The People We Are
by Nikita
Rating: R
Disclaimer: The characters belong to the great and powerful Joss.
Spoilers: All BtVS and AtS.
Author's Notes: Sequel to the Things We Have Done, which was the
sequel to The Choices We Make. Picks up about a week after
TTWHD's epilogue. Thanks to all of you who have sent me
feedback. This is for all of you who voted that I keep this series
going. I love fireworks! Can you tell? And it's really difficult to write
when a kitten (Spike!) keeps walking on the keyboard. <dream> [trance]
Feedback: Please!
PROLOGUE
"Wow..." Was all Faith could say as she held Buffy in her arms.
Buffy smiled up at her girlfriend, who had a look of amazement on her face. "I never knew you'd be so into this."
Faith grinned sheepishly. "It's so powerful, y'know?"
"I know." The blonde agreed and returned her gaze to the sky. Funny, she thought to herself. With all the chaos and explosions in Sunnydale, she wouldn't have imagined that there would be such a turnout for this. But there was. Adults, children, (maybe some vampires?) watched the fireworks explode. And as for Faith... Buffy was constantly surprised by her love of childish things. Fireworks, cartoons, playing games. Maybe it was just that she'd never experienced these things when she was a kid.
Faith continued to watch the sky with her mouth hanging open and letting out the occasional gasp of wonder. She'd always loved fireworks. Life as a slayer was filled with darkness, and there was something about the colours that lit up the night sky that she loved. She gripped Buffy tighter as a particularly bright one burst out of the darkness. "Wow...." She said again.
Willow watched the two slayers with interest, her head resting on Tara's shoulder, mimicking the way Faith was holding Buffy. She'd begun to thaw towards the dark haired slayer, and this was definitely helping. She was so much more than Willow had believed for so long. And seeing the two of them together... it almost made Willow forgive Faith completely as she saw the look of contentment on Buffy's face.
The Scooby gang stood in the dark and watched the sky in awe, until the last firework sizzled out of view.
"Big bang. Ooohhhh." Spike said sarcastically and shook his head. "How old are we, people?"
"Sssshhhh." Cordelia snapped. "I like- wow, look at that one."
Gunn grinned. "Cool, huh?" He looked around the room for a second. "Where's Angel?"
"Upstairs brooding as usual." Cordelia replied, still looking out the window.
"I'll get him." Spike said, and made his way upstairs.
Angel stared out of the window at the display. He didn't turn as he heard Spike come in, he just sighed. "It reminds me of... what I am."
Spike sat down. "How so?"
"Remember what it used to like?" Angel asked him, still staring out the window. "We used to love wars, easy picking."
Spike nodded. "Sure."
"And then in China, explosions everywhere, death all around, and I couldn't do anything. Darla, Dru, you, all gone. Just me and explosions left alone."
"They're just fireworks." Spike said. "You need to stop brooding, you do."
Angel smiled slightly. "Don't you feel it?"
"Yes, of course I do." Spike said, getting up an putting a hand on his shoulder. "But you fight, mate. Everyday, everynight. Try to enjoy the good stuff." He said, deciding not to tell Angel how lame he thought fireworks were.
Angel nodded and they both looked out the window.
And then they heard a cry from downstairs and rushed out.
Cordelia was holding her head in her hands and sitting on the couch.
"Vision." Gunn said, rubbing her shoulders.
"What was it?" Angel asked.
Cordelia looked at him. "It was LA." She replied. "And it was Buffy."
It wasn't long before the first vampires attacked the slayers on patrol that night. They fought like they always did, side by side, on eye on the other, more concerned about their partner than themselves. It was because of this that Faith noticed Buffy taking more hits than usual.
"You OK, B?" She shouted over to the blonde, as she kicked a vamp in the stomach.
Buffy panted out a reply of "yes" just before she found herself on her back with a vampire straining towards her neck. Faith quickly staked the one she had been fighting, and rushed over to help her girlfriend.
"No one gets her on her back-" She said, pulling him off Buffy "But me." She concluded with a grin as she watched him explode into dust on the end of her stake. She gave Buffy her hand and helped her up.
Buffy rose and walked away, slightly embarrassed.
"C'mon, B." Faith said, catching up with her. "You just had bad luck." She took her hand. "You OK?"
Buffy nodded. "I think I'm just really tired." She said. "I feel kind of weak." Buffy smiled at Faith's look of concern. "Let's just go home, all right?"
Faith nodded. "OK, B. If you're sure."
"Angel called." Dawn shouted down the stairs as the two slayers walked in the door. "He wants you to call him back."
"OK!" Buffy shouted. She kissed Faith and waited for her to go upstairs, then she picked up the phone and called the vampire.
"Hey."
"Buffy, Cordelia had a vision about you. You were in LA." He paused for a moment before continuing. "I think you should come here."
Buffy sighed. "I dunno. Maybe if I stay here-"
"No." Angel said. "She gets these visions from the Powers, if you're supposed to be here, you better come." The vampire paused again. "Buffy, are you OK?"
"Yeah." She replied wearily. "I'm just tired. A bit off my game." She could almost hear him nodding down the phone. "We'll come tomorrow, OK?"
"Good. Are you going to tell everyone about the vision?"
Buffy considered it for a second. "No. I think I'll just bring the gang. Treat it like a holiday."
"OK. I'll see you tomorrow."
"What did he want?" Faith asked the blonde as she walked into the room.
Buffy shook her head. "He wants us to come visit." Buffy got into bed and lay down and Faith put her arms around her.
"Any particular reason?"
Buffy hesitated. "No."
"Are we going?"
Buffy nodded. "Could be fun. Take the whole gang."
"Tomorrow?"
Buffy nodded again. "I'm beat." She said.
Faith smiled and kissed her. "OK."
