Author's Notes: There's always been a bit of controvversy over both Faith and Dawn's ages so here's my manual for Dark and Dawn: Faith is about three years younger than Buffy (I got this asuming that she was a simmilar age when she was called). So Faith will be about 20 in this fic. Then Dawn is about six years younger than Buffy so 16 yo (in se7 she's supposed to be the same age the scoobies were when they started slaying). It's not a very far out there bit of info but you know.

Also most of this fic sticks to the cannon episodes. If I get so far as to finish it - the first change will be in touched - no da.

Anyhow - enjoy it and feel free to R&R. I do like a good bit of feedback. Constructive cricism welcome.

Dawn scowled intensely at Willow's 'Mac' laptop in front of her and clicked on the 17th 'O' to move to the next Google page. She'd been researching with Giles for the last few hours. Or, at least, trying her hardest to research. She was really pissed. Not in a drunk way but more in a 'big-bad is so big it can't be researched' pissed sort of way.

And this big-bad was major-ly big. As in super-huge. The biggest big-bad since Glory. Bigger than black-eyed Will. What's bigger and badder than a hell goddess or a vengeance seeking sorceress you might ask? The first and original evil of course.

Sunnydale could never be attacked by a giant marshmallow man. It couldn't be Gremlins who would take out a personal vendetta against the Scoobies.

No.

It had to be an incorporeal pain-in-the-ass that knew everyone's weaknesses and could wear the form of any dead person's body - even if they weren't dead anymore!

Dawn sighed as her latest link had lead to another S&M site. Will would really start to worry about her if she looked at the notebook's history. Deciding to try new key words, the brunette clicked on the entry bar and typed 'timeless evil'. She was running out of ideas on this research thing.

Sitting adjacent to her at the kitchen table, Giles lazily flipped over the next page of his book. He didn't seem to be having any more luck with the research than her. He wasn't noting anything of importance down like usual, he wasn't cross-referencing either and to all intents and purposes the Watcher just seemed to be enjoying a really good book.

Flicking her eyes back to the screen and trying to focus, Dawn heard the light click of the front door opening. Her heart had leapt at the familiar sound but she'd quashed it in due course. It would just be Spike and Buffy returning home from patrol.

Dawn's original thought was that it could have been an old friend - slash recent enemy - who was apparently back in town. It wouldn't be her, she thought to herself, keeping her eyes locked on the plasma in front of her. The girl's vision soon went black as a familiar voice caused a shiver to run down the length of her spine.

"Wo. Memory lane...same old house."

Dawn froze as her earlier thought was proved wrong. No. It couldn't be her. Willow hadn't called earlier to say that Faith was back in town. She had been dreaming when the witch told her Faith was pulling for the good guys now. It wasn't the dark slayer who'd just walked casually into 1630 Revelo Drive, commenting on the decor. That was impossible.

Wasn't it?

Not knowing what to believe, Dawn braced herself. Whether it was for disappointment or delight, she wasn't quite sure. The teenager snapped her head quickly towards the trio standing just inside the door. Craning her neck to the side, the girl saw her; half hidden behind Buffy. There she was. Faith.

Neither disappointment nor delight met with Dawn as she made the discovery. Instead there was a confusing mix of emotions. A lot of it was anger. There was definitely some hate. Lots of disapproval, mainly because of living with Buffy and being forced to listen to her views for so long. A ton of hurt. A tiny bit of forgiveness. No - couldn't be. Some love? No! Definitely not. The last time I saw her she had me in a choke hold and was pointing a knife at mum. The time before that was the second kiss. I'm so over her.

Dawn blinked to stop herself from staring and pushed up and away from the table slowly. Once standing, she let her hands run nervously down her short, black pleated-skirt, flattening the poly-cotton blend. The skirt reached to just above halfway down her thighs, exposing an extremely large amount of leg without being enough for Buffy to scold her for. Her shirt was white with thin vertical light-blue stripes about an inch apart. It fitted well without clinging and the collar was slightly skewed thanks to her hair. The top was okay, but wearing that skirt was not how Dawn wanted to meet Faith Lehane again. It made her feel too vulnerable.

