This is the final chapter I had already had finished. So please review after you've read it and let me know if you think I should keep going, or just start a new fic.
An hour later Buffy woke to a dark room. The sun had gone down, and it was very quiet all around her. She flipped on the lamp sitting on the nightstand next to the bed. Letting the least amount of jarring light into her vision. She looked around the room observing all the little details of the space that made it very obvious to anyone, well to Buffy that this was in fact Faith's. Not only was it Faiths room, but by the slightest glance you could tell that Faith viewed this as her safe haven. A place in the dark away from the world rude reality. There were a few posters on the walls of bands Buffy had never heard of. Some scattered decoration that no doubt Faith had lifted from post-apocalyptic homes before they'd fallen into nothing. Her clothes were pretty well kept in order aside from a few random articles laying on random surfaces. She took into careful account that there was a couch on one wall with a pillow and light blanket. Which looked as if it saw more human interaction then the bed she now found herself in. The thought of Faith laying on that tiny couch instead of this huge over stuffed bed made Buffy's heart pang a bit, trying to place the reason behind Faith's oddities. She let her hand bring the comforter she'd being clinging to, lift itself to her nose. She could slightly smell Faith in them. A mixture of an anything but fruity perfume, and the smallest hint of sweat, she got momentarily lost. She sat up again, and made her way lazily to the doors. Poking her head out, she looked from side to side down the long hallway. Knowing well enough that she was the only person to inhabit this floor. The solitude got to her a little, where to Faith it must have been heavenly. She left the doors unlocked, and walked the length to the elevator.
Once back in the lobby, she found the dining room. She could hear the girls talking over dinner as soon as the elevator doors had opened. Reaching the dining room she took a seat around the large oak table. There was already a plate filled up for her, it smelled delicious so naturally she just dug in. Angel was right he was very good at cooking. In fact his food was like Jesus on a paper plate. She briskly finished and went to get seconds, which later followed thirds. She couldn't remember the last time she'd eaten so much and still wanted more. Giles must have noticed, because he gave her a "Holy crap, Buffy!" kind of look. She just smiled and shoveled more of Angels masterpiece into her mouth. They all talked for a while after everyone had finished they're meals. Angel came in with a large trash bag scooping up all the plates and plastic cups.
"Isn't it rather expensive to use so many paper plates, and just toss them?" Buffy asked, thinking it was a useless investment.
"You'd think but we actually spent more on the water bill with all the washing of dishes and showering that we do in this building. Plus you try getting a bunch of slayer mini's to do dishes!" She smirked in agreement.
"I guess that makes sense." They all talked awhile more. Angel telling Buffy of the girls plans on going to San Diego to kill a small hoard of vamps that was tormenting an old folks home. Giles talked to Buffy about how funny he found it that Willow was fallowing in his steps, becoming a librarian and all. Several hours had passed and Buffy remembered she hadn't even called Willow yet. "Well guys, I have to call and let Willow know I'm here before she conjures some sort of wonky spell to find my lifeless body somewhere off the freeway. Not to mention I'm still really tired, so I'll see you tomorrow. I'm going to go into the city tomorrow, if anyone wants to come with me…I'll leave around 11:00." With that she left the room cell in hand, making her way to the stairs this time, figuring the extra walk would get her more relaxed for bed.
The phone rang several times into the late hours of the night, until finally Willow's groggy voice sounded on the other end. "Hey, sorry I didn't call sooner. I got caught up." She heard Will clear her throat.
"I understand. I got worried for a moment, then realized who you are and figured I'd at least give it till morning before I really started to freak."
"Well, I'm going to try and get some sleep. Sorry if I woke you up Wills. I miss you guys already. Faith's not even here. I guess she took off and disappeared. So maybe this trip will turn out less stressful than I thought." She tried to convince Willow, or maybe herself that Faith's absence was a relief to her and not gripping on her heart like a vice.
"Yeah that's true. Well goodnight Buffy. Sweet dreams." Willow had know Buffy too long to not know when the girl was trying to hind something. And Buffy had been trying to hide this for quite some time now. She just let it go. She knew when Buffy was ready she'd tell her.
When Buffy got back to the room, the heat was almost too much for her so she opened all the windows letting in a nice breeze. She searched through her things for something light to wear, but to her disappointment all she found wear sweats. She decided to rummage through the many drawers of Faith's dresser, where she found some small shorts and a black tank top. She was now engulfed with the smell of Faith all over her skin. It was both wonderful and unbearable. She couldn't remember it being so hot when she lived in L.A. before. She wiped a quick bead of sweat from her forehead before plunging herself deep within the covers of the oversized bed. She fell into a sound sleep the second her head hit the pillow. Willows request had certainly been met, for Buffy's dreams had never been sweeter.