Buffy watched Faith fall asleep in the usual position, her head on Buffy's chest and her arms around her body. Tired as she was, Buffy couldn't drift off. She was worried. This weakness, she had felt it once before, and she had hated then as she hated it now. But that was because- Buffy shook her head. It couldn't be. Giles wouldn't do that to her again.
Then why?
She looked at the brunette in her arms and sighed.
Buffy had died. Twice. And Faith was the last in line of the slayers.
Buffy shook her head again. She was Buffy. Buffy was the slayer.
Wasn't she?
Buffy woke before her alarm the next morning as sunlight poured into her room. She rubbed her eyes, still worried about the previous night's fight. She rolled over sleepily to watch the dark haired slayer lying next to her. Faith wasn't the sort to sleep soundly, usually muttering in her sleep, tossing and turning and generally taking up most of the bed, but Buffy smiled, noticing the same thing she always did, and never failing to be surprised. As much as she moved around, Faith's hand never moved from Buffy's waist, seemingly glued to the blonde slayer and refusing to let go. Buffy placed her hand on her girlfriend's hair, pushing it out of her face. Angel had promised to arrange the trip to LA, so the two slayers would have to be at the magic shop in a few hours. But a few hours is a long time, Buffy grinned to herself, her thoughts suddenly far away from lack of strength and focused instead on the girl next to her.
She leaned down and brushed her lips against Faith's, grinning as she heard her groan quietly. Her hand trailed down the girl's body, gently persuading her to move to her back. She slowly lifted the brunette's shirt, her eyes swept up and down Faith's body, and she growled, desire overtaking her. Her mouth descended to Faith's left breast, causing her breathing to quicken.
"Better than an alarm..." Faith grinned, as she woke, breathing heavily.
"Mmmmmrrrrrr..." Buffy replied, her hand moving between Faith's legs, making her yelp.
BEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEPBEEP!!!!!!!
Buffy's other hand grabbed the alarm clock and threw it against the wall, refusing to unhook herself from her girlfriend who's panting was becoming increasingly louder.
"I'm gonna use the shower!" Dawn yelled from the hallway. "Is that cool?!"
"YeahgoaheadDawntakeaslongasyouwant!" Faith yelled back, her voice suspiciously higher than usual.
"Ugh, fine!" Came Dawn's reply as she guessed what they were doing, making Buffy giggle as she brought Faith over the edge.
"You're late." Giles said as the three girls walked into the magic shop.
"It's SO not my fault." Dawn said, throwing her sister a pissed off look. Faith and Buffy just grinned sheepishly.
"So what's the what?" Xander asked. "Why the holiday?"
"Yes!" Anya said, looking around worriedly. "We have to leave the money! Xander..." She tugged on her boyfriend's arm. "Can't we take it with us? What if someone endangers the money?"
Xander smiled reassuringly. "It'll be fine, I told you. The money's going to stay at the bank. Having a holiday of it's own."
"It's only for a couple of days." Buffy said. "Thought it'd be nice."
"Yup. Big city, big fun." Xander nodded. "I'm wheels guy. Who's with me?"
Xander, Anya, Willow and Tara got into the car and drove off, Giles, Dawn, Faith and Buffy following.
Buffy was soon lost in her own thoughts. She looked out at the streets and raised her face to the sun. She'd often wondered what it would be like, not to have this responsibility, not to be the slayer. She'd even wished for it... but always when faced with the choices she had to make, always when it came down to it, she accepted that this was part of her. She could hardly remember what it was like before she'd been called. It seemed like another life, a different person. Now, even with the pain that came with being the slayer, she knew she couldn't live without it. To know what was out there, and not be able to defend herself...
Her eyes wandered over to her girlfriend, the other slayer. The second slayer. Buffy saw herself as the protector, the true slayer, and even though she often scolded herself for thinking it, deep down she always believed that Faith wasn't really supposed to be here. Not like this. She felt a wave of jealously wash over her. What if she was wrong? What if Faith really was `the chosen one?'.
Faith's eyes flicked to her own. "You OK?" She asked, reaching for Buffy's hand.
"Yeah, just a bit tired." Buffy gave her a small smile.
Dawn looked back at them from the front seat. "You probably wore her out this morning."
The three of them fell sideways as the car swerved slightly. Giles coughed and pretended not to notice.
"Wow, so this is it?" Xander asked, getting out of the car and looking a the hotel in awe. "Niiice."
"Yeah, it's really great inside!" Willow nodded. "Cordelia showed me round it when I was here to tell them about Buffy-" She stopped, noticing the look on Giles' face. "So let's go in!"
They walked into the hotel, and were greeted by their friends enthusiastically.
Angel walked to Buffy and hugged her. "How are you?" He asked seriously. Faith looked at the ground.
Buffy smiled "Fine. Bit hungry."
"Great!" Cordelia exclaimed. "I cooked!"
"You... cooked?" Willow asked nervously.
"Don't worry. I helped. A LOT." Gunn grinned at the annoyed expression on his girlfriend's face.
"So let's eat!" Xander grinned, following his nose in the direction of the smell of food.
They made their way to the the kitchen, Faith half a step behind them.
Love is a scary thing, she thought as she watched Buffy and Angel walking side by side.
Xander looked with barely concealed disgust at Spike and Angel pouring blood into glasses from the large bowl on the table. Spike caught his eye and groaned. "Oh don't be such a bloody poof!" He snapped.
Xander shuddered and went back to eating his food. "Don't call him a poof." Anya replied. "Xander likes girls. Which is good, because then we can have sex. A lot."
Tara blushed slightly, and Anya misread it. "Not that there's anything wrong with being gay." She said, looking around earnestly at them all. "Girls are very nice." She beamed. "But I like Xander."
"Duh." Cordelia said.
"I just don't want to sleep with girls." She clarified, not wanting to be misunderstood. "No, I don't mind sleeping with them, but I don't want to have orgasms with them. You know," she continued, pointing to Willow and Tara, "Like you two have in the magic shop when Giles isn't there."
