Faith pulled Buffy closer, tucking the edge of the comforter around the blonde. She'd been watching Buffy sleep for most of the night. Every time her eyes drifted closed, panic set in. In her mind, she'd wake up, and Buffy would be gone. Or she'd wake up in her own bed, with the apartment in pristine order, and the Mayor in her kitchen. After the fourth or fifth freak out, Faith had simply started watching.
Buffy's breathing hitched suddenly. Faith stiffened, her own breath catching in her throat. What if Buffy thought last night had been a mistake? Faith's heart pounded, and her jaws ached from being clenched together. She had to know. The waiting sucked. Reaching out a shaking hand, Faith brushed a strand of hair off Buffy's face. "B?" It didn't come out very loud. In fact, it was barely more than a hoarse whisper. Clearing her throat, Faith tried again. "B? Come on, Princess. Wake up."
A whine greeted her words. "Don't wanna get up." Buffy burrowed deeper under the comforter and slung a leg across Faith's thighs.
"Please, B?" Faith shook her head. Damn. One night of happiness, and she was begging. That had to stop. Ignoring the way her lips twitched, wanting to smile, she poked Buffy in the side. "Sun's coming up. We need to be motoring."
"Why?" Buffy yawned and blinked dazed hazel eyes. "You got somewhere you need to be?" Resting her head on Wesley's jacket - now folded for use as a pillow - she looked at Faith.
For her part, Faith had a hard time meeting Buffy's gaze. She wanted to outright ask Buffy if she was alright after last night. Hell, it was more than that. Faith needed to know if Buffy would ever want more than just the one night. And that scared her more than the army of vamps that tried to kill her in the Mayor's office. It felt an awful lot like a relationship.
She started to do it, ask Buffy about the future. "The sun's on its way up. Your mom is gonna be wondering where you are, Prom or not." It sounded different than it had in her head. Less on topic and important.
"Please tell me you didn't wake me up to talk about my mom." Faith grinned wryly at Buffy's irritated comment.
"Um…" She rubbed the back of her neck.
Buffy didn't wait for her to finish. "I'm going back to sleep. Wake me up at noon or so." Linking their fingers, she kissed Faith's palm, tucking the joined hands under her chin.
Faith blinked rapidly against tears. Buffy's innocent kiss made her feel…like she'd taken a deep breath and forgotten to release it. She thought she might explode she was so full. Smiling softly, Faith ran a single finger over Buffy's cheek. If only they could stay on the roof. The Mayor and the Scoobies could handle things themselves. Faith never wanted this moment to end.
It had to, though. Faith knew that. Sitting here on the roof only put off the end. The sick feeling in her stomach left her in no doubt this would be the first and only time she got to hold Buffy. The thought made her angry. If it was going to be over, then it would be on her terms. She wasn't waiting for Buffy to tell her to leave. Grabbing the comforter tightly, Faith yanked.
It didn't take long for the cool morning air to penetrate Buffy's slumber. A tiny hand patted around her body. Faith tried to stay angry. She wanted to be angry. Faith gave in and snickered when Buffy's nose wrinkled and twitched when she couldn't find the blanket. "Faith, stop hogging the covers. I'm cold."
Snickers became all out laughter.
Hazel eyes slowly opened. "What's so funny? I said I'm cold. Where's the blanket?" Buffy pouted at Faith. "Please, Faith?"
If she'd been able, Faith would have responded. However, between the pout and the clear physical evidence of Buffy's chill, all she could do was stare.
A smile appeared on Buffy's face. "See something you like?" She rolled on her back, stretching.
"Fuck, B!" Faith's eyes widened. "When did you get all Exhibition Girl?" Not that she was complaining. It just didn't fit with her internal image of Buffy. Faith vowed to get to know the other Slayer a lot better. She really liked the new, more relaxed Buffy.
"Was I here alone last night?" Buffy arched an eyebrow, and Faith frowned in confusion. "I mean, did you miss the part where we made love? Or are we done now, and you don't want to see what I have to offer?"
Panic tried to set in. Here it was. It was over…Frowning, Faith watched Buffy closely. She wasn't a hundred percent certain, but she thought Buffy looked nervous. She had to be imagining things. Buffy would never be worried that Faith didn't want her. The idea tormented her. "B?" Faith asked hesitantly. She wiped suddenly sweaty palms on her part of the blanket. "You don't really think that. Right?" Her voice cracked at the end.
"No!" That was more like it. Shaky with relief, Faith smirked at the eye roll that accompanied the answer. "Jeez, Faith, what's your deal this morning?" Buffy wrapped her arms around herself, shivering. "Can I have the blanket now? I'm freezing."
