Trials and Complications
by faith_b
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: These characters are the property of Joss Whedon and
apparently, some mutant's enemy....
Spoilers: None..... I think.
Author's Note: You don't actually have to have read 'T&T' to read
this, but it's advised as otherwise you might find yourself
asking, "who?", "when?", "why?". throughout the entire fic.
Dedications: To all those who requested this.
Feedback: If you're gonna read it, you might as well, no?
"Mommy, catch!" Buffy heard, as she turned to receive a stake being tossed at her. Shocked at seeing its 'thrower' she momentarily froze, allowing the vampire, with which she was engaged in combat, to hit her in the face. Quickly regained composure, the slayer punched the vampire back and plunged the stake through its heart. She turned to see Faith running towards herself and her daughter.
"Way to go with the stake toss J," the brunette congratulated, stopping and high-fiving the seven year old child.
"Way to go?" Buffy asked, angrily. "Joyce, what are you doing out here?"
"It's not her fault," Faith replied, coming to the youngster's defense. "She couldn't sleep, so I said we should come out and give you a hand."
"Faith, you can't bring a child on patrol."
"Why not, B? It's not like anything was going to happen to her. I had her back the whole time."
Looking at the brunette in disbelief at her ability to form an excuse to justify her actions, Buffy turned and stormed away.
Faith and Joyce watched the slayer speed down the road.
The blonde child looked up at the brunette. "Are we in trouble?" she asked her.
"Big-time, kiddo," Faith assured her. She bent down and patted her shoulder, indicating that the child jump on.
Joyce climbed onto the slayer's back and was lifted as the slayer stood to full height.
"We better take the long way home," Faith told her. "Give mommy time to cool off."
Joyce nodded.
Buffy made no response as her girlfriend and daughter returned home and greeted her.
Having pre-meditated a course of action, Faith nodded at the child and made herself scarce as Joyce walked into the living room and sat down next to her mother. "Mommy, I'm sorry," she told her. "I didn't mean to make you mad. I won't do it again, I promise. It's just that I really miss you when you¡¦re gone."
Buffy couldn't help but relent to her daughter whose hazel eyes seemed to sparkle whenever she was upset. "It's ok," she returned compassionately and causing Joyce to, as if on cue, throw her arms around her. The slayer hugged her daughter and stroked the child's long blonde locks, smiling at her adorability.
After a little while, the seven-year-old peered up at her mother and yawned. "I'm wicked tired," she professed. "I'm going to go to bed now."
Buffy's eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Okay. Make sure you wash up first," she told her daughter, letting her go. She looked towards the living-room doorway, calling, "Faith, you can come in now!"
*Busted* the brunette thought, listening in. She shook her head at Joyce, who merely shrugged as she left the room and passed, before continuing upstairs.
Faith walked into the living room. "What was that all about?" she asked her lover, taking a seat.
"Don't give me that," Buffy told her. "I know you put her up to it."
Deciding against continuing the charade, the brunette admitted, "I just told her what to say. But she really was sorry. We both are."
Buffy looked away from the brunette, for fear of giving in too quickly and Faith couldn't help a smile from emerging as she tried in vain to lock eyes with the slayer. "So, am I forgiven?" she asked.
The blonde made no reply, dramatically shifting on the couch and turning her back to her girlfriend.
"Huh?" Faith asked, moving closer to the older slayer, wrapping an arm around her and kissing her on the neck from behind.
Buffy failed to reply.
Faith asked again and again, punctuating each plea with a kiss.
Unable to remain angry, Buffy relented, turned and met Faith's mouth with her own. The two sat locked in a kiss, until Faith broke it to stand. "How 'bout we take this upstairs?" she asked, grinning.
Buffy stood and allowed Faith to lead her upstairs.
The brunette entered the room first and whipped Buffy inside. She closed the door behind her and removed her top as Buffy removed her shoes and sat on the bed.
The blonde slayer removed her own clothing and smiled as Faith stood over her and bent down to kiss her. The taller of them, reached behind Buffy with both arms and undid the clasp of her bra. She removed the garment and tossed it aside.
"Much better," she admired, pulling her lover up and kissing her again. She ran her arm slowly down Buffy's back, stopping at her thigh and scooping her up.
Buffy smiled and wrapping her arms around the brunette's neck, hung on tightly.
Carrying the petite blonde, Faith walked over to the side of their bed. She whipped the covers aside and placed Buffy into their Queen sized before entering herself. Then, covering the both of them, Faith leaned in and kissed the blonde.
"Mmmm Faith," Buffy moaned, aroused and closing her eyes whilst taking hold of Faith's hand and running it down her body.
"Joyce," Faith replied.
The mood completely killed, by her girlfriend's utterance, Buffy opened her eyes to question her, before following Faith's gaze to see her daughter standing in the doorway.
"Mommy, I can't sleep," the child explained. "The monsters will get me. Can I stay here with you?"
Blushing from head to toe, Buffy was relieved when Faith spoke. "S'ok J. You go back and I'll be there in a sec."
Joyce nodded, before leaving the room.
Rolling her eyes, before laughing at the situation, Faith got out of bed and began to get dressed. "I'll try see if I can get her to sleep and we can pick up where we left off."
Buffy smiled in response, laying back.
"Don't start without me," the brunette warned, leaving the room.
"Bye, mommy!" Joyce called, leaving her house and running towards the car outside, inside which Faith was waiting. She entered the passenger seat and looked towards the door to see her mother running after her.
"Joyce, lunch," Buffy reminded, handing her daughter a brown paper bag through the window.
"Thank you," Joyce replied, receiving a goodbye kiss.
Witnessing the display, Faith asked the blonde slayer, "What about my kiss?"
"We'll save yours for later," Buffy replied her, causing the brunette to beam.
"I'm gonna get some," she gloated.
"Some what?" Joyce asked the youngest slayer.
"Nothing," Buffy answered. Glaring at Faith, she ordered her to, "Go."
"Fine," the brunette replied her. With a wink and a, "Later, babe," She pulled out of the drive-way onto the road and sped up.
Faith turned up the CD-player and nodded in time to the loud music. She glanced at the paper bag on Joyce's lap. "What did you get today, kiddo?" she asked.
The youngster looked inside the bag and searched through the items. She looked up. "A cheese sandwich with lettuce and milk," she answered causing the listening slayer to grimace.
"You know, I'm starting to get why your mom's a twig," she told the blonde child. She smiled. "How 'bout we stop by the grocery store and buy you some real food?"
Joyce whooped for joy, as Faith accelerated the car.
Buffy arrived at Sunnydale’s only psychiatric clinic. "Is she here yet?" she asked the receptionist.
"Your twelve o'clock?"
Buffy nodded.
"Nope."
The blonde slayer thanked the woman and proceeded to enter her office. Removing her jacket, she entered and looked at the mountain of paperwork left for her on her desk. Buffy groaned in response, sat at the table and picked up the file on top. Working through each one and adding her professional opinion to diagnoses given, she was unaware when an hour quickly passed. She continued through the paper work, pausing when her intercom buzzed.
"Doctor Summers," Buffy heard.
She pressed the button of the intercom machine on her desk. Answering, "Yeah."
"Your twelve o'clock is here."
"Send them in," Buffy told her, disheartened when she looked at the clock to see it was almost one. She stood as the door was opened and a patient walked in.
"Hi," she greeted with a smile, motioning at the chair and sitting herself.
"Sorry I'm late," the patient told her, taking a seat.
"That's ok," Buffy lied. She sat down and located the patient's file. "Kayla Green?" she asked.
The patient nodded.
The slayer opened the woman's file to see pictures taken of Kayla's arms and neck with puncture wounds in them. She grit her teeth as she read the report which detailed that the patient had been meting out physical punishment to herself and claiming that they were inflicted by demons.
"Doctor, please," Kayla began. "I know that my report must say that I'm some kind of wack job, but I swear to you, I didn't cut myself. I was attacked by-"
"Vampires," Buffy finished.
"You know about them too?" the woman asked.
Buffy nodded.
"I'm not crazy," Kayla told her, the statement sounding a little like a question.
"No," the blonde replied. "Vampires really exist."
The woman exhaled. "Finally, someone on my side."
The slayer picked up a sheet of paper and a pen. "Tell me everything about the attack," she advised her.
"Well, me and a few girlfriends went for a night out a few days ago and I met this guy. I invited him back to my place and when we started to…y'know, he morphed into a-a vampire and bit me. Well, I managed to kick him in the…y'know and then my brother came home. Anyway, he must have got scared 'cause he ran away. My brother took me to the hospital and when I told the doctors what happened, they sent me to you."
Buffy nodded, making notes. "Ok, so where about did you and your friends go out that night?"
"The Ride. Uptown."
The slayer made a note to patrol around that area later that night. Reasoning that if the vampire was scared of confrontation, it was likely that it had just been newly sired. It and its sire must therefore be local to the area.
"Doctor, I'm so happy you know. Now you can tell the other doctors that I'm not crazy."
Buffy looked up from her note-taking. "Look Kayla, it's not that simple. See, people would rather believe that other worldly things don't exist. They can't handle the fact that the things they define as 'monsters' are real. Anyone bold enough to come forward and accept that is labeled 'crazy' o-or 'weird'."
"So what should I do?"
Buffy sighed. Taking a deep breath, she explained, "You're going to have to pretend that you had some sort of accident that led to the cuts. Trust me; it will be easier that way."
Kayla agreed.
"Look, I'll put a note in your file that you suddenly remembered a… that you… I'll think of something."
The patient nodded again, standing up. "Thank you."
"Kayla."
The woman turned.
"I promise you that the vampire that did this to you will never hurt another human being again."
The patient nodded and smiled at Buffy before leaving.
The slayer sighed. She looked over the case notes again, amending the patient's file and making notes for patrol that night. Mid-word, the blonde stopped to answer her buzzing intercom.
"Doctor Summers," her secretary called. "You have a call on line three."
Buffy pressed the line three button on her phone and picked up the receiver, answering, "Hello."
"'Sup doc," she heard. “Bad time?"
Buffy smiled and dropped her pen on the table. She sat back in her chair as the caller continued.
"I have this problem. See doc, last night I came home from a monster slay as horny as hell. I get my girlfriend all ready to put out, step outta the room for about five minutes and when I get back, she's snoozin'. Trouble is, now, 'cause I didn't get any, I can't think straight."
Buffy smiled. "Sounds like you got it bad."
"The baddest," Faith replied her. "Is there anything you can do for me, doc?"
"Well what do you have in mind?"
"I'll give you a clue; I've got my hand in my pants and I'm talking to the hottest honey on the face of the planet."
Mid-breath, Buffy froze.
"That get your attention, doc?" Faith asked her.
"You bet," the older slayer replied.
"So, whaddya say?" the brunette continued. "You wanna join me?"
"You still haven't told me how."
"Ok, I'll walk you through it. You sitting comfortably?"
Buffy sat back in her chair. "Yeah," she replied.
"Me too. I'm sitting back in my chair checking out my picture of you in the blue bikini…." Faith paused. "I'm guessing you already have your skirt undone."
"No," came the reply.
"Aw, c'mon B. I gave you enough time…"
"I'm already down to my black lace panties," Buffy clarified.
The brunette almost dropped the phone at the intensity of the arousal invoked by the statement. "Fuck, B, that was quick," she stated. "Ok, what are you doing now?"
"You're the one with the problem, Faith, what do you want me to do?"
"How you doing?" Faith asked, panting.
"Uh…I….uh," Buffy replied, working her fingers into her body.
"Shit, B, you're getting me horny again.…"
"Oh…I…F-aith…"
"That's it baby; use those sexy little fingers to fuck your pussy. Harder. C'mon B, I'd fuck you harder than that."
Hearing that statement triggered Buffy's orgasm. She shuddered as she came, experiencing the pleasurable drainage of power. The blonde slayer lay back on her chair and barely able to hold the phone to her ear, she heard Faith shout, "Gimme a minute!"
"Babe, I gotta go," Faith told her. "Some customer's got a complaint. Thanks for the fix."
"No problem," Buffy replied. "See you at home."
"Later," Faith replied before dropping the phone.
Chest heaving and feeling sleepy, Buffy closed her eyes for a second before being reminded of herself by a knock on the door. Jerking up and to action, the slayer replaced her skirt and fixed her hair, before calling at the door. "Just a minute!" When satisfied with her appearance, she called, "Come in!"
Prompting a handsome brunette to open the door and let himself in. "Hi," he said, closing the door behind him. He approached the blonde's desk.
Buffy stood. "Hi," she replied, unaware of the man's identity.