Faith burst out laughing at the mortified looks on the witches' faces. Buffy slapped her on the back as she started to choke.
"Yes, anyway-" Giles tried to change the subject, but Anya was on a roll.
"And you two!" She continued, pointing at Faith and Buffy. "You two have as many orgasms as Xander does!"
"Anya!" Xander tried to shut her up.
"What?" She asked. "Everyone does it! I bet Cordelia and Gunn do. Dawn's too young to have sex I suppose, but she does it on her own. Don't worry Dawn." She said conspiratorially, "Someone else can do it for you when you're older." Dawn sank almost completely under the table. "Giles and Wesley have orgasm friends." The ex-demon went on. "What's the problem?"
"You can't say things like that!" Willow exclaimed blushing redder than her hair.
"Why? Only Angel and Spike don't do it, and that's because they'd lose their souls. If that wasn't a problem they'd be doing it with-"
"So how about that Buffy vision, huh?!" Spike interrupted frantically. He stopped as twelve pairs of eyes snapped towards him and silence filled the room.
"Oops."
"See?" Anya said triumphantly. "THAT'S the kind of thing you're not meant to say. Talking about orgasms is-" Xander clamped his hand over her mouth. "Mmmmffff!"
"What vision?" Faith asked quietly.
"It was probably a mistake, I didn't want to worry you." Buffy said, her stomach in knots.
Angel spoke up. "Buffy thought that-"
"You shut the fuck up!" Faith spat at him. She turned back to Buffy. "Tell me now."
Buffy looked at her friends, who all had varying degrees of disbelief on their faces, and the LA gang who were all fidgeting nervously.
"Look, Cordelia had a vision, about me in LA. That's it. I thought I could treat this like a-"
"Holiday." Xander finished. "Instead of trusting us to help."
"It wasn't like that. I didn't think anything was wrong."
"But you've been weak." Faith whispered. "I asked you about it, and you said there was nothing wrong." She shook her head and whispered. "You lied to me."
"I didn't mean to." Buffy said, reaching for her hand. "I didn't-"
"You didn't think I could handle it? Without you there to protect me?"
Buffy opened her mouth to speak, and then shut it again.
Faith nodded. "I see." She got up and walked away.
"Faith! Come back here!" Buffy got up to follow her, but was pulled back by Spike and Angel.
"I'll go." Spike said, leaving Buffy feeling more helpless than ever.
"I just got scared." Buffy said sadly, as the gang's holiday turned into a research night. "I didn't want to deal."
"You should have told us." Willow said, her voice cold. "Instead you put us and yourself in more danger."
"I'm sorry."
"Just keep looking." Giles said, fighting was the last thing that would help.
"Take that you fucking freak!" Faith screamed at the vampire who was now writhing on the ground.
"Uh, slayer?" Spike said as he dusted a vampire who was running at him. "You appear to be missing the heart."
Faith nodded. "No shit." Her stake stabbed into the wailing vampire in the stomach again and again. Spike walked over and pulled the brunette off him and finished the vamp off.
"C'mon, let's go back. I know what'll make you feel better."
"Do you think she's OK?" Buffy asked Angel, who nodded.
"Spike will look after her."
"I need to know what's wrong, Angel." Buffy said, her head in her hands. "I don't know what I'd do if I wasn't the slayer."
"I know. I remember what happened last time."
"Faith would try to look after me... but..."
Angel nodded. "Buffy, pride can be a terrible thing."
They turned suddenly as six vampires burst in through the door, followed by Faith and Spike. "What the...?" Angel yelled.
"We saw them running in here on our way back!" Spike yelled, jumping on one. Angel and Faith joined in the fight, as Buffy stood by, unable to do anything. As four of them were quickly dusted, one ran at Buffy and leapt on her, fangs bared. "Angel!" She called out.
Angel ran and staked him easily, and Spike finished the last.
"Where the Hell did they come from? They know I live here." Angel said as he helped Buffy up.
Buffy shook her head. And noticed Faith was staring at the floor.
"Faith... he was closest." Buffy said desperately, realising what the problem was.
"Five by five." Faith muttered. "You went with your instincts."
"I-"
"Spike?" Faith turned to the blonde vampire. "You said you had something to make me feel better?"
Spike nodded, and followed Faith upstairs, leaving Buffy with tears in her eyes.
"Just let her go." Angel said, as Buffy moved towards the staircase. "Give her space."
"I don't know what to do." Buffy shook her head. "It's not that I don't trust her, I just.... I'm scared. I feel so helpless and I don't know if she can handle it."
Angel sat down. "There's more, though, isn't there?"
Buffy hesitated. Of course there was more. There was always something left unsaid, something she couldn't share with anyone.
"You don't have to tell me." Angel said, reading her thoughts. "But figure it out and talk to Faith. She might surprise you."
Faith slumped down in an armchair in Spike's room. "So what you got for me?"
"Well," the vampire said, walking over to the cabinet next to the bed "It's long, hard and feels damn good inside..."
Faith grinned at him as he pulled out a bottle of whisky. "Hit me."
Spike threw her the bottle and sat down, watching the brunette gulp down the alcohol like someone who had way too much practise for someone her age. "Want a glass?"
"Fuck that."
Faith threw him the bottle back. "You don't stay in this room much, do you?" She asked, glancing around. "Doesn't look lived in." She turned back to him. "I didn't know vampires could blush." She grinned.
"An illusion." Spike said, not wanting to talk about it.
"Whatever." Faith took the alcohol and swigged again.
Buffy stopped outside Spike's door on her way back to her room, contemplating whether or not to go in. She heard Faith giggle and turned away. Maybe space would be good.
As soon as Buffy got into bed, she decided that space was definitely not a good thing. She lay on her back, missing Faith's reassuring hand on her stomach and even missing not having enough room. She turned to face the window, and looked into the night. A night that was filled with demons. Demons she could no longer fight.
