Song Credits:

Bed of Roses – Bon Jovi

Personal Jesus – Marilyn Manson

Heartbreaker – Pink

Favorite Girl – O-Town

AN: Thanks for your invaluable help, Jove. And thank you, Amy.

Chapter One: One of Those Days

Tendrils of sunlight crept across the plush cream colored carpet and reached for the small blonde curled up in a recliner near the window. The warmth made her shiver and her grip tightened on the tumbler in her right hand. She brought it to her lips and sipped, sighing as the vodka burned a trail down her throat.

Her bloodshot hazel eyes lifted to gaze out the window to the trees beyond and she let her head rest back against the chair. She sniffled and a tear trickled down her left cheek. She swiped at it in irritation, shifting in the chair to try to get comfortable.

Downstairs she could hear the sounds of dishes being clanked around in the kitchen and the rasp of a faintly familiar voice. She briefly contemplated going to investigate, but she came to the conclusion that she didn’t really care. She wasn’t hungry and she didn’t feel like being sociable.

She realized she wouldn’t be able to avoid her sister forever, but for now she was going to continue hiding in the guest room until she had no other choice. Considering what she’d just been through, she was more than deserving of some alone time.

Ugh, don't go there, she thought in disgust. Thinking about it leads to crying and I've cried enough in the past week for one lifetime.

The stereo across the room switched tracks and the first strains of the new song caught her attention. She tilted her head and listened curiously. It wasn’t one Buffy recognized.

Must be something one of Dawn's guests left in the changer, She mused.

Sitting here wasted and wounded
At this old piano
Trying hard to capture
The moment this morning I don’t know
‘Cause a bottle of vodka
Is still lodged in my head
And some blonde gave me nightmares
I think that she’s still in my bed
As I dream about movies
They won’t make of me when I’m dead

Whoever left the CD must have been the same one that left the bottle of vodka. She smirked and toasted the air.

“Thank you.”

With an ironclad fist I wake up and
French kiss the morning
While some marching band keeps
Its own beat in my head
While we’re talking
About all of the things that I long to believe
About love and the truth and
What you mean to me
And the truth is baby you’re all that I need

Her smirk disappeared and she took another sip from the tumbler. She set the glass aside on the table by the chair and leaned forward with her elbows on her knees. Her mussed blonde hair fell down in a curtain around her face and she idly tucked it behind her ears.

I want to lay you down in a bed of roses
For tonight I sleep on a bed of nails
I want to be just as close as the Holy Ghost is
And lay you down on a bed of roses

Well I’m so far away

That each step that I take is on my way home

A king’s ransom in dimes I’d given each night

Just to see through this payphone

Still I run out of time

Or it’s hard to get through

Till the bird on the wire flies me back to you

I’ll just close my eyes and whisper,

Baby blind love is true

She scrunched her face up and scrubbed at her burning eyes. Too much crying had left them dry and irritated. The past three nights had been spent in a bar, the smoky atmosphere not helping any.

I want to lay you down in a bed of roses
For tonight I sleep on a bed of nails
I want to be just as close as the Holy Ghost is
And lay you down on a bed of roses

She vaguely remembered calling Dawn to pick her up in the early morning hours when the bartender cut her off, which was how she’d come to end up where she was. She really wasn’t looking forward to explaining herself to her little sister at all. But it was inevitable.

The hotel bar hangover whiskey’s gone dry
The barkeeper’s wig’s crooked
And she’s giving me the eye
I might have said yeah
But I laughed so hard I think I died

She sighed and looked around the neatly arranged room. The dark blue silk sheets on the queen sized bed were the only thing out of order. She wasn’t planning to make it up. She figured she’d end up there again soon, so what would be the point?

Her own home had seemed too empty to stay there. Memories had haunted her and kept her from getting any rest. She had simply packed her stuff up and ended up at a motel to get away from it and to avoid everyone she knew. She hadn’t wanted to speak with anyone else because that would eventually lead to questions and explanations.

She’d ended up at a bar that first night when she couldn’t sleep. The motel room didn’t have a mini-bar. Then she’d just kept coming back to the same bar because it was the only thing she had to fall back on when her mind betrayed her. At least drunk, the memories didn’t seem to hurt so badly. So far the only reason she could come up with for why she had called Dawn had been that the alcohol had made her stupid.

Now as you close your eyes

Know I’ll be thinking about you

While my mistress she calls me

To stand in her spotlight again

Tonight I won’t be alone

But you know that don’t

Mean I’m not lonely I’ve got nothing to prove

For it’s you that I’d die to defend

Her chest tightened and she cursed inwardly as more tears filled her eyes. Damn it. She stood and stomped over to the stereo. She hesitated with her finger on the power button, uncertain as to why the song was even affecting her.

I want to lay you down in a bed of roses
For tonight I sleep on a bed of nails
I want to be just as close as the Holy Ghost is
And lay you down on a bed of roses

She shook her head in confusion and turned it off. I have to get out of here for a while.

She looked down and considered the slightly baggy black silk boxers and the fitting white tank top she’d found in the dresser before she’d passed out earlier. She shrugged and turned to leave. Whoever’s down there can deal with me like I am.

She left the room and walked down the short hall to the stairs, feeling a tingle go up her spine that meant there was a Slayer nearby. She sighed and forced herself to continue down, almost afraid of which one she’d find down there.

I think I’m actually hoping to find Faith or Kennedy down there. Buffy snorted at the thought. It wasn’t likely though since Faith spent most of her time out of the state and Kennedy didn’t get up before noon if she didn’t have to. The last she’d heard, Faith was in Texas reigning in one of their rogue Slayers.

When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she paused. The tingling had taken on a familiar intensity stronger than the usual and a wry smile spread across her lips. The unlikely was likely to happen when she least expected it.

She shook her head and walked through the living room to the kitchen. She paused in the doorway, unseen by the room’s occupant. Her eyes took in the sight before her.

Faith stood in front of the stove in a pair of tight jeans and an even tighter black tank top. The dark wavy hair was slightly shorter than the last time she’d seen it, now only brushing Faith’s shoulders, and had a lighter tint to it. She blinked and then her eyes took in the full scene, making her wince.

Faith was standing in front of the stove. But the part that truly frightened her? Faith was cooking breakfast. And she was apparently doing a good job of it considering the room didn’t smell like anything had been scorched. In fact, the bacon, eggs, and pancakes had her stomach growling.

“Good morning, Buffy.”

She jerked her head in the direction of Dawn’s voice and her eyebrows furrowed. She’d been so fixated on Faith’s presence that she hadn’t noticed Dawn. She shook her head and entered the kitchen reluctantly. Then she dropped down onto a stool beside Dawn and leaned her elbows on the breakfast bar.

“Morning,” She muttered.

“Mornin’, B.”

Dark brown eyes glanced over a bare, pale olive-toned shoulder at Buffy, their eyes locking. Buffy clenched her jaw and jerked her gaze away from Faith’s. She didn’t think she could handle one of their usual interactions right now.

So it’s one of those days, Faith mused.

She started to look back at the stove and then did a double take when she registered the clothes Buffy was wearing. Irritatin’ little clothes thievin’... She rolled her eyes, unable to muster any real annoyance at the sight of her sometimes-enemy in her PJs.

Finding her self smirking, Faith returned her attention to the pans on the stove. She flipped a pancake and then crossed to a cabinet to retrieve another plate. Stacking it on the others by the stove, she returned to her task.

Guess I must’ve left the damned things in D’s guestroom last time I stayed over, She considered with a mental shrug.

It wasn’t impossible considering that when Faith visited, she almost always stayed with Dawn. They had settled their problems with each other what seemed like forever ago. All they’d had to do was find some common ground to stand on.

Behind her, Dawn studied her sister and then sighed. “Did you even get any sleep?”

Buffy contemplated not answering, then with a shrug, said, “A couple of hours.”

Concerned, Dawn asked, “Why didn’t you just go back to sleep?”

“I didn’t feel like it, okay?” Buffy snapped.

She didn’t want to admit that every time she closed her eyes the fight with her partner replayed. She sighed. I knew coming down here was a bad idea. Now she’s going to expect explanations and that’s the thing I’ve been trying to avoid all week.

Dawn held up a hand in a placating gesture. “Whoa, calm down. I’m just worried, Buffy. You called me at three A.M., drunk out of your mind. Then when I picked you up, it was pretty obvious you’d been at it for a while. I’m entitled, y’know?”

Chapter Two: The Hardest Part of Breaking Up

Trying not to be obvious, Faith listened to their conversation as she finished up their breakfast. If she were being tortured, she’d have to admit she was concerned too. Dawn had picked her up at the airport an hour ago and filled her in on the way to her house. In the fifteen plus years she’d known Buffy, never had Faith heard of Buffy getting so drunk she had to call for a ride.

That was more Faith’s style. That and Dawn’s description of Buffy’s tearful reaction to an innocent question about taking her home had certainly pricked her curiosity. Faith piled a big helping of the food on a plate and set it in front of Buffy. Slayers didn’t get severe hangovers unless magic was involved, so she knew there wasn’t anything to worry about.

“Need somethin’ to drink, B?”

Hazel eyes studied her in wary consideration. Faith smirked.

“Would ya rather I started a fight? ‘Cause I can, y’know.”

Buffy shook her head and snorted. Though ten years had passed since the last time they’d exchanged blows, it was still odd to have Faith being nice. It just didn’t sit well with her. Sarcasm and agitation still ruled their interactions for the most part.

Everyone realized it was an act on both sides, but they refused to admit to it. The Chosen Two found that they enjoyed their verbal spars. They had their moments when they got along without the antagonism, but those were few and far between.

“So do ya?”

She blinked and looked at Faith in confusion. A tilt of the dark head reminded her of the question and she simply nodded. For now, she could do without the aggravation. Maybe they’d make time to have an argument for old time’s sake before Faith went back to her life.

“A glass of orange juice will be okay.”

Buffy reached for the fork stuck in the stack of pancakes and pushed the gently steaming eggs around in her plate. She tried to ignore Dawn’s expectant look, but it didn’t seem to be working. The requested glass of juice was set next to her plate and she lifted her eyes to watch Faith filling two other plates with food.

Finally, Buffy blurted, “Satsu left me.”

“What?” Dawn screeched.

“Dawn!” Both Slayers objected and rubbed their ears, giving her warning looks.

“Sorry,” Dawn mumbled sheepishly.

Buffy stabbed the fork back into the pancakes and her shoulders slumped as she leaned on the breakfast bar again. She forced a smile and brought her eyes up to see Faith hand Dawn one of the plates. Unable to handle the sympathetic look Faith gave her, Buffy’s smile disappeared and her gaze dropped back to the bar top.

“Yeah, she uh, she asked for a divorce,” She reluctantly continued with her explanation.

“Why?” Dawn asked in confusion. “I thought everything was going good for the two of you.”