She could remember the feeling of being held late at night. Of the lightly roaming hands that explored but never sought a destination. The two kisses. The memories that would last forever. Talking, holding hands, holding each other - and trying to ignore the intense fear that Buffy would walk around the corner. The more horrible fear she'd felt when Faith came to her after killing Alan Fitch to confess. Getting even more worried as the Slayer broke down in her 12 year old arms and cried. She could remember the kindness of Mayor Wilkins III and the sorrow she felt at his death. The sorrow that was out weighed by her feelings for the comatose Faith. She remembered refusing to talk to Buffy because it was her who almost killed the misunderstood Slayer.

"Buffy?" Dawn asked now, snapping out of her reverie. She was asking whether it was safe. Whether or not this was actually Faith and if she was, as Willow said, a good guy again. As the two slayers stepped towards the tall teenager she crossed her arms and stood her ground, in a way fearing either possible answer.

She looked at Faith. Still with the leather, that's my gir - oh my god! You're with Kit now - she's not your girl and never was. Although partly a lie, that last thought calmed Dawn enough to take in the rest of the leather loving Slayer's appearance. Boots and - surprise, surprise - leather pants. Black denim jacket. Dawn tilted her head a centimetre or so to get a different angle. Grey, slightly low cut t-shirt. Nice, especially the picture of the yellow and black swallow with its wings spread in flight, to adorn the top directly over the girl's left breast. God, Dawn! Stop looking at that bird. Her hair was also longer - it had more of a natural wave to it.

It took Dawn approximately three seconds to take in the Slayer's new appearance. She then straightened her head and shook her hair back behind her shoulders. If possible, there seemed to be a slightly feminine touch to the dark Slayer. Some how Dawn doubted that that's what prison did to a girl.

"We have a new house guest." Buffy announced civilly. Whether being aware of Dawn's previous question or not, her sister had partially answered it. Faith wouldn't be entirely evil if she was allowed to stay in their house. But from Buffy's tone, Dawn recognised that her sister didn't have 'die for you' trust in the girl either. Giles stood up slowly from his seat and stood next to Dawn, turning to face the girls in the doorway.

"Hey," Faith began, waving her hands around to take in the house. "Got a spare bed for a wanted fugitive?" Her eyes followed her hands' motion but never landed on the girl in front of her. Dawn internally questioned this open display of weakness. When Faith was with other people and felt emotions she usually hid them. According to the brunette Slayer, Dawn was the only person she had ever been able to open up to.

"Hello Faith." Giles pronounced carefully in a slightly less civil tone to the one Buffy had previously used. He crossed his arms in front of his chest and sat on the corner of the dining table. Faith hooked one hand in her belt as she took an apprehensive breath. It wasn't quite a 'Ripper' glare she was receiving but it was closer to one than she would have liked. She had to remind herself that she'd made these people her enemies. Especially Dawn.

"Oh," she said shortly. "Guess 'wanted' wasn't really accurate." She glanced across at her fellow Slayer who merely raised her eyebrows in response. Dawn could feel the anger begin to brew inside her, out shadowing any other emotions. She'd just been reminded that this girl was wanted for murder. She had held Dawn and Joyce hostage for hours before fighting against and swapping bodies with Buffy. By all rights she should really, really hate this girl.

"Does she have to stay here?" Dawn asked causing both Slayers' eyes to fall on her. Trying to hide the slightly uncomfortable feeling that had settled in her gut as Faith looked her way, she continued. "'Cause there's some nice hotels that welcome 'tried to kill your sister' types."

Upon looking at Dawn, Faith's attention was first drawn to the lip gloss that shimmered on the younger Summers girl's lips. It was a light pink that mainly showed as clear. If it was the same one the girl had used three, four years ago then it would have a vague strawberry flavour. She took a slight gulp before pulling her tough Slayer mask in place.

"Check it out," she began, letting her eyes run quickly down and up Dawn's body, not so secretly relishing the sight. "Brat's all woman-sized."

When their eyes finally met, Dawn narrowed hers and flashed Faith with the Summers glare. You know the one. Really, the younger girl was afraid to let any other emotions show.

After a few seconds the silence had already gone on too long for Buffy who was lost in her own thoughts.

"Look I need to get to the hospital." she stated hurriedly. "Some girl was attacked on her way into town. We think she might be a -"

"We know." Dawn interrupted. "Willow's been calling." The girl glanced back at Faith and the two linked eyes for a moment. Dawn continued to glare menacingly but after a second or two, Faith's gaze softened. Dawn wanted to ask her. Ask that one question. Get that one answer that meant she could move on. But her lips didn't even twitch. Not while anyone else was around - it wasn't the right time. Especially not with Buffy or Giles.

