Chosen Holiday
by Jason Michael Edwards
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: Slayers, Watchers and all of the myriad characters we
love and hate from 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer' and 'Angel' the series
belong to Joss Whedon and company. I borrow his toys without the
intent of harming them (any more than he does) or making any money in
the course of playing with them.
Spoilers: Post-Chosen.
Feedback: Please let me know what you think, good or bad.
Buffy smiled and moaned softly as she openly admired Faith's naked body, while Faith adjusted the burning logs in the fireplace and easily added a huge new log to the blaze. Faith, of course, heard the moan and smiled herself. Not at all long ago, she would have felt the need to pose and posture for more attention. She knew it wasn't necessary anymore, that it never had been with Buffy. She took a moment to reminisce while she stared into the flames.
Willow, Giles and Angel had put their heads together after the events at the Sunnydale sinkhole and had cleared Faith's record completely. She was now free, without any criminal or prison record. Faith had been stunned that they would do that for her. She literally fell over when Willow, oh so casually, told her it was all Buffy's idea. She had certainly noticed that since leaving Sunnydale, Buffy had warmed to her. Faith had thought it was just the weight of her duties coming off of her shoulders in the new world they had made. After the look Willow gave her with that casual statement, Faith didn't know what to think. Angel confused her more when he walked away muttering something about cookie dough.
Everyone had known that she and Robin were seeing each other, and everyone knew it wasn't serious. Robin had challenged her, and they were playing the game, but even he knew that they weren't a good match. Buffy had been supportive, telling Faith with a smile that it was great to see her giving up her 'get some, get gone' motto. That same night that Willow had shocked her, Faith broke things off with Robin. She told him that she needed to think about what she was going to do with her life as a free woman. He caught her glancing at a picture of herself and Buffy she kept on her nightstand, and he had smiled. He had gone home, and that was it. They remained good friends, which was a new experience for Faith.
She spent the next three days in her normal routine, minus Robin. Willow didn't quite keep her smile hidden when she heard about the break up, and Angel started muttering again. Faith was careful to act normally with Buffy, but focused her awareness on the little blonde. The first thing she realized was that Buffy was already paying that kind of attention to her. When anyone asked where Faith was or what she was doing, Buffy always spoke up with the answer. When Faith started getting hungry or thirsty, Buffy would ask everyone if they needed something to eat or drink, before Faith moved or said anything. She never tried to claim any of Faith's time, but she was there for Faith any time she wanted to train, to go out, or just to talk.
The morning of the fourth day, Faith was interrupted getting ready to meet the gang for breakfast by a knock on her door. She opened the door to a sight she would never forget. Buffy was standing there, relaxed, in a white sleeveless linen top with matching shorts and white sandals. She had no makeup on, and her hair was freshly washed and brushed, hanging loose down over her shoulders. She was holding a tall and slender clear glass vase with a single rose. The stem had some of the largest and meanest-looking thorns Faith had ever seen, but not so many that you couldn't hold it safely if you were careful. The bloom was gorgeous, with perfect petals the deepest and most vibrant red.
When Faith didn't speak for a moment, Buffy did. "Good morning. I thought I would walk with you to breakfast this morning, if you don't mind?"
Faith mentally shook herself out of her momentary fugue state. "Sure B, that would be great. I'm almost ready, come in. What's up with the rose?"
"I saw it and it made me think of you. I asked the lady who's garden it was growing in if I could buy it from her, but she just gave it to me. So I bought the vase and decided to give it to you."
"Wow B, that's, wow." Faith took the rose and set it on her nightstand next to the picture of the two of them. Buffy looked at the picture and smiled, while Faith sat down on her bed and tried to get her thoughts and feelings under control. Buffy waited quietly while Faith put on her shoes.
"Thank you. No one has ever given me a rose before. It made you think of me?"
Buffy just smiled and nodded.
"Ya know B, roses are supposed to be symbolic."
"I know, Faith." Buffy held out her hand. "Come on, let's not be late for breakfast."
