XXXIII - Heal Me

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Buffy was pacing back and forth across the length of the living room. Willow, Xander, Anya, James and Furball watched her pacing, their heads swinging from side to side as if they were watching a tennis match and Buffy was the fast-moving, agitated little yellow ball. She had been pacing for the last fifteen minutes, waiting for Faith to get her cute little butt downstairs. She could feel the beads of sweat creeping their way down the valley between her breasts as she paced, she couldn't remember August ever being this hot. But if she was honest with herself she would have admitted that she was sweating not from the heat but from nerves and anxiety. There were only a few things that made Buffy sweat and heat was rarely one of them.

"What is she doing up there? She's been up there for over an hour. She knows! I know she knows!" Buffy snarled at the room in general and after the last few weeks everyone there should have known better than to even try to get a word in edgewise or answer her.

"Buffy she doesn't kno..." Willow tried softly only to be cut off.

"Oooookayyyyy if she doesn't know you want to tell me why the HELL she's dragging her feet? She knows I tell you! She does! I know it! You know it! She knows it! The whole goddamn WORLD KNOWS IT! This was a stupid idea. I should have known better, nothing but bad memories for her on her you-know-what!"

"Buf..."

"BUT NOOOOO! Not me! I'm gonna change all that. Yep me. Stupid... oh God... I'm so stupid and you... YOU ALL!" Buffy raised her voice and pointed at the four of them, even Dusk who swiftly hid his head under the couch. His Light Slayer hadn't been this bad even when she and his Dark Slayer hadn't played in a while, he didn't like this at all. "YOU ALL!"

"Buffy, lower your voice or she'll hear you," Willow hissed at her best friend in a loud whisper.

"You guys, you're supposed to be my friends! HOW could YOU let me be so stupid? You're supposed to stop me from doing stupid stuff. It's like in the job description, the handbook, something, isn't it? I'm canceling the whole damn thing. I AM! I really am! It was a stupid idea anyway. Why did I ever let Lily talk me into it? Why can't I just ever leave things alone? Why? Tell me why? It's canceled, I am canceling the thingy for her 'you-know-what!' All of it, everything, canceled. And... AND... 'IT' the 'Other' thingy, well forget that too! Not happening! No way! No how! IT IS NOT HAPPENING!" Buffy threw her hands up in the air and huffed over to the fireplace.

"Xander, tell her she can't cancel it now." Anya turned and looked at her fiancé, who just gave her his absolutely-no-chance-in-hell-am-I-opening-my-mouth look. "Buffy you can't cancel. I already spent money, a lot more money than I wanted, thanks to Xander who said I had to spend more than ten dollars. He said it wasn't enough, which I can't understand. And I can't return any of it for a refund, just store credit, like I'd ever shop in that store for anything for me," Anya informed Buffy, as if the fact that she had spent money and couldn't get it back resolved the issue. As far as she was concerned it did and Buffy would just have to see that, it was money, her money, after all.

Buffy glared at Anya then stalked over to the bottom of the stairs, "FAITH! COME ON ALREADY!" She stood glaring daggers up the long flight of stairs, hands on her hips, foot tapping impatiently.

Faith practically jumped out of her skin when she heard Buffy screaming on the top of her lungs for her. She tore out of the bedroom and stopped just shy of slamming into the wall opposite the door. She ran down the hall and skidded to halt at the top of the stairs, smirked at Buffy then yelled right back at her, "I NEED A FEW MORE MINUTES THEN I'LL BE DOWN AND WE CAN GO! JUST HOLD YOUR HORSES B!"

"THAT'S WHAT YOU SAID OVER AN HOUR AGO TOO!" Buffy yelled right back up to Faith.

"I SWEAR I'LL BE DOWN IN A MINUTE!" Faith yelled just as loud right back down at her, and even though she should have known better, she mumbled in a normal voice, "Exaggerate much? An hour my ass, B!"

"I HEARD THAT F!" Buffy screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Friggin Slayer hearing sucks!"

"Heard that too F!"

The golden-haired Slayer spun around with a loud, long, overly dramatic sigh, which was promptly echoed by the raven-haired Slayer as she too spun around and stomped off down the hallway back to the master bedroom.

Buffy glared at the four people sitting on the couch, then tried to glare at Dusk but couldn't because once the yelling started he had crawled completely under the couch, despite the fact that he was too big to actually fit under there anymore. So Buffy glared at his tail instead which was the only part of his body still visible, then turned the glare back on her friends.

"I T. O V E R. D. Not doing it. Nope. Everything. Not happening. So with the not happening!" Buffy turned on her heels, and started pacing back and forth across the room again, pausing to glare at them every time she passed the couch, mumbling under her breath.

Every time Buffy paused to glare at them, Willow had to cover the small smile on her face with her hand. She knew all the yelling and pacing had nothing to do with the, 'You-know-what-thingy,' and everything to do with the 'Other-It-thingy.' And she couldn't help it, she just thought it was Goddess-damn cute.

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Spike, Tara, Gary and Dawn who were sitting on the bed, weren't faring much better upstairs in the Slayers' bedroom with Faith.

"Ya think she could yell for me one more time? It's not like we're gonna miss a plane or something!" Faith snarled as she continued to throw all the clothes in the dresser drawer up in the air like a lunatic. Her nervousness and anxiety running a very close second to Buffy's, but there was also a nagging feeling in the pit of her stomach that Buffy wasn't feeling. She pushed it aside and concentrated instead on finding what it was she was destroying the bedroom for in her haphazard, frantic search.

The bedroom was in shambles, clothing everywhere and Tara had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing out loud at the Dark Slayer. Her actions reminding her of the night she and Willow had tried to help Faith get ready for her first real date with Buffy. It was funny but not at the same time.

"Stupid – idiot - lost. How? Tell me how?" Faith ranted disjointedly for the billionth time in the last fifteen minutes. "How am I – friggin' idiot I am - supposed to go there without it? Ass – that's it – I'm an ass! Dog – ate – neck – ring it!" She stormed away from the dresser over to the wardrobe and flung open the double doors almost ripping them off their hinges.

"Try and remember where you put it last..." Dawn said trying to be helpful and immediately regretted it when Faith spun around and pinned her with a glare of death.

" could remember where I put it, then I wouldn't be looking for it, now would I Dawnie?" Faith spun back around and began pulling clothes out of the wardrobe.

"I suppose not..." Came Dawn's hesitant reply.

"I bet you she has it... I know she does. It was like she knew I was hiding something for her. First I put it in with the sweaters and all of a sudden while it's three hundred and fifty degrees outside, your sister is cold and needs a sweater! Then I put it in with my makeup and all of sudden she wants to wear that lipstick that she hates on me, let alone her. She's part goddamn bloodhound I tell you! No matter where I put it in this huge friggin' house she suddenly had a desire to go there. Bloodhound, she probably had Furball helping her."

Faith kept growling and mumbling under her breath as she moved from the wardrobe over to the nightstand next to the bed and almost tripped over the pair of discarded pants on the floor that got tangled up in her feet. Tara watched her, then finally lost it and started giggling, not only at Faith, but at the play by play she was getting from Willow over Buffy's similar tirade downstairs. She and Willow had discovered over the course of the last few months they had a similar type of bond as the Slayers. The difference between their bond and the Slayers, was that not only could they feel each other's emotions and see the images, they could also speak to each other telepathically. Lilith and Clotho thought the reason they had this added perk was because they were not only soul-mates but totally kick-ass Wicca's as well. Tara started laughing even harder when Faith turned around and growled at her like a rabid dog.

"It's not funny!" Faith snarled at Tara, who just laughed harder at her and pointed up at the chandelier, which had a black satin bra and a black sheer thong hanging from it. As Faith looked up at the chandelier, she had a flashback to the same night Tara was thinking about. She looked at the blonde-haired witch and saw the twinkle in her eyes. Hard as she tried, she couldn't keep the corners of her mouth from twitching up into a smile of amusement. "Come on... You know it really isn't funny!" Despite herself Faith began to laugh, while Dawn, Spike and Gary shot bewildered looks between the Slayer and the Wicca.

Tara and Faith grinned at each other like village idiots for a second or two after they managed to stop laughing. Then Faith's face turned into a look of sorrow, frustration and something else that Tara couldn't put her finger on as her eyes scanned the room and once again didn't find what she was searching for.

"Faith why don't you grab your stuff, put your shoes on and go with Buffy before she gets anymore frazzled and starts yelling again. We'll look for you, I think there is a spell that Willow and I can do to help us find it. Once we do, we'll call Lilith or Clotho to come get it for you. Okay?" Tara asked her gently.

"Fine..." Faith mumbled under her breath, she bent over and grabbed one of her Doc Martins. She was frustrated, pissed, and worried that they wouldn't find her anniversary gift for Buffy. She kept mumbling under her breath, berating herself as she shoved her foot into her boot with almost enough force to rip through the leather. "Mother-fu...OW! Shit... goddamn – son-of-OWOWOW!..." she yelled out as her toes slammed hard into whatever rock-hard object was in the front of her boot.

She tore her foot out of the boot, turned it upside down shaking it and stared openmouthed at what fell out.

"Looks like we won't have to do that spell after all," Tara snickered then gave Faith a goofy-ass smile.

"Let me guess you put it in your shoe so you wouldn't forget it..." Gary added sarcastically.

"Good one Infant! Find the gift and break your toes. Can't wait to see you explain this one, luv." Spike chuckled then ducked as a sneaker came flying at his head.

"Oh this is going to be too good!" Piped in Dawn, as all four of them started to giggle – even Spike - while Faith huffed, pulled on her Doc's, threw the gift in her backpack and started limping towards the door.

"HA HA! Real friggin' funny. Regular bunch of comedians you are. Much easier being evil and orphaned. Get some, get gone - no friends – no family – no gifts - no anniversaries - no teasing - no whining, oh god I whine now – no blushing – no nothing – no fear and no damn broken toes..." Faith growled under her breath as she made her way out of the bedroom.

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"It's about damn time. At the rate you were getting down here..." Buffy started as she heard Faith making her way down the stairs. She turned around and immediately noticed both the pained expression on Faith's face and that she was limping. She had been so caught up in her own little panic attack that she had completely missed everything that Faith was feeling via their bond. She immediately rushed over to the stairs, getting there just as Faith made it to the bottom step, followed by four suspiciously smirking family members.

"Faith, what happened? Are you all right baby? Why are you limping?" Buffy looked past Faith to the four behind her on the stairs, "Why is she limping? WHAT THE HELL DID YOU DO TO HER? WELL?! IF YOU HURT HER I'M GONNA..." the rest of what she was shouting got lost in the half growl, half rabid snarling that started to mix in with her words.

Nine pairs of astonished eyes focused on Buffy, she could feel them burning into her skin. She was in a fine rage – reminiscent of her Hurricane Buffy days - and taking out her anxiety and nervousness on them.

"B..." Faith tried, then tried again when Buffy ignored her and continued to growl at their family. "B! Enough already! They didn't do anything! I slammed my foot into the corner of the nightstand while I was trying to get my favorite bra?" Faith sighed inside at her pathetic lie. She glared at the gang over Buffy's shoulder when she saw them smirking at her, she just wasn't good at lying, never really had been. She sighed again when her little support group behind her on the stairs scooted around her and joined the rest of the gang in the living room leaving her alone to deal with her overly protective and somewhat rabid mate.

Buffy's face turned beet-red when she became conscious of the sounds that were actually coming from her. She heard Willow and Tara both stifle a giggle from behind her and her face got hotter as she realized what an ass she was making of herself. She gave Faith a sheepish grin as she stood in front of her fidgeting.

"Ooops?" Buffy whispered hopefully to Faith, who just lifted an eyebrow at her. "Sorry? I'm being over protective again aren't I? I just well... when I saw you limping, I lost it... went into rabid, mama-bear mode and well I just..."

Faith just watched Buffy as she went into full-scale babble mode, making absolutely no sense whatsoever. She had the distinct impression that the over-protectiveness – which gave her the warm fuzzies – the yelling and now the babbling ranting had absolutely nothing to do with her limping. Something was making Buffy a nervous wreck and Faith wanted to know what it was. Buffy had been acting this way for the past few weeks and it had gotten increasingly worse the closer they got to leaving for the Cottage at the Lake. She had been stumbling over her words, babbling incessantly - even in bed – pacing, twitching and avoiding having anything that even remotely resembled a coherent conversation with Faith at all costs.

Not to mention Buffy had been doing her utmost best to avoid being alone anywhere with her except in bed and it was making Faith nervous, insecure and scared. She felt the nagging knot in the pit of her stomach make itself known again as it twisted tighter. It wasn't that she doubted that Buffy loved her, was in love with her, but Buffy's behavior over the last few weeks made her wonder if Buffy hadn't grown tired, was losing interest in her, was second guessing their being together as lovers, instead of just friends.

She began to wonder if Buffy wasn't just trying to find some way to let her down easy, let her down without hurting her. On one hand, Faith was eagerly looking forward to spending time alone with Buffy at the Lake and on the other hand, she was dreading it with a passion, thus her semi-reluctance about going. She was hoping that their time there could repair, fix, bring to the surface whatever it was that was making Buffy act the way she had been acting, but she was also terrified of what the problem might actually be.

Why was she having all these thoughts now? Why after two years – both mortal and hell dimension time combined - was she being so insecure about her relationship with Buffy? Everything was going their way, they were happy, the Dojo was doing great, she was now a full time councilor at the center and Buffy was working full time at the Dojo. Classes were starting in another few weeks and she was still having a hard time believing that she was actually going to college, it was another of her dreams she had thought would never come true.

She had a family who might not be blood, but who loved her, would do anything for her, would lay down their lives if need be and who she loved and would do no less for in return. She had an amazing, caring, warm, fiercely protective, beautiful -both inside and out - passionate, funny, sexy, sensual, shy, gentle, lovable woman who loved her with everything that she was and who she loved in the same way.

