Title: A new beginning.

Author: Saskia Mae

Rating: R, maybe not yet, but just to be sure, and may get worse later.

Spoilers: Set in the future. Post season 4.

Summary: Faith has returned to Sunnydale, how does everyone react?

Feedback: yes

E-mail: aussieslayerette@yahoo.com

Archive: my site www.oocities.org/aussieslayerett/ any other ask.

Disclaimer: Joss owns, i borrow.

Dedication: For Ice dragon, thanks for going over this for me. doing everyone a huge favor. Love ya for it.

I am sitting here holding her. I can't believe it, I've dreamt of this day for so long. Sure it may have been a little different than this, but she was still in my arms, we were still together.

I don't want to move but I can tell I'm losing my battle with sleep. I move her gently and stand up. The look on her face almost breaks my heart. I can tell she thinks I don't want her here.

If only I could remember what to do, it's been too long since I've had to think of others in anything but a 'hid or kill' kind of way.

"I need to sleep" I say taking her hand in mine. "I'm not going anywhere. I came this far, I'm trying" My voice, will I ever get used to hearing myself speak again?

She gets up and pulls me towards the bed, tugging the covers down and getting in. I follow and lay down under the soft clean sheets. I almost can't get comfortable, the feeling being so strange to me. Then I feel her body move close to my side and an arm wrap around my middle carefully.

"Why have you still got it?" she asks rubbing my stomach. I am shocked. It's not the first time I don't know what to say, but it is by far the worst feeling.

I wriggle around so I'm lying on my side facing her. She looks down at my stomach rubbing it gently with her hand.

"I was gang raped, didn't think it would hold this long, thought I would have lost it long before now" I tell her, but I can't look up, can't look into those eyes. I ran away, stayed away for years and return half dead and pregnant.

"Look at me" she says softly her hand on my jaw. I want to look but I feel so bad. She can't possible want me back, she just can't.

"Please" her voice is full and low, tears are running down her face and falling onto her arms. "Why won't you look at me, please... Faith"

My name, she said my name. It sounds sweet, not like it should in this situation. Then again, how should it sound?

I can't keep my eyes away now. She has power over me, she has my trust, my love. I look up and see just what had been there before. Pain and sorrow, but something else is there now, hope.

She smiles at me. She wants to be here, she wants to be here with me. It seems wrong, strange, right and the only thing that should be all at once.

I pull her closer and rest my head on her. It feels awkward but I don't know if it's the position or the closeness I'm not used to.

Her arms reach around me and draw light patterns on my back. Her chest rising and falling comforts me, almost sends me straight to sleep.

"I love you Red" I say quietly as my eyes close of their own accord.

"I love you too Faith" I hear just as I fall asleep.