A/N: Just to be clear, yes I am the same author who is posting this same story on buffynfaith... :)

The pale moonlight reflected off the puddles that lined the street. A young couple laughed as they walked down the middle of the road, hand and hand and oblivious to the world and the dangers that lurked in the darkness around them. Sirens could be heard off in the distance following a half a dozen shotgun blasts and the screams that mixed in with the wailing of the sirens of a mother mourning her son as he lay lifeless in the street with blood pooling around him.

"Yep, definitely home again," Faith sighed as she kept to the shadows as she walked down the street, her eyes never leaving the young couple a couple paces ahead of her.

It had been months since she'd come back to LA. Months that had felt like years. Each day blurred into the night as one, never able to tell one day from another. It was always the same. Nothing changed. Nothing ever would. She stopped in the shallow entrance to a bar that had long since closed and lit a cigarette with shaky hands. It was unusually cold and yet it wasn't the chill in the air that bothered her. It was what she felt inside that gave her chills.

The sirens faded as she continued walking down the nearly empty street. The young couple still strolled ahead of her, laughing as they whispered sweet nothings into each other's ears. She scoffed as she picked up the pace, hoping to get back to the sad excuse of a home she had just a few blocks away.

She stopped as she rounded the corner, seeing the one person she never thought she'd lay her eyes on ever again. She held her breath and stepped back, hoping to go unseen, unnoticed. It was like asking for the sun to disappear in the middle of the day and she only could roll her eyes as she found herself face to face with the one woman who had haunted her dreams in the four years it had been since she last saw her.

"What are you doing here?" Buffy asked, swaying slightly as she eyed Faith up and down. "Patrolling?"

"Something like that," she smirked as she took a long drag of her cigarette. "Drinking alone, B?"

"None of your business."

"Sure it is," Faith chuckled as she found herself backed up against the cool brick wall behind her. "You're all up in my face and if you weren't drunk you would have decked me by now."

"Huh," Buffy sighed out as she stumbled back, unable to keep still. "What are you doing here?"

"I live down there," Faith said as she motioned down the street to the small building on the far corner. "What are you doing here? Thought you were hanging out in Scotland with the Scoobs, fighting evil and what not?"

"Ugh," Buffy groaned as she held her stomach and closed her eyes. "Do not get me started on that."

"Needed to get away? Figured you come here, run into me, have a little one on one and go back to your perfect little life with your perfect friends and that perfect girlfriend of yours?"

"What girlfriend?"

Faith laughed as she walked over to Buffy and grabbed onto her arm before she stumbled to the ground. "Come on, I think you need to get some sleep. You're fucking piss drunk and I'm getting drunk off the fumes coming off of you."

"Let go of me."

"Whatever," Faith sighed as she let go of her and watched as she stumbled forward and fell to the ground.

"What are you doing here?" Buffy asked again, staring at her with blank yet confused eyes.

"Jesus," Faith said under her breath as she helped Buffy to her feet. "How much did you fucking drink tonight, B?"

"Does it even matter?"

"No."

"Good."

Faith debated for a moment whether just to leave her there in the streets or to take her home and put her into her bed to sleep it off. As much as she still hated her, she couldn't leave her out there, drunk and helpless and easy prey for the demons and the vamps that lurked behind every corner and in every other alley throughout the city. She wasn't cruel or completely heartless.

"Come on," Faith said softly as she flicked her cigarette into the street and slipped her arm around Buffy's waist. "You need to sleep it off somewhere safe."

Buffy just nodded, going a little limp as she leaned against Faith. The short walk to her apartment turned out to be a long one, Buffy stopping every couple of steps to look around and aimlessly and confused. She passed out by the time they reached Faith's apartment on the third floor and she struggled to keep Buffy standing while she fumbled inside her jacket for the keys.

With a heavy sigh she picked Buffy up and carried her inside, placing her on the couch gently and spent just a moment staring down at her before she walked into the kitchen and flipped on the lights. The fridge was empty, as it always was and the sink full of dirty, mouldy dishes that had been left there from the last time she'd been home. She grabbed a half empty bottle of Jacks, the phone and headed out to the balcony, lighting a cigarette as she leaned against the railing and hit the voicemail button.

