This story takes place somewhere in Season 3, in any case before Bad Girls – and Angel is out of the picture for good.

That Saturday Night

Chapter 1

"Faith! Thank God you're here!"

Although they were generally getting along, that was not the kind of greeting she'd usually get from one of the Scoobies, so Faith was a little surprised so see Red running towards her the very moment she entered the Bronze one Saturday night.

She didn't show it, though, but smirked at the redhead, who seemed to be a little flustered.

"Jeez, I know I'm unbelievably sexy, Red", she called back, "but I didn't think you'd confess your undying love for me just now … seems a rather public place for a coming out, don't ya think?"

"What? No, I didn't … I mean, I'm not …" Faith grin broadened. It's way too easy! Now she'll go into babblin' mode, and with a little push here and there …

But Willow didn't. She didn't blush or stutter, and when she skidded to a halt next to her, Faith saw that she looked really concerned. "What's goin on, Red?"

"It's Buffy, she's …"

The rest of the sentence Faith didn't hear, because it was drowned by an ear-splitting "Faaaaiiithyyyyyy!", and at the same moment she found herself engulfed in a whirlwind of energy and blond hair.

If she hadn't been a Slayer, the force would have knocked her flat on her back. But even so she staggered backwards, trying to regain her balance, and to suppress the instinct to fight off whatever had come flying at her.

But of course she didn't, for she knew she wasn't really attacked: The Slayer-connection had perked up, and even if it hadn't … this was a situation she'd experienced so many times in her dreams – asleep or awake: Buffy Summers had thrown herself in her arms, and now she was holding her, feeling her warmth, breathing her scent … only that in reality the effect was even more breathtaking than she'd expected.

In fact, if Red hadn't gripped her upper arm to keep her upright, she would have crashed down with B landin' on top of her, despite all her strength – not because of the power of Buffy's 'assault', but because her knees had turned to jelly. Oh, my …

"…drunk." Willow finished dryly.

"What?" Faith couldn't believe it. B drunk? No way! But she could smell it, and (her heart dropped at the thought) it explained why she would behave like this. Of course! she thought sadly. The only way B would wanna be in my arms …

Suddenly, B had let go of her, grabbed her hands and started spinning her around, grinning like mad and squealing like a little girl – and Faith, though completely surprised, couldn't help but grin at the sight, too. She'd never seen B like this, all carefree and lightened up … but then she remembered that her Slayer-sister was drunk, which was completely out of character, too … Hell, she couldn't even remember having seen her drink alcohol at all!

"B … B, stop, I'm gettin' all dizzy!"

The blond pouted rather adorably – Faith felt her throat getting all dry. Damn, she's so cute when she does this!

"Youuu're no fun, Faith-yyy!" Buffy complained, drawling the words a lot more than usual and stumbling a little over the 'th'.

Yep, obviously drunk! Faith thought, while she grabbed B's shoulder, who had started to sway dangerously. "B", she asked concerned, "you all right?"

"Yup!" That was all she said, then she just stood there, beaming.

Faith shook her head, torn between amusement and concern. "You sure?"

"Sure I'm sure …" That seemed to amuse her, because she dissolved in a fit of rather girlish giggling. "I … I assure you, I for … for sure haven't never ever been … more sure … haven't been … sure-erer aaalllll my life!" She grinned broadly at this, obviously pleased with her display of wit. "Funny."

"Yeah", Faith said absent-mindedly. I gotta talk to Red – I wonder what's goin' on … "Uh, B, I gotta talk to Will for a sec … Why don't you …" She looked around. "… go and tell the X-Man how sure you are?"

"I don't want to!" Buffy stated, suddenly very serious. "I wanna dance – with you, Faith-yyy!" She started to pull Faith – who only now realized with a thrill that they were still holding hands! – towards the dance floor.

For a fraction of a second a picture flashed through Faith's mind … Her and B dancing, slowly, in perfect sync … bodies brushing against each other … B's arms round her neck, the blond girl snugglin' close … She shook her head and pushed the vision away. Don't go there, Faith! It's not gonna happen, and especially not tonight, not when she's drunk …

"You go ahead", she told the blond girl who was pouting again – Damn, does she do that intentionally? "I'm comin' in a sec!"