“I did too,” Buffy muttered desolately. “But apparently I was wrong ‘cause according to her, she fell out of love with me.” Her face darkened and her voice broke. “Then she proceeded to fall into bed with someone else.”

“Oh my God,” Dawn whispered. “Buffy, I’m so sorry.”

She shrugged and gave her sister a weak smile. “I’ll live.”

“Yeah, well, she won’t,” Dawn grumbled. “I’m so going to kick her ass.”

Faith kept her eyes on her plate and continued to chew slowly on the bite of pancake she’d taken. Anything she could say right now would probably be taken wrong. Faith hadn’t ever liked Satsu and it wasn’t a secret. They had come to blows more than once in the past.

They hadn’t told Buffy, but Buffy had to have heard about it. There were usually plenty of witnesses and there wasn’t a chance Slayers could resist that juicy piece of gossip. Faith had come to realize that Satsu had some twisted view of the love/hate relationship between Buffy and her. She’d been jealous of something that would never happen.

It couldn’t happen. Anything more than the quasi-friendship they had would be asking for trouble. Not that she wanted anything to happen.

Sh’yeah, right, Faith snorted inwardly. Me and B date? We’d wind up killin’ each other.

She swallowed and reached for her glass, her gaze lifting to the older Slayer. Her jaw muscles clenched at the dejection obvious in Buffy’s very posture. Dark smudges circled Buffy’s bloodshot, puffy eyes and her shoulders were slumped like she was trying to curl in on herself. Faith forced down the irrational urge she felt to go track Satsu down.

And what would I do if I did go after her? She snorted inwardly. Beat her to death? What for? She ain’t the first person in the world to cheat on someone.

How the fuck would I even explain somethin’ like that? ‘Oh sorry, she fucked around on my sometimes-enemy, so I had to kill her’? It ain’t like I’ve never hurt B, so I ain’t got any room to talk.

Still, it pisses me off, She concluded reluctantly. I wish I could do somethin’ to cheer her up, at least.

Faith winced. She’d never liked seeing Buffy hurt. Even when she was the one doing it, part of her couldn’t stand it. And though she’d never admit it to anyone, much less Buffy, Faith truly hated seeing it now.

Jesus, Faith grumbled silently. If B could read my thoughts right now she’d be havin’ herself a good fuckin’ laugh.

“Dawn, don’t start anything with her,” Buffy answered tiredly, pulling Faith from her thoughts. “I just want to move on.”

Or try to anyway, Buffy thought with a grimace.

Unnoticed by the blonde now focusing on demolishing her breakfast, the two brunettes shared a look full of meaning. Disliking Satsu had been their common ground. Their friendship only grew once Buffy had married the annoying woman four years earlier.

Faith dropped her gaze to her plate, shoveling a forkful of food into her mouth. If Dawn was expecting her to make any comments, she was going to be severely disappointed. She didn’t want to push Buffy too much. She also didn’t want anyone reading anything into her actions, either.

Fuck knows what B would think if I suddenly started tryin’ to take up for her, She thought, feeling a faint shiver run up her spine. And I know what Dawn would think.

She shook her head. Some of their friends and fellow Slayers were in agreement with Satsu, thinking there was something between them. Unfortunately, Dawn seemed to believe it too. Faith was just grateful that Dawn knew better than to harass her about it too much.

Dawn huffed. “I’ll try not to, but if she says anything...”

Buffy looked up from her plate and rolled her eyes. The look on Dawn’s face was a familiar one. It meant trouble unless she nipped it in the bud right now.

“Promise me, Dawn,” She said firmly.

Dawn narrowed her eyes and studied her sister for a long moment, trying to see just how serious she was. Then her shoulders slumped and her bottom lip jutted out.

“Fine,” She grumbled.

“Thank you,” Buffy said with exasperated fondness.

“What about Faith?” Dawn asked, a sudden smirk sprouting. “Doesn’t she have to promise not to do anything either?”

Faith’s eyes jerked up from her plate. She gave Dawn a warning look, which was cheerfully ignored. Damn it, Dawn... Don’t bring me into this shit. She groaned internally.

“I mean, she’ll probably do worse than bitch Satsu out.”

Buffy looked over at the other Slayer, a faintly amused grin spreading over her lips. She met a pair of glaring dark brown eyes and arched an eyebrow. Faith hadn’t ever really needed an excuse to fight with Satsu, she knew, but she also realized Dawn had a valid point. If Faith thought there was even a remote chance of getting by with it, she’d probably go after Satsu as quickly as she could.

Faith hurried to swallow another mouthful of food and took a gulp of her drink. Then she set her glass on the breakfast bar with a thump and shook her head. Raising her hands in front of her defensively, she snorted.

“Don’t fuckin’ look at me. If short-shit wants to fuck around, it ain’t my problem.”

“Gee, thanks,” Buffy said sardonically.

“My pleasure,” She answered cheerfully.

Buffy rolled her eyes and shook her head. She noticed a familiar glint in the dark eyes across from her and an answering twinkle appeared in her own hazel ones. It was obvious what Faith was trying to do. She wouldn’t say it, but she was grateful for it.

Chapter Three: Layers

Faith smirked, her dimples flashing as she winked. “‘Course, if she happens to walk into somethin’ or trip, that ain’t my problem either.”

Dawn snickered. “Of course it isn’t.”

“Faith,” Buffy warned.

“What?” She asked defensively. “Short-shit’s always been kinda clumsy.”

“Uh-huh,” Buffy drawled, a reluctant smile playing at the corners of her mouth. “I can remember some of those incidents.”

She shrugged. “See?”

Buffy nodded. “Yeah, and it’s really funny how you were always around.”

“I was just tryin’ to help her out,” Faith said, trying for innocent but sounding far from it.

Dawn was giggling hysterically by now. She gave Faith a wink, grateful that she’d gotten Buffy to cheer up a little. She rolled her eyes when the Slayer gave her a disgruntled look.

“Strange how I don’t remember you ever being that helpful before,” Buffy continued contemplatively.

“I have layers,” Faith answered, unable to keep from snickering.

“And most of them come off when you take a shower,” She returned, a slight challenge in her tone.

“You’ve been thinkin’ ‘bout me in the shower, B?” Faith smirked, touching her hand to the area of her chest above her heart. “I’m touched, really.”

“The only touching going on is what you’re doing to yourself.”

Getting herself calmed down, Dawn managed to gasp out, “Stop it, both of you! I can all ready tell this is delving somewhere extremely disgusting!”

Faith chuckled, scooping up another helping of eggs on her fork. “You’ll live, squirt.”

Buffy cleared her throat, “Faith?”

She sighed deeply and shrugged. “Aight, ya got my word. I won’t go after her.”

“Thank you.”

“Whatever,” Faith muttered, shooting Dawn a glare as Dawn giggled.

Buffy cleared her throat. “Anyway, that’s enough about my issues. What brought you back, Faith?”

She smirked. “Wishin’ I was gone all ready?”

Buffy leaned her elbow on the breakfast bar top and propped her chin in her open hand. She rolled her eyes.

“Yes, I’m just waiting for you to leave so I can throw a party.”

“Bet it’ll have a theme and everything, won’t it?”

Buffy nodded, “Uh-huh, I’ll call it, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, it is now safe to let your sons out to play’.”

Faith tilted her head, her expression contemplative. Then she shrugged, “Seems a little long for a theme name.”

“I thought you were in Texas taking care of Terri or whatever her name was,” Buffy said, returning to her original topic.

Faith took the last bite of her eggs and chewed it quickly. Then she gulped the rest of her juice down and settled back on the stool. She shrugged.

“I got that sitch settled and Giles suggested a break. I didn’t have anywhere else to be, so I hopped the plane with him and here I am in dear old Cali.”

“How did things go with Perry, Faith?” Dawn asked. “I know Giles was really worried.”

Faith’s expression turned serious. “She’s pretty messed up. Some things were done to her when she was a kid that caused her to have a mental breakdown and the power of bein’ a Slayer was too much for her. We had to call Red in.”

Buffy’s eyes were pinned to Faith’s face as she spoke. No matter how many times she saw it, the change in the dark haired woman when she spoke about work amazed her. She wasn’t anywhere near as bad as she once was, but there was still a certain amount of immaturity in her behavior most of the time. But certain things, like the work she did with the troubled Slayers, brought out the adult in Faith like nothing else could.

She’d been skeptical at first when Giles suggested Faith become a Social Worker of sorts for the Slayers who had trouble coping with the power. She’d thrown a fit about it for weeks and then when Faith brought in the first girl, Giles had forced Buffy to watch the way the girl responded to Faith. It had been nothing short of amazing. The young Slayer had spoken to Faith with a rough respect that she didn’t afford anyone else.

Now, almost eleven years later, Sharon was one of Faith’s most successful cases. She was also a Social Worker for the Council herself now. There had been other successes and several failures over the years, but it was blaringly obvious that Faith was their best. She just had a way with them that no one else could duplicate.

Buffy shared a wince with Faith at the mention of calling Willow in. That was a last resort. It meant having to take the girl’s power away. Neither of them liked it, but sometimes it had to be done for everyone else’s safety.

“I guess you’ll be staying here?” Buffy asked.

“Yeah,” She answered.

“You’ll have to use the foldout on the couch,” Dawn said apologetically.

Faith shrugged. “That’s aight. Just means you gotta gimme some PJs.”

“What?” Dawn asked, confused. “Why?”

“Texas is too fuckin’ hot to wear anything to bed so I didn’t take any with me.”

“You don’t have anything upstairs?”

Faith smirked and gestured at Buffy as she said, “Unless B’s plannin’ on givin’ those back to me, nope.”

Buffy rolled her eyes. “I’m not staying here tonight, so you’ll have the guestroom back.”

“Wait,” Dawn said softly. “Where are you going to go? Last night you were mumbling something about a motel?”

“I’ve got a fucking big mouth,” Buffy muttered.

Faith’s eyes widened and her mouth twitched. She wasn’t sure if it was so much as what Buffy said or how she’d phrased it. Either way, it struck her as hilarious. She bit her bottom lip, shaking her head as she tried not to burst into laughter.

“Don’t even say it,” Buffy growled, not even bringing her gaze to Faith.

“Say what?” She gasped out, losing the struggle.

“Whatever it is that’s bouncing around in your deranged little brain.”

Snickering, Faith held up her hands in front of her. “Not me. I wasn’t thinkin’ anything.”

At Buffy’s skeptical look, she added, “Honestly.”

“Anyway,” Dawn said loudly, interrupting what she was sure would be another in a long run of mutual antagonistic harassment. “It won’t kill Faith to sleep in the den. It isn’t the first time she’s had to do it.”

“Yup, me and the couch are old buddies by now,” Faith said flippantly.

Buffy eyed Faith warily. “Well it may not kill you, but it might just be the final nail in my coffin if I walk downstairs and find you naked.”