Faith took her hand and let Buffy help her stand up. When Faith started to let go, Buffy gently squeezed, so Faith held on while she picked up her things and locked up. They walked in a comfortable silence, hand in hand, to the restaurant where they met the others. Buffy didn't let go of her hand until they had to take their seats. Faith was nervous watching for a reaction from the gang, but no one gave them a second look.
The Sunnydale gang, including Robin, Andrew and the surviving new generation of Slayers from the final battle against the First Evil, had been meeting for breakfast every morning since leaving Sunnydale to plan and organize for the future. Faith was included in every part of the planning, by everyone, and she loved it. She realized for the first time that morning, that everyone, including Buffy, had been treating the two of them completely as equals since they left Sunnydale. As the breakfast meeting came to an end, Faith decided she needed to start being an active participant in whatever was going on between Buffy and herself.
As everyone got up from the table, Faith reached over and took Buffy's hand in hers. Buffy smiled softly and interlaced her fingers with Faith's. No one else reacted, except for Willow. The redhead gave Faith her brightest smile, and a kiss on her cheek as she hugged her and said her farewells. She had never done that before.
Once they were alone, Faith asked Buffy if they could spend the day together, just the two of them. Buffy had quickly agreed with a big smile and a tight hand squeeze. Then she pulled out her cell phone and called Angel at his new office, and asked him for 'that favor', then she smiled and thanked him and hung up.
Faith asked what that was all about, but Buffy just smiled and told her it was a surprise. When they got back to the hotel a beautiful white limo was parked out front. Faith was about to ask who it could be for, when the driver opened the door and Buffy led Faith into the back seat. After the driver got in and pulled away from the hotel, Buffy started talking about where they might go first when they left Los Angeles.
"B!" Faith interrupted her. "Where are we going?"
Buffy took Faith's arm and wrapped it around her while she leaned closer into the taller woman. "It's still a surprise, Faith."
Faith was surprised when they pulled into Disneyland. She had never been to an amusement park, and she decided it might be fun, especially with Buffy. Buffy took her by the hand as they got out of the limo and led her to a window next to the entrance to California Adventure, away from the ticket booths. She picked up two tickets being held for her, and then led Faith to the entrance to California Adventure.
"These tickets let us visit both parks. Dawn is going to go ballistic, you know, but it's worth it. We'll just have to come back again with her."
They spent the first half of the day at California Adventure, before going over to Disneyland, and had a wonderful time being two normal young women. Buffy was not clinging, but she stayed close to Faith at all times, and was clearly happiest when they were holding hands or, better, when they had their arms around each other.
A little before seven in the evening, Buffy told Faith it was time for dinner, and led her to a door in the French Quarter that had a sign saying '33' next to it. She pushed a button, and when a voice greeted her over an intercom she gave her name and the door opened. They were led into a lift which took them upstairs, and then to a cozy table for two next to a window looking out over the park. The service was fantastic, and the food was the best that Faith had ever had. As they enjoyed their desserts, Faith decided to try to take the initiative again.
"So is this our first date, B?"
"Technically, no, but I would like for it to be," was her soft answer before she reached over and lightly brushed her fingertips over Faith's hand, where it held her fork next to her plate.
Faith frowned a little as she thought about what Buffy said. Then she understood, and smiled. She hadn't realized that Buffy thought of those nights back in Sunnydale, before things had gone bad, as dates. Homecoming, the Bronze, Faith had wanted to look at them that way, but she never believed that Buffy had. She got that Buffy wanted to give them a clean start.
Faith took the initiative again after they finished watching the Fantasmic show from their seats on the balcony, and softly drew Buffy into a kiss as the fireworks began over the park. She knew how to be romantic, too. They spent the limo ride back to the hotel softly kissing and caressing each other. Buffy went with Faith back to her room, and they made love to each other for the first time that night.
As Faith thought about the first time they had made love, she looked away from the fire and around the condo the gang had rented for the two of them for a holiday present. They were in Tahoe for two weeks, for Christmas and New Year's. The rest of the gang had gone to Giles' place in England. The condo was perfectly decorated for the holidays, and Faith could see the snow was still falling outside. The only sounds that even Faith's hearing could pick up were from the storm outside, the fire, or from herself or Buffy. Faith thought about that moan again. She liked that moan. She wanted to hear more.