"You promise?" Big, brown eyes looking at her … Faith had to swallow before she could answer. "Yeah, promise."

"Okay!" And with a last beaming smile, B let go of her hands (Faith was missing her touch already) and sauntered away towards the dance floor – only to be intercepted by Xander, who had watched the whole action from the distance and didn't seem willing to let her mingle with the crowd in her state.

The moment Faith knew her to be cared for, she turned to Willow abruptly. "Okay, Red, what the hell's goin' on? Why's B drunk? She never drinks!"

"I know!" Faith could see that Red was really worried. "But today she said, like, all out of the blue, she wanted to drink shots … At first we thought she was joking and laughed at her, but she got all snappish and asked if we didn't think that she had the guts to do it, and that she was done being the 'nice girl' and that she was taking a leaf out of your book now!"

She had to stop for breath. "And of course we tried to reason with her …" Faith couldn't help but snort. " …but you know her, stubborn as a mule sometimes, and so we couldn't do anything! And now she's really drunk, and I don't know … with her strength and all …" Willow looked at Faith. "Maybe you could take her home, Faith? You're the only one who can …"

"Course." Faith gave the nervous redhead a quick consoling smile. "I'll take care of her." I only wish she'd let me …

"That's great, Faith, thanks a lot!"

"'ts no big." With that, she made her way over to Xander and B, who, by the looks of it, was telling a joke. "… and then … then the nun says to … to the pope …" And of course Xander was laughing his head off, for B, usually not capable of telling a joke if her life depended on it, didn't need a punch line tonight – it was slapstick all over. "Hey, guys."

"Faaaithyyyy!" The dark-haired girl pulled a face. She didn't mind the nickname (not that she'd ever admitted that, but she rather liked it …), but B's shriek made her eardrums throb. "Let's daaaaance!"

"Uh …" Think of something, quick! I can't dance with her now, her being all tipsy, maybe holding onto me for support … "Y'know, B, I'm not feelin' too well right know …" she lied. "In fact, I wanna ask you if … if maybe you could …take me home?"

She cringed inwardly at the way that must have sounded, but B didn't seem to notice – she obviously was disappointed. "But you promised …" And yet again she looked at her with these big, round puppy-dog eyes, forcing Faith to drop her gaze. Damn, girl, what are you doin' to me?

"Yeah, I know …But I really don't feel like it … sorry."

"I … forgive you!" B exclaimed, beaming again. "This once, becaaaauuuuse …just because!"

"Thanks." Faith could see Red shaking her head in amusement, while the X-Man struggled hard to suppress his laughter. "Let's go then?"

"I have to say goodbye – to … to my friends!" She gave each of them a bear-hug, lasting a little longer than usual, then turned round. "Ready now!"

Faith exchanged a nod with Red – and forgot about her completely, when she felt B's hand slip into hers. Such a simple thing … it took her breath away. And it filled her heart with a all too familiar sadness. I wish it would mean something … to her …

They walked in silence for some time, still holding hands. Buffy seemed quite content with the situation, she was humming some tune, horribly off-key, and only now and then Faith had to support her weight, keeping her from stumbling.

Faith herself, however … she was far from content, she was confused … and excited, unsure what to do, how to act … Just walking next to B, holding hands made her heart go double-speed, and she couldn't help but feel happy when she sneaked glances at the blond girl. At the same time, she knew that it didn't mean, would never mean anything to her, and that knowledge was tearing her up inside. And of course, this being Sunny Hell, there was always the possibility of an attack, so she tried to keep alert all the same …

Suddenly, B stopped. "I know what!" she announced happily.

Faith, caught by surprised, decided to play along. "An' that is?"

"If you're not feeling well …" The blonde girl pronounced the words very slowly and carefully, underlining their importance with emphasizing nods. "If you're not feeling well, I'm gonna kiss you better!"