AN: Sooo, it's getting a little Faith centered, but there will definitely be Buffy & Spike too! I just love Faith & Xander - awesomeness :) I hadn't planned this to happen, it just sort of did, & I like it! Hope you guys do too! Thanks for the reviews & flags - keep them coming :) !
~.~.~
Faith pulled the sheet tight around her chest as she sat up in the bed. She didn't want to look over at him, she couldn't handle the way he had made her body feel. His sensitive touch still lingered on her skin, his loving eyes were burned into her memory. It was all too much too fast - or even at all. That wasn't her - she never fell for anyone, she never felt for anyone, let alone a geek like Xander.
"What's wrong?" he asked softly, sitting up beside her. "Did I, uh, do something wrong..."
Faith put on a brave face and turned to look at him. "Besides everything? No."
"Oh... well, maybe we can try again?" he asked, hopeful.
"Didn't you get the hint Xander - I mean, look at me, I'm not exactly a newbie and I need someone who can keep up with me, someone who can satisfy me... let's face it, that's not you," she said coldly.
"Ouch... I'm going to pretend like that didn't hurt like hell," he said, pulling his boxers on as he stood.
"You know what they say, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen," she said, watching him as he dressed. "It's not your fault, you can't help it, you're just... inexperienced. Go and get some, then give me a call."
He smiled over at her, but it wasn't a happy one. "Or how about I don't? You're wrong though, it is my fault - Spike warned me, but being the idiot I am, I thought... nevermind."
"Spike warned you - about me?"
He glanced back at her as he opened the door. "Yeah, and as much as I can't believe these words are coming out of my mouth - I should've listened to him."
Faith flinched as the door closed behind him, then closed her eyes and fell back on the bed. What the hell was she doing? Xander was a nice guy, a great guy, and those type didn't come knocking on her door often. She had ruined her one chance at possible happiness, and as much as she was beginning to regret it - she didn't at the same time. Possible happiness meant the opportunity to get hurt - and she had no plans on letting that happen.
After letting out a deep sigh, Faith got out of bed and dressed, then grabbed Buffy's set of hand wraps from the dresser and headed towards the basement.
~.~.~
"That was fun," Buffy said as she looked over at Spike. They were sitting in his car, side by side - he had just driven her home after an hour of fooling around in his backseat. Fooling around - it sounded so devious and shameful. What they had done had been anything but those two things - the way the Spike touched her, the way the he loved her made her feel like nothing she had before. She knew that he would never push her into anything, he loved her the way she was and it had nothing to do with the physical - although she wasn't complaining.
"Indeed it was. Wonder if Faith an' Xander are done playin'," he said with a smirk.
"God, you just had to mention that, huh? I had almost cleared that image from my head, thanks..."
He laughed as he brushed some of her blonde hair behind her ear. "Want me to come in an' check to make sure they weren't misbehavin'?"
"Thanks, but I think I can handle things from here. It's been what, an hour? Faith isn't one for cuddle time, she's most likely kicked him out by now."
"You think?" he asked. "Sounds a bit harsh."
"Again, have you met Faith?"
He nodded. "Right."
"I'll call you later, okay?" she asked, and he smiled. "Goodnight."
"'night Summers," he said before leaning over and kissing her cheek softly.
Buffy climbed out of the car and waited for him to pull out of the driveway before headed to the back entrance of her room. Once inside, she was pleased to find it vacant, but wondered where Faith had gone. It was late, and she knew she was on curfew the same as Buffy, so she doubted she would've headed out again.
She tossed her jacket onto the bed and turned to gather her pyjamas when she realized that her pink hand wraps were missing - they had been a birthday present from her father when she had turned twelve. Smiling, she headed towards the basement and down the stairs.
Sure enough, Faith was pounding the bag that hung from the ceiling - pretty roughly, too. Her body was soaked in sweat, but she showed no sign of slowing down.
With a smirk on her face, Buffy decided it was time for a little payback. She crept along the wall of the basement until she was closer to Faith, then slinked forward and punched her side, harder than Faith had done her - but not hard enough to hurt her.
"What the fuck B? Are you looking to lose an arm?" Faith asked as she wipped around.
Buffy smiled. "If you can't take it then don't dish it out."
"I never said I can't take it, I said you can't," she said. "Why are you down here anyway?"
"To check on you."
"And?"
"Faith, come on - it's me. I've seen you strong, and I've seen you weak... you can't keep everything inside, it'll drive you crazy... well, crazier."