She woke up the next morning to the light touch of sun shining, and a cool breeze blowing in across her skin. She was glad it had cooled down a little since last night. After showering and getting ready for the day she rode the elevator to the lobby where she found several girls standing around waiting for her.
"Oh hey! You guys going with me?" Rona spoke up first, saying each of them had something they needed to do in the city and would appreciate the ride. Buffy mood was slightly deflated, she'd hoped for some company not just to be a taxi to the younger girls. Not that really minded that part, just that she'd come to feel closer to people less unnecessary and more wanted. Things weren't really shaping out to be that way. None-the-less, they all piled into Buffy's rental and began their half and hour journey to West Hollywood. While the girls scrambled out in their own desired directions Buffy chose to just wander aimlessly. Taking in the city she'd grown up in. It's always been a loud and bustling place, filled with people and things to see. It's gotten bigger she thought, and louder as the years have passed. It was almost overwhelming to her now. She'd been walking around for about an hour, stopping into shops along the way. Being certain to stop at Millions of Milkshakes to get her coveted Judge Alex before continuing on her walk. She came upon a quiet little park she didn't remember from previous trips, but decided to catch her bearing awhile under the shade of one of the giant trees. She watched a couple lay peacefully together on a blanket, while several small children chased each other around. A few guys were walking their dogs together on the farthest side of the park, as several random wanderers made their way through the grassy space. She closed her eyes and let the sun wash over her as time passed and the shade of her tree became smaller and smaller.
Around 2:30 she picked herself up out of her daydreams and headed back towards the place they'd all agreed to meet. She saw some of the girls there already, holding assortments of bags from different stores and some with star bucks cups. They waited there for another few minutes for the rest of their pack. Then made their way to the valet for the keys.
"So, Buffy. What did you do today?" One of the girls asked her light heartedly.
"I just walked around remembering all the places from when I'd lived here. Then I just hung out at that park on the corner for a while."
"You mean you didn't shop or anything?" Rona yelped from the passenger seat.
"No, not today. Today I just felt like getting lost out there." Her eyes were glazed over, thinking deeply about what she had truly been getting lost in thought over. As she laid in that park she imagined that out of the tree line, Faith would have come sauntering up to her in her usual manner. Sitting beside her as if nothing had happened, and no time had passed since that day. She'd lay beside her and they'd stare up at the clouds, getting lost together in the endless sky, and each other. No worries, no cares, just the grass beneath them and the whole world ahead of them. She snapped out of her daydream to hear one of the girls squeal as Buffy's car just missed the Honda screeching to a halt in front of them. She slammed on her brakes, taking account of everyone in the car. "You guys alright?"
"Uh, yeah Buff. You want me to drive or something. You seem a little out of it. I mean this L.A. traffic can take a while to get used to. Even for the most defensive of drivers." Rona smiled lightly knowing that Buffy only got her license recently, and was far less focused on the driving aspect and far more focused on the scenery. With that Buffy pulled off to the side, trading places with Rona and settling in for the ride back to the hotel.
When they finally got to the parking garage of the building it was nearly 5:30, due to the traffic on the 101. Buffy made her way to the elevator to go to her room when she was stopped by Angel.
"Hey, Buffy." He looked at her very intently. "Could I um, talk to you in my study for a moment?" She nodded just enough for him to catch it, and was lead to his room.
It was a rather dark space. Which she expected nothing less from him. A very large desk covered in books and one small lamp lighting the whole room just slightly.
"I know that this is kind of a weird time to be doing this but, I just wanted to talk to you about…Well about us Buffy." She eyes widened and her heart began racing. Normally should would be happy to talk to Angel about "US" but that was before. Before she'd realized that her feelings for Faith were more than just a slayer connection. She thought back to her cookie dough convo with Angel before then battle that was ahead of them. It still resonated in her head and spoke true to her cookie dough-esque feelings. But once she'd finally thought that perhaps she was a fully baked cookie. The only person she wanted munching down of some gooey cookie Buffy goodness, wasn't the undead ex boyfriend she initially intended to have in her future. This was going to be a very different conversation then she was hoping to have. Maybe she could still go with the Cookie analogy?
Thanks for reading :)