So what if Buffy was acting a little strange? It wasn't like Buffy had never acted strange before, well, not quite this strange but... Still and all, after all the years of being alone, with no one to love, to trust or love her in return, of feeling empty inside and lost in a sea of hate, fear and abuse, was she now going to spend the rest of her life waiting for the other shoe to drop and always looking over her shoulder? Or was she going to finally, finally after all this time, let all the pain and insecurities go and believe what she saw every day with her eyes, heard with her ears and felt with her heart and soul? Was she finally going to just simply live life, be happy and enjoy what was right here in front of her for the asking, a family, love, a life, a future, her soul-mate?

As Faith continued to watch and listen to her babbling mate she felt echoing to her through their bond, still strong, still complete, the underlying unconditional love Buffy felt for her amidst the confusion, the nerves, the self-doubting - the fear? - and the anxiety. Whatever it was that was causing Buffy to act this way, they would work out together. Because now after all this time, after all they had been through, she wasn't going to start doubting what they had built, what they had together, how they felt about each other because she was feeling a little insecure and needy and Buffy was acting a little bit strange lately. She had made a promise to Buffy a little over a year ago in the kitchen of the cottage and she had every intention of keeping it.

With the will made out of steel that had served her so well throughout her life, she squashed underfoot the nagging doubts and insecurities twisting the pit of her stomach into chokehold knots. She crushed them beneath her mental boot heel with a vengeance, far beneath the ground and instead concentrated on the love, the happiness, the joy that being with Buffy and her family made her feel. She smiled softly as she waited for Buffy to finish her babbling.

"...Okay well... we're gonna go now, we'll see you all in three days." Buffy ended her babble, grabbed Faith's hand and began pulling her towards the garden doors. They only made it a few steps when Buffy realized that Faith was still limping a little. "You really stubbed your toes hard didn't you?"

"Yep... Thinkin' I might of jammed my big toe. No biggie, be fine in a little bit. Slayer healin and all." She ignored the snickers from the four people who knew how she actually jammed her toes.

"Ow..." Buffy gave Faith a sympathetic look, "Are you going to be able to walk to the cottage?"

"Sure if we go slow." Faith just shrugged, it wasn't that bad, just hurt like a bitch was all.

Buffy squinted her eyes a little as she looked at Faith, she cocked her head to the side then an idea came to her. She gave Faith an impish grin, "Want a piggyback ride?"

"A piggyback ride?" Faith asked as if she had never heard of it before and Buffy had spoken to her in Japanese.

"Yeah, a piggyback ride." Buffy responded with a smirk.

Faith couldn't remember the last time she had a piggyback ride, in fact, she couldn't remember if she had ever had one at all. The idea of Buffy giving her a piggyback ride began to have a certain appeal as she visualized it. Her body, her breasts, pressed tightly to Buffy's back, her legs wrapped around Buffy's waist, her arms around Buffy's shoulders, Buffy's neck within kissing distance and Buffy's breasts within hands reach. Oh yeah, a piggyback ride definitely had a certain type of appeal for her and especially for her overactive libido, though Buffy certainly was no slouch in that department either.

"Well?" Buffy questioned with a sigh of impatience and nervousness that escaped her before she could stop it.

"Why not." Faith shrugged trying to appear casual as a trillion different images filtered through her mind. The room suddenly became insufferably hot and the crotch of her button-fly leather pants became almost unbearably tight. She could feel the sweat begin to slide down her back and pool between her breasts and like Buffy, there were only a few things that made Faith sweat and having these kinds of thoughts was definitely one of them.

She slipped her arms into her backpack while Buffy turned around and presented her back to her, squatting down a little. She hopped right up onto Buffy's back exactly the way she had pictured it, a slight gasp escaping her as the seam of her leather pants pressed hard into her very moist, warm center as it came into contact with Buffy's back. Her legs instinctively tightened around Buffy's hips as Buffy's hands came up to grab the underside of them supporting her, burning handprints right through her leather with their heat. She knew right then that more piggyback rides were going to be in her future.

A silent chuckle echoed through her head at the thought and the fact that despite how much she had changed, grown as a person, just like her love of Slaying hadn't changed or the physical consequences of a good Slay, another thing about her that hadn't changed was the fact that she truly did have a sinfully, wickedly evil mind. A mischievous light started to twinkle in her eyes and being who she was, she couldn't have stopped the impish words from falling from her mouth even if she had been gagged.

"Getty-up! YEE-HAA! Ride'em cowboy! HI-HO Silver, and away!" she reached down with one hand and gave Buffy a firm smack on the ass and dug her heels in as if she were really riding a horse. When Buffy didn't move right away she reached down again and gave her another very loud smack on the ass.

"HEY! I'll give you getty-up all right!" Buffy screeched, "Just keep it up oh Miss Smart-Ass and this here horsey is gonna buck you right off her back!"

Faith leaned down and brought her mouth close to Buffy's ear and blew softly on her neck, she purred out in a husky tone, "You can try Giz. 'Sides I like it when you buck underneath, into and on me. Like it when you're writhing, squirming against me, like it too when you thrust into me, on me, like too when I'm riding you, like it when you..." To emphasis her words, Faith thrust her pelvis against Buffy's back and tightened her legs around her hips, squeezing Buffy, letting her feel their strength, the movements though were so faint that only Buffy would have noticed or been able to see them.

"Okay! Okay I get it, I get the picture!" Buffy hissed, oh boy did she ever get those pictures, her whole body clenched in desire, zinged with heat, from those pictures. Her body shuddered when she felt the tip of Faith's tongue sneak out and trace the shell of her ear. She started walking towards the garden doors on legs that grew steadily shakier as Faith kept sneaking quick tastes of her neck with the tip of her tongue.

The rush of arousal was almost instantaneous for both Slayers and further compounded by the fact that they hadn't made love in almost three full days, which to both of them felt like the equivalent of a lifetime, rather than seventy-two hours.

"Dusk, come on, let's go!" Buffy choked out harshly, trying to stifle the moan that tried to escape as she felt that same pink tongue that had tasted her neck just seconds ago trace along the shell of her ear again. She had never known her ear was such an erogenous zone for her, until Faith that is, then again with Faith there wasn't a part of her body that didn't become an erogenous zone, Faith made sure of that. She stopped halfway to the doors when she realized that Dusk wasn't following. "DUSK!" she yelled again. She really wanted, really needed to get away from everyone as fast as possible, her mission in life at that second was to taste the insistent pink tongue of her Dark Slayer's with her own.

Buffy turned around back towards the living room, when she realized that the soft whimpering sounds she was hearing weren't her own or Faith's, but Dusk's. It suddenly dawned on her the last time she had seen their puppy he had wedged his whole body underneath the couch and then she remembered that it had been a month or two since Dusk had been small enough to fit under there.

"Dusk?" Buffy called softly again. Her eyes widened a little when she saw the tip of his tail wagging from under the couch and the whimper came once again from him. She walked back over to the couch and started to bend down then stopped when she realized her bending over would only topple her and Faith right onto the ground. She waved her hand indicating to those on the couch to get up.

"How the hell did he get under there?" Faith asked from over Buffy's shoulder, giving up for the moment the meal she was making out of Buffy's sweet skin.

"He forced his way under there to get away from Buffy's yelling – babbling – yelling – glaring – babbling – pacing - babbling..."

"Enough we get the point Anya!" Buffy shouted at the blonde ex-demon. She grabbed the arm of the couch with both hands and lifted it like it weighed nothing and she didn't have a one-hundred-twenty pound well-muscled, hot, luscious raven-haired Slayer on her back. "Come out of there you goofball," she chuckled at Dusk.

Dusk sprang up to his paws with a half sighed-woof. He thought they had forgotten about him. He scrambled out from under the monster that had been holding him captive – the rose-colored couch was now a demon in his mind – eternally grateful that his Light Slayer had Slayed the demon-couch for him. He barked up at his Slayers', wagging his tail like an over-wound toy top, happy to see them and happy at the scent they were giving off. He gave them his goofy-puppy-dog smile, his tongue hanging out of his mouth, barked at them one more time then tore up the stairs.

"DUSK GET BACK HERE NOW!" Buffy screamed after his fast retreating furry back. "DUSK! GET DOWN HERE NOW! YOU ARE IN SO MUCH TROUBLE YOU LITTLE FURBALL!"

"Sure yelling at him is gonna' work like a charm B, considering that's what made him squish himself under the couch in the first place. Wonder where he's gonna try to squi..." Faith trailed off as Dusk came streaking back down the stairs, the black and white stuffed panthers held securely by their ears in his mouth. They were his friends, it wouldn't be right to leave them at home – now would it?

Dusk sat down in front of his Slayers. His tail once more going a mile-a-minute, he was ready to go now. He couldn't wait to get to the Immortals' domain. Couldn't wait until he got to see his mate, Cinder, a silver-gray, indigo-eyed female Husky who was two months younger then him and belonged to Lily, the Green Mother.

"I guess he felt he might need some backup just in case you started doing the whole babbling-yelling-babbling - did I say babbling? - thing again Buffy." Willow snickered at Buffy who chose to pay no heed to both Willow and the comment for the moment.

Buffy turned around, ignoring the eight people who were snickering at her, headed back towards the garden doors, nose in the air arrogantly with Dusk trotting next to the heel of her right foot like he had been taught and Faith on her back getting a piggyback ride. Their snickering quickly turned to out and out belly laughs. She tried too, without success, to ignore Faith's renewed nibbling along her neck and the hot flush of arousal that it caused. She dramatically threw the doors open wide, step outside and shouted over her shoulder, "FOR THE RECORD I DON'T BABBLE! EVER!"

"Right... And Willow and Fred don't either... Buffy..." Came Tara's smirked reply.

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Buffy gave a grateful sigh as she stepped out of the portal onto the dirt path that neither Slayer had seen in almost a full year and then she began again to do exactly what she had told the gang in Mansion she didn't do. Babble. She went from babbling about missing the cottage, to the kid with the broken glasses that had come into the dojo last week, to the funny smell that she had noticed out by the garage the week before, to...

And Buffy kept right on babbling about nonsense and every other stupid, idiotic, dumb thing she could think of as long as it didn't relate to them and their relationship. Babbled like the village idiot because she was afraid if she didn't babble inanely about everything and nothing at all, she would just give into her fears and nerves and blurt out her plans for Faith, for herself and spoil it all. Leave it to her to plan not one, but two things that concerned not just Faith, but herself as well, for their twenty day stay - though it was only two and a half days Earth time - at the cottage by the lake.

That' right leave it to me and my limited intelligence not to mention my poor imagination to pick two things that would leave me not only nervous, but fearful, anxious, full of self-doubt and totally insecure! Score one for me Buffy 'B – Giz' Summers the mental giant of all Slayers and so not the sharpest crayon in the box. Oh, for Christ's sakes, now I'm friggin babbling in my head too. Got diarrhea of the mouth. I wonder if they make a Pepto for this?

All this went through her mind as she tried to ignore Faith's insistent nibbling of her neck. Harder still, she tried to ignore Faith's hand, which had made its way under the neck of her shirt and was currently torturing her nipple. Oh and lest she forget she tried to ignore without success, Faith's hot core which was lightly grinding, pressing, circling into her lower back and burning a hole right through her. She had to admit though, that Faith was doing a good job of replacing her nervousness, fear, anxiety, and self-doubting with emotions of a whole 'nother kind all together. And they were quickly burning a path through her mind, heart, body and soul with their intensity.

I wonder if Faith would notice if I started running towards the cottage like Satan was nipping at my heels? Oh shit! That doesn't work anymore, Luc's one of the good guys. OH GOD! She's gonna give me a heart attack! Don't care, it'd be worth it as long as she doesn't stop what she's doing. NAKED! Naked would be good now, bed too, forest floor, up against a tree... Wanna be naked, naked with a naked luscious, tasty Faith. Yum, yum! Me, Faith, naked, hands, tongues, sweaty, kissing, touching, cumming... OH cumming would be good too, lots of that, yep and I so didn't just think that did I? Blushing now... Oh GOD does she even realize what she's doing to me? Gonna melt right here, right now into a big, babbling, begging, pleading, very wet, hot, Slayer – OH GOD - puddle of need!

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Faith was enjoying her piggyback ride immensely! She had tuned out Buffy's inane babbling the second she had started again. Instead, she concentrated on listening to the echoes she was getting from Buffy via their bond and on finding all of Buffy's sensitive spots. She was humming lightly as she nipped, tasted, licked, and sucked her way over all of Buffy's deliciously exposed – not to mention tasty - neck and shoulders.

She couldn't, even if she lived a million lifetimes, never, ever, get enough of the taste of Buffy. Buffy had her own unique flavor, not quite sweet, but not quite spicy either. It was both earthy and tangy-sweet, like peaches, or berries that were almost, but not wholly ripe yet and as far as Faith was concerned, it was a taste that surely rivaled the nectar of the gods itself. Then again, who was she kidding, she would think the same thing if Buffy tasted like old shoe leather and worn out car tires, simply because it was Buffy.

As she let her mouth and tongue stroll over Buffy's neck and shoulders, she let her left hand start its own meandering path down Buffy's throat. Her fingertips gliding lightly, pausing briefly to dawdle in the hollow of Buffy's throat, then move to whisper across her collarbone. She paused again briefly in the hollow, then followed to capture the beads of sweat that blazed a trail downward between Buffy's breasts.

She smiled around the bit of flesh she was teasing with her teeth when she felt Buffy's hands tighten on her thighs and the cadence of her babbling speed up, her voice getting slightly deeper, throatier. She idly played with the top edge of the spaghetti-strapped lycra top Buffy had on, tracing along the neckline, letting a single finger occasionally sneak under the material to graze the top of Buffy's breasts. Finally, she gave into her own need to touch, to elicit a response from Buffy other than babbling and to appease her own need for reassurance that her earlier fears were not coming to fruition. She slowly slid her hand beneath Buffy's shirt, her fingers tingling with anticipation as she climbed the slope of Buffy's breast. She didn't have to look to know that Buffy's nipple was already puckered, waiting, begging for her touch and her own nipples grew hard in response.