The stranger looked at the blonde's confused expression. "And you had no idea I was coming," he stated. He pointed at himself. "I'm the new doctor, from Chicago."
"Oh. I, er," Buffy managed. "No, I did. I'm just a little-" She stopped mid-sentence and offered her left hand in handshake. "Buffy Summers."
"Are you kidding?" the doctor replied, shaking it. "I know who you are. I read your paper on the psychology of social castigation and how possession of power can be alienating. That was very well written."
"Thank you," Buffy replied.
The brunette stared as if mesmerised, causing the blonde slayer to smile sheepishly.
"I'm sorry," the doctor told her. "It's just that I can't imagine why you would know so much about social castigation."
Unsure how to take the comment, Buffy merely politely smiled.
"That was supposed to be a compliment," the man clarified. "I'm sorry. I don't usually meet beautiful psychiatrists. They tend to be balding old men with excessive facial hair and I'm babbling."
Buffy laughed. "It's ok. It happens to the best of us."
The brunette smiled he remained silent for a few seconds before speaking. "I should go," he told her, pointing to the door behind him and adding, "Before I make a complete fool of myself. Plus, I've got patients waiting. I just really wanted to meet you."
The slayer smiled. "Uh, it was nice meeting you…" she looked closer and read the man's nametag.”Doctor Abrams."
"Please, call me Parker," he told her.
"Parker," Buffy repeated.
The brunette back-stepped towards the door. "I'll see you around," he told his new colleague, returning her smile before letting himself out of her office.
Buffy parked her car across the road from 'The Ride', a local night club to those who lived uptown. After swapping her shoes for sketchers, the blonde exited the vehicle and grabbed her bag. She slung it over her shoulder and after locking the vehicle, walked across the road and slipped behind the crowded building, the loud music from the club aiding her to be inconspicuous. The slayer walked around the back of the building before deciding to do a sweep around its proximity. She looked around.
"C’mon vamps," she whispered, scouring the area. "Come out, come out wherever you are."
Finding nothing either suspicious or particularly interesting, Buffy found herself wandering and failed to notice when she had left the vicinity of the club and headed further uptown. The blonde continued through the darkened streets for a while before noticing that her vision was becoming a chore. About to turn and head back, she stopped when she sensed danger and whipped around when streetlights were suddenly activated. Looking around, she was not surprised when vampires emerged from the surroundings. "Oh," she said to one, who positioned himself directly in front of her, after counting the number of vampires present. "Only five of you?" she asked.
The vampire remained silent and rushed at the blonde.
Buffy took a deep breath. "Ok, let’s do it this way then," she decided as she hit the vampire as soon as he came close.
The vampire reeled from the punch, giving the slayer enough time to glance around and find that the other four were standing still and watching.
*What the-?* Buffy started to think, before the vampire she was fighting got a hit in. A single vampire no match for her, Buffy ducked the next inaccurate blow he threw, flipped back, dropped her bag and opened it.
In effort to stop the slayer reaching into her bag, the vampire got up and rushed towards her, only to find himself in a chest-on collision with her stake. He cursed as he turned to dust.
Buffy stood up as one of the other four vampires then moved into action. "I’m starting to see a pattern here, guys," she told the other three whilst fending off her new attacker, with a kick. "But I’m telling you, this would be a lot easier for you," she threw a punch. "And a lot quicker for me." She deflected a blow and replied with her own. "If you all attack," she punched again, causing the vampire to double over. "Together," she finished, staking the vampire through its back. When rushed at by the next vampire, she twirled her stake. "Two down," she told him.
The vampire waved his arms violently in front of her in attempt to scare and disorientate the slayer.
Buffy almost laughed. "Are you for real?" she asked, grabbing hold of him. She pulled his body towards her own and introduced her stake to his chest.
"Next!" she called, starting to enjoy the workout.
The fourth vampire, having seen the speed at which the blonde had killed the others decided to approach cautiously. He walked towards the slayer, who motioned for him to hurry up.
Putting up his fists, he moved towards her in a boxer’s style and threw a body blow.
Buffy laughed and blocked it before it had a chance to hit her.
The vampire quickly threw another blow aimed at her face.
The slayer again blocked the punch, puzzled by the fact that this vampire looked relatively young compared to the others. She looked to the fifth to see that he was well on his way down the road.
"Uh-oh," Buffy uttered. She staked the vampire attempting to fight her and aimed her stake at the runner. She threw it and watched as she hit her target and the vampire turned to dust. "Never get tired of that," she thought aloud, smiling. The slayer looked around for sign of anything else out of the ordinary and when she found none, walked back to her bag, picked it up from the ground and headed back towards her car.
Sat at Joyce’s bedside, Faith leant towards the youngster recalling a previous fight and telling it as a bedtime story. "So I’m rushing towards them," she told Joyce. "And I’m like 'now youz are all gonna die, you little fu-" she caught herself and finished, "bad vamps!"
"What are fubad vamps?" the child asked her, intrigued.
"Er," Faith replied, thinking. "They're like uber bad vamps. The baddest of 'em all."
"Wow," Joyce replied, amazed. She proceeded to inquire, "so what happened next?"
"Well then the vamps are like 'slayer, you can’t take all of us!' and I’m like 'oh yeah, punk? Bring it on!'"
The seven-year-old stared wide-eyed as the slayer demonstrated her fighting style.
"And I went like this, pow! And the vamp was dust. And so I square up to the last vamp and she’s all, 'ok, so you got skills'. And I’m like 'you bet I do, baby.' And then she's like-" The brunette paused mid-sentence. She listened carefully before signalling at the door with her eyes to the youngster. Understanding, Joyce closed her eyes and feigned sleep. "And then Cinderella goes to the prince," Faith continued. "'Dude, the shoe's mine' and he gets all happy and they get married and live happily ever after." She allowed her voice to trail off and stood. The brunette lovingly covered the child and turned to leave, noticing Buffy in the doorway. "B," she said, feigning surprise. "How long have you been standing there?"
"Not long," Buffy replied as Faith walked towards her and gave her a kiss. She broke it to ask, "Joyce asleep?”
Faith nodded, closing the door behind her as she left the bedroom. "You hungry?" she asked. "There’s only a slice of pizza left. J almost, like, ate the whole box."
Buffy’s eyes narrowed.
"Ok," the brunette confessed. "So I ate most of it."
The blonde laughed. "You know," she told her lover, pointing to the brunette’s stomach. "Pretty soon, all this pizza eating? It’s gonna start to show."
"Nah," Faith told her. "Not on these abs." She lifted her top to reveal her toned, tanned stomach. "See."
Buffy slowly ran her finger along the exposed flesh. "These?" she asked, looking into the brunette’s eyes.
Faith smiled. "That tickles," she stated, taking hold of the blonde’s wrist and re-locating it to rest on her hip. She pulled Buffy towards her and kissed her deeply, her tongue running along the blonde’s. Faith pulled back. "I missed you tonight," she told her girlfriend, before kissing the blonde again and then asking. "Where’d you go?"
Buffy reached for Faith’s trousers, undoing the top button. "Uptown," she breathed, in response, tugging down the trouser zip. She moved forward, forcing Faith back into the door she was standing in front of and kissed her.
Faith moaned, breaking contact between them to ask, "Why?"
Buffy tugged on the younger slayer’s top, answering, "work," before resuming the kiss.
Feeling Buffy’s tongue delve into her mouth again, Faith decided not to press any further with the questioning. She moved back, pulled her black top over her head and waited for the blonde to do the same; neither of them aware that their movements were being broadcast elsewhere.
The audio technician, belonging to renegade militia, listened to the exchange between the two females. He lifted the headphones from his head, attracting the attention of the man in charge.
"What’s wrong?" the lieutenant asked him. "Is something happening?"
"Sir, er," the man, replied. "I think they’re…." He motioned with his hands and eyes.
"What?" the lieutenant asked, impatiently.
"They’re," the man started, blushing. "They’re having sex, sir."
The man in charge rolled his eyes. "Cut the feed," he ordered. "Resume in approximately seven minutes."
He turned to the other soldiers within the cramped room. "Now, as I was saying," he continued. "What you are seeing is footage taken earlier of slayer number one fighting."
The soldiers watched as the blonde on screen quickly and easily took care of the first two vampires.
The lieutenant picked up his pointer. "Don’t be worried," he assured them. "These are just a few rookie hostiles we brought with us from project 17. Heck, they don’t even speak American," he told them, chuckling at the slayer's attempt at verbal exchange with the South American vampires. He continued, "notice how the slayer is completely egotistical in her approach. She is chatty and completely unaware of her surroundings. Definitely some of her qualities to note."
Those present began scribbling down on the notepads in front of them.
"Oh, but here," the balding leader added, pausing the screen to show Buffy having thrown a stake at a running vampire. "She has excellent marksmanship of what I would call about 3 metres, from the mDVDi footage. However, as long as no targets are presented and combat is undertaken with force and in high numbers, I do not see her presenting much trouble for the re-capture of Cadet Finn."
"Lieutenant Hammond, sir," one of the soldiers interrupted.
"Major," the lieutenant replied.
"We were told that there were two slayers holding Cadet Finn."
"That is correct, Major, but we have yet to capture footage of the other one in action. Of course, however, that is only a matter of time." He turned to the audio technician. "How are we doing?" he asked him.
The technician replaced his headphones and listened.
"Oh….Yes…Oh God, Faith!...Yesss....I'm-oh!" he heard.
He removed the equipment. "They’re still at it, sir," he told Hammond.
The lieutenant sighed.
Faith unlocked the front door and allowed Joyce into the house before entering herself. She closed the door behind her, removed her jacket and hung it on the banister. "Go get changed, k?" Faith told her. "I'm gonna be downstairs."
Joyce nodded and made her way upstairs as Faith checked the answering machine for messages before going downstairs to the basement where a make-shift gym, containing a punch bag and weights, had been set up. Removing her shoes and dumping them in the corner of the room, she grabbed some wraps for her hands and prepared them. The slayer positioned herself in front of the punch bag, squared up and threw a few punches, ducking the bag as it swung back towards her. Steadying it, she threw blows to the body of the bag envisioning it to be that of one of the foes that she was most likely face on patrol later that night. Feeling the adrenaline pumping within her veins she continued to batter the bag before realising the audience present. She stopped and looked towards the cot to see a fascinated youngster perched upon it. She smiled.
"Hey kiddo," Faith said to her. "D'you wanna give me a hand?"
"Ok," Joyce replied, stepping down off the furniture. She walked up to Faith, who crouched to be at eye-level with the child.
Faith smiled. "Ok champ," she said. "Let's see what you got." Faith put up her hands. "Hit me."
Joyce made a fist with her miniature right hand and threw a blow, causing the brunette slayer to shake her hand in mock pain. "Ow, kiddo," she told Joyce. "You sure you're not secretly a boxer?"
The youngster laughed and shook her head, pleased with her strength.
"Alright, let's do it again," Faith told her putting her hands up again. "This time, go easy on me will ya?"
"Ok," Joyce replied, making another fist. She threw another punch at the hand in front of her.
Faith repeated the act, shaking the hand that had been punched. About to comment again, she found herself interrupted by a,
"Hey!"
Faith looked up to see Buffy dressed in a tight, white vest and black pants. She smiled as the blonde descended the stairs and stood in front of her.
The blonde slayer ordered, "pick on somebody you're own strength."
Faith stood. She looked around. "Well, I don't see anybody around here as strong as me," she teased.
"That's ok," Buffy replied her. "I'll try to go easy on you."
Faith looked to the youngster at her side. "Whaddya think J? Should I try to beat your mommy again?"
"Mommy always wins," Joyce reminded her.
"That’s right sweetie," Buffy agreed.
"Not this time," Faith assured her, indicating for the child to move a safe distance away.
Joyce obeyed, resuming her position atop the cot allowing Faith room to take fighting stance. "This should be fun," the brunette told Buffy. "I haven't kicked your behind in a while."
"You gonna talk all day?" Buffy asked. "Or are you gonna attempt to hit me?"
Faith laughed and threw a blow, which Buffy deflected. She tried again to with no luck. Then, faking a right, she quickly threw a left, stopping her fist just short of Buffy’s face. "If this was a real fight," the brunette quipped. "You’d be toothless right about now."
Buffy suddenly grabbed the outstretched arm, forcefully wrenching it behind the taller slayer’s body. "If this were a real fight," she returned. "You’d be unconscious right about now."
Rotating her body a hundred and eighty degrees to the left, Faith forced Buffy to release her from the grip and took stance again.
