The Red Witch
Chapter 19
Later Buffy was unsure of how they even managed to get out of the vineyard alive. Even with Caleb dead there were still so many demons to contend with. Buffy had been in a position to see the scythe coming her way when Faith called her name and the power that washed over her when she caught it gave her an instant invigorating boost that filled her sails. This helped her take down the demons in front of her as if she were reaping a field of thin stalked wheat. But the sight of Willow lying in a puddle of blood with Faith unmoving on top of her took that wind right back out of her. Rona and Vi had done their best to protect the two and they held out long enough for Buffy and Spike to back them but they had all been in a bad position.
Luckily the Calvary arrived none too soon and Giles along with four Potentials joined the battle while Anya threw potions that had very interesting effects. One of which was her inventive smoking potion which gave them the cover they needed to retreat. Spike hoisted Faith while Buffy carried Willow and Rona and Vi put themselves at risk to grab Amanda's body. They got home to Buffy's and it was decided that they'd all stick together that night over crowed or no. The First was down many scores of foot soldiers, its dimensional portal opener, and one fanatically loyal lieutenant but Buffy had no doubts that it would rally from its loses.
Amanda, they buried in a poorly marked grave in the nearest cemetery, something Buffy vowed to fix as soon as they could once this mess was over for all the fallen. Faith was left in Buffy's bed once Tara determined that no hospital would be able to do anything for her as what she needed the most was real rest. Buffy got the story of what happened to Willow from Rona and Vi as soon as the two were in a position to speak. She had heard Faith's scream but had been unable to respond to it and it broke Buffy just a little more to learn what her best friend had lost. Parents were parents even if they were distant and not particularly helpful when they were around. The First tried to use Joyce against her but as much as it hurt, Buffy had come to terms with her mother's death. It was Willow's recent violent death that had happened only because of Buffy which had disturbed the Slayer so. Still Buffy knew Willow's pain. So when the red head, who'd proven to have recovered some from her grievous injury thanks to Faith, had withdrawn from everyone Buffy did not begrudge her that. She simply followed the witch to her place in the backyard and sat guard over her as much as possible with her other duties. The red head was really worrying everyone however as she refused to eat or even let anyone check over her injuries. Not to mention her current form was scaring some of the Potentials which was why Buffy did not try to force Willow into the house even as the hours of Willow lying under the oak tree became days.
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When Faith woke up after the battle in the vineyard she was highly confused. She woke up in Buffy's room at the Summer's residence but had no idea how she'd gotten there. In fact after thinking about for a moment she was very surprised to not be dead, unless she was and this room was part of some hell dimension. She couldn't be sure. Light shone from behind the curtains to gently illuminate the room and Faith made an effort to get out of bed though she felt weak and her muscles limp like when she'd awoken from her coma years ago. She barely managed to sit up in the bed.
Buffy walked through the door then, a large bowl and cloth in her hands. She looked relieved to see that Faith was awake. Buffy moved into the room quickly and placed the bowl and cloth on the night stand then sat on the edge of the bed.
"Good morning Faith. How are you feeling?"
"Like crap. What the hell happened?"
"We won the fight and got the scythe from Caleb who is now deader than a door nail thanks to you. But it wasn't much of a victory we lost a lot in that battle, we were really outnumbered and we were really lucky to survive at all."
"Willow. Is Willow okay? Did she make it? Was she able to heal in time?!" Faith's thoughts were chasing themselves she was beginning to panic and was getting very worked up. At that moment she wanted nothing more than to see Willow and know that she was alright and the urge consumed her. Buffy's answer whatever it was would not satisfy her at all, she needed to see for herself either way. So she gathered herself and made movements to get herself out of bed despite her weakness, not noticing anything in her haste to find Willow. Not even noticing that she wore a pair of Buffy's most childlike pajamas, light blue with smiling penguins on them, something that would surely horrify her when she did finally take note after she'd calmed down.
"Whoa, whoa calm down Faith relax. Willow is fine for the most part... I think. At least she's alive anyway. But you have been unconscious three days now and you are in no shape to go anywhere." Buffy spoke holding Faith down to the bed by her shoulders trying to get her to relax.
"You think?! You don't know?! I have to get to her she needs me."
"Wow, you really are in gaga for her. I didn't think..."
Faith struggled against Buffy to no avail. The other Slayer was healthier and therefore stronger than she was and her fight quickly left her. Her will power was not going to be enough to get her up and out of bed especially not with Buffy holding her down. Tears of frustration and impotent rage coursed down her cheeks and she couldn't even feel upset that someone else, Buffy of all people, was seeing her cry. She was far too upset by the thought that Willow was somewhere suffering and Buffy couldn't even tell her if the witch would be okay.
