

"Don't know yet. My Watcher's off to England for a while, some retreat thing."

"When is he coming back?"

Faith shrugged.

"Don't know."

"How long have you been a Slayer?"

Faith looked at Buffy.

"A couple of months, since Kendra was killed."

"Oh."

"Do you still live in Boston?" Dawn changed the subject.

"Yeah," Faith said, not really wanting to talk about herself. "So, when did you move? I tried to call you when I got home, but you were gone."

"Oh, yes," Dawn said, nodding. "We moved a week after I got home. I left a message with your mom."

Faith snorted.

"Bad choice."

"You didn't get it?"

"She probably forgot about it right after she hung up."

"Oh. I tried calling a few more times, but then I stopped."

Faith nodded, feeling strange. She had thought that Dawn had forgotten her and she had accepted the fact that nobody would ever care about her, but she was apparently wrong. Only now it was too late, now she was determined not to let anyone close ever again. She decided to change the subject.

"This is delish, Mrs S," she told Joyce, who smiled at the compliment.

"Thank you, Faith."

"How old are you, anyway?" Buffy asked.

"Fifteen," Faith said.

"I was fifteen when I was called," Buffy said thoughtfully.

"So you're in eight grade?" Joyce asked.

Faith shrugged, feeling a bit uncomfortable.

"I dropped out."

"What?" Dawn said, causing Faith to flinch. "Why?"

"I want to have some fun while I can, I mean, I'm not gonna live forever."

"Now who's pessimistic," Buffy said.

Faith grinned.

"Of course, you're probably gonna live forever."

"What do you mean?" Buffy asked, puzzled.

"Well, you already died once," Faith said and then suddenly realized that maybe she shouldn't have mentioned that.

"What?" Joyce said, surprised. She looked at Buffy. "When did you die? You never told me you died."

"It was only for a few minutes," Buffy said and sighed. "Could we not talk about slaying, Mom?"

Joyce sighed.

"I don't want you to die, Buffy," she said seriously.

"I don't want me to die either, Mom," Buffy concurred.

Faith quietly observed the mother/daughter heart-to-heart and she envied Buffy. And Dawnie, she realized. With a mother like that, no wonder she was such a wonderful person. She bit her teeth, remembering the wonderful time they had together at the summer camp, and knowing that they could never have it again. She sighed and concentrated on the food, trying to forget.

"So where are you staying?" Dawn asked Faith.

"At a motel downtown."

"What?" Dawn said, upset. She looked at her mom. "Mom, can she stay here?"

Faith froze.

"No, it's okay, I don't want to impose," Faith said.

"You're not," Joyce assured her. "We have a spare room."

"No, really, it's okay," Faith objected. "And besides, you barely know me, and I'd be left alone in the morning when you're at work or they in school," she reasoned.

"I trust you," Dawn said firmly.

Faith gulped.

"But they don't," Faith said.

"You could spend the morning in the library with Giles," Buffy suggested.

Faith gave her a blank look.

"And do what? Read books?"

"Oh."

"I'll just stay at the motel, it's only for a few days anyway."

"But you said you didn't know when your Watcher comes back," Dawn said.

"No, but there are vamps in Boston that need staking."

"Oh," Dawn said, disappointed. "I guess."

"Do you want some more of that?" Joyce asked Faith, nodding at her drink.

"Yes, please," Faith said and Joyce went to the kitchen.

"So, eh, Dawn, how come you never mentioned Faith before?" Buffy then asked, causing Dawn to blush.

Dawn shrugged, glancing at Faith.

"I wanted to have her all for myself," she said, blushing even deeper.

"Oh." Buffy looked at Faith. "So you worked at the summer camp?"

"Yeah," Faith said, not really wanting to talk about that time. "So B, you never told me what's with you and that Scott guy," she quickly changed the subject.

Buffy stopped eating, surprised.

"What about him?" she asked.

"You never told me whether you're dating him or not."

Buffy sighed.

"I'm trying," she said, causing Faith to grin. "I mean, every time I want to… No, every time he wants to spend some time with me, I have to go save someone. It's like a curse."

Faith chuckled.

"Bummer."

"I mean, all I want is something normal in my life. Is that too much to ask for?"

"I guess normal is not for us, B."

Buffy sighed again.

"I'm starting to get that," she said.

"Here you go, Faith," Joyce said as she returned with Faith's drink.

"Thanks, Mrs S."

