Buffy's POV

Xander pulls up to my house and into the driveway, turning the engine off as he comes to a stop.

"Are you sure you don't want to rent a movie? I don't mind picking one up."

I take a long breath and then smile at him.

"No, thank you for the offer Xand, but after what happened at The Bronze I think it's best if I just spend some time alone, maybe take a bath."

"Okay, but I'm probably gonna rent a few for Anya and I anyway. So if you change your mind..."

"Thanks, but we've seen what happens when I get around happy couples. Maybe some other time though."

"All right..."

I take another deep breath.

"Thank you for a nice evening."

I open the door and start to get out.

"Hey..."

I stop and look at him, one foot out the door.

"Things will get better Buff."

I just smile and nod before getting out, closing the car door behind me. I wave at him, backing away as he starts his car. I turn around and start walking to my house as his car pulls away and heads down the street. I look up at my house... my big, empty house. I walk up onto the porch and put my keys in the door, going inside. I close the door and just stand there, looking around.

This house used to be so full of life.

I look towards the living room, my eyes drift towards the couch and memories of making out with Faith on it pop into my head. I clench my fist and look up the stairs, starting up them.

Now it's a house of ghosts.

I trip on one of the top steps and fall onto the second floor. I stare down at the carpeted floor and the memory of the last time I was in this position comes back to me. I shift on the floor as the image of Faith under me makes my stomach turn. I get up quickly and walk away from the memory as fast as possible. I stop in the middle of the hallway and absently stare down it. I take a long deep breath and make my way to the bathroom. I look to the half open door to Dawn's room, avoiding my own and all I can see is Dawn's smiling face in my head. I feel like I wanna cry as I walk into the bathroom and try to block out everything but this room.

I go over to the tub and plug up the drain before turning on the cold and hot water till it's just right. I step back and watch the tub start to fill for a few seconds.

God I need a bath.

I grab the bottom of my shirt and pull it up over my head. I set my shirt down on the sink table and reach behind me to unhook my bra. I take my pants and panties off and set them down with the rest of my clothes. I sit on the edge of the tub and wait for the water to fill up a few more inches. I put my hand in the water and close my eyes to test it. Only seconds later I see Dawn's smiling face again. But this time she laughs and I know I want to cry. I turn off the water and put my hair up before getting in.

I let the water calm me as I lie down in the tub.

Oh, this feels so good. I shouldn't feel so good, not after everything that's happened. I don't deserve to feel this good, not with my mother in the hospital and my life so destroyed. I shouldn't feel this good.

I close my eyes to keep the tears back. I can't hold them back though as the memory of Dawn grabbing me and hugging me makes one tear escape. The warm water almost makes me feel like Dawn is actually here and I'm holding her, standing in her room... but she's not, and I'll never get to see or hold her ever again.

I'll never get to hold my daughter again, all because of her.

And then I can see HER face in my head as if she's lying on top of me. The look on her face is one of pure love and I swear I can hear her voice.

'I love you...'

I sit up and I can't hold them back, hugging my knees as I let the tears come.

"I'm sorry Dawnie..."

Faith's POV

Is she okay? God I hope she's all right.

I go back to pacing back and forth across the lobby of the Hyperion, waiting for some sort of news about Joyce.

Yesterday Giles called and said that Joyce had checked herself into the hospital for some tests, but he didn't know what kind of tests or why she had to be in the hospital to have them done. Ever since then all I can think is that something really bad must be going on. Joyce must have taken a turn for the worse or something and it's eating me up inside that I'm not there for her, and for Buffy.

So I just keep pacing back and forth in the hotel lobby, waiting for some sort of news about the people I love. The phone rings and I grab it, putting it to my ear.

"Hello? Giles?"

"Oh, um, this isn't Angel Investigations?"

"Uh, yeah, sorry, just one second..."

I hand the phone to Cordy and she sorta half glares at me for picking it up for the 7th time in a row while she was standing right next to the phone. I'm about to go back to pacing when Lorne interjects.

"Slayer-cakes, you gotta calm down. You're giving off a lot of nervous energy and it's making me twitchy. And since you slayers have a lot of energy, I could be twitching myself into a coma."

I turn to Lorne.

"Sorry, I'm just..."

"Worried, I know. It's coming off you in huge waves. Maybe if you hummed a little tune I might be able to settle some of those nerves for you."

I take a second to try and calm down. I start to hum without really thinking of a tune. I watch his face as he reads me and I'm not really sure what to think. First he looks really concerned, and then he sorta smiles, followed by concern again.

"Okay, okay, stop."

I stop humming.

"So, what's my future hold Green Jeans?"

He takes a sip of the sea-breeze he poured a little while ago and a deep breath.

"You know, I really hate being all vague and mysterious when a person's path comes in so clearly like yours, but I'm going to have to."

"What does that mean?"

"This rocky road you're on? It won't get any smoother for a while, in fact it'll get a little rockier before too long. But you'll get through it."

He smiles and pats me on the arm and then turns and goes back toward the desk.

What?

"What about Joyce?"

He doesn't turn around as he speaks.

"Oh you'll be hearing from her soon..."