Unconsciously she began to rotate herself against Buffy's lower back, her legs tightening just a bit more as her fingertips lightly grazed the uneven but still silky soft skin of Buffy's aureole. She circled Buffy's nipple like a vulture, then veered off and made her way downward towards the underside of her breast, smiling again as she heard the disappointed moan mix in amid Buffy's nonstop babbling, she felt it too, echoing to her through their bond. Instinctively, or innately Faith let her love, her passion, her need, her devotion for Buffy flow back to her.

So much had changed for her over the last two years, she couldn't imagine now ever going back to being the 'get some, get gone or want-take-have' girl. What once had made her feel unclean, degraded, helpless, sullied, violated now made her feel beautiful, respected, clean, cherished, loved, no matter what the context or how she and Buffy touched each other and it was Buffy who had done that for her, unselfishly and with nothing but the purest intent. And over the last year Faith had finally started to truly see in the mirror the person that everyone else saw.

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Ain't it crazy ~ For a moment there ~ This felt just like dying ~ But now I see that something inside ~ Is coming alive ~ Ain't it crazy ~ ~ No use running from a revolution ~ I just surrender to this evolution...
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Dusk was running around in circles in front of his playing Slayers trying to get their attention. He really, really wanted to go see his mate and he knew that if he didn't get one of them to let him go now, it would be a really, really long time before they remembered about him. He couldn't bark unless he put his panther-friends down which for some reason he was reluctant to do, so instead he just kept running around in circles in front of them, careful not to trip his Light Slayer who was walking with her eyes closed. He started to whine, his stomach doing flip-flops, as he grew dizzy from spinning.

Oh good lord almighty her legs were going to give out! She wasn't quite sure how the hell she was still managing to walk down the path towards the cottage, but somehow her feet and legs just kept on moving... just like her mouth. She couldn't seem to stop the babbling, it was just gushing from her like water out of a goddamn broken fire hydrant. She hadn't a clue what she had said in the last five minutes, she was only sure that it was nonsense.

Faith's delicate touch was driving her literally insane and when those long fingers started to torture her nipples; her knees buckled just a little bit. She sounded like Cave-Buffy, grunting out her words and accenting them with guttural moans. She smiled a little though, because she wasn't the only one that was being tortured by this little game Faith was playing with her. Faith was too. Faith's grinding, lightly thrusting center against her back was telling her so, as it burned a hole right through her and caused an answering twitch in the crotch of her own overly tight shorts.

Buffy opened her eyes as the sound of Dusk's whining finally penetrated the lust-induced fog in her head. She blinked once or twice at what she was seeing. He was spinning and hopping around in front of her like his paws had suddenly caught on fire. What the hell was he doing? What the hell did he want? It was hard to think about anything else besides Faith and Faith's body – so hot – pressed tightly against her back. Faith's hands moving over her breasts, Faith's warm wet mouth and tongue bathing her neck and shoulders, the sound of Faith's harsh breathing and husky moans. Hard to think about anything other than the fire that lived in her blood that was her mate, her Dark Slayer and suddenly it dawned on her exactly what it was that Dusk wanted.

"Go..." Buffy moaned low as Faith captured a nipple between agile fingers. "Go see Cinder, Furball..." She watched as Dusk did one last little hop-spin, gave a muffled bark around the stuffed panthers in his mouth then took off like a bat out of hell. She knew exactly how he felt!

"Alone at last." Faith's mind was working overtime trying to figure out how she could reach the warmth, the wetness she knew was waiting for her inside of Buffy's pants. She was disappointed to realize that even as flexible as she was, there wasn't any way that she could reach Buffy's heat while she was getting a piggyback ride and she wasn't quite ready to give up getting her ride, she was having too much fun torturing and teasing Buffy. She moaned in frustration and looked up to notice that they were still on the very public path that led between all the cottages. As she was looking around Buffy's babbling began to seep into her lust-addled brain and Faith couldn't believe her ears. Buffy was actually babbling about how she NEVER, EVER babbled!

Faith finally had enough of Buffy's never-ending babbling these last few weeks. Determined now to put a stop to it, even if it was only for a short while. She trailed one hand down the slope of Buffy's breast to explore further the valley between. She hiked herself up a little higher on Buffy's back until she was semi-leaning over Buffy's shoulder, it would make it easier on both of them for what Faith had in mind to stop Buffy's endless inane chatter. Her hand continued its journey over Buffy's chest, rising higher until she dipped her fingers into the hollow at the base of Buffy's throat again. She resumed her journey after first thoroughly exploring the spot, twirling, brushing her fingers lightly as she followed the hill of Buffy's throat, stopping finally to cup Buffy's chin. She turned Buffy's head towards her, licked her own lips in anticipation then swooped down to capture Buffy's.

She trapped Buffy's lower lip between her own and damn if Buffy didn't try to keep right on talking! Faith put an end to that quickly, she fluttered her tongue over Buffy's lower lip with delicate, whispered touches. Growling low, she nibbled a little and traded Buffy's lower lip for her upper, bathing it too with delicate touches and teeny-tiny kisses. Buffy's babbling turned into low moans and never one to be idle; she turned the tables and caught Faith's succulent lower lip between her own teeth. Her tongue unerringly finding the small cleft, she dipped into the little slit and ran the tip of her tongue along it. Faith pulled back just a little and Buffy reluctantly let go of her pouty bottom lip. Their eyes locked for long moments, both craving something more than just the light, teasing kisses they were sharing. Buffy was completely oblivious to the somewhat, but not entirely awkward way her head was twisted and the fact that she had drifted off the path into the woods; for her the only thing that existed in the world right now was Faith, just as the only thing that existed for Faith at this moment was Buffy.

Both Slayers' eyes slid closed as Faith slowly - ever so slowly - lowered her head towards Buffy. Their mouths came together in a soft, slow, sensual kiss. Faith subtly took control of the kiss, her tongue teased Buffy's lips until they parted for her. She slipped inside, into the warm, wet cavern of Buffy's mouth, tasting, exploring its silky depth and Faith found herself quickly drowning in the kiss, but she wasn't drowning alone, Buffy was right there with her. She poured all her passion into the kiss, all her love and she felt it all come back to her tenfold as Buffy returned her kiss. They made love to each other with that soft lush kiss, their mouths speaking to each other for hours without words. Their bodies, their hearts, their souls had none of the doubts, insecurities, fears and anxieties that had plagued both their minds over the last few weeks, they hadn't for a very long time and never would again.

When they finally broke their kiss, Faith rested her forehead gently against Buffy's. Her eyes still closed, a soft smile playing around the corners of her mouth, her body trembling and her breathing harsh, ragged. Their kiss had destroyed her and it still amazed, humbled and awed her that kissing Buffy could do this to her. And even after all this time it came to her as a complete surprise when she felt in an echo that their kiss had made Buffy feel absolutely the same exact way.

Faith let out a soft giggle when it seeped into her consciousness that she truly was totally wrecked by the kiss they had just shared and that Buffy wasn't in any better condition as she began to wander aimlessly through the forest with her eyes closed. She giggled again; they were quite a pair the two of them. The big bad Slayers. The Chosen Two. The Chosen to fight against all the supernatural evils of the world and wouldn't all those evils just love to know that something as simple as a kiss – though when it was between the two of them it was as far from simple as humanly, or inhumanly possible – totally and utterly annihilated, rendered them both useless.

"What's so funny?" Buffy forced her eyes open, she pulled back slightly and tried to focus her eyes as she looked around the forest. It was a miracle she hadn't tripped over something and sent them both crashing to the ground.

"Us... my piggyback ride... you walking with your eyes closed and that wickedly-sinfully-beautiful kiss that we just shared and that it totally wrecked both of us. Good thing we're not in a cemetery at night or we'd be in deep shit, B."

"Ain't that the truth..."

Faith couldn't help but giggle again at the whole ridiculousness of them and the fact that neither made a move to correct it, instead Buffy kept right on walking and she was still getting a piggyback ride. She bit her bottom lip for a second to stop another giggle from escaping and was succeeding until Buffy gave her a goofy smile and burst out into giggles herself.

"And that was a wickedly-sinfully-beautiful kiss. Want more – much more – whole bunch more of those... Oh most definitely more of those Fai... I don't think a billion would be enou..."

"Oh god! You're babbling again!" If Faith didn't like her own hair so much she would be pulling it out by the roots right now.

"I... D-O-N'-T... B-A-B-B-L-E... E-V-E-R!" Slowly through clenched teeth and with utter conviction the words came out.

"You do so babble. You've been babbling incessantly for the last few weeks. Babble, babble and more babbling. And earlier you were babbling about how you don't babble!"

"I DO NOT BABBLE!"

"Christ B, you were even babbling instructions the other night when we were making love and being the considerate lover that I am..." Faith paused to smirk at Buffy, "I was following them to the letter and the next thing I know I got a mouth full of fuzzy stuff 'cause I'm going down on Mr. Gordo instead of you!" Faith huffed out, an indignant look on her face as she peered at Buffy from over her shoulder.

Without thinking, Buffy tried to turn around to answer Faith, which she quickly realized was impossible since she was still giving Faith a piggyback ride. "Yeah well piggyback ride is over, now get down and... and Mr. Gordo wanted me to tell you that he liked that thing you do with your tongue." Buffy looked up and gave Faith a so-there look as she mentally slapped herself in the head for the lamest comeback in the history of the universe.

"Stayin' right here, I'm likin' this piggyback ride thing too much. Easy access and all..." Faith let her hands start roaming again, pulling Buffy's shirt up around her neck in the process. A low purr came from her as she heard the moan that Buffy tried to stifle at her touch. She decided she was hungry again and starting at the edge of Buffy's shoulder nibbled and sucked her way across it, then up the side of Buffy's neck until she caught her earlobe lightly with her teeth. "So, Mr. Gordo liked what I do with my tongue..." She mumbled huskily around the flesh in her mouth. "Tell me B... Was it this he liked?"

Faith circled Buffy's lobe with a touch that was whispery soft and the only reason Buffy knew that Faith was actually touching her was by the moist warm trail that her tongue left. Her body responding as if Faith was actually touching her elsewhere and the arousal that had somewhat calmed down with their bantering returned with a vengeance that was downright vicious.

"Or was it this..." Faith stroked Buffy's lobe and the shell of her ear with long, firm, licks, alternating between the flat of her tongue and just the tip. Unconsciously she began to rotate herself against Buffy's lower back again, wishing she had worn anything other than her skintight leather pants. And what the fuck, were they making the seams in the crotch of the pants, thicker and bigger now?

"Fai..." moaned the needy blond-Slayer. Her whole body was throbbing, she needed more than just this teasing and she doubted she could wait until they got to the cottage.

"Or maybe it was this..." She slid her lips and teeth down to the end of Buffy's earlobe sucking gently then flicked it quickly with just the tip of her tongue. She nibbled her way back up and repeated the action a few more times. Damn it was getting hot and the little moans that were coming from deep in the back of Buffy's throat were just making the temperature rise more. Faith's hands weren't idle either, they were exploring, touching, teasing every part of Buffy's breasts she could reach. She slid her palms across each pebbled nipple and felt it on her own breasts in an echoed phantom touch.

"I know... I bet it was this he really liked B..." She started flicking ever so lightly the tip of her tongue on the edge of Buffy's lobe. Her flicks at first like the soft touch of slowly beating butterfly-wings. She gradually increased the tempo of her strokes until her tongue was flicking at Slayer speed, a new use both she and Buffy had found for their Slayer speed. Something she was positive the Watcher's Council had never dreamed they would use one of their many Slayer's gifts for and one she was sure would give quite a few of the stuffy - condescending - pompous asses massive heart attacks or strokes, maybe both.

Buffy felt each and every nibble, stroke, suck, and flick of Faith's tongue on her lobe as if Faith was between her thighs and making a feast out of her. Right now, that was exactly what Buffy wanted. What she desperately needed! The moan of disappointment when Faith stopped her sensual torture of her lobe was loud and frantic.

"Well B, which one was it?" Faith inhaled deeply, she could smell Buffy's arousal, hell, she could smell her own and it just sent all her senses into hyper-drive. She stilled her hands on Buffy's breasts, and her smile was feral when a throaty growl came from Buffy. It looked like both of their primal sides wanted to come out to play today.

"Why don't you get down off my back and you can demonstrate those choices again, only on a place of my choosing this time... what do you say Faith? Well, baby?" The throatily purred words rumbled out of her chest and that ancient part of Buffy that knew Faith was her mate long before she had realized it, wanted to play with its mate. And Buffy couldn't agree more.

"I don't know Giz. I kinda like where I am. Everything is... you know... like I said before, right here within my reach." To prove her point once again, Faith caught both of Buffy's nipples with her fingers, pinched them lightly, whispered a nail around them and then just gave her imagination free rein. She molded herself tighter to Buffy, rubbing her own painfully aching breasts against Buffy's back. Her hips thrusting her pulsing core more forcefully into Buffy, she wrapped her legs fully around Buffy's hips and locked her ankles.

"Not everything S.O." Buffy growled in frustration.

Buffy briefly thought about trying to dislodge Faith from her back, but she knew unless Faith let her there was no way she could do it without one of them getting hurt and that was so not what she had in mind. Screw it, if Faith wanted to play, well then, Buffy would play. She scanned the forest around her until she found what she was looking for. She moved swiftly towards the massive Oak Tree across the way and to the left of her, then turned around and pressed Faith's back - knapsack and all - into it, effectively trapping and keeping Faith suspended off the ground between her and the tree. She leaned all of her body weight back into Faith, sliding slightly up and down, rubbing her back against Faith's breasts and warm heat like a cat. This time the feral smile was hers as Faith moaned low.

"Since you want to stay where you are... I guess I'll just..."