"You have ten new messages. First unheard message..."

The first nine messages on the phone were from Giles, checking in as he always had done every once in awhile for the last four years. She unscrewed the cap and took a swig as the last message began to play.

"Faith, its Willow. I don't know if you're even home or if you'll get this before Buffy shows up there, but I wanted you to know she's coming to see you. Something happened between her and Satsu and she hasn't exactly been herself. You'll uh...you'll see what I mean when you see her. Call me back. Appreciate it if you would."

Faith took another swig and coughed a little as the warm liquid stung her throat. She heard Buffy mumbling in her sleep and she turned to look inside and found her curled up on the couch and hugging the worn throw pillow close to her. She shook her head, laughing at herself for even caring what Buffy was feeling, what she was going through and for even caring enough to bring her back here to sleep it off.

The world might not have changed, but she had. She was no longer the Faith she'd once been and she'd never be that Faith ever again.

New and improved didn't exactly fit the changes she had gone through, but it wasn't like it mattered. She was still there, alive and breathing, barely. Her heart still held a special spot in there for Buffy as it always had. Those feelings she once had for her, the feelings that weren't hate but weren't exactly what she'd call love either, were still there, stronger than ever. If one thing never did change it was the way she felt for Buffy.

Shrugging it off and out of her mind she walked back inside, flipped off the lights and walked to the bare, nearly empty bedroom. She placed the bottle of Jacks on the dresser and crawled into bed. With a yawn and a heavy sigh she closed her eyes as soon as her head hit the pillow. She'd deal with it in the morning, she'd deal with Buffy and the very high possibility she'd get her ass kicked by her as soon as she found out just where she was when she woke. All she wanted was a couple solid hours of sleep to clear her head and rest her tired body.

She hadn't dreamt in months and it wasn't any different this time. Another dreamless sleep, another restless sleep and when she woke, she found the warm sunlight poking through the cracks of the dusty blinds that covered the small window in the bedroom. Stretching out on the bed, her muscles aches and her bones and joints cracked rather loudly. Listening for signs that Buffy was awake and after hearing none, she got out of bed and walked into the kitchen. She had some coffee left, just barely enough for a pot and once she had it brewing she walked into the living room and sat down on the worn and sad looking armchair and watched Buffy as she slept.

"Oh god," Buffy moaned as she slowly opened her eyes and raised her hands to her head. "Where am I?"

"LA," Faith said softly as she tried to keep the smile from curling across her lips.

"Faith?"

"The one and only," she replied and watched as Buffy slowly sat up on the couch. "What are you doing here, B?"

"Can this whole conversation wait until I've had at least a cup of coffee?"

"Won't be ready for another ten minutes. Why don't you just tell me what you are doing here? I got a rather interesting message on my phone from Willow."

"Oh," she sighed as she closed her eyes and rubbed her temples slowly. "It's a long story."

"Let me guess," Faith smirked as she shifted in the chair and tried to get comfortable. "A long story you don't want to tell me, huh?"

"We're not friends," Buffy said blankly as she looked over at her. "We have never been friends. How come you are being so nice to me?"

Faith shrugged, finding it impossible to take her eyes off of her as they stared intensely at one another. "People change, right?"

"You never have."

"Let's say this time I have," Faith said as she smiled at her. "What happened to you and Satsu? Last I heard you two were getting all loved up and going all moon eyed over each other."

"Things change," Buffy chuckled softly, her gaze never leaving Faith's as she laid back down on the couch. "It's another one of those long stories."

"Got all the time in the world today."

"Let me ask you something," Buffy sighed as her smile faded. "Why do you care?"

"Why not?"

"Because you've never cared about anyone else but yourself. What changed?"

"We are not talking about me right now, B. We are talking about you and why you are here in LA and why I found you drunk in the streets last night."

"Satsu..."

"I guessed that. What happened? You two break it off for good this time?"

"Are you going to let me talk?" Buffy asked angrily as she sat back up and looked rather faint for a moment. "Damn, who knew drinking that much would make me feel worse than I'm dead?"

