The Time Before Exhaustion
by BFtc2
Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: Buffy and Faith along with the rest of the scooby gang are owned by Joss. Nothing is owned by me.
Feedback: Anything is welcome.

The young girl sat next to the bed of her sleeping lover.  Holding a creamy soft hand, carressing the nuckles with her thumb.  She'd just come from the nursery, looking in on the two most precious gifts she ever been given. That is, of course, aside from the wonder laying on the soft hospital bed.  

Standing up she leant over the resting form, placing a tender kiss on the other's forehead and once again sat down.  

Leaning forward in her chair, she brought the hand she was holding to her lips and placed a soft kiss on the nuckles.  Her brown eyes misted over as she whispered, "They're beautiful baby, our little Logan and Max... God, I love you so much."

** 6 YEARS PRIOR **

The brunette sat in the chair and looked up expecting to find her brooding brother type, only to lock gazes with the green eyes of a certain blonde slayer. "B, what're you doing here?"

Buffy's head ducked low and a half smile flashed across her features. "Still the same Faith." Looking up at her fellow slayer, her expression serious, she said, "I'm here to pick you up.  I had the council arrange your release." Pushing her chair back, she gave a hesitant smile. "I'll meet you outside."

*****

The two slayers had been sitting in the car for the better part of two hours in complete scilence.  The blonde's eyes focused on the highway and the brunette's taking in the outside world once again.  Looking over at her companion, Faith asked, "So why'd you do it B?  Why bust me out of there?"

"I wanted to."  The blonde answered simply, shrugging her shoulders. "I figured it was about time we got things staightened out between us." Looking over at Faith, she continued, "It's like a fresh start for us. I've got a room made up for you, and if you want, you can work with me."

Faith was taken by surprise at the older girl's satement. "You sure about that B? You don't really know-"

"Oh yes I do." Buffy interrupted, looking over at the dark slayer before turning back to the road. "I know I was a bitch at first, but for the past three years we've been writing back and forth, so we know each other." Stopping at a red light, the girl sighed and looked over at her companion. "In those letters we opened up to each other Faith, you're my bestfriend."

** PRESENT DAY **

"I still can't believe you're with me sometimes. I've never been so happy before." Smoothing back golden strands, still damp with sweat, the girl smiled brightly at the sleeping beauty. "I was so proud of you today, which is nothing new but... I was scared too." Looking down at her hand wrapped around the other girl's, she continued, "I don't know what I'd do if I lost you. Probobly fade away slowly, but I doubt Red and T would let that happen."

** 6 YEARS PRIOR~ CHRISTMAS **

"Here Faith, open ours next." Willow walked over to the brunette's chair and placed a gift bag in her hands.

"You guys didn't have too." Faith said, looking up at the two witches.

"You're our friend, and as such, you get a Christmas/Chanika present." Willow nodded in agreement with her own statement. Smiling over at her girlfriend when she heard a cheerful 'Hear hear'.

Two weeks before Faith had saved them both from a Thrombus demon they'd mistakenly conjured during one of their spells.  The younger slayer had ended up in the hospital because of it, but considering that she'd faught and eight foot tall acid spitting hell creature, her injuries could've been worse.

Smiling at the two lovers, she bent down and dug into her goody bag. Pulling out the new Godsmack and Kittie CDs as well as a tight black tank top with the sparkling sliver letters, spelling 'Wicked', she laughed. "Thankx a lot you guys, you've got good taste."

"No, they just pegged yours." Buffy smirked and winked at the younger girl, laughing when Faith stuck her tounge out at her.

*****

The whole group of scoobs had said their farewells and gone home for the night. Dawn was safely tucked in  bed upstairs with her new stuffed witch bear. Leaving the two slayers sitting on the bar stools in the kitchen, sipping hot chocolates.

"So," Buffy sat her mug down and looked over at her companion. "Did you have a good first Christmas in your new home?"

"Yeah, it was the best one I ever had." Faith's tone and expression were completely serious. She'd written thousands of letters to Buffy telling her about her childhood, so she knew the blonde understood her. "Did you like your present, I know it was kind of lame."