Buffy's voice rolled over Faith from the bottom of her feet to the top of her head like liquid heat. She was just about to ask Buffy what she was doing when she saw where Buffy's hands had drifted. Her mouth dropped open and she quickly unlocked her ankles so she could see better as Buffy unbutton her own shorts, slid them down over her hips and then slipped her hand inside. Faith's whole body jerked, shuddered, quivered and she whimpered, then whimpered again.

"Y..y...y... r... not?" Her brain fried at the sight just as if she had stuck her finger in an electrical socket. She was pretty damn sure she was drooling, not believing what she was seeing. 'Cause this was one wish, dream, fantasy – and she had imagined, wished, dreamt, and fantasized about this at least a gazillion times - that she was absolutely, positively, without a single doubt sure would NEVER, NEVER, EVER come true.

"Oh yessss... I... am..." Buffy hissed as she slid her fingers through the river that was flowing between her legs, imagining they were Faith's fingers touching her, exploring her slick folds.

This was something she had never done in front of anyone, not even Faith, who had hinted a few times but had never asked outright. Nor had Faith ever done this in front of her, though Buffy, if she was honest with herself, had fantasized about it, but as ridiculous as it was, could never find the courage to ask Faith to do it. And color her surprised, she might be blushing from head to toe, but it felt fucking good and it was turning her on even more knowing that Faith was watching her. And if Faith's heavy breathing and moans were any indication it was having the same effect on her. She couldn't help herself, she just had to wreak havoc with her Dark Slayer's senses just a little bit more.

"Just so you don't feel too left out baby..." Buffy dipped in a little further, gathering her own wetness onto her fingertips; she flicked her clit as she drew her hand out of her pants and moaned low as she leaned her head back against Faith.

She turned her head to the side to look at Faith who had somehow managed to crawl almost halfway over her shoulder; she looked so damn cute with her openmouthed look of shocked disbelief. She brought her glistening fingers up to Faith's open mouth and traced them over the fullness of her lips leaving a shimmering sheen of her desire behind. She trailed her sticky fingers back down and slid them into her own wet heat once again, moaning along with Faith as she touched herself. Her eyes closed of their own will as she ran her fingers into the slickness of her own core, every whimper that came from her mate making her even wetter. She started to rotate her hips in a small arc, as she delved inside to feel her own heat surround her intimately.

Faith was unquestionably going to have a stroke, pass out, implode, something, she knew it! She couldn't stop the whimpers from escaping her as she watched Buffy touch herself. The taste of Buffy's essence on her lips driving her insane, she wanted more, she wanted, needed it now and she wanted it directly from the source! She wasn't sure she could have moved right now even if she had the choice though. And god, the sounds that Buffy was making, they were sending chills down her spine. She watched in complete awe the beauty that was Buffy as her hand began to move faster and she forgot how to breath as Buffy's other hand made its way down her stomach, sliding her shorts down to pool at her ankles, then trail back up to join its mate.

"Fai..." Buffy whimpered.

"B..." Faith whimpered right back.

"Feels so good... baby... wish it were you... want it to be you touching me..."

Faith began to place tiny kisses on Buffy's neck and jawbone. Her eyes though were riveted on Buffy's hands while her fingers mimicked on Buffy's nipples what Buffy was doing to her own swollen nub. It wasn't enough, as much as she wanted to see this, she wanted more to touch, to taste. She ripped the backpack off and let her legs drop down, she whimpered a little when she realized that the weight of Buffy's body was still keeping her trapped against the tree and her feet off the ground. She started to squirm, wiggle and Buffy, who finally realized what she was trying to do leaned forward a little so Faith could drop to the ground.

In less than a blink of an eye, Faith scrambled out from behind Buffy, stepped around to face her and pulled her into a heated embrace. She captured Buffy's mouth in a bruising, fiercely possessive kiss, moaning into the kiss as she felt the back of Buffy's hand as it moved against herself rub against her own swollen need. She trailed kisses and bites down Buffy's throat, pausing briefly to nibble delicately on each of Buffy's extended nipples and then she just dropped to her knees. Her breath caught painfully in her chest when her eyes came level with Buffy's exploring fingers and this time Faith knew she was drooling.

She gulped in a huge breath and the musky aroma of Buffy's arousal assaulted her senses, making her dizzy. She reached down, lifted one of Buffy's legs out from her pooled shorts and placed it on her shoulder. Faith gently slid Buffy's fingers out, replacing them with her own and slowly, reverently glided into the blistering, wet heat of her Light Slayer, searching for and finding unerring that elusive, almost mythical, sweet spot. Unable to resist anymore, she leaned forward and let her mouth and tongue join in the play.

Buffy was in heaven. No! This was better than heaven! What she was feeling through their bond from Faith was just sending her spiraling higher. Her legs were trembling so hard she knew that Faith's hand on her buttock and her leg on Faith's shoulder were the only reason she was still standing. She felt the pleasure burning her, it started deep in her stomach and moved like a tornado through her. The tip of Faith's tongue flicked relentlessly against her clit between her own circling fingers. She was so deep inside her and Buffy wanted her deeper and she wanted more. Her body shook with each thrust of Faith's long slender fingers as they hit her sweet spot.

"More Faith..." A whispered plea, followed by a moaned sigh of pleasure as Faith added another finger and Buffy felt her internal muscles clutch at them and hold them still - using another of their Slayer gifts in a completely unique way - as she luxuriated in the feel of Faith being inside her. "Oh baby... you feel so good... feel so good inside me..." Her body rippled as she felt Faith hum a reply against her clit, sending vibrating shockwaves through her. She started rocking with Faith as she began to move within her again, trusting Faith to set the rhythm and lead her in this dance of desire, passion, lust and love. "Faith... OhGodbaby... Likethat... Likethat... OhgodFaith..."

She reached down blindly with her free hand and clutched with a force that would leave marks on Faith's shoulder, anchoring herself, connecting with her mate even more. Her other hand moved away, giving up the fight to try to keep touching herself and tangled instead in Faith's hair, pulling her closer, harder into her.

She lost any semblance of control and she easily, without thought or hesitation handed control over to her mate, her Dark Slayer. Her hips rocked demandingly against Faith's mouth, fingers and tongue, following the pace Faith set, arching her back needing to be even closer. She forced her eyes open, looked down and it was her undoing. Her own eyes locked with her mate's glowing emerald eyes that were staring back up at her with intense love and it pushed her to the very edge. Forcefully her hips arched into her Dark Slayer, every muscle in her body locked as she hung for long timeless seconds over the abyss, then she tumbled into it, exploding, shattering into a million pieces of exquisite pleasure, Faith's name torn out of her in a guttural scream. She doubled over from the force of it and Faith kept on touching her, moving inside of her until she fell again into a world that was filled with nothing but an exquisite ecstasy that had never been this passionate, this extreme with anyone but Faith.

Her leg fell off Faith's shoulder and she stood trembling, gasping, small tremors still firing off inside of her. She started to slide down as her legs gave out, only to be caught by Faith's strong arms. She felt Faith sit back onto her own calves and pull her close onto her lap. One arm warmly surrounded her, as Faith's other hand came up to tenderly brush the damp hair off her face. Soft, loving kisses dotted her cheeks, lips, forehead and she just basked in their warmth, basked in this affectionate, tender side of Faith. She leaned into her mate letting her support her, wrapping her arms around her and rested her head on Faith's chest over her heart, as Faith continued lavishing her with those soft loving kisses and cooing nonsense to her.

She could hear Faith's heart beating rapidly under her ear. As her own body swiftly recovered, thanks to another of their marvelous Slayer gifts, she let her hands start to roam over Faith's back. She smiled softly when she heard Faith's breathing speed up, her smile growing bigger as she felt Faith squirm a little and heard a soft moan.

"Bet you're wishing your pants weren't so tight. Aren't you baby?" Buffy giggled softly, a hand traced around to find through Faith's shirt a nipple as hard as steel.

Faith's whole body shook at Buffy's light touch. She was so aroused right now that it was close to crossing the line between pleasure and extreme pain. She pushed her breast into Buffy's hand, a sob of want tearing out of her when Buffy's mouth latched onto her mate-mark. She was a mess, if Buffy even glanced at her crotch she would probably come. She rocked her pelvis up into Buffy, as Buffy continued to casually toy with her nipple. She couldn't take it, she needed Buffy to touch her with a desperation that almost scared her.

"Don't tease... Can't take it..." Faith gasped, her voice laced with overwhelming need.

Buffy stopped teasing instantly upon hearing the desire, the need thick in Faith's voice. She slid off Faith's lap, rose up to her knees and faced her. Faith rose up to her own knees, her trembling hands fumbling ineffectually with the buttons on her pants. Buffy brushed her hands away and quickly unbuttoned Faith's pants, started to tug them down only to have her wrist grabbed by Faith and her hand shoved into the front of Faith's pants.

"Ca..n't... w..ait..."

There was something more akin to apprehensive desperation in Faith's voice than just need, desire, lust or want. Buffy heard it, but it didn't quite register and she let it slip away at Faith's gasped plea of her name. Buffy's eyes grew wide with amazement at the wetness she found waiting for her. The strangled groan Faith let out when she touched her shot right through the heart of her and Buffy could feel herself getting wet all over again just from the sound.

"Inside me... need you... need to feel you in me..." Faith somehow managed to string the words together. Her arm went around Buffy's neck, her hand grabbing onto the opposite shoulder for dear life. Her other hand stayed wrapped tightly around Buffy's wrist in a death grip as if she were afraid Buffy might take it away.

"Oh baby." Buffy leaned forward and ravished Faith's mouth, her free hand tugged Faith's pants down as far as she could.

She impatiently pushed up Faith's shirt, freeing her breasts to the warm sunlight, the slight breeze and her touch. She traversed the slopes of each of Faith's breasts, with feather light touches, ignoring their peeks for now, relishing every moan of Faith's into their kiss. She kissed, toyed, touched and plunged into Faith with the same frenzied urgency the Dark Slayer was feeling. Needing to know that she could make Faith feel the same way Faith made her feel, some part of her because of the last few weeks filled with her own insecurities and fears making her afraid that she might not be able to.

Faith pulled away from the kiss, gasping for air and buried her head in Buffy's neck and shoulder. She was beyond on fire, she felt like she was going to spontaneously combust any second and yet she was just hanging there on the edge, seemingly forever, unable to fall over it. She was grunting, whimpering, she could feel her release coiling swiftly, ferociously somewhere deep inside of her and the force of it terrified her.

"B?" She sobbed, needing something but not knowing what it was.

Buffy rested her head against Faith's, her mouth close to her ear; her arm circled the Dark Slayer and pulled her tighter to her. She could feel everything Faith was feeling and she was scared she might not be able to give Faith whatever it was she needed to let go.

"Fai... Beautiful Fai... My Faith, let go baby... I've got you." There was a world of tenderness and love in her voice. She felt Faith rock into her hand harder, faster and she moved with her. It was her instincts, her soul, her heart that let her know what it was that Faith needed from her. "I love you so much Faith, more than anything in this world. You're my heart, my soul..." She smiled so softly, so sweetly and placed tender kisses on the side of Faith's face when she heard those small sounds that Faith made in the back of her throat right before she came. "Let go baby... Let go for me.. My Fai... Come for me baby..."

Buffy's sultry voice wrapped around Faith like the sweetest, gentlest, most loving embrace Faith had ever felt, it soothed, encouraged and reassured her. Buffy's love, passion, even her fears surrounded her, holding her safely in their invisible arms. Whatever had been holding her back, keeping her from finding her release, from just letting herself go faded away in the face of all that Buffy let flow to her through their bond. Then everything stilled, quieted, as she hung there for one final endless second. It was almost a surprise when she let go with everything she was as the crest of the wave swept her away. Her mouth opened in a silent scream as the knot of pleasure inside of her uncoiled furiously, almost violently and the intensity of it ripped her apart physically and emotionally. Her body jerked uncontrollably against Buffy's as it convulsed with wave after wave of piercing rapture.

All of it poured out of her into Buffy through their bond, the intensity of her release, of her need, of her love. And Buffy to her own surprise felt herself captured by that uncoiling knot of physical and emotion pleasure and joined Faith in release.

Faith collapsed into Buffy's waiting arms, her body still jerking with aftershocks. She felt boneless, like she was pure liquid instead of flesh and bone. They clung to each other, both too stunned by the fierce reaction they had brought out in each other. Buffy still a little astounded by her own body's surprising emotional and physical response to what she had felt flow to her from Faith. This had happened to Faith that first time on Obsidian but it had never happened to her until today.

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"SHIT!" She spun around and slammed right into her mate knocking them both over, but not before her mate got an eyeful of what she had just seen. "Didn't need to see that for Christ's sake!"

Buffy's eyes shot open at the sound of Clotho's voice and both she and Faith froze. They were still reeling, in a haze from their reaction to each other, but more from the outpouring of emotions that they had shared, neither realizing that the fears, insecurities they had both been harboring for the last few weeks had manifested themselves in another way. Their bodies, their hearts, their souls trying to show them what their minds refused to see.

The sounds of the Immortals trying to untangle themselves brought the Slayers out of their haze and reminded them where they were, who was there and for the moment took from them the beginnings of understanding what had just happened. Both Slayers were sure that they were going to explode as they felt the heat of embarrassment run like wildfire through them. They watched still frozen in place as the two Immortals scrambled to their feet, keeping their backs to them.

The Slayers weren't the only ones that were shell-shocked, the Immortals were too. They didn't know what to do, run, stay, crawl into a hole and die or laugh. Faith broke the spell.

"NONONONO..." Faith ranted, "I don't fucking believe this!"

Lilith couldn't help it. She burst out laughing, Faith had reacted exactly the way she would have had their positions been reversed. Faith's reaction actually was quite tame compared to some of Lilith's on a few of the numerous occasions she and Clotho had been caught in the act. "Well... ah... Sorry?" was the giggled reply from the lean, ancient, Immortal.

"Shit..." Buffy whispered to Faith. They both jumped up to their feet, pulling their pants up, their shirts down, hoping against hope that the Immortals hadn't really seen or heard anything. "You can turn around if you want now." Buffy choked out.

