New Year's Wish
by Rach a.k.a. aikislayer
Rating: R

Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns them – I know it, you know it, we all know it. So why do I have to put this fucking thing on the beginning of every fic again?
Author's Notes: Alt universe so Faith came to Sunnydale but none of that shit Joss made up happened. Killing innocents? MY Faith? NO WAY! :) Dawn exists but she isn't the key. She doesn't feature in the fic as such, but she's around. This is such pointless fluff. Sorry about that! This isn't beta-ed, all mistakes are mine (and I reserve all rights ;)) < Denotes thought >
WARNING: RILEY ALERT! Sorry I hate him too but that's why it just had to be him.
Dedications: Kitty – If by some miracle, I one day become half the fanfic writer Kitty is, could some one please tell me so I can do the dance of joy and then die happy? Thanks.

It was New Year's Eve and the annual party at the Summers' was in full swing. Faith sat in the corner, her eyes scanning the room. <Shit, this party is so frat! Man if anyone sees me here I'll totally lose my street cred!> She laughed quietly and went to grab herself another drink. It was true that the party was far from Faith's usual 'scene'; she'd rather see the New Year in at a rock club, dancing ferociously until the early hours.

But Buffy had asked her to come, so she came. <Oh yeah, if Buffy Summers asked you to slit your wrists and jump into a pool of starving man-eating sharks you'd be only too happy to do it. You're love's bitch Spencer – just face it!> A grin spread across Faith's face as she sipped her beer. <It's not my fault she did her puppy-dog eyes and that adorable thing with her mouth...ok SHUT UP! I'm starting to freak myself out now! I'm so glad nobody can hear my thoughts!> Faith looked around nervously and returned to her beer.

Riley watched Buffy from across the crowded room. <She is so beautiful. Everyone in the room probably wants to get with her tonight, well all the guys anyway. You've got to get yourself over there before someone gets in there first.>

Riley walked across the room, nearly getting beer spilt on him in the process. He finally reached the blonde and touched her arm softly. She turned around to face him, smiling brightly.

"Riley. Hey." She lent up and kissed him on the cheek. "Thanks for coming. Are you having a good time?"

Riley smiled (that hideous frog-like smile of his) "Yeah, you throw a great party Buffy. Um, would you like to dance?" Buffy dazzled him with another smile, took his hand and led him to the middle of the room. Just as they found a space a slightly slower song started. Riley put his arms tentatively around Buffy's waist and in her best 'what the hell, it's new year's eve' fashion, Buffy looped her arms around his neck and began to sway gentle to the music.

Faith watched the exchange between Riley and Buffy, a firm frown set on her face. <Damn! It's that fucking farm hand again! He's always sniffing round her like some lost puppy. Well he's a puppy I wouldn't mind putting in a sack and throwing in the river!> She squeezed her beer bottle so tightly it was in serious danger of smashing in her hand. She became even more agitated as she saw Buffy lead Riley into the centre of the room. <Oh great now they're dancing! Why don't you jump his bones right now Summers and well and truly smash my heart up!>

Just when she thought things couldn't get any worse a slow romantic number began to drift into the room, and Riley and Buffy adopted a much more intimate stance. <No. Fucking. Way!> Faith stretched out a booted foot and tripped a guy who was passing. As he fell she reached behind her and yanked the Hi-Fi wire out of its plug silencing the music.

"Nice one asshole! Way to ruin the mood!" She said yanking the guy to his feet.

"S-sorry. I study electronics. I-I can fix it." The boy stammered, clearly frightened of the brunette.

"Yeah well you better." Faith said, before adding in a whisper "But take your time, no rush." She grinned and the guy looked at her totally bemused, but he hurried out of the room anyway, too sensible to question the raven-haired slayer any further.

"What happened?" Faith heard Buffy's soft voice behind her.

"Oh nothing, some guy just pulled the wire out." She turned to face the blonde and saw that Riley was behind her, his hands placed possessively on her shoulders. "He's...erm....he's gonna fix it though. Says he knows how and stuff...so, y'know...should be ok in a minute." Faith tried to stop the jealousy from showing in her voice and fought the urge to punch Riley square in the jaw.

"Buffy?" He said softly, recapturing the blonde's attention. "You wanna come and sit outside while they fix it? I've got something I need to talk to you about."