Faith smirked and leaned on the breakfast bar. “Y’know, B, you keep talkin’ ‘bout me naked and I’m gonna start thinkin’ you got a thing for me.”

“In your dreams, F,” Buffy replied dryly.

A sudden flash of memory from earlier that morning caused a flush to creep up Buffy’s face. She’d gotten dressed in the PJs she’d found and fallen into the bed. Just before she’d passed out, she’d buried her face in the tank top and inhaled deeply. She recalled fuzzily thinking the faintly familiar spicy scent was the sexiest thing she’d ever smelled.

Now, all she could do was force herself to keep eye contact with Faith as she balked inwardly. Oh, God. What is wrong with me?

“At least we’re havin’ fun there, B,” Faith snickered.

It was the alcohol. Buffy told herself sternly. There’s absolutely nothing sexy about her. Except her lips, her eyes, her breasts, her a—No, don’t even go there! There’s nothing!

Jerking her attention back to Faith, she rolled her eyes. “I’m sure you are, at any rate.”

“Stop it,” Dawn said in exasperation. “If you don’t, you’ll both be staying in a motel tonight.”

Faith shrugged and pushed her stool back as she stood. She grabbed her plate and glass, rolling her eyes when both Summers women immediately held theirs out to her. She glared at them as she stacked the dishes.

“Y’know, I cooked. I shouldn’t have to clean.”

Dawn giggled as she stood. “Yeah, well, we have to get dressed so we can leave. We need to pick Buffy’s stuff up from the motel.”

“And you really don’t want me helping anyway,” Buffy chuckled as she got up. “I suck at domesticated chores.”

“Uh-huh,” Faith grunted and then carried the dishes to the sink. “I think I’m bein’ handed a load of bullshit, but whatever. Get outta here all ready.”

“Later, Faith,” Dawn tossed over her shoulder as she turned to go.

Buffy took one last look at Faith before following her sister from the room. She didn’t know what was going on in her head, but whatever it was? She had to get out of that room because things were looking a little dangerous.

Faith looked over her shoulder to watch Buffy leave, a smirk spreading across her lips. She’d seen Buffy’s blush and knew she’d won this round. She couldn’t wait for the next one to start. This trip is startin’ to look a whole lot better.

She frowned. As long as she doesn’t start cryin’ or nothin’—’cause then I might have to go kick short-shit’s ass.

Chapter Four: The Trouble with Relationships

“I don’t know, Dawn. I just can’t go inside that house right now.”

Dawn sighed in frustration. “You’re going to have to eventually.”

“It’s just too soon,” Buffy mumbled.

“Okay, we’ll wait. But you won’t be able to hide in my guestroom for long, Buffy.”

“I get that,” She muttered.

Dawn closed the front door behind them, calling out, “Faith, we’re back.”

“Good, that means B can get me some more vodka since she drank my stash,” Faith answered as she walked down the stairs.

“Buffy,” Dawn said slowly. “Tell me you didn’t end up drinking more this morning when you got here.”

“Okay,” She answered obediently. “I didn’t drink more when I got here this morning.”

“Then what happened?” Dawn asked, momentarily confused.

“I drank it when I woke up,” She said with a shrug.

Dawn sputtered, “Jesus, Buffy!”

“I’m going upstairs,” She said, interrupting her sister before she could get any further into her rant.

“It’s not even noon yet, Buffy.”

She shrugged, and crossed the room. “I just want to be alone for a little while.”

“Want me to come get ya when it’s time for lunch?” Faith asked, stepping aside so Buffy could reach the stairs.

“No,” Buffy muttered. “I’ll come down when I’m ready.”

“Aight,” Faith replied with a shrug, “Later, B.”

“Uh-huh,” Buffy grunted, shifting her bag on her shoulder as she headed upstairs.

Faith glanced after her and then turned to see Dawn about to speak. She held up a hand to stop her.

“Don’t, D. Let her have some time to herself.”

“But I’m worried about her,” Dawn muttered.

Faith waited for Buffy to disappear upstairs before she closed the distance between them. She grabbed Dawn’s arm and pulled the protesting woman through the doorway by the stairs. She shut the door to the den and released her.

“D, I know you understand that it’s tough as fuck for a relationship to work. But it’s even worse for a Slayer. It ain’t often we can find someone we can be ourselves with.”

“I know that,” Dawn answered sharply. “I’ve been here through all seven of Buffy’s relationships, y’know?”

“Okay, then how do you think she’s feelin’ right now?” She asked her, brown eyes darkening with intense understanding.

Faith crossed her arms over her chest and continued, “It was doomed from the start with Spike and Angel ‘cause of the whole Slayer and vamp thing. Scott wasn’t even in the runnin’ and neither was Riley. Neither of ‘em could ever come close to bein’ her equal.”

A smirk twitched her lips and she added, “Don’t even get me started on Parker Abrams. I wasn’t there for that one but I’ve heard enough about it over the years. Apparently the juice wasn’t even worth the squeeze.”

“What’s your point, Faith? None of this is a good reason to let her become self-destructive,” Dawn snapped.

Faith licked her lips and held her arms out at her sides. “Point is? Satsu had everything B wanted in a relationship. She understood, she accepted, and she could give and take just as much as B could. It doesn’t get any better than that.”

She dropped her arms back to her sides and stuffed her hands in her pockets. Heart aching in sympathy, Faith continued softly, “B’s feelin’ like she just lost her only chance at happiness, Dawn. She needs time.”

Dawn’s anger evaporated just like that and she moved over to sit down on the couch. She leaned her elbows on her knees and looked up at Faith.

“How is it that you understand this better than I do? All I can focus on is that I don’t get how anyone could love Satsu enough to be all that broken up over losing her.”

Faith sighed, smiling sadly. “It’s kinda how I felt when Robin left. ‘Cept B’s lost more than I did with him, ‘cause he wasn’t ever my equal.”

Dawn winced. She recalled the breakup between Robin and Faith vividly. It happened over five years ago, but it wasn’t easy to forget having nearly every glass object in your kitchen broke. Slayer temper tantrums weren’t easy to deal with. She still wasn’t sure what exactly had been said or what had led to the destruction of her kitchen.

Wanting to change the subject before Faith became depressed too, she asked, “So what was the problem with Dorian?”

An eyebrow lifted in response, and Faith smirked. “He was an evil serial monogamist and he chose the wrong fuckin’ Slayer.”

They snickered, recalling Buffy’s last relationship before she’d moved to Scotland to work for the Council. It hadn’t lasted long and ended shortly before they discovered that he’d only dated her to try to get to the Slayers. Apparently immortality wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be because The Immortal was now deceased. It was the one time Buffy hadn’t put up a big fuss about Faith going after one of her lovers.

No, in fact, Buffy’s exact words when Faith had shown up in the middle of the fight with Dorian had been, “Kill that son of a bitch, F.”

Faith’s amusement faded and she shrugged. “Just give her some time, D. The good thing ‘bout bein’ a Slayer is that we ain’t gotta worry about becomin’ an alcoholic.”

***

Buffy sighed, staring down at the boxers and tank top on the bed. Since she now had her own clothes, she could give these back to Faith, but she didn’t really want to. She sighed and rolled her eyes at herself.

What is wrong with me? Maybe it’s just ‘cause I’m so messed up from the breakup. I mean, this is Faith for God’s sake!

She picked the clothing up and turned toward the door. She paused with her hand on the knob, frowning.

Okay, so is it really hurting anyone if I do keep them? I mean, I felt pretty comforted by her scent. She rolled her eyes. God knows why that is.

She let her hand drop and moved to sit down on the bed. Bunching the boxers up in her hand, she rubbed her thumb over the silk. A slight, reluctant smile formed.

Okay, so there’s no denying that she’s attractive—more than that really. She snorted. But I’m not over Satsu yet. It’s not like I’d want anything to happen between me and Faith anyway.

She laughed hoarsely. We’d end up killing each other.

The laughter died in her throat and was replaced by tears. “Fuck,” She muttered as she swiped in irritation at her eyes.

I think this may have been the final straw, She mused. I’m starting to understand why Faith doesn’t bother with relationships. How many times have I tried, only to end up with my heart being ripped out? Is it even worth it?

Right at that point, her heart was telling her no. And her mind was more than willing to listen as painful memories flashed before her mind’s eye. It made her want to shut out the world and hide.

She tossed the boxers back onto the bed and stood, kicking her shoes off. She crawled onto the bed and curled up near the head of the bed, wrapping her arms around her waist. She stared forlornly at the door as her thoughts continued.

None of my relationships have ever turned out for the better. I had to send Angel to Hell, and Scott was just a desperate attempt by a heartbroken girl trying to cling to normalcy. Then when Angel was sent back, it wasn’t the same and he left for LA.

She swallowed hard and a tear trickled down her cheek. I can’t even count Parker. And while I loved Riley, I wasn’t ever in love with him. Spike was just a complete disaster who I ended up caring a lot about but I never even reached the point of loving him.

And then there was Dorian. She snorted, causing more tears to overflow her eyes. I can’t even pretend that I actually cared about him. He was just really good in bed and I was kind of enamored with the different lifestyle he was showing me.

I mean, who can resist their very own prince charming who can give them almost anything they want? I just got caught up in the things my old friends and I used to babble on about back at Hemery. She swallowed hard. But I still ended up hurt.

He left me for someone else five months in and not even a week later, I found out he’d only been dating me ‘cause he wanted control of the Slayer line. He just gave up on me ‘cause he realized I’m not exactly the Chosen One. I still don’t get why he didn’t try to go for Faith when he found out it was her.

She blinked tiredly and buried her face in her pillow. She struggled to stay awake, but she was losing the battle. With a sigh, she gave in and drifted off.

***

When Buffy woke up, it was late. The pale moonlight was streaming in from the window across from the bed, leaving the room shaded in silver. She simply laid there for a long span of time, the tightness in her chest overwhelming her.

Then, with a shaky breath, she got up from the bed and moved for the closet. She had to get out of there for a while. She stood in the closet doorway, looking at her clothes musingly. Her eyes fell on a black leather mini-skirt and she smirked.

She wasn’t looking to pick anyone up, but she could do with feeling appreciated right now. She reached for the skirt and let her eyes search out the perfect top. With a sigh, she turned and went to the dresser. A white tank top would be better.

Once she was dressed, she pulled on a pair of knee-high leather boots with spiked one inch heels. Then she grabbed her toiletry kit and went to the bathroom to finish getting ready. When she was done, she paused to survey herself in the mirror over the white porcelain sink.

Smoky, dark green eye-shadow brought out the green in her hazel eyes, black eyeliner only adding to the effect. Mascara further darkened her dark blonde eyelashes and a light pink lip gloss made her lips shine wetly. Her long blonde hair was loose, framing her face in gentle waves. A satisfied smile creased her lips and she turned to go.