Almost shyly, Faith shrugged. "Sorry, B." She tossed the blanket over the blonde. "I guess…" Fidgeting, she forced herself to open up a little. The words came out an almost indistinct mumble, "I just wanted to make sure you hadn't changed your mind, ya' know? That maybe you really did want me to leave town."
She jumped when a warm hand caressed her cheek. "Goof."
A grin flashed. Feeling suddenly energized, Faith sprang to her feet and dragged on her jeans and Wesley's shirt. She left the jacket on the ground. Spinning on her heel and ignoring Buffy's shocked questioning of her actions, Faith strode over to the stacked crates and climbed up to the apartment window.
The devastation inside was worse with the faint morning light filtering in. Faith averted her eyes from the worst of the destruction. Hurrying to the bedroom, she searched through the mess on the floor. Finally, carrying a pair of sweatpants, a T-shirt, and some tennis shoes, she returned to the roof. "Here, B." Faith tossed the clothing at Buffy. "Thought these would be better than your dress for the walk through town."
"Yeah, thanks," Buffy mumbled, confused. She bit her lip, dressing quickly. She didn't understand all the rapid changes in Faith's mood. Her stomach churned. "Faith, I-"
"No problems, B." Faith's grin was infectious. Buffy responded to the dimples with her own smile. "I'll just have to remember you aren't a morning person."
Buffy giggled. "Yeah, me and mornings are so not good friends." She picked up Wes' discarded jacket and put it on. It helped with the morning chill. Inhaling, Buffy caught Faith's lingering scent on the wool. She flushed, the smell reminding her of last night's activities. Her voice deepened. "I really don't want you to leave, Faith. You have to believe me." She stared into Faith's eyes, willing the other girl to trust her.
Faith's grin softened. Buffy relaxed a little. "I do, B." She changed the subject abruptly, leaving Buffy to wonder why. "Sun's coming up. Let's get you home."
Buffy tilted her head and regarded Faith closely. "OK. It is getting late enough for Mom to start wondering where we are." She held out her hand, feeling a weight lift off her heart when Faith immediately took it. "You're going to have to explain this sudden urge to go home, though. I mean, you and me and an empty roof. There could have been more Prom."
Faith didn't answer at first. Instead, they reversed their trip from the night before. Letting the matter go for the moment, Buffy looped her arm around Faith's waist and rested her head on the brunette's shoulder. She drifted, at peace, while they walked through downtown.
"Hey, um, did I tell you your mom asked me to move in with you guys?" Faith's voice squeaked endearingly on the last word.
"What?" Buffy nearly squealed. "Really?" She picked Faith up and danced her around. Was that why Faith was in such a hurry to get home? She stopped abruptly, Faith still in her arms. "You said yes, right?" Her muscles were so tense they ached.
Faith shook her head and started to speak. Buffy cut her off. "Why not? You are so not going back to that crappy motel." Buffy hoped she wouldn't throw up. "Or…you're not thinking of leaving? I told you I wanted you to stay this morning. You can't leave." She swallowed hard, queasy. Her skin felt clammy.
"Lighten up, B, and put me the hell down." Faith glared at her until Buffy slowly lowered her to the ground. "The last time I saw Mrs. S, I was on my way out of town. She doesn't know I'm here. If the offer's still good, then, yeah, I'll move in."
Buffy took a step toward Faith, arms out.
Faith stepped back, hands raised and palms out, fending her off. "Keep your hands to yourself, B. No more Air Buffy trips this morning."
Buffy was too happy to feel insulted. In fact, she couldn't stop smiling. Faith was staying in Sunnydale. Better – Faith was staying in Sunnydale at her house. "OK," she agreed, skipping along the sidewalk. "How about we schedule another flight after lunch?"
Faith shook her head and reached out a tentative hand, gripping Buffy's arm. "I know we didn't have anything to drink up on the roof, but you're sure as hell acting like you downed a bottle of the good stuff."
"I keep telling you," Buffy said in a singsong voice, "there was no drinking for Buffy before, after, or during our time on the roof." She linked her fingers with Faith's, flinging their arms up and shouting, "I'm happy!"
"OK." Buffy almost frowned. Faith didn't look convinced. In fact, she had on a bright, phony smile. Was Faith humoring her?
Lowering their hands, Buffy sighed. "Is it so hard to believe I really am happy?" She sobered. "I mean, Slayer life pretty much sucks. I remember happy, though. It feels just like this."