"Xander?" Anya whispered. "Are you awake?" Getting no response, she nudged him and asked a little louder. "Xander?" Still nothing. "Xander!"
"Huh? What?" He jerked awake. "What's wrong?"
"Oh good. You are awake."
Xander glared at her.
"Why don't people talk?"
"What do you mean?" He asked, rubbing his eyes.
"They all complain when I say things. It's not wrong, is it? I'm just telling the truth."
He yawned and turned to face his girlfriend. "Sometimes the truth is hard to take." He replied. "People can't handle it."
"It's stupid. If people just said what they meant, then there wouldn't be all these problems, like with Buffy and Faith."
"I know. Are you worried?"
"Yes. If they break up, it'll make you sad. And then I'll be sad and we might fight."
"Fight?"
Anya wrapped her arms around him. "You have to tell me, OK?"
"What?"
"Everything."
Xander smiled and kissed her gently. "OK." He replied.
"Looks like we're out." Spike noticed, as he drained the second bottle.
"Yup. And I'm not even drunk." Faith said, getting up and falling over again. "Oh, maybe a bit."
Spike giggled. "Yeah, maybe a bit."
"I used to be able to take more than this." Faith sighed. "But now..." Her hands fell to her sides and shook her head. "Now, I'm out of practise. I have to be a gooood girl."
The vampire nodded his head in understanding. "I can't even have sex. I have to be a good boy."
Faith smirked. "I don't have to be THAT good. I get Buffy." She nodded her head happily. "Oh, wait, but we're fighting." She said, her face falling.
"Oh yeah!" Spike said. "That's why we're drinking."
"Drinking to forget."
"Didn't work." He shook his head. "Never works."
"See, she doesn't think I'm strong enough." Faith went on. "She thinks I can't be the slayer."
Spike shook his head. "No. She doesn't WANT you to be the slayer."
Faith looked at him, drunkenly confused. "Why not?"
"Because she thinks she's useless then."
"Useless?"
"Happened with Riley, but the other way around." He recalled. "He thought he wasn't strong enough."
"He wasn't. He was a big wuss." Faith said, making them both giggle.
"Yeah, he was like `Oh I'm a soldier! I've got a big gun!'"
Faith snorted. "It wasn't that big." They both convulsed in laughter again.
Faith stopped and sat up against the wall. "She should know that it doesn't matter. She doesn't have to be super-Buffy for me to love her."
"Maybe you should tell her that."
"I think I'm supposed to be mad at her."
"Why?"
Faith paused. "I can't remember..." The two of them looked at each other and collapsed into laughter again.
"Right!" Cordelia yelled, hearing another wail of laughter from down the hall. "That's it!" She jumped out of bed laving Gunn to mutter himself back to sleep. She grabbed a bathrobe and strode out the door towards Spike's room. She opened it to find Faith and Spike writhing in laughter on the floor.
"Did anyone order a seer?" Spike asked.
"Come here." She said, grabbing the slayer by the arm and pulling her out the door and towards the kitchen.
"Bye bye." Spike muttered as he crawled into bed to hide from the ex-cheerleader's wrath.
"It's 4 am!" Cordelia said, pouring out a bit mug of black coffee and placing it in front of Faith. "Drink this, and then you and I are going to have a little talk."
Faith picked up the mug and drank as Cordelia stood over her with a steely gaze.
"God, my head!" Faith groaned. Slayer metabolism was all well and good, but it really did make a hangover come way too quickly.
"Right. Talk."
"What?" She whined. "You should be mad at Buffy, not me."
"For God's sake! Don't you know why she's upset with you?" Cordelia exclaimed.
Faith shrugged. "Spike says she doesn't want me to be the slayer."
"Look at yourself. Why would she?" Cordelia shook her head. "You know what Angel's been doing all night? Researching. Trying to find out what's wrong with her. He stayed up way after everyone else gave up. You, on the other hand, were getting drunk with Spike."
Faith looked at the table, unable to meet her eyes. "I don't know what to do. I don't know what she wants." Faith shook her head. "One minute I think she wants me to protect her, the next she doesn't even want me to be the slayer."
"She's a girl. Go figure." Cordelia said. Shaking herself, she took Faith's hand. "Just be there for her. Talk to her. Let her know you can take care of things, but don't let her feel useless."
"She's not useless."
"I know that. And I also know you can take care of her. Just make sure SHE knows that." Cordelia smiled at the young slayer gently. "I have faith in you." She smiled. "Now go."
Faith nodded and walked to the door. She stopped and turned around. "Thanks." She said simply.
Faith opened the door as quietly as possible. She stripped out of her clothes and washed and cleaned her teeth, trying to keep from waking the older slayer. Faith walked over to the bed and climbed in. "I'm sorry, B." She whispered, putting her arm around Buffy's waist and her head on her chest.
"I love you." The very awake blonde replied softly.
Faith tightened her grip, a few tears slipping out before she shut her eyes.
<Buffy punched at a vampire. It was big, way too big for her to handle, she thought with a slight air of panic. It side stepped her blow and pinned her to the ground, his fanged mouth twisting into a grin. She lunged out at it again, throwing a fist with all her might.>
Faith grunted as Buffy’s flailing fist hit her on the head, not helping her hangover much. “B...” She groaned, opening her eyes to the light. Buffy whimpered in her sleep and continued to kick and punch at the air.
<The vampire was stronger than she was, the blonde was sure of that. His fangs descended slowly towards her neck, and she squeezed her eyes closed, waiting for death.>
Faith reached out and stroked the blonde’s hair gently. She moved closer to her ear and whispered reassuringly to her. “It’s OK, B. It’s OK.”
<“It’s OK, B.” Buffy heard a familiar voice tell her. She felt a surge of energy go through her. Hell, she wasn’t going to die, not like this! She reached out a hand to search for something to hit the vampire with, her eyes locking with his. His eyes started to lose their confidence as she regained her own.>
Faith smiled as she saw her girlfriend’s body relax and her breathing become regular. “Told you, B.” She grinned.