***

Faith heard the sound of light footsteps upstairs and recognized it right off. Buffy was awake and most likely preparing to sneak out considering how quiet she was being. She glanced at the clock, seeing that it was ten thirty. She sighed.

She’d spent most of the day silently worrying while Dawn hadn’t been quiet about it at all. If she didn’t follow Buffy, Dawn was going to kick her ass. Hell, she might even let her. But how would Buffy react?

Ah fuck it. With a mental shrug, she reached for her jeans. She’d just have to deal with that later.

She finished dressing and just as she was tying her boots, she heard almost inaudible movement on the stairs. She sauntered to the doorway of the den, pausing with her hand on the frame. Buffy came into sight and all she could do was blink as her eyes hungrily took in the vision before her.

She’d never seen Buffy look more dangerous, or gorgeous. Faith swallowed hard. This is a bad idea, her mind whispered.

Her mouth opened as if to say something and then Buffy’s eyes caught hers as she came even with her. She closed it with a click of her teeth and lifted an eyebrow in question. Buffy’s eyes lowered to take in her jeans and tight black T-shirt and then she shrugged. Faith followed Buffy out of the house, her eyes on the leather clad backside.

Oh, there’s gonna be trouble tonight. I just fuckin’ know it.

Chapter Five: One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, Floor

“I think I’ve figured out what it is I’ve been doing wrong.”

“Huh?” Faith asked, startled.

Those were the first words they’d said to each other all night. The ride over in Dawn’s car had been tense and drawn out. Then they’d reached the bar and the only words spoken had been to the bartender. That had been an hour and four beers apiece ago.

They were seated at a small table in a back corner, unbothered by the others around them. A few people had taken notice of them, but none had been brave enough to try to speak to them over the music blaring from the speakers. They were grateful for it, but neither believed it would last for long.

Not receiving an answer, Faith looked up from her inspection of her beer bottle’s label to find Buffy picking at her own. She tilted her head and caught her gaze.

“What was that?”

Buffy sighed and leaned her elbows on the table, taking a swig from her fifth beer. Then she set it back down.

“I’ve figured out what I’ve been doing wrong.”

“Aight,” Faith drawled curiously. “What’s that?”

“I need to quit getting into relationships,” She answered seriously.

“You okay, B? You’re soundin’ kinda like me,” Faith snorted. “You can’t be that drunk yet.”

“I’m not,” Buffy whined and then she frowned. “Well, not much. But, think about it. Is there really a point in dating?”

Faith winced and said uncomfortably, “Maybe you should be talkin’ to Dawn or Red or someone else about this.” Anyone but me, She yelled in her head.

“Come on, Faith,” She snorted. “Will’s like the queen of relationships and Dawn is more of a romantic than I ever was. You of all people should get where I’m coming from.”

Faith tilted her head, conceding the point as she finished off her beer. She did understand. Probably more than Buffy wanted her to, actually.

“Anyway,” Buffy continued. “The only reasons people date are to have someone to have sex with, someone to talk to, and someone to hold. Am I right?”

Faith shrugged as she reached for the last beer. “I think there’s supposed to be a bit more to it, but yeah, basically.”

“Okay, so why do that? I have friends I can talk to, and I can get a fucking vibrator for needy times.”

Faith coughed, nearly choking on her beer. She grimaced and wiped the back of her hand over her mouth. Then she took another swallow of beer and glared at Buffy.

“Warn a bitch ‘fore ya say that kinda shit, aight?”

“Sorry,” Buffy said, her smirk giving away her insincerity.

“Uh-huh,” Faith drawled doubtfully as she gestured for a nearby waitress.

A woman quickly appeared out of the crowd, a pen and pad in her hand. She leaned her hip against the table and gave Faith a sly grin.

“What can I do for you, sexy?”

Faith lazily ran her gaze up the lithe brunette’s body, pausing to appreciate just how short her skirt was. A low, nearly inaudible growl tickled her eardrums and she smirked.

“Eight shots of tequila and a couple beers will do. We wanna celebrate.”

The woman straightened and finally brought her gaze to the blonde across from Faith. She sighed and shook her head sadly. Then she smiled, back to business.

“All right, so what are we celebrating if you don’t mind my asking?”

Faith started to answer and was interrupted. Buffy leaned over the table and said loudly, “Relationships suck and we’re celebrating the fact that neither of us is in one.”

The waitress laughed and turned to go, “I’ll be right back with your drinks, ladies.”

Once she was gone, Buffy kicked Faith under the table. “What was that about?”

“Ow,” Faith yelped, giving her a dirty look. “What the fuck, B? What was what about?”

She at least had the good grace to look apologetic. “The way you were looking at her. I didn’t think you were into women,” She explained.

“I’m not into dating them,” Faith answered with a teasing glint in her eyes. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate ‘em.”

“Huh?” Buffy asked, confused.

Faith shook her head and leaned forward, letting her thick dark hair fall down around her shoulders to frame her face. She gave Buffy a sexy grin.

“It’s like this, B. A lot of men don’t expect much, but women usually do and I ain’t lookin’ to be attached to nobody’s ball and chain,” She paused and licked her lips. “So while I can appreciate the softness, and the beauty of a woman, I ain’t ever taken one for a ride.”

“But—but—” Buffy sputtered, confused.

Something about that explanation didn’t sit well with her. It didn’t seem right that the original, “get some, get gone” bad girl would deny herself any kind of pleasure. Before she could question it further, the waitress returned.

“Here you go ladies,” She said and then took the requested drinks from the tray in her hand and set them down in front of the two women.

“Thanks,” Faith said, tossing a folded up bill on the tray.

The woman glanced at it and then faded back into the crowd as she replied, “Enjoy.”

Faith reached for a shot glass and lifted it, arching a challenging eyebrow at Buffy. She just waited as Buffy considered her briefly. Her companion finally shook her head and took one for herself, making Faith smirk.

“Aight, so got a toast ya wanna make?”

Buffy considered it briefly and then lifted her shot glass. “To relationships—hopefully I’ll never make that mistake again.”

“I’ll drink to that,” Faith laughed and knocked back the shot.

She nearly choked once again at the face Buffy made as she forced herself to swallow. She bit her lip to keep from laughing but lost the struggle when Buffy glared at her. It didn’t take long before Buffy dissolved into laughter as well.

When they calmed down, Faith retrieved a second shot glass. She lifted it and waited for Buffy to do the same.

“This one’s mine, just gimme a sec to think of one.”

Her face scrunched up into an intense expression of concentration, making Buffy giggle. Faith rolled her eyes and then licked her lips. Then she gave a half-grin.

She rasped, “To the single life—may Duracell never go out of business!”

They broke into laughter again and ended up half-sprawled over the table as they tried to regain their composure. Somehow they managed not to spill the shots and after a few seconds, they were finally able to drink. Their eyes locked just as they knocked them back and then they set their glasses down with a thump at the same time.

They didn’t waist any time with the next, not even waiting for a toast. Faith set her glass down and looked up to find Buffy’s heated gaze on her. She swallowed hard, suddenly apprehensive.

“What’s up, B?”

An inscrutable smile was her answer and then Buffy was up and moving around the table. She grabbed Faith’s hand and tugged, trying to get her to stand.

“Come on, let’s dance, F.”

Faith studied her for a moment, indecisive. The flush on Buffy’s skin told her Buffy was definitely feeling the drinks. But she wasn’t sure what Buffy’s behavior meant. She could just be looking for some harmless fun like they’d had back in Sunnydale before all the badness.

She sighed and stood, letting Buffy lead her out onto the dance floor. She wanted some of that fun, too. They pushed their way through the crowd until they reached a clear spot. Then they turned to each other as they let the music move through them.

The song changed, making Faith grin as she closed her eyes. She leaned her head back and ran her fingers through her hair, getting lost in the rhythm of Marilyn Manson’s “Personal Jesus”. Then she felt her body react as Buffy closed the distance between them. Familiar hands clasped her hips, pulling her to Buffy possessively.

She was suddenly aware of just why this wasn’t a good idea as the room became unbearably hot. Being this close to Buffy and feeling their connection intensify had always affected her strongly. Her eyes snapped open and she was looking into dark green eyes up close. Buffy’s gaze fell to her lips and Faith bit her bottom lip reflexively.

The music was completely lost on her as Buffy leaned closer. She bypassed her lips, going directly for Faith’s ear. Hot breath brushed her skin, making her shiver.

“I will deliver. You know I’m a forgiver. Reach out and touch Faith,” Buffy whispered along with the song.

There wasn’t any mistaking the intent in Buffy’s voice, but Faith didn’t have time to react. A large body pressed up against her back, thick arms wrapping around her waist and forcing Buffy to back up a couple of steps. She stiffened in response, giving Buffy an aggrieved look. Then she grabbed the guy’s arm and twisted it, forcing him to let go.

He groaned in pain and she released his arm, turning around to face him. She locked eyes with him and just as she started to tell him to fuck off, a fist flew over her shoulder and slammed into his jaw. He flew back, crashing into a table a few feet away. The table shattered and bottles went flying as the table’s occupants hurried to move away.

Faith surveyed the mess and eyed the man lying unconscious in the pile of wood. Then an incredulous smile creased her lips as she turned to face Buffy. What the fuck was that? Faith’s eyes locked with Buffy’s and Faith just tilted her head in question.

Buffy’s eyebrows furrowed and she met Faith’s gaze. Then her face paled as her eyes widened and her stomach dropped. She turned away from Faith just in time for the liquor and alcohol to come rushing back up and for a wave of dizziness to catch her off-guard. A strong arm went around her waist as she started to collapse, unconsciousness reaching up to claim her.

Chapter Six: Something Different

It was mid-morning when Buffy regained consciousness. She blinked her eyes open and licked her lips, grimacing at the sour taste in her mouth.

“Jesus, what the Hell died in my mouth?” She muttered.

“Three shots of tequila and five beers,” A familiar voice rasped from nearby.

She jerked her head to the side and her eyes widened at the sight of Faith lying in bed next to her. She sat up, scrubbing her face as she tried to recall what had happened. Oh shit. Her shoulders slumped and she buried her face in her hands.

“Oh, God,” She moaned, blushing hotly. “Kill me now.”

“I would, but the thrill is gone.”

Faith rolled onto her side and propped herself up on one elbow, leaning her temple against her fist. She studied Buffy, still wearing last night’s clothes with the exception of her boots. A small smirk crossed her lips.

Buffy lifted her head and glared at her. “What are you doing in here, anyway?”

“Well, y’know, I brought ya up here, and then when I started to leave, ya just latched onto my arm and wouldn’t let go.”

She rolled her eyes and blew out a harsh breath. Then she scrunched up her nose and scrambled out of the bed. “Whatever. I need to go get this taste out of my mouth.”

Faith flipped the covers off her and climbed out on the other side of the bed. She stretched, arching her back and bringing her arms up over her head. Her back popped, drawing a satisfied moan from her.