The blonde slayer regained composure, deciding to launch an assault on the brunette. She threw a low kick, over which Faith jumped, positioning herself behind the older slayer and throwing her arm around her neck.
Reacting quickly, Buffy forcefully threw her elbow back, forcing Faith to jump back and release her from the hold. The blonde slayer took the chance to wrap her leg around the brunette’s and knocked the taller woman onto her back.
Faith threw herself up and onto her feet. She took fighting stance again. "Cheap shot," she commented.
Buffy replied with a barrage of kicks, driving the other slayer back towards the wall. She placed her palms either side of the brunette's body, smiling. "That was easy," she told her, almost laughing.
Throwing her body forward and proceeding with a floor-sweep, the younger slayer shocked her sparring partner, who fell onto her back on the matted floor; with Faith throwing herself on top of her. Buffy struggled as the brunette took hold of her hands and pinned them to the mat. She raised her leg, in attempt to knock Faith off, surprised when the brunette freed one of her arms and used it to pin her leg with it.
"Ah, ah, ah," Faith berated. "Looks like I got you beat, there slayer. What you gonna do now?"
Buffy smiled and raised her freed arm to Faith's neck. "This," she replied, pulling the brunette's head down and kissing her.
Faith relaxed and enjoyed the exchange.
Convinced the younger slayer's guard was down, Buffy raised her leg, using it as leverage to flip herself and Faith over. On top, she smiled before resuming kissing her lover again. Their passionate exchange only stopped by sounds of the upstairs phone ringing, Buffy broke the kiss. Remembering her audience, she looked up at her daughter and blushed as the child stared at them.
"I'll get it," she managed, before leaving the basement and ascending the stairs.
Faith stood up and walked over to the cot.
Confused by the event that had just taken place, Joyce looked up and asked, "Who won?"
Buffy finished the hour long conversation with her sister and walked into the living room to see Faith laid on the couch, flicking through the television channels.
"That was Dawn," Buffy told her, lying on top of her girlfriend. "She says 'hey'."
"Cool," Faith replied, allowing Buffy to get comfortable.
She wrapped her left arm around Buffy's waist continuing to flick through the channels with the other. Eventually deciding on a film, she set the remote down and linked her arms around the blonde upon her. Her eyes seemingly glued to the set, Faith watched the movie, intently interested in the plot of a woman trying to seduce her boyfriend into eloping with her. Glancing down at Buffy to see her asleep and continued to watch the film. The brunette watched the man trundling into the penthouse suite and looking around for his girlfriend. Sitting on the bed, he sat gaping as she appeared in the doorway wearing his jacket and a cowgirl hat. Faith found the art of keeping her breathing steady a difficulty, as the woman proceeded to dance seductively in front of him. Finding the temperature of the room seem to increase, the slayer felt herself aroused as the woman relieved the man of his shirt. Her heart rate amplified, she could feel her trousers dampen and a thin sheen of perspiration coat her forehead. Desperately wanting to relieve herself of her sexual frustration but for fear of waking the sleeping blonde on top of her, Faith attempted to remain completely still. She continued to watch the woman straddle the man's knees as he leant up to kiss her. Faith circled her hips. Feeling the frustration build she internally moaned, rubbing her face as she watched the exchange. Frustrated beyond belief, she waved her hand frantically in front of her face in attempt to cool down. *Shit,* she thought, unable to stop watching the movie. *I've gotta fucking get off or I'm gonna die.* She attempted to move her leg from underneath Buffy, but found it pinned. *Oh God!* she moaned allowing her head to fall back in time to see Joyce bouncing into the room.
"I've finished," the youngster announced.
With lightning speed, Faith picked up the remote and turned off the TV.
"H-hey there, kiddo. You have?" she asked, trying to calm herself.
"Yep," the blonde child, replied, showing Faith the homework she had completed.
"Lemme see," Buffy asked, waking up. She sat up and looked at the picture her child had drawn. "Wow. Is that me?" she asked pointing at the stick-like blonde woman.
"Uh-huh," Joyce told her. "And that's me and that's Faith."
"Aw. Isn't that nice, Faith?" Buffy asked.
"What? Uh, yeah, sure." Faith stood up, unable to stand being so close to Buffy, feeling as she was. She made her way to the hall.
"Are you ok?" Buffy asked, looking at the flushed brunette.
"Yeah. Yeah. I'm good. I just. I have to hit something." The brunette grabbed her jacket. "I'll be back in a few. I just-" she stopped mid-sentence and left.
Faith entered her home, putting her jacket onto the banister. Judging by the darkened ground-floor, she figured Buffy and Joyce had gone to bed. Wound up from the day's events, the brunette decided to feed her hunger and sleep off her other predicament. She walked towards the kitchen, entered and flicked on the light-switch. Making her way to the fridge, she threw it open and searched for something to eat. Deciding on left-over chicken, she pulled it and a carton of juice from the refrigerator and put the meat into the microwave. Setting the appliance, she occupied herself with the consumption of the beverage from its container. Finally hearing the 'beep', the slayer removed the food from the Microwave and began to snack on the meat.
When finished and satiated, the brunette made her way upstairs, contemplating waking her girlfriend for complete satisfaction. Deciding against the idea, she quietly opened the door to her bedroom.
Faith entered the darkened room. Taking a moment for her eyes to adjust, she noticed that her bed was empty. Worried, the brunette walked over and turned on the bedside lamp. She looked around, immediately noticing a note left at the foot of the bed atop the remote control of her disc player. Sitting next to it and picking the note up, she read aloud, "Play me."
The brunette picked up the control pressing 'play'. She listed as a familiar tune played. Barely having the time to remember where she'd heard the song before, her attention was drawn to the barely clothed blonde in front of her.
Wearing only a suit jacket, panties and a cow-girl hat, Buffy stood in the doorway of her bedroom, smiling at the speechless brunette.
"Thought you’d got away with it, didn’t you?" Buffy asked.
Faith gulped. "W-with what?" she asked.
Buffy's smile widened and she slowly walked towards her bed, causing Faith to inhale sharply.
"Your little stunt earlier," Buffy replied. "D'you know how horny it made me, feeling how turned on you were? And when you left..." She let her voice trail off holding her finger to Faith’s mouth.
The brunette closed her mouth around the blonde’s finger. Running her tongue along the underside of it, she experienced the familiar taste of Buffy’s juices. Releasing a throaty moan, she continued to suck on the digit before Buffy removed it.
The blonde knelt on the bed with a knee either side of Faith’s thighs. She leant in and kissed her, taking the hem of the brunette’s shirt and lifting it. The older woman broke the kiss to release Faith of the clothing before shrugging out of the jacket she was wearing and allowing it to fall behind her and leaving her upper body completely exposed.
The slayer looked up at the hat atop her head, removing it and allowing her long blonde tresses to fall onto her shoulder. She placed the hat on Faith, smiling at the sight and leaning in to whisper,
"Wanna go for a ride, cowgirl?"
Leaning up on her elbow, with one arm around her naked lover, Faith gently stroked up and down Buffy’s stomach, causing the blonde slayer to wake.
Buffy took the hand and linked her fingers with Faith’s own. "Morning."
"Mornin’ gorgeous," Faith replied. She kissed her lover’s cheek. "Did I thank you for last night?"
Buffy smiled. "Many, many times."
"Well thanks again." Faith got out of bed. "I feel like I should return the favour," she said, looking for and locating her towel. "Don’t you have any fantasies you want me to do?"
"Nope."
"None?"
Buffy thought about it. "Well maybe one," she replied.
Faith entered the room to see Buffy still in bed. She opened her closet, found a shirt and put it on. She grabbed her jeans and wore them. Doing up the top button, the slayer looked at the clock placed on the table beside her sleeping lover to see it show eight o’clock. Faith climbed onto the bed and kissed Buffy’s naked shoulder, waking her for the second time that morning.
"B. It’s time to get up," she told her, before getting up and leaving the room.
The sleepy blonde, groaned and pulled up the covers.
Upon grabbing her keys, Faith returned to her bedroom to find Buffy still in bed. She sighed and knelt at the bed’s side. "C’mon B, wake up."
Buffy’s eyes fluttered open to see Faith in front of her.
"Don’t you have to be at work soon?" the brunette asked her.
"No," the blonde replied, sitting up. "I don’t start ‘til two."
She watched as Faith stood up and put on her jacket. "Oh," the brunette added, picking up her eyeliner and positioning herself in front of the mirror. She applied the makeup. "Hey," she continued. "Don’t forget you’re picking J up today."
"I am?"
"Yeah," Faith replied, turning. "I told you yesterday remember. You said it was ok."
Buffy scrunched her eyebrows trying to recall the conversation.
"Because I told you that I had to go present hunting," Faith added, in attempt to jog her memory.
"Why?" Buffy asked, before realising. "Oh. It’s this Saturday."
"You forget?" Faith asked.
Buffy remained pensive.
"Look," the brunette suggested. "Why don’t I find her something from the both of us."
"Would you?" Buffy asked.
"Sure," Faith replied. "Just don’t forget to pick J up."
She finished applying her makeup and turned.
"How do I look?" she asked.
Buffy groaned. "Do you have to go to work today?" she asked. "Can’t you call in sick and stay home, with me, in bed. We can make love all day."
Faith smiled. "That’s very tempting," the brunette replied. "But. I have to go."
"Fine," Buffy replied, pouting.
Faith’s smile grew. She walked over to the bed. "I’ll be back as soon as I can," she assured the blonde. "And then we can ‘make love’ all night."
"Promise?" Buffy asked.
Faith answered with a kiss and a "Later." before leaving the room.
"Joyce!" she called. "Kiddo! Let’s motor."
Joyce ran into her parents’ bedroom and hugged her mother. "Bye mommy," she said to her.
"Bye sweetie," Buffy replied, giving the child a kiss, before letting her run after Faith.
Faith processed the customer’s order. "That’ll be twenty five dollars," she told him.
The customer handed her the money, picking up his new merchandise.
"Thanks," Faith told him, giving him change. "Later."
The man replied and left the store. Looking around to see more customers entering, the brunette shouted to one of the workers. "Hey Rob, take over," she told him. "I gotta go."
The assistant nodded and stood up from the chair upon which he sat. He moved to the cash register as Faith searched for her car keys, she looked to the phone when it started to ring. "I got it," Faith told Rob, who was getting up to answer it. "Serve the customers."
The slayer picked up the phone. "Hello," she answered. "Greener’s gifts."
"Hello, may I speak to miss Logan, please."
"Yeah, speakin’. Who’s this?"
"Hello, I’m Mr. Barton from Sunnydale junior school. I’m just calling because school closed about forty five minutes ago and Joyce hasn’t been picked up."
Faith sighed. She rubbed her forehead, telling him, "I’ll be right there," and dropping the phone. Tossing her assistant a bunch of keys, she told him, "Lock up, when you finish."
The man nodded and watched as the brunette left the store.
Faith ran towards her silver jeep. Unlocking it with its remote, she opened the door and entered the vehicle. Starting the car, she pulled out of the parking space and drove towards the school.
"Doctor Summers!" Buffy heard behind her. She turned as the person who called her approached.
"Doctor Abrams, hi."
"Hey," he replied, catching up. "You’re not going home yet are you?"
"No. Actually, I was on my way to the cafeteria to grab a bite. I have way too much work to think about going home."
"Me too. As in, I was on my way to grab lunch. Do you mind if I join you?"
"Not at all," Buffy replied, walking on.
Parker stopped. "Y’know what? There’s this great place Dr. Richards was telling me about… er, café…"
"Rouge?" Buffy completed.
"Yeah, that’s the one. Do you know it? ‘Cause we could go there."
"It’s right across the street, but I don’t know...."
Understanding her fear, he adopted a more lax expression. "C’mon," he coaxed. "Just two friends having lunch. Where’s the harm in that?"
Buffy thought about it. "Ok," she decided, with a nod. "I’m in."
Parker smiled. "Lead the way."
Eventually reaching the school parking lot, Faith parked her jeep, left the vehicle and walked inside the building. Looking around for any sign of the youngster, she stopped a nearby staff member.
"’Scuse me," she said. "I’m looking for a little kid. Her name’s Joyce Logan-Summers and she’s about yea high."
"Oh?" the faculty member asked. "I haven’t seen her. Wait let me ask, someone."
The woman disappeared for a few minutes and returned with another member of staff.
"Miss Logan," the man recognised.
"Oh, ‘sup Mr Harrison."
"Hi. Yeah, Joyce was picked up earlier," he told her, adding, "by her uncle."
