PROLOGUE

The murky stillness of the cemetery forced the blond slayer's poise to become uneasy. Her eyes scanned across the unnaturally quiet expanse. She could sense that there was something off. She could feel a presence that was familiar, yet completely new. The nervousness mounted within her as her eyes began to scan faster. She could feel this thing: its power. It was closer. With the wound from an earlier mishap with a knife-wielding vamp still freshly painful, the slayer knew she was not at full strength. She honed her senses; no it was not a vampire. A demon? No, it was not a demon. She began to calm herself and fell into a relaxed fighting stance, still searching.

"I know you're there!" Buffy called out, trying not to let her nervousness show. There was no movement, just silence. "Come out damn it! I know you're there!" She was fairly shouting. This thing was really powerful; it emanated strength. She could feel whatever it was watching her.

Then suddenly a second presence, a vampire, came rapidly into range. Buffy's eyes caught a ruffling in the bushes as the vampire flew out of them stopping only when his back smashed hard into a large headstone about twenty feet away. Buffy was stunned to say the least. The figure behind the bushes came sprinting out, a girl, Buffy realized. The girl ran at the vampire and the beast lunged with a snarl ripping the girl's legs out from under her. She was launched into the air and simply grabbed the edge of the headstone she pushed off backward landing on her feet. She jump kicked and her boots connected squarely with the unfortunate vampire's face. He stumbled backward holding his nose as she landed smoothly on the ground. Buffy watched from a safe distance as the girl drew a long slim sword from a sheath on her back. The blond slayer watched with curiosity as the girl neatly and with practiced elegance, beheaded the vampire. He shattered into dust a few seconds later. The girl grabbed her sword and reinserted it into the sheath.

Buffy got her first good look at the girl, though her dark hair still covered her face as she advanced. She stopped, standing about ten feet away now, and reached to uncover her face. Buffy gasped in surprise. Taking in the black leather and dark hair and she wondered why she hadn't noticed before. Buffy gathered herself, before speaking to the sheepishly grinning girl before her.

"Faith?" She said.

"That's me, for a minute I thought you forgot me B" Faith answered jokingly, still with that sheepish smile. "This isn't how I wanted to do this, stupid vamps and their damn bad timing!" She said mumbling more to herself than to Buffy.

"So it was you watching me, what are you doing back? When did you get out of prison?" Buffy said with a harshness that surprised even herself. "And what's with the sword?"

"I'm back because?" Faith started angry at the hostility, but stopped herself and began more calmly. She knew she deserved it. "I'm back because, Cordelia got a vision, something big is gonna go down and I'm reinforcement while Angel deals with LA trouble. Second question, I got out of jail thanks to some tampering by Fang's connections, something about not being able to redeem myself inside a cell." Faith said taking a deep breath. "The sword is because, um...I got in a big throw down in jail and injured my staking arm, and the whole thrusting motion isn't steady in my right. The sword is a smoother, softer movement and way more practical for demons." She said smiling.

"Ah...well I don't need or want your help so go back to LA." Buffy replied coldly.

How can she still be that pissed, Faith thought to herself, "Listen B, you don't have to like me or work with me even. I didn't wanna tell you, but in the vision two young girls die, you're there. There is one with straight brown hair, skinny, kinda cute, looks like fifteen maybe less?"

"Dawn?" Buffy asked with shock, the hostility dissipating instantly.

"Who's Dawn?" Faith asked rubbing her hands together, noticing Buffy's change of mood.

"Long story, so who is the other one?" Buffy asked.

"I don't know. But that one was a brunette, pale complexion, dressed in black."

Buffy interrupted her again "You realize you're describing yourself!"

Faith looked at her strangely "No, I'm not, let me finish. She had light eyes, green eyes and was like fifteen? Cordy said she looked a little like you, her face I mean."

Buffy noticed Faith shivering. For once, she set aside all her feelings about Faith. There was so much in the balance; Dawn was in the balance. She let herself admit that she could use the help and so could her friends. "C'mon, you're gonna stay at my house for tonight. Mom is...out, probably." Buffy said without emotion.

"No, B, its fine...I"

"NO! Just 'cause I am not forcing you to leave, doesn't mean I trust you. Let's go!" Buffy said forcefully.

"Wait, B, I can't. Angel paid to get the mansion all decked out and ready. It's stocked with food. It's his money B...I would go with you" Faith said, begrudgingly acknowledging that Buffy was justified in her anger considering her little stint last time she was in town. Why couldn't change be easy? The reparation of their friendship, if possible, could wait until they were safe.

"Oh...I'm staying with you, Let's get my stuff."

Faith nodded, knowing she was in no position to argue. They soon were at the mansion and settled.

*****

Across town, in the aforementioned cemetery, a small light flickered. This light grew in proportion and began spinning creating a vortex. From the center of the vortex a hand emerged and soon the body of a young teenage girl was forcibly discharged. The vortex closed as the body raised itself up. The girl was clad completely in black, with a large hunting knife hanging in a leather casing by her belt and a stake tucked into the other side. She looked around a smirk on her full lips, her green eyes scanned the cemetery. She placed a lock of wavy brown hair behind her ear. She closed her eyes concentrating intensely. She smiled again and headed in the direction of the mansion.

*****

Faith knelt in front of the fireplace, loading logs and starting a fire. Buffy watched from across the room, gingerly inspecting the light slash on her stomach. Vampires were not allowed to carry knives, not fair at all she decided. Faith stood and grabbed her sword from its sheath, testing the blade lightly across her finger. She smiled to herself. Sharp as hell.

"You can go to bed if you want, don't let me keep you up. Help yourself to anything in the fridge." Faith said stripping off her leather jacket. It was at this point that Buffy noticed her bandaged wrist. Faith picked up her sword and began a routine. It was obviously ancient, most likely Asian. She probably learned it from Angel, the blonde concluded. One has the chance to learn quite a bit when one has been around for two hundred and something years after all. Buffy was amazed by the grace that Faith possessed and she just watched for a bit, until a knock at the door jarred her.

"I'll get it!" Buffy said. Faith gently replaced the sword and straightened her hair. Buffy opened the door to reveal the dark girl Faith had described.

"Hey Buffy." The girl said giving a very Faith-like smirk.

"Um...hi?" Buffy said exchanging confused glances with Faith, who just shrugged.

The girl looked passed Buffy meeting Faith's eyes.

She smirked and waved "Hi, mom!"