Forgotten Conscience
by Christopher Andrews
Rating: NC-17
CHAPTER 101: The Morning After
Buffy’s POV
God this is incredible.
I shift slightly in my bed as I wake up.
She’s here, she’s really here. Faith is here, in my arms, lying naked in my bed next to me. I still can’t believe she’s really here. It’s actually happened. Last night actually happened. I did… and then she did… and then we did, together. I really did happen, and now… I’m happy. I’m truly and completely happy.
I hug her softly and look down at her beautiful sleeping form.
I really am happy. I just hope she is.
I kiss her forehead and she smiles, slowly waking up. She stirs in my arms and opens her eyes.
God I love this woman. I could spend the rest of my life looking into her eyes every morning.
“Morning…”
She cuddles up close to me and we kiss.
“Morning…”
I stroke her hair and let out a deep sigh.
“Faith?”
“Hmm?”
“What are you thinking?”
She traces a finger along my collarbone.
“I was just thinking about last night. About how incredible it was.”
Incredible? Really?
“You thought it was… I mean, I know I thought… but I thought that you had… done stuff like that b-before, you really thought that it was incredible?”
She runs a hand along my stomach and my skin tingles at her touch.
“Of course I did B. Last night was like nothing I’d ever felt before. It was… it changed my world.”
Changed her world?
“Really?”
She moves up the bed so we’re face to face.
“Yes.”
I kiss her gently.
I suppose I should ask her.
“So, when does the get gone part of all this come into play?”
“What?”
“Hey I know you you’re all about get some and get gone.”
She caresses my cheek.
“Buffy there is no get gone part to you and me.”
She reaches down between my legs and I can’t help but buck my hips to her touch.
“There’s only the get some, lots and lots of getting some.”
She takes her hand away from my thighs and I groan at the lack of her touch.
“I’m down for that.”
“But last night wasn’t about sex for me. It was about… how I feel about you. It’s about how I…”
She stops for a second and then props herself up on her elbow, looking at me. I do the same.
“What is it Faith?”
“Buffy there’s something I’ve been meaning to, to say but I’ve been afraid, until now.”
“Whatever it is just, say it.”
“I love you.”
“I know Faith, I love you too.”
I move to kiss her but she stops me.
“No but really I mean it… I’m not just saying this because of last night. I’m saying this because for the first time ever, I really feel it. For the first time ever last night, I made love, I didn’t just have sex. I love you B.”
I feel at tear roll down my cheek and she reaches out and wipes it away.
“Oh Faith…”
I push her down onto her back and straddle her. I smile a little half smile at her.
“Wanna go again? I hear morning after sex is just as good.”
She got me going again, we might as well.
“I’m up for it.”
That’s all I needed to hear.
She pulls my lips to hers. The door opens.
“Buffy are you awake? I was thinking of making some waffles, do you want some…?”
I look behind me at the door and Mom is standing there shocked.
“Mom!”
I roll off of Faith and cover myself up with the sheets. Faith sits up on her elbows, unsure of what to say. My mom covers her eyes and starts backing out of the room, closing the door behind her.
“I’m sorry I, I didn’t know I…”
“Mom I...”
The door closes and I jump out of bed.
“Faith, get dressed.”
“You didn’t tell her?”
“Faith, please just get dressed.”
I pick up my shirt and put it on as Faith gets out of bed.
“Why didn’t you tell her about us?”
“This isn’t the time for this Faith.”
I grab my pants and start to put it on as Faith gets out of bed.
“Why didn’t you tell her about us?”
“This isn’t the time for this Faith.”
I grab my pants and start to put them on.
“I think this is the perfect time for this. Why didn’t you tell her about us?”
“Faith I…”
I button my pants and zip up before going over to her and taking her hands in mine.
“I wanted to tell her I really did I just, until last night I wasn’t even sure there was something to tell and… I wanted us to tell her together. I wanted us to sit down with Mom and talk it out. But she walked in on us, and now we have to deal with it, so please just put some clothes on and join me downstairs so we can talk this out with her. Please?”
She kisses me.
“Okay.”
I let go of her hands and she starts to put some clothes on.
“Thank you Faith. I love you.”
“I love you too B.”
I leave Faith in my room to get dressed and head downstairs to find my mom. I hit the bottom of the stairs and look around.
Where is she?
“Mom?”
I hear something in the kitchen and race to meet her. I walk into the kitchen and she’s pacing back and forth in a panic.
“Mom? Calm down and we can talk about this.”
“Calm down? I am calm. Look at me I’m Mrs. Calm Mom.”
Why don’t I believe her?
I start to inch toward her to calm her.
“Okay well, if you’re so calm could you maybe stop moving long enough for me to explain?”
She stops and faces me.
“Explain? What’s there to explain? I just walked in on my daughter, in bed naked with an evil murderess vampire slayer.”
She’s not calming down.
“Okay you’re right… except for the being evil and the being a murderess parts. I told you want happened though, about how Faith is good now. She’s not here to hurt anyone.”
I hear Faith come barrelling down the stairs.
“Buffy? Mrs Summers?”
I call out to her and she comes running before I go back to my freaking out mother.
“She’s in here Faith. Okay Mom, I know this is a lot all at once but there’s a simple and rational explanation for all this.”
“Okay you keep saying that, but I haven’t heard what it is.”
Faith comes in and stands next to me.
“We’re in love.”
My mom just stands there stunned. I look at Faith and we smile. I put my hand out and Faith takes it. I squeeze her hand and her smile widens. My mom finally breaks her silence.
“In love?”
I turn back to my mom.
“Yes.”
She almost falls over in shock.
“I… I have to sit down.”
Faith moves to steady my mom before I can react and leads her to a chair at the breakfast bar. I sit down next to my mom as Faith stands on the other side.
I think she’s finally starting to calm down.
“Mom…”
She looks at me.
“So when I walked in on you two just now, you were…”
She really did walk in on us.
“Yeah…”
“When did this happen?”
Faith chimes in.
“Well last night mostly… not the whole night though cause…”
Mom and I both look at Faith and she clams up.
“Faith, you’re not helping.”
“Sorry.”
Mom goes back to dealing with me.
“Is this about Riley?”
What?
“No, Mom this isn’t about…”
“In your letters, you talked about how you and Riley were dating. That you were getting closer, and then you told me he was killed… are you sure you’re not just grieving?”
Grieving?
I look over at Faith who's staring at me with a questioning look. All of the sudden she’s having the same thought.
“No Mom, that’s not it. My feelings for Faith started before Riley was killed. Actually I… I broke up with Riley before the vampire cult killed him.”
She lets out a deep sigh.
“To be with Faith.”
“Yes Mom, to be with Faith.”
She takes my hand and looks at me.
“Then you’re really serious about this.”
I look at Faith standing just behind my mother, smiling.
“Yes.”
“Okay then…”
She stands up and looks Faith straight in the eye.
“Faith if you hurt my daughter I will beat you down.”
Whoa!
“You got a pair on ya Joyce. Now I see where your daughter gets it from. I like it.”
Faith smiles at me but I’m not smiling back and her smile quickly disappears.
“My daughter’s happiness is the most important thing to me. If my daughter believes her happiness lies with you, then I won’t stand in the way.”
“Thank you Mom.”
“Look, Mrs. Summers I realize this is a lot to take in. Finding out your daughter is… that way. Finding out your daughter is, that way with ME of all people, especially the way you did. But I want you to know that I love your daughter with all my heart, and her happiness is very important to me too. I won’t hurt her again.”
“Okay then, prove it.”
Prove it?
“Sorry?”
“I’m guessing with you back in action, the two of you will be patrolling together.”
She’s right, we probably will be.
“Yeah I guess.”
“With that vampire cult Buffy told me about out there too right?”
I get it… I think.
“Yeah.”
“Then protect her. Promise me you’ll protect her and I’ll believe you have my daughter’s best interests at heart.”
“I will. I promise to keep her save no matter what I have to do.”
Okay hold it.
“Hey wait, Slayer here. Not really in need of protection.”
I stand up and Faith tilts her head and smiles at me.
“Oh come on B…”
She walks over to me and puts her arm around my waist.
It feels nice to be able to do this.
She looks at me.
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
She leans her forehead against mine and stares lovingly into my eyes.
“But I got to protect what’s mine. Even if she can take care of herself.”
I kiss her gently.
“Then I’ll do the same.”
We turn our heads to look at my mom. After a brief moment of weirdness she smiles at us.
Everything’s gonna be okay.
“There is something else I want from you Faith.”
My mom looks directly at Faith and she tenses up next to me.
“What’s that?”
“Have those waffles I was talking about with us.”
Faith chuckles at the idea.
“Sure why not?”
Mom goes over to the waffle iron to get it ready.
“Good, then I can hear the whole story. The complete whole story.”
Faith and I sit down to enjoy our morning after.
Xander’s POV
Wow that was…
“Wow…”
I put my hand on Anya’s head as she lays it against my shoulder.
“Yeah…”
“That was…”
“Yeah…”
We lie in my bed for a few minutes in silence.
I wonder if Buffy and Faith will ever feel this way. If Buffy and Faith will ever be this happy… The way Anya makes me feel. Course they’d have to actually get together for that to happen. But with the way Buffy’s been feeling and Faith being actively absent these past few days I don’t see them getting together any time soon.
“What are you thinking?”
“Hmm?”
She traces a finger over my well toned chest.
“What are you thinking about?”
“Oh nothing.”
“You were thinking about Buffy weren’t you?”
“What? No I… I was…”
“It’s all right, I get it.”
“You get it? Get what?”
“I get why you were thinking about Buffy and Faith together. Men like lesbians.”
What?
“Men like…”
“Men like lesbians I used to see it all the time.”
“You did?”
“Oh yeah, some guy would try and convince his wife to sleep with some whore of a woman who they like better than their wife. And then they leave their wife for the other, which of course leads to the vengeance.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, happened all the time… Xander?”
“Hmm?”
“Would you love me more if I was a lesbian?”
What?
I snuggle up closer to her.
I don’t exactly know how to answer that.
“Well I… Anya I couldn’t love you if you were a lesbian. Well I could it just, you wouldn’t be able to love me back, what with the being a lesbian thing.”
“Right… lesbians aren’t big on the loving of men.”
“Not as a rule no.”
“Well we could se if Willow wanted to join us next time. Or Buffy, I know you’ve always had a thing for Buffy. She might be gay now but we could you know…”
“Anya, honey…”
This is a little too much.
“It’s all right sweetie, you don’t have to try and make me happy that way. You make me happy all by yourself.”
“But…”
“I’m not saying it wasn’t tempting. I’m just saying, you don’t have to do stuff to make me love you anymore than I already do.”