<Buffy found her stake that had fallen beside her in her panic. She grabbed it and grinned at the vampire as she stuck it into his chest. “You don’t know who you’re dealing with.” She said as he exploded into dust.>
The brunette couldn’t help but laugh as she saw the look of triumph on Buffy’s sleeping face. She leaned forward and kissed her gently, only slightly surprised as Buffy hungrily pulled her tongue into her mouth.
<“You’re right.” Faith smirked as she walked over to Buffy and sat astride her. “They have no idea.” Buffy grinned and pulled her into a kiss.>
Faith ran her hands over her girlfriend’s body, slipping over her breasts and down her stomach. The blonde’s breathing had become ragged again, although for a totally different reason than before.
<Buffy groaned under the brunette’s hands, pulling her close as possible. Faith’s hands roamed her body, over her breasts, down her stomach, through her curls to her->
“Oh God...” Buffy murmured as she woke up to feel Faith’s fingers inside her.
“Morning, B.” The brunette grinned as she watched Buffy’s shocked arousal.
“Heavy night, Spike?" Xander asked as the blonde vampire stumbled into the kitchen.
Spike glared at him. “Coffee.” He growled, slumping into a chair. Willow poured him a mug and sat back down at the table. “That slayer can really drink...” He muttered.
“Yeah, we heard you.” Gunn snapped. “Man, you were so loud!”
“Lucky we sleep on the other side of the hotel.” Anya chirped. “It might have interrupted our orgasms.” She beamed at Xander.
He grinned at his girlfriend. “Speaking of, where are our lovely girls this morning?”
“I think they’re making up.” Cordelia rolled her eyes. The gang looked up unanimously at the ceiling as a very loud scream pierced the calm morning.
“I guess we should get up.” Faith said as she lay with Buffy in her arms.
“Don’t wanna. Wanna stay here.”
Faith grinned at the blonde’s protest. “C’mon, B. We’ve got work to do.”
“Shower first?” Buffy pouted.
“Sure.” Faith said getting out of bed. “Need some help?”
Buffy grinned at her. “Duh.”
“Finally!” Giles exclaimed as the two slayers emerged an hour or so later. “Where were you?”
Faith just smirked wickedly at him.
“Ewww....” Dawn said, turning back to her book.
Angel walked into the room holding a large leather bound book. “Buffy, you know that spell you did to find out what was wrong with your mom?”
“Yeah.”
“Gunn and I thought we could do the same thing here.”
Giles shook his head. “Buffy can’t do it if she’s trying to find out what’s wrong with- oh.” He closed his mouth.
“Faith can do it.” Buffy said.
Willow walked over to the two slayers and sat down. “You know how hard it was, Buffy. You’d been training, and Faith doesn’t have your... um...”
“Discipline?” Faith finished for her. “Yeah, maybe you’re right.”
“No.” Buffy shook her head. “I know you can do this. Willow can help you get ready.”
The witch and the slayer looked at each other nervously. Sure, they had been regaining their trust of one another, but this?
“You can help me Faith. I need you to help me.” Buffy said, taking her girlfriend’s hand.
“I’ll screw it up.”
“No you won’t.” Buffy looked to her best friend for help. “Please?”
The redhead hesitated for a moment. This was something that required strength and commitment. She wasn’t sure if Faith could do it. But the brunette looked at her hopefully, waiting for reassurance, and Willow gave in. “Yes. Let’s do it.” She said finally.
“Concentrate.” Willow murmured. “Let it all go.”
Faith sat cross legged in the middle of the floor with her eyes closed. Clearing her mind was harder than she expected.
“Relax.”
“If you shut up, maybe I’ll be able to concentrate.” She snapped.
Willow sighed. “Fine.”
Faith’s mind kept wandering to Buffy. She needed her help. She needed Faith.
“I said clear your mind.” Willow said as she noticed a smile form on the brunette’s lips.
“I know!” Faith shook her head and started again.
“Do you think she can do it?” Angel asked.
“Yes.”
“You’re that sure?”
“Yes.” Buffy replied firmly again. “I know she can.”
Angel nodded. “I hope so.” He had been the first to believe in Faith, the first to realise how much she wanted to make things right. Still, the vampire was surprised she had come this far, especially with Buffy. The blonde wasn’t the most forgiving person in the world after all. Maybe this had always meant to be, he thought as he watched his ex-girlfriend’s eyes wander to the wall separating her from Faith.
Buffy had lost any doubt she had in Faith that morning. Even in her dreams, it was Faith who had saved her, who had kept her going. Now Faith was helping her again, and Buffy knew she wouldn’t let her down. She saw Angel grin out of the corner of her eye and she looked at him, trying to read his thoughts like she had so many times before, and like always, failing miserably. “What?" She asked finally. “What are you thinking?"
“I’m glad you found each other.” He said.
Buffy smiled at him. “Thanks.” She said. “That means a lot.”
Hours later, the witch and the slayer emerged tired but determined from the little room. Faith walked slowly, in a trance. Willow was impressed. She hadn’t thought Faith could do it, but the amount of effort she had given today had changed the witch’s mind. Maybe they had a chance after all. She watched Faith silently as the slayer moved around in her trance and out a finger to her lips, looking meaningfully at everyone.
[Everything seemed to echo around the dark haired slayer, giving the hotel a dream like quality. Everyone’s eyes were on her as she moved out of the room and into the kitchen. She stumbled slightly, almost losing her focus, but she shut her eyes and breathed deeply, steadying herself. She had a vague idea of what she was looking for, something strange. Problem was, everything looked strange right now. Maybe this was a bad idea, she thought.
Then she moved towards Buffy. Something had caught her eye, something dark... she walked closer and realised it was a shadow, almost like an arm, and it appeared to be wrapped around her chest. That must be it, she thought and opened her mouth to speak.