"What is it with you two always busting in on us?" Faith snarled at them. "Is this a fucking conspiracy or something?"

"Us?" Lilith twirled around to face the Slayers, "In case you don't know it, you're on our property! And it's not like this is the first time it's happened either. It's not like you two haven't caught us a few times. You can't really think we planned this!" Lilith tried - she really did - to keep the amusement out of her voice but she just couldn't, especially not with Faith glaring daggers at her, looking for all the world like she really believed they had planned on catching them. She felt a bubble of laughter making its way up from her belly and desperately tried to stop it. She even went so far as to cover her mouth with both hands, but the snort of laughter found its way out anyway. She laughed even harder when Clotho slapped her in the back of the head, hissing at her to be quiet.

"Go away..." she growled it at them. She wasn't a happy Dark Slayer camper at the moment. "You okay B?" she asked Buffy softly.

Buffy just buried her face into Faith's neck, she had never been so embarrassed in her life and she wasn't a happy camper at the moment either. Sure, they'd been caught before, but never quite like this. Kneeling in the middle of a grove of trees, shirts hiked up somewhere around their necks, pants not even off just pooled around ankles or stretched wide between spread thighs. Caught like two animals in heat, impatient, feral, primal, instead of two supposedly responsible young women who should be able to control themselves.

What neither Slayer realized was that this was normal for most new lovers. This overwhelming lust, desire that blossomed out of nowhere suddenly, fiercely, with no other thought then to be sated. It had caused many young lovers to end up making love in the backseat of the car because the four-block drive home was just too far and too long of a wait. Or to pay a twenty dollar cover charge to get into a club, to only leave five minutes later because you needed to be alone to touch, to kiss, to caress, to taste each other, now, immediately even though you had been doing exactly that only an hour and a half earlier. Then again, they wouldn't know that because, for both Slayers, their lives for the most part had been and still were far from what was considered normal.

In any case Faith and Buffy together as a couple – even if they hadn't been Slayers – seldom did things the normal way. Not from their first kiss, the first time they made love, the first time they told each other they were in love with the other, so in a sense for them this was very normal, they just didn't realize it. Nor did they realize since they were Slayers and their body chemistry was different from others, for them this passion, this heat, this need, would unlike, other normal-human lovers, for the most part, for the rest of their lives together, stay at almost the same intense level it was at now.

They might not know it now, but for the rest of their lives, they would fall deeper in love each and every day and every time they kissed, touched, made love, it would feel new, special, thrilling just like it did now. They would never grow complacent in their love for one another, they would continue down the path they created and it was this that would keep their love for one another, new, exciting, passionate, fierce and all the other wonderful things they were with, and to each other throughout their years together. The wish that Dawn had made almost a year ago as she stepped through the portal to go back to Sunnydale would come true and the sight of two gray-haired, retired, happy, smiling, laughing, very much in love Slayers watching the sunrise, would become a familiar sight to her in the years to come.

"Faith, Buffy, we really are sorry." Clotho told them sincerely and Lilith nodded her head in agreement all traces of amusement gone. "If we had known. We... well... ah... we... ah, we really didn't see anything. I swear there is something in the air here at the lake." Her last comments garnered a small smile from both Slayers, "We're gonna go back to our cottage now. Come over for dinner tonight or just come over whenever you want. Okay?"

"Okay." Buffy whispered, pretty sure her skin was melting from the heat of her blush.

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Lilith and Clotho remained silent as they walked through the woods back to their cottage. When they were sure they were well beyond Slayer hearing range they both burst out laughing.

"So what's the score now?" Lilith asked between bouts of giggles.

"Not sure. Let's see..." Clotho turned to look at her mate and then dragged her down with her to sit on the ground. Her sides were hurting from laughing so much. "There was the first time at the cottage, the stables, the lake, Atropos and Luc's garden, Mars' training room, our bathroom and what am I forgetting?"

"The midnight ride on Obsidian and behind Zane's house during one of his barbeques. All of which they managed to do in the three days they had left after Dawn went home."

Both Immortals burst into gales of laughter again, they laughed so hard tears started to fall from their eyes.

"So we caught them eight times and they caught us..." Clotho managed finally to get out between gasps for air, her sides still hurting from laughing so hard. She closed her eyes and mentally counted the times the Slayers had caught them in a compromising position. The Slayers kitchen at the cottage, their own bathroom, the picnic table, the stables, in the middle of the lake, Lily's backyard, the path, and in the stables again. "They caught us eight times too, so we're tied. And that's only the times we've caught them and they've caught us here in this realm."

"Nah uh... You forgot to count today so that makes it nine times. They're just as bad as we are, hell I bet they're gonna be worse. Do you remember how many times we were caught the first hundred years or so we were together? I'll never forget the look on Zane's face when he caught us not once, not twice, but three times in the same day."

The two Immortals shared another bout of laughter as they thought back to when they had first gotten together. They couldn't keep their hands off each other and just like the Slayers the second they touched they forgot where they were, who was around, that they could fade to somewhere more private, the only thing that existed in the world for them was each other. They had found that being around the Slayers for all these months had made them revert to being that way with each other again. And it wasn't just them either, they had caught Atropos and Luc quite a few times, not to mention Lachesis and Spike.

They hadn't said a word to anyone about Lachesis and Spike for the time being, it was a well-kept secret and not because Lachesis didn't want anyone to know, but because Spike didn't. He thought that Lachesis was lowering herself being with someone like him. He was going through much of what both Angel and Faith had when they had rediscovered their conscience, or rather their souls. He thought he didn't deserve the Immortal and he was fighting her tooth and nail. While Lilith and Clotho couldn't think of anyone better to help Spike through this nor match the Fate known as The Mother in just about every way. Spike and Lachesis were soul-mates, he just didn't know it yet.

"I kinda feel bad though, we really should have told them before they came here again how the privacy spell around the cottages really works." Clotho looked at Lilith and saw the arched eyebrow and smirk, "You're right, but it probably wouldn't have made any difference, it seldom did for us. I doubt they were really paying attention when they wandered off the path onto our property instead of their own. But we really do need to tell them how it works now."

The privacy spell that kept others out from the property that surrounded each cottage actually worked slightly different from what they had initially told the Slayers. They had altered how the spell worked for the Slayers stay here at the lake. They had wanted to give the Slayers an added sense of security and the Fates, Lilith and Luc had all agreed and decided for all the Immortals that making the Slayers feel safe while they had been here was paramount and worth any inconvenience it might cause them. In reality, the spell was quite simple actually. The only thing they had changed was to have the spell be active all the time, instead of how it really worked. The spell normally was only active when one of the residents activated it with a simple command when they wanted privacy or as Lilith said 'Doin' it time.' Of course, as was proven today and too many times throughout the eons, having a privacy spell still didn't stop any of the Immortals and now the Slayers from getting caught, or heard from time to time in compromising positions or acts.

"You ready to get going again Clo?"

Clotho just nodded her head and rose back up to her feet. She reached down a hand to Lilith and helped her up; they held hands as they walked back to their cottage. "So what spectacular dinner will you be preparing tonight for the Slayers to make up for us catching them once again?"

They shared another laugh as they planned the menu for that night.

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"Are you okay B?" The concern shone in her eyes.

"Yeah..." Buffy gave Faith a small smile. Oh she just couldn't wait to be teased about today's little episode, just about as much as she couldn't wait to get run over repeatedly by an eighteen-wheeler. She knew there wasn't the slightest chance that Lilith and Clotho would just let this slide, especially since it was their first day back at the lake in almost a year and they hadn't managed to even make it to their own cottage, let alone their own property. She looked deeply into the chocolate brown eyes of her mate and saw the love and concern there and they just filled her up. "I love you Faith." The smile Faith gave her was blinding.

"I love you too, B." She leaned down and gently kissed Buffy. She brushed her fingers down Buffy's arm and clasped their hands together. She watched with wonder as Buffy gave her a radiant smile.

"But you know, don't you, that this is all your fault. Don't you Faith?" Buffy poked her in the chest playfully.

"Me? I was happy getting my piggyback ride. It was you who wandered into the wrong woods. I didn't do anything. All I was doing was playing a little and then you, you started... started to..." She used her best innocent voice and look. It didn't work. "Frig B, I've been waiting like forever to see you do that... Forever..." Her voice became a husky whisper; her breath blowing hotly across Buffy's face. A wolfish smile appeared as she watched the shiver ripple under Buffy's skin at the sound of her voice.

The inferno that had been raging fiercely between them before, ignited again. Hotter, fiercer it raged, they forgot about being embarrassed, forgot that they were still standing by the massive Oak Tree in the Immortals part of the woods. Forgot that anyone and anything else existed in the universe but the two of them.

"Have you now Fai...?" Buffy sultry question came as her eyes ran the length of Faith's lean luscious body devouring her with just a look.

"Yeah B..." Faith whispered her voiced laced with lust, love and a little bit of shyness, which made itself known in a bright pink flush across her cheeks.

Buffy looked up into Faith's shy, lust-filled sparkling eyes which were steadily turning emerald with desire and she could almost feel her own eyes begin to turn amber-gold with desire too.

"All you had to do was ask Fai..." she whispered low, her voice filled with promise.

Buffy had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing when Faith's eyebrows shot up almost into her hairline and her eyes grew so wide that Buffy was afraid they were going to fall right out of her head.

"ReaLLy?" Faith squeaked, her mouth, throat, suddenly as dry as the Sahara Desert, her mind in denial that the squeak she just heard had come out of her own mouth.

"Yes, really S.O." Buffy smiled at Faith, leaned forward then slowly with just the tip of her tongue, wet Faith's dry lips for her.

"A... a..." Faith stuttered her mind having gone totally blank from Buffy's blatantly seductive touch. What was it that she wanted to say again? She struggled for a few seconds trying to remember, which only served to flood her mind with images that made her mouth completely dry again, her knees rubbery, her blood pound like thunder and send desire scorching through every single cell in her body. She took a deep breath trying to compose herself before she spoke and failed miserably, "When we... um... when we get back to... to the ah... the ah... the cottage... You think... maybe B... that you would... maybe um... would ah do that again..."

Okay what the hell was that? Pig-latin, Chinese, German? Or maybe it was, nope, not maybe, it was just plain old idiot BrainTurnedToMushPatheticDarkSlayerSpeak! Oh yeah, look out, World. The totally world-wise seductive, sensual, sexy, can make you scream her name in ecstasy, Dark Slayer is on the loose and no one stands a chance against her charms!

"Mmmmm..." Buffy hummed making Faith wait for her answer, she had to admit that the thought had crossed her mind a time or a trillion. Only it wasn't herself she imagined touching themselves, but Faith, and the desire that had just seconds ago scorched through every cell in Faith's body decided to split itself in half and blaze a scorching trail through every cell in Buffy's body too. As she looked up into Faith's hopeful eyes, she just couldn't help it, she took a page from Faith's own wicked, teasing nature and said, "I said you could ask baby... I didn't say I'd do it."

"WHAT?" Faith screeched, hoping she had heard Buffy wrong.

"I said you could ask, I didn't say I'd do it." Buffy responded then leaned forward and once again traced delicately, teasingly the contours of Faith's lips.

"You're kidding right B... please tell me you're kidding..." Faith pleaded, hoping that she wasn't imagining the teasing look in Buffy's eyes. She ground her teeth when instead of replying Buffy just lifted one elegant eyebrow at her and smirked. "U... U... R just a big tease you know that don't you? And... and... you don't play fair, ya know that too don't ya, B... Ya don't..." She stamped her foot, huffed and started to move away from Buffy, her own wickedly playful nature taking control. Buffy stopped her almost immediately with a gentle hand on her arm. Faith turned around, her lower lip jutting out like a petulant three-year-old, her whole demeanor sulky.

"You're so cute when you pout baby..." Buffy laughed lightly, "You know Fai, I'm sure if you use that sinfully creative mind of yours you could think of something to entice me to change my mind... Just like I'm sure I could come up with something to get you to return the favor for me..."

Every hair on Faith's body stood on end and crackled with electricity at Buffy's throaty, hungry, whispered request, which held a promise of a night filled with delicious, mind-blowing pleasure. She was pretty sure that any second smoke was going to start coming out of her ears as she melted from the inside out. "I aH... Ah... I thINK... No I cAn... yeAH I cAN do tHAT... I CAn... I cAn... YeS, I cAN..." She was fucking squeaking again! All she wanted to do at this point was slap herself upside her head.

What's with the friggin' SQUEAKING already? I don't squeak! I don't! Score another one for me, the Big-Bad-Tuff-Sexy-Dorky-Dumbass-Mushbrained-Dark-Slayer, who turns into a stuttering, squeaking, fumbling, bumbling, babbling like Red, village idiot just by thinking about B touc... OHGODI'MGONNAHAVEASTROKE! Please, please, please whoever is listening, I'll never curse again, I fucking swear it, if you just let this happen... I fucking swear pleeeaaaseeee.

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They leisurely made their way back to the cottage, giving themselves a chance to calm down the desire that was still raging through them. They had no inclination to be caught again by anyone else. They were sure that Kiddo and Gran had spread the word that they were back, which more than likely meant they would either meet up with some of the others on their way or have visitors and or messages waiting for them at the cottage when they got there.

Buffy had a soft smile on her face as she thought about how, after they had only walked a few feet, Faith had reached out to hold her hand. Faith had looked at her with such a cute, shy expression on her face as she asked if it was all right for them to hold hands as they walked. And Buffy's heart – she swore - had made those little pitter-patter noises at Faith's shy request. Her smile had been her answer and now ten minutes later it was still gracing her face.

Furball and his mate, who Buffy had affectionately nicknamed Puff – because she was just a big old Powder Puffball of fur - were laying on the ground in front of the cottage door waiting for them. Both Slayers did a little double take when they saw them. Cinder had her head nestled into the nape of Dusk's neck; he had his head draped across both of her front paws, while the stuffed panthers were in a similar position and resting up against Cinder's side. Neither Slayer could figure out how the hell the two puppies had managed that. The second the puppies saw them their tails started wagging a mile-a-minute and though neither Slayer said anything, both of them thought they saw the stuffed panthers' tails flick once in greeting too.