The rest of the dinner passed calmly and Faith was relieved that Dawn didn't ask her any more questions. Unfortunately, after dinner, Dawn nearly dragged her up to her room. Faith really didn't want to go, but she didn't have much choice since she didn't want to have an argument with Dawn in front of her family.

"Faith, what's going on?" Dawn asked after she closed the door.

Faith was relieved that it wouldn't be a complete shock to Dawn. She shrugged.

"Nothing's wrong."

"Then why are you acting so… so… mean?"

Faith bit her teeth and raised an eyebrow.

"Mean?"

"Yeah, you know… cold. I thought we were, you know, a couple."

Faith flinched at the wounded look in Dawn's eyes.

"Oh that," she said. "Well, we were. As in past tense."

"What?" Dawn said and her lower lip trembled.

"Well, it was just a summer love thing, wasn't it? I mean, we do live on opposite coasts."

"Yeah, but… but… I thought…"

"Dawn, that was years ago, we've both changed a lot since then. I mean, you didn't really think it would work, did you?"

Dawn opened her mouth to answer, but she was too shocked. Her eyes, on the other hand, spoke volumes.

Faith realized that if she kept hurting Dawn any longer, she'd break, so she decided to get the hell out of there.

"Well, gotta go now, things to do, people to see. I'll see you around," she said and quickly fled through the door.

Dawn stared at the door for a few moments, shocked. Then tears started to run down her cheeks and she went to her bed. She took one of her diaries and took out a photo of her and Faith. She stared at it for a few moments and then lay down, pressed the photo to her chest and cried.

Faith, on the other hand, quickly want down the stairs, fighting hard to hold back the tears and failing miserably. She noticed Buffy and Joyce in the living room and she hoped they won't notice her tears.

"Bye, B, bye, Mrs S," she said and quickly left.

"What was that all about?" Buffy asked her mother, puzzled, when Faith was gone.

"I don't know, honey," Joyce said, equally puzzled.

"Was Faith…"

"Crying?" Joyce finished. "Yes, I think so."

Buffy frowned.

"Weird. I thought they'd be up there at least an hour."

"Go talk to her," Joyce said. "I'll go talk to Dawn."

Buffy nodded.

"Okay," she said and left.

Joyce took a deep breath and then went upstairs. When she got to Dawn's door, she listened first and she heard Dawn's sobs. She hesitated for a moment and then softly knocked. There was no response, so she waited for a few moments and then slowly opened the door. She peeked in and saw Dawn cuddled up like a fetus, crying.

"Dawn?" she said softly as she slowly approached the bed, wondering what happened.

Dawn moved a bit but didn't turn.

Joyce hesitated for a moment and then sat behind Dawn. She removed the strands of hair from her face and then caressed her. She noticed that Dawn was pressing a photo to her chest and she wondered what it was.

Dawn felt her mother's presence and she turned around and rested her head in Joyce's lap. Joyce sighed and kept caressing her, realizing that she would have to talk to Dawn later.

After closing the door, Faith started to run, tears flowing freely down her cheeks now that she was alone. She had done something she had sworn she would never do, namely hurt Dawn. And she hated herself for it.

"Faith!"

She tensed, recognizing Buffy's voice, and quickly started to wipe her tears.

"Faith! Wait up!" Buffy called as she ran to catch up with Faith.

Faith ignored her and kept walking.

"Faith!" Buffy said when she finally caught up with her. "Are you deaf or something?"

"Or something," Faith grumbled, facing away from Buffy.

Buffy sighed.

"What happened?" she asked.

"When?" Faith pretended she didn't know.

"Between you and Dawn."

Faith shrugged.

"Nothing."

"What do you mean, nothing?"

Faith glanced at her.

"What I said, nothing. Which part of that don't you understand."

"Then why were you crying when you left?"

"I wasn't crying," Faith objected.

"Faith, I saw the tears."

"Then maybe you need to get yourself a pair of glasses, B."

"What is your problem, Faith?" Buffy said. "I'm only trying to help you."

"Said the old rooster to the young one."

"What has this got to do with roosters?" Buffy asked, annoyed because Faith wouldn't give her a straight answer.

"Who said it had anything to do with roosters?"

"Faith!" Buffy said, exasperated. "Why can't you give me a straight answer?"

"Company," Faith said, looking over Buffy's shoulder.

"Huh?" Buffy said, startled.

"We got company," Faith said and pushed her aside, eager to kill some vampires and relieve her stress.