Suddenly, she noticed something else. The shadow seemed to be connected to something. One end of it trailed off and split in two, one of the sections slightly darker than the other. She followed them with her eyes and held her breath. The lighter end seemed to lead to Wesley, and the darker one to Giles. Faith stood for a moment with her mouth open, staring into the mid-distance.]
“Faith?” Buffy put a hand on her shoulder. “You OK?”
Faith shook herself out of the trance. “Yeah.” She said, looking at Buffy. “Five by five.”
Faith glanced at Giles and Wesley, and then at Buffy. Unwilling to say what she had seen in front of everyone, she fell to the floor, pretending to be faint.
Buffy pulled Faith into her arms and lifted her up. “Will, help me.” She said, carrying the brunette towards the door. The redhead nodded and followed with a look of concern on her face.
Buffy laid Faith down on the bed as Willow closed the door. “Faith?” The blonde whispered, worry evident in her voice.
Faith couldn’t help but smile. “It’s cool, B. Just needed to get out of there.”
Buffy shot her an angry look. “You’re OK? Don’t scare me like that!”
“Sorry.” Faith said sheepishly.
Willow walked over and sat next to the two slayers. “What did you see?” She asked Faith, scared of what the answer might be to make her unable to say it in front of the others.
“Shadow of an arm.” Faith told them. “It was around B, and it split off and trailed to Wes and Giles.”
“Giles?” Buffy asked. Not again...
“The darker part went to him.” Faith continued, taking her girlfriend’s hand in her own. She looked to Willow. “What do you think?”
Willow was frowning at the floor.
“Will?” Buffy asked nervously. “Does it mean it’s coming from them?”
“I don’t know... I mean, usually I’d say yes...”
“But not Giles. He wouldn’t do this to me!” Buffy pleaded, hoping for reassurance.
“He did it before.” Faith replied. “I swear, if it’s him...”
Buffy squeezed her hand. “You won’t do anything.” She said. There was no way she’d let her go down that path again, even if she thought Faith was still capable of it.
Faith looked at her, knowing that Buffy was right. Still, the feeling was there. Someone hurt Buffy, and the need for revenge rose up inside her unbidden. “I just hate that anyone...”
“I know.” The blonde said, her voice much calmer than she felt. “I know, I’d feel the same.” The intensity with which the two slayers looked at each other made Willow nervous. She coughed to break their stare, looking at them apologetically.
Faith grinned. “OK... what now?”
Suddenly Angel burst into the room. “Something’s wrong.” He stated. “You guys better come down stairs.”
The four of them returned to the room where they’d left their friends and stopped short. They all appeared to be unconscious. All except Giles and Wesley.
“What did you do?!” Faith yelled at the two men. Buffy grabbed her wrist as she looked ready to pounce.
“What do you mean?” Angel asked as he watched them back away nervously from Faith.
“They did a spell! They did this to B!”
“Faith, I assure you we had nothing to do with this.” Wesley replied, trying to appear confident. “I certainly had nothing to do with this.”
“Neither did I!” Giles said, slightly indignant that Wesley would doubt him.
Willow stepped forward. “Then explain.”
Giles shook his head. “I can’t.” He pointed at the gang and shook his head. “They just collapsed. Buffy, I wouldn’t hurt you. You know that.”
Buffy looked at him. He had hurt her before. He had been willing to kill Dawn... but still, something told her to trust him. Something would not let her believe that he would harm her again. She nodded slightly and turned to Faith just as the brunette opened her mouth to protest. “I trust him.”
Faith glanced at the two nervous men and back to her girlfriend. Trust? It was a concept still new to Faith, and something she did not give out easily. But when it came down to it, she trusted Buffy. “Fine.” She growled. “What do we do?”
The answer didn’t come, however, since at that moment the main door shattered with a loud crash. The six still conscious friends turned to where the door used to be with their mouths hanging open.
“Hello Faith.” Mayor Wilkins giggled. “It sure is nice to see you again!”
Faith just stood there, looking at the man she had once thought of as a father with a blank expression on her face. She heard Buffy whisper from somewhere to her side. “Not an arm.”
“No." Willow replied, just as quietly. “A snake.”
Maybe Faith should have guessed, the split at the end like a forked tongue, the way it wrapped around Buffy’s chest as if to squeeze the life from her. Mostly, Faith thought she should have known because of where it lay. Across the heart. After all, hadn’t everything that had happened come from a twisted sort of love?
And here he was. The Mayor. Richard Wilkins the Third. A big snake demon wannabe. The only person who had never let her down.
He stood with a grin on his face that lay somewhere between gleeful fatherly charm and outright insanity. And he was looking at Faith.
“Aren’t you pleased to see me?” He asked with a mock-hurt look. “After I came all this way?”
“Don’t you dare talk to her.” Buffy hissed at him. Faith glanced at her quickly, and Buffy couldn’t quite make out the meaning behind her look. She placed a hand on her girlfriend’s arm protectively, a flash of fear passing through her.
“You’re not welcome here.” Angel said, stepping threateningly towards the mayor. “Leave. Leave or I kill you.”
The mayor giggled. “Whoa there, big fella.” He moved slightly towards Angel. “If I’m not welcome, why was I invited?” He asked, looking towards Giles and Wesley.
“Now look here-” Giles began to protest only to be cut off by Buffy.
“You didn’t!” She exclaimed, her fear getting the better of her. If there was anyone who could take Faith away, Buffy believed it was the mayor. The blonde slayer wanted nothing more than to run at him and rip his head off his shoulders, but she couldn’t. Buffy’s strength had not returned, and besides, she knew what it would do to Faith. She stood there helpless, facing the man she hated more than anyone, and could do absolutely nothing. Instead, she turned to her own father figure and lashed out at him, not wanting to believe that he could do something like this, but needing to brace herself against what Faith might do.
“You brought him here?” She yelled at the obviously hurt man. “Make him leave!”
“I didn’t do anything, Buffy.” Giles pleaded.