"Hell, I'm sorry, B." Faith bumped her shoulder. "I ain't used to you being all giddy and everything. Normally, you're all business when I'm around."
Buffy stumbled to a stop. "God, Faith, I never realized." She thought back over the last few months. With the exception of a few training sessions and the night Finch died, Faith was right. She's been The Slayer with Faith, not Buffy.
"Don't go all Guilty Buffy now," Faith warned. "I wasn't complaining; you wanted to know why I didn't get the happy thing, that's all." She squeezed Buffy's hand. "Any way could you find something in the middle of guilty and giddy? I need something a little less up and down this morning."
Giggling, Buffy resumed walking. "I'll try, but I make no promises, understand?" The house was in view. "If Mom's awake, maybe we can talk her into making breakfast." Her stomach growled. "I'm starved."
Faith might have been – except for the airplane-sized butterflies in her stomach. Mrs. Summers had offered her a place to stay – before last night. "Uh, B?"
"Yeah, Faith?" Damn, Buffy was nearly bouncing down the street. If Faith hadn't been so nervous, she would have laughed.
"What do we do if your mom finds out?" Faith pulled them off the sidewalk and faced Buffy. She didn't know how to put her fears into words. Gazing into confused hazel eyes, she silently begged Buffy to understand how much Mrs. Summers support meant to her.
At first, Buffy just stared back. Faith felt her body almost vibrate with frustration. It was a shock when Buffy finally spoke. "I'm thinking you aren't talking about the Mayor or anything Slayer related."
Faith started to explain. Buffy held up a hand, and Faith closed her mouth with a snap. "Are you talking about last night, Faith?"
Nodding slightly, Faith mumbled, "Yeah, B. Last night. Us. On the roof."
"Well, I'm not planning any big 'Faith is a magnificent lover' announcement' – even if it is true," Buffy said with a laugh.
Torn between pride at the praise and frustration at Buffy's inability to take the matter seriously, Faith shoved her hands in her pockets. "B, I really need to know." She did. Faith could feel the urge to run creeping in again. What if Mrs. Summers got mad and told her to leave? Placing a hand over her stomach, she asked, "Do you think your mom's gonna freak when she finds out?"
Buffy stared hard at Faith. She looked…bad. Scared and about to run away bad. "It's going to be OK, Faith."
"You don't know that, Buffy!" Faith's voice was tight, almost angry.
"No. You're right. I don't." Buffy moved in close, hugging Faith to her. "I do know my mom, though. She's going to be fine, Faith."
Faith didn't look convinced. She was still hunched over with a hand pressed to her stomach.
Buffy linked her arm through one of Faith's and pulled the other girl down the street. It was hard going. Faith hung back. "We can't hide this, Faith. I don't want to hide it." She looked back, meeting Faith's eyes as they climbed the porch steps. "Whatever happens, we'll handle it together."
She opened the door. All was quiet. "Looks like you were worried for nothing." Buffy winked at Faith and pulled her into the house. "Let's make a rule."
"What is this, B? We go out once and now you want to start making rules?" Faith griped. Her dimples peeked out, though, and Buffy knew she was just playing.
"Yeah." Wrapping her arms around Faith, Buffy hugged her tightly. "That's part of the whole Dating Buffy deal." She kissed Faith's neck. "And, in case you haven't already figured it out: I'll be the only one making the rules."
Faith snorted, her arms snaking around Buffy and squeezing back. "I'm thinking you shoulda told me all this before. Full disclosure, B."
Buffy leaned into the hug, head resting on Faith's chest. She could hear the brunette's heartbeat under her ear. Slow and steady. "You want to-"
Joyce emerged from the kitchen suddenly. Buffy found herself hugging air. Faith sprang away, eyes wide and hands behind her back. She looked like a little kid caught stealing cookies from the cookie jar. Sighing, Buffy realized Faith was really worried about facing her mom. Hoping to get the whole thing over with and get back to the cuddling, Buffy smiled. "Hey, Mom. Nice entrance. I think you scared Faith."
"She does look a little pale." Joyce cocked her head, smiling at them. "Maybe it's all that: 'I'm leaving…no, I'm not.' I'm sure that's hard on her." Her voice was gently mocking, and Buffy smirked. It was nice not to be the one on the receiving end for once.
However, she started to worry when Faith simply hunched forward, glaring at the ground. Faith didn't think her mom was serious, did she? "Faith?" She inched closer, moving slowly, not wanting to freak Faith any further. "Mom was just teasing." She touched Faith's shoulder gently, not too surprised to feel the muscles jerk at the contact. Faith was well and truly freaking.