"Uncle?" Faith asked him.
"Yeah," the teacher replied. "I hadn’t seen him before but Joyce seemed to recognise him."
Faith looked at him in disbelief. "Moron, Joyce doesn’t have an uncle," she told him. "You let a kid go with a stranger ‘cause she seemed to recognise him."
"Well he…I thought-"
"You'd better hope she’s ok," the slayer warned, leaving. She raced towards her car, opened the door and entered. Quickly starting the vehicle, she pulled out of the parking space and entered the road. Keeping one hand on the wheel, Faith picked up her cell phone with the other and dialled Buffy’s number.
"Parker stop, you’re killing me," Buffy told the brunette, laughing.
"No, wait, this is the best part," Parker continued. "I trip and fall, head first into the entire vat and the whole stadium’s looking at me and I get up and skate off. Needless to say I’ve never been back to that rink."
Buffy let her laughter subside. "Oh c’mon, you’re gonna let one tiny, though hugely embarrassing, moment stop you from skating?"
"Oh, I could never stop skating," Parker assured her. "I just love it. The way the blades glide on the ice. It’s a wonderful feeling. I just have to find a place where nobody knows who I am."
"There’s one not too far from here. Although, I guess I’d know who you were."
Parker smiled. "I could deal with that," he told her.
Buffy blushed, causing the brunette to change the subject.
"Do you go often?" he asked her.
"I used to, but not so much anymore."
"What made you stop."
Buffy turned away, bashfully. "It’s silly," she confessed.
"Sillier than skating head first into a vat of water?”
"Well, no," she replied, remembering the story and almost laughing again.
"Then, you can tell me."
"Well-" she started, cut off by her phone’s ringing on the table. Reaching for the phone, she stopped when Parker beat her to it.
"How important could it be?" he asked her, cutting the call off and replacing it on the table.
Buffy shrugged.
"So?" the brunette coaxed. "I'm in suspense here."
Faith hung up when she found the line suddenly cut. Glancing periodically at the road ahead, she quickly dialled the number to her home, cursing as battery failure caused the phone to switch itself off. Throwing the phone to one side, she cursed again and sped up.
Screeching into her driveway, Faith left her vehicle and ran to the door of her home. Fiddling with the keys, she found the one for the front door and unlocked it. Entering, she called out, "Joyce!"
Her mind racing, she felt utter relief when the blonde youngster came bouncing out of the living room. The child grabbed hold of Faith’s leg, hugging it.
"Kiddo!" Faith exclaimed, stooping and hugging her. She lifted the child. "How did you-?" she began, interrupted when she heard,
"Hey Faith."
The brunette looked up. She smiled. "No way. Xander?"
Xander smiled. "How are you?"
"Good," Faith replied in disbelief at the suave man standing before her. "Man, look at you. You’re looking good. How long have you been back?"
"Since yesterday," he replied her. "I thought I’d come ‘round and surprise you guys, but there was no-one here. I called Buffy and she told me you were at work."
"Yeah," Faith walked into the living room at took a seat, still holding Joyce.
"Me and uncle Xander were just playing ‘Death Fighters 2’," Joyce told the brunette.
"Yeah?" Faith asked. "Who’s winning?"
"Me," Joyce told her.
Faith looked to Xander. "Dude, you're being whooped by a little girl?"
"Hey! In my defence, I haven't played on this console before."
"Sure, that's why," the slayer replied, nodding and smiling.
"Come on, uncle Xander," Joyce told him, moving off Faith's lap and standing. "Let’s play some more."
"You go ahead," the construction worker returned; his ego bruised. "I’m gonna talk to Faith for a bit."
"Ok," Joyce told him racing to the television.
Buffy arrived home and walked into the living room. "Xander!" she greeted, immediately noticing him.
The tall brunette stood up and moved to hug her. "Hey Buff," he replied, before taking a seat.
"Hey. I’m sorry I couldn’t talk, earlier and thanks for getting Joyce." She took off her jacket and walking out to put it on the banister.
"That’s ok, she kept me company," Xander replied. "You sounded super busy, is everything ok?"
Buffy sighed. "Y’know how work is." She sat down on the sofa beside her friend, turning to face him. "Wow, look at you, you’ve changed so much."
"Only on the outside," Xander replied. "I’m still the same old Xan-man."
Buffy smiled. "Good. So where you staying?"
"A hotel, I guess, ‘til I see if I can get my old place back."
"Nonsense, you’re staying with us," she dictated, adding, "And that’s final," when he moved to speak. "We have way too much to catch up on. So, tell me everything. How was Europe?"
Faith walked into the room holding drinks. "Hey babe," she greeted Buffy, whilst handing a drink to Xander. She sat down beside the other slayer. "Didn’t know you were back; d’you want one?"
"I’m good," Buffy replied, receiving Faith’s kiss. "Where’s Joyce?"
"Bathroom," Faith replied, before taking a sip of her drink.
Xander set his glass down. "So yeah, Faith, you were saying," he reminded the brunette.
"Oh, yeah. Killer movie and the lead, hot as hell. It’s got all this fighting, which by the way, they got all wrong. You got ‘em throwing hooks when they shouldn’t be and-"
"What’s this?" Buffy interrupted.
"Er, that new flick with Lara…what’s her name."
"I haven’t seen it," Buffy announced.
"I know," Faith replied. "Xander might."
"Don’t you think you’re ruining it for him?"
"No, I wanna know," Xander told her. "So, then what happens?" he asked Faith.
"Ok, well then the girl gets kidnapped and she’s all like, 'help me.' Y’know, the helpless chick routine."
"Uh-huh," Xander agreed. "Is there any nudity in this movie?"
"Still not getting laid, huh?" Faith asked.
"I can’t stress how much I’m not getting laid."
Faith laughed. "Well there’s tonnes of nudity."
"Yeah?" Xander asked, excited.
"Yeah, dude. There’s a naked chick in, like, every scene. Even when it’s not needed, there’ll be one, like, running around and shit."
Xander's eyes lit up. "There’s running?"
Faith laughed at the brunette’s enthusiasm. She finished her drink and placed the glass on the floor.
Exasperated, Buffy picked up the glass, got up and left the room. She walked into the kitchen and placed the glass in the sink. Running the water, she began to wash it.
Buffy’s untimely exit having caused an awkward silence between the brunettes, Faith broke it. "Gimme a sec," she excused, getting up. She located and handed Xander the remote control and left the living room in search of Buffy. Finding her in the kitchen, Faith made her way inside. She walked up behind the blonde slayer and wrapped her arms around her lover’s waist, asking her. "What was that all about?"
"Nothing," Buffy replied. "Everything’s fine." She continued to wash up.
Sensing differently, Faith slid her hand underneath the older slayer’s shirt, rubbing her stomach. "Nothing wouldn’t have got you wound so tight," she disagreed.
"I’m not wound," Buffy replied her. "I’m a picture of unwound-ness."
Not convinced, Faith kissed her girlfriend’s neck. "If you say so," she relented, slipping her hand past the waistband of Buffy’s trousers and into her panties. Cupping the slayer, she caused Buffy to cease moving.
Distracted, "I-" was all Buffy could start to say before losing concentration when Faith slid her middle finger along her slit.
"What?" Faith asked, smiling at Buffy’s attempt to articulate. She kissed her again.
The blonde slayer felt herself becoming wet as Faith slid her finger into her, deeper. She moaned as Faith took her other hand and moved it up her blonde’s shirt. The brunette slid her thumb beneath Buffy’s bra and began to rub her lover’s left nipple. She buried her face in Buffy’s neck, licking and sucking the flesh beneath her lips, adding another finger into Buffy’s soaked sex.
Seemingly feeling Faith all over her body, Buffy began to moan repeatedly. She rolled her hips to increase the friction the brunette’s skilled fingers were invoking. Slightly leaning forward to allow Faith to penetrate her deeper, the slayer opened her mouth, silently screaming out when her girlfriend obliged; inserting three fingers almost all the way inside her.
Faith increased the pressure she was applying to Buffy’s nipples. Noticing the increasing moisture between Buffy’s legs and the blonde’s quickening pace, she let her fingers glide up to the older slayer's clitoris. The brunette began to rub it, mimicking the actions of her other hand. Enjoying the effect it was having on her lover, Faith ran her tongue along the blonde’s neck and up to her ear. "That’s it, baby," she coaxed, using her fingers to penetrate her lover again.
"Oh God, Faith.... I’m..." Buffy started.
"I know," Faith told her, increasing the pace of her fingers. She added a third into her girlfriend.
"Faith," Buffy managed to whisper, as she came unto Faith’s hand. "Uh! O-"
"Guys!" Xander called, entering the kitchen.
Faith quickly removed her hand from within Buffy’s trousers. She spun around. "Xander."
Looking from slayer to slayer, Xander blushed. "Never mind," he excused, leaving.
"J!” Faith called up the stairs of her home. “Kiddo, you ready?" When met with no answer, the brunette looked to Xander, sat in the living room. "Jeez, she takes almost as long as B to get ready," she complained.
"Must be in the gene pool," Xander offered.
Faith smiled. She returned her attention to the stairs as Joyce made her way down. "You got everything?" the slayer asked the young girl.
Joyce nodded, trundling downstairs carrying a rucksack on her back.
"Cool, let's go," Faith told her, grabbing the child's coat and handing it to her. She opened the door, turning to Xander. "If Buffy ever gets done, tell her I've gone to drop J off across the road."
"Will do," the brunette agreed with a nod. He watched as the two females left the house and continued to watch TV.
"So, what are you and Tyler are gonna do?" Faith asked Joyce, as the two of them crossed the road.
"Tyler said he was going to let me play with his new games," the seven year old answered.
"Cool," Faith replied. "If you get bored or you wanna come home, ask Tyler's mom to call me, ok?"
Joyce nodded as they reached their destination and Faith pressed the bell of her best friend's house. Looking up, she watched as Mrs Thompson opened the door.
"Hey Mrs T," Faith greeted, when Tyler's mother opened the front door.
"Hello Faith. Hello Joyce, Tyler's upstairs," she told the blonde, opening the door and allowing her to walk past and inside.
"Have fun, kiddo!" Faith called after the child.
"Ok," Joyce replied, running up the stairs.
Faith returned her attention to the middle-aged woman in front of her. "Thanks again for doing this, Mrs T. Buffy and I'll try to get back before too late."
"Oh, don't worry about it, pick her up in the morning," the woman told her.
"Yeah?" Faith asked.
"Of course. You two enjoy yourselves."
"We'll try," the slayer replied, grinning.
Mrs Thompson smiled. "Bye Faith."
"Yeah," the slayer replied, leaving the woman's doorstep. She walked back across the street and let herself back into her home.
"B still not down yet?" she asked Xander, upon entering.
"Nope," the brunette replied.
"Fuckin' hell, what's taking her so long?" Faith asked, exasperated. She called up the stairs. "Buffy!"
"I'll be ready in a minute!" the slayer called back.
Faith huffed walking to the kitchen. She grabbed two bottles of beer and an opener and took them into the living room. Sitting besides Xander, she opened one and offered it to him.
"Thanks," the brunette told her, taking and drinking it.
"What's on?" Faith asked, looking towards the TV set.
Xander followed her gaze. "Funnily enough," he replied. "I dunno. They've been doing infomercials for about a half hour."
Faith sighed. About to stand up and charge upstairs, she calmed as she heard footsteps descending the stairs. She looked towards the doorway as Buffy appeared, wearing a chic black skirt and top with a plunging neckline. Both brunettes stared, gaping at the vision in front of them.
"Fuck, you look hot," Faith finally observed.
"Yeah Buff," Xander agreed. "What she said."
"Thanks," Buffy replied. "Sorry I took so long."
"I'm not," Faith told her, standing. She walked towards her lover and kissed her fully. Breaking the kiss, she asked her, "How `bout we stay home and see Red in the morning?"
"We said we were coming," Buffy reminded her partner.
Faith groaned. "Fine," she replied. "Let's go."
"Do you have the present?" the older slayer remembered.
"It's in the car," Faith replied, grabbing her keys. She walked behind the blonde, besotted, as the three of them left the house.
Willow opened the door. "Buffy, Faith, you made it," she announced.
"Wouldn't have missed it for the world, Will," Buffy told her, handing her a present and entering. "Happy birthday."
"Thanks," Willow replied, hugging her first and then Faith.
"Nice crib," the brunette slayer announced, before pointing behind herself and entering. "Yeah, this guy followed us here," she informed the wicca.
Willow peered behind the taller woman. "Oh my God, Xander!" she exclaimed, hugging him on sight. "You're back!"