"Erm..sure Riley. Just let me grab a jacket from upstairs." Buffy replied.

"Don't bother you can borrow mine" he said, retrieving it from a nearby chair. Faith was seething but managed to keep a neutral expression.

"Ok, thanks. Back soon, Faith." Buffy said smiling, and walked out onto the porch with Riley.

Faith ran upstairs and into Buffy's bedroom. She was ready to kill someone, more specifically Riley, and had gotten away from the party before she did just that. She found two kids, probably Dawn's friends making out on Buffy's bed.

"Get the fuck out you assholes, have you got no respect?" They practically ran from the room and Faith sat on Buffy's bed. <Show some respect? Who are you? Someone's mom? JEES!> She flopped back onto the bed and was immediately surrounded by Buffy's scent. She took a couple of deep breaths before shooting up off the bed. <Yeah Faith! How fucking impressed if she found you in here sniffing her bed sheets?! How Single White Female can you get?! You weirdo!>

She climbed out of Buffy's window and onto the roof. She lit a cigarette and just sat looking at the stars. She saw a shooting star dart across the sky. <Well I'd normally make a wish but I've wished for the same thing every night for the past two years and it's never come true. I'm beginning to think there's not much point in wishing, or hoping. It'll always be the handsome boy-next-door who gets the girl.> She sighed. <I wish she was here with me right now though. Just so I could see her face.>

"Whatcha thinking about?" Faith jumped and whipped her head round to see Buffy climbing out of her window.

"Fuck, B! You scared the shit out of me!" She took an extra long drag of her cigarette to calm herself and moved along so Buffy could sit down.

"Sorry Faith. And don't do that," she said, taking the cigarette out of Faith's mouth and flicking it over the edge. "Bad for your health."

"Thanks Mom." Buffy laughed and rested her head against Faith's shoulder.

A couple of minutes of comfortable silence followed before Faith's curiosity got the better of her and she had to ask.

"So, err, what did farm-b...I mean...erm...Ricky want?" She said, feigning polite interest. Buffy smiled and lifted Faith's arm so she could snuggle into her chest.

"His name's Riley. And he wanted to ask me out on a date." Faith's heart stopped, she really felt like crying. She clutched at the material of her jacket, willing herself not to ask the next question which was forming on her lips.

"And?" She choked out, instantly hating herself for setting herself up for yet another fall.

"I told him thanks but no thanks. He really isn't my type." Faith breathed such a heavy sigh of relief that Buffy felt it. "Are you ok?"

"What? Me? Oh, yeah, sure B. So what gives? I mean I thought he was exactly your type. Y'know, boring and homely." Faith smiled but Buffy looked at her and frowned.

"Is that what you think of me Faith? I don't think you know me at all then." She shrugged Faith's arm from around her shoulder.

"No, B! Shit I didn't mean it like that. You're not boring! You know I don't think that of you. It's just you seem to go for the pretty, smooth, nice guys. That's all."

"Faith, have I had a boyfriend since you came to Sunnydale? How do you even know what type of guys I like." Buffy asked defensively.

"Sorry, B. Shit I should learn to keep my mouth shut, since my foot seems to be wildly attracted to it." She dropped her eyes and picked at her leather pants. Buffy reached up and pulled Faith into a hug, kissing her lightly on the cheek.

"W-what was that for B?" Faith asked trying to regulate her breathing.

"For being so cute." Buffy replied smiling up at Faith.

"Hey watch it Summers! I'm not cute! I'm y'know, sultry and stuff!"

"Awwwww" Buffy taunted, "Does big bad Faithy-pie not like me ruining her tough girl image?"

"Right! You've taken it too far this time Summers!" Faith said with a wicked grin. She pounced on top of Buffy and started to tickle her mercilessly.

"Stop! Faith! I-I'm sorry, really!!" Buffy said, through fits of laughter.

"Oh, you're gonna have to do better than that B!" Faith said as she slipped her fingers under Buffy's shirt, finding sensitive spots along the blonde slayer's sides.

"Please Faith!!" Buffy breathed. "We'll f-fall off the roof!"

Faith stopped and looked over her shoulder, back at Buffy with a grin on her face.