"Hey it's okay Faith really, please calm down." Buffy released Faith's shoulders and scooted further onto the bed so she could take Faith into her arms and stroke her hair. "You don't need to worry so much I'll take you to her myself after I've cleaned you up a little, changed your clothes I promise."
"No, take me now. I need to go now please."
"Have you even seen what you're wearing? Do you really want to go downstairs looking like that?"
Now Faith noticed the pajamas, but they didn't even faze her she was not going to let them other things were more important. "No, don't worry about it just take me to her."
Buffy was at a loss she had never seen the younger girl in a state like this before. She had even doubted before that Faith could feel for anyone the way she was so clearly demonstrating her feelings for the red head. It made her think of the blonde haired witch who was probably even at this moment with Willow.
"Alright, just let me clean your face a little." Buffy said dipping her cloth into the warm water in her bowl and gently wiping Faith's face before she could make any sort of protest. Buffy then left the cloth and bowl on the nightstand and lifted Faith into her arms. She carried her like one would carry a sick child and to Buffy the other Slayer weighed just about as much. She'd lost a lot of weight the past three days though Buffy's Slayer strength did help. She carefully carried Faith downstairs and out the back door ignoring everyone who saw them just as Faith did.
Faith was confused by the direction Buffy went in. She'd expected that Willow would be in Dawn's room or even Tara's if anything, instead they went into the rather large backyard toward a tree that was near the rear corner. Faith was shocked by what she saw there lying in the grass next to Tara. It was the largest cat she'd ever seen in life even bigger than the lions and tigers at the Boston zoo she was lucky to go to once as a child. It looked a lot like one of those jaguars she'd seen except for the size and coloration. Instead of being black or yellow with spots this cat was a deep auburn with streaks of different shades of red and brown all over except for its belly and throat which were a very pale sandy brown.
The eyes helped Faith realize who it was, eyes that were large and yet held a soft look in them, a green to match Willow's. Buffy put Faith down in the grass near the cat's head then went over to Tara and pulled her back a bit from the scene. The cat was lying down with its head on its paws staring at Faith unmoving. Faith put her hand on the cat's head and stroked it all around its ears, neck and face not the least bit worried about being bitten or clawed. Finally she spoke to it.
"Hey Willow you had me worried for a minute. I was scared I'd have to watch you die and I don't think I could have handled that. Are you healed? Do you need more of my strength?"
Faith wasn't sure if she expected the cat to speak or if it even could, but it didn't try. The cat raised its head to look Faith in the eye and then licked her cheek, putting its head back down it nuzzled her hands before moving so that it could lay its large head on her lap. Faith shrugged and began rubbing its head again. Tara and Buffy exchanged glances full of meaning neither Faith nor the cat saw. The cat was purring now softly and the two blondes were surprised to hear this. The cat had not before made any kind of response to anyone not even Tara. It hadn't moved or blinked or purred for anyone else in the last three days since Buffy followed it home. But now here it was interacting with Faith, a very telling action and both Buffy and Tara knew this though neither commented upon it.
"Faith" Tara spoke quietly to the brunette. "Can you ask Willow to change back please? I want to check her over make sure she's okay because Buffy said she took a sword to the belly, but she's been like this since that night."
"Why didn't you ask her earlier?" asked a confused Slayer who was pretty sure that there was something going on that she wasn't getting.
"I did, she wouldn't even twitch when I asked but she responded to you so I figured you'd have better luck." Tara's voice held notes of jealousy that she couldn't hide and everyone heard them clearly, both Buffy and Faith turned to look at her in surprise and concern.
Faith decided that she was better off not responding to that statement and turned back to Willow to prod her into changing back into a woman only to find that was unnecessary. In her lap was a naked red head who was looking pretty depressed.
"I'm fine Tara" Willow spoke standing shakily in fragments from Faith's lap and lifting her arms turning slowly in a circle. "No wounds, I'm fine. I'm going home now. Gonna borrow some of your clothes Buffy."
Buffy nodded dumbly in agreement as she stared at the slightly pink patch of skin on Willow's belly matching another on her back, which was no doubt where the sword had gone through. It looked as if it'd heal without a mark once the pink went away. Faith made to get up insisting on accompanying Willow home even in her current condition. Buffy helped her to the living room then got Willow some clothing leaving the two witches alone. When she got back Willow dressed quickly without expression while Tara looked a little sad, the red head left them in the backyard and picked up Faith carrying her bridal style all the way back to her own house.