The sound made Buffy glance back, hesitating in the now open doorway. She blinked, the sight of Faith in a short black T-shirt and boi shorts wreaking havoc on her sleep-addled brain. The t-shirt rode up her torso, exposing flexing abdominal muscles to the appreciative hazel eyes. The sight of the familiar scar to the left and above Faith’s belly button shocked her back into action and she quickly left the room.

Huh? Faith quirked an eyebrow and dropped her arms, following Buffy from the room. She paused in the bathroom doorway, leaning against the doorframe, and watched as Buffy started to brush her teeth. Then with a smirk, she caught the hazel eyes in the mirror.

“Seriously though, B. You were all over me last night, just gropin’ and kissin’ on me and shit like that.”

“Go fuck your self, F,” Buffy mumbled around the toothbrush.

“That’d be too easy,” She snickered. “I’d rather work my skills on you.”

Buffy spit toothpaste into the sink and turned the water on to rinse it out. She smirked and shook her head.

“Honestly though, why’d you stay in the room last night?”

Faith gave her a sheepish look, her smile fading. “Just wanted to make sure ya didn’t choke or nothin’ in ya sleep.”

“Thanks,” Buffy muttered as she finished rinsing her toothbrush off.

Faith sighed and ran a hand through her hair, wondering if she should say anything about the previous night. With a mental shrug, she decided to charge ahead. It ain’t like she’ll belt me one for it. We ain’t done that in years.

“What were you thinkin’ last night anyway, B?”

She could see the sudden tension in Buffy’s shoulders and she smiled wryly. Then again, she may just do it for old time’s sake.

Buffy put the toothbrush in the holder and turned to face Faith. Frowning, she mirrored Faith’s posture and leaned back against the sink.

“What do you mean?” She asked edgily.

Faith pushed off the doorframe and moved further into the bathroom. She stopped just short of touching Buffy and studied her face. Then she sighed again.

“Goin’ out to drink without eatin’ first, B. I know Slayers have a really strong constitution, but even we have to watch that shit.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re going to lecture me about taking care of myself?”

Faith shrugged. “We all know I’m fucked up. Then again, it’s been a long time since I went on a weeklong bender, too.”

“Yeah, right,” She snorted. “I’m having a really hard time believing that.”

She grinned suddenly. “B, don’t be so fuckin’ defensive.”

“I’m not,” Buffy snapped.

“Then why are ya back to treatin’ me like the psycho slut-bomb? That ain’t been me in years and ya know it.”

Buffy’s expression fell and she lowered her eyes. “I’m sorry, Faith. I didn’t mean to do that. I’m just having a really difficult time right now and I’m not dealing well.”

“I know,” Faith said, reaching up to clasp Buffy’s shoulder. “But last night can’t happen again, B.”

Her eyebrows furrowed and her gaze jerked back to Faith’s. “Is it ‘cause of—”

“No,” She interrupted. “Last night was fun ‘til ya puked and passed out. But ya can’t keep doin’ that to yourself. Ya ain’t gonna be able to get past this shit if ya keep it up.”

“I didn’t do it to hurt myself,” Buffy choked out, tears starting to fill her eyes.

“No, I don’t guess ya did,” Faith replied. “I’ve been there, B. Breakups suck, but ya can’t let it break ya.”

She wrapped her arms around her own waist and lowered her head. “The memories are just too much sometimes.”

“Yeah, I’m sure they are. But drinkin’ ‘til ya feel like your guts are tryin’ to come up doesn’t get rid of ‘em.”

She brought her eyes back to Faith’s, giving her a sad look. “You sound like you have a lot of experience with that.”

She smiled wryly. “Let’s not go there. One self-destructive Slayer’s enough and if I start thinkin’ about that shit, I’ll probably be right there with ya.”

Disappointed, Buffy straightened and turned back to the sink. She grabbed a washcloth from the linin cabinet next to her and started to wash her face. She paused with the water running over the cloth and looked up at Faith’s reflection.

“Maybe someday we can sit down and actually talk about that stuff?”

Faith tilted her head and smirked. “That would be that thing we don’t do. Sure ya wanna go there?”

Buffy ran the cloth over her face, wiping away the slightly smudged makeup from the previous night. She finished and put the washcloth in the dirty clothes basket before she turned to face Faith again. She considered the question for a moment and then gave Faith a soft half-smile.

“We spent a lot of time hating each other for a while,” Buffy started, giving Faith a warning look to keep her from interrupting. “We even spent a year or two avoiding each other whenever possible. Then over the past eight years, we’ve formed a really freaky friendship.”

“I’ll say,” Faith muttered, gaining a smirk from Buffy. “Our relationship could give a therapist whiplash.”

“Yeah, well,” She chuckled. “That’s us. But, I think maybe it’s time we spent some time getting to know each other for once.”

Faith’s eyebrows furrowed, though she was smiling slightly. “I’m cool with that. But what brought this on?”

She bit her bottom lip for a moment and then released it with a sigh. A slight blush crept up her cheeks and she dropped her gaze again.

“Last night was sort of different for us. I mean, yeah, we’ve done the club scene together before, but...” She trailed off.

Faith nodded, her mind flashing back to the dance floor and the body pressed against her own. Some of that heat resurfaced for a brief second, leaving her shaking. She laughed nervously.

“Yeah, I get what ya mean. It was definitely different.”

Their gazes locked again and they froze. Neither of them wanted to admit that it hadn’t really been all that different. The memory of another time, another city, another dance floor flickered through both of the women’s minds.

Buffy cleared her throat. “But, last night I was showed another glimpse at the person I used to catch sometimes looking back at me when we were kids. I think I want another chance to find out what makes her tick.”

She paused and then added softly, “Maybe even learn the reason why you feel the need to hide her.”

Faith swallowed hard. Ya don’t know what the fuck you’re askin’, B. Her eyes searched Buffy’s face, seeing the pain still lurking in her eyes. Or maybe ya do.

She opened her mouth to speak just as they both heard a sound from downstairs. She closed her mouth and frowned, hearing the doorbell ring a second time soon after. She saw Buffy bite her bottom lip and gave her an apologetic look as she turned to leave.

Fuck, someone’s got shitty timin’. She shook her head and started down the stairs.

“We’re not done here, Faith,” Buffy called after her. “We will finish this conversation.”

No, I didn’t think we were. She smiled reluctantly.

She reached the bottom of the stairs and walked over to the door. Then she opened it, letting sunlight filter in. Her eyes found a pair of darker ones looking back at her and her expression darkened. Faith felt a sense of satisfaction as she saw her presence register in the sudden flinch on Satsu’s face.

“Satsu,” She growled.

Satsu held up a thin manila folder. “I need to talk to Dawn or Buffy.”

Faith hesitated, wavering between letting her in and telling her to leave. If she let Satsu in, it would give her the chance to hurt Buffy again. If she sent her away now, Buffy wouldn’t even have to know she’d ever been there. The memory of Buffy’s tears making her clench her fists in barely controlled anger, Faith started to do exactly that.

“They—”

“Who’s at the door, Faith?” Buffy called from the top of the stairs.

Chapter Seven: The Guilty

Faith sighed, suddenly brought back to reality by the sound of Buffy’s voice. Nothing they’d just talked about would be possible if she did what she’d been thinking. Reluctantly, she backed off to let Satsu inside.

“It’s short-shit,” She called.

“Damn it. Can’t she just go away?” Buffy muttered as she started down the stairs.

Faith smirked, knowing that if she’d heard it then so had Satsu. A glance to her right showed Satsu’s upset expression as she closed the door behind her. Suddenly much happier, the ex rogue leaned back against the wall by the den door.

It wasn’t until Buffy reached the bottom of the stairs that Faith realized just how bad this looked. Her standing there in her underwear, Buffy still wearing last night’s wrinkled clothes. Her amusement faded, but she forced her expression to remain unchanged. She gave Buffy an apologetic shrug and glanced at Satsu, seeing that their appearance hadn’t escaped her notice either.

Satsu’s features were flushed with anger and she was almost vibrating with tension. Her fingers were gripping the file she held tightly and her other hand was clenched into a fist at her side. Her eyes kept darting from one Slayer to the other, her breathing growing erratic.

Faith’s attention returned to Buffy and she saw the moment it dawned on Buffy. She saw the mix of anger, pain, and guilty pleasure in the hazel eyes. Fuck, nothin’ good ever comes of it when B gets emotional like this. She winced and darted her gaze to the den, wondering if she should leave them alone.

Part of Faith chafed at that idea, wanting to be there in case Satsu did something stupider. It was the same part that was itching to slam the smaller woman up against the wall and let loose some inner rage on her. She clamped a tighter hold down on her emotions and forced her attention to Buffy, waiting for her reaction. She wouldn’t leave unless Buffy told her to.

Buffy didn’t know how to react. There was a part of her that still ached to hold her partner, the part that wanted to just forget everything that had happened and go back to the way things were. Then there was the part that had been shattered by their breakup. That part was a contradiction of pain, wanting to just cry, and anger, that Satsu even had the nerve to be pissed right now.

Guiltily, she admitted that there was something thrilling about having Satsu see them right now. It felt a little like vengeance. She bit her bottom lip and glanced at Faith warily, recognizing the tension coming off her easily—Faith’s inner Slayer was itching for a fight. And Faith herself was probably just looking for an excuse to do it.

If she didn’t do something now, the two younger Slayers would end up at each other’s throats—again. She sighed as she returned her attention to Satsu, wavering between wanting it to happen and knowing it shouldn’t. Damn it. Why do I have to be the responsible one all the time?

Keeping her eyes on Satsu, Buffy licked her lips nervously and asked softly, “Faith?”

Faith replied tensely, “Yeah?”

“Would you mind giving us some privacy?”

Hell yeah, I fuckin’ mind, She grumbled inwardly, shooting Satsu a sneer. Satsu returned the look with equal measure.

“Faith,” Buffy warned.

Their eyes met again. Faith could read the plea in Buffy’s and it helped to defuse a little of her anger. She forced a reassuring smile and stepped forward to gently clasp Buffy’s shoulder. She winked and then turned away.

“Whatever,” She answered glibly and entered the den, slamming the door behind her.

The tense silence that surrounded them quickly gave Buffy a headache. She sighed and turned to lead Satsu further into the living room. Then she leaned against the back of a recliner and watched Satsu stand near the couch and fidget with the file in her hand. They stood there, Satsu glaring, Buffy trying for impassive, for a long moment.

“So what brought you by here?” She asked softly, causing the other woman to jerk.

Satsu’s eyes snapped to her face and flashed angrily. “Why? Did I interrupt you and your little slut?”

“Satsu,” Buffy warned. “Don’t go there.”

She snorted. “You couldn’t even wait until we were divorced to run to her, could you?”

Buffy shoved off from the chair and walked around it to close the distance between them. She stopped in front of her and crossed her arms over her chest.

