Faith's POV

I roll over in bed as the light from the window shines on my face. I smile at the thought of waking up for the first time in... well a good long while.

Buffy is here. The woman I love is here and I couldn't be happier. Buffy...

I reach over to the other side of the bed and feel the emptiness beside me. My eyes shoot open and I sit up.

Where is she? She was here right? I didn't just dream her did I?

I feel the empty side of the bed and it's warm.

No... she really was here. I can smell her scent in the room again. It's incredible. It kept fading for so long and now it's back stronger than ever. So if she really is back then... where'd she go?

I get out of bed and smooth out the clothes I slept in. I comb my fingers through my hair to try and make myself look pretty for her.

I don't know what Willow did but Buffy's back now and that can't be easy for her. Whatever she's been through, whatever she's going through... I have to help her with it. That's all that's important now.

I walk over and leave the room.

I can smell breakfast on the stove, she must be downstairs.

I start my way down to the kitchen.

My pain doesn't matter, what matters is her pain.

I hear talking in the kitchen as I head that way. I walk into the kitchen and the whole room seems to shine as I see her sitting at the breakfast bar cradling a near empty glass of orange juice.

God she's beautiful.

I'm left without words again as I stand just inside the kitchen, watching her stare at the glass in her hands.

"Faith, good morning..."

Good morning? Well if that isn't the understatement of the year I don't know what is. It's better than good.

"How are you?"

What a question.

"I'm... I'm okay. I'm more wondering how Buffy is."

Buffy seems to squirm at my statement, her eyes never leaving the glass as Joyce and I look at her.

"I'm... fine."

Right cause all that lack of enthusiasm in her voice makes me believe her completely.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah I mean... I'm kinda, I don't know. I guess wigged out is the expression I'm looking for?"

I take a few more steps in.

"Well yeah I mean, after what you've been through? Anyone would be."

"I guess..."

Joyce looks at me with happy concern.

"Well come on Faith, sit down and I'll make you breakfast."

I look at Buffy and she doesn't seem to respond as I make my way over. She shifts uncomfortably in her seat as I sit down beside her.

"I was just telling Buffy about what's been going on. How you've done so much good for this town. Made it safer for people."

"Oh..."

I look down at my suddenly sweaty hands, embarrassed.

Why am I so nervous? Buffy loves me and I love her back. Everything is just fine.

"Buffy..."

I reach out to touch her but she pulls away.

"You know, I... I think I'm gonna go take a-a walk."

Buffy gets up and backs away toward the door.

A walk?

"Well... okay, do you w-want me to come with?"

"N-no... I just, need some air."

She turns and walks out.

"Buffy are you...?"

The door closes and she's gone.

What did I do?

I look down at my hands again, unsure what to do with them. Just then Joyce hands me a cup of orange juice.

"It's gonna be okay Faith."

I pick up the cup and take a sip.

"Is it?"

"Of course it is. Buffy just needs time to deal with what happened. She was jumpy at first with me too."

"Yeah, coming back from the dead doesn't seem like something you just get over."

"But she will get over it. You know that right?"

"I guess..."

"She will, but all we can do for now is love her, and help her any way we can."

"I hope so. I just, I love her so much that I want her to be okay cause... cause if she's not okay then, then I won't be."

I lean against the breakfast bar and I feel like I'm gonna cry. Joyce comes around the bar and puts her arms around me.

"Then you'll be fine, I promise."

"I just... I was so lost when she was gone but now..."

"Now she's back and you feel even more lost."

"Yeah..."

She lets go and I turn and face Joyce.

"She's only been back for one night and already I feel like everything's screwed up between us. What if she..."

"Faith you have to stop worrying about what might happen and focus on the here and now. Buffy's alive and she's gonna stay that way. She'll talk to you when she's ready."

Right, Buffy's alive...

"How?"

"What?"

"How is Buffy alive exactly? I mean, I just opened the door and she was there. How did...?"

"Willow... it was Willow."

Willow...

"How did she... oh, magic."

"She found a spell that could resurrect those who had died by unnatural means. She worked on it for months."

Months?

"But, but why?"

Joyce sits down next to me in the kitchen, putting her hand against my back. For some reason it makes me feel better.

"Faith you may not know this, but you're not as mysterious as you like to think. We could see what was happening to you, how you were suffering and trying to keep it all inside. Faith, we care about you, we wanted to help you but..."

"But I didn't want your help."

"So we had to do something, especially after..."

She just trails off.

She doesn't have to say the words. We both know what she means.

"I'm sorry."

"You don't have to apologize to me Faith. You don't have to apologize to anyone. I won't pretend to know what you were going through. All I can do is hope that you might get past it one day."

"I don't know if I can."

"Then maybe you should talk to Buffy about it."

"I... no, I couldn't do that to her. She's got enough to deal with right now."

"Faith, right now, Buffy is very confused. She said she was wigged out but I can tell it's more than that. If she knows you're just as confused then maybe you can get through it together. Comfort each other through the times ahead."

It all sounds so easy.

"Do you really think that will work?"

"You won't know until you try."

I finally find the courage to look at Joyce.

"Thank you."

I hug her appreciatively.

"Anything I can do to help my daughter."

I smile at her.

Buffy has the coolest mom ever.

"I should go find her."

"Okay, just remember not to push her. Let her talk when she's ready to."

I get up and slowly move toward the door.

"Thank you."

She just smiles at me.

"Go... I'll make brunch later or something."

I turn and go out the back door in search of the woman I love.