"No it wasn't." Buffy smiled across the table top at the brunette. "You're good at photography, and a colloge of pictures of the gang is great. I'm just not sure where I'm gonna hang it, you know?"

Faith smiled at the older girl, then looked into the milky chocolate of her coco. Hearing her fellow slayer's sudden 'Oh,' her head snapped back up. She watched the blonde walk out of the kitchen, only to return a few seconds later. When Buffy sat a small rectangular present at her elbow, she looked up into green eyes. "What's this?"

"Telling you would defeat the purpose of opening it." Buffy smiled sweetly down at her fellow slayer.

Tearing into the wrapping paper, she slowly opened the velvet case she uncovered. Looking down at the sparkling silver necklace, Faith gasped, saying, "You didn't have to do this B, the video games were enough." Taking the  necklace out of the case, she read the engraving on the heart pendant. "Chosen?"

Buffy reached under the collar of her blouse. "If I didn't get you that, it would be pointless to wear this." Pulling out an identical necklace, she let Faith read the engraving on hers.

"Two." Smiling up at Buffy, her brown eyes misting over, she whispered, "I'll never take it off B." Standing up from her stool, she wrapped the blonde slayer in a tight hug.

** PRESENT DAY **

"I couldn't believe the way you yelled at the Doc when he said to take your jewelry off. You wouldn't let him near the neck or ring finger." Kissing said finger, the girl smiled at the still resting patient. "I don't think he'll ever mess with you again. I've only seen that look once before, and that time it was directed at a watcher and a Xander." Softly chuckling at the memory, she continued, "I'll never forget the day you told them what's what. It was the first time you said you loved me."

Sitting back in her chair, her eyes still focused on the dreaming blonde, she sighed. "I didn't think those two would ever accept this, but I didn't give them enough credit. Red was beaming from ear to ear that day, and T... she was her quiet smiling self."

** 5 YEARS PRIOR **

"This guy was murdered Buffy, and the only killer I know is sleeping across the hall from you." Xander was practically shouting at his friend. He'd spent just about an hour trying to convince the blonde that Faith was up to her old tricks, but the slayer wasn't budging with her support of the dark haired girl.

"Xander-"

"I really think you should give what Xander has suggested serious thought." Giles interrupted his charge, looking directly into her green eyes.

Hearing the topic of conversation coming down the stairs, Buffy unconciously placed herself between the foot of the stairs and her two male companions. Crossing her arms over her chest, her tone was defensive as she addressed her friends. "She didn't do it Giles, there was no way she could've."

"And how..." Giles turned his head to look over his shoulder, momentarily distracted as Willow and Tara entered the house. Looking back at Buffy, he finished. "Would you know that?"

Buffy had sighed softly when the two wiccans walked in, expecting two more accusers. When Willow had smiled and given a little wave to the slayer, she relaxed. Walking in behind the red head, Buffy watched as the ever so shy Tara flashed a hesitant smile at her. Focusing her attention back on her watcher, Buffy let her frustation enter her voice. "Think about it Giles, when has she had the time to go out on a five person killing spree? Even if she had done it, the victim last night wasn't her doing because the two of us were together all yesterday and during patrol, when the murder happened."

"Buffy-"

"No Xander, I don't want to hear it." The slayer glared at her friend, rudely cutting him off. "Ever since I told you Faith was going to be staying here, you've been trying to plant one doubt after another in my head." Taking a threatening step toward the younger male, she said, "You're not going to do it. I live with her, I see that she's changed every day."

"How can you believe she's changed, why would you?" Xander shouted at the slayer, not backing down.

"Because I love her!" Buffy yelled right back, her green eyes widening with the realization of what she'd just said. Looking around at the rest of the gathered scoobs, refusing to give in to the urge to look behind her. "I... I..." Shoving past Xander she darted out the front door, needing to get away from all the staring eyes she could feel on her.

*****

Faith's brown gaze followed the blonde slayer as she rushed outside. When the door slammed she looked around at the people who were now staring at her. Turning her own glare on Xander, she noticed the two grinning witches out of the corner of her eye.