Wesley nodded vigourously. “Neither of us did.”
“Do you believe them?” The mayor asked, somewhat excitedly.
Buffy ignored his question. “Why are you here?” She asked the mayor in desperation, the blank look on Faith’s face as she stared at him not helping much.
The mayor was still grinning. “I just wanted to see my Faith.” He replied.
Angel’s eyes flicked between the slayers and the mayor. Buffy’s desperation, Faith’s blankness, the mayor’s amusement. Angel himself had issues with this man. He had been the catalyst for his break up with Buffy, telling him exactly what he didn’t want to hear. But right now, Angel’s anger was coming from the look on Buffy’s face. Happiness was something he knew he’d never be able to give Buffy, not like Faith could. He still loved her, still cared, and seeing the pain on her face, he growled and flung himself at the mayor. With his vampire speed, he caught him off guard, grabbing his neck and twisting. As he heard the crack, he let go.
But the mayor still stood. He giggled at the confusion on Angel’s face, and snapped his neck back into place. “Now that wasn’t a very friendly thing to do!” He tutted. The mayor shook his perfectly fine head and took a cross from his pocket, ramming it into the vampire’s side. “You can’t hurt me.”
Angel grunted as the cross burnt his flesh, and he fell to the ground.
“Angel!" Buffy cried, rushing towards him and sliding the cross out. Through his pain, Angel motioned with his eyes towards Faith. Buffy stomach rose in her throat as she turned to see Faith standing at the mayor’s side.
“I told you they’d all leave you.” He said, putting a hand sympathetically on the brunette’s shoulder as his eyes accused the blonde. “But it’s all right. I won’t.”
<”You’ll never be alone. You’ll always have me.”>
Faith barely heard what he had said. She stood next to him, blankly watching Buffy and Angel. Buffy was shaking her head, whispering ‘no’ over and over, pleading with her eyes to come back to her. Again.
<“You can trust me.”>
Buffy’s heart was thumping in her chest. She wanted to get up, walk over there and touch her. Let Faith kill her if that was what she wanted, because surely anything was better than living without her. If it hadn’t been for Angel’s hand around her wrist, Buffy would have done just that, walk over to her girl and give her her life. But even in his wounded state. Angel was stronger than she was. Buffy let out a soft cry, praying for her strength to come back to her.
She searched Faith’s eyes for some sign of what she was feeling, and found nothing but a steely determination. Faith was readying herself to kill again, getting ready by shutting off her emotions. Kill because it was what she had to do, no matter how much it hurt. Fuck it, she thought. I’ve done it before.
Faith turned to the man next to her, one eye looking in vain for a weapon.
<“Human weakness. It never goes away. Even his.”>
“Why are you here?”
“I missed you, Faith.” He said genuinely. “You really do brighten up my days. Especially with the killing and the jokes.”
“I don't have any jokes right now.” Faith said to him.
<“Faith. Faith is his weakness.”>
“Your neck’s OK?”
“Fine.” He smirked.
Faith took his head in his hands and twisted quickly. “How about now?” She asked as he fell to the floor.
She slumped down next to him, tears falling freely. Buffy ran to her and gathered her in her arms, kissing her hair, her face, anything she could reach, cursing herself for doubting her. “It’s OK, it’s OK...” She whispered, watching with confusion as the mayor’s body faded from sight.
“Yes, it is.” A voice came from somewhere in the darkness. “Well done.”
Quentin Travers stepped out of the dark and stood over them, members of the council on either side.
Giles walked towards him and punched him in the face. “You bastard.” He growled to his superior, who had suddenly found himself on the floor.
“Thank you Rupert.” Quentin said, taking a handkerchief and holding it to his nose, allowing himself to be helped up by his colleagues. “Now maybe I can explain this.”
“You better.” Wesley hissed.
Quentin motioned to a council member, who brought him a chair. Sitting down, he smiled at the two slayers, almost affectionately. “I hate to do these things.” He said, turning to Wesley and Giles. “I really hated to use you both like this.” Quentin sighed to the two men. “You were the easiest way to work the spell.”
“Because of the council.” Wesley sighed.
“Yes. We knew we couldn’t use the same method we did on Buffy’s birthday, do we went about it this way instead. You’re both linked to us, and so we used you to get to them.”
“Bastard.” Giles said again.
"I really am sorry.” Quentin replied. “But it was necessary.”
“Putting her through another of your insane tests?” Giles asked. “Buffy has proven herself time and again.”
“We weren’t testing Buffy.” He replied. “We were testing Faith.” He smiled softly at her. “And you passed.”
Faith just looked at him, her blank expression returning.
“What did you expect? We had to be sure you could be trusted, that you were responsible enough to continues as a slayer.” He continued. “You have proven yourself, Faith. You have overcome your differences with the witch, shown undying loyalty to Buffy, and you have survived the greatest temptation we could think of. The Mayor. He was quite easy to re-create after we found some of him back at Sunnydale High School.”
“You made her kill again!" Willow shouted at him, breaking her silence. “How can that be a good thing?”
“She is a slayer. We needed to know that she could do it, if the occasion called.”
Faith stood, suddenly, and was followed by Buffy. “You put her in danger. You made her believe that she was no longer the slayer!” She cried. “How could you...?”
“She stayed with you.” Quentin shrugged. “You proved that you could overcome jealousy, anger, doubt. You proved that you could look after her.” He watched the two slayers for a moment, trying to form the words. “We haven’t ever had a situation like this before.” He said slowly. “Two slayers, together like this. We needed to make sure.”
Buffy walked over slowly. “You know what I think?” She hissed. “I think you better leave. I can feel my strength coming back.”
Quentin looked at her for a moment. He stood and nodded. “We had to know.”
“Leave.”
The council started to move towards the door. As they reached it, he turned to them one last time. “I’m proud of you both.” He said, and then he turned and left.
Buffy went back to Faith “You OK?”