She lifts herself up to look me in the eyes.
“You love me?”
I really said that didn’t I?
“I guess I do, seeing as I said it.”
I smile at her.
“I love you Anya.”
She kisses me before lying back down next to me.
“I love you too Xander.”
We lie there in each other’s arms.
Well this is just great, I’m in love… and it feels great. I just hope Buffy and Faith can find this kind of happiness.
Tara’s POV
She did it, she really did it. She put away that anger I was so worried about to do the right thing. To give Faith a little push in the right direction.
I snuggle up closer to Willow on the bed as she sleeps.
That’s all I really wanted. Cause if she can’t at least try and let go of her resentment for Faith then they can never be anything more than cold enemies, and that’s not good for anyone. Especially since I still have this nagging feeling that Faith is gonna need a friend.
I don’t have to worry about Faith’s dislike of Willow, Buffy will take care of that. And if what Willow said about her conversation with Faith was true, that’ll go a long way to helping things between them. I just hope Faith was able to find Buffy so they could make up. With all they’ve been through they deserve some happiness.
I kiss Willow’s naked shoulder and she starts to wake up. As she opens her eyes I reach up and pull her lips to mine.
“Thank you.”
She’s a little taken aback by the kiss, having just woken up.
“Wow, what did I do to deserve that? I only just woke up.”
She’s so cute when she cracks jokes like that.
“I wanted to thank you for last night.”
She smiles at me.
“Uh, honey? You did most of the work.”
I chuckle.
“Not that, I mean what you did for Faith, for talking with her.”
“Oh, well I did that for Buffy. She was so hurt and hard as it is for me to admit, the person to help her with that is Faith. As long as Buffy’s happy I’ll learn to live with the idea of them together.”
“Are you sure?”
“Well I’m not completely convinced Faith can make Buffy happy, but it’s not up to me to figure that out. It’s up to them.”
I hug her a little tighter and she puts her hand on my arm around her stomach, rubbing it lovingly.
“I just hope nothing gets in the way of them figuring that out.”
Get in the way?
“What could get in the way?”
“The end of the world?”
“Oh yeah…”
“We still don’t know how Faith was able to stop Adam. What if this is what those cult vamps want? What if the whole point of everything that’s happened is to make Faith strong enough to kill Buffy so they can destroy the world?”
“Do you really think Faith could hurt Buffy?”
“After what happened tonight with Faith I’m just not sure. I wanna believe she wouldn’t hurt Buffy, but there’s just so much we don’t know about the prophecy, about the vamp cult and what they did to her. She might not want to, but she might, whether she wants to or not.”
“Let’s just hope things work out for the better.”
“So what you’re basically saying is we should have faith?”
“Yeah.”
We sit there in silence before breaking out laughing.
Faith’s POV
We walk down the street, hand in hand to Giles’ place.
This is so incredible. Being here with B, being this happy and not having to worry about… well, anything. We don’t have to be careful, we don’t have to worry about her mom walking in on us naked in bed cause you know she already did that.
I stop and face B and she stops too.
“You know I still can’t get over how cool your mom was about the whole you and me thing.”
She looks at me with a weirdly questioning look.
“Cool? You think she was cool with it? She freaked out.”
“Well yeah at first but I mean, once she got over the initial shock and everything she was pretty cool.”
She takes my other hand in hers and looks me in the eyes.
“Yeah she was wasn’t she?”
“The whole waffle breakfast thing was really cool. Your mom really knows how to make waffles doesn’t she?”
“Yeah she does. It’s like her super power or something.”
We both chuckle.
“Well at least we’re out now. No one left to tell and all that, we can be ourselves.”
“Well yeah, sorta.”
I let go of one of her hands and we start to walk to Giles’ around the corner again.
“Sort of? What do you mean sort of?”
“Well we gotta tell the gang that we’re back don’t we?”
“I guess, although I’m betting Tara will figure it out the second we walk in the door.”
Really?
“You think?”
“She knew how I felt about you before I did. Knowing we’re back together will be a walk in the park. She’ll know.”
What about Willow?
“And Willow.”
“Sorry?”
“Willow already knows. She sorta, came by last night, told me how you were.”
“Is that why you came to see me last night? To see how I was?”
“No… Willow just, convinced me there are some things that are more important than being angry with you.”
I stop and so does she.
“Like being in love with you.”
I pull her to me and wrap my arms around her. She has this confused look on her face and it’s like I know what she’s thinking.
“It doesn’t make me love you any less B. Willow just sorta, gave me a shove in the right direction.”
Her frown turns upside down.
“You promise?”
I lean my head against hers.
“I promise. I came to you last night because I love you and no other reason okay?”
She looks at me silently for a brief moment before kissing me passionately.
“Okay.”
I look up to Giles’ place and take a deep breath.
“Are you ready for this B?”
She pulls back, staring lovingly at me.
“As long as you love me, I’m ready for anything.”
“I guess we’re ready then.”
We walk up the stairs to Giles’ place and go inside.
John’s POV
Okay this is bad. This is really, really bad. I failed… again. I had her. I had the slayer in my clutches and she got away. Damn those slayers. Omega is not gonna be happy when he hears about this, which he’ll be doing in a few minutes when I have to tell him about it. He’s gonna have my head, or at least what’s left of it when they sweep me off the floor.
I keep pacing back and forth in the waiting room just outside Omega’s main chamber.
He’s gonna kill me, I just know it.
The room itself is pretty simple, four walls made of brick, sometimes there’s chairs sometimes there aren’t, today there isn’t.
It’s very dark there are two very dim lamps on either side of the room. I just know the second I walk through those doors I’m as good as dusted.
After a few more minutes of blind panic on my part one of the doors comes open and again Ramses peers out from behind it.
“His supreme evilness will speak with you now.”
Oh great, here it goes… undead dead man walking.
I walk through the doors and the great hall seems more ominous than usual.
It seems darker somehow the chanting of his followers seems louder. I can’t tell if that’s a good thing or not.
I reach the end of the walkway and kneel in front of the dark cloak wearing vampire chanters surrounding his throne. The chanting comes to a halt and all I can think is…
I’m gonna die.
The cloaked vampires open a hole in their circle but don’t leave like last time.
Probably so they can stop me from leaving while Omega rips my head off, not that I would. I have failed my master. He to whom I’ve pledged my unlife and for that I must die.
I look up as I hear massive footsteps coming toward me but quickly look down so I don’t enrage him further.
He’s gotten bigger. He’s at least 10 feet tall now and gonna get bigger.
The footsteps stop just a couple steps away.
“I failed you master, again. I offer you my life in penance.”
“Penance is not required.”
What?
“Sire?”
“Penance is not needed. I have long since suspected that the prophecy could not be stopped, and as such have been preparing for the day when it came to pass. The time is close at hand. Two days hence I shall have the power to destroy the slayers.”
Two days? What happens in…? Oh right.
“What do you wish me to do master? What can I do to serve you sire?”
“Go, go and find the slayers. Watch them, kill them if you can but keep them busy. Keep them busy until Saturday, and then they shall die. Take as many of the men as you wish.”
“I shall my lord. I shall bring you their heads on a stick.”
“See that you do. Now leave my side.”
I stand, never looking up at him and leave the great hall.
“Thank you sire.”
The slayers have to die.
Buffy’s POV
“Hey guys how’s it going?”
Wow, I think this is the first time since Faith has been back that we haven’t been met with angry glares when we walk through the door. They almost look happy to see us, Tara especially. I knew she’d see it the second we walked through the door.
“Buffy, it’s good that you’re here. How are you feeling today?”
I stretch a bit and take a deep breath.
“I think I’m all healed up and ready for action.”
Faith pats me on the stomach with the back of her hand, smiling suggestively.
“I’ll say.”
Obvious much?
I punch her in the arm.
“Faith?!”
“Sorry B, you left yourself open to that one.”
She starts her way into Giles’ living room and after a moment I join her. Willow speaks up.
“I see you two have worked things out.”
Worked things out? Hell yeah.
“You could say that.”
“Yeah Red, I kinda wanted to thank you for that.”
I join Faith in the middle of the meeting area and take her hand in mine.
“Don’t mention it.”
I’m really grateful too.
“I wanted to thank you too for what you did.”
She gets all uncomfortable like.
“No really… DON’T mention it.”
She sounds like she’s almost joking.
“Okay then, let’s get down to business. End of the world and all that.”
I squeeze Faith’s hand and lead her over to the couch so we can sit down. ‘Somehow’ Faith manages to fall into my arms and for some reason I don’t really mind. I snake my arms around her mid-section as we settle in.
“What do we know?”
“Not much. I spoke to Wesley over the phone about our current situation, and I’m afraid he hasn’t had anymore luck than he has, though he has had a number of other things to deal with. He and Angel did manage to arrest one vital piece of information.”
“What’s that G-man?”
Giles gets a little uncomfortable at the sound of Faith’s nickname for him.
I think it’s cute, course I’m kinda biased about the whole thing.
“Wesley was able to determine that the leader of the vamp cult is in fact, Omega.”
Omega?
“Well that sounds like a nice happy name.”
“Yeah, I bet he’s got a nice rose garden in whatever dank pit he lives in.”
I feel Faith tease the hair on my arm with her fingertips and I can’t help but squirm at her touch.
Okay, gotta focus on the end of the world.
“So what does this Omega guy want?”
Xander chimes in.
“I’m gonna go with death, destruction and mayhem.”
“Well yeah but who doesn’t want that?”
Everyone looks at Faith with this uncomfortable look and I gotta admit if she wasn’t leaning with her back against me I’d be giving her the same look.
“Demon wise I mean. What demon doesn’t want that kinda thing? Not me cause, I’m not into that kinda thing anymore.”
She snuggles into me a little.
“I’m into a new thing.”
All of the sudden I have this huge grin on my face.
“So what’s the what?”
“Right well, Omega is not to be taken lightly. He’s older than any demon or vampire on record. It is also widely accepted in demonology that he may in fact be the original.”
Original?
“Original what?”
You took the words right out of my mouth. Hopefully she’ll be doing other things with her mouth later on.
“This is where accounts get sketchy. What he is has never been confirmed. No living thing has ever survived an encounter with him.”
Oh good.
“And this is the part where you tell us the worse news to the previous really bad news right?”
Faith sits up suddenly and gets really tense.
“By no living thing you mean…”
“Omega has faced 6 confirmed slayers and, well…”
A silence fills the room as Giles stops talking mid-sentence. Faith stands up and paces back and forth.
“This is great… this is just great… he’s killed a lot of slayers. So B and I can go up against this guy and get brutally murdered.”
Okay she’s freaking. Gotta calm her down.
I get up and stop her from pacing.
“Faith? Listen to me.”