“I’ve told you before that there is nothing going on between me and her,” She hissed.

“I’m supposed to believe that?” Satsu laughed bitterly. “You show more passion when you two get into one of your little verbal sparring matches than you did in our entire relationship, Buffy.”

Buffy lowered her eyes in shame, knowing it was true. That had always been the sticking point for them. She’d never felt the burning passion for her partner and their relationship that Satsu felt. But her relationship with Faith was nothing but passionate.

Passionate? She laughed internally as her mind supplied her with several images. Faith’s face flushed with anger, brown eyes darkening with lust, lips curled into a sneer, her eyes glinting with amusement, head thrown back in laughter. ‘Explosive’ is more accurate.

Sensing her distraction, Satsu continued, “How can you expect me to believe that you’ve never fucked her, Buffy? I mean, Jesus! Have you even seen how you look at her?”

Buffy swallowed hard and shook her head, scarcely recognizing the woman she’d loved. Tears burned her eyes and she took a shuddering breath, trying to calm down.

Shakily, she asked, “Why did you come here, Satsu?”

“Even now, when we’re over, you can’t tell me the truth,” She snarled.

“There’s nothing to tell,” Buffy snapped, her voice rising. “Yes, Faith’s an attractive woman, but I would’ve never done that to you. You know better!”

“I don’t know shit,” She returned, her volume matching Buffy’s. “All I have to judge by is that I came here to talk to you and she answered the door half-naked, with you coming downstairs dressed in clothes that look like you were out partying all night and fell asleep in them.”

Satsu paused and then added in disgust, “Or maybe even had them taken off and thrown on the floor while you were fucking.”

Enraged, Buffy shouted without thinking, “I was out last night, just like I have been for the past six days. But it wasn’t to have fun. I’ve been drinking myself stupid just so I don’t keep hearing you tell me that you fucked someone else!”

Her partner blanched at her tone, but Buffy ignored it. She snarled, “And yes, I probably would’ve fucked Faith if she’d have let me last night. But I ended up puking my guts out and she had to take care of me instead.”

The dark haired woman’s expression darkened once again and she pointed at Buffy. “You just admitted that you wanted to fuck her! I goddamned knew it, Buffy!”

Buffy laughed hoarsely in disbelief, tears threatening to overflow her eyes. She choked out resentfully, “I never even thought about it before. I left the cheating to you.”

“I’ve all ready told you it was a mistake,” Satsu said, her voice trembling.

“And that’s why you kept doing it, and waited three months to tell me, right?” She asked sardonically.

The other woman closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. Her shoulders slumped and she dropped her hand, reopening her eyes to look at Buffy. She swallowed hard and licked her lips.

“I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“And yet you still are,” Buffy said flatly.

“I know,” She choked out. “But I never meant to.”

Buffy shook her head and took another shuddering breath. “Just tell me why you’re here, Satsu.”

She held out the manila folder in her hand, waiting for Buffy to take it. Then she stuffed both of her hands in her pockets.

“Those are the divorce papers.”

Buffy opened the folder and looked down at the papers inside. She gave a tremulous, disbelieving smile, wondering how they’d gotten to this point. She hadn’t realized there was even anything wrong with their relationship until Satsu had laid it all out. Weren’t there supposed to be signs for that sort of thing?

Neither of them had been avoiding the other one. No one had worked any later than usual, no one had started sleeping somewhere other than their bed, no one had made excuses of having a headache to avoid making love. There hadn’t been more fights than usual, no strange women, or men, calling at odd hours. No weird behavior at all.

She lifted her eyes from the papers, meeting Satsu’s still angry gaze. Over six years and this is it? She clenched her teeth and then blew out a harsh breath.

“Give me a pen.”

Satsu pulled a pen from her pocket and handed it to her. Then she crossed her arms over her chest.

“Don’t you want to read the terms first?”

Buffy leveled a look at her that could’ve killed a lesser being. “I don’t want a fucking thing except my stuff. For all I care, you could take the house and turn it into a harem.”

“I, uh,” Satsu stammered. “I had the lawyer sign the house over to you. I don’t want anything but my stuff either and I’ve all ready picked most of it up except for a few things we bought together.”

Buffy nodded and signed the top paper, her hand shaking. She searched for any other lines that needed her signature on the other two pages and then did so before she closed the file. Feeling her tentative hold on her composure threatening to break, Buffy grimaced and slapped the file into the other Slayer’s hands. Then she turned her back to her and wrapped her arms around her own waist.

“There, now get out,” She choked out.

“Not even the tiniest bit of hesitation, huh?” Satsu asked bitterly over the sound of paper rustling. Then she heard her slap a sheet of paper on the coffee table as she added, “Well fuck you too then, Buffy. I hope you and the slut are happy together.”

Buffy closed her eyes and clenched her fists, her body shaking violently as the other woman walked away. She tensed, and then the door slammed shut, causing her to jump though she’d expected it. Then she collapsed to her knees as a loud sob tore from her throat, the tightness in her chest becoming unbearable as her grief consumed her.

She didn’t hear the sound of the den door opening or of the soft steps of bare feet over the plush carpet. The tingling going up her spine increased just before she was pulled into familiar arms. She turned immediately, wrapping her arms around Faith’s shoulders and curling up in her lap as she buried her face in her neck. The hands gently rubbing her back and the soft, nonsensical words being murmured into her ear only caused her to cry harder.

Chapter Eight: Resolutions and Solutions

Faith hadn’t been sure what to do at first. It had taken everything in her not to charge into the living room when their voices rose. She could hear everything clearly from the den, including the pain in Buffy’s tone. She’d wanted nothing more than to shut Satsu’s venomous accusations up.

She hadn’t even been able to find satisfaction or amusement in Buffy’s revelation about her attraction. Then a few minutes later, the door had slammed shut, making the picture frames on the wall rattle and then the house had grown silent. She hadn’t even made a conscious decision to do anything before her body was set into motion.

The sound of Buffy’s heart-wrenching sobs had been like a vise-grip on her heart as she stepped into the living room. She’d reacted without thought once again, by sitting down behind her and pulling Buffy into her arms. The closest she’d ever really been to this type of situation was when she’d broke down with Angel, so she’d only had instinct to go on. She’d been relieved to find that it seemed to work.

Now they’d been there for half an hour and her foot had fallen asleep where it rested under her right thigh. Buffy’s sobs had tapered off, only a small one occasionally making her shoulders shake. The tears soaking into her shirt and drenching her neck had finally slowed as well. Faith sighed and gently ran her hand over the back of Buffy’s head, guiltily enjoying the feel of the soft blonde hair.

With a shuddering breath, Buffy slowly pulled back. She kept her eyes down as she wiped at the tears on her cheeks, refusing to meet Faith’s gaze. A hand gently grabbed one of her wrists and she jerked, finally forcing herself to look up. Her heart clenched at the sympathy looking back at her from the dark brown eyes.

Absently placing one hand on Faith’s shoulder, Buffy swallowed hard and muttered hoarsely, “Sorry about this.”

Faith’s arm squeezed her around the waist. “It ain’t your fault.”

She paused, trying to slip her foot out from under her. Wincing at the tingling that immediately shot through it, she bit her bottom lip. Shit.

Buffy glanced down at the movement and then smiled sheepishly, scrambling to slip off of Faith’s lap. She stood and held a hand down to Faith.

“Come on, let’s get on the couch.”

Faith grabbed her hand, allowing herself to be hauled up. She limped to the couch and dropped down onto one end. She bent her left leg at the knee on the couch while she kept her other foot flat on the floor. Settling back against the couch arm, she watched Buffy look at the couch in consideration for a moment. Then she was taken by surprise when Buffy chose instead to take a seat between her open thighs.

She could only stare, open mouthed, as Buffy lay back against her chest and settled on her side. Then she snapped her mouth shut and cleared her throat, an incredulous smile forming. Buffy tilted her head back and looked up at her, questioningly.

“Comfy there, B?” She asked.

Buffy’s eyebrows furrowed and she stammered, “Uh, t—this is okay isn’t it? I can move if you aren’t comfortable with—”

“It’s aight, B,” Faith interrupted. “I’m here for ya, and if ya need me to hold ya or somethin’, then whatever.”

“Thank you,” She whispered.

Faith wrapped her right arm around Buffy’s waist and let the other one rest on her leg, her hand dangling over her knee. She smirked.

“Just don’t fuckin’ tell anybody. Can’t have ‘em thinkin’ I’ve gone soft.”

Buffy smiled shakily and shook her head. “No, we can’t have that.”

Faith rolled her eyes. “Besides, can’t ya just hear the shit they’d be sayin’ if they found out we were actually gettin’ along?”

Buffy’s smile faded and her gaze dropped to the floor. She closed her eyes briefly and took a shuddering breath. Tears filled her eyes again and she scrubbed her face in irritation with her left hand. Then she dropped her hand and let it rest on Faith’s stomach.

“I guess you probably heard everything we said, huh?” She asked quietly.

“Yeah,” Faith answered just as quietly.

“I—I’m sorry,” Buffy stammered, nervously twisting the gold wedding and engagement rings on her left ring finger.

Faith gently clasped her hand, rubbing her thumb over the large diamond on the engagement ring. She ran her tongue over her teeth, and then she shook her head.

“Like I said before, ain’t any of it your fault. She’s been sayin’ that kind of shit for years, B. It’s part of why I ain’t ever gotten along with her,” She said and then added, “That, and the attitude she gives me really just fuckin’ pisses me off.”

“But still—”

“What exactly are ya tryin’ to apologize for?” Faith interrupted again. “That I had to hear it? I don’t really give a shit about that part.”

She snorted. “Or are ya tryin’ to apologize for thinkin’ I’m sexy?” She paused and then shrugged as she continued, “That ain’t your fault either ‘cause it’s just a fact of nature. Like hot sex on a Friday night and Saturday morning cartoons the next day.”

Buffy giggled softly, making Faith snicker. Then she sighed and added softly, “Don’t try to take the blame, ‘cause she’s a jealous bitch, aight? It’s all on her, B. She’s the fuckin’ freak who’s been seein’ shit that ain’t there.”

“I can’t figure out why else she’d act like this, Faith,” Buffy choked out. “I had to have done something to make her think it. She wouldn’t be so bent out of shape if I hadn’t.”

She released Buffy’s hand and cupped her chin, forcing her to look up at her again. She searched her gaze for a moment and then she shook her head.

“B, tryin’ to figure out what her damage is won’t help ya any.”

I hate to admit it, but she’s right. Knowing why won’t make it hurt any less. She gave a reluctant nod and sighed tremulously, “And the way she was acting? Jesus! We’ve argued before, but never that viciously. I didn’t even think she could be like that.”

“Jealousy does weird shit to people’s heads, B,” Faith replied, wincing a little in memory.

“Yeah, I guess it does,” Buffy muttered, sharing a knowing look with her.

