Author's Note: Hey guys sorry for the long wait I kind of hit a rock with what I wanted to do with the story. I had originally started this story knowing I'd write a sequel so you guys might not like the ending when it comes. I appreciate the reviews and favorites, it means a lot to know people enjoy the story. I'm in the mist of writing a Faberry story so it'd be awesome if you guys go check it out once I post the first chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or any of the characters.
Christmas, the time to spend with family and friends. A time for families to decorate the Christmas tree and their houses. Kids are writing their letters to Santa Claus while parents are doing their best to buy what their children are asking for. It's a time to be happy, however not everyone in Sunnydale was in a happy mood. It had been an entire month since Buffy had last spoken to Faith and it was killing her inside. After they last spoke Buffy had tried countless of times to go see Faith at the Bronze but was informed by Alyssa that Faith had asked for a shift changed. Faith now worked while Buffy was in school and sometimes worked at night. Buffy had tried going to Faith's apartment but no one ever answered. Her calls and text were ignored and after two weeks of being blown off she gave up. Buffy knew Faith's wasn't joking and was done with her until she realized what she wanted. Buffy still had no clue what to do, she didn't want to get back with Angel but she couldn't him go completely. He would always be her first love and she couldn't forget that. The entire month while Faith was ignoring her, Angel had been checking up on Buffy and patrolling with her. He claimed to be there for her only as a friend but she knew he wanted more.
She decided to focus on her schoolwork and the Mayor mostly, she couldn't only think about Faith and Angel. She needed to worry about the Mayor's plan and put a stop to them before his ascension. It was easy to focus on her work without Faith around. Buffy realized all she could think about before was Faith and her new and upcoming feelings towards the slayer. Even though she missed Faith like crazy she knew that her main priority was being the slayer and the Mayor needed to be stopped.
Buffy was walking through the busy streets of Sunnydale with Christmas gifts in her hands when she bumps into someone.
"Oh sorry-" She stops when she looks up and see Angel.
"Hi."
"Angel. Hi."
"Need some help?" Buffy nodded and handed him two of the gifts she was holding and walked beside him.
"So are you...shopping? You're probably not shopping."
"Couldn't sleep." He shrugged as he barely made eye contact with her, Buffy could tell he was a bit distant.
"Vampires probably aren't that big on Christmas, now I'm thinking about it..."
"Not as a rule." Buffy nodded and a moment of silence passed. She always hated how awkward it was to talk with Angel, it never felt comfortable like it did with Faith.
"But you're okay right?"
"I'm-I'm good yeah. How about you?"
"Yeah I'm good."
"Good. That's good." Buffy nodded and looked down at the ground as they continued to walk. After a moment she notice Angel stop and stare down the road.
"Angel?" He didn't respond as she tried to follow his gaze but saw nothing. "Angel?"
Angel shook his head and looked down at Buffy, "Uh it's nothing. I got to go. I'll see you around Buffy." He handed the gifts back to her and scurried off into the crowded streets of Sunnydale.
...
"And then he just bailed. Said he had to go and left. It was weird," Buffy explained to Willow and Xander as they walked down the halls of Sunnydale High.
"Angel? Weird? What are the odds?" Xander responded.
"Do you think there's something wrong? Maybe you should talk to Giles?" Willow explained as they took a seat at the lounge area.
"No...I don't want to bug Giles. He's still a bit twitchy about the subject of Angel."
"Must be that whole Angel killed his girlfriend and tortured him thing. Giles is really petty about stuff like that," Xander said sarcastically.
"Xander. Enough." Buffy stated and turned to Willow.
"Maybe Angel just has the holiday blues or something," Willow said.
"It's just so aggravating. I'm trying to do the right thing, stay away from him, get over it and then...boom. There he is. I just want a nice quiet Christmas vacation."
"Hey don't worry Buffster we all are going to have a great Christmas," Xander said with a smile.
"Uh hello, still Jewish here," Willow waved at her best friend and Xander smiled, "Right a great Hanukkah and Christmas vacation."
...
At the end of the day Buffy headed straight home promising her mom she'd help her and Dawn with the decorations. She got home and her mom immediately put her to work. She and Dawn began to decorate the Christmas tree while Joyce made them lunch in the kitchen.
"So where's Faith been?" Dawn asked her sister with a hint of attitude in her voice which Buffy quickly detected.
"She's probably working right now, why?"
"Well because I haven't seen her in like a month and I'm pretty sure it's your fault."
Buffy stopped what she was doing and rested a hand on her hip as Joyce walked back into the living room with some sandwiches.
"It is not my fault Faith hasn't been around okay. It was her choice to not come by anymore, not mine."
"The only reason she isn't around anymore is because of you!" Dawn raised her voice and Joyce immediately stepped in between the two.
"Enough. Dawn. What goes on between Buffy and Faith is between them two, understand?"
Dawn huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, "Fine, whatever."
"Good." Dawn returned to decorating the tree when there was a knock on the door.
"Buffy get the door," Joyce said with a smirk. Buffy shrugged and headed to the front door and swung it open.
"Faith..."
A whole month with no word from the other slayer and now she was standing at her front doorstep.
"Hey B."
Hey B. Hey B! A whole month without talking to me and she says Hey B, like nothing has happened?! Ugh why is she so frustrating! And really she has the wear the leather jacket that I like so much? Screw you Faith Lehane.
"What are you doing here?"
"Your mom called me over and said there was an emergency..." Faith stuffed her hands in her pockets as she rocked back and forth on her heel.