Dawn blinked as she realised the conversation had continued without them.

"Fine." Buffy said with a glare at the former Watcher and walked out of the room. Faith watched her leave with barely hidden concern before looking back at the two Watcher types.

Maybe she has changed. Dawn mused. But how? And into what? The tall girl kept her glare up as Faith hovered half in and half out of the dining room. The Slayer looked at Dawn questioningly but the girl refused to give any answers of her own. It was up to Giles to break the silence.

"Well, Faith." he said with false cheer. "We'd better see if we can find a place to squeeze you in for the night." He walked away and Dawn continued to glare, raising her head in a slight challenge to Faith. If asked why, she couldn't have said but there was something about the Slayer made her feel brave somehow.

Her only response to the challenge was Faith rubbing her hands nervously in front of her. Surely she's not nervous! Faith Lehane, toughest of the tough - nervous of me? Nuh - uh. No way. As if hearing Dawn's thoughts, the dark girl cocked her head before unashamedly running her eyes slowly down the younger girl's bare legs. Not too nervous anyway.

They both watched each other, desperately wanting to say something, until Dawn shook herself out of it and walked out of the room. Her eyes lingered on Faith until the older girl was out of sight.

Dawn sighed. Her calm didn't last more than a second as she heard the floor boards creak. She knew what that creak meant - someone was walking into the dining room. She held her breath but sighed again a moment later as she heard Spike speak to the dark Slayer. The tall girl was free. For now.

Kit would still be in the shower for a while. Why did they have to pick tonight of all nights to have a sleepover? It was a surprise Buffy had even allowed it and Dawn had thanked her over and over at the time. But now Faith was back.

The first girl she kissed - first person. The second rate Slayer. The unwanted one. The girl who was always on the outside, just like Dawn. The girl who had killed more demons than a person could count. The girl who had murdered at least two humans. The girl who she'd loved.

Dawn exited out the back door and did a quick loop around the house to avoid Faith. She had paused at the front door to check for the girl's distinctive voice but when she had heard only silence she opened it and ran up the stairs into her room, noticing the water being turned off as she passed the bathroom.

She knelt down by her bed and gently pulled a small red jewellery box out from under it. Sitting back on her heels, she opened the lid and pulled out the tray that sat on top. Next, she rummaged softly through some choice items and newspaper clippings before getting to the bottom of the box.

Here she found what she was looking for. Carefully Dawn removed the worn folded envelope from its hiding place. It felt like thin fabric beneath her fingers - the paper had been handled much throughout the years. Year and a half, to be precise.

She packed the box up and replaced it before bringing her eyes to the envelope. She unfolded it and read the postmark and address for the millionth time. All you could make out of the postmark was 'Women's Penitentiary'. The stamp hadn't quite worked when it was originally applied and now it had endured much smudging as well. The address appeared to be typed on a typewriter and was addressed to Ms. Dawn Summers at 1630 Revello Drive, Sunnydale, California.

Flipping the envelope over in her hand she read; From Prisoner #4310000, F. Lehane. Dawn was about to open the envelope when Vi and Rona burst through her door.

"She looks really cool." the red head potential gushed.

"Yeah, I bet she's way cooler than Buffy, man." The dark skinned girl drawled back.

"Oh, sorry Dawn." Vi said as she noticed the girl kneeling on the floor. "Is it ok if we get changed now?"

"Yeah, go ahead." Dawn forced a smile. "I'm just going outside for a minute. Need some fresh air."

"Don't go too far or that sister of yours'll get major-ly pissed." Rona half laughed, half scowled.

"Yeah," Dawn agreed softly, moving to stand up. She'd forgotten about the two potentials who were sharing her room. "If anyone's worried, I'll be out the back." with that she walked out of her bedroom, trying not to clutch the envelope in her hand.

Dawn sat down on the park bench in her backyard and sighed. She looked up slightly and her eyes caught sight of the window to the master bedroom. The one that had had a bullet hole in it over a year ago. A hole from the bullet that had killed Tara.

The letter was Tara's fault in a way. I suppose you could go back so far as to say it was Glory's fault for killing Buffy or just the monks' fault for making Dawn's memories this way. But really, if Tara hadn't gotten the mail that day, if Willow had been home like normal, Dawn never would have seen the letter. She never would have understood - well, no, she still didn't understand - but she never would have found out what Faith felt. Or said she felt.