She looks at me, her breathing getting a little slower.
“We’re gonna get through this, I promise.”
I take her in my arms and hug her before getting back to the apocalypse.
“So what does this Omega want?”
Giles lowers his eyes and breathes deeply.
“Given that his followers seem rather fixated on the two of you…”
Again the room fills with silence.
“Then we better do something about it by gum.”
Spike!
Buffy's POV
The whole gang turns to see Spike standing just inside the front door.
"What are you doing here Spike?"
Faith's expression turns from panicked to a cold stare.
"I don't care what he's here for."
She leaps over the couch and attacks him, grabbing him by the throat.
Okay wait, Spike wouldn't have risked coming here if he didn't have something important to say. He knows I'd stake him in a second if he didn't. I'd better stop her.
I leap over the couch and catch up with her.
"Faith, stop…"
"Why?"
"Don't you wanna hear what he has to say?"
"Not really, mostly I just want him dead."
She can be a real hot head sometimes. It's one of the things I love about her.
"Let him speak honey…"
She watches my eyes as I grab her wrist and gently pull it away from Spike's neck. Spike straightens up with a big smile on his face. I almost want to stake him myself.
"Thanks a bunch pet. I knew there was a reason I liked you, Summers."
I roll my eyes at him.
"You don't like me Spike you hate me, and I hate you back. You've got five minutes before I let my girl dust you."
Faith and I step back, glaring at him.
"Your girl? When did this happen? And what's with you calling her honey? She doesn't strike me as the kinda person who likes to…"
"Clock's ticking peroxide boy."
I was gonna say that.
"Right then, so how's the search for those cult boys going?"
"Why?"
Good question.
"That badly eh?"
"What's it to you Spike?"
"I'm concerned is all… Can't a man be concerned for his friends?"
"You're not a man Spike."
"And we are SO not your friends."
Faith and I are quite a tag team I gotta say.
"Close enough. So anyway…"
"Were you getting to a point soon? Cause we were kinda in the middle of something."
"Yes okay the point I was about to make was this."
He pulls a book out from under his jacket and shows it to us.
I'm not impressed. It may be all gold and shiny and stuff but it's nothing special. It's a book.
Faith seems confused.
"What is it?"
"It's a book you twit."
Before Faith can react I knock Spike flat on his face with a right cross.
"She knows it's a book you Billy Idol wannabe. She means why should we care?"
Spike gets up slowly, making sure to get some distance between us and him.
"It's the lucky break you lot are looking for."
Giles gets up from his chair in the living room.
"Is that… what I suppose it is?"
Spike makes his way into the living room and Faith and I follow, our steely gazes making him nervous.
"T'is indeed Lady Chatterley's boy toy. The Book of Karameth."
The Book of Karameth? Oh my god.
I come at him trying to grab it from him but he holds it out of reach.
"Good job Spike, now give it to us and go away."
"Hey now, a man's gotta make a living. This book is priceless, being that it's the only copy."
I can hear the slightest amount of anger in Faith's voice.
This is really bad for Spike.
"I thought we already covered the you not being a man thing. Now give it up."
Spike smiles at my girl.
"You'd like that wouldn't you?"
My blood boils and I pull out a stake I'd been keeping in my belt line. I put the stake against his chest.
"Give me the book or I stake you right now. How's that deal?"
He slowly hands it over and I put the stake back in my pants.
I'll have to get Faith in there with it later.
I walk over to Giles and hand it to him which he dutifully starts looking through.
"See what you can make of it?"
"Of course. Spike, how did you happen to procure this rather prestigious book?"
Good idea.
"Yeah Spike you're not known to be heavy into the book learning."
"I picked it up a couple years ago in a crypt while looking for Dru's cure, thought it might be useful some day. Guess I was right."
Xander puts his two cents in.
"So you just happen to show up with exactly what we need, exactly when we need it. Gee that can't be interpreted as suspicious in any way."
I glare at Spike again.
"Yeah Spike, what are you playing at?"
"Can't I just be nice?"
Faith comes at him and punches him in the face.
"What's the deal?"
"I want them dead too."
What?
"What are you talking about?"
I hold Faith back from attacking him again.
"These cult guys you're looking for? I don't like `em. They give guys like me a bad name. Plus I'm not too fond of their all powerful leader."
"Omega?"
"Yeah."
Willow asks what we're all thinking.
"So why help us? We don't exactly get along."
"And I really don't much like you lot either. But given the choice between them and you I'd go with you any day of the week. At least with you I'm a lot less likely to come to a gruesome horrible death."
"Don't be so sure."
Faith and I laugh at her words. Giles does his trademark attention getter.
"Hmm…"
"Anything?"
"Not as such. It will take me some time to translate the text however it appears as though there is more here than a simple prophecy."
More?
"Like what?"
"There appears to be references to the vampire cult and what their plans are."
Spike's grin gets wider.
"So it's more valuable than you thought. Good thing I brought it to you then isn't it? Worth not getting staked through the heart even."
Much as I hate to admit it.
"I guess he's right. Staking him now could technically be considered wrong."
"What are you talking about B? I'll do it."
She tries to pull a stake out of her jacket but I stop her.
"Faith, don't. We have the book, and as soon as Giles can translate the book we'll have everything we'll need. Dusting Spike won't make a difference."
She gives me a panicked rage look.
Something's wrong, something's very wrong. Ever since she heard the vamp cult's targeting us she's been a nervous wreck.
"No it won't, but I'll feel better knowing the son of a bitch is a pile of dust."
My hand cradles her cheek as I look in her eyes.
"Faith…"
She takes a deep breath.
"Okay fine… you guys do that. I'm gonna go work on turning them all into a pile of dust."
She starts to leave.
"Faith, wait…"
She doesn't stop. I turn to my friends.
"Let me know if you find out anything would ya Giles?"
"Of course."
"I gotta go after Faith."
I race out the door to go after Faith.
"Have fun."
"Shut up Spike."
I walk out the door and she's standing on Giles' porch.
"Faith?"
She's leaning against the railing, head in her hands. I go over and lean against the railing next to her.
"So… how's the view?"
She runs her hands through her hair before looking at me.
"Don't…"
"Don't what?"
"Don't act like everything's okay when it's not."
"I wasn't I… I just wasn't sure you were gonna tell me what's wrong right away."
"You were right."
She looks away. I take her hand in mine.
"Faith whatever it is, it'll work out."
"Yeah you say that now… but what happens when they tear us apart?"
Tear us apart?
"No one is gonna tear us apart. Not after what we've been through to be together."
"But that's just it. We wouldn't have gone through so much if it hadn't been for those vamps and their Omega master. How do we know they don't have something else planned to destroy what we have?"
"We don't."
She turns away from the edge of the porch.
"Way to comfort your girlfriend B."
I put my arms around her waist and hold her close.
"No I mean… I'm your girlfriend?"
She links wrists behind my neck and smiles.
"Well yeah I mean, isn't that the proper term? After last night I figured… you know…"
"Sure it is, I guess I didn't much figure you for… I'm your girlfriend?"
We just stand there looking at each other for a few moments before her expression darkens.
"I see what you're doing. You're changing the subject to make things seem better than they are…"
She pushes me away, turning her back to me.
"Which they aren't."
I come up behind her and put my arms around her stomach, my head on her right shoulder.
"Faith… we, we can't know what they're up to, and they could come after us again. But I love you, and nothing that ever happens could ever make me stop loving you."
She reaches behind her and touches my head.
"Nothing?"
I take her hand against my head and bring it down over my heart, making her turn to look at me and stare at my hand feeling my heartbeat for her.
"Nothing. Faith I told you once that my heart keeps beating because of you."
"I remember."
"It's still true. It still beats only for you. No matter what happens I want you to remember that as long as my heart beats… I love you."
"I love you too B."
Our lips lock, the passion between us overtaking us. I can't keep my hands off her as her tongue enters my mouth, and we fight each other for control. But being that we're pretty much evenly matched we have to retreat to our respective corners.
We should do something.
"Faith?"
"Yeah?"
"Let's go out."
She raises an eyebrow at me.
"Out?"
"You and me. To the Bronze or something… like we always wanted to."
She gets this cute little evil grin on her face.
"Okay let's go do that."
She puts her arm around my shoulder and we head to the Bronze… for our first date.
Faith's POV
She's such a great woman.
I'm sitting here together with Buffy at a table at the Bronze and all I'm thinking is…
She's such a great woman. Course I wasn't thinking that earlier tonight. Earlier tonight I was thinking we're all gonna die and I'm gonna lose the one person in the world who means more to me than me. But not anymore, Buffy took care of that.
I still don't know how she did it. She just, talked to me and everything was all better. Maybe it's this whole being in love thing. Maybe that's why all she has to do is say the right thing, or look at me or even just touch me the right way and I just know everything will be okay. Oh god can she touch me the right way, the way she… and then she… with the way she… oh and her tongue.
She has got the greatest tongue I've ever had the pleasure of feeling against my skin. And there was a LOT of pleasure. I've never met a man, or a woman for that matter who can do what she does to me with that tongue of hers. I love this woman, and she loves me back.
I reach my hand across the table to her and she takes it in hers, staring into me as she does.
Even with everything I've done at her, after the way I've hurt her. After everything we've done to each other, she still loves me. I'm the luckiest woman in the world.
I finish my beer and set it down on the table next to the other empties.
I should tell her. I should tell her how I feel. That's what you do in a relationship isn't it? You tell each other how you feel.
"Buffy…"
"Willow?"
What?
Buffy's looking toward the crowd and Willow and Tara appear out of nowhere.
Oh, Willow.
"Hey guys, how are things?"
How are things?
"Things are great Red."
Tara's got this reserved grin on her face.
"Yeah… thanks to you."
"Well I'll tell you what, you can buy me a drink and we'll call it even."
Willow goes to sit down but Tara stops her.
"W-Willow h-honey…? I t-think they want… wanna b-be alone."
Willow's gaze goes from Tara to me to Buffy then to our joined hands. It takes a second for it to register in her head.
"Oh, okay. Oh man… my bad. My total bad... I'll just, be…"
She starts frantically pointing away from the table.
"… You know, away. I'm gonna go…"
She backs away, taking Tara with her. Tara still has a smile on her face.
"… away so you two can…"
She just shuts up and leaves. B and I just laugh at her panicky state before going back to each other.
"She's kinda cute when she's like that."
Buffy does this sexy little pouty face and all of the sudden she has me all riled up.
"Cuter than me?"
I roll my eyes at her.
"Hey, you know there's no one cuter than you, or sexier."
Her pouty face turns into that half smile thing she does and…
Okay, we so have to do something besides just sit here. If we don't, this down low tickle of mine is gonna make me bend her over this table and fuck her brains out. Would be fun I'll admit but in a room full of people? Could get real embarrassing, especially for Buffy.