Sure enough, there was a pile of notes waiting for them on the bed when they entered the cottage with the two puppies and the stuffed panthers that each carried. One note was bigger than the others. It was from Clotho and Lilith commanding them to get their cute little butts – and no they hadn't seen them, at least not this time, Ha Ha – over to Lily's cottage – NOW! - for the impromptu barbeque Lily had decided to have to welcome them back to the lake.

"I guess we'll have to wait to make another secret wish of yours and one of mine too, come true Faith. 'Cause we both know if we don't haul ass over there they'll just come over here and keep on ringin' the damn magical bell until we finally answer the door and let them in. Sorry baby, because I was most definitely looking forward to how you were going to convince me and I had a few ideas of my own on how to convince you..." Buffy purred the last part out seductively to Faith.

Faith's answer to Buffy was just a feral growl. She stamped her foot and grabbed the suitcases the Immortals had faded here for them and carried them over to the dresser to unpack them. She started mumbling under her breath about how it just wasn't fair, and the Immortals weren't playing fair and life wasn't fair and why did they have to go until Buffy finally stopped her tirade with a kiss that made her boots melt and turned her into a gushing hot spring of need.

"You don't play fair either B!" She gasped out between labored breaths.

"So you keep telling me..." Buffy laughed, "But you love me anyway..."

"With all my heart, 'til the day I die and beyond..."

The simple sincerity of Faith's words made Buffy's heart melt, the mushiness of them made her smirk though, "Is that all? Not 'til The End of Time, not 'til pigs fly, not 'til hell freezes over..."

"You makin' fun of me B?" She jutted out her bottom lip in a pretend pout, as Buffy's smile melted her heart.

"Now would I make fun of My Little Woman?" Buffy winked at her and smacked her on the butt.

"HEY! You smacked my butt!" She placed her hands on her hips and stared at Buffy, jutting her bottom lip out even further in indignation.

"Of course I did, you're MY LITTLE WOMAN!" Buffy said matter-of-factly, "Even if you are a big old mushy-cornball..."

"Look who's talkin'." Faith smiled at Buffy and effectively melted her heart once again.

"Only with you and always for you. You own me, heart, body, mind and soul Faith."

"As you do me B..."

Whereas they normally would crack up at the mushy sentiments, this time instead they leaned in towards each other for a sweet, gentle, soulful kiss. They stared at each other almost shyly after the kiss; they silently unpacked the suitcases and put everything away. They started laughing when they turned to each other, cut-off jeans and t-shirts in their hands. They had unconsciously picked out comfortable clothes, not for themselves, but for each other to change into for the barbeque. As they laughed together, staring into each other's eyes they silently melted each other's hearts once again.

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They were greeted by tight hugs, kisses and Mars' version of a hello, which was more of a battle cry than anything else. They couldn't understand why all the muss and fuss, the Immortals were acting like it had been forever since they had been here at the lake or seen each other. When in reality they had all seen the Slayers just last week, but they always seemed to act this way. In the last year, they had seen each one of Immortals at least once a month, sometimes more. What they had forgotten though, was that while it might be merely weeks between the visits of the Immortals in Earth's realm, for the Immortals it had been months within their realm. So in this convoluted, alternate-dimension, warped time zone between them, while it was just a few days shy of full year in Earth's time since the Slayers had visited the lake, for the Immortals it was almost eight years. Undoubtedly, the Slayers' didn't realize it simply because the Immortals didn't looked like they had aged a day since the first time they met them, let alone eight years.

The inevitable argument over who was going to cook over the open fire-pit sprang up an hour or so after they arrived. It was comical to watch the reenactment of the same argument that Faith and Buffy had seen many times over the course of their first stay here. Mars as usual had commandeered the cooking pit, arguing with Lily. 'Who?' - he said, just like he had every other time this happened - 'Would have more experience cooking over an open fire than I? I am, after all, the Incarnate of War and have spent many a century cooking in the camps.' Eventually, just as every other Immortal always did, Lily gave in. Who could argue against eons of experience? 'Sides when it came to BBQ'ing no one was better than Mars', not even Lilith, who could put Wolfgang Puck to shame in the kitchen.

It wasn't until they had sat down to eat that Faith got the opportunity to spend more than five minutes with Buffy since their arrival at the BBQ. It had seemed like every few minutes or so, one or another of the Immortals would pull her away from Buffy. It hadn't escaped Faith's attention either, that almost the second they had stepped onto Lily's property Buffy had gone back into that weird full-scale babble mode she had been in for the last few weeks. Nor had it escaped her attention that Buffy seemed to be spending a lot of time whispering with Lily too. She was beginning to have thoughts that she really didn't want and they confused her because they were completely opposite of what she truly believed. Those knots in her stomach were making themselves known again. Right on the virtual tail of the knots were the insecurities, fears and anxiety she thought she had buried quite some time ago and had squished under her mental boot heel earlier today.

As Buffy sat down next to Faith, she gave many a silent thanks to the Creator – as all the Immortals referred to the ultimate power in all of the dimensions – for their family. Neither Slayer had been able to get more than scattered bits of information out of the Immortals when it came to the mysterious Creator. Both Slayers had a sneaky suspicion it was because the Immortals didn't know anything more than anyone else did. All they had managed to piece together was that the Creator was, as some of the myths told, everywhere, all seeing and a part of everyone, good, bad, demon, human, mortal and Immortal alike. Like Atropos had explained to them, their destinies or fates were not set in stone. There was a loose plan, like an outline, but the choices were their own and no one could force them, not even the Creator down a path they didn't want to go. They had and always would have, freewill. That was the way it was and had always been.

She shook her head to clear them of such deep thoughts and leaned over giving Faith a quick kiss on the cheek. She received a weak smile in response. She looked at her mate puzzled by the reaction then got sidetracked when Mars' plopped down a tray full of very enticing smelling food. She was starving! Big surprise that was - not! She piled up a plate with food and handed it to Faith, assuming that Faith would be starving too after their 'activities' in the woods earlier. She nodded her head at the murmured thanks and then concentrated on making a plate for herself.

At best, Faith picked at her food, she wasn't really hungry anymore. She kept seeing out of the corner of her eye the secretive glances that Buffy and Lily were exchanging far too frequently. The knots in her stomach were now a chokehold. As hard as she tried to push them down, the thoughts she didn't want to give a voice to pushed back even harder. There was a buzzing in her head and she couldn't' seem to concentrate on anything that was going on around her.

Her mind, eyes, hearing, all of her focus was only on Buffy and Lily. The fucking thoughts she didn't want to have were making their way back up to the surface, their voices growing in volume. Their voices sounding almost childlike; as if they were insecurities and fears from when she was a kid. But she had banished all of them, hadn't she? She and Buffy together had dismantled them one by one, taking away their power over her. Hadn't they? Her mind was in complete conflict with what her heart, her soul knew was true. How was that possible? She felt Buffy's hand upon her thigh and the childlike voices of her thoughts scurried back, quieting for now.

"You okay, baby?" Buffy nodded her head towards Faith's plate, which was almost full still. Everyone else, including her, had finished eating ten minutes ago. She gnawed a little on her lower lip, a worried look crossing her face. Since they had sat down at the table, Faith had barely said more than ten words. Not eating and not talking or at the very least making sarcastic comments, weren't at all like Faith.

"Huh?" Faith turned her attention to Buffy, catching just the nod at her plate, not the question. "Just not hungry Buffy..." seeing her mate gnawing at her lip with worry, Faith pushed her own worries aside. She planted one of those cocky-lopsided grins on her face that she knew Buffy loved and leaned closer to her. Consciously lowering her voice so it would come out husky she said, "Maybe I'll have some dessert later, right now I'm still full from what I had to eat earlier in the woods, B..." She leaned even closer and gave Buffy a soft, wet kiss on the side of her neck so she wouldn't mistake her meaning, not that she really thought she would. It was an excuse to kiss her mate, she knew it and she knew Buffy knew it too.

Her lopsided-cocky grin became genuine when she saw the flush creep up Buffy's neck and pink tint Buffy's cheeks as she blushed.

"Yummmm, dessert sounds good right now," Buffy paused and then spoke in the barest of whispers so the Immortals couldn't hear her, only Faith. "Can I have you for dessert later, Fai? Maybe pretend that you're ice-cream in a cone, so that I have to carefully, slowly lick you all over to keep you from melting all over my hand. Mmmmm, liken' the idea of you melting all over - under and on my hands - in my mouth - on my tongue..." Buffy groaned inside, not the best analogy or description but from the look on Faith's face it didn't seem to matter, she had gotten her point across quite effectively.

All the blood in Faith's body rushed to her crotch. No, scratch that! Every single drop of moisture in her body rushed right to her crotch! She started verbally to reply and then quickly decided to nod instead. She could feel the Brain-Turned-To-Mush-Dark-Slayer part of her just waiting in the wings for her to open her mouth.

The moment was broken when Lily got up and started clearing the picnic table of dirty dishes and platters. Everyone stood up intending to help, including Faith, and Lily shushed them all away with the exception of Buffy. Faith's eyes tracked her mate as she made her way into the cottage with the Green Mother. Those childlike voices of her fears and insecurities started screaming in her head again. She fought with them, but was losing, she started repeating in her head that Buffy loved her, was in love with HER and NO ONE else over and over again. Her internal clock kept time, counting off the minutes as they went by as she waited for Buffy to come back out of the cottage.

Why did it always seem that when her life was good, when she was making her dreams, her wishes come true, something always happened to spoil the moment, mar the memory?

Why?

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Lilith had been watching the Slayers covertly, but mostly Faith, since they had arrived at Lily's. She had been all too aware of how Buffy had been acting over the last few weeks. A Chicken-without-a-head didn't even come close to describing it. It was just now though that she was noticing the effect Buffy's bizarre behavior was having on Faith. She knew, just like they all knew, Immortals, vampires, witches, seer, ex-demon, the Key, mortals, hell even the animals knew or so Lily said they did, why Buffy was acting the way she was. Lilith was surprised that Faith hadn't found out too. Then again, they were all a little afraid of what the petite blond-haired Slayer might do to them if Faith did find out, thus they all managed to keep the secrets from Faith.

She watched as Faith's eyes narrowed as she followed Buffy's movements. She turned her head slightly to see what it was that was causing that almost hurt look in the Dark Slayer's eyes and sudden understanding came to her. Oh shit! This wasn't good at all! She knew that look; she knew it all too well. She had seen that look on her own face quite a few times a very long time ago and it caused many problems between her and Clotho. The very last time it had almost destroyed her relationship with Clotho permanently. Thanks to Mars' that hadn't happened.

Lilith could understand why Faith would be thinking what she was, feeling what she was. Because the last time she had worn that same look, had those same thoughts, Clotho had been acting very much like Buffy was. Coincidentally enough too, Clotho had acted that way for one out of the two exact same reasons. Like Faith, Lilith had jumped to the same conclusions, had the same suspicions, even though she knew or should have known better. Only for her, it hadn't been because of Lily, but a woman named Amarynthia, who was better known as Artemis, Greek goddess of the hunt, wilderness, wild animals, fertility and protector of the Amazons. In the end, she supposed sometimes it didn't matter what you knew to be true, mortal or Immortal alike, there were times you were just plain old human, with all the baggage that came along with it.

Without a second thought, Lilith decided that she would be to Faith, what Mars had been to her when she had come terrifyingly close to losing her soul-mate. Only she wasn't going to wait for the shit to hit the fan, she was going to act now. The problem though, was how to do it without Faith knowing she was doing it? She knew as well as she knew her own name, that if Faith even thought that she had figured out what was going on in her head, she would put up a wall of denial as thick as, well, she didn't think there was anything as thick as the wall the Dark Slayer would put up in any dimension. Lilith had, when Mars had approached her, and she and Faith were a lot alike. They were so much alike; it scared the living shit out of her sometimes. Because like her, she knew Faith would deny it. Because to Faith - like it had been to her - even having these thoughts felt in some way like they were betraying their soul-mate, betraying all they shared together.

Unlike her though, she knew Faith's fears, insecurities, came from a much deeper, much darker place than hers had. While on the surface it may appear, or even feel as if Faith had conquered all those fears that had dominated her earlier life. Had conquered them with her own strong will and with the help and tender loving care of her family and Buffy, Lilith knew that in reality it wasn't quite that easy.

No, she could never, not truly, understand the depths of those fears, insecurities, those horrible lessons Faith had been forced to learn throughout her young life, and had been ingrained into her psyche deeply, carelessly and painstakingly through the years. But she did know from her own struggles with the insecurities, fears and memories of her own painful past that they took much more time, no matter how strong willed or well-loved you were to ever be completely conquered, banished and unlearned.

Sadly, she also knew that some, while faded would remain with you forever. Just as sadly too, Lilith knew, they would make themselves known from time to time. Take hold of you and override what you knew in your heart and soul. Usually these weren't the big nasty nightmares or the flashbacks that hit you squarely in the face. No they rarely were those, these were the small fears, terrors, that slowly crept to the surface in unexpected ways, they were the shadows that you saw out of the corner of your eye, the passing thought, that slowly became a niggling doubt, the knots in your stomach that day by day grew tighter until they were a chokehold. The key, Lilith knew, to sending them back into exile was to recognize them for what they were: untruths. And in doing so, you once again took away their power over you. Time may heal all wounds, but some wounds will always leave scars.

Now, how did she get Faith to recognize the difference between what was real and what was just a faded scar?

Lilith continued to stare at the Dark Slayer and she could almost see the little Green-Eyed monster doing a tap dance across her shoulders, as he cackled with glee. It wasn't so unusual for people to experience jealousy once or twice in their lives, Lilith knew, after all jealousy had been around since before man had learned to walk upright. Yes, there were times when it was irrational and out of control, but that kind of jealousy always came from some other place, a very non-healthy type place.

