Chapter 1: Anxious Faith

It had been about a month since Buffy and Faith had admitted their feelings to each other at the on-campus house. They didn't get a lot of time to be together very often, though. Faith was still afraid they'd get caught and seeing as she was a year older and a rank higher than Buffy, it was hard for them to find an appropriate time and place to see each other. But they were still a couple and happy too.

It was a Friday and Buffy had managed to talk Faith into coming back to the house for dinner. It had taken a lot of convincing, but she was there, walking with Buffy toward the house. She was extremely nervous about being in the presence of the Commandant. She assumed he wasn't too fond of homosexual relationships, being the head of a military school, but Buffy kept telling her she was wrong so...she'd see. Buffy wanted to come out to them that night and Faith was worked up over the reaction they were going to get.

"Relax," Buffy said, for the fiftieth time since they'd walked off campus. "They're gonna be fine with us. I promise, baby."

"I know, B," Faith said quietly.

"C'mere," Buffy said. She put her arm around Faith's waist and pulled her closer. "Will kisses make it better?" Faith stiffened in Buffy's arms.

"Not here," she hissed. "Someone could see us."

Buffy rolled her eyes and let Faith go. "You know what, if you're gonna be like this all night, just go back to the barracks! I hate when you're like this." She stared into the scared brown eyes in front of her and felt horrible, but she didn't back down. "Just go back, Faith. Go!"

Buffy walked past Faith toward the house. They were almost there. After a moment, she felt Faith's hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Faith whispered. "I'm just nervous. I really, really like you, Buffy. And I don't know that your parents will understand. What if they ban you from seeing me?"

"They won't," Buffy said confidently. But she reconsidered at Faith's raised brows. "But, if they do...well, I'm stuck with you five days outta the week anyway, remember?" Faith smiled and shook her head.

"I remember," she said quietly. "Here, I'll give you a kiss for luck and you can give me one." She leaned forward and kissed Buffy chastely on the forehead.

"What kinda kiss is that?" Buffy whined teasingly. She put her arm around Faith's waist again and pulled her close, leaning in for a kiss. Their lips brushed together, and she tried to deepen the kiss when...

"Buffy! Is that you?"

Buffy sighed and pushed gently away from Faith. She turned toward where her mother was standing on the steps in front of the house, which was not too far away from where they were standing.

"Yeah, Mom!" she called back. "It's me! I brought a friend!"

"Well, come on in!" Joyce called. "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes!" Joyce turned and walked into the house.

"Now," Buffy said, turning back to Faith, "where were we?" She smiled coyly at her girlfriend and got a reluctant smile back. "Quick, though. Wouldn't wanna get caught, now would we?" Faith rolled her eyes and kissed Buffy sweetly.

"Better get in the house," Faith said. "Before your old lady comes back out." Buffy smiled and kissed Faith again.

"C'mon," she said. "Let's get in there. It's gonna be a long night."