A big beat worthy song starts playing and it dawns on me.
This is perfect.
"Hey B, do you wanna dance?"
She lets go of my hand and stands up, coming over and looks down at me.
"I thought you'd never ask."
She puts her hand out for me to take it and I do, standing up next to her. I start to feel the pounding of the beat from the electronic music as we walk out on to the dance floor, or maybe that's my heart.
It's pounding like there's no tomorrow in anticipation of what we're about to do. I've never been so nervous about a simple little dance.
We find an empty spot on the dance floor and the music starts to overtake me. I move to the music and Buffy joins me, we move slowly at first but as the beat starts to work its way inside me we dance faster, more gracefully together with every moment that passes. My hips grind against hers as our bodies meld together like a piston thrusting up and down, back and forth against each other to the music.
God this is incredible.
I feel her hands against my hips holding me closer, if that's even possible, and the whole world goes away. The world goes away and it's just us, us and the music. I turn to face her, our eyes locking, hearts pounding together to the beat of the music.
I throw my arms around her neck, her hands still on my hips as she slips a thigh between mine forcing one of mine between hers. The heat between our bodies is unbearable as I start to ride her thigh like a mechanical bull.
The sweat drips off our bodies as the song trails off and I can't take it anymore. I kiss her with everything I am.
"Faith…"
"Make love to me B. Take me home and make love to me the way only you can."
She takes my hand and we leave.
She this is what it's like to be in love? I never knew being in love could feel this incredible.
We try and make our way down the alleyway but B just snaps.
"Fuck this."
She throws me against the alley's wall, crushing me between her and the wall as she slams her body into mine. We kiss as she grabs my tits with both hands. She whispers sweet nothings to me as she kisses every naked part of my flesh she can get her lips on.
"I can't wait… I want you now… I need you now… right here… right now… like this…"
Her hand dives down between my legs and can't help but gasp with ecstasy as her fingers press into me.
God she feels so… I can't do this. Not like this… it isn't right.
"Stop…."
"Why? Don't you like it?"
"God yes it's just… stop… I just… Buffy…"
She kisses her way up my neck but when she goes to kiss my lips I stop her.
"Not like this… not like some cheap slut in some random alley. I've done that too many times, with too many people… and I can't do that with you. I love you B, and that's not something I can just say. But if we do this here, then all I'll feel in the end is cheap and dirty, and I don't want that… do you?"
"No of course not."
"Then can we just, wait until we get home?"
Her breath is still heavy as her eyes wander down my body.
"It's just… after, that dance I'm… going crazy not touching you…"
We step away from the wall.
"I know what you mean… but do you really want our first date to end in this alley?"
She has to take a moment to answer, groping my left breast.
"No…"
"Then let's go back to your place, like we should."
"We better get there soon."
We turn to walk down the alley, my arm around her waist, hers around my neck.
"We will… but till then? You can touch me all you want, wherever you want."
She starts rubbing my stomach with her free hand.
"Just save the good stuff for later?"
"Exactly?"
"Will do."
Wow, a real date, with a real ending. How cool is that?
Faith's POV
I'm standing in front of B, squaring off. We're moving back and forth. Ducking and weaving to avoid punches that neither of us is throwing. Then we get to the fun stuff.
She throws 3 punches and I dodge them easily. I duck for a leg sweep and take her legs out from under her sending her flat on her back. I scramble on top of her, pinning her down at her waist. I grab her arms and pin them over her head. She smiles up at me and I can feel myself smile back as I lean down into her.
I swear I can feel her lips against mine as I kiss her deeply. Well I like this. This is a lot of fun. I… all of the sudden I feel my hands wrap around her neck. What am I doing? I have to stop myself. I don't stop, in fact, I start to strangle her. She gasps for breath but I don't stop. I put more weight on her neck and she tries to stop me but the lack of air in her lungs makes it impossible.
Why am I doing this? I don't want to do this, but I can't stop. I wanna stop but… something won't let me. Let me stop, please, for the love of god please somebody let me stop. I love this woman I can't kill her. You can't make me kill her. I won't let you. I won't… I won't… I won't. I can feel her neck snap under my fingers.
OH MY GOD!
I sit up in bed in a cold sweat.
What have I done? What did I do? Buffy?
I look down at Buffy who's waking up next to me.
She's okay, thank god she's okay.
"Faith?"
I hug my knees as she sits up next to me.
I thought this was over. These dreams were supposed to stop when I made my choice to be with B.
"Faith, what is it? What's wrong?"
"They… they were supposed to stop. We're together now… they were supposed to stop…"
"What was? Faith, talk to me."
I squeeze my eyes shut to try and block out the sheer terror I can't get rid of. She puts her arms around me and it only makes the feeling worse.
"The dreams… they should've stopped."
"Faith it's okay. It's just a bad dream."
"But it won't go away. Why won't it stop?"
She strokes my hair lovingly and I calm down a bit.
"What happened? Tell me what the dream was about."
"I… I can't…"
I can't tell her. If I do she'll freak out. Even if she does love me.
"Was I there?"
"You… you w…"
"What did I do? Did I do something to you?"
"No I… it was me… it's my fault…"
I didn't want to, but I couldn't stop.
"What was it? What did you do in your dream?"
"I-I hurt… you."
She doesn't say anything and I feel tears on my cheeks.
Oh god, I actually said it… and now she isn't saying anything. She isn't safe with me.
"I-I have to go."
I push her away despite her protests.
"Faith, don't. It was just a dream, it doesn't mean anything."
"I have to get away from you before…"
I get out of bed to get away but she grabs me by the waist and throws me back on the bed, climbing on top of me.
"Faith…"
I have to get away. She's not safe with me.
I try and throw her off me but she grabs my wrists and pins them above my head.
"Faith, look at me."
"No."
"Faith if you love me, look at me."
I stop moving and look at her through teary eyes.
"Do you wanna hurt me?"
"No… oh god no."
"Then don't go. Stay here."
"But…"
"Faith the only way you could hurt me is if you left me. It would hurt me worse than any fist in the face, worse than any kick to the head, and so much worse than any knife to the gut."
She puts her entire naked upper body against mine.
"You don't wanna hurt me? Then don't leave me… please?"
I look into her soulful eyes and I just can't do it.
I love her too much.
"Will you stay with me?"
"Buffy… I love you…"
She leans into me and kisses me gently.
"I'm sorry B, I didn't mean to…"
She puts a finger to my lips to quiet me.
"It's okay Faith."
She lies down next to me as I calm down, holding me tightly but in a loving way.
"You had a bad dream. It would've scared anyone, even me."
I snuggle up to her.
"I just… I don't wanna lose this feeling."
"What feeling is that?"
I turn my head to look in her eyes and kiss her gently.
"You know exactly what feeling I mean."
She grins at me.
"Of course I do. I just like hearing you say it."
I touch my hand to her cheek.
"I love you B. I didn't mean to scare you like that."
"I love you too Faith."
We lie there together, staring into each other's eyes as the sun rises in the window.
I love her so much. I just hope I don't do something that would take her from me. I hope my dreams don't come true.
CHAPTER 108: The history of Omega
Buffy's POV
She's still really freaked out. She says she's over it but I keep getting this feeling like part of it still bugs her.
We're walking down the street toward Giles' after his call asked us to come by and I can feel the tension in her.
It must've been one hell of a dream to freak her out this much. I would've thought last night would've eased the tension, the way we went at it. But then she had that dream and things changed. Faith isn't the type to freak out like that. Even when she killed the deputy mayor she didn't freak out, not in the traditional sense. But this is different.
This time she went insane and freaked out and all that.
I squeeze her hand in mine and she smiles a worried smile at me.
Maybe this is my fault. Maybe since falling in love with me she freaks out at anything that might threaten that love. She did tell me she's never loved anyone like me before. Hell she told me she's never loved anyone at all. It only stands to reason she'll loose me. That she might do something to hurt me… or worse.
We make our way up the steps to Giles'.
But I'm not going anywhere, not if I can help it.
We get to the top of the stairs and I stop her.
"Faith?"
"What is it?"
"I want you to know that everything is gonna be okay."
She takes a deep breath.
"I know."
She moves to go inside but again I stop her.
"I'm not going anywhere Faith. It doesn't matter what Giles says or some stupid prophecy says or even a dream you had. We love each other and we're together and that's never gonna change."
I put my arms around her and kiss her, softly but passionately.
"I won't let anyone stop us from being together. I love you Faith."
"I know B, I know."
She doesn't seem convinced.
"Can we go in now?"
Obviously I can't convince her just now.
We turn and go inside.
Let's hope Giles has some good news to perk her up.
"So, how are my favourite little Scooby pals? And Spike…"
She's being all grown up and pretending everything's okay. But I know better.
"We're quite well… all things considered."
We walk into the living room and sit down together.
Consider?
"And what is it we're considering? Did we find something in the Book of Karameth?"
Spike tries to force appreciation out of us.
"You're welcome."
Faith and I have the same thought on the subject.
"Shut up Spike."
We smile at each other.
"So let's get down to business. What do we know?"
"Buffy perhaps we should…"
Faith interrupts only more forcefully.
"What do we know?"
"The Book of Karameth details a number of important facts about Omega, about his vampire cult and most importantly about Omega, about his vampire cult and most importantly about the prophecy."
"What does it say?"
She's being really blunt it's not winning her any point with the guys.
"Everything we ever needed to know. According to the book, Omega was indeed the original demon, older than any on record. Before man there were great beings, demons, which are known as The Old Ones, the first one to be brought forth for oblivion and thus the most powerful."
Okay this is not the good news I was hoping for. This would be considered in most circles extremely bad news.
"What about the vamps? Why are they following him? What are they all about?"
"Most of what we know about them is pretty much all we need to know about them. They are acolytes of Omega, they will do whatever he asks, but there's more. Legend has it that the last demon to leave this dimension fed off a human, which turned him into a vampire and given Omega's immeasurable power…"
"He was the one who made the first vampire."
"Yes…"
Faith seems to get more distraught with every new fact and I gotta admit I'm not jumping for joy at them either.
"And what's more I believe it explains how he was able to return to this dimension."
What?
"It does?"
"When Omega fed off the human he infused that person with a part of himself…"
"A part of a demon…"
"Yes, and with every vampire that was made after that his power grew and eventually he gained the power to re-enter this realm."
"So every vampire that exists gives him power?"
"Yes…"
Faith glares at Spike.
"We should kill Spike then."
"Whoa, hey now no killing the chap who just brought you the mother loads of all care packages. Besides which, there are millions of vamps on this soddin rock. Killing one defenceless vamp won't make a bit of difference."