"Ok, B. But only for safety reasons." She winked at the blonde and Buffy smiled warmly at her. She looked into Faith's eyes and then down at her hands, which were still under Buffy's shirt. Faith noticed this and pulled her hands away quickly, jumping off the blonde. "Shit B, sorry! I- erm I...Sorry." Faith avoided Buffy's eyes and reached into her jacket pocket for her cigarette box.

"Faith..." Buffy said gently, putting her hand on her arm. "What's wrong...why'd you freak like that?" Faith shook Buffy's arm off and lit up.

"Just don't want you to think I'm trying to molest you or anything, B. `Cause y'know...I wasn't...I-I'm not like that."

"Oh."

"Oh? What do you mean, Oh?" Faith asked, confused.

"I-I guess I just kinda hoped...that...maybe...forget it." Buffy hugged her knees up to her chest and looked away from the brunette.

"What? B? Look, I'm sorry I didn't mean to upset you. I don't want you to think I'm a sleaze. Please, Buffy?" Buffy felt tears stinging her eyes at the sound of her full name.

"I don't think that Faith! I...I just. Shit!" <You can do this Summers, just spill!> "Do you want to know why Riley isn't my type?" Faith shrugged. "He's not my type because he's a...well, because he's a he." Faith didn't move. She didn't even breathe for what seemed like eternity. <Oh. My. God. She didn't just say that. She can't mean...Buffy Summers? No way in hell did she just tell me she doesn't like guys!>

"Faith?" Buffy's voice was small and tentative. Faith remained silent, not even daring to look at Buffy. Buffy felt hot tears burning her eyes again and couldn't prevent a small sob escaping her lips. Faith's eyes snapped to the blonde's form and saw tears tearing tracks down her cheeks, marring her beautiful skin.

<Great! Now she's crying! Say something you moron!> "Urrm...B? I- I'm sorry, I don't know what to say."

The hurt in Buffy's jade eyes made Faith's chest constrict. "It's ok Faith, I shouldn't have said anything...I understand that you're freaked...I'll leave you alone now." Buffy got up and was through her bedroom window before Faith kicked her brain into gear and chased after her.

"B! Wait!!" She jumped through the window and grabbed Buffy by the arm, spinning her round to face her. "I'm so sorry Buffy. I was just shocked. It was the last thing I expected you to say, so much so I wasn't even sure you'd said it. I'm not freaked Buffy, honestly."

<God I love this woman so much. If she says 'Buffy' one more time, it's going to kill me.>

"I'm sorry for going all quiet. I just couldn't think of what to say. My brain became momentarily disconnected from my mouth." Faith let a small smile play across her lips "That happens quite a lot actually." Buffy sobbed and buried her face in Faith's shoulder. Faith instinctively brought her arms up to cradle the blonde. "What's the matter? B? What's wrong?" She held her tightly trying to calm the sobs that were wracking her tiny form. "Oh God, don't cry. I love you so much Buffy, please don't cry." Buffy fell silent. She stopped crying all together and stood motionless in Faith's embrace. <Oh crap! Way to let the 'Top Secret' info slip out Spencer! Now who's the one freaking who?> She dropped her arms and stepped back, away from Buffy. Both girls missed the contact immediately but Faith was too busy studying her boots to notice. Buffy on the other hand was too busy reeling from the strain of trying to process this new information.

"W-what did you say?" Faith shifted from foot to foot and fiddled with the hem of her tank nervously, avoiding the blonde's piercing stare.

"N-nothing B. Forget it. I've gotta go." Faith started towards the door, but Buffy ran to get there before her standing with her back to it, effectively blocking the brunette's escape route. "Whatta you doing B? Let me out." Buffy could sense panic and the urge to run oozing from her dark counterpart but refused to let her go so easily.

"No Faith. I need to know what you said."

"Why? So you can turn me down like you did farm-boy? So you can say 'thanks but no thanks' and let me join the ranks of people who aren't good enough for you? I don't need that Buffy. I can't let you break my heart." Faith felt like she would cry at any moment and so desperately wanted to prevent Buffy witnessing it that she reached passed the blonde to grab the door handle and make her escape. Buffy stepped back; closing the door the tiny amount Faith had managed to open it. Faith's hand was now trapped behind Buffy's back and they were barely inches apart. Buffy could sense Faith's fear and wanted nothing more than to comfort this angel before her. Their eyes locked and Buffy reached her hands up to cup Faith's face.