“Besides, I think right now she’s tryin’ to find a way to take the blame off her shoulders, y’know,” Faith said, an apologetic look on her face. “Like maybe if she can convince herself that you’re with me, then it wasn’t her that fucked things up.”

“God, it hurts so much that she could even think I’d do that to her,” Buffy muttered, another tear squeezing from her eye.

She tightened her hold on Buffy and sighed. “B, there’s always been somethin’ between us, and it ain’t just our connection. God knows what the fuck it is, but when other people see it they don’t know what to make of it. The only thing they can come up with is that we’re fuckin’ or that we wanna.”

Buffy took a deep breath and smiled wryly. It’s the thing that makes us get along really well, or hate each other intensely. Then she sighed, her smile fading.

“It’s so intense and when it comes out, it’s either sexual or violent,” Faith continued with her explanation. “People get confused by that, B. But that don’t excuse the way she’s treatin’ ya.”

No, it doesn’t. Her jaw clenched. She should’ve trusted me enough to know I wouldn’t do that to her.

Faith saw the glint of anger in Buffy’s eyes and smiled slightly. She was on the right track. Getting her to really believe that she wasn’t the one in the wrong here would go a long way to helping her move on. And she knew personally, that her former enemy hated taking the blame for someone else’s issues.

Now here’s me hopin’ I don’t get my ass kicked for this next one, She smirked inwardly. She took Buffy’s hand in hers and held it firmly, catching Buffy’s eyes intently. Her free hand came up to gently grasp the rings on her finger, slowly sliding them off.

“And these right here? Ya don’t need ‘em,” Faith rasped, determination hardening her tone. “What ya need is to move past her and find yourself again, B.”

She slipped the rings off and held them in the palm of her open hand, the diamond sparkling in the sunlight streaming in from the wide window across the room. “‘Cause the woman that’s been hangin’ around the past week? That ain’t you.”

Buffy pulled her hand from Faith’s, flexing it against the odd feeling of bareness and then sighed. She lifted her gaze from the rings to Faith’s, easily reading the challenge there. The dark haired Slayer was daring her to move on. She felt her inner Slayer stirring in response.

Still, she was too curious not to ask, “Oh yeah?”

“Oh yeah,” Faith nodded with a wide, dimpled smile. “‘Cause the bitch that kicked my ass all over the ‘Dale wouldn’t be takin’ the blame for some fuckin’ junior’s issues.”

Buffy couldn’t help but smile slightly and she lifted an eyebrow. “Would I have a sidekick for this adventure?” Her expression darkened. “‘Cause I don’t think it’s going to be that easy. There are going to be moments when the pain’s too much.”

“‘Course it ain’t gonna be easy,” She answered with a soft smile which quickly turned into a smirk. “But yeah, B. I’ll be here to kick your ass when ya need it.”

“Gee, thanks,” She drawled.

Faith sighed, trying to appear annoyed. “Aight, I’ll even hug ya if I gotta.”

“You make it sound like it’s such a hardship,” Buffy said dryly.

“Yeah, well, can’t let ya think that I like ya too much,” She answered flippantly.

“Uh-huh.”

Their eyes locked and half-smiles creased both their faces. Buffy sighed and lifted her hand, placing it on Faith’s and closing her fingers over the rings. She nodded decisively.

“Okay.”

Faith returned the nod and then smacked Buffy on the ass, making her squeal. She snickered.

“Good. Now shake that ass on up off of me so I can get a shower and fix us some grub.”

Chapter Nine: I Remember (You)

“So when did you learn how to cook?”

Faith finished chewing the bite of sausage she’d just taken and swallowed it. She shrugged and reached for her juice glass.

“It’s somethin’ they made us learn in prison.”

“Oh,” Buffy muttered uncomfortably.

The dark haired Slayer looked at her knowingly. That was another subject they’d have to discuss. They’d somehow managed to avoid any real conversations about their past over the years. The most serious subjects they ever brought up with each other were the ones revolving around work and what was going on with their friends.

Might as well get that out of the way. She gulped down the rest of her juice and set it down on the breakfast bar with a thump. Leaning forward, Faith caught her gaze.

“Listen, B. I’ve never seriously held that against you, even though there were times that I blamed ya ‘cause I was in a bad mood or somethin’. But prison was a good thing for me. I had no choice but to actually think about my actions for once, ‘cause there wasn’t anywhere to hide from it.”

“But I should have been in there with you.” Buffy argued.

Faith blinked, surprised at the words. What? She shook her head and leaned her elbows on the breakfast bar.

“B, that’s bullshit.”

“No, it isn’t,” She countered, refusing to meet the other woman’s eyes. “I touched him, Faith. I should’ve known Finch was human.”

It was unbelievable, just how good it felt to finally have Buffy admit it. It reached inside and wrapped itself around her heart, flooding her with warmth. She smirked inwardly at herself. God, I’m such a fuckin’ chump.

She caught sight of the guilty, haunted look on Buffy’s face and sighed. I gotta put a stop to this shit, right fuckin’ now. Beatin’ herself up for it ain’t gonna do any good. She shook her head. There had been a time this situation would’ve thrilled her.

Faith stood up and moved around to Buffy’s side of the breakfast bar. She settled on the stool next to her and reached up, grabbing Buffy’s chin. She forced her to face her, giving her a sad grin.

“B, he was an accident. It took me for fuckin’ ever to finally convince myself of that, but ya really shouldn’t let the guilt eat ya up. Maybe ya should’ve been in there with me, but fuck that. The world needed a Slayer and at the time, you were the better one.”

She wanted to argue, but couldn’t. The resolute look on Faith’s face told her it wouldn’t do her any good. She could all ready feel the words serving their purpose though, as some of the tension drained from her. It was something they’d have to discuss later.

She wasn’t ready for another emotional conversation just yet. She needed a little more time to get her head on straight before they could get to their more complicated stuff. But it was nice to know that they could do it without any bloodshed. She gave Faith a tentative smile as the other woman released her chin.

“Only at the time, huh?”

“Yup,” She replied, with a knowing grin.

Her eyes narrowed. “Care to test that theory?”

“Nah,” Faith replied. “It’d be takin’ advantage of ya right now, ‘cause you’re all broken up over short-shit.”

“If that’s what you need to think to get past the fact that you and I both know I could totally kick your ass, that’s fine with me,” She returned.

“Uh-huh,” Faith snickered. “But anyway, I learned a lot of shit in prison that I never had a chance to when I was a kid. Some of it was actually kinda interestin’.”

“Like what?”

Faith shrugged sheepishly and muttered, “Just a little of this, little of that.”

“Come on, tell me. I promise I won’t laugh,” She cajoled.

“I’ll tell ya later, aight?” She replied as she stood and turned to leave. “Let’s just go watch a movie in the den.”

Buffy sighed and stood to follow her from the room. “I will find out sometime.”

“Uh-huh, but not right now,” Faith called back as she disappeared into the den.

***

“Oh my God, that move so wouldn’t work in real life.”

Faith couldn’t help but smile at the blurted comment as she kept her gaze pinned to the two men fighting on the large flat screen TV. She’d forgotten that it could sometimes be just as entertaining listening to Buffy’s commentary as watching the movie. She shifted on the couch, laying back against the couch arm, and settled her feet on the middle cushion next to Buffy’s.

“Fuck, dude’s gonna be singin’ soprano for a while.”

“Definitely,” Buffy muttered and reached for the bowl of popcorn on the coffee table.

“Remind me again why we chose an action flick?” Faith asked in confusion.

“‘Cause they’re extremely ridiculous and amusing,” She replied around a mouthful of popcorn.

Faith shrugged in agreement as the movie came to an end. She turned her head and looked down the length of her body to the other end of the couch. Buffy was in a similar position, except she’d stolen Faith’s pillow when they’d first entered the room. She’d thought about stealing it back, but then she’d decided against it.

Damn pillow thief, She grumbled internally even as a reluctant grin creased her lips.

Sensing eyes on her, Buffy turned to look at Faith. She arched an eyebrow in response to the expression she was receiving.

“What caused that goofy look?” She asked in amusement.

Faith blinked and shook her head, suddenly smirking. “Oh, just thinkin’. Wanna watch another movie?”

“Sure,” Buffy answered immediately. “Maybe this time we can watch something different, though?”

Faith retrieved the remote from the floor by the couch and then paused to look at her warily. “Like what?”

“Maybe a romantic comedy,” Buffy replied with a shrug.

“You sure you wanna do that, B?” She asked, more than a little surprised.

It had taken her at least a year to be able to watch those types of movies after Robin had left. She winced briefly at the memory and then shook it off. Though it didn’t hurt nearly as bad now, it still wasn’t a good idea to dwell on that. Not when she was doing her best to help Buffy get through her problems.

Buffy bit her bottom lip, taking a deep breath through her nose. The scent from Faith’s pillow filled her, relaxing her further. The only tension left was a delicious one building in the pit of her stomach, making her smile slightly at its’ warmth. She released her lip with another shrug.

“Yeah, I am. Maybe it’ll help remind me that relationships do have their good points.”

“Aight,” Faith said skeptically, raising her eyebrows slightly.

She pressed a button, calling up the TV guide. Searching through the channels, she dismissed several of the movies simply because they were almost over. She rejected a few more out of objection to the sappiness. She was about to pass another one when Buffy stopped her.

“Wait a sec, Faith.”

She reluctantly paused, giving Buffy the chance to read the information. ‘French Kiss’ hadn’t ever been on the list of movies she was dying to see. But she’d watch it if she had to.

“How’s that one?” She asked.

“Sounds good,” Buffy answered.

***

Faith realized half-way through the movie that it hadn’t been a great idea. How she had come to that conclusion? The presence of the crying blonde curled up in her arms once more was a very big clue. She wasn’t sure what had set off the waterworks this time.

It hadn’t even been a particularly sappy scene. In fact, it had seemed to her that Luc was about to get smacked. She shook her head and gently rubbed Buffy’s back, feeling her sobs finally start to lessen.

Buffy sniffled and pulled away slightly, looking at the wet spot on the shoulder of Faith’s white t-shirt in chagrin. “Sorry,” She muttered.

Faith frowned and pulled her back against her. “Stop it with the badass Slayer routine, B. I ain’t gonna think any less of ya if ya cry a little.”

Buffy was tense for a moment and then she slumped against Faith’s side. She returned her head to Faith’s shoulder and sighed.

“Okay, I’ll try,” She muttered.

“Aight, now tell me what this was about, ‘cause ya got me a little confused.”

Buffy blew out a tense breath and shook her head. “It was stupid.”

“Hey,” She objected and tightened her arm around her waist. “It ain’t stupid if it made ya bawl like that, B.”

Keeping her eyes on her hand which was resting just above the other woman’s blue jean clad knee, she swallowed hard. “It just reminded me of something Satsu said once and it kind of hit me hard.”