Buffy quickly recovered and saw that they were under attack by three vampires. Faith had already engaged them and she quickly joined her.

Two of vamps concentrated on Buffy and Faith used her vamp as a punching bag to release her anger and frustration.

"My dead mother hits harder than that!" she said after she blocked his punches and viciously backhanded him.

She threw him onto a couple of sheets of drywall laid across two sawhorses. The drywall broke. She ran to the vamp, straddled him and started to punch him.

"Faith! Stake him already and give me a hand!" Buffy called when she saw what Faith was doing.

Faith was so focused on beating the vamp that she didn't hear Buffy or see her distress when her two vamps grabbed her.

"This is me, you undead bastard!" Faith screamed as she pummeled away at her vamp.

"Faith!" Buffy screamed as she tried to grab a two-by-four lying near by.

Faith paid her no attention and just kept punching her vamp.

Buffy finally managed to reach the two-by-four and she quickly set herself free.

"Faith!" she called again before the vamps attacked her again.

"You can't touch me!" Faith screamed as she kept pummeling the vamp, who was too dazed to fight back or even defend himself.

Buffy finally managed to dispose of her attackers and then walked over to Faith, pulled her off the vamp and dusted it.

"What is wrong with you?" she then demanded.

"What are you talking about?" Faith pretended.

"I'm talking about you living large on that vampire!" Buffy said, angry.

"Gee, if doing violence upsets you, I think you're in the wrong line of work," Faith said and smirked.

"Yeah, and maybe you like it a little too much."

Faith shrugged.

"I was getting the job done."

"The job is to slay demons! Not beat them to a bloody pulp while their friends corner me."

Faith shrugged again.

"I thought you could handle yourself," she said and walked off.

Buffy let out an exasperated sigh and started to walk home, forgetting why she had followed Faith in the first place.

When Dawn finally fell asleep, Joyce gently laid Dawn's head on the pillow and got up. She caressed her and was about to leave when she remembered the photo. She gently removed Dawn's hand and took the picture. She hesitated for a moment, deliberating with herself as to whether she should look at it or not and then decided that she should. She turned it around and saw that there were Dawn and Faith in it, hugging, both obviously happy. She noticed the background and realized that the photo was from the summer camp Dawn had gone to. She stared at it for a few moments, wondering, and then put it on the night stand and left.

Buffy returned home, upset. It annoyed her that every time she talked to Faith, they had an argument of sorts and she didn't know anything more about Faith than she did before.

"Hi, honey," Joyce said, startling her.

"Hi, Mom."

"Did you talk to her?"

"Talk… Oh!" Buffy suddenly remembered. She sighed. "No, not really. I was about to, but then we were attacked by some vamps and I forgot."

"Is Faith okay?"

Buffy thought for a moment.

"I don't know, she went Mike Tyson on a vamp."

"Oh."

"Did you talk to Dawn?"

Joyce shook her head.

"No. She was crying when I got to her room and now she's asleep." She paused for a moment. "She did have a photo of her and Faith from the summer camp."

"Really?" Buffy said, surprised.

Joyce nodded.

"Yes."

Buffy frowned.

"Do you think… I mean, could… could Faith be, you know…"

"Dawn's secret love?" Joyce finished.

"Yeah," Buffy said, thinking about the fact that her baby sister might be gay.

Joyce thought about it.

"I don't know. I guess it is possible."

"And it doesn't bother you?"

Joyce frowned.

"What?"

"That Dawn might be gay."

Joyce laughed a bit.

"Honey, you're a Slayer and you keep the world safe from monsters most people think don't exist. After finding that out, there's not much that shocks me. And besides, if Faith makes Dawn happy…"

Buffy snorted.

"Not very likely, judging by what happened today."

"But we don't know what happened. They were both crying, remember?"

"Oh," Buffy said with a frown. She sighed. "I'll talk to her tomorrow."

Joyce nodded.

"And we'll talk to Dawn in the morning."

When Faith got to her motel room, she undressed and took a shower. Everything caught up with her then and she slid down the wall, crying, as the water cascaded over her.

When Dawn came to the kitchen in the morning, Buffy and Joyce were already there.

"Morning, honey," Joyce said, observing her carefully.

"Morning," Dawn said, obviously thinking about something.

She sat down and Joyce served her breakfast.

"Honey, what happened yesterday?" Joyce asked after she sat down again. "Between you and Faith."

Dawn sighed, avoiding her eyes.

"Nothing."