Willow had been at the Magic Box, helping Anya with new stock and Tara had been at home helping Dawn with her summer school History work - dealing with Glory had kinda stuffed her grades. And the Buffy-bot had been out training with Giles.

Dawn had given up on the year 1066, William and his Hastings battle and any tapestries in general, about an hour before and was lying on her bed reading something by Meg Cabot. Tara had walked in slowly and carefully, Dawn now remembered, although she didn't realise it at the time. She had had a pile of mail in her hand and went and sat quietly on the corner of the teenager's bed, ignoring the girl's lack of study.

Dawn had looked up from the pages of her novel and noticed the look of worry on her mentor's face. Her first thought was that someone had died - again. But Tara smiled - so, no one had died - but what?

"Sweetie," she began in that soft, unassuming tone she always used, the one a person might borrow while trying to coax a small animal out of its hiding place. "You remember when you told me about Faith?" Dawn scowled and sat up, putting her book to the side.

"Yeah," she nodded. "And how I hate her?"

"You told me you loved her." the blonde reminded the teenager gently.

"I told you we kinda went out for a bit."

"And you said you didn't know whether she liked you or not?"

"Yeah, but that was like over a year ago. What's it got to do with anything?"

"What if you had a chance to find out, would you want to?"

"What are you talking about, Tara? Find out what?" the witch took a slight breath and slid the letter on the top of her pile over to Dawn.

The girl could still remember the first time she had read that postmark.

It sent a shiver down her spine to read the prisoner number next to Faith's name. The dark Slayer had written to her. To Dawn. Not to Buffy, not that she was alive to get a letter, but to Dawn, the forgotten one. Why? And what did it say?

"Do you want to read it?" Tara asked without pressure once she'd given Dawn enough time to take in the object that was in front of her.

"I - I don't know if I can."

"You don't have to, Dawnie." The blonde witch reassured. " But it's your choice. Remember, the letter won't have anything horrible in it. They would have censored it before-hand to make sure of that. I'll be down stairs if you need me." She shifted her weight to stand up.

"Wait - " Dawn threw out an arm to stop Tara from getting up. "Can you - I mean, would you - please - could you read it for me, Tara?"

"Are you sure you want me to be a part of this? I'm more than happy to i-if you want, but, are you sure?"

"Yeah. Please." Tara nodded.

"How do you want to do this? Do you want me to read it and summarise it for you or read it out loud or - "

"Can you read it to me, please?"

"Sure, just promise me you'll tell me to stop if it gets too much, okay?"

"Okay."

"Do you want to open it?"

"Yeah," Dawn pulled a small knife out from under her bed and cut the envelope open. Tara raised her eyebrows at the knife but said nothing. Dawn pulled the single sheet of A4 cartridge out of the envelope and handed it to the witch without unfolding it. Tara completed this deed and took a deep breath before reading Faith's letter out loud.

"Dear Dawn," she began. "I know its gonna sound like crap but I gotta tell you I'm sorry." it sounded strange to hear the slang and swearing coming from Tara's mouth but she wanted to stay as true to the letter as possible. "All the shit I did to you and everyone - it wasn't really me ok. I didn't know who I was then and being stuck here I'm starting to figure out who I should have been. Especially for you. You were always someone I could talk to - like after the Deputy Mayor and even that last time with you and Mrs. Summers you just let me roll along and do my thing. Get it out of my system. I miss you kid. I miss climbing through your window and sleeping in your bed scared half shitless that B would walk in and find us. Hell I even miss her. Angel told me what happened. God I'm sorry. I wish I could be there for you like you've been there for me. But hey lets not talk about sad stuff. I wanna talk about truth. Even when we saw each other every day I never told you the truth. In here they're kinda proving how good truth can be. So I wanna set something straight. I know my whole reputation for being the biggest slut and bitch on Earth - but it's not true. I've only had sex with four people when I wanted it. One was an inmate the other night. I know you probably didn't want to hear that but she was what made me realise I wanted to write to you. I didn't feel right during or after. I just kept thinking of you. She was the first since Xander and you know what I told you about that afterwards. I miss kissing you. Even if they were just two little kid kisses. We were both kids if you think about it. I miss reading your diary while you were asleep. I miss hugging you. I miss laughing at you when you tried to act like a Slayer. I miss the grin I couldn't get off my face when you tried on my old leathers that time. Mostly I think I miss talking to you. I remember every word you ever spoke to me. Every syllable. I wish you could just forgive me for everything. Especially last time I saw you. I treated you like absolute shit. I was a bitch and I hurt you - something I hope I never do again. I don't know if it can ever be the same between us again but if you wrote back - even to say fuck off - I'd appreciate it. I'd kinda love it. I'm always thinking of you and remembering stuff but new memories are always good. If you ever need help just tell me and I'll break out of here. I mean it you know I do. So please send me something back. Even if you hate my guts can you just say something? Look it don't matter. I'm running out of shit to say so I'm gonna sign off. Oh yeah, I made you Ms. instead of Miss. cause you're all grown up now. So, see ya, Faith."