"Yeah," Xander replied. "Happy birthday."
"Thank you," Willow replied again.
The man looked down excitedly at the gift in Willow's hand. "Open your present," he told her. "I'm dying to know what it is; Faith won't tell us."
"Oh," Willow replied, about to open the gift, but stopping when the youngest slayer placed her hand on top of it.
"I wouldn't open that just yet," Faith told her, grinning cheekily. "At least not with all of these people around."
"And why not?" Kennedy asked, arriving to meet with the ensemble in her foyer. "Hey Faith, Buffy, Xander."
"'Cause Faith picked it," Buffy answered the question, glad for an intermission.
"I see," Kennedy replied, giving the brunette a knowing look.
Faith winked at her. "You'll enjoy it too, K," she told her.
Buffy rolled her eyes as Willow blushed. "Why don't I introduce you to everyone?" the wicca asked her friends.
"Good idea," Buffy agreed. "C'mon, gutter mind," she added, taking Faith's hand.
The three of them were led into the back room of the four bedroom house, inside which a party was in full swing.
Faith nodded her head, dancing to the blaring music. "Nice," she commented, pulling Buffy onto the dance floor.
Kennedy looked over at Willow, stood across the room introducing Xander to the other guests. She looked in front of her, seeing Buffy sat on Faith's lap. She watched as the two of them sat talking, laughing and kissing and she sighed.
Faith laughed. "Sure," she answered, running her fingers up and down Buffy's thigh, stopping just underneath the hem of her skirt.
Buffy kissed her in response. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom," she notifed, standing up. "Be right back."
The brunette nodded and watched her lover leave. She grabbed her drink and took a sip. Looking around the room, she noticed Kennedy sat alone. Carrying her drink, the slayer stood and casually made her way across the room, sitting next to the lonely brunette. "Hey Ken," she said. "'Sup?"
Kennedy looked towards Willow, who was still talking with others. She turned to Faith. "How do you do it?" she asked.
"What?" Faith replied.
"You and Buffy. You guys have been together forever and you still…" she motioned with her eyes. "You're still...You...Y'know."
Understanding, the slayer almost choked on her drink. "You don't?" she asked, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
Kennedy shook her head.
"Oh man," Faith sympathised. She took another sip of her drink. "Uh…I dunno," she answered. She thought about it. "I guess it's 'cause we never stop surprising each other. B, keeps me on my toes and I have to do the same, y'know? Plus, I never know what she's gonna do next and she's sexy like that."
"You're lucky," Kennedy decided.
"Tell me about it." Faith took another sip of her beer. "Have you tried talkin' to Red about it?" she asked the other woman.
"No," Kennedy replied. "I don't want her to think I'm not satisfied with the way things are."
"Screw that. No matter how great a relationship is, if you're not having sex, one of you is gonna start lookin' for it elsewhere."
"How often do you and Buffy…?"
Faith thought about it. "Once, sometimes twice," she answered.
"A week?" Kennedy asked.
"A night," the slayer answered, smiling at the younger woman's innocence. She looked up as Buffy returned and resumed her position on her lap.
"Hey Kennedy. What are we talking about?" the blonde asked.
"We.. I," the brunette replied, apparently shy about her situation.
"Nothing," Faith answered for the younger woman. "I was just about to go take a leak myself." She attempted to stand.
"I'll show you where the bathrooms are," Buffy offered, getting up and off the other slayer.
Faith stood up and gestured for her girlfriend to lead the way. She mouthed 'later' to Kennedy and followed Buffy upstairs. The brunette walked behind Buffy, stopping outside the room she was led to.
"Thanks," Faith told her, opening the door. She paused, confronted with a scenario adverse to the one she had had in mind. "Huh," she stated, looking at the room's content. "Willow and Kennedy sure have a funny looking bathroom, 'cause it looks a lot like a bedroom."
Buffy smiled. "Y'know, I thought the exact same thing," she replied, entering and sitting on the bed.
Faith returned her smile. She scanned the outside of the room for witnesses, before entering. She removed her jacket and grinned at Buffy sat on the double bed. Walking over to the blonde, she bent to capture the slayer's lips with her own. Grabbing the hem of her top, Faith pulled it over her head. Admiring the blonde's bra with an appreciative look, she removed that too and kissed her again. Her tongue caressing Buffy's she ran her hands down the slayer's toned body and unzipped her skirt.
Buffy stood and allowed the garment to fall to a pool on the floor
"Faith!" Buffy cried.
"Shit, Buffy, you're so wet," Faith observed, gliding her fingers out of the slayer's dripping channel.
"Oh, God….that feels… so good," Buffy managed.
Faith added a third finger, matching the rhythm Buffy had created. She leant in and kissed the slayer, who could hardly find the energy to respond.
"Mmmm," she moaned into Faith's mouth.
The brunette's mouth left the blonde slayer's, working its way down her body. She stopped at Buffy's dripping cunt. Grabbing her lover’s thighs, she separated them and drank from it.
Upon feeling Faith's tongue inside her Buffy immediately rose to allow it more access. She grabbed at the sheets of the bed with one hand, whilst the other entangled itself in Faith's hair.
"F…aith," Buffy moaned, thrusting to meet the brunette's skilled mouth. "Oh God…Faith"
Faith licked along Buffy's slit, clamping her mouth on her girlfriend’s clitorist and lightly biting it.
Buffy moaned louder, almost chanting her lover's name with each thrust. She felt as the younger slayer added her fingers into her body again and could no longer hold on. Gasping as she came, she allowed herself to fall back onto the bed and relax, releasing her grip on her lover’s tresses.
Faith smiled, as she felt Buffy cum onto her fingers. She slowly removed them from inside the slayer, proceeding to lick the fluid from her hand. The brunette lay beside the older slayer and cuddled her.
The two of them lay together, silently and with their eyes closed. Tired, Faith idly ran her fingers up and down Buffy's naked arm.
After some time, the blonde opened her eyes. "What are you thinking about?" she asked.
"You," Faith answered, looking down at the Buffy and tenderly kissing her on the forehead.
"Mmmm," Buffy replied. "Not that I'm complaining, but what was that for?"
"For bein' you. For makin' me happy. Y'know, that sorta shit."
"Oooh, romantic," the older slayer teased.
"I'm serious, B," Faith told her, prompting the blonde to look up at her and into her eyes. "I love you."
Buffy appreciated the tone in her lover's voice. "I love you too, Faith," she replied. "What brought all this on?"
"I dunno," the brunette replied, in earnest. "Something Ken said got me thinkin'."
Buffy smiled. "I should get Kennedy to talk to you more often," she decided resting her head. She suddenly stilled her movement, listening out. "Wait, do you hear that?" she asked.
"What?" Faith replied, unable to hear anything.
"The music," Buffy replied. "It's stopped."
"Shit!" the brunette exclaimed, hurriedly getting up. "The party's over."
Both slayers quickly left the bed and began searching for their clothing.
Xander said his goodbyes and left the house ahead of the slayers.
"Great party, guys," Faith told Willow and Kennedy, leaving behind him.
"Yeah, happy birthday again and sorry we couldn't talk more tonight," Buffy added. "Call me tomorrow and we'll do something," she told Willow.
"Ok," Willow agreed, letting the blonde past her and outside.
"Remember what I said, Ken," Faith called, opening her car door with its remote, allowing Xander to enter. "Oh and enjoy the present." About to leave, she added. "Oh and guys, you might wanna change your sheets."
Buffy blushed, swatting Faith's arm.
"What?" Faith asked her.
"Bye," Buffy said, grabbing the brunette and pulling her from the doorstep.
"How long do you have 'til you have to get up for work?" Buffy asked, lying in bed and clutching at the arm Faith had draped around her.
Faith looked over the blonde to the clock on their bedside table. "Six minutes," she answered.
"Ooh," Buffy replied. "You know what we could do in six minutes?"
The younger slayer kissed her lover’s naked shoulder. "I think I have a pretty good idea," she returned.
Buffy smiled, about to engage when there was knock on the door. She rolled her eyes before asking the person to, "Come in!"
Xander opened the door, silently berating himself for having again interrupted the slayers. "Hey," he started. "Do you guys mind if I pick up Joyce on my way out?"
"Not at all," Buffy replied. "Why?"
The tall brunette smiled. "I have a date with Lydia. We're taking our kids to the park."
"You realise Joyce isn't your kid, right?" Buffy teased.
"I know," Xander replied. "But what Lydia doesn't know, might get her to fall madly in love with me."
Buffy smiled as Faith attempted to recall where she'd heard the name. "Was Lydia as in the hot brunette from the party?" the pensive slayer finally asked.
"Yep," Xander replied, his grin growing.
"Oh, man. She was fine," Faith remembered sitting up.
"Still in the room," Buffy reminded her girlfriend, glancing over to see that the brunette had left her upper-body completely exposed. "Faith!" she exclaimed lifting the sheet.
Faith laughed. "Relax B. Xander's seen my rack before."
"That is true. Plus the image is still imbedded in my brain so I can really see it whenever I close my eyes. See," Xander interjected, demonstrating with a grin on his face and causing Buffy to angrily huff and turn in the bed.
"Aw c'mon babe," Faith coaxed. "He was only playing."
"Yeah, I'm sorry Buff," the construction worker added..
Faith kissed the blonde's shoulder as if in apology. "B?" she asked, before looking to Xander, who mouthed a 'sorry' and took leave. The brunette raced down the stairs hoping the chosen two would sort out the problem he had created, before leaving the house for his date.
"Full name; Alexander Harris. Fondly called by both his friends and colleagues, 'Xander', he's an old friend of slayer one and they met in their high school....Sunnydale high."
The lieutenant stood silent for a few moments. "This will complicate matters," he decided. "We really don't need civilian interference."
"Sir, if I may," one of the soldiers offered. When given a nod, she proceeded. "I don't see how. From transcript one-eleven, we have the subject tell the slayers that he is to leave their home 'as soon as [he] can find out if his old place is ready.' As I see it, he should be gone when he finds an alternative place to stay."
"Yeah," the man in charge agreed. "Chambers, Matthews, I want listings of all available apartments in Sunnydale to appear in the Summers' household a.s.a.p.," he ordered, prompting two soldiers called, to stand up and leave the room. "Everyone else, continue with your assignments; the deadline stands."
The room was filled with movement as those in the room began to relocate.
"Sir!" another soldier called, over the noise.
"What is it, captain?" Hammond asked, when the solider was significantly in hearing range.
"Sir, I don't see how we are going to meet the deadline with things as complicated as they are. I think it would be better to seek an extension."
"Captain, I would have thought you'd know better than that we were given x-amount of time to rescue Cadet Finn and that after which, the funding falls through and we're to begin another operation."
"I know, sir, but I think we could just split up and have team 1 head out and team 2 return to base as soon as the task is completed."
Hammond took the man by the shoulders. "Thankfully we don't pay you to think, Captain. We pay you to follow orders." He smiled. "Look, have faith. The major assures me everything is going smoothly and we're on top of everything those girls do. I'll be damned if we don't have Cadet Finn by time-up."
The man nodded and saluted his superior before leaving.
"You're shitting me," Faith exclaimed. She waved bye to the customer, who took their order and left the store.
"Nope," Kennedy replied the brunette. "As soon as you guys left, she said she was tired and went to bed." She paused, clarifying, "I told you. We don't…"
"This is serious," Faith concluded. "That thing cost me shit-loads and I'm not about to let it sit in Red's underwear drawer forever." She searched her mind momentarily as she served another customer, eventually deciding, "I didn't wanna have to do this, but we're gonna have to use 'the plan'."
"The plan?" Kennedy asked, a little sceptical.
"Don't gimme that look, K? This is fool proof. I usually use it. It's called 'Plan B' but in your case we'll call it 'Plan W'."
Kennedy chuckled at the play on words, before asking, "Ok, what do I have to do?"
Hammond turned to the audio technician on duty. "What's going on now?" he asked.
"Nothing, sir," he was replied. "The house is empty."
"I know that, but where are they?"
The technician looked through transcripts on the desk in front of him before answering. "Slayer two is at work....Civilian one, on a date.... and slayer one is...." he scanned the words, answering, "shopping."
"Shopping?" the lieutenant asked.
"Shopping," Buffy answered Willow as they walked through the mall.
"I-I don't think so, Buffy," the redhead replied her friend.
"There is absolutely no problem that cannot be solved by shopping," Buffy adamantly decided.
"What about wars and the fact that people are fighting all over the world."