"Spike is correct. A single death will not affect Omega's power. However we may have a more pressing matter to attend to."
Oh good, more bad news.
"What kind of thing are we talking about?"
"As I said, the demon Omega receives his power from vampires…"
He shifts uncomfortably in his seat.
"Tomorrow is the night of Saint Vigeous."
"Saint… Saint Vigeous? Perfect, just perfect."
Things just can't get any worse.
Faith looks around at us confused.
"The Night of Saint Vigeous? What's that?"
This is gonna make things so much worse for us.
Spike explains.
"It's like Woodstock for vampires. Big festival of death and destruction happening tomorrow."
Her head drops into her hands.
"Omega's gonna be at full strength isn't he?"
We need something good. We need some good news.
"Yes I should say he will be."
"And he'll be coming for us won't he? He and his band of cult-o-matic vampires."
"Yes."
I can't let this be all about doom and gloom.
There's nothing but silence in the room.
The prophecy… maybe the prophecy has some good news.
"What about the prophecy? What does the book say about the prophecy?"
The vamps seem pretty intent on stopping it so it's gotta be good news.
"The prophecy… very little is known about the specifics. The prophecy itself has never been interpreted as the only copy of it has been lost for so long. But now we have it."
"What's the prophecy?"
Giles opens the book and begins reading from it.
"For there shall be two into one, and one into two. From the mouth of hell shall come two forces of good with darkness inside shall be joined. Two forces as different as night and day, one of darkness one of light shall come together and be as one. They shall come together and the heavens themselves shall tremble."
Um, okay…
"So is this good or bad?"
I feel the tension coming off Faith in waves and swear I hear her quietly sob as I put my arm around her.
"Well it speaks of two forces of good joining, and that would tend to suggest a positive thing. However it does mention the good forces darkness inside, and given the tone of the rest of the prophecy…"
Faith looks up at the gang.
"So let's kill him."
What?
"Who baby?"
"Omega, let's find the son of a bitch, load up on weapons and tear him apart."
She's not taking this very well.
Xander tries to calm her down.
"Okay but I mean, where are they? I'm all for killing these guys but we have to find them first."
That's a good idea we should talk her out of going off and doing something stupid.
"Yeah Faith, we have no idea where they are and we have to find them to kill them."
She stands up and starts pacing nervously to come up with something.
"The hospital…"
Hospital?
"What about it?"
"The doctors they… Giles you remember when I brought Buffy back here after the fight with Adam?"
"Yes, you told me the doctors were evil."
Faith comes over and kneels in front of me. She puts her hands in my lap and looks me in the eyes and for a moment she's calm.
"They wanted to hurt you…"
I touch her cheek with my hand and she holds it there.
"But you wouldn't let them would you?"
She turns her head and kisses my palm as she holds it there.
"Never…"
Blind panic sets in again as Xander and Willow steer the conversation back to evil doctors.
"Evil doctors?"
"I thought doctors were sworn to help people?"
Faith stands up and starts pacing again.
"Well I don't actually know that they were doctors. One of them was dressed like a doctor, but I didn't really have time to ask for his credentials. Buffy was hurt it didn't really matter to me who they were as long as they could save Buffy's life."
If Faith wasn't so on edge I might actually be crying right now.
"So B and I can go back there, kick the crap out of a few of the orderlies until they tell us where Omega is. Then we kill him to death."
"Well that's a plan, I guess…"
Faith looks at me like I'm being unsupportive gal.
"Come on B, we can do this. You and me, back to back. We can even bring the gang along if you like."
I stand up and put my hands on her shoulders.
"Faith we could do that. But if we just go in full speed one of us could wind up dead, maybe all of us. Do you really want that?"
She seems to calm down slightly by taking a deep breath.
"No… of course not."
"Okay then…"
I lead her back to the couch and we sit down.
"We'll figure this out before tomorrow and then we'll go in with everything we've got, knowing exactly what we're getting in to. I promise."
She puts her head against my shoulder.
"As long as he gets dead that's all I care about… well that, and you."
"He will be."
I'll do whatever it takes to make sure he will be.
Buffy's POV
Okay this is insane.
Faith and I are on our way home from Giles' place and we haven't said a word to each other.
If we don't talk about what's bothering her then it's gonna haunt us and we're never gonna work through it. It's not like the idea of a thousands of years old demon plotting to kill us gives me happy feelings it's just… I think it bothers her a lot more. I've had horrible evil demons try to kill me all the time, Faith hasn't. I remember what it was like when they first started coming at me, I was scared out of my mind. She must be going through the same thing. I gotta do something to get her through this.
I stop and face her.
"Faith? What's wrong?"
She stops.
"Hmm?"
"What's wrong?"
She looks at me like she's wondering what the hell I'm talking about.
"Nothing… what could be wrong?"
Okay she's not gonna pretend everything's fine.
"Faith this is me you're talking to. I know you better than anyone at least I think I do. I was there last night when you freaked out. I was there to help you through it. Now I need you to tell me what's wrong so I can help you through this too. Please?"
She closes her eyes.
"Nothing is wrong B."
She tries to leave but I grab her and stop her.
"Come on Faith we have to talk about this."
She tries to push me away but I won't let her go.
"There's nothing to talk about. I told you that."
"I'm not letting this go. Tell me what's wrong."
She shoves me away.
"Nothing's wrong. Just let it go."
I shove her back.
"Never… I love you Faith, I wouldn't let this go if you tried to kill me."
"Keep pushing me like this and I just might."
I look in her eyes.
That's no idle threat. I guess this is the way it has to be.
"If that's what it…"
I give her a good hard shove this time.
"… takes then that's what it…"
I shove her again harder, making her stumble back.
"… takes."
She shoves me back weakly, the pain in her eyes now replacing the anger.
"Don't push me B."
I push her again.
"Why not?"
"Because…"
She slugs me in the mouth and I grab my jaw in pain.
Ow!
"Buffy I didn't…"
I punch her back.
"Come on Faith, hit me again. If we can't talk about this then we'll just have to fight this out. Hit me."
"No…"
"Why not? You've done it before, this isn't any different."
"Of course it's different B."
"Why?"
I go to punch her again but she blocks it and punches me first, sending me to the sidewalk.
"Because I'm scared okay? Is that what you wanted to hear? I'm scared to love you too much."
I get up slowly holding my jaw.
"I just want you to talk to me."
"I'm scared are you happy?"
"Why? What are you afraid of?"
"I'm afraid if I love you too much it'll kill you."
What?
I move toward her but she keeps her distance.
"I… what are you talking about?"
"Oh come on B the dreams, the evil demon plotting our deaths, the ominous prophecy? You can't tell me things aren't gonna end badly."
"And you can't say things won't work out. I've seen these ancient prophecies before they're never cut and dry. They're never simple or straight forward. And neither are the dreams. The dreams are just as big a grey area. And you know, evil demons plot the slayer's deaths all the time, we'll get through it like we do everything else."
"What about me?"
What about her?
"What about you?"
"I'm part of the plan aren't I?"
"Well… I…"
"What they did to me? They used me in their evil plot to kill you. How do we know the reason the prophecy says there'll be two into one is because in the end there will only be one slayer? What if…?"
She stops in mid sentence getting all choked up. I get closer to her.
"What if what Faith? What if what?"
A tear rolls down her cheek.
"What if I kill you?"
I wipe away the tear and kiss her gently. She let's out a dull moan as our lips part.
"So what if you do Faith?"
She pushes me away in disgust.
"God, how can you… how can you say something like that after, after everything we've… we've…"
She doesn't have to finish, I know exactly what she's trying to say.
"Faith it's because of everything we've been through that I can say something like that."
She tries to look away but I turn her head to look me straight in the eye.
"We could die tomorrow. You could kill me, or I could kill you or someone else could kill us both and none of that could ever change the way I feel about you. I love you and I'll go on loving you until the day I die and beyond."
She sighs heavily.
"So what do we do?"
I push the hair out of her face.
"We'll just have to have Faith that everything will work out for the best."
I grab her ass and pull her body hard against mine.
"I've got mine, where's yours?"
She rolls her eyes at me and chuckles.
"Bad joke B."
She kisses me quickly.
"REALLY bad joke."
I smile at her.
"But that's just one of the reasons you love me right sweetie?"
I feel her hand against my right breast, kneading it.
"Just one of them. But don't call me sweetie okay B? It sounds way too corny."
"Well what should I call you? Honey? Baby? Sugar? Maybe I should call you sugar baby."
She gets this almost evil half grin on her face.
"Well people did used to tell me I taste sweet."
I raise an eyebrow at her.
"Really? Let's have a taste."
I grab the back of her head and pull her lips to mine, pushing my tongue into her mouth, tasting her. I put my arms around her shoulders as I break the kiss to look in her eyes.
"Definitely a sweet taste."
I wipe the drool off her bottom lip and lick it off my thumb.
"That's why I should call you sweetie. For your sweet taste."
She groans in frustration and rolls her eyes at me again.
"Well okay, but try not to do it in front of people. I have a rep to maintain you know? I may be a white hat now but I'm still a bad ass."
I peek around behind her to look at her ass.
"I don't think you have a bad ass. I think you have a great ass."
She smiles coyly at me.
"Giving me compliments isn't gonna change the impending doom we have to deal with."
I thought we were past this.
"It's not impending doom, there's no impending doom. And even if there was we can't keep worrying about it. All we can do is live in the now, you of all people should know about that kinda thing."
"Yeah but I only lived like that cause I had nothing to hold on to. Nothing that was worth anything to lose… now I do. I love you B, I don't wanna lose that."
I hold her head in my hands.
"You won't. As long as we live every moment to the fullest. And you keep me with you, here."
I put my hand against her heart. She covers my hand with hers.
"I feel you in there B, and I always will. No matter what."
She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.
"Okay then, let's go home. Start living up some of those moments."
"Let's do that."
We start our way back home, but we are rudely interrupted by a gang of vamps now surrounding us.
"Well this looks like fun."
CHAPTER 110: Back to back, fight the fight
Buffy's POV
"Well this looks like fun."
"Yeah, I guess we're gonna have to hold off on the memory making for a little bit eh?"
She lets go of my hand and we stand back to back in a fighting stances.
"Oh I don't know, this looks like it could be a memorable moment. 20 to 2 could be interesting."
"Yeah I guess so. Then again it could also be deadly and potentially painful."
She laughs.
"True, but what isn't when it comes to you and me?"
"You're right, are you…?"
"B?"
"Hmm?"
"Vamp at two o'clock, kinda hanging back from the crowd."
I look to where she's pointing in a 2 o'clock direction.
There's a vamp, brown hair, kinda ruggedly handsome for a blood sucking fiend standing away from the soon to be battle field.