She could see the conflict that was going on in Faith, it had written itself in big bold letters across her face, in her eyes and she knew that Faith's mind was at war with her heart and soul. This was one or many of those old faded scars creeping their way out and into Faith's consciousness. Buffy's bizarre behavior as the weeks passed giving them the tiny crack they needed to come out and create havoc.

This was different from when Buffy had been the psycho-student from hell. There had been a reason for her acting that way and Faith was well aware of that. This time however, there wasn't a reason, at least not one that Faith knew about, for Buffy's bizarre behavior and the only thing she was seeing that came close to a reason was appearing in the beautiful, delicate, tiny form of the Green Mother and Lilith was seriously contemplating telling Faith what was really going on. First though she would try another way, try to draw Faith out, try to get her to talk and put a voice to those fears and insecurities, thus taking away their power over her.

Now if that were only as easily said as done, Lilith would be in great shape.

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She drummed her fingers against the wooden tabletop, her brow furrowed in thought; she was drawing a complete blank on where or how to start. She felt the warmth of her mate invade her as she gently caressed her through their bond. She blinked once or twice, a soft smile gracing her face and everything came back into focus. She noticed that they were alone at the table and now would be the perfect time for her to say something to the Dark Slayer. She decided to just go with her gut, appease her own curiosity at the same time and see where she could lead the conversation without arousing Faith's suspicions.

"So, Faith did you..." She stopped when she realized Faith wasn't paying one ounce of attention to her. "Faith... Yoo-hoo earth to Faith." She snapped her fingers and waved her hand in front of the Dark Slayer's face. She let out a whoosh of frustrated air, then snapped her fingers and waved again, almost hitting Faith in the nose, 'cause she knew Faith was blatantly ignoring her. "Oh Faaaaaiiiiiithhhhhh. Heeeelllllooooooo!"

"WHAT?" Faith slapped Lilith's hand away from her face, snarling, practically baring her teeth. "What the fuck do you want?"

"Hey! Easy there! What the hell crawled up your ass and died?" Lilith snapped her errant mouth closed, oh yeah, they were a lot alike, and after seeing the look Faith was giving her right now, she decided to change tactics. Faith looked like she was ready to rip her face off and at the same time she looked confused, vulnerable, scared, sad and right on the edge of losing it and exploding. So Lilith with her eons worth of wisdom decided to push her buttons. Knowing again because of how alike they were, that it was the best way to get Faith talking, maybe not the safest certainly, but the best. She knew she had a fifty-fifty chance of either getting Faith pissed, in which case she would probably get her ass handed to her on a silver Slayer platter or getting Faith to laugh and thus lightening a little of the burden weighing the Dark Slayer down. "What happened did something crawl up there and die when you and Buffy were 'p -laaayyyin' in the forest today?"

Faith's mouth opened and closed repeatedly like a fish gasping for air because it had been yanked out of the water and thrown upon the shore. She stared at the Immortal, wondering if Lilith had lost her fucking mind. She was ready to snap, ready to rip Lilith a new one, that was when she noticed the twinkle in Lilith's eyes and the smirk she was trying to keep from showing. Lilith was jerking her chain. "You're an ass. You do know that, don't you, Gran?"

"Yes Grasshopper, I do. But you're such an easy mark! I well... I just can't control myself around you sometimes." Lilith waved herself with an invisible fan as she batted her eyelashes coquettishly at Faith in perfect complement to the southern drawl she had affected. She started to smile when she saw Faith trying to fight both the grin growing on her face and the laughter that was trying to sneak out. "Come on I know you want to laugh. So just do it already!" With her Immortal speed, she reached out and pinched the Dark Slayer's cheek before she even had a chance to think about trying to stop her.

"HEY!" Faith swatted playfully at Lilith's hand, "Don't EVER pinch my cheek again, Grandma!"

"But – but – I just can't help myself. You're just so darn cute..." Before Faith could stop her, Lilith had pinched her cheek again.

"You really are an ass. You do know that, don't you?" The laugh found its way out in total conflict with the childlike voices causing havoc in her head. They weren't too happy about this turn of events.

"I think we already covered that, it 'tis one of my many charms, after all. A charm, in fact, that both you and I share. Along with our rapier wit, our sultry good looks and the fact that we're both hopelessly head over heels in love with - lucky us – the two most beautiful women to ever grace any dimension. Even luckier for us, they absolutely, positively feel the same way about us as we do them. How did we both get so lucky?"

"Yeah... how did we?" Faith's eyes flickered away from Lilith and back to the front door of the cottage again.

She was unaware that her eyes had grown sad and confused again, and that a soft sigh of something almost akin to self-loathing had slipped from her. Unaware, because she had yet to realize how far that mask, that shield of indifference, boredom she had worn for most of her life had begun to slip, to slowly dissolve away over the last year. Right now, it was a blessing in disguise that she didn't realize it. She was already feeling raw, exposed and vulnerable. If she had known how easy it was for Lilith to read her, it might have made all of her carefully dismantled, smashed walls re-erect with a force that would have made the earth itself tremble. Her attention, her eyes went back to Lilith as she felt Lilith put her hand gently on her arm.

"Look I know what yo..."

"Lilith..." Mars growled, clamping a strong hand down on her shoulder so hard it jarred her teeth. "I need to talk to you for a second. Excuse us for a minute, Leanaban."

"Can't it wait Mars?" Lilith tried prying Mars' hand from her shoulder to avail.

"No!"

"But..."

"No! I need to speak with you right now!"

"So talk already Mars!"

Faith watched them bicker back and forth with amusement forgetting for the moment her own depressing, confusing thoughts. They were acting like two ten-year-olds, which was funny considering you could probably add a few zeros to the ten and still not be close to their true age. Well, at least she thought that anyway.

"Privately Lilith. Faith, you don't mind if I steal Lilith for a few minutes, do you?" Mars grounded out from between his teeth. Christ, Lilith could be so dense sometimes.

"Nah go on. I'll be fine, thinkin' I'm old enough to sit here by myself." Faith waved them both away, her eyes involuntarily drifting back to the cottage.

"I'll be right back Faith, don't go anywhere."

"Whatever Gran."

Keeping her anger in check for the moment or at least until she was out of Faith's Slayer hearing, Lilith let Mars' drag her away from the table. Mars had just ruined everything, Faith had given her the perfect opening with her lackluster response to the 'How did we both get so lucky?' question.

"Didn't they teach manners in Warlord school?" Snarling, she planted her hands on her hips and gave Mars the evil eye. "What the hell is so important that you had to drag me away? Well? I'm waiting Mars."

"I asked him to Lil." Clotho whispered as she walked up behind Lilith her footsteps just as quiet. She moved until she was standing next to Lilith.

"You? But why? What's going on Clo?" Lilith was truly puzzled; subterfuge was not Clotho's normal stock in trade.

"Well, I knew if I came over there to get you, you would just humor me, yes'ing me to death 'til I left. So I sent Mars, he's not so easy to ignore."

"So what the hell is so damn important?" Now Lilith was not only puzzled but also a little pissed. She felt her window of opportunity with Faith slipping away.

"I needed to stop you before you did something stupid." Clotho arched an eyebrow at Lilith and touched her arm gently to both offset her harsh words and to stop Lilith from interrupting her. "I know you're just trying to help, Lil. But if you had just blurted out that you knew what she was feeling, you would've just made her shut down and run." Clotho smiled softly at Lilith when she adamantly shook her head no at her.

"You know I'm right Lil. It's exactly what you would've done, in fact, what you did do in the past when we all approached you. You're right about one thing, you two are a lot alike. But she's not ready to hear what you have to say. She's not ready to talk about this and I know that you want to save her some of the same pain that you went through. But you can't, not right now." Clotho didn't need to tell Lilith that she knew all of this because of their bond. She knew exactly how her mate felt. She too wanted to help the Slayers, but now was not the time.

"But I only wanted to do what Mars did for me. He helped me to open my eyes and see what was really going on with us, with me. He helped me to see what it was I was doing and where my unfounded suspicions were really coming from. I just want to do the same for Faith."

"Lilith it wasn't until the last time I approached you that you listened to what I had to say. So did I really open your eyes or did I just confirm what you already knew inside and helped you work through it?" Mars kept his voice just as quiet as Lilith and Clotho had. None of them wanted to be overheard, which given that both Immortals and Slayers alike had extraordinary hearing was a distinct possibility.

Luc and Atropos walked over to join the three Immortals and came in on the middle of the conversation. They had been watching them since Mars had pulled Lilith away from Faith. It had taken only a few minutes for them to figure out what or rather whom they were discussing. They stood quietly, all of them seeing the pained expression on Lilith's face as she thought back to that awful time in both hers and Clotho's life.

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They weren't the only ones that were watching the three Immortals, Faith was too. She knew they were talking about her and Buffy. They weren't as subtle as they thought though, she kept catching the covert looks all three were throwing her way, then towards the cottage and all it did was start to confirm her worst fears. Those childlike voices rose up stronger in her mind and all she wanted to do was run. Run as fast and as far away as possible.

Now that she was really thinking about it, she realized that Buffy had been spending a lot of time with Lily these last few weeks, it wasn't just her imagination. The convoluted logic that had dominated her for most of her life added its voice to the childlike whispers in her head. It twisted her thinking and once again placed the blame for what was happening, including Buffy's bizarre behavior and the reasons for why she was even having these suspicions on her own shoulders.

This was her fault! It had to be! She had to have done something to make Buffy even think about doing this. Somehow, she didn't know how, it didn't really matter how, because somehow, someway she had fucked up again. She knew Buffy was in love her, even now she didn't doubt that. So it had to be her that was doing something to cause this, something that was pushing Buffy away, making Buffy doubt her, doubt her love for her. Maybe she wasn't giving Buffy something that she needed. Because otherwise there would be no reason – at least not one that she could see – to cause Buffy to be acting this way. Was there?

She pressed her balled up fists into her thighs as she fought down the urge to run. She had stopped running three years ago; she wasn't going to start again now. She watched as Luc and Atropos joined the conversation and distracted the other three. She had to hear what they were saying! She had to know if her fears were a reality. She consciously loosened up her rigid muscles and casually rose from the table. She wandered aimlessly away from them until she was out of their sight and then circled back. Slowly making her way along the edge of the woods to move closer to them, keeping her footsteps light so they wouldn't give her away.

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Lilith forced herself to think back to that time in her life. Clotho had tried to talk to her repeatedly, but Lilith refused to listen to anything her mate had to say. Convinced that whatever Clotho had to say was a lie. The voices of her past, the fears and insecurities making her see things that weren't there and blinding her to what her own heart and soul knew was the real truth. All of the Immortals had tried talking to her but she refused to listen to any of them either, believing since she wasn't an Incarnate like them that they were lying for Clotho, because she was one of them.

She had secluded herself away from Clotho, from all of them, screaming at them through the door to leave her alone. Mars of course, since he was the most bullheaded, had known Lilith the longest and because he absolutely knew she and Clotho belonged together was the most persistent of them all. She had spent endless nights going over and over in her head what she had seen, what she had heard and little by little she had begun to realize where these thoughts were coming from, what they truly were.

"You're right Mars. I just wish that... Why does this have to be so hard? Why can't we save her from this pain? Why the hell can't we just tell her the truth?" She was frustrated; she looked at Clotho hoping her mate would have the answers for her. Hoping that she would hear something other then what she knew one of them was going to say.

"Sometimes the best thing to do for someone is to step back. Give them the chance to figure out on their own what is happening." Atropos stopped, it wasn't coming out the way she wanted. She looked to Luc for help; they too had gone through something similar.

"She is blaming herself for this. This is coming from somewhere deep inside of her; it is her old insecurities, her old fears unveiling themselves again. She needs to figure this out on her own, or she might never believe in herself again. She needs to recognize these fears, insecurities for what they are, understand where they come from, so that if she ever hears their voices again she will know them for what they are. Lies, untruths, false emotions, guilt, that had been told, force upon, placed on her shoulders and beaten into her repeatedly, when she was young. And those same lies, untruths, guilt, false emotions were reinforced, told and beaten into her once more in Glory's hell, making her feel and believe them all again." Luc ran his hand through his hair, wondering himself if he had made any sense. He felt the guilt for his own part in all of this rise up in the back of his throat like it had been every day since Atropos had summoned him to the Tapestry of Life room all that time ago.

None of them had noticed that Buffy had walked up next to them, nor did they know that she had heard the last part of what Luc had said. Nor did anyone notice Faith hiding behind the tree, though she had arrived after Luc had finished speaking.

Buffy was pissed they were talking about Faith and about that hell they had existed in. She was fuming that Luc had the nerve to even speak about that hell, let alone speak about Faith, speak about what had happened, about what it had done to Faith. After all, it was his fault that Johnny had even been there in the first place. If it hadn't been for him, Glory would have never pulled Faith into the portal.

In her anger, Buffy completely forgot that Glory had pulled Faith into the portal before she had Johnny. She had never confronted Luc about his part in all of it, there had been too many other things going on, nor had she ever told Faith about the part he had played. Once again, that rage she thought she had conquered for the two degenerates that held them captive found life and it was directing itself right at Luc.

"And all the thanks goes to you for Faith getting to experience again all that shit, doesn't it Lucifer?" She snarled, her eyes glinting dark-amber. This Buffy was very quickly becoming the one that had been chained up in the cage with him in Glory's hell.

No one noticed as all the other Immortals joined their small group.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Mars demanded of Buffy.

"Buffy, now is not the..."

Buffy rounded on Atropos, waving her hands wildly cutting her off, "Why not Atropos, don't want anyone to know that it was because of dear old hubby that Glory had – had – that piece of shit who had called himself Faith's Daddy?!"

Everyone froze as the implications of Buffy words whirled around in their heads. Up until now Buffy, the Fates, Lilith and Luc, had been the only ones who knew that Luc had given Johnny to Glory. And only the Fates and knew his reasons for giving Johnny to Glory.