"Honey, you were both crying."

Dawn looked up, surprised.

"Faith was crying?"

Joyce glanced at Buffy.

"Yes."

Dawn frowned, thinking.

"Is she you secret love from the summer camp?" Buffy got to the point.

Dawn looked at her, surprised, and blushed.

"Yeah," she said quietly and looked down, nervous.

"Oh."

"Then what happened?" Joyce asked.

Dawn sighed and fought back the tears.

"She said she didn't love me anymore," she said and a tear slid down her cheek.

"Really?" Joyce said, surprised.

"Then why was she crying?" Buffy asked.

"I don't know," Dawn said and sniffed, wiping her tears.

In school, Buffy found out some unsettling news and she decided to confront Faith about it. She went to her motel and saw her talk to the manager.

"Roommates are extra," the man said when Buffy entered.

"I'm just visiting," she quickly said.

The manager shrugged and left.

"So, what brings you to the poor side of town?" Faith asked.

"Cloven Guy. Goes by the name of Kakistos."

Faith's eyes went wide.

"What do you know about Kakistos?" she asked, having a very bad feeling.

"That he's here."

Faith just stood still for a moment and Buffy could see terror in her eyes.

"What happened?" she asked. "What did he do to you?"

"It's what I did to him," Faith said, grabbing her bag in order to pack.

"And what was that?" Buffy asked, but Faith didn't answer. "Look, Faith, you came here for a reason," she continued. "I can help."

Faith looked up from packing.

"You can mind your own business." She pointed at herself. "I'm the one that can handle this."

"Yeah. You're a real bad-ass when it comes to packing," Buffy said and Faith glanced at her. "So now what? You gonna dump your problem on my shoulders?"

"You don't know me," Faith said as she finished packing her meager belongings. "You don't know what I've been through. I'll take care of this," she said and headed for the door.

"Like you took care of your Watcher?"

Faith stopped cold. She slowly turned around, momentarily reliving her Watcher's death.

"He killed her, didn't he?" Buffy continued.

"They don't have a word for what he did to her," Faith said quietly.

She wanted to continue, but there was a knock on the door. She looked through the peep hole.

"Now what?" she said, annoyed, when she saw it was the manager.

"Faith, you run, he runs after you," Buffy tried again to dissuade Faith from running away.

"That's where the head start comes in handy," Faith said and opened the door.

On the other side, Kakistos was holding up the manager's dead body. Faith gasped and backed off, terrified. Kakistos dropped the corpse and smiled.

"Faith," he said and grabbed Faith by the neck.

Faith tried to break his hold, but he was too strong.

"No!"

Buffy quickly pushed Faith away from the door, breaking Kakistos' hold, and then slammed the door on his arm. When he pulled his arm away, Buffy quickly locked the door.

"I just bought us a little time," Buffy said and quickly backed off when Kakistos punched through the door.

Faith panicked.

"No! Nooooo!" she screamed.

"Scream later, escape now," Buffy said.

She grabbed Faith's hand and dragged her to the bathroom, from where they escaped through the window.

They ran fast, but Kakistos' minions were cornering them. They finally made it to a warehouse and they stopped.

"We're okay for now," Buffy then said and looked at Faith. "What happened?"

Faith just stood still, shaking.

"Faith, what happened?" Buffy repeated the question.

Faith swallowed hard.

"I… I was there," she said, scared. "I was there when he… killed her. I… I saw what he did to her… what he was gonna do to me. I tried to stop him, but I… I couldn't. And I ran."

"Faith, first rule of slaying: don't die. You did the right thing. Now do the math, one of him, two of us."

Faith suddenly noticed corpses.

"No," she said, shaking her head. "No."

"Yes."

Faith started to panic.

"No."

Buffy noticed that Faith was staring at something and she turned. She saw the corpses and realized it was a trap.

"This is his place," Faith said.

"He drove us here."

Then vampires started to come in. Buffy immediately engaged them, but then she noticed that Faith was standing still, staring at the approaching Kakistos.

"Faith!" she called and Faith looked at her. "Don't die!" she called again and threw her a crowbar.

Faith tried to engage Kakistos, but he simply hit her in the face, sending her into a bunch of wooden beams leaning against the wall. Kakistos slowly approached Faith, who started backing off, terrified. When he reached her, he grabbed her by the shirt and lifted her up.

"No!" Faith screamed.