"What about him?"
"I think that's him."
Him?
"Him who?"
"The him who murdered Riley. I'm pretty sure that's him."
"Pretty sure?"
She's silent for a moment.
"It's him. Someone gets murdered in front of you. You tend to remember the murderer's face."
Well, yeah…
"Yeah, don't I know it?"
"Right, of course."
If that's the guy that murdered Riley then, then I can make it right. I can avenge Riley's death. All I need is… I'm suddenly very aware that I don't have a stake on me.
"Faith, do you…"
She shoves a stake in my face and I take it.
"Thanks."
"No problem, I had an extra one handy. Tell ya what if I get to the son of a bitch first I'll let you stake him."
"Thanks sweetie."
I swear I can hear her groan at the sound of her pet name and I smile.
Okay standing around like this is kinda boring.
"So are we gonna fight or just stand here cause I think I'm getting a crap in my leg."
"Good one B."
"I thought so."
"Kill them."
We give each other some room as the vamps start coming at us.
"Guess not everyone thought so eh B?"
"Guess not."
I kick the vamp coming at me in the stomach and he bends over grabbing his stomach. I stake him in the back and it goes straight through to his heart, dusting him. A few seconds later I hear another vamp turn to dust.
I don't have to worry about her, she'll do fine. Except I can't seem to stop worrying.
Three more vamps come at me and side step him throwing him off balance and I kick him to the ground. I grab the second guy by the collar and spin around to throw him into the third guy, sending them both to the ground a few feet away.
The first vampire starts to get up and I jam a stake through his heart as he gets to his knees. I catch a glimpse of Faith tossing a vamp this way.
"Heads up baby."
I dust him in short order and smile at her.
"Got it honey."
She smiles back as I feel something coming up behind me.
"Yes you do don't you? Buffy look out…"
I don't even turn around to stake the vamp attacking me from behind and he turns to dust.
"… behind you."
"Like I said… I got it."
The last of the three vamps to attack me tries to attack me as another vamps comes at her from behind.
"Bogey at 6 o'clock B."
"That was gonna be my line."
We run at each other, linking arms as we both jump kick the vamps to a safe distance.
Safe for us, not them.
We both look down at our arms linked together and lose focus. We kiss briefly amongst the carnage.
"Okay um, sex comes later Faith. Getting through this alive? Kinda in first position."
We let go of each other as more vampires join the fight. Most of them stay back to keep us from leaving, not that we would the way things are going. Another two vamps are killed by gaping holes in their chests, making 7 down and 13 to go.
Another 4 bite their own dust before the lot of them get smarter. One of them comes at me and tries to actually fight.
If you can call what these guys do fighting.
I block a right and a left punch before kicking him in the stomach and making him stumble. He tries to kick me in the head but I block it and grab his ankle, taking him off his feet and staking him as I do. Meanwhile 3 more vamps get dusted by my true love.
With 5 left Faith and I regroup standing next to each other. There are only 3 vamps standing between me and the guy who killed Riley. I point at him and glare.
"You!"
He smiles.
"Me…"
"You killed Riley."
"I did. So what?"
"YOU SON OF A BITCH!"
I try and get at him but Faith holds me back.
"I'M GONNA KILL YOU!"
He laughs at me and I wanna tear him apart but Faith still stops me.
"Not today slayer. Get them."
The final 3 vamps come at us and we make quick work of them leaving only Riley's killer and who I'm assuming is his second in command.
"You sure about that?"
He suddenly has this look of fear. I like it. He steps back but I don't let him get too far.
"Tell ya what? Why don't we finish this tomorrow?"
"I think we should finish this now."
He keeps trying to make a gap between us and we keep not letting him.
"Okay… sure we… let's um… Dave? You handle it."
He pushes this Dave guy at us and Faith grabs him as Riley's murderer runs off. I start to run after him.
"B, wait…"
What?
"He's getting away."
"I know, but it's okay."
"Why is it okay?"
"Cause we can find out where he's going from this guy. Where's he going?"
"I would never tell you…"
I bury my stake in his kidney and he screams.
"Where is he going?"
"The hospital. He's going to the hospital."
"Why? Is that where Omega is?"
"No…"
I twist the stake in his side and again he screams.
"Where's Omega?"
"The, the hospital…"
I twist the stake.
"I thought you said he wasn't at the hospital."
"He's not he… he's under it…"
Faith punches him in the face.
"Under it?"
"There's a cave… not far from the hospital… it leads to his, his lair."
I pull the stake out of his kidney and he tries to stifle his scream.
"Are you lying to us?"
"No… you're gonna stake me whether I lie or not so why would I?"
Faith smiles at him.
"You're not wrong about that."
Next thing I know he's a pile of dust. Faith faces me, the victors of a glorious battle.
I don't think Faith has the battle on her mind right now.
I start to brush the dust off her and she starts pawing at my clothes to do the same. We start eyeing each other up and down.
"Well… at least we know… where they… are… now."
Yes we do.
"Yeah… at least… I'm hungry… how bout you?"
She moves closer to me.
"I kinda had something… else on… my mind…"
I raise my eyebrows at her.
"Yeah?"
"Yeah…"
"Home… nowish…"
"Good… ideaish…"
We sprint home, working off a little extra energy.
Neither of us is in any condition to walk. Not without jumping each other on a public street.
Faith's POV
"So we're going to the hospital eh?"
I guess so.
"That's where the big pile of evil dust told us to go."
Yeah he probably told us that so we could go there and die.
"Well it makes sense since most of us are gonna need medical attention by the end of it anyway."
"Xander!"
She looks at me at Xander's words.
There she goes again, trying to shield me from the truth.
"Anyway we're not going to the hospital, not for the big battle scene."
"We're not?"
"No…"
I know B told me that everything's gonna work out and live for the moment and all that happy fairy tale crap and I wanna believe it, I really do, but I can't. I've never had it this good, I've never had this much or been this happy and if I let myself believe, even for one moment, that everything's gonna work out… then I could lose it all. I can't do that. I WON'T do that.
"Omega's lair is in a cave not far from the hospital, that's where we'll find him."
Willow looks confused, they all do.
"Then why are we going to the hospital?"
"For Riley."
Here it comes. She talked about it all day today. About how she could finally avenge Riley's murder tonight. She probably would've talked about it last night too if we hadn't been… busy.
"For Riley?"
"Yeah. Riley's killer is somewhere at the hospital. I wanna go there, and stake him for Riley. Then we'll go fight Omega, and then we'll kill him… and then we'll go for drinks or something."
Ugh, again with the bad jokes.
"Okay so, where is he? Where is he in the hospital?"
"I… well I don't know exactly. But someone does. Someone there has to know. And when I find him, he's dust."
I roll my eyes at her but she's too busy to notice.
"Yes B, I'm sure we all know you're gonna kill him to death. Can we go already? I kinda want this over with and it'll be dark soon."
Spike's cowardess rears its ugly head.
At least it looks better than his real one.
"Go? Why go anywhere? Tonight is Saint Vigeous won't they be coming to wherever you are?"
Son of a bitch.
"Remind me again why we don't stake Spike?"
"Cause, we know he wants to be on the winning side, and we're the winning side…"
Oh right, I forgot.
"Besides, we know he can't hurt any of us. So when the fighting breaks out he's got exactly two options. Fight with us and he just might survive, or fight against us get a killer migraine and be dust in the wind."
I look into her eyes and I can see she's serious.
"B, you're not seriously gonna let him come with us."
"Yes, I am."
"Why the hell for?"
I look deep into her eyes and… she… she can't be…
"Spike is the only person here besides you and me who has any chance of getting anywhere near Omega. He may just be neutered evil but his evilness is at its peak tonight and we could use that."
My head drops into my hands as everything becomes clear.
"Yeah we could use him, in case one of us has to die."
"What?"
"Hey now, I can be pretty handy in a fight and…"
"Shut up Spike… Faith that's not what this is about."
I get up and look in her eyes.
"Isn't it? You know as well as I do that when we walk in there it could come down to you and me. You KNOW it."
Xander gets up.
Probably thinks we're gonna fight, and the way I'm feeling? We probably will.
"Faith, I…"
She can't even finish what she starts to say.
"Don't lie to me B."
She stays silent for at least a few moments.
"I told you how I felt last night. I love you Faith."
Oh right.
"Yeah last night you love me, tonight I'm gonna kill you."
I turn away from her.
I can't look at her face right now. God how twisted is that? I can't even look at the woman I love.
I feel her hand gently on my shoulder.
"Faith please, I didn't mean to…"
I brush her hand off me, heading her apology off at the pass. After a moment of composure I turn to the Scoobies, purposely avoiding Buffy's gaze.
"Look, it'll be dark soon and I'm suddenly really itching to kill something. I'd prefer it not be one of you guys."
My eyes finally find the courage to face B's.
With one exception.
"Unless it's Spike, then I'm fine with it."
Spike stands up nervously my angry gaze never leaving Buffy's hurt one.
"Giles, weapons all around we're burning day light here. Which is usually a good thing in my case but not today let's go."
"Buffy?"
Her eyes never leave mine as she answers.
"Y-yeah, let's go."
Giles heads to his weapons chest and I join him. He opens the weapons chest and we start looking through it.
Maybe something large and blunt, I feel the need to do a lot of damage.
I can feel her come up behind me and wait her turn.
Ah here's something.
I pull out a two handed double edged axe from the chest and look it over.
"Perfect."
This is gonna help me do all the damage I want.
I move away from the weapons to let the others in. I pass Buffy without even looking at her. She puts her hand against my arm to stop me.
"Faith…"
"Don't B… just don't… let's just gear up and go."
I walk out onto the porch and start swinging it a little, get a feel for the weapon.
Buffy's POV
It's not going away. I have this horrible feeling in the pit of my stomach and it has nothing to do with the fact that we're walking through a hospital full of potential enemies. I have my slayer senses on high alert and the only thing I can sense for sure is that Faith is angry with me.
I would never think Faith would hurt me, but some how I made her think I would and it tears me up inside. I thought last night settled things. I told her how I felt, and she told me the same. Then came the fight, and we were so in sync it was eerie, and then we went home and we showed each other how we felt.
With the… and then the… with the way she… and I … got it was intense. When we all get through this and I patch things up with Faith, the two of us may have to go clothes shopping and we might wanna pick up a new bed while we're at it.
The headboard took quite a beating last night. But that wasn't the most intense part. The most intense part was afterwards when we just… lay there together, in each others arms all night. We didn't talk, we didn't make out, and we didn't fall asleep, well not for a good long while, we didn't even look at each other we just lay there… together.