"Oh Faith, I'm glad you made it in time. I need you to help me put lights on the roof."
"Sure thing Mrs. S," Faith smiled avoiding Buffy's gaze.
Joyce looked between the two girls and knew her plan would need some work. Joyce had hated to see her daughter so distance and hurt due to Faith no being around. She talked to Dawn and according to her youngest daughter Buffy was too stupid to just get with Faith. Joyce was informed by Giles of Angel's return and knew that he must have something to do with the pause on the two slayers new relationship. Joyce decided it was up to her to force the two together and make them talk. Joyce called Faith over telling her an emergency had occurred but in reality she was going to force Faith to spend the holidays with them whether she liked it or not.
Faith walked into the Summer home and was ambushed by the younger Summers who wrapped her arms around Faith's neck. Faith smiled and embraced the teen, "Hey kiddo."
"I've missed you..." Faith nodded as she let go of Dawn.
"Yeah I know. I've missed you too. Didn't mean to leave you hanging Squirt." Dawn smiled and nodded in understanding.
"It's okay as long as you are staying for Christmas," Dawn smiled.
"Uh.. I don't know if that's such a good idea," Faith responded as she quickly glances to Buffy who is staring at the ground.
"Nonsense Faith, you will be spending Christmas and New Years as well. You can spend the night today and tomorrow and if you need to, go home after Christmas day." Faith was about to object but quickly closes her mouth when Joyce gives her a look.
"Yes Mrs. S..."
"Good now the lights, ladder and staple gun are out front. Get on that roof and start decorating. Buffy go help her."
"What? I thought I was doing the tree?" Buffy finally paid attention to the conversation and quickly objected to the thought of working with Faith.
"Go. Now." Joyce placed her hand on her hip and pointed to the front door. Buffy groaned knowing she wouldn't win this fight, she grabbed Faith's hand and stomped out of the room. They remain silent as they both climb up the ladder and start to stable the lights to the roof. After a good twenty minutes of silence Buffy finally speaks.
"Why haven't you answered any of my text or calls." Faith immediately stopped what she was doing and turned to face the blonde who was looking down at the tangled lights.
"I...I had to detached myself from you for a while." Buffy finally looked up and met with Faith's eyes.
"Why?"
"It sucks that you can't make up your mind and with me having feelings for you it made it hard for me to be around you. I wanted to get myself together, to make sure my feelings wouldn't affect anything."
"So you don't have feelings for me anymore..." Buffy couldn't help the hurt that was in her voice.
"No no B. Of course I have feelings for you but I need to focus on me and get my life here in Sunnydale together. I just needed to make sure that my feelings for you weren't my one and only priority." Faith walk carefully over to the blonde and sat beside her. "I've missed you a lot B. Don't think for a second I didn't miss you." Buffy instantly felt that warmth once Faith was beside her and rested her head on the brunette's shoulder.
"I've missed you too Faith."
A few moments pass in silence as Buffy just enjoyed the feeling of being by Faith's side, she finally broke the silence and turned to look at the brunette.
"So are we okay now?"
Faith smiled and nodded, "Yeah B we are good."
"So we are what exactly..."
"Friends." Buffy winced not knowing the word "friends" would hurt her so much, she was just thankful Faith didn't notice.
"Friends.."
"Yeah, I think it's what's best for us. We both need to focus on our slaying and the Mayor. And hopefully by the time all that crap is over with, you'll know what you really want."
Buffy nodded not wanting to discuss the topic anymore. They quickly returned to decorating the roof and the front of the house. By the time they went back inside, Joyce already had the dinner set on the table. Joyce couldn't help but smile at the sight before her. Her daughters and Faith were joking and laughing, her plan was working. Her daughter hopefully worked everything out with Faith and now was talking to Faith like the past month never happened. Once dinner ended Joyce step up the guest room and went off to bed. Dawn said her goodnight and went to bed leaving Buffy and Faith alone in the living room.
"So I'm sorry my mom dragged you over here. I'm sure you had better plans for Christmas."
"Honestly, I was just going to work on Christmas. This is way better then working," Faith smiled as she stood up.
"Going to bed?" Faith nodded and extend her hand towards the blonde, "Come on."
Buffy's eyes shot open in shock, was what suggesting sex with her? Faith quickly realized how her actions and words probably sounded to Buffy and shook her head.
"I-I didn't mean like that B. I just went to come upstairs with me so we both can go to bed. In separate beds. In the separate rooms. Like separated."
Buffy giggled at her rambling and stood up taking Faith's hand. "Lets get to sleep, tomorrow is Christmas Eve which means Dawn is in charge of our activities." Faith smiled and walked upstairs with Buffy, once she got to Buffy's bedroom door she said her goodnight and place a soft kiss on her cheek. Buffy smiled and went straight to bed. For the first time in a long time Buffy fell asleep with a smile on her face.
Buffy was abruptly woken up by her younger sister bouncing on her bed repeatedly.
"Get up! Get up! Get up! Get up!" Buffy groaned as her sister yelled as she continued to bounce up and down on her bed.
"Better get up B, doesn't look like she's stopping any time soon," Faith smiled as she leaned against the door frame. Buffy's head shot up as soon as she heard Faith's voice and looks at her.
"Shit!" Buffy mumbles to herself as she throws the covers over her head hating that Faith is seeing her before she got all pretty for her. Buffy groaned in annoyance as her sister continue to bounce, she shot up from the bed and Dawn instantly ran out of her room with Buffy hot on her trail. Faith couldn't help but laugh and knew this Christmas Eve was going to be interesting.