As Faith stood and turned to face her girlfriend, lover, partner, mate, she was rewarded with another soft moan. Buffy held up the blanket she was under for Faith to join her. Faith pulled the blanket away completely and smiled down at naked Buffy laying on her bed of pillows.
"I've got a roaring fire going, B. Let's enjoy it." Faith knelt down next to Buffy and nudged her over to lay flat on her back. She then straddled the blonde's narrow hips and leaned forward to kiss her, brushing her tongue across soft lips, and then a passionate tongue. When she felt Buffy begin to grind against her, she stretched out her legs and brought herself down on top of Buffy, brushing her breasts over her lover's before setting her full weight down, eliciting another moan.
She loved this feeling, their bodies pressed together from head to toe. She could tell Buffy craved it as much as she did. The more contact there was between them at any given time, the happier both Slayers felt. After a few more minutes of passionate kissing, she lifted herself up slightly and began rubbing her breasts against Buffy's and planting soft kisses and licks across her face. Buffy knew what Faith wanted when she acted like this, so she pulled her hands away from Faith's hair and back and laid her arms out to the side. Sometimes Faith felt the need to show her how much she adored her, and wouldn't let Buffy respond until she was done.
Faith grinned at her love's understanding, and shifted down to kiss and lick and nibble at Buffy's neck and shoulders. Buffy began to moan constantly, which was driving Faith wild. She slid further down and brought her hands into play as she began lavishing attention on Buffy's breasts. She firmly massaged her chest, while she teased Buffy's hard nipples with her fingertips, lips, tongue and teeth. When Buffy started to involuntarily thrust and grind underneath her she nuzzled them a little with her nose before beginning to work her way down Buffy's belly with licks and kisses.
She shifted to move so she was between Buffy's open thighs, and sighed in pleasure as she luxuriated in Buffy with all of her senses. The sight of her, flushed with desire for Faith. The sound of her, moaning and gasping for Faith. The feel of her, smooth and hot and wet for Faith. The scent of her, sweet and musky with desire for Faith. The taste of her, as Faith softly brushed her flat tongue up from Buffy's sweet ass, over her open and dripping wet pink lips, and on to her throbbing clit. Buffy shook as she moaned loudly. Faith continued licking her with those long, broad strokes for several minutes, while Buffy forced herself not to bury her hands in Faith's hair and pull her closer.
Faith moved one hand up to caress and tease Buffy's clit while she used the other to spread Buffy's lips as she began sliding her tongue inside Buffy's pussy, pausing every few minutes to wiggle her tongue into Buffy's ass. When Buffy's moans grew louder, and her hips began to buck out of her control, Faith moved her mouth up to lick and suck and nibble at Buffy's clit. She slid two fingers into Buffy's pussy, and one into her ass, and pumped to Buffy's rhythm with long strokes from fingertip to knuckle and back again.
She felt Buffy's insides clutching at her as Buffy finally reached down and wove her fingers into Faith's hair and pushed herself hard into Faith's mouth and fingers. A few moments later Buffy started to cum, screaming Faith's name, and Faith didn't let up. She kept going through four powerful rolling orgasms, until Buffy finally managed to pull Faith's mouth away from her clit and up for a kiss filled with all of the love and passion Buffy had in her.
Faith pulled away from the kiss to let Buffy catch her breath and sat up and straddled Buffy's hips again. She loved this sight: Buffy flushed, sweating, gasping, shaking, thoroughly satiated. She knew she had a few minutes before Buffy would be ready to return the favor, as she knew she would. She reached over to the hearth and picked up the two mugs of cider they had warming by the fire. She glanced at the clock, and then set down the mugs next to her and moved so she was leaning against the sofa. She gently pulled Buffy up so she was laying against her and they were both facing the scintillating tree, and handed her a mug, before taking her own.
She kissed Buffy softly. "Merry Christmas, B. I love you."
"Merry Christmas, Fai. I love you, too."