The slayer tried to think of an intelligent answer and when finding none, decided to joke, "If there were more malls, then people wouldn't fight, they'd just shop."
Willow looked at her, the two of them laughing at the direction the conversation had taken.
"Interesting logic," Willow concluded, reminiscent of her and Buffy's high school days.
"I thought so," Buffy replied, reaching into her bag as they heard a phone ring. "Is that you or me?" the slayer asked, looking for her phone.
"I think it's both of us," Willow replied, finding her ringing phone and answering it almost simultaneously to Buffy.
"Hello," Buffy answered.
"Hey babe, you still mad at me?"
"Yes," Buffy lied.
"Good, 'cause I know the perfect way to make it up to you."
Buffy smiled.
"You smiling yet?" Faith asked.
"No," Buffy replied, forcing her smile to fade.
"Huh," came the reply. "Babe, meet me at that fancy Spanish place tonight at half seven, k?"
"Ok," the blonde agreed.
"Alright, it's a date. Love you," Faith replied her.
"Bye," Buffy replied, cutting off. She closed her cell phone and turned to Willow, who was sporting a puzzled look on her face.
"Yeah. Well I'll see you there," she answered, before adding, "bye," and switching off her phone. She turned to Buffy. "That was Kennedy," the wicca told her. "She's taking me out tonight."
As if putting pieces together, Buffy completed, "let me guess, to a fancy Spanish place?"
"Yeah, how d'you know?" Willow asked.
"'Cause that was Faith and she's doing the exact same thing," Buffy answered.
"You think they're up to something?" her friend inquired.
"Totally."
Kennedy laughed. "Willow was so totally floored."
"Yeah. B was all trying to hide that she was excited," Faith replied. "They're probably both, like, freaking out, like 'what are they doing?'"
"Yeah," Kennedy agreed. She let her laughter subside. "Thanks again for doubling."
"No problem," the slayer told the younger woman. "I could probably use it myself. I'm totally in the dog-house."
"No, no, no," the waiter berated Kennedy. He performed the trick again, pulling a rose out as if from thin air. "Like this," he instructed. When Kennedy failed to master it again, the brunette threw his hands up in the air. "It not hard. Look, your friend got it and I only show her once. Look again." He demonstrated again.
Kennedy attempted the procedure again, dropping the rose in the process to the amusement of a watching Faith.
"I cannot deal with this," the waiter decided, leaving them.
Faith smiled and watched as Kennedy practiced in vain. "Give it up, K, you're never gonna get it."
"Yes I am," the brunette argued. "We've got lots of time. It's only," she looked at her watch. "Seven twenty-five."
"Show time ladies," a waiter informed Kennedy and Faith, breezing past them.
"Thanks," Faith replied. She looked towards the entrance to see Buffy and Willow talking to the people on the door. "They're here," she told Kennedy.
The brunette in turn followed the slayer's gaze and exhaled audibly. "Oh God, they're early."
"Relax Ken," Faith told her. "Just remember everything we talked about and you'll do fine."
"Ok," Kennedy replied, calming herself.
Faith stood upon Buffy and Willow's approach. She feigned amazement, "You two look awesome," she told them, leaning in to kiss Buffy. She pulled back and pulled out a single long-stemmed flower as if from thin air, handing it to her lover.
Buffy smiled. "Thanks," she replied, inhaling the rose’s scent.
"No problem," the brunette returned, pulling out a chair for her.
"I couldn't get mine to work," Kennedy confessed to Willow handing her an identical rose. "Here."
The wicca smiled, planting a kiss on the younger woman's cheek before seating herself.
Kennedy sat down and signalled for the waiter, who walked over to them.
"And what can I do for you beautiful ladies this evening?" the waiter inquired, handing them menus.
"A bottle of your most expensive wine," Kennedy told him.
"Coming up," the man replied, leaving.
Willow picked up her menu, scanning it. "This is all in Spanish," she announced, flicking through the pages.
"It's ok," Kennedy replied, leaning over. "I'll translate." Resting a hand on Willow's thigh she pointed out, "that's a chicken dish with rice on the side."
The redhead reddened at the contact. "I'll just have that," she told the brunette, placing her menu on the table.
Uneasy, Kennedy resumed her original position. She looked to Faith, who merely shrugged at the exchange.
An awkward silence upon them, Willow decided to speak. "I'm gonna go to the bathroom," she told the others, standing up.
"I'll come with you," Buffy added, concerned for her friend.
Faith kept silent, signalling to Kennedy who was preparing to follow the other women.
Taking the hint, the younger brunette remained seated and watched Buffy and Willow make their way across the restaurant. Convinced they were out of earshot, she abruptly leant in to ask Faith, "Why didn't you let me go with them?"
"'Cause they've gone to talk about us and they wont be able to do that, with you there."
"Oh," the woman replied. She began to fiddle restlessly with her cutlery. "I wish I knew what they were talking about," she groaned.
"It's just that she's trying so hard and I don't know what to do," Willow confessed to the slayer.
Buffy stood speechless attempting to advise the wicca on what to do. She thought about it, before asking, "You still love her, right?"
"Yes," Willow assured the blonde. "But the age gap is starting to show. I'm twenty-seven years old, what am I doing with a girl fresh out of high-school?"
"Why all of a sudden does it matter?"
"I don't know. It didn't until we moved in together. She stays on the phone 'til late. Out with friends all the time, you know how we were at that age."
"And you don't like it?"
"It's not that," the redhead attempted to clarify. "It's just.. Been there, done that, y'know? Plus, what if she gets bored of being with me and starts wanting to date someone younger?"
Buffy nodded. "Y'know what?" she asked her friend, prompting a reply of,
"What?"
"Out there, you have a beautiful woman who loves you and needs you. The age-gap is large, I’ve gotta admit, but it's not important. All that matters is that you love her."
The wicca pondered the notion, agreeing with a nod. "You're right," she decided. "I-I'm over thinking it. I should take each moment as it comes."
"That's the spirit," Buffy announced, opening the bathroom door to leave.
"What are you going to do about Faith?"
"I've let her stew enough, don't you think?"
"Yep," Willow replied, following her friend back to the table.
"We ordered for you," Faith told the two of them as they returned to the table and seated themselves. "Food should be here any minute."
"So what d'you guys talk about?" Kennedy added, trying but failing to sound breezy.
"Nothing much," Buffy replied her. "Idle gossip. What about you two?"
"Nothing," the brunette answered. She sat back in her seat glancing briefly at the gent a few tables away.
"What d'you do today, anyway?" Faith offered, breaking the silence upon them.
"We went shopping followed by excessive ice cream bingeing," Buffy answered.
"And then followed by more shopping," Willow added. "What about you?"
"Uh…." Faith started, losing concentration as she felt Buffy's foot make its way up her leg, suggestively lifting the material of her trousers as she did so. She stifled a moan as the slayer's shoe came into contact with her naked leg before Buffy let the trousers leg fall and repeated the procedure.
Noting Faith's apparent distraction, Kennedy answered her girlfriend's question, "we were at the store for most of the day."
Willow nodded desperately seeking a subject topic whilst Faith attempted to regain composure as her girlfriend teased her. She smiled when the waiter returned with a glass.
"From the gentleman over at that table," he told Kennedy, placing the drink in front of her. All four women turned to the direction in which the waiter pointed, to see a good-looking blonde raising his glass at the young brunette.
At a loss for different action to take, Willow threw her arm around the Kennedy, forcing the brunette to turn in her direction. The redhead placed a tender kiss firmly on her girlfriend keeping an eye on the man and noting his reaction. Once satisfied that the message had been received, she stood up. "Buffy, Faith, we'll see you guys later," she said, holding her hand out for the brunette.
Kennedy took the offered hand and stood. She smiled at Faith who winked and watched as the two sped out of the restaurant.
"What was that about?" Buffy asked, watching the display.
Faith took a sip of her wine. "They've gone to make some magic," she answered.
Buffy smiled, leaning in close to the brunette and slipping her hand down into the inside of her thigh. "What's say we go home and make a little magic of our own?" she asked.
In response, the younger slayer pulled out her wallet and fished out a hundred dollars. Getting up, she dropped the money on the table and allowed Buffy to leave first.
Entering their home, Buffy called out, "Joyce! Xander!"
"See babe, I told you they weren't home; his car's not in the drive."
Buffy smiled. "So we've got the place all to ourselves," she stated, receiving a grin and a reply of,
"Looks like it."
"Ok. Let me check the machine. You, upstairs."
"Mmm," Faith moaned, kissing her. "Yes ma'am," she replied, running up the stairs.
Buffy walked to the machine and pressed play. She stood and listened to a message that had been intended for Faith. Once the message had played through, the blonde switched off the machine, turning when she heard the front door opening.
Joyce walked inside the house with Xander closely behind. Seeing her mother, the blonde, waved and with a, "Goodnight mommy," rushed upstairs.
Her expression showing her concern, the slayer turned to Xander. "What's going on?"
"I dunno. She's been like that all day. I took her out for doughnuts, ice cream. Took her to Chucky Cheese, but nothing. I think something might have happened at Tyler's."
Sighing, the blonde told him, "I should go and find out."
Receiving a nod from the brunette, she walked up the stairs and into her daughter's bedroom finding the youngster already tucked in and ready to go to sleep.
"Hey sweetie," she started, getting the attention of her daughter.
"Hey mommy," the weary child replied her.
"How was Tyler's?"
"Ok."
"Are you sure?"
Joyce nodded.
"If something was wrong, you would tell me, right?" the slayer tested.
"Yep," Joyce replied. She remained silent before after a while replying. "I'm really tired."
Buffy felt her daughter’s forehead for a temperature. When finding her temperature normal, she decided, "Ok, if you say so, I believe you." The blonde reached over and hugged her daughter. "We'll talk in the morning, ok sweetie?" she told her child, deciding against quizzing her so late.
Joyce nodded again as she received a kiss from her mother.
"Goodnight," Buffy told the blonde, leaving the room upon receiving her daughter's reply. She walked into her own room, next door, inside which Faith was waiting on the bed.
"Babe, what took you so long?" Faith asked, as Buffy changed her clothes.
"I was saying goodnight to Joyce," Buffy replied her.
"Oh, J's back?" Faith returned, about to get out of the bed.
"No,” the older slayer uttered, stopping her lover. She continued to explain, “I just put her to sleep. I don't know what's wrong. Xander said she hardly said a word all day."
"She was probably homesick," Faith concluded. "I'm sure she'll be fine in the morning."
"You think so?" Buffy asked, entering the bed.
"I know so, babe," Faith assured her, wrapping her arms around the blonde. "Now kiss me."
Buffy smiled, obliging as she kissed the brunette's soft, full lips. Her tongue making its way inside Faith's mouth, she repositioned herself atop the brunette, straddling the slayer's thighs. Reaching over, the slayer turned off the light, her eyes adjusting to the darkness.
Instinctively, Faith sat up and reached to undo her blonde lover's clothing. Surprised when Buffy caught her hand, she broke the kiss.
"I heard an interesting," Buffy started, undoing her shirt. "Message from Kennedy tonight." She slipped her hands over Faith's naked shoulders crossing her arms behind the brunette's neck. "Seems she wasn't the only one who needed advice," she explained before enveloping her lips over Faith's, slipping her tongue in and slowly removing it. She added, "So you might as well just relax, 'cause tonight's all about you."
Grinning, Faith lay back placing her hands behind her head on the pillow.
Buffy smiled. "How do you want it?" she asked, already knowing the answer.
"Surprise me," her lover replied.
"Ok," Buffy agreed. Placing her palms either side of Faith on the bed, she kissed her before raising her hand to Faith's mouth and offering it her middle finger.
Parting her lips slightly, Faith took the digit into her mouth and coated it with saliva before releasing it.
Steadying herself on her left arm, Buffy's arm moved down her lover's body to Faith's entrance. The blonde roughly inserted the finger into Faith, surprised to find it enter easily. Buffy removed the finger to find it covered in Faith's natural lubrication. "Thought that would take longer," the slayer observed.
"You kidding me?" Faith replied. "I've been thinking about this all night. Playin' it over and over in my head."
"Oh," Buffy replied. "So how did it go?"
"Fuck, B, don't stop!" Faith screamed, clutching the sheet beneath her as Buffy pleasured her.
Running her tongue inside Faith's pussy, the blonde briefly came up for air, before resuming the task. Using her left hand to stimulate the brunette's clitoris, she separated the younger slayer's thighs pressing down on one of them with her right hand. She continued to lick Faith's slit, listening to the moans of her lover.