Dawn sat still on her covers clutching Mr. Gordo. She'd liberated him from Buffy's room shortly after her death and had picked him up a few minutes ago, trying to seek some sort of solace. Tara flipped the letter over in her hand to check for a post script but found nothing. Dawn just sat still, running what words she could remember over and over through her head.

"Well, she certainly likes to swear." Tara said quietly after a few minutes to break the silence.

"Yeah," Dawn breathed not really listening. "What did that mean?" she asked, looking up at the blonde.

"I don't know." Tara answered truthfully. "I think it's up to you to decide, sweetie. It is your letter."

"I don't know what it meant either." the brunette admitted out loud. But she wished she did.

Reading the letter had always made Dawn feel connected to Faith. And recently it made her think of Tara. Every time she read it, Dawn always heard the words being spoken by the blonde witch. And for some reason Dawn found herself reading the letter at least once a month.

She carefully folded the letter and reverently put it back in its envelope.

Dawn had meant to write back to the letter of course. It just never worked out that way. Not even a month after receiving it, Buffy was back.

And then Giles was back.

Then there was that whole issue with the teen vamp tonsil hockey match - which, by the way, was kinda disgusting when she thought about it now.

Then Tara left and her arm got broken because of Willow and Rack.

Then the Halfrek issue popped up sometime before Xander and Anya's non-wedding.

She actually sat down to write the letter once. When it looked like Willow and Tara were going to get back together, just before they reconciled. It was so hard to start writing though. And it had been so long since the two outcasts had even seen each other.

Then Tara got shot and Willow almost ended the world...it wasn't really a good time to be thinking about writing a love letter. After that Spike came back and then the whole deal with the First started.

And now was now.

She didn't know how she felt about Faith. It was all too confusing having her back. And having her really here, not locked away in some prison, was going to cause things to move fast. Plus - Apocalypto. Things like that always make everything move at lightning speed.

What would happen? What did Dawn want to happen? She couldn't even tell herself what her feelings were. As Tara had said, once she thought she was in love with the Slayer. But now she'd changed - and then there was Kit.

Lost in another world, she didn't notice when one of the girls from her thoughts popped her head out the door. Kit Hoburn walked slowly over to her girlfriend, wearing track pants and a loose black t-shirt - both of which she would be sleeping in later.

The stocky girl smiled, she loved it when Dawn was thinking this hard. She was so cute. Her face all screwed up and that little furrow between her eyes - the one that wasn't actually that small. The one that almost made the younger Summers girl look like a vampire.

Kit was well aware of vampires. Being friends with the Slayer's sister had kinda sorted that one out. Which was why Buffy had allowed her over during an apocalypse.

Either that or the Slayer was really out of her head at the moment. Possibly the second option.

Smiling again the girl walked over to the park bench and its sole occupant. Dawn looked up when she was a step away. Her face registered nothing for an eye blink before she woke up and gave a huge smile. Somehow the motor function felt wrong and she looked down again. Kit frowned.

"You okay, Dawn?" the brunette nodded, still not looking up. "D'you wanna come inside now?" Kit held out a tentative hand, not sure if she had done something wrong or if something else was bothering Dawn.

The object of her affections took the offered hand and before Dawn knew it she had been pulled into a tight embrace. She returned the hug, trying to keep the letter in her right hand from being crumpled.

The girl was too big for Dawn to believe that she might have been Faith but her brain made her wonder what hugging the other girl now would be like.

Was it her brain? Or something slightly lower that was beating faster at the thought of Faith in her arms. Trying to block out the confusing thoughts, Dawn pulled back out of the hug slightly so that she had room to move in for a kiss.