"You're one hell of a friend aren't ya X-man. Everytime B starts to get some constant happy vibes you gotta start lay'n into her." Stepping down off the last stair, she told him, "You can pick your jaw up off the floor when ever you're ready." With that said she walked out the door in search of a certain blonde.

** PRESENT DAY **

"I found you in the cemetary that day, sitting in the grass talking to your mom." Taking note of the goose bumps slowly creeping out on the blonde's flesh, she tucked the hospital blanket closer around the girl's body. Pulling the fabric up high on the bare shoulders. "Better baby?"

She once again sat back in her chair, closing her eyes for a moment, she sighed softly. "You wouldn't even look at me when I got there, forget about talking." Opening her brown eyes, she smiled to herself as she remembered back. "That was the first time in my life when I couldn't think of anything to say."

** 5 YEARS PRIOR~CEMETERY **

"Don't know what it was, but some how I knew I'd find you here." Faith came to a stop beside the kneeling blonde, standing over her friend. Looking down at the older girl, she frowned in confusion. "B, did you hear me?" When Buffy continued to stare at the ground, not moving, the brunette knelt down beside her. Trying to peek at the older slayer's face, unable to see the girl through the hair covering her bowed head, Faith sighed. Opening her mouth to speak, she shut it again and looked at the tombstone, trying to find her words.

"I didn't mean to..." The blonde's whisper was low and shaky, her green gaze never leaving the earth infront of her.

Leaning closer to her friend, Faith whispered, "Didn't mean to what?"

Taking in a deep breath, Buffy raised her head, turning to look at the other girl. Looking through blurry vision, her voice still trembling, she said, "I didn't mean to tell you like that." Unable to look into the concerned brown eyes, she looked up at her mother's grave stone. "I didn't want to tell everyone like that, but it's the truth all the same."

Lifting her hand to slowly run it through smooth golden strands, Faith's hand shivered when the girl leaned into her touch. "I guess it's my turn to tell them now."

Turning her head to look at her fellow slayer, the girl's hand coming up to rest on her cheek, she asked, "Tell them what?"

A gentle smile curved her full lips as she looked into sea green eyes. Caressing Buffy's cheek with her thumb, Faith's voice was soft as she said, "To tell them how much in love with you I am." Seeing the blonde's mouth drop open in surprise, the brunette slowly leaned forward, tenderly sealing her lips over her fellow slayer's.

Letting out a low moan, Buffy brought her hands up to rest them on the sides of the most beautiful face she'd ever seen. Slowly pulling back from the kiss, her eyes opening to search the depths of the other girl's brown gaze. "Faith," she whispered on an exhaled breath. Swallowing her fears, she asked, "Did you mean it?"

Smoothing her hand through silky blonde hair, Faith smiled into the eyes of the only girl who'd never given up on her. "Yes, I meant it. I love you Buffy, living in the same house with you's been hard, but I did it because," her eyes had filled with tears, taking a deep breath, not use to showing emotions, she looked directly at Buffy. "I did it because I knew it'd be harder to be away from you all the time."

Clear beads of moisture slid down the older slayer's cheeks as a bright smile formed on her kiss swollen lips. Wrapping her her arms around the younger girl, she rested her head on Faith's shoulder. "I love you so much, it seemed like no matter what we did I always wanted more time with you. If the others can't deal with us being an us, then they can walk away." Pulling back from the embrace to look Faith in the eye, Buffy said, "Because I can't and won't walk away from you."

** PRESENT DAY **

"You've always stood by me and fought along side me, just like I've done for you." Trying to keep her eyes open and focused on the love of her heart, not wanting to give into the sleep pulling at her, she sighed. "Now we've got two little ones to stand beside and fight to protect...Our precious babies."

Closing her brown eyes, giving into the temptation, she whispered, "Our little Logan William and Maxine Tara Summers, our twins."

The girl drifted off into a peaceful sleep, her hand still holding the blonde's as her mind drifted into her memories. Images of a young, petite, strong, green eyed girl displayed in every scene. The girl was holding her, practicing with her, teaching at their dojo with her, kissing her, making love to her, being with her. In her dreamy haze, the girl's lips curved into a content smile, her mind never surfacing from the much needed sleep.

...continued in Going Home...