"Oh God, B. Shit that feels good," Faith coaxed. She moaned, feeling her climax approaching. "Fuck B...oh God, uh!"
Bucking against her girlfriend's mouth, she called and repeated the blonde's name feeling Buffy's tongue pay attention to her clitoris. Exclaiming profanities, she bucked against Buffy's mouth for the final time as she came into it. The brunette slayer lay back, satiated and barely aware of Buffy's exit from the room. She closed her eyes and assumed a comfortable position. Feeling Buffy's return, the slayer opened her eyes and allowed her girlfriend into the bed, covering the both of them and wrapping her arm her. About to lean in and kiss Buffy goodnight, Faith stopped, detecting a strong scent of mint. Biting back the urge to speak, the slayer closed her eyes and attempted to fall asleep.
Buffy walked into the kitchen upon seeing her daughter sat at the counter, looking at a bowl of cereal. "Morning sweetie," the slayer said to her, giving the child a kiss.
"Morning mommy," Joyce replied, poking at her food.
"Did Faith come down yet?"
"Uh-huh. She left already and Uncle Xander told me to tell you he was going to look at some apartments."
Buffy nodded. She walked towards the cupboard and began fishing around for utensils. Turning around to address Joyce, she watched as the youngster hopped off her chair and made her way to the living room. Noticing the food on the counter had remained untouched, Buffy followed her daughter. Seeing her sat on the living room couch, the slayer walked inside and took a seat next to her.
"Come here," she told her child.
When Joyce obliged, Buffy wrapped her arm around her, pulling her daughter into an embrace. "Joyce, I know something's wrong and if you tell me, I might be able to make it better."
The blonde youngster pondered this before answering. "Yesterday, Tyler called me weird," she told her mother. "He said that I didn't have a dad like the other kids." The child looked up at the slayer. "Why don't I have a dad, mommy?"
Buffy took a deep breath. She tenderly stroked her daughter's golden hair, answering, "you did... have a dad. He's just not around anymore," she thought on the statement, qualifying, "just like Amber's dad or Jason's dad. Joyce, lots of children only have one parent."
"But Amber sees her dad at weekends and Jason's dad came to show and tell. I've never seen my dad."
Buffy gently lifted her daughter's head from her lap and stood up. She walked over to the cabinet where she kept her photo albums and picked one out. Opening it, she flicked through the pages, analysing the various photos of herself, Faith and her friends. Eventually finding one of herself and Riley, she stood up and walked back to the couch. Sitting down, she showed it to Joyce.
"Is that him?" Joyce asked, pointing to the tall marine.
"Yeah," Buffy confirmed.
"He looks a little like me," the youngster pointed out.
Buffy smiled.
"What was he like?" the seven year old inquired, studying the photograph.
"He was great," Buffy remembered. "He loved you so much, even before you were born."
"Where is he now?"
Buffy pointed to the child's chest. "In here," she told her. "He's always watching you. Making sure you do your homework and behave like a good girl. More importantly, he's loving you and protecting you."
The child silently analysed the picture before asking her mother, "did you love him? You look very happy."
"I did. And when he left, I cried for a long time," Buffy recalled. "But do you know how I got through it?"
Joyce shook her head.
"I had Faith. And whenever I cried, she'd tell me that it'd be ok. She reminded me that I had you."
Joyce looked at the picture a last time before closing the album. "I like having a mommy and a Faith," she concluded.
Buffy smiled.
"But I wish I had a brother or a sister. Tyler's brother and sister are fun."
"I'm sure they are," Buffy agreed. She silently held Joyce for a little while eventually looking down and asking her, "Y'know what we haven't done in a while?"
"What?" Joyce replied her.
"Gone to the beach," Buffy answered.
Joyce beamed. "I love the beach, can we go?"
"Ummm." Buffy feigned a pensive expression. "Only if you're ready in thirty seconds," she told her daughter.
"Yay!" Joyce called. She quickly stood up and raced up the stairs.
"Are we nearly there?" Joyce asked, looking out of the window of the car and still seeing buildings on her side.
"We'll be there soon," Buffy replied, pulling into a parking space. She stopped the car and switched off the engine. "I'm just going to pick up something from my office. Do you wanna come?"
Joyce nodded.
"C'mon," Buffy told her, leaving the convertible. She waited for the youngster to exit the vehicle before locking it. Taking her daughter by the hand, she led her inside the building.
"Oh, hi Dr. Summers," the slayer was greeted by the secretary, almost as soon as she entered. "Didn't know you were working today," the woman added.
"I'm not," Buffy replied with a smile. "I just came to pick up a case file."
"And your flowers," the woman added.
"Flowers?" Buffy asked, walking past and to her office.
"You'll see!" the secretary called after her.
Buffy entered her office to see a bouquet of lilies left on her desk. She picked them up and searched for a card. Finding one, she opened it and read, 'Thanks for lunch. Parker.'
Buffy returned to the hall.
"Faith is so romantic, huh?" the secretary asked, placing her hand on her heart as if in admiration.
Buffy faked a smile before asking, "Dina, is Dr. Abrams in today?"
"He's in his office," the secretary informed the psychiatrist.
"Thanks," the slayer replied. She looked to Joyce. "Honey, c'mon," she told her daughter. Hand in hand, they headed down the corridor to Parker's office. The door wide open, the slayer looked inside to see the brunette sat reading at his desk. Buffy knocked on the door.
"Hey," Parker greeted, looking up and seeing the two females at the door. He dropped his reading material, stood up and walked over to them. Looking to the child by Buffy's side, he smiled crouching down. "Hi," he said, offering his hand. "Are you a doctor here?"
Buffy smiled as her daughter answered. "I'm Joyce."
"Hello Joyce," Parker replied her. "Is this your patient?" he asked, motioning to Buffy.
Joyce laughed. "No, she's my mommy. She's a psychatrist. Are you a psychatrist too?"
Parker laughed at the youngster's innocence. "Yes," he replied with a nod. "I'm a psychatrist too. So, we're all psychatrists."
"No," Joyce replied, laughing at the man's mistake. "I'm not a psychatrist. I'm only seven."
Feigning disbelief, the brunette replied, "Seven!?! I would have thought you were at least... seven and a half, eight."
"I'm almost eight," Joyce replied. "It's my birthday soon."
"Really?" Parker replied. "Are you having a party?"
"I dunno," Joyce looked up at her mother. "Mommy, can I?" she asked.
"We'll see," Buffy replied. She smiled at Parker, who stood to full height.
"So, what can I do you for?" he asked his colleague.
Having forgotten the reason she had come, the slayer replied, "How come you're here today?"
"Oh, I’ve got a report that's due in next week I thought I'd finish. You?"
"I just came to pick up a file," Buffy replied, showing him the file she had acquired. "Then Joyce and I are off to the beach."
"There's a beach here?" the brunette asked.
"Not so much a beach," the slayer replied. "More like a giant sandbox."
Parker smiled. "That's great. I haven't been to a good beach for a while, being from Chicago and all."
"Why don't you come with us?" Joyce interjected.
"Only if you can take a break from work," Buffy added.
"I might just do that," Parker replied, causing the slayer to smile. "Then we'll hopefully see you there," she replied, motioning to leave.
"Yeah," Parker replied with a slight wave, watching as the blondes left his office.
"Faith!" one of the assistants called into the brunette's office.
"What?" Faith called back.
"People," the reply came.
Faith sighed and stood up. Leaving the back room, she went out into the store.
"She's in a bad mood," she heard as she approached the counter to see a worker in conversation with Buffy who was stood on the other side.
"Rob, shut up and get back to work," Faith told the assistant.
"See," the man told Buffy, leaving to do as he was told.
"'Sup?" Faith merely asked her girlfriend. She looked down to see Joyce standing beside the slayer. Her smile widened as she picked up the child and balanced her on her hip. "Hey kiddo, how was your day?" she asked her.
"Fine," the youngster replied.
Faith looked to her lover, who spoke. "Didn't hear you leave this morning," Buffy told her.
"Yeah, I had to rush off," Faith excused. "What's up?"
"Nothing. Joyce and I were just heading to the beach, wanted to see if you could come with us."
"I can't. We just got a rush of orders that have to be shipped off tonight. I dunno if I'll be able to get it done."
"C'mon," Buffy coaxed. "I packed the blue bikini."
"I can't," Faith restated.
"Ok," the older slayer replied, sensing tension. She left a moment for Faith to speak and when not taken, proceeded to say, "I'll see you at home."
"Yeah," the brunette replied.
"Ok," Buffy accepted, a little hurt.
Faith set Joyce down. "Later kiddo," she said to her, smiling. She looked to Buffy adding. "Bye."
"Bye," Buffy replied. Confused, she took Joyce's hand and led her out of the store.
Disappointed, the brunette slayer watched her family leave, before returning to the back of the store.
"Mommy, look!" Joyce called pointing at the piles of sand she had created.
Buffy raised her sunglasses onto her head. "That's great, sweetie," she replied. She smiled and watched Joyce play in the sand.
Alarmed when the youngster went further away, she sat up, calling, "Honey, do go out to far, ok?"
"Ok, mommy," Joyce told her, gathering sand from nearer to the strand line. She came back to her sandcastle and deposited the sand at the top.
Watching, Buffy was interrupted when a shadow cast was upon her.
"Room for one more?" the slayer heard. She looked up. "Parker, you made it," she acknowledged, almost immediately noticing his slender physique.
"Yeah," Parker replied, sitting on the sand beside her.
"I almost didn't recognise you without your lab jacket," she told him.
"Right back at you," Parker replied. "That is a *very* nice bikini."
"Thank you," the slayer replied him. "So, did you get the report finished?"
"Yep, all done."
"What was the case study?"
"Er, drawing links between patients with psychological disorders to do with witnessing traumatic events."
"What did you conclude?"
"That, er, it-" he started, distracted. "Hey, who's that Joyce's talking to?"
Buffy followed her colleague’s gaze to see Joyce seemingly in conversation with a stranger. Her expression answering the brunette, he stood up and charged over to them.
"Hey Joyce," Parker said to the youngster, upon reaching and taking her by the hand. "Who's this?"
"Oh, hey man," the stranger answered for the seven year old. "We were just talking."
The expression on the brunette’s face became an angry one. "You make a habit of talking to little girls?" he inquired.
"Nah, man, I was just-"
"Leaving?" Parker completed for him.
The stranger took a defiant stance. "I don't have to leave, it's a public beach."
"You're right," Parker replied, his tone clear but light. "But if I see you here again, I'm gonna have to pound your child-molesting face into the sand."
Unnerved, the other man threw his hands up as if surrendering, saying, "screw this," before walking away.
"What's going on?" Buffy asked, arriving.
"Nothing," Parker maintained as the man left. The brunette looked to Joyce. "Hey Joyce," he told her. "We're not supposed to talk to strangers. Not everyone out there is as nice as you and me and you gotta be careful, ok?"
Joyce nodded.
"Thanks," Buffy told her colleague.
"No problem," Parker replied. He looked to Joyce again. "Friends look out for each other, right?"
"Right," Joyce agreed. She looked to the sandcastle she had been building, to see another child approaching it. "My castle!" she exclaimed, running towards it.
Parker and Buffy walked behind the youngster, keeping her within their sights.
"You're great with her," Buffy observed. "She's known you a few hours and already she likes you."
Parker smiled. "I love kids," he explained. "One day I just want to settle down and have lots of 'em," he motioned with his hands, "just running around."
"Sounds...headachey," Buffy told him.
"True," Parker agreed. "But deep down I'd love it."
"How many?" the slayer further inquired.
"Two or three," the brunette replied. "Maybe four."
"Again with the headache," the slayer joked. "Do you not ever want to get any sleep in the future?"
"Is it that rough?"
"Ugh," Buffy replied him, strongly agreeing. "First few months after Joyce was born, I was a wreck. Bags under my eyes and everything."
"But that was for a few months and you've got a beautiful daughter out of it."
"That's true," the slayer agreed.
"So wouldn't you do it all again?"
"No. One's enough for me."
"But don't you want Joyce to have a little sister or brother? Someone to play with?"
Buffy thought about it.
Feeling intrusive, the brunette attempted to withdraw. "I'm sorry," he said. "I guess I'm just biased 'cause I grew up an only child and I always wished I had someone."
"Me too," Buffy agreed, remembering how lonely she had felt before Dawn came into her life.
"What does Joyce's father think?"
"He passed away," Buffy returned.
Parker paled. "Oh God, Buffy, I'm so sorry. I didn't know-"
"It's okay," Buffy assured him. "It was a long time ago. Before she was born."