She leaned forward again, this time with her face up to let her lips met Kit's in a familiar movement. Kit's skin was still slightly damp from her shower as Dawn pressed lips to lips. The larger girl pressed back, keen to increase the contact. The chaste kiss lasted for a few short seconds before both girls opened their mouths and exchanged tongues.

Kit immediately started swirling hers around Dawn's familiar mouth but the other girl was hesitant. She couldn't get Faith out of her head and it felt like she was making the other girl part of the kiss. She tried to remove the Slayer from her thoughts but the letter in her hand refused to let her.

This was a private moment with Kit but Faith had invaded without even being there. Damn it! Dawn thought at the kiss and opened her eyes just in time to see a pissed off Faith pull Kit out of her arms and throw her against the tree.

Dawn watched the ungainly flight of her girlfriend as she hit the oak head first. The brunette's whole body winced in sympathy as Kit's large form slid to the bottom of the trunk. She was officially out to the world.

Turning back to the fuming Slayer, Dawn almost attacked. She restrained herself, just, but the Summers' glare was back in full force. She settled for a small shove at Faith's shoulders.

"What did you do that for?!" She tried to keep her voice down but only partly succeeded. "Little Miss Reformed come back to prove she's a bitch after all?"

"She was kissing you." Faith kept her voice low while she tried to keep the emotion out of it. It had hurt, to see Dawn kissing someone else.

"Of course she was frikin' kissing me. She's my girlfriend you moron!" it was still a battle but Dawn was just managing to keep the hysterics at bay. Faith took a small breath and retained the same cool facade. The 'G' word made it even worse.

"Does Buffy know?"

"That I have a girlfriend? No. And don't you dare tell her either. I don't want it to stop." she said the last bit quietly. Did she really want it to continue?

"Do you love her?" Faith asked, looking into Dawn's eyes. The younger girl looked down. The Slayer's gaze was much too intense for her.

"I...I'm going out with her." She couldn't say it. Why not? It wouldn't have been the first time.

"There was a time when you said you'd only ever kiss me." Faith stated quietly, starting to rub her hands together again. Dawn noticed the now familiar nervous gesture and looked up. When she spoke she was deadly serious.

"You were the first girl I kissed, Faith. Didn't you feel that way about your first kiss?"

"No." she replied instantly, her voice laced with barely disguised venom. "My first 'kiss' was my drunk grandfather who tried to feel me up." There was a short silence as Dawn took in this information. Mix that with some past comments and it was enough to reallymake the girl wonder.

If what she was thinking was right it would explain a lot about the Slayer.

"I'm sorry." she said quietly and sincerely. "But Faith - I was a kid then. I had no idea who you were or what you were capable of."

"So that's it then?" she asked not wanting to be disappointed by another person she wanted to trust. "You'll never let me forget my mistakes." at a pause from Dawn she muttered, "God, they did make you like B." Something about that comment set off Dawn again.

"Yeah they did. And speaking of them, nothing ever really happened between us. I haven't even been alive for three whole years." Faith was speechless after the tirade.

"Huh? Wha...Dawn?"

"Oh," the younger girl sounded out for herself. "No one filled you in on that, huh? I figured you knew about the monks. You did just say 'they made me like Buffy'."

"What? Sorry, I still don't -"

"Yay, congrats to me. I screwed up again. Here's the deal - I'm a mystical ball of green energy that's been around since almost the beginning of time. A hell goddess tried to kill me to open a portal between realms and Buffy died to save me."

"Angel said you were new and B died for you. Bloody vamp didn't explain everything though."

"Look, it doesn't matter. Back to current issues, if I told Buffy you knocked Kit out she'd kill you, you know that right?"

"Yeah I know it but I didn't think you were ever into blackmail, Dawnie." a smile pulled lightly at the Slayer's mouth.

"You called me Dawnie." the tall girl was stunned. She'd never been called that by Faith before. "Why?" she received a shrug.

"I'm trying to blackmail you." Dawn rolled her eyes and kept her involuntary smile hidden.

"Hmph. Go away Faith. I don't want to see you anywhere near Kit again. If I do, my sister will find out."

"So much for you never using blackmail."

"But cha gotta give me credit for learning from my elders."

"Believe me, I knew you learned off us with that first kiss."

"Huh, what?" Dawn asked, totally thrown by the comment.

"You can't tell me all that skill came from the monks making you outa B."

"What? I - I just kissed how I thought I should. I didn't even do it properly."

"Properly?"

"No t - tongue."