Faith chuckled softly as she stood up from the chair and walked into the kitchen. She found a clean mug, rinsed it out and poured a cup of coffee for Buffy. "I don't have any milk, or sugar."

"That's fine," she said softly as Faith walked back into the living room and placed the cup of coffee down on the coffee table in front of her. "Have you lived here long?"

"B? Weren't you gonna..."

"Right," she sighed and pulled the pillow to her lap and held it tightly. "We had a fight, like a huge fight. It's stupid really. She told me it was over because of my inability to fall in love with her."

"Weren't you two together for four years or something?"

"Yeah."

Faith reached for her jacket draped behind her and pulled out her nearly empty pack of cigarettes. "You mind?"

"It's your place," Buffy shrugged. "You want to die from lung cancer that is up to you."

"Not like you care, right?" Faith smirked, lighting the cigarette as she leaned back in the chair. "So, how come you came to LA then? Cos that part and the part where you came to see me is what I really do not understand."

Buffy sighed loudly as she picked up the cup of coffee and sipped it slowly. Faith tried to take her eyes off of her but, just as it had been in the past she found it next to impossible to. Her mind was reeling with a million thoughts, the lascivious ones overtaking the rest. She might have changed, but a lot of things really didn't.

"I had to get away. It was just too much."

"So you figured you come here, find me and maybe kick my ass and go back feeling all high and mighty and recharged?"

"No."

"No?" Faith smirked as she rolled her eyes. "I don't believe it for a second."

"If it makes you feel any better I had no intention of kicking your ass."

"A little bit."

"I know we were never friends and I needed to get away for a little while. I didn't expect you to understand or actually be sitting here talking to me right now the way you are. Like you said, people change right?"

Faith nodded and took a drag of her cigarette and looked around the room for the ashtray she knew was there somewhere. She stood up and walked over to the small empty desk and picked it up, sighing as she stood there and stared down at the cigarette between her fingers. Her body was buzzing, more so than it normally had whenever she was around Buffy and she had to wonder if Buffy felt it too. It was just one of those things they never talked about. Just like they never talked this way before, not with this many words and so much openness.

She turned to look over at Buffy and saw she was crying, doing nothing to stop the tears or hide them from her. She fought the urge to walk over there and sit down next to her and hold her in her arms. That wasn't who she was, that wasn't who she'd ever be.

"God, my head is pounding."

"Must been all that liquor you drank last night," Faith said with a soft smile as she walked back to the chair and sat down. "You never drink, B. Things must have been really rough and hard to deal with, huh?"

"You have no idea."

"Probably not. You know me, never been in any committed relationships for more than just a night."

"Don't you want to be though?"

"Nah," Faith shook her head. "The less commitment there is the easier it is for me."

"You think it's easier that way, Faith? Have you ever loved anyone before? Let anyone love you?"

"No," she lied. "Never."

"Liar."

"Maybe I did love someone a long time ago. It's in the past. Never gonna happen. I've moved on."

"Who was it?"

"Yeah right, like I'd tell you."

She never would either. Their history was already rough enough as it was and telling Buffy that she had loved her and still probably did just a little would destroy all hope for something between the line of enemies and almost friendship she could feel that was still lingering there. Buffy finished her coffee in silence, her eyes never leaving Faith's even for a moment.

Feeling uncomfortable under the powerful gaze, Faith got up and walked into the kitchen and turned on the water in the sink, filling it while she searched for the dish soap. She groaned as she stared at the dirty, mouldy dishes in the water, feeling disgusted but not because of what her eyes were falling upon. She felt disgusted with herself. The walls she'd spent years reinforcing around her to keep everyone and Buffy out had crumbled without her even realizing it. She gripped the edge of the counter, watching as he knuckles went white from the force and she closed her eyes, trying to regain some sort of self control over her thoughts and emotions.

"I should go," Buffy said softly as she stood a few feet behind her. "Sorry for coming here like this."

"No problem, B. You needed to get away. I get that."