“Five by five.” Faith shrugged. “I’m gonna go to bed.”
Buffy reached out to her with a hand, but Faith backed away. “I’m tired.” She said. She smiled quickly at her and walked towards the stairs. Buffy watched her go, worried again.
“She’ll be OK.” Giles said.
Buffy turned to him, regret in her eyes. “I’m so sorry. I should have known.”
“It’s fine.” The watcher said, rubbing his glasses with a handkerchief.
“What the hell is going on?!” Xander asked as he woke up. The other scoobies started to stir, sitting up with groans.
Giles motioned to the door. “I’ll explain.” He said to Buffy. “Maybe you should-”
But Buffy was already running after her girlfriend.
Buffy opened the door to the darkened bedroom and walked in quietly. She saw Faith sitting on the bed with her back to the door, staring out of the window. “You OK?” Buffy asked softly, knowing that Faith was anything but. Faith shrugged and continued to stare out of the window. “You did the right thing.” Buffy said, sitting down next to her, seeing that she was crying. Buffy wanted to reach out and touch her more than anything, but there was something that stopped her. Faith had opened up to her so much, but the defences were still there, ready to come back at anytime.
Faith let out a humourless laugh. “Did I?”
“Yes.”
The brunette pulled her knees up to her chest. “I killed him, B.” She said. “I killed him, and he was human.”
“You saved us.” Buffy replied. She knew it was useless to tell Faith that the mayor hadn’t been real, Faith knew that already, and it didn’t make a difference.
Faith shook her head in despair. “I scare myself, y’know?” She whispered. “It’s like every time I think I’m making things right, that I know who I am, I do something like this. I hurt someone who loves me.” Faith turned to her, finally meeting her eyes. “How can you not hate me?”
Buffy reached out a hand tentatively and touched her cheek, wiping away some of her tears. Tears that were instantly replaced with new ones. “I know who you are, Faith.” She whispered. “I’ve seen you happy, sad, angry, hurt, passionate... cute,” Buffy smiled briefly. “I’ve seen it all, Faith. And I love you.”
“Idiot.” Faith whispered.
Buffy smiled and shook her head. “I feel pretty smart, actually.”
Faith’s gaze returned to the window. “It always feels like a test.” She said. “Like we’re always being made to prove ourselves. Prove that we love each other.” She sighed and closed her eyes. “Do you think it’d be different?” She asked. “If we weren’t slayers?”
Buffy moved closer to her and wrapped her arms around her. “No.” She replied. “I’d still love you. And that’s what matters.” She held the brunette tighter as she leaned into her, and kissed her girlfriend’s hair.
“Do you think we’ll be OK?” Faith asked her quietly.
Buffy smiled. “I know we will.” She replied.
“Quite a holiday this has been.” Xander commented, as the gang sat down at the table. “Must do it more often.”
Cordelia nodded. “How’s Faith?” She asked.
“Shaken.” Angel said, resting his head in his hands. “She’s had a hard few weeks.”
“If I get my hands on that damn council...” Spike growled. Giles coughed and moved away from him.
Willow nodded. “It’s so unfair.” She sighed. “I mean, they’re slayers. Life isn’t exactly easy for them anyway.”
“And then with the council making things worse...” Tara nodded in agreement, taking her girlfriend’s hand. “They’re supposed to be on our side.”
They sat around the table in silence for a few minutes, lost in thoughts of each other, and thanking who ever was responsible that they knew who they could trust.
Spike slapped his hands down on the table. “I’m going to get some alcohol. Anyone want?”
“Yes please!” Was the unanimous reply.
An hour or so later, the gang’s laughter could be heard from all the way upstairs.
“Do you want to go down?” Buffy asked after a while. “Sounds like a party.”
“I dunno, B.” Faith said. “I feel a bit weird.”
Buffy kissed her, knowing exactly what was bothering her. “They’re not judging you.” She said. “You did nothing wrong.”
Faith sighed. “I dunno...” She said again.
“C’mon.” Buffy grinned. “You could use cheering up.”
Faith shrugged and allowed Buffy to pull her out of the room.
“How’s my two favourite girls?!” Xander yelled as the two slayers walked in to find everyone in various stages of intoxication. He was met with slightly annoyed looks from Willow and Anya. “I mean, two OF my favourite girls... um... my two favourite slayers?!” He said, pleased with himself.
“We’re all good.” Buffy smirked at him. “We miss anything fun?”
“You missed the stoch. I mean sotch. Um...” Giles slurred, holding up a bottle. “I thin thry’re more vokda though. Mabee you’re too young.” He said, shrugging.
“Never too young!” Spike grinned, pouring out more alcohol. “What?” He said, as Wesley shot him a look. “I’m bad!”
“You OK?” Tara asked Faith, attempting to focus on the slayer.
“Yeah.” She smiled. “I’m OK.”
“We were worried.” The witch said.
“Yes we were!” Xander exclaimed, running towards Faith and hugging her. “We love you guys.”
Faith returned his hug. “Thanks.” She looked at her girlfriend. “I think we’ve got some catching up to do.”
Spike handed them a glass each. “Better get started.”
Buffy kissed her girlfriend and sat down next to Angel.
“Faaaaaith...” Willow called from somewhere under a table. “Tell us a story.”
Faith smirked “Story?”
“Yup. Like a naked slaying story. I like naked stories.” She nodded to herself. Tara hit her arm in disapprovement. “What?” She’s a very attractive girl!” Willow grinned. “I love you though.” She said with puppy eyes. Tara giggled.
Faith looked at them all. “OK.” She grinned. “Naked story... well, one time in Boston...”
Buffy sat back and watched her girlfriend telling her story. She giggled as Faith’s actions grew wilder, getting back to her confident self. Happiness washed over her as she fell in love with her all over again. This was everything, her friends, her family, her girl. Nothing else mattered.
Would everything be OK? Yes, Buffy believed. OK, and way more than that.