"I love you too." She whispered, before bringing her lips to meet the brunette's in a short, soft kiss. Faith felt her head swim and her knees go weak as her lips met Buffy's again. <Oh God. This isn't happening. This can't be happening!> Buffy broke the kiss, waited for Faith to open her eyes and smiled softly at the brunette.

"W-wow" Faith stammered. Buffy's smile grew into a grin.

"I take it that it was ok for me to do that then?"

"Oh yeah. Definitely. Ok. Yes. Very ok uhuh." Faith's brow furrowed and she mentally chastised her tongue for not keeping up with her brain.

"You're so cute when you're cross with yourself Faith." Buffy said, smiling all the more.

"Hey! I told you B, I'm not cu..." Faith's sentence was cut short when Buffy captured her mouth in the most intense kiss she'd ever experienced. Faith was determined not to make a total spaz out of herself and returned the kiss with equal passion. She slipped her tongue into Buffy's mouth and felt a bolt shoot down to her crotch as the blonde moaned deep in her throat. Buffy pulled away and looked into Faith's dark brown eyes.

"Do you love me?" she asked softly.

"B, I never loved anyone or anything before I met you and I know for sure I never will again. You're my everything. Yes, I love you."

Buffy's eyes darkened and took on that hooded look that Faith new all too well.

"Show me." She whispered, her voice so low and husky that it sent a shiver down Faith's spine. Faith swallowed. She wanted so badly to make love to Buffy but she was so frightened of screwing things up. <You can do this Faith. Just take it slow.> She captured Buffy's lips again and backed slowly towards the waiting bed. She allowed herself to fall onto the soft mattress and brought Buffy down on top of her. The feeling on the blonde's weight on top of her as her tongue invaded her mouth with delicious sweeping motions drove Faith's senses into overdrive. It was all she could do to stop herself tearing off Buffy's clothes and fucking her brains out right then but Faith knew this wasn't about sex. It was making love. Something she'd never done. She was going to make it last, take it really slow.

She rolled over so their positions were reversed, kissing Buffy softly and running her fingers through her soft blonde hair. She pulled away from Buffy's lips and dotted kisses along her jaw-line.

"You're so unbelievably beautiful, did you know that?" Faith whispered when she reached Buffy's ear, taking the lobe into her mouth and sucking it gently. Buffy gasped at the contact, her skin tingling under the touch of Faith's hands, which had found themselves beneath her top. Faith placed her hands behind Buffy's back and lifted her from the soft mattress to allow her to remove Buffy's top. She did this with relative ease, returning to Buffy's mouth once the offending garment had been discarded.

Faith was now keeling in between Buffy's legs and Buffy eased up her skirt to allow her to wrap her legs around Faith's waist. Faith moaned into Buffy's mouth at the contact, moving her hands from Buffy's back to position them on her thighs, scraping lightly on the sun-kissed skin with her fingernails, causing Buffy to moan in return.

Faith moved her mouth to Buffy's pulse point and sucked the throbbing piece of skin. She moved her right hand between Buffy's thighs and trailed it slowly up to her centre, moving her fingers in feather-light strokes over the drenched material she found there.

"Oh God, Faith! Oh yes, Faith! Please!" Buffy gasped in a ragged breath, just as the door swung open to reveal Riley standing in the doorway.

"Buffy! Oh my God! W-what are you doing?" He stammered, wide-eyed. Faith grinned broadly at the look on his face.

"And here's me thinking this night couldn't get any more perfect!"

"I can't believe this!" Riley was almost in tears as he turned from the scene, fleeing down the Summers' staircase. Buffy clambered off Faith and towards the door. <Oh great! She's cutting short my first attempt at love-making to go and console Mr-gingham!> When Buffy reached the door, to Faith's surprise and relief, she closed it, turning the key in the lock. She turned back and walked seductively over to her girlfriend, looping her arms round her neck and peering into the brown pools that were gazing up at her.

"Sorry about that baby. I should have made sure the door was locked, but I was slightly distracted." She smiled softly and kissed Faith's nose. "I hope he didn't ruin the mood." Faith laughed and kissed Buffy's now bare stomach, dipping her tongue into her navel.

"Nothing could spoil the mood I'm in right now, B." She picked Buffy up and laid her gently back onto the bed, crawling over the blonde and whispering seductively, "Now, where was I?"

The End