She gently grabbed Buffy’s chin and forced her to look up at her. Their eyes locked and she paused, momentarily distracted. There was so much trust looking back at her, and honest to God affection, too. She shook her head and sighed.

“That stuff’s gonna happen occasionally, B. You got a lot of memories of her and you’re gonna hurt ‘cause of the loss. Ya just can’t let it completely derail ya like it did before, y’know?”

Buffy’s reply was interrupted by the ringing of the telephone. She sighed.

“You should probably answer that.”

“Why do I gotta do it?” Faith asked, disgruntled.

“‘Cause you’re a regular guest here and I’m not,” She answered, smirking.

“But she’s your sister,” She grumbled, all ready reaching for the tiny black annoyance.

“Just answer it all ready.”

Buffy watched Faith answer the call, smiling slightly. Despite the emotional rollercoaster she was on, one thing was clear. Something good would come out of this. She was finally going to get the friendship that had been offered so tentatively once before.

Chapter Ten: The Next Contestant

Faith shut the cab door and started up the path towards the three story brick house in front of her. She hadn’t wanted to leave Dawn’s, but she hadn’t had any choice. Dawn had called to ask her to stop in at the Council’s headquarters for a meeting with Willow. Much to her disappointment, she couldn’t tell Dawn to fuck off since she was a watcher—at least not with business matters, anyway.

She was amused that she’d been more annoyed at having to let go of Buffy than at having to attend a meeting, though. While she’d never been a fan of meetings, she hadn’t ever been a fan of cuddling either. And no matter which way she tried to look at it, or whatever the reason for it was, she couldn’t convince herself that it had been anything other than that.

Fuckin’ A, She snickered and shook her head as she stepped up onto the porch.

She let herself into the house and glanced around, pausing as she tried to remember the location of Willow’s office. She let her gaze move from the door of Giles’s office on her left to the stairs across the foyer from her. Ah, right. Red was babblin’ about ‘em movin’ her to the second floor last time I seen her.

She headed for the stairs, ignoring the gaggle of younger Slayers that were coming down them. It wasn’t too hard to find the other woman’s office once she reached the second floor. She could all ready hear Dawn’s voice coming from the open doorway. She paused outside the room and looked in, smirking.

The youngest Summers was perched on a corner of the redhead’s desk, while Willow herself was seated behind it. Kennedy was sprawled across the dark brown leather couch to the left and Xander was leaning against the wall by the filing cabinets on the right. She shook her head and sauntered into the room, immediately drawing their attention.

“What’s the what?” She asked, quirking an eyebrow at Willow.

“Just a Scooby meeting,” She answered easily.

“So where’s Buff?” Xander asked, turning his attention back to the redhead.

“Couldn’t get a hold of her,” Willow answered, looking a little concerned.

Faith bit her lip and exchanged a look with Dawn. It was Buffy’s place to tell them what had happened with Satsu, but what were they supposed to do in the meantime? She sighed and shrugged. Fuck it, it ain’t my business.

“Did ya try her cell?” She asked nonchalantly.

“Yes and all I got was her voicemail,” The redhead replied.

“Maybe she’s just busy?” Dawn asked nervously.

The dark haired Slayer looked away and caught Kennedy looking at her strangely. She lifted a questioning eyebrow. What’s that about?

“Whatever,” Kennedy interrupted in a bored tone, sitting up. “Why don’t we just get to the point of this? I’m sure somebody can fill Buffy in when they see her.”

Faith tried to ignore the meaningful glance she was given. She took a deep breath and suddenly realized exactly what it was that had garnered that reaction from Kennedy. Since she hadn’t changed clothes before coming here, Buffy’s scent was all over her. Anyone else would’ve put it off to a change in perfume or something, but Kennedy was one of the ones who swore there was something going on between them.

She gave Kennedy a warning look and settled down in one of the guest chairs in front of Willow’s desk. She could only hope Kennedy would keep her mouth shut. The last thing Buffy needed at that point was more rumors about them going around.

‘Don’t even,’ Faith discreetly mouthed to Kennedy.

‘What?’ Kennedy mouthed back, trying to appear innocent.

Fuck, Faith grumbled internally. This is gonna be all over HQ ‘fore I can even get the fuck outta here to warn B.

“I guess Ken’s right,” Willow started, immediately launching into a detailed explanation of Faith’s last case.

After listening for a moment, Faith decided this part of the meeting was more for the benefit of the other Scoobies. Then she came to the conclusion that she didn’t need, or want, to hear her own words from the report she’d turned in. Tuning the redhead out, she let her thoughts run rampant. Then she realized exactly what it was her mind wanted to focus on and, rolling her eyes, she reluctantly gave in.

Aight, so we’re tryin’ to do the friend thing. And it ain’t goin’ so bad, She mused with a faint smirk which quickly faded. Thing is, it ain’t just the friend thing that’s happenin’.

B’s always made me feel a lot, and most of it has always either confused the fuck out of me or scared me shitless, but it’s so much stronger now. Seein’ her cry’s got me stuck between wantin’ to slam Satsu’s head into the nearest wall and just wantin’ to pull B into my arms. And holdin’ her makes my heart do some fucked up thing that feels like it’s caught in a motherfuckin’ vise-grip. Makes me all kindsa horny too, but that’s my natural state of bein’ anyway.

I think I know what it is, but I don’t like it at all. This is B, for fuck’s sake. I can’t want that with her. It was bad enough with Robin, but her?

Willow’s voice jerked her out of her thoughts, “Did you even hear a word I just said, Faith?”

Damn it. She winced at the irritation in the redhead’s tone and sighed. “Sorry, was thinkin’ ‘bout somethin’. Mind tellin’ me again?”

Gotta be more careful, Faith warned herself. Gettin’ lost in those thoughts like that’s bound to get my ass in trouble.

***

“Aight, so we’ll be puttin’ the more problematic chicks through this extra trainin’ as of August,” Faith said as they made their way downstairs after the meeting was over.

“Yup, that’s what Giles decided,” Willow said. “That way we’ll have a better chance at catching the ones that really aren’t suited for being a Slayer.”

She nodded. “Who’s the unlucky bitch that’s gotta deal with that?”

“Well, we were thinking about having Satsu handle the classes,” Willow replied.

Faith stiffened in response and looked at her in disbelief. Say what?

Willow caught the look and sighed. “Listen, I know you and Satsu really don’t get along—”

Faith laughed humorlessly and stopped on the bottom step, turning to catch Willow’s arm and gently pull her to a halt next to her. She caught her gaze and shook her head.

“That’s a fuckin’ understatement, Red. But that ain’t why I’m thinkin’ you’re nuts for wantin’ to put her in charge of those trainin’ sessions.”

Exasperated, Willow asked, “Then what’s the problem?”

Shaking her head, she replied, “Most of those girls are a lot like me, attitude wise. Not only will they not wanna deal with her shit, Satsu ain’t gonna wanna put up with them.”

“She’s a mature adult, Faith. I think she can put aside her personal issues with you to do her job.”

Not liking the emphasis the redhead placed on that phrase, Faith winced. She took her gaze from Willow’s and glanced around, clenching her jaw when a familiar sight caught her attention. Oh, fuck. This ain’t gonna end well.

Satsu stood in front of the door across the room, anger evident in her stance. Her hands were balled into fists at her sides, her knuckles turning bone white. She was taking deep breaths, obviously trying to stay calm. Even more obvious was that it wasn’t working.

Their gazes locked and Faith smirked, unable to stop it. If Kennedy had been able to recognize Buffy’s scent, then Satsu wouldn’t have a problem doing it as well. It didn’t take long for Satsu to finally lose it and Faith’s expression took on a predatory edge as Satsu approached.

“I don’t think you’re right about that, Red. Not anymore,” Faith muttered as she stepped off the stairs to meet the other Slayer.

“What?” Willow asked, confused.

“You fucking bitch!” Satsu growled as she stopped within Faith’s personal space.

“Yes?” She drawled in amusement.

That only seemed to make her angrier. She poked Faith sharply in her upper chest and snarled, “It isn’t enough that you’re fucking her, but now you have to come in here like this when you know everyone else can smell her on you?”

Faith grabbed her hand and twisted her wrist painfully as she brought her face closer to the other woman’s. She answered as calmly as she could, “I’m just gonna warn ya this once, ‘cause I know B don’t want me fuckin’ ya up, but don’t fuckin’ touch me.”

Then she released Satsu’s wrist, shoving her back a few steps with the force. She shrugged off the hand that grabbed her shoulder from behind and crossed her arms over her chest. She just watched the other woman, waiting for her reaction.

Rubbing her wrist, Satsu laughed bitterly, “At least one of you isn’t denying it anymore. I knew Buffy was lying when she said she hadn’t fucked you.”

Faith chuckled and shook her head. “You have to be the stupidest bitch in the Goddamn world. I’ve told ya before, and I’ll tell ya one last time, I ain’t ever fucked her.”

“I’m supposed to believe you?” Satsu asked disdainfully.

“Nah, ya should’ve believed B when she first fuckin’ told ya that,” She snarled, closing the distance between them again. “Instead ya let your fucked up imagination twist ya ‘til ya fucked up the best thing that’s ever fuckin’ happened to ya.”

“You’re the reason my marriage is fucked up,” Satsu hissed. “I tried, but I just couldn’t love her anymore, not with knowing that the little whore had let you touch her.”

The older Slayer closed her eyes, struggling to contain the sudden surge of anger. She tried counting to ten, then she tried deep breathing, and she even tried visualizations. Unfortunately, the only image she could find was one of Buffy kneeling on Dawn’s living room floor in tears. She acted without thought, her fist catching Satsu’s jaw at full strength and making her stumble backwards until she fell to the floor.

Faith lunged forward to go after her and several hands clamped down on her arms and shoulders, jerking her to a halt. She struggled to get free, her eyes never leaving Satsu’s. Another set of Slayers went to restrain Satsu, making a sneer crease Faith’s lips as she reluctantly stopped moving.

“Faith,” Willow said tensely, trying to draw her attention from the other Slayer.

“What?” She snapped, forcing herself to look at the redhead as she moved around in front of her.

“What’s going on here? I know you two fight, and I’ve definitely heard Satsu’s thoughts on your relationship with Buffy before, but this is a bit much.”

“It ain’t my place to tell ya,” Faith said quietly as she forced herself to relax.

“Let her go,” The redhead said, gesturing to the three Slayers behind Faith.

Kennedy asked uncertainly, “You sure?”

“Yeah,” She answered.

“Thanks,” Faith grunted as they released her and then she rolled her shoulders, ignoring the other two Slayers as they walked off.

“Please tell me what’s going on,” Willow muttered, only loud enough for Faith and Kennedy to catch it.

Faith’s dark brown eyes darted to Satsu who was still being restrained and then back to the redhead. Red ain’t gonna let me leave ‘til I tell her. She sighed, giving into the inevitable. B’s gonna fuckin’ kill me.