Faith sighed, maybe it couldn't hurt to let things out. "I'm not like you Buffy, I don't... get attached to people, I don't let them in."
"And you think I do?" she asked. "As twisted as it sounds, before Spike... you were the only person I ever let in."
Faith smiled. "Twisted... yeah, that definitely sums us up."
"So what's going on? And I swear if you say 'nothing B, I'm five by five', I will hit you."
She laughed, then occupied her gaze by playing with the hand wraps. "Xander."
"Oh that? Well I already knew that."
Faith raised an eyebrow. "How the hell did you know when I just found out?"
"Spike."
"Ahh, right... he's a nosey guy, huh?"
Buffy shrugged. "I don't get it though - what's the problem with Xander? He seems like a good guy."
"That is the problem! He... he did something to me," Faith said, turning away.
"Clarify please..."
"He didn't touch me... well, he did, but it was wanted... that's the thing B, I don't want guys, they want me. I just like to fuck, plain and simple... but then Xander... it was different with him from the first words we said to each other, it was just... different. And now I sound like some love struck wuss without a fucking clue," she said, rolling her eyes.
"No - you sound like a girl in love."
Faith laughed. "Are you shitting me B? I don't love."
"You love me," Buffy teased.
"I knew you'd throw that back in my face - that is the last time I show any appreciation towards your ass."
Buffy smiled. "Alright... all kidding aside - just because you've been... flirtatious in the past, that doesn't mean you aren't capable of falling in love - it doesn't mean you don't deserve to fall in love. If you feel something when you're with Xander, then act on it. Because tomorrow, he could be gone... and you'll live the rest of your life wondering what if..."
Faith let out a low whistle. "Damn B, when'd you get to be so wise?"
"When life happened... don't sell yourself short Faith - sure, you've got your share of issues, some more twisted than others, but you're a good person - I know that... and looking at our history, I'd say that's a pretty honorable opinion."
"Tell anyone we had this conversation and I will kill you," Faith threatened.
Buffy smirked. "Not if I kill you first."
"At least you'd beat out the 'cancer sticks'."
Buffy reached over and wrapped an arm around Faith's shoulders, pulling her in for a half-hug. "Don't be scared to let him in Faith."
"What if... what if I get vulnerable? I can't... I can't get hurt Buffy, not again, not after..."
Buffy smiled softly. "I know, believe me... but getting hurt is part of the risk. You won't ever be alone, I got your back."
"Yeah, when you're not kickin' it," she said.
"So you admit it."
"I never said you were any good at it."
Buffy shook her head with a smile. "Whatever. Hey, I'm taking Willow out tomorrow night... kind of a girls night slash SunnyD tour, wanna come?"
"Is there gonna be beer?"
"No."
"Fights?"
"No," Buffy repeated, and when Faith went to open her mouth to speak, Buffy hushed her. "There's going to be me, you, Willow and a nice calm walk around town... no beer, no fighting, and no random guys."
"Sounds dull."
"Then stay home and pout over Xander all night," Buffy said, knowing it would irk her.
"Fine - count me in."
~.~.~
Friday - the last day of the week, a time to throw the books aside and relax. Faith loved fridays - sure, in the past she had been known to be absent nearly every other day of the week, but things had changed. Still, knowing she was only two classes away from pure bliss put her in an immediate good mood - until she saw him walking ahead of her in the hallway.
She crept quietly behind him until she was a few feet away, then grabbed his arm and swiftly pulled him into a nearby classroom. Spike turned to face her, scowling.
"Yeah?" he asked impatiently.
Faith pushed him roughly into the wall. "What the hell are you doing talking about me to other people? Do I look like the kind of person you want to piss off?"
He smirked. "You can lay off the threats luv, 's not gonna work on me - but as far as what you're askin', 'm 'fraid I 'aven't the slightest idea."
"Xander told me you warned him about me - then B tells me that she knew about me and Xander because of you. Put two and two together, and a girl's got some questions."
He laughed. "Well, yeah - I did warn 'im, an' with good reason - 's nothin' personal, jus' lookin' out for my cousin. An' as for the Buffy thing, well she 'appened to be there when you two geniouses decided to text us only a few seconds 'part."
Faith frowned. "Oh... still, that doesn't give you a right to scare people off of me," she said.
"Right, 'cause you don't do any damage yourself. Are you honestly tellin' me tha' my warnin' was wrong? 'cause 'm pretty certain you kicked my boy to the curb - but not before tellin' 'im some nasty lies," Spike said, straightening his posture.
