Cry and Move On
by Xaylia
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: I don't own, I borrow. Although, I only take what I want. This is
more belonging to Joss and ME than my other fics because it takes place during
Consequences. Also, I used the lyrics to Mandy Moore's song 'Cry'. I don't own them.
She doesn't either really, but either way they're not mine.
Author's Notes: First of all, though I don't like Mandy Moore much, this song is
good and fits with B/F. Hence the story. Like I said, this is a reworking of parts of
Consequences. That's the one where Faith was going to leave. I made it have a better
ending. -denotes song lyrics- and this is a song fic in the truest sense. It's just
narration to a song, with dialogue. I kind of see it as playing during this scene, not in
somebody's head or being sung. More dramatic music than anything else. It is not from
Buffy's point of view, but the song is her view of Faith. Sort of. Here goes.
Buffy was almost running toward the Sunnydale docks. She knew Faith was there, she had to be.
-I'll always remember. It was late afternoon. It lasted forever. And ended too soon.-
She saw the younger girl, suddenly. Faith was in the shadows above Buffy, leaning back against a corner. Her bag was packed and sitting at the top of the ramp next to her. Completely ready to leave town.
-You were all by yourself. Staring up at a dark gray sky. And I was changed.-
Buffy stopped. She didn't want to scare her. Buffy looked up again, scared and pained. And then a realization struck her. Faith was crying.
-In places no one would find. All your feelings so deep inside. It was then that I realized. That forever was in your eyes. The moment I saw you cry.-
The notion of this tough young woman crying broke Buffy's heart. She knew why Faith cried. It was her fault.
The blond began to run towards her. Buffy was up the ramp in a matter of seconds, standing in front of a shocked Faith.
-It was late in September. And I'd seen you before. You were always the cold one. But I was never that sure.-
"What do you want, B?"
"Faith - " Buffy stopped herself. What did she want to say anyway? Faith stepped away from the wall, pushing herself off of it and moving towards the ramp. She tried to wipe the tears away. "Faith..." Buffy tried again, gentler.
"What?" The word came out much less harsh than Faith had aimed for it to. They both knew that.
Buffy didn't answer. She didn't know what to say. Faith grabbed her bag and ran down the ramp, trying to seem calm - as though she wasn't crying, wasn't breaking inside.
-You were all by yourself. Staring up at a dark gray sky. And I was changed.-
Faith was crying because Buffy had hurt her. Not intentionally, not in a fight. Yet Buffy knew. She knew Faith was hurting because she never told her how she felt. Maybe she honestly hadn't known before. But she did now. Buffy had seen Faith cry. And she knew without a second thought that she loved her.
-In places no one would find. All your feelings so deep inside. It was then that I realized. That forever was in your eyes. The moment I saw you cry.-
Buffy ran to Faith. She stood in front of her, took the bag gently from her hand and put it on the ground next to them. "Faith?" Faith looked up at her. She tried to hide behind her walls, shield herself. But it was as if the tears had washed the walls away from her eyes. Buffy could see into Faith's soul and she saw her future there.
-I wanted to hold you. I wanted to make it go away. I wanted to know you. I wanted to make your everything, all right...-
"I want to...I want you. I mean, do you want to try again?"
"At what Buffy?"
"Us. I - do you - no. Faith, I love you. I know you wanted...wanted me to tell you before. But I...I don't know. G-d, Faith, I'm so sorry. But I'm saying it now. Do you still? Do you want to move on?" Buffy was speaking softly, scared that Faith would be mad at her or hurt or just run away.
"Yeah." The response was quiet. "I want to...to move on?"
"Yeah?" Buffy was hopeful, but still frightened. She took Faith's hands in her own. "You'll come back home with me?"
"Then what? What happens if I do?"
"We do what we should have done in the first place. I want to be honest with you, this time. I'm in love with you. I want us to be together. Do you?"
Faith laughed. Peaceful and true. "Of course." They smiled.
-I'll always remember. It was late afternoon.-
They kissed. They'd moved on.
-In places no one would find. All your feelings so deep inside. It was then that I realized. That forever was in your eyes. The moment I saw you cry.-
Buffy took Faith's hand and they walked back to Sunnydale, reformed.
-In places no one would find. All your feelings so deep inside. It was then that I realized. That forever was in your eyes. The moment I saw you cry.-
[Author's Note: Yes, Faith took her bag with her, it just didn't fit in the story.]