Last night was incredible, but today everything is different. Today she's angry with me and real big with the not talking about it. This is not gonna happen. I'm not going into what could be the fight of my life with the woman I love mad at me.
"Faith…"
She stops dead in her tracks as a groggy hospital patient in a paper gown comes our way down the hall. She grabs her by the throat and pins the patient to the wall.
"Where is he?"
I move to stand besides Faith.
"I… I don't know what you're…"
She pulls a single bottle of holy water out of her pocket and splashes the patient with it. The so-called patient vamps out and growls at Faith as her skin starts to burn. The gang and I are suddenly very aware that literally anyone in the building could be Omega's henchmen, not just the staff. Faith applies a little more pressure to the vamp's throat.
"WHERE is he?"
"D-Down the s-second on the right… J-John Markette."
"Thank you so much."
She pulls a stake out from her jacket and dusts the girl right there. Without saying a words Faith heads off in the direction the vamp mentioned. I just shrug to Xander, Willow, Tara, Anya and Giles.
"I guess we know where to find Riley's murderer eh?"
Willow shrugs back.
"Yeah and we know his name."
Spike decides to chip in.
"What kind of sissy name is Markette anyway?"
Xander strikes back.
"I dunno William, what kinda stupid name is Spike?"
"Hey now…"
Giles steps in to break their near fight up.
"Children enough…"
He points to Faith who's already 10 to 15 feet ahead.
"We have more pressing matters at hand."
Xander and Spike retreat to neutral corners and we start to follow Faith down the hall to catch up. Anya makes her usual obvious comment.
"Kinda gung-ho about this isn't she?"
I noticed.
"Yeah… and I think I'm the reason."
We turn to the corner, still lagging slightly behind Faith. Tara tries to help.
"You should… you should talk with her."
Willow backs her up as Faith starts frantically checking office doors for John Markette's name.
"Yeah tell ya what, we'll do away with this John guy and then we'll give you two a few minutes alone to sort things out."
Yeah that'll help.
"Guys you know it's not that I don't appreciate the offer but if you haven't noticed… talking with Faith is a lot like pulling teeth. It could take more than a few minutes."
"So then we'll wait as long as it takes. Buffy her head is obviously not in the right place."
"Xander is correct. Clearly Faith needs to resolve whatever issues are clouding her judgment and seeing as how a large part of her issues revolve around you…"
"Right, okay… I'll talk with her."
Faith stops at a particular door and turns to us.
"This is it, John Markette, this is his office."
We walk up to the door.
She's right, it has his name on it.
"Oh good job Faith, talk a little louder so he'll hear us coming."
Faith goes to attack him but my words stop her.
"Shut up Spike."
She composes herself slightly.
"Okay here's the plan. I'll kick the door in B can go in and stake the son of a bitch. Then we can move on to the important stuff."
Hold it.
"Faith w…"
She kicks the door in and I guess I gotta go in, so I do. The room's empty. Faith comes in after me and looks around frantically.
"He's NOT HERE!"
"I did actually notice that Faith."
She goes over to the desk near the window and picks up what looks like a note. She reads it and slams the note on the table, cracking it slightly. I walk over and pick up the note.
'See ya real soon slayers.'
He knew.
"He knew we were coming."
"You think?"
She kicks the wall and puts a hole in it.
This is getting out of hand.
I look to the door, my friends standing watch outside the door.
I guess a few minutes wouldn't hurt.
"Okay so, if they know we're coming then they probably think this'll make us stop and slow down. So the only way to keep the advantage is to go ahead now, maybe we'll catch them off guard and… okay we should…"
She starts to the door and I put my hand against her upper chest to stop her.
"This isn't gonna happen."
She looks at me like she's trying to figure out what the hell I'm thinking.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
I look toward the door, Giles and Spike in the doorway the others are all watching the halls.
"Would you guys give us a minute?"
"Of course."
Giles grabs the doorknob and starts to close the door.
"Oh come on, I wanna see what happens."
Giles grabs the other knob and pushes him out of the doorway as the door closes.
"Do you have any popcorn?"
I turn my attention back to my one true love.
"What's going on B?"
I take my hand off her chest and look at her.
"I was actually gonna ask you the same question."
She starts to avoid looking at me, shifting her weight from side to side.
"Nothing's going on B."
Okay here we go. Where the hell are my pliers? I need to pull some teeth.
"Then what's with the kamikaze attitude?"
"I want this whole thing over with, don't you?"
"Of course I do but…"
"Good, then we should get to it."
She goes to leave but again I stop her.
"Faith I'm not going into a big fight with you hating me."
There's a moment of thick silence between us before she responds.
"I don't hate you B, I love you. You know that."
"Well if you don't hate me then you're obviously angry with me. And we have to deal with it."
"I'm not angry with you either."
I look at her with a raised eyebrow.
"Okay so I am angry with you… sorta, but it's nothing. It's not important."
"But it is important Faith. You mean the world to me, and if we go into battle this way I'll never be able to concentrate on the fight. And I don't think you could either."
She takes a deep breath.
"Probably not."
I take Faith's hands in mine and slide them around my waist.
"Then talk to me. Tell me what I did to hurt you."
She starts to hold me to her as I put my hand in her hair, feeling the soft silkiness of every strand between my fingers.
"You know what you did B."
She's right, I do know.
"I'm really sorry Faith. I didn't mean it the way it sounded. The only reason Spike is here is because I want us to go into this with everything we've got, even if it is only Spike."
My fingers caress her cheek.
"I wanna know that all of us will make it through this."
"We will…"
I kiss her softly, tasting the truth of her words on her lips.
"So are we good?"
She smiles at me.
"We're good."
I turn so we're both facing the door, my arm around her shoulders, hers around my waist. We go over to the door and she opens it. Giles and Spike are the first to notice.
"Can we go yet? I can feel Saint Vigeous start to charge my batteries and I'm gonna need a good spot of violence before long."
"You'll get it Spike, you'll get it."
We start heading towards the exit.
"And how are thing?"
Things?
"Things are five by five Giles. Aren't they Faith?"
"They are indeed B, they are indeed."
Buffy's POV
Well here it is, the moment we've all been waiting for. The big fight scene, the battle of a lifetime. We can all feel it.
We walked through the cave entrance a few minutes ago and all our moods shifted.
We're not scared not really we'd all just rather somewhere else. We've been through a few apocalypses in the time we've known each other and we all know that some of us might not make it through this. But all of us also know that I would never let that happen. We don't really talk about it, but we know I'd do anything to save my friends, and Faith knows I'd do twice that to save her.
You know they say hindsight is 20/20, well in my case it's better than that. Mine is 20/40 or 40/20, which ever is better than perfect. Cause that's what my life is, better than perfect. Even with the big battle only minutes away I can say my life is perfect. Everything that we've been through, every moment of pleasure and pain and all the moments in between.
All of them worth it just to know that we're here, now, with my friends…. With our friends, and happy. I can't think of a single thing I could ever want more than this. Well maybe this Omega son of a bitch dead, which will be happening pretty soon if I have anything to say about it, and I do.
We come up on what looks like a new section of the cave and we all stop.
"Okay, remember what Giles said Omega will have his closest followers chanting around him, giving him their strength. Take them out if you can and any other vamps he might have with him but leave Omega to the super slayers okay?"
"Right cause going up against a mightily pissed off demon that's existed since the dawn of time, that was my first impulse."
"Shut up Spike. Okay let's go."
We break into a running charge as we enter the room, and then we stop.
"Well that was… anti-climactic, all that build up and then… nothing."
Xander says something I never thought I'd hear him say.
"I'm gonna have to go with Spike on this one, a doctor's office waiting room isn't really the place for an ultimate battle."
Faith looks around at the absurd little room and walks over to the big wooden doors on the other side of the room.
"Yeah if it weren't for the giant wooden doors it would be exactly like a doctor's waiting room."
She seems to listen to something as I join her next to the door.
"Sounds like some big chant session going on inside. Can't make out what they're saying though, this door must be pretty thick. Could be demon boy is in here."
I can hear the chanting too.
"Guess there's only one way to find out. You guys ready?"
They all take their weapons in hand, ready to use them. Faith and I put our hands against one of the two double doors.
"Ready babe?"
"I always am lover."
We smile at each other before opening the door. We open the door to a massive room full of vampires.
Oh good.
In the middle of the room is a huge demon surrounded by 12 vampires in cloaks.
That must be Omega. He's at least 20 feet tall and seriously ripped. He looks essentially human, though I don't know too many 20 foot humans with grey skin that look that ripped. And then there's the face. He's got these white spiky things on either side of the top of his head, pointed ears, and teeth like… well let's just say they make vampire teeth look like white mice. But that's not what bugs me the most. What bugs me the most are the over 200 vamps that are kneeling around him and his little entourage. This could be a problem.
Faith snaps them out of their chant-a-thon.
"Is that a private spiritual gathering or can anyone join?"
Heh, good one.
"Yeah I gotta say this whole chanting thing seems like a lot of fun."
All of the vamps in the room turn and stand up.
"No please, don't get up on our account. Continue."
One of the vamps breaks formation to greet us.
"Buffy… Faith, how are you ladies?"
"Better than you will be in about five minutes."
It's him it's the guy who murdered Riley. It's John.
"Hey Spike, feel like sitting this one out?"
"I wasn't planning on it."
"Well you might want to after we give you this."
He holds up a disk.
"Little present from an old friend of ours named Adam. He gave us the specs for your little chip so we could remove it for ya. Thought we could use it."
Both Faith and I look at Spike and he doesn't even think about it before responding.
"Not a chance mate. I trust you about as much as these Scoobies trust me… I ain't making no deals with anyone."
John scowls at us.
Well now that that's settled.
"You're gonna die."
He just smiles at us.
God I'm gonna kill this guy.
"You really think you can get through all my friends here in less than five minutes?"
I grip the stake harder in my hand.
"Maybe not but I'm sure as hell gonna try."
"Really?"
"Yeah and then we're gonna chop your lame ass boss' head off. Aren't we B?"
"Damn right."
John glares at us.
Hit a nerve did we?
The loud booming voice of the big bad Omega tries the oldest trick in the book, intimidation.
"You will pay for your insolence."
The guy has been around for thousands of years, he's been preparing for this moment for centuries, and THAT is his best line? Please…
"Let's get on with it."
John's glare turns to a slight grin at my words.
"KILL THEM!"
Here we go.
The army of vamps starts coming at us and the battle begins. Faith and I make quick work of the first few vamps to come at us while the rest of the gang takes a little longer. The numbers start to get to us and we're fighting vamps left and right, trying to keep as many of them away from our friends as possible.
It's only after we both stake at least 20 vamps each that Faith and I realize this isn't working. We each throw a vamp in the direction of each other and they slam into one another, back to back. We simultaneously stake the vamps leaving only the two of us, looking at each other as the battle rages around us. It's like we have the same thought.