The two of them reached the place where they had set up base. Sitting down, not knowing what else to say, they stayed in silence and watched Joyce play.
"Hey Faith, is Rob here?"
"He's out back," Faith answered the woman enquiring. She added, "He'll be out in a few."
"Ok. Could you tell him that I'm waiting outside in the car."
Faith nodded. She continued to put up the remainder of the Christmas decorations around the store.
"Hey boss, sign these," Rob asked, coming out of the back room.
Faith took the pen the man offered her and signed on the dotted line.
"Thanks," Rob replied. He dropped the form and began to unload the box he had been carrying, stocking the store's shelves with its contents.
"Tanya came in," Faith told her co-worker. "She's waiting for you in the car."
"Cool," the blonde replied, finishing the stocking of the shelves.
The two fell silent for a little while, before Faith asked, "Rob, how long you been with Tanya?"
The blonde thought about it. "A couple of months, why?"
"You go down on her?"
Rob paused for a moment, taken aback. He told her, "Ok, random question, but yeah – she loves it."
"What about you?"
"I love that she loves it." Seeing Faith's expression change, he continued, "If you're talking taste wise? Then again, yeah, I like the Tanya taste right now."
"Whaddya mean, 'right now'?"
"Y'know," he replied. When finding Faith unresponsive, he continued, "Ok, well for me, anyway, I find that when I stop liking the taste of a woman, it's 'cause I wish I was tasting another woman." He paused, adding, "Y'know like 'the grass is always greener'? The pussy's always sweeter." He laughed to himself, his laughter subsiding when he noticed his boss' unappreciative expression. Rob cleared his throat asking her, "Why all the curiosity about my girl? You interested? 'Cause say the word and I could hook the two of you up. With my supervision, of course."
"Dude, I've got a girlfriend, remember?" the slayer, eventually replied him.
"Buffy doesn't have to know," Rob told her. He thought about it and then added, "Unless she wants to join in too," smiling hopefully and waiting for Faith's answer.
Ignoring the statement, Faith grabbed her jacket. "Lock up when you're done," she told the man, leaving the store.
Faith entered her bedroom. Slowly undressing, she lay her clothes in a pile at the side of the room, before entering her bed. The brunette slayer lay still and replayed events over in her head reminiscent of past events in her relationship. Jaded, she dismissed the ideas and decided she was over-thinking the situation. Almost giving in to sleep, she found herself alerted by Buffy's entrance into the room.
"Didn't know you were back," Buffy stated. Fully dressed in her night-clothes, she entered the bed and cuddled next to her fellow slayer. "How was work?" she asked.
"Alright," Faith replied.
"Faith, is everything ok?" the blonde psychiatrist asked. "You seemed a little... off today."
"I'm good," Faith replied, leaning to kiss her girlfriend. Her hands almost roving down Buffy's body, she broke the kiss when the older slayer grabbed and stopped them. "Did you forget the date?" Buffy asked.
Faith shook her head. "I don't care," she answered.
Buffy swatted at the brunette's arm. "Gross, Faith. I do," she replied, causing the brunette slayer to recoil.
An awkward silence upon them, Buffy asked, "Why don't I just do you?" in effort to lighten the mood.
"That's ok," Faith replied. "Wouldn't want you to do something you don't wanna do."
"What do you mean?" the blonde asked. "Of course I want to."
"It's cool," Faith replied her, attempting a more lax tone. She lay back.
Buffy shook her head in confusion. Lying back against the brunette, she lifted Faith's arm and wrapped it around herself closing her eyes.
Faith reached across and turned off the bedroom light. Looking up, she let moments pass before she closed her eyes in attempt to get some sleep, opening them when Buffy called her.
When the brunette replied, the older slayer continued, "What do you think about us having more kids?"
"What?" the brunette asked.
"Y'know, give Joyce a little brother or sister."
Enraged, the brunette turned on the light, asking, "You meet another guy who's kid you wanna have?"
Buffy sat up, stunned by the outburst. "I can't believe you just said that," she told Faith.
"What? Am I not allowed to be pissed off that you're talking about having kids with another guy?"
"I didn't say anything about another guy, Faith. You didn't even give me a chance to explain," Buffy tried.
"Explain what? You knocked up again?" the brunette sarcastically returned, memories from the past clouding her judgement.
In disbelief, Buffy merely looked at her, almost speechless. "I can't talk to you when you're like this," she decided, getting out of their bed and leaving the room. Taking a deep breath and fighting back emerging tears, Buffy walked downstairs.
"You ready?" Faith asked the blonde slayer, standing in the doorway to their room.
"Yeah," Buffy replied, putting on her last earring.
"Cool," the brunette quietly returned. She turned and left the room, making her way downstairs. Picking up her jacket and keys, she entered the living room.
"We're off," the slayer announced to Xander.
"'Kay. Have fun," construction worker replied, involved in a heated computer game with Joyce.
Upon hearing Buffy walk downstairs, Faith let herself out of the room. She made her way outside and towards her car.
About to follow, the blonde slayer glanced inside the living room to see Joyce out of bed on a school night. "Hey Xander, Joyce has school in the morning," Buffy reminded him, wearing the garment that was in her arms.
"Aw c'mon," Xander pleaded. "This is her last night with her uncle Xan-man, let her stay up a bit longer?"
"Please," Joyce added.
"Ok," Buffy relented. "But you've gotta be in bed by ten at the latest."
"Uh-huh," Xander replied for Buffy's daughter, his attention still on the television screen.
Sighing, Buffy followed after her lover and entered the vehicle, seating herself and putting on her seat belt. She watched as Faith started the car and pulled out of the driveway and onto the road.
The two of them sat quietly, as Faith drove her silver jeep through the darkened Sunnydale streets. Eventually tired of the silence upon them, Buffy spoke. "Faith, we need to talk," she quietly proclaimed.
"About what?" the younger slayer replied, nonchalant in her question.
"You know what."
Faith continued to stare at the road ahead. "There's nothing to say," she merely returned.
Buffy sighed. "Look, Faith, I've thought about it and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked about having more kids." She paused, waiting for Faith to speak. When the younger slayer failed to do so, Buffy prompted, "Faith, say something."
"There's nothing to say, B," the brunette merely repeated. "It's history."
"So we're ok?" the blonde slayer asked.
"Five by five," Faith returned, her eyes not leaving the road ahead.
Buffy sat back at a loss for what to do. She knew that she was powerless when Faith reverted back to her defensive nature. Her girlfriend would just sink further into her stubbornness like a typical Leo, until she’d finally realise that she was wrong. It was a routine the blonde slayer knew too well and was becoming tired of. Pondering the notion, Buffy was alerted back to the present when Faith pulled over.
"We’re here," the younger of the chosen two stated quietly, turning off the engine. She freed herself of the seat’s belt and let herself out of the car.
Buffy stepped out of the jeep, closing the door. She entered the clinic first with Faith following closely behind.
"Doctor Summers, you made it," she was almost immediately greeted by a lady assigned to the entrance area.
Buffy nodded. "How late are we?" she asked, on her way to the meeting hall.
The lady checked her watch. "Twenty minutes," she told the psychiatrist.
"Thanks," Buffy replied. She made her way to the auditorium, quickly reaching the meeting room. Grasping the handle, she quickly glanced behind her to ensure Faith’s presence there. Taking a deep breath, the blonde opened the door and the slayers quietly slipped into the meeting hall, trying their best to remain inconspicuous.
"It gives me great pleasure," the speaker continued despite the interruption of the two late-comers. "To welcome to the stage, all the way from....well, Sacramento," she smiled, continuing with a gesture to the speaker, "Doctor Davis."
The room was filled with applause as the psychologist walked up to the stage. "Thank you, Doctor Richardson," he said, once the noise of those in the room had subsided. "Well as I don’t want to send you all to sleep," he began, "I’ll make this brief. The study of the psychology of humans is one of full many complexities stemming from the fact that as individuals we are all very different. I mean, look around you," he told the audience, prompting them to do so. "No two people in this auditorium today, look alike." He paused, checking, "we don’t have any twins here tonight do we?"
Most of the audience laughed as the brunette gave his presentation. Engaging them for a long while with his humour and wit, most of the attendees were enjoying it. Buffy sat fascinated as the man spoke. His intellect shone through his speech and she was almost mesmerised by it. She turned to her girlfriend to ask her opinion, sighing when she found the brunette slayer fast asleep on the chair beside her. Disheartened, Buffy returned her attention to the speech at hand.
Applause caused Faith to wake up from her slumber. She joined in with the clapping of the other members of the audience and watched as the woman who had initially introduced the speaker returned to the microphone. "Thank you Doctor Davis," she told him. Turning back to the audience, she announced, "Ladies and gentlemen, that concludes this evening and now you're all welcome to join us in the next hall for refreshments."
Faith stood up along with the other guests. She followed Buffy into the next room, queuing up with others for some wine. Grateful at the prospect of alcohol, Faith was distracted as one of the attendees approached them.
"Doctor Summers," the older woman said, addressing Buffy.
"Doctor Richardson," Buffy replied.
"That was quite an entrance you made."
"I know. I’m sorry," the slayer apologised. "There was traffic."
The woman nodded, despite not believing the excuse. She gestured to Faith. "I see you brought someone," she noticed.
"Uh, yeah," Buffy replied, blushing slightly. "This is my... friend Faith Logan."
Doctor Richardson shook the hand of the seemingly slightly disheveled brunette. "Are you a psychiatrist too?" she asked.
"Nah," Faith began. "I’m a-"
"She's in retail," Buffy abruptly interjected.
The older psychiatrist smiled. "Oh. Well, enjoy your evening, ladies," she told them, moving on to greet more people.
As if just regaining the ability to speak, Faith confronted the older slayer. "What the hell was that?" she snapped. "So I'm your 'friend' now?"
"I know. I’m sorry," Buffy apologised. "It just came out-"
Exasperated, the brunette put up her hand to silence her partner. "You know what? Save it. Where are the bathrooms?"
"Down the hall," Buffy replied. She cringed as Faith made her way out of the room. Feeling guilty she thought on following her girlfriend, to explain, but was distracted by a familiar voice.
"Buffy, you made it!" Parker exclaimed, happily. He handed the younger woman one of the drinks he was holding in his hands, taking a sip of the other.
"Parker," the blonde replied. "Yeah," she added, replying the question and taking the offered beverage. She walked over to the seats at the side of the hall, sitting and prompting Parker to do the same.
"So. What did you think?" the brunette asked his colleague.
"It was great," Buffy answered. "Doctor Davis is really good."
"The guy's a genius. His theories on psychological interpretations floor me."
"And the way he described the relationships between sociology and anthropology, completely...."
"Blew your mind?" Parker completed, causing Buffy to smile.
"Yeah."
The two of them burst into laughter, giggling like school children.
Parker stopped examining his wine glass. "How much alcohol is in here, anyway?" he asked the pretty blonde.
Buffy groaned also examining her own. "Not enough," she commented.
"Why, what’s up?" the brunette asked, empathetically.
"Ugh, nothing," the slayer lied. She looked into the eyes of her concerned colleague and suddenly feeling desperate for a subject change, she smiled. "Are you here with someone?" she asked.
"Yeah, I got people," Parker replied, pointing behind him. "You?"
Buffy nodded. "I've got people too," she imitated.
"Cool," Parker replied. He took a sip of his drink watching as Buffy did the same. "So what are you doing after this?"
Having returned to the conference room, Faith scanned it for her girlfriend. Locating her sitting alone with a young brunette, she felt herself overcome with both jealousy and anger. The slayer walked up to Buffy. "Hey. Let's go," she interrupted.
Slightly embarrassed by her girlfriend’s abruptness, Buffy was about to speak before Parker stood and offered his hand to Faith in handshake. "Hi," he said, introducing himself as, "Parker."
Faith scoffed at the outstretched hand. Replying the man, "Beat it pal. Neither of us swing that way."
"Faith!" Buffy scolded.
"It’s ok," Parker replied her, under the icy stare of the brunette. "I have people waiting anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow Buffy."
"Parker, wait," Buffy tried in vain as the brunette walked away. She turned to Faith. "You had no right-" she started.
"I had no right?" Faith asked a little too loudly. "I’m gone for two minutes, come back and find you throwing yourself at the first guy you find."
"This is not the place," Buffy replied the accusation, lowering her voice.
"You’re right, B," Faith agreed. "Wouldn't wanna embarrass you any more in front of your college pals."
With that, the brunette slayer turned and left the room, ensuring she loudly slammed the double doors to the auditorium on her way out.
...continued in part 11...