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When Faith awoke once again the sun was shining brightly and she recognized the room that Willow had given her when she moved into the witch's home. She sat up and stretched feeling much better than she had yesterday though she didn't remember reaching this house yesterday when Willow carried her, so she must have fallen asleep along the way. Her stomach grumbled very angrily at her, it must have been a very long time since she'd eaten anything, but that was her last priority right now. She got up and quickly went through a bathroom routine before searching for Willow. She found the witch in bed still sleeping despite the light filling the room just like it did in her own. Faith lifted the covers on the bed and slipped in beside Willow before raising the witch's borrowed shirt and examining her back and abdomen with a gentle touch. Relived to find that even the pink was gone and her freckled skin was once again mostly flawless she leaned back her hand still on Willow's belly and saw that the witch was now awake and watching her intently.
"I'm sorry Red but I just had to check."
Willow didn't answer her, but put her hands underneath Faith's shirt resting them against skin. Then she leaned forward and kissed the Slayer softly and briefly. Faith felt her hunger disappear and another sensation arose, desire hot and consuming, but she didn't push because she knew the state the witch was in, and had seen what Willow saw in that vineyard. However, Willow didn't hesitate to take what she wanted, another kiss harder and longer, a nipping of Faith's lips. Following that an exploration of Faith's body searching and needy.
Faith's philosophy had always been want, take, have and she'd always been the aggressor the one to take and then discard, to force her partner to submit. But after looking in Willow's eyes and seeing her need she didn't even try to revert to that aggression, she took up the submissive role for the first time ever. She willingly allowed Willow to possess her, to take a physical comfort from her, and gave the witch the freedom to do what she wanted to her. The Slayer found in this moment that she was a rather vocal lover when the other person mattered something she had never known about herself before, as no one else got the reactions from her that Willow did.
Perhaps she should have felt as if she were being used for her body, but whatever this was Willow never once made her feel that way. The witch was completely focused on Faith's pleasure to the exclusion of her own and if Faith were in any state to keep count the numbers would be totaly uneven. Willow's touches and skillful caresses drew reactions from Faith and made the Slayer feel outside her own skin as she lay barely able to do more than take everything in with the amount of sensory overload she was feeling. And when it was over they lay quietly entwined and Faith found that silent tears had been falling from her eyes which embarrassed her a bit. But it was the very first time she'd ever been made love to, the first time she ever felt that a lover cared for her and didn't just want to use her, that she was needed. The first time, aside from Xander's bumbling attempts, that anyone sought to actually please her or make a connection with her. Willow kissed her tears away and held her close and the two of them lay without speaking until three little words passed Faith's lips unbidden which scared the Slayer and made the witch pause until they wrapped themselves into each other again. And Willow held Faith tightly against herself pressing kisses all over her face.
"I love you."
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When Faith woke again later that day she automatically reached for the spot in the bed that Willow had lain earlier only to find cool sheets. The Slayer sat up quickly suddenly worried in a way she'd never been before. The words she remembered uttering had surprised her as much as they'd surprised the witch and at this exact moment Faith was not sure exactly how she meant them. She knew that she cared for the witch as a person and as a friend but romantically... Sure she was attracted, that she had so much as admitted, but beyond that everything was simply too complicated to see clearly. She only hoped that her spontaneous admission hadn't chased the red head away. She dressed as fast as she could and left the room to find the red head.
Faith found Willow in the kitchen arranging dishes on a bed tray. The witch looked up as Faith entered and gave a welcoming smile before taking the plates and bowls off the tray and placing them on the table.
"Did I spoil your surprise?" Faith asked relieved that it looked as if the other woman hadn't planned to avoid her or ignore her now (as Faith once did to all her former bedmates).
"A little" Willow said with a warm smile. "I thought you might be hungry."
Faith sat to the table as her stomach growled it's opinion. "Yeah, I'm starving Red. This looks great..." She trailed off noticing that Willow was placing all the dishes before her and seemed to have made nothing for herself. "Aren't you eating? Or did eat already?"
" I won't be eating for a while, I've lost all appetite."
"You should eat Red, this can't be any good for you after that sword to the guts. You need food to heal properly."
"You're probably right, but I just can't even stomach the thought of food right now."
Faith put down the fork she'd picked up and contemplated her plate for a moment before pushing the dish away decisively. "Oh no Slayer" Willow growled pushing the plate back in front of her. "I took a lot from you so you can't afford to go without eating. Thanks for the thought but no." As Faith made to protest, her stomach growled again loudly agreeing with Willow's position. So without saying a word Faith picked her forked up and tucked in appreciating the effort the other woman had put into making this meal for her. Though this didn't stop her from calling Willow a hypocrite in her mind, as her mouth was otherwise occupied.
Willow picked up the now unnecessary tray and turned to move toward the sinks where dirty pots were stacked, but turned back briefly to look at the Slayer. "Thank you Faith" she said simply though layers of meaning lay in each word and Faith heard all of it clearly.
"Your welcome Red, anytime"