"We have to go for Omega."
We try and make our way to the center of the room where Omega stand ominously, surveying the raging battle before him. We take out as many vamps as we can without losing forward momentum.
Giles and the others will be okay, they've faced a lot of things without my help. Maybe not this many all at once but I now they'll be okay.
The two of us get about 15 feet from Omega before we're stopped by the one vampire in this mob that I want to kill, that I need to kill, John.
"Took you longer than five minutes to get here."
"We're here aren't we? And after we dust you we are gonna tear your master apart."
"Is that so? Cause I'd have to bet against that. By the time you get through me, and the twelve dead guys in cloaks to get to Omega it'll already be too late. My master's power will be complete. His strength will be beyond anything you pitiful slayers could ever muster."
"You really think you can keep both of us busy?"
He gets this evil grin on his face.
"No but I can keep one of you busy."
What?
Out of nowhere Faith gets tackled by three vamps.
"FAITH!"
I'm about to jump to her aide when one of the vamps goes flying off her and I hear her voice as she struggles with the other two.
"I'm… FINE B just, get to Omega that's all that… matters."
She's right. I have to get to Omega before he powers up.
I turn back to John, only to have his fist connect with my face. I stumble back slightly.
So the bastard's got some power in his punch eh? Doesn't mean I'm gonna make him any less dead.
I take a swing at him grab his stomach briefly to avoid an onslaught. I try for an uppercut and he barely dodges it. He tries to punch my briefly exposed mid-section from the uppercut but I'm ready for him and I grab his clenched fist, twisting his arm with it till he's bending backwards and left open for a staking.
I raise my stake to the man who killed Riley, ready to take my revenge, when the ground starts shaking and the sound of twelve vamps in cloaks turning to dust stops me. I look up at Omega standing a few feet away. He's got this glowing blue aura thing going on and he looks mad as hell.
This can't be good.
John laughs from his uncomfortable position.
"It's all over now slayer."
I look down into his hate filled eyes, my own hatred for him reflected in his eyes.
"Maybe for you…"
I plunge the stake into his soulless heart, taking my revenge for Riley's murder.
"But I'm not dead yet."
I wipe the dust off my hands, knowing that I set things right. I turn to face Omega, looking at his massive form. Knowing this isn't gonna be easy. He roars in anger, raising his arms to either side of him as two beams of blue energy shoot from his hands, blasting straight through to the surface.
I get into a fighting stance as he looks right at me, his pure black eyes seemingly staring right through me. The blue glow around him gets brighter and it isn't until it's too late that I realize he's charging up. The huge blast comes at me and I don't have time to get out of the way, but at the last second she tackles me out of harm's way. The blast dissipates, taking at least 50 vamps with it and I look up at the love of my life.
"Faith…"
"Hey…"
I smile at her on top of me.
"Thanks."
She looks at the rapidly closing hole in Omega's forces and smiles back.
"For what… that? Ah it was nothing."
She gets up and offers her hand to help me up. I take it. I look at Omega.
"I guess we were too late."
She watches Omega's glow get brighter.
"Looks like… wanna give up?"
I laugh at her.
"Not a chance."
She chuckles.
"There's my girl."
I punch her playfully in the arm among all the carnage.
"You better believe it."
"You know I do."
Omega looks like he's about done charging.
"Looks like it's now or never B."
"Let's make it now instead of never."
"Deal."
We start to rush Omega and he fires his next blast. We dodge it, letting the blast pass between us as it takes out another 40 of his own soldiers. I get to Omega first and throw everything I can at him. I land every punch I can but it isn't long before he slams his fist into my gut, sending me clear across the room and into the stone wall.
God DAMN that hurt.
I use the wall to stand myself up, trying my best to block out the pain. A nearby Willow calls out to me as she fends off a vamp.
"Are you okay Buffy?"
I walk over slowly and stake Willow's vamp.
"I'm… fine Will. I just…"
A big boom shuts me up as I see Faith go flying to the other side of the room after being hit by one of Omega's monster punches.
"FAITH!!"
I break into a run as I see a couple of Omega's faithful pick her groggy form up and hold her still for their master. A blue glow starts to fill the dark room as he charges up.
He's gonna fire.
I start knocking a few of the less than 20 vamps left over in a attempt to get to Faith quicker.
Oh god, I'm not gonna make it. I'll never get her out of the way before it hits her. I'm running as fast as I can and I'm not gonna make it. I can't let this happen, I won't let this happen. I have to do something… anything. So I do the only thing I can do. I do the only thing that anyone could do to save the one they love.
I put myself between her and the blast.
CHAPTER 114: Hell hath no fury like a woman with nothing left to lose
Faith's POV
"BUFFY!!"
She steps in front of me and the blast hits her.
Oh god…
"Buffy!"
I look into her eyes and she looks into mine, a look of pure love looking back at me.
Why?
I struggle to break free of the grip the vampires have on me as they disintegrate around me and B. The force of the blast dissipating throws her limp body into mine and I take her in my arms. Her breathing is slow and shallow as she tries to talk.
"Faith…"
I can barely speak myself, the tears in my eyes choking me up.
"Buffy…"
"Are you… okay?"
I gotta lay her down so I can look at her.
I gently lay her down on the cold stone floor.
"I'm fine B, just fine… god Buffy what did you do?"
"What… what I had to Faith. The only thing I could do to save you."
"But why? I… I could've done something… gotten out of the way at the last second, I… Buffy…"
"Faith, it's all right."
"No, no it's not all right B. You're hurt, you have to stay still. I'll get you help."
"No, don't… it's too late for me. I'm dying."
"Don't say that B, I'll get help."
I look around at the battle going on around us and all I can think is I have to save B.
"WILLOW!"
She's fighting the last of the vamps. She can't get to us.
"WILLOW WE NEED YOUR HELP!"
"Faith…"
I try and look down at her through my teary eyes.
"Ssh B, don't talk… it'll hurt less if you don't talk. You've gotta hang on."
"Faith please just… just kiss me."
I lean down and kiss her gently.
"Buffy?"
"Tell me you love me."
"I love you B, with all of my heart."
"Then it was all worth it, every last moment."
She reaches up and touches my tear soaked cheek.
"I'd die a thousand times as long as you love me."
"I do… I love you more than words could ever say."
She puts her other hand against my other cheek and I can't help but cry harder.
"Buffy…"
"Faith listen to me… please…"
"What, whatever it is you can tell me later."
"No, Faith I… I want you, you to know that I love you… that I'll never stop loving you."
I kiss her passionately.
"I know Buffy, I know."
"Remember me… please."
"I could never forget you Buffy… even if I lived forever I'd never forget you B."
"Protect my friends for me?"
"Of course B, I won't let anyone hurt them, I promise."
"Help them…"
"I will, I'll make the world a safer place for them, because it's what you want, I promise."
Oh god I'm gonna lose her.
Her breathing gets even shorter and her hands start to slip from my face.
"I love you Faith…"
"Don't leave me B… please."
She falls limp on the floor.
"Buffy?"
She doesn't move.
"Oh god Buffy?"
I put my hands on her shoulders and shake her lightly.
"Buffy?"
I shake her harder.
"Don't leave me Buffy!"
I take her in my arms and put her head against my shoulder.
"Buffy!"
I squeeze her tightly to me.
"BUFFY!"
She's gone… she's gone and I couldn't save her.
"Buffy…"
A horrible looming laughter fills the room.
She's gone.
"That's it? That's what I've been afraid of for so long? How pathetic."
She's gone.
"Why was I afraid of THAT?"
She's gone and it's all his fault.
I rest her body peacefully on the floor and stand up to face Omega.
He took her from me.
Willow starts to come this way with Tara in tow.
He took her from me and now I have nothing. He made her leave me… and now he has to die.
Willow's POV
I rush to Buffy's side as Spike stakes the last vamp and Tara follows me.
"Buffy?"
I kneel down beside her to check her over.
"Faith what happened?"
She doesn't say a thing. She just stands there, staring at Omega.
"Faith I need to know what happened so I can help her."
"Get her out of here…"
She doesn't even flinch.
"Is she okay?"
"Take Buffy and get out of here."
She hasn't moved and neither has Buffy.
"Faith if she's hurt I need to know so we can…"
She turns around and the look in her eyes TERRIFIES me.
"TAKE HER AND GET OUT!!"
Faith turns around and faces Omega again. I have to take a second to get over the fact that my blood just turned to ice before I do as she says.
"Tara, take her feet… carefully."
Faith starts to walk slowly toward Omega as we pick Buffy up and carry her carefully to the door.
"If I had known it was that easy to destroy her I probably never would've bothered."
"You're not dealing with her anymore asshole, you're dealing with me."
Faith hasn't even tried to run at him, she just keeps walking at a slow pace. The gang catches up to us as we get half way to the exit.
"Okay then little girl, let's go."
The light around Omega seems to super charge and the room fills with blue light. Faith still hasn't changed her slow and steady pace, her eyes never leaving Omega.
"Willow what's going on?"
"We're leaving, help me with Buffy."
"But…"
"Don't argue with me, we're leaving. Now help me with Buffy, she's badly hurt and we don't wanna make it worse."
A worn out Xander and a tired Spike take over for Tara and me. Omega fires a super charged blast and Faith puts her hands out, deflecting it into a wall of blue energy.
She hasn't even lost a step she just keeps walking slowly toward Omega pushing the wall back at him.
How is she doing this?
We make it to the door as Faith and Omega are less than a foot from each other. We leave the throne room, taking us off the potential targets list.
Buffy hasn't moved voluntarily since we got to her. Something's wrong…
"Guys put her down. We need to check her out."
They put her down and I look her over.
She doesn't have any broken bones but… she's, she's not breathing.
"Oh my god…"
"What? What is it Will?"
She doesn't have a pulse. Oh god no…
I bury myself in Tara's arms as I start to cry.
"Is she…?"
Spike says the words none of us can bring ourselves to say.
"She's dead."
No she… she can't be…
I squeeze Tara a little harder as I feel her cry against my shoulder. And then like some horrible wake up call, something explodes inside the throne room and Faith comes crashing into the floor out here. She doesn't move.
Oh god not… not Faith too she…
She coughs up a lung full of dust before rolling over onto all fours to cough up more. Giles is the only one with enough composure to form half a thought.
"Faith are you…?"
"I'm fine…"
"What about…?"
"He's gone… I killed him…"
She crawls over to Buffy's body and puts her hand against her cheek.
"… For her…"
I should tell her.
"She's…"
"I know…"
She kisses Buffy's lips gently before she collapses on top of her and cries.
...continued in She Who Was My Love...