"I've been here for a week," she said slowly as she walked up to her and placed the now empty mug on the counter next to the sink. "Every night I came here hoping you'd be home. I didn't drink anything until last night."

"Good to know."

"Where were you, Faith?"

"Why do you fucking care?"

"Forget it then," she sighed out heavily as she backed away from her. "You know, this is why we can't ever be friends. You push me out."

"It's either that or you're kicking my ass. So, when you gonna start with that?"

"Faith..."

"Forget it," she groaned as she turned to look at her. "We can't ever be friends for a lot of reasons. Our history is fucked up. You and I both know that."

"That's one reason," Buffy said with a small smile. "What are the others?"

"Weren't you leaving?"

"Fine," she rolled her eyes as she headed for the door. "You know, I try to talk to you like a friend, I try to let you in my life and you do nothing but push me away every time. Why do you do that?"

"It's what I do."

"This coming from the one who said she's changed. You haven't changed, Faith. You haven't at all."

"Whatever."

She couldn't bring herself to look at Buffy one last time before she left, slamming the door so hard behind her the wood frame splintered under the force. Faith picked up the mug she'd drank from and threw it into the empty side of the sink. Just like it always been in the past she was left feeling confused and full of emotions she always had a hard time pushing down deep inside of her. She pulled the plug in the sink and grabbed her jacket and her keys and left. She couldn't stay there, not when all she could smell was Buffy and all she could still feel was her presence.

Again she found herself running from her life. This time she knew she'd run where she couldn't be found. She'd run to a place where nobody knew who she was, where she'd just be another nameless face lurking in the shadows at night and keeping to herself during the day. It wasn't much of a life, but it was all she'd ever known.

It was early, but she found a bar that was open and opened the door. A few of the patrons groaned at the sudden burst of sunlight and sighed in relief as she quickly closed the door behind her. It was dark, damp and seedy. Just the place that felt like home to her when no other place ever did. She strolled up to the bar, flashing a dimpled grin at the bartender as she sat down on the dirty stool at the far end of the bar.

"What can I get ya?"

"Jack, on the rocks."

"No ice."

"Straight then," she sighed out as she tapped her fingers on the worn wood and waited.

Her slayer senses were buzzing wildly out of control and she glanced around the small room, her eyes falling upon a few vampires hanging out in the far corner, whispering quietly as they stared right back at her. She turned her back to them, not wanting a fight and picked up the glass of whiskey the bartender placed down in front of her and gave him a small smile. He frowned at her, crossing his arms as he stared over at her.

"Seven dollars."

"Can't you just start a tab for me?"

"We don't do that here. Seven dollars."

Faith groaned as she reached into her pocket and pulled out a couple of bills and slid them across the counter. She took a sip of her drink and sighed heavily, wanting to run, wanting to stay. She didn't know what the hell she wanted. That run-in with Buffy had completely screwed up her head. She remembered why she took off in the first place. Being around Buffy wasn't good for her. It never was and it never would be.

"Why did I ever have to go and fall in love with her?" Faith whispered to herself as she stared down at the warm amber liquid in the glass that looked like it hadn't been washed. "Fuck."

The minutes and hours passed by slowly and with every drink she had, she hoped she could just forget about everything, forget about Buffy and forget about her life. It didn't quite work that way. With every drink she downed she thought more and more about her. She stood up from the stool, laughing as she stumbled on her way to the bathroom at the back. The group of vampires that she'd seen there when she first came in were still there, still watching her and she grinned at them as she reached for the handle and opened the door.

Making sure she locked the door behind her, she took in a few deep breaths of the stale air and walked over to the sink. She placed both her hands on the edges of the sink as she stared into the dusty, cracked mirror. She was a mess, a drunken mess. She heard someone cough in one of the stalls and that's when she felt it. The ever familiar buzz she always felt when Buffy was around.

"B?"

"What?"

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"It's a bar, Faith."

"I knew that. Didn't see you come in."

Buffy opened the door and stepped out of the stall, shrugging as she looked her up and down. "Came in an hour ago. You were too busy talking to your drink to notice."

"Huh."

"Looks like it's a role reversal from last night," Buffy smirked as she walked over to the sink and turned on the tap. "You okay?"