"Didn't matter to me. I liked it just fine." Faith took a step forward, sobering up. "You know, prison got me thinkin' about what I really wanted to do with my life." She leant forward slightly. "'Bout everythin' I've missed." Her face was now an inch from Dawn's. The younger girl couldn't move. She was holding her breath and telling her feet to do something but they wouldn't listen. "Thinking about things I've wanted to do for years." Faith leant in further, watching Dawn as the girl's eyes closed in anticipation. The Slayer smiled and made to close the rest of the gap but suddenly found herself being pushed away.

Even though they'd been fighting about her, the two brunettes had effectively forgotten about Kit. She'd come to a moment ago and had been thrown further into consciousness by the sight that had greeted her. She had pushed the unknown girl as hard as possible but she'd barely stumbled. Something fell out of Dawn's hand but Kit was too intent on yelling at her competition to pay it much notice.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" she tried to keep her voice even as she yelled at Faith. The Slayer frowned as she realised Dawn wouldn't look at her. The girl was hiding her face guiltily in her now empty hands. Rather than stir things up more, Faith tried to be truthful but not spiteful.

"I was just saying something to Dawn that I should have said years ago." Before Kit could retaliate, Dawn's cold voice broke in.

"You said it and I'd like to remind you that if I say one thing, Faith, you'll be dead before you can snap your fingers." It was easier for Dawn to be mean rather than speak the truth. Faith didn't understand this. She thought she'd been rejected. Shaking her head slightly, more than a touch of spite entered her voice as she spoke.

"Missed you too, D. I'll see you dykes later." Dawn flinched at the hurtful way the term was used.

Before leaving, Faith bent down to retrieve the piece of paper she'd seen Dawn drop a few moments before.

"No - don't." Dawn burst out as she realised what Faith was doing. She knew she was too late. Faith paused to read the letter head and immediately knew what she held in her hand. Lifting her head, the Slayer looked strangely at Dawn.

"You got this?" she asked the pointless question quietly.

"Yes." Dawn replied, looking at the ground.

"When?" Dawn paused.

"The summer when Buffy was - away. Summer before last." there was another pause as Faith contemplated this new information.

"Why didn't you write back?" She stared intently into Dawn's eyes as the girl looked up again.

"Dawn?" the once again forgotten Kit asked. "What's the letter?"

"I didn't know you wanted me to write back." Dawn lied, not quite unintentionally ignoring her girlfriend.

"That's bullshit." Faith burst out. "I remember ever word of what I wrote in that letter."

"Every word?" Dawn questioned.

"'Every syllable'." Faith quoted back. The two girls held eye contact as both thought deeply about the recriminations of their conversation.

"Dawn?" Kit asked again, still forgotten. With that, Dawn snapped out of her reverie.

"'I don't know if it can ever be the same again'." the tall brunette quoted back. "In fact, I'm pretty sure it can't." she added while taking the letter out of Faith's hands. The girl walked quickly towards the house, Kit following behind - both of them leaving Faith to mull things over in her own brain.

Once inside Kit pulled Dawn aside.

"Hey," she began. "Not that I really care about that bitch right now, but will she be alright out there? You know, Vamps and what not?" Dawn laughed out loud causing Kit to scowl.

"She'll be fine, Kit. She might have only been a Slayer for half as long as Buffy, but she can take care of herself."

"She's a Slayer? But I thought there was only one?" Dawn sighed. It had been too much tonight, she wasn't in the mood for replaying the Scoobies history.

"It doesn't really matter. But she's a Slayer and yeah, she's super strong and all so don't worry. Can we just go to bed now, please?"

"Sure." Kit muttered and let Dawn lead her up to their room. Vi and Rona were already settled in and talking like old friends. Somehow Dawn didn't think she would sleep tonight even if they weren't talking.

It was over two hours later when Dawn heard the door creak open. Her companions had left for the land of dreams a while ago but she hadn't been able to join them yet. Looking up from her place in Kit's arms she easily recognised the younger Slayer's silhouette.

Faith walked in and closed the door gently. In the semi-darkness, Dawn held her breath and watched as the older girl moved over to the corner she was facing and sat down. She started to breathe again as Faith pulled a spare blanket over her legs and seemed to relax. A minute or so later, the silence was broken for one particular pair of very attentive ears.

"G'night, Dawnie." the whispered voice proclaimed.

As Dawn finally drifted off to sleep, she couldn't help but let a soft smile grace her features.

TBC