"What? You two share your problems with each other? Seems a little lady like to me."
"He didn't 'ave to tell me anythin' - I could see it written all over 'is face. Wha' I don't understand is why you're so concerned with wha' 'm sayin', 's not like you play the part of the all American girl."
"That's not the point - talk about me again and you won't get a warning," she threatened before leaving him standing alone in the classroom.
~.~.~
Not soon after being rudely threatened by Faith, Spike received a text message from Buffy. Meet me in the basement in five. Needless to say, he didn't need to think twice before excusing himself from his class and rushing through the hallways to reach his destination. It wasn't the idea of being alone in a dark basement with Buffy, away from any peering eyes - able to do whatever they wanted... it was the mere idea of being with her.
Whenever she wasn't around him, he ached for her - her touch, her smell, her voice, her attitude - all of it. He had never felt that way about anyone in his past - and there had been many opportunites for him to. In fact, that was a part of him that he had yet to share with her - one that he was not proud of, nor cared for her to know.
He had changed a lot over the years, taken that self discovery trip and all that - surprisingly to himself, it had worked. He was a new man - a better man.
When Spike reached the last of the stairs, he felt a warm hand on his neck, then another on his chest.
"There you are," she whispered. "I've been waiting all day to get you alone."
He smirked down at her. "Tha' makes two of us then," he said as his arms encircled her waist, pulling her body into his. Without another word, he pressed his lips to hers in a soft and gentle kiss - he wanted to savour it for as long as he could. Since his cousins had come to town, his room had been a bit overcrowded - Xander was currently crashing on a blow up mattress next to his bed, while Willow slept on a cot in the den. His house was far from large, and they lacked any guest suites or even an extra room - but none of that mattered, they were family.
Thankfully, they would be gone soon, moving into a house a few blocks away. It was nice for him to have family in town - they were good people, nothing like the friends he had made before Buffy.
"I wish I could come over tonight," she said as he trailed kisses across her collarbone.
He groaned. "Maybe Faith can occupy Xander while we-..."
"Did he say anything to you?" she interrupted, pulling away from him slightly. "About what happened between them, I mean."
He shook his head. "No - but 've seen the look on his face 'nough times in my lifetime to know whatever it was, it 'urt."
She nodded. "When do they start school?"
"Next week, why?"
She shrugged. "Curious."
"Curiousity killed the cat," he teased.
"Good thing I'm not a cat then," she said with a smile.
Spike brought his hand up to caress her cheek gently. "You are so beautiful Buffy."
"You're not too shabby yourself."
"I mean it luv - 've never seen such beauty in my life. Not just your looks, although I must say - you'll 'ear no complaints from me - but who you are... amazes me," he said softly.
She frowned. "Not if you knew-..."
"Would you bloody well drop it 'lready? I know your past - 've seen it first 'and - if I was even slightly unsure 'bout you, I wouldn't be standin' 'ere. You're stubborn - a royal pain in the ass to be specific; you're confusin' - I never know wha' 'm gonna come upon when 'm with you; you're-..."
"If this is your attempt at making me feel good about myself - you're straying off the path just a tad."
"'s not like tha' - you're impossible, but 's impossible not to love you." Buffy could feel tears building, and tried her best to bury her face into his chest, but he brought his fingers to his chin and gently forced her to look him in the eye. "Wha' 'm tryin' to say Buffy, 's tha' I love you."
She had known in her heart that he had loved her, but to hear Spike say those three words meant more to her than anything she could remember. It was an overwhelming feeling, one that she relished yet still felt unsettled. The last people she had loved, the only ones who she had spoken those words too had died tradgically - what if something was to happen to Spike? How could she possibly find the strength to move on?
Then it hit her - what she had said to Faith last night, don't be afraid to let him in. If she didn't follow through with her own words she would be a hypocrite, a fake, a liar. But if she did, was the pain really worth it?
"I..."
"You don't 'ave to say anythin', not if you don't want to - 'm not forcin' you to love me back, even though I know that you do. If you're not ready, then I can wait," he assured, only making her feel more in love with him than before. "'m not in a rush, 'm not goin' anywheres - I'll wait for you."
She smiled up at him as a few tears fell from her eyes. "Thank you."
"Come on, we best get back to class 'fore they send out one of them fancy search parties - with helicopters an' the lot," he said with a smile.
She nodded, but couldn't find any words to say.