Buffy noticed Faith's distress and quickly dusted the vamp she was fighting. By then, Kakistos, who was beating Faith, managed to hit her so hard that she flew out of his grip. He growled, annoyed. Buffy quickly engaged him and after a brief fight managed to drive the stake into his body. But nothing happened.

Kakistos grabbed Buffy by the hair and threw her back. Buffy tried to stake him again, but with as little success as before. Kakistos grabbed her again and shoved her back into the wall.

"I guess you need a bigger stake, Slayer," Kakistos said and laughed maniacally.

Faith, who had recovered in the meantime, looked around and saw that one of the beams had a broken end. She lifted it and rammed it into Kakistos. Kakistos looked at the beam, then back at Faith, and finally exploded into ashes.

Buffy stared at Faith in amazement and then approached her. Faith was looking around, making sure that nothing was about to attack them. Then she looked down at the pile of ashes that used to be Kakistos and she shuddered. She took a deep breath and then started to leave.

"Hey, where are you going?" Buffy asked, catching up with her.

Faith shrugged.

"Back to Boston."

"What about Dawn?"

Faith gasped.

"What about her?" she asked, looking away from Buffy.

"She loves you."

Faith stopped for a moment, surprised, but then quickly resumed walking. Buffy grabbed her arm and stopped her.

"Do you love her?" she asked.

Faith's mouth opened and closed a few times before she finally answered.

"No," she lied quietly, avoiding Buffy's eyes.

"You're lying," Buffy said.

Faith looked at her.

"Then why are you asking me if you already know the answer."

"I didn't know it," Buffy said. "But I know that you lied."

"Right, you know me better than I know myself," Faith said and started to away again.

"Faith, wait," Buffy said, catching up with her again. "Look, I admit, I wasn't too fond of you when we first met, but I think you're okay. And Dawn loves you. I mean, okay, it was a bit of a shock to find out that Dawn is gay, but I can accept that. And so can Mom. We want Dawn to be happy and you're the one making her happy."

Faith quietly walked for a while, thinking.

"I can't," she finally said in a quiet voice.

"Why not?" Buffy asked.

Faith took a deep breath.

"I don't want to endanger her."

"Endanger?" Buffy said, puzzled. "What do you mean?"

Faith glanced at Buffy.

"I'm a Slayer, B, we both are. The fact that you're her sister already makes her a target. Now imagine some vamp finding out I love her. They can blackmail two Slayers with just one person."

"But there will also be two Slayers protecting her, Faith," Buffy countered. "Like you said, she's already a target. I could send her and Mom away, but they'd still be targets. At least they have me to protect them. And you."

Faith was quiet for a few moments, fighting back the tears.

"I'm scared, B," she then said quietly. "How can I protect her? I couldn't even protect my Watcher. Or face Kakistos."

"But you did, you killed him."

"Only because you were there."

"Yes. I couldn't have killed him on my own either, Faith. You covered my back and I covered yours. Dawn doesn't have to mourn either of us."

A few tears slid down Faith's cheeks and Buffy realized just how much Faith loved Dawn, that she would rather leave than endanger her.

Faith finally took a deep breath.

"Okay," she said quietly, deciding to stay. She wiped her tears and glanced at Buffy. "You sure she still wants me?"

"Yes," Buffy assured her. "But you need to talk to her."

Faith nodded.

"I will."

After dropping by the motel to pick up Faith's things, they went to Buffy's house.

"Mom?" Buffy said when they got home.

"Hi," Joyce said with a smile, which quickly vanished when she saw what the Slayers looked like. "What happened? Are you two alright?"

"We're fine, Mom," Buffy assured her. "Just a very mean vamp, we killed him."

"Oh."

"Em, can Faith stay here?"

Joyce looked at Faith, who was staring at her boots, nervous.

"Do you want to?"

Faith looked up and sighed.

"Depends on Dawnie," she said quietly.

"She's in her room."

Faith looked up the stairs and took a deep breath.

"I'll go talk to her."

Joyce nodded and Faith went upstairs.

When she got to Dawn's room, Faith dropped her bag, took another deep breath and then softly knocked. There was no response, so she knocked harder.

"Come," finally came a muffled voice.

Faith gulped and entered. She saw that Dawn was lying on the bed, facing away from her, hugging a pillow. She immediately felt bad again for hurting her.

"Dawnie," she said in a coarse voice.

Dawn immediately turned.

"Faith?" she said hopefully and sat up.