"Does it look like I'm okay? Of course I'm okay. I'm fucking peachy, B."

"And drunk."

"Who the fuck cares?" Faith groaned as she fumbled with the lock on the door.

"I know I've got my own reasons for wanting to drown my sorrows, but what are yours?"

"You," she whispered so softly she wasn't sure if she'd thought it or said it out loud.

"Me?"

"Forget it, B. I'm out of here."

"No," she said as she reached out and touched Faith lightly on her arm. "Look, I know things are completely messed up right now. For both of us. But I did come back here to try to make things right between us."

"Why?"

"Because," Buffy sighed out in frustration. "You never did get it, did you?"

"Get what?"

"I know how you feel about me. I've always known."

"And?"

"I know why you keep running, why you keep pushing me away."

"Your point? It is coming, isn't it?"

"Why do you love me?"

"What?"

"Why do you love me, Faith? I tried to kill you."

"Hey, I tried to kill you too. Several times. Guess we're kind of even. And just for the record, B. I do not love you," Faith said as she managed to unlock the door and opened it. "Love to hate you, maybe, but that's about it."

"Keep doing that, Faith. Keep telling yourself if that is how you can deal with it."

"Right," she laughed as she headed back to the bar and motioned for the bartender to pour her another drink. The hair on the back of her neck stood up as she felt Buffy walk up behind her. "Do yourself a favour, B. Just leave me alone, alright? Go back to Scotland. You don't belong here."

Buffy moved, about to say something and closed her mouth, sighing as she headed for the door. Faith glanced at her as she shook her head and walked outside, disappearing with the crowd of people walking out in the streets. She waved her glass at the bartender and he laughed as he brought the bottle over to her.

"Take the bottle," he said and looked over at the group of vampires as they slowly approached her. "We're closing early tonight."

"Fine by me," Faith said as she unscrewed the cap and brought the bottle to her lips.

"And by early I mean now."

"Got it man," Faith laughed as she stood up from the stool and walked right into what she suspected to be the leader of the group of vampires. "Watch it!"

"Come with us," he whispered as he grabbed onto her arm, passing a glance over her shoulder at the bartender. "Now, Slayer."

"Watch the goods," Faith laughed as she shoved him off of her.

They led her to a back room, all seven of them surrounding her. The room was spinning and she groaned as she took a swig of the whiskey and stared at all of them. They were whispering quietly, observing her as she stood there swaying drunkenly. She couldn't understand a word they were saying and fumbled with the pack of cigarettes in her pocket.

"Uh uh," the tall blond haired one said as he shook his head at her. "Nasty, disgusting habit."

"Who are you, my mother?"

"No," he chuckled. "I am Edward."

"Like that fucking vampire in those stupid ass novels?"

"You read?"

Faith laughed as she narrowed her eyes at him. "No. Kind of hard to escape the newest, popular fad."

"We have been looking for you and for the other one," he said as he ignored her. "Funny how we found you and the other one came and left."

"What's your deal, Blondie?"

"Edward," he chuckled.

"Edward," Faith mocked as she rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Do you want to challenge me or something?"

"No, no challenge. You are in no fit state to take us all on anyway. I was thinking more along the lines of making you one of us."

"Fuck that."

"Such spunk and attitude," he chuckled as he looked at the others. "What is your name, Slayer?"

"Fuck you."

"Ah," Edward tittered as he grabbed onto her by her shoulders. "Such disrespect. Hold still now, Slayer. It'll be quick and perfectly painless. At first."

Faith took in a few sharp breaths, trying to clear the drunken haze her mind was in. She struggled to get out of his grasp and found he was stronger than any vamp and any demon she'd ever faced before. She watched him as his fangs slid out, surprised she didn't see the usual bumps and deformations like with the other vampires she was used to. He chuckled as he stroked her hair away from her face and leaned in until his lips brushed against her ear.

"You've never seen our kind before. We are a new breed and with you, we're taking it one step further. The power of a slayer and a vampire in one. We'll be invincible to the likes of people like yourself."

"Do you..."

"What was that?"