Faith hesitated for a moment. Then she closed the door and approached the bed. She hesitated again and then sat down beside Dawn. She took a deep breath, not looking at Dawn.

"I'm sorry, Dawnie," she said and looked at her. "I'm sorry I hurt you."

Dawn smiled and took Faith's hand into her own.

"I forgive you," she said.

Faith gulped and looked away. She thought for a moment.

"My Watcher is dead," she then said and Dawn's face became serious. "She was… tortured and killed by Kakistos and I couldn't do anything about it. So I ran. I came here because I thought that maybe with Buffy around, Kakistos would leave me alone." She sighed. "I didn't expect to find you here." She hesitated for a moment. "Believe me, I wanted to hold you so badly, but I was afraid. I mean, I couldn't protect my Watcher, how was I supposed to protect you? I couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to you, especially because of me," she said and a tear slid down her cheek.

Dawn gently put her arm around Faith.

"Are you okay now?"

Faith shrugged, wiping the tear.

"Kakistos is dead."

Dawn thought for a few moments.

"Are you staying?"

Faith looked at her with anime eyes.

"Do you want me to?"

Dawn smiled.

"Yes."

Faith breathed a sigh of relief.

"Then I'll stay."

"Oh Faith!" Dawn said and hugged her, happy.

Faith hesitated for a moment and then hugged her back and let the tears run. Dawn quietly held her and caressed her.

When Faith calmed down a bit, she let go of Dawn and wiped her tears.

"Sorry," she said, embarrassed.

Dawn touched her cheek gently.

"There's nothing to be sorry about, I told you."

Faith smiled a little.

"Thanks."

Dawn smiled.

"Come on," she said and climbed on the bed. "Lay with me," she said and patted the space in front of her after she lay down.

Faith smiled again and quickly took off her boots. Then she lay next to Dawn and they stared into one another's eyes. Faith then slowly reached up with her hand and removed a stray strand of hair from Dawn's face. Dawn smiled.

"I love you, Dawnie," Faith whispered.

Dawn's smile widened.

"I love you too, Faith."

Dawn hesitated for a moment and then kissed Faith on the lips. Faith responded and they kissed for a few moments before breaking up.

"I don't think your mom would appreciate her underage youngest being devoured by another girl just a few rooms away," Faith said with a grin, causing Dawn to giggle. She took a deep breath. "I'm so glad I found you again," she said, her face serious.

Dawn smiled.

"Me too," she said and lay on her back. "Come here."

Faith smiled and cuddled up to her. Dawn gently ruffled her hair.

"I missed this," she said.

"Mmm," Faith agreed, "me too."

Then she chuckled.

"What?" Dawn asked.

"It's funny. I'm a big bad Slayer…"

"And?" Dawn prompted her when Faith didn't continue.

Faith sighed.

"And I feel safe with you."

Dawn smiled.

"I feel safe with you too, Faith." She thought for a moment. "You know, I can't protect you physically, but I will stand by you."

Faith nodded.

"I know."

They were quiet for a few moments, both thinking.

"Talk to me?" Dawn said when she saw Faith frown.

Faith looked up into Dawn's eyes and sighed.

"I miss my Watcher," she said and cuddled up even closer to Dawn. She swallowed. "I'm afraid of losing you," she whispered, her eyes tearing up.

Dawn pressed her even more tightly to herself.

"I know, Faith, but in case something happens to me, something supernatural, I don't want you to feel guilty about it."

Faith looked up again.

"But…"

"No, I don't want you to, Faith. I know you'll do your best to protect me if need be." She paused for a moment. "I know you'd die for me."

"I would," Faith said without hesitation.

"And I'd die for you."

"Dawnie…"

"I would," Dawn insisted and then sighed. "Anyway, if your best is not good enough, I don't want you to blame yourself, okay?"

"Dawnie…"

"Promise," Dawn said firmly. "I want you to promise, Faith, I don't want you to waste your life blaming yourself, I want you to go on. Please."

Faith swallowed and a tear ran down her cheek.

"I… I promise."

Dawn smiled and caressed her.

"Thank you," she said and kissed Faith on the forehead.

Faith smiled a bit and wiped her tear.

"I love you," she said.

"I love you too," Dawn said.

Faith then sighed and put her head back on Dawn's shoulder.

Faith soon fell asleep and Dawn held her, playing with her hair. She was so happy she could just cry. But she didn't, she didn't want to wake Faith. She soon fell asleep as well, knowing she would wake up if Faith had a nightmare.

The End