"Do you have a soul?"

"Very much so," he smiled down at her as he ran his surprisingly warm fingers over her neck. "As will you as soon as I'm done with you."

"Faith..." she whispered out as she closed her eyes.

"Come again?"

"My name...is Faith."

Edward chuckled as he glanced up at the others for a moment before looking back down at her. "Beautiful name for a beautiful girl with a nasty attitude."

She closed her eyes again, holding back her tears as she felt his fangs pierce her skin. She didn't bother to struggle. What was she to fight for? Her nothing and pathetic and lonely life? Unable to hold her tears back much longer, she let them fall as she felt her body grow limp and weaker by the second. The last sound she heard was the bottle of whiskey she held in her hands falling to the floor and shattering. Shattering just like her life had shattered in that moment.

Never had a dreamless sleep felt so comforting and so fearful all at once. When she woke, she found herself lying in a cold, dark room. Blinking a couple of times, she let her eyes adjust to the dark, pleasantly surprised at the little details she could now see. Her heart didn't beat, but she felt her powerful blood surging and coursing its way through her body faster and more precise than it had before.

"Ah, she wakes," Edward said softly as he rose from the chair he'd been sitting in. "Hungry?"

"Very," Faith half whispered, half moaned out. "Absolutely starving."

The lights overhead turned on as the door opened and a young woman, about her own age was pushed inside. She licked her lips, able to smell her fresh blood and her fear as Edward grabbed onto her and dragged her across the floor. With an atrocious smile curling across her lips, she grabbed onto the girl and stared into her eyes. For a moment she thought of Buffy. The girl had similar features but not quite.

"It won't hurt," Faith whispered as she held the girl to her. "Maybe it will, for a moment."

As if it was the most natural thing in the world for her, she felt her fangs slide out as she inhaled the fresh scent emanating off the girl she held onto tightly. She licked across her pulse point, feeling all her new senses come to life, igniting a fire that burned deep inside of her. Edward stood back, smiling proudly at her as she sunk her new fangs into the soft, warm, delicious skin. And with that first drop, she could feel the power increasing inside of her, but it wasn't quite enough.

Until she had tasted the last drop, she didn't want to stop. She breathed in deeply, licking the excess blood from her lips as she dropped the dead, lifeless body of the girl to the floor. Her veins felt as if they were on fire, her body craving more. With a smile, she opened her eyes and looked over at Edward.

"Enjoy?"

"Delicious."

"Now," he said quietly as he reached out for her hand. "I've a favour to ask of you."

"What's that?"

"The other slayer, the blond one. You are to find her and turn her just as I've turned you. Once that task is complete, you will find the others."

"Of course," Faith chuckled as she smoothed out her shirt. "Anything for you, Eddie boy."

"Edward."

"Edward," she said as she rolled her eyes. "Sorry."

"Now, before I send you off, there are a few little minor details you need to know."

"I feel so powerful, dead yet so alive."

"As you are, you are very powerful my dear Faith. You still have the blood of a slayer coursing through your body. Come now, we've much to talk about."

There was indeed much to talk about and she could feel only the faintest bit of her soul inside of her and she could feel the slayer inside of her, cursing at her for ever allowing this to happen. It was impossible to ignore the feelings she still felt inside and the overwhelming surge of new ones slowly overtaking the old.

"You are on the eve of your new life, my dear Faith," Edward said gently as he led her out of the room. "It will all be very new and exciting and yet, you must remember one thing."

"What's that?"

"We are not like the others," he said with a smile. "Always remember that. Never associate with their kind. We must keep ourselves distanced from the humans and from the other, less worthy immortals."

Faith smiled, feeling her skin tingle with a new kind of life, a new power with every unneeded breath she took. She was intrigued to learn the things he wanted to teach her, to tell her and yet, just that tiny part of her inside her soul begged her and pleaded with her to get out of there while she could even though it was far too late.

Everything was always far too late or it never came. One of life's disappointments and one she'd always been used to. Never again though, not with a new life upon her and a new power she never felt before. This time around, things were going to be different and this time she'd get what she always wanted in her heart one way or another.