At the first mention of Glory, Faith dug her fingers into the tree she was hiding behind to eavesdrop on their conversation. She dug them in harder, not noticing the blood dripping from them when in an echo the anger, the rage Buffy was feeling rolled over her, then she dug her fingers in harder still, at the mention of Johnny. Her chest felt tight, she was finding it hard to breath. She was paralyzed by what Buffy had just revealed and she didn't want to believe it. Didn't want to believe that someone whom she considered family could have done this to her, to Buffy, to them.

Buffy turned back to Luc snarling under her breath, "If you had kept that fucking scumbag in hell with you where he belonged in the first place instead of giving him to that demented Demon-Goddess som..."

A bellow of pure rage drowned out the rest of what Buffy was saying and before anyone could move Mars grabbed Luc by the throat and tossed him clear across the backyard and before anyone had a chance to react or move, Mar's streaked after Luc and started pummeling him with every ounce of strength he possessed.

Luc didn't even try to defend himself. He had been waiting for this, waiting for this to finally come out. He had never approached either Slayer, never found the opportunity, the right time to apologize for his part in what had happened to them. He had not wanted to add this on top of everything else they were going through just to assuage his own guilty conscience. And if he was truly honest with himself, he was afraid of losing them once it all came out in the open. They were his family; he felt like Atropos, they were like his grandchildren; loved, cherished, precious, adored, admired and irreplaceable.

Atropos reached them first, panicking as she saw her mate wasn't even defending himself. Mars couldn't kill Luc, but he could seriously hurt him, only another Immortals had that ability. The hurts, bruises, cuts, broken bones they inflicted on each other couldn't be healed by magic, they had to heal on their own. It had always been that way, the Creator wanted them to understand what it was like so they thought twice before inflicting any type of physical harm on those that weren't like them and on each other.

Atropos tried futilely to grab the Incarnate of War's flailing fists, as she yelled at him to stop. "Mars please stop! He didn't know! He didn't know when he gave him to her! He didn't know she had the Slayers! Please, please, please stop Mars!"

Her words, her pleas, fell on deaf ears, Mars was beyond listening to anyone. If he couldn't take his rage out on the two people that were responsible for the abuse that had been inflicted upon the Slayers, upon the daughter of his heart, then he would inflict it upon the man who was responsible for placing his daughter and her mate within that monster's reach. He flung Zane, Crow and Chris from him with one hand as they tried to pull him off Luc, while he kept beating on him with the other.

"Oh god what have I done?" Buffy whispered to herself, the rage draining completely out of her. Her hands clenched and unclenched helplessly at her side. She had thought she had control of her rage, but the words had fallen so easily from her lips and she had let the rage take her over without the slightest hesitation, without the slightest fight. She knew in her heart that Luc would have never given Johnny to Glory had he known. It wasn't him, it wasn't the type of man he was, it wasn't the role he played in their world, their dimension, even if he was Satan. She ran over to them, she jumped into the fray helping the others to pull the enraged Incarnate of War off the bleeding Incarnate of Evil. Everyone, including her, had forgotten about Faith.

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Overload! There were so many confusing thoughts going through her head she felt like she might have a meltdown. She was frozen, still clutching, digging her fingers into the tree, it was her only anchor right now. She watched the scene unfold in front of her and felt like her world was falling apart. Why was it that this shit always happened when everything felt right, felt good? Why did it always happen just before she was ready to take that next step on the road to redemption, forgiveness, to realizing her dreams? Why did it always fall apart? Was this always going to be her life? But more importantly was she going to sit back and just let it happen, let her family rip each other apart or was she going to do something about it?

She released her death grip on the tree, ignoring the blood, wiping it off almost absentmindedly on her cutoffs. She moved towards them using her Slayer speed. She was beside them within seconds.

Softly she whispered, somehow knowing that they would hear her despite the shouting, "Stop it! Stop it all of you right now! Mars, let Luc go!"

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They all stilled at her softly spoken words, all but Mars who couldn't see past his rage or hear anything beyond the pounding of the blood in his ears. Faith knelt down next to them, putting her hand on Mars' shoulder.

Softly, soothingly she whispered, "Please, 'Athair mo cridhe,' please stop. Please, 'Athair' stop."

His fist halted mid-flight when the sound of her voice, so sad, so soft, so full of forgiveness and compassion found its way past his rage. His heart hammered against his chest when the words she had spoken in Gaelic to him seeped in. She had called him, 'Athair' and 'Athair mo cridhe,' Father and Father of my heart.

Ashamed of himself, he hastily lifted himself off Luc. He looked first at Faith, who just reached up and gently brushed the side of his face, then down at the bloody mess he had made out of the man whom he thought of as a brother. He hesitantly reached down a hand, expecting it to be rejected and no one was more surprised than him when Luc accepted his offer of help. He pulled the Devil himself up to his feet and was surprised once again when Luc wrapped him in a bear hug.

"It's okay Mars; I would have done no less." Luc whispered for Mars' ears only.

Luc untangled himself from Mars, gave him a small smile, wincing slightly from the tear in his lip. He turned to look at Faith and silently watched as Buffy moved next to her. Watched, as the Slayers unconsciously reached for and clasped each other's hand. "I'm sorr..." He trailed off when Faith shook her head no at him.

"No Luc. There's no need for you to apologize. I know you would never have done anything to hurt either of us. Not before... and not now. All the blame, the guilt belongs solely to those other two. Not to you, or me or Buffy, not to anyone in our family."

Faith smiled tenderly at him and he could see she not only meant but also believed every word she had just spoken and he felt as if the weight of the world had suddenly been lifted from his shoulders. He shifted from foot to foot, wincing in pain, amazed by the generosity of the woman in front of him and awed by her capacity to love and forgive. Still though, he felt guilty, then he saw a twinkle in her eyes and so he waited for what was to come.

"Why don't the three of us take a walk to your cottage so you can clean yourself up. We can talk, since I know you're gonna feel guilty anyway until you say whatever it is you need to say and we tell you we forgive you a billion or so times." She waited for his answer which was given in a nod, "You know Scamp, next time 'm' Athair' decides to kick the shit out of you, you might want to fight back or defend yourself... at least a little bit."

Luc, Buffy and Faith walked away towards his cottage leaving a group of stunned Immortals behind. Though none more stunned than Mars, when Faith once again called him, 'm' Athair,' my Father.

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Luc faded them back to his and Atropos' cottage after they reached the path that ran between all the cottages. He excused himself to go take a quick shower and change, leaving both Slayers alone for the moment in the kitchen. They turned to face each other.

Buffy gave Faith a sheepish grin, which swiftly turned to one of concern when she realized that the wetness she felt holding Faith's hand wasn't from her own sweaty palms. Sweat dried, it didn't turn sticky. She grasped Faith's other hand with hers and before she even raised them up to eye level, she knew what she would see.

"Oh my god Faith, what happened to your hands?" She dragged Faith over to the sink, dropping one hand so she could turn the water on.

It was Faith's turn to give Buffy a sheepish look, "I guess I was holding on to the tree I was standing by a little tighter than I thought."

She really didn't remember doing it and she was ashamed to tell Buffy that she had been hiding behind the tree so she could spy on the Immortals and listen in on their conversation. Ashamed of the thoughts she had been having about Buffy and ashamed because she believed that all of this was her fault.

She untangled her hands from Buffy's and turned towards the sink, unable to look her in the eyes. Those goddamn childlike whispers returned. They wanted her to confront Buffy, she screamed so loud at them to shut the fuck up in her head, her body actually jerked in reaction. Now was not the time. She needed time to figure things out, time so she didn't go off halfcocked and make things worse. Besides, there was still Luc to worry about and helping him get past the guilt she knew he was feeling. Not to mention the guilt and horror that she could feel Buffy was struggling with because of her actions, her rage at what she had let slip and the aftermath it had caused. So, she forced down her own fears, her own needs and put Luc and Buffy's before her own, just like she always did.

She put her hands under the lukewarm water and sucked in a breath at the stinging pain. She really had done a number on her fingers. She could feel Buffy staring at her with concerned, worried eyes and was comforted when she felt Buffy's hand tracing light circles on her lower back. She stared at her hands almost curiously, her fingertips, the pads of her fingers and the skin down to the middle knuckles torn, almost shredded. She felt a little out of it, distracted, almost numb, as if the overload she had felt earlier had shut down all the synapses in her brain. She shook her head trying to force herself out of the murky, hazy place she was in.

Buffy leaned her head against Faith's shoulder, slipping one hand under her arm and the other around the outside. She gently cupped both of Faith's hands with her own. Tenderly she helped Faith wash the blood off and clean out the cuts on her fingers.

"Oh baby..." Buffy moaned softly in sympathy.

"It's okay B... they'll heal up in a day or two." She mumbled absently. She hissed as Buffy started to clean out the cuts with soap, then was grateful for the burning pain which threw everything back into sharp focus.

Buffy turned off the water and grabbed the towel beside the sink. She carefully dried Faith's hands, then raised each one up to her mouth and kissed the backs of them softly. She let them go, knelt down to check under the sink for a first aid kit and was relieved to see there was one. She found gauze and tape in the kit and led Faith over to the table to sit. She knelt down in front of her and with care wrapped each of Faith's fingers after first applying antiseptic cream.

"That should help, along with our Slayer healing. I'm not sure what else to do, what else I can do?" She gnawed her bottom lip worriedly; innately knowing that somehow she was the catalyst that had caused this. She stared up into the dark-chocolate eyes of her mate, seeing a hint of sadness in them. Instinctively knowing, not the how or the why, but that she was the cause of the sadness in Faith's eyes and that it went deeper then what had just happened at Lily's cottage. "Baby, what else can I do for you?"

"Just love me," Faith whispered ever so softly.

Upon hearing those soft words Buffy's eyes grew wide. She rose up to her feet and lifted Faith from the chair. She sat down with Faith in her lap pulling her into an impossibly tight one-arm embrace. Her other hand came up to rest on Faith's cheek and gently urged her to look at her. She let out an almost inaudible sigh of relief when she felt Faith lean into her touch as she turned her head. "I do. I will always love you Faith."

She let herself fall into Buffy's embrace, let herself feel those words. She rested her head on Buffy's shoulder, one arm going around to hold Buffy, the other coming up to stroke the nape of her neck with the back of her hand.

"I know. I love you too, always will B." There was something almost wistful about her words as if she knew this was just the calm before the storm and somehow knew too that it was an internal storm. One that she could not outrun, could not avoid. A storm she would need to conquer on her own, in essence, a storm that had been brewing for a very long time. It was a battle she was determined to win.

A peaceful feeling washed over her and for now her fears and insecurities faded away. A vague sense of understanding of this internal storm began floating around the edges of her mind and when she heard the almost howl of fear come from those childlike voices in her thoughts, she knew she was on the right track.

They sat quietly holding each other while they waited for Luc and basked in the warmth, in the comfort, in the love they found in each other's arms.

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"So has Rais made any further appearances since the last time?" Lilith leaned back against the wall of the training room making herself a little more comfortable. The five of them, Lilith, Clotho, Mars and the Slayers had just finished going through a new set of routines.

"Nope, haven't seen hide or hair of him since... When was that baby, January?" Buffy looked at Faith who just nodded. "I think he got tired of trading barbs with Faith. Has anyone gotten any further in figuring out how to get rid of him once and for all or finding out about this Dead Scroll he likes to spout off about?"

"No, all we know is that the Dead Scroll is evil's equivalent of the Living Scroll. Though, Crow told us there is no mention in the Living Scroll of Rais or anyone connected with him. We're still working on a spell to bring him back into this dimension that will also separate him from the demon he bound himself to all those centuries ago. It would be much easier if we could find the original spell that he used, 'cause we really don't know exactly what he is bound to. For once the Tapestry is of no help." Clotho shrugged not sure what else to say.

Clotho had been watching the two Slayers closely since they had sat down on the floor. They were leaning against each other but somehow they were miles apart. The day after Lily's impromptu BBQ, Buffy had gone back into her nervous, hyperactive babble mode again, which had been getting increasingly worse as the days passed. As for Faith, she still smiled, joined in and though it wasn't blaringly apparent there was something hollow, fake about it as if she were doing it by rote, doing it because it was expected of her.

Clotho could see that as each day passed little by little Faith was withdrawing from them. She had witnessed this up close and personal a long time ago when Lilith had done it. She had wanted to do something then, just like now and just like then, she once again was at a loss as to what to do. She felt helpless and she hated feeling that way. She turned to look at Lilith when she felt her mate squeeze her hand reading her thoughts.

"So Faith, you still want to go riding with us?" Lilith asked.

"Yeah Gran, sounds good. You coming with us Buffy?" Faith asked already knowing that Buffy would say no.

"No. I've got some other stuff, you know things, maybe a swim, or a shower, just stuff I want to do baby. You go ahead withou..." Buffy rambled, thinking to herself that she was such an idiot.

"Whatever, Buffy." Faith mumbled out in an unemotional voice, a resigned look crossing her face. None of them missed the flat, detached words or the almost sad, rejected look on Faith's face, with the exception of Buffy, who was too caught up in her own insecurities and fears.

Faith's stomach twisted into tighter knots, they were suffocating her. She swallowed down the lump in her throat as she tried to capture Buffy's darting eyes with her own. Buffy not making eye contact with her seemed to be par for the course, just like her incessant babbling. They went hand in hand with Buffy sneaking away to spend quite a bit of time alone with Lily, while at the same time avoiding being alone with her again at all costs.

For the most part, Faith had been spending all her time and energy on brooding and trying to keep the voices of her fears, insecurities and the possessive anger that she was feeling, which was steadily growing stronger, at bay. She had spent the last three days trying to figure out what it was that she was doing, had done wrong. How once again she had managed to fuck things up. Her head pounded almost nonstop from the conflict raging inside of her – she didn't understand how on one hand she knew with absolute certainty that Buffy was in love with her and on the other hand had the suspicions she did about Buffy and Lily with almost the same certainty.

It was becoming increasingly easier to fall back into her old habits of not talking, not reaching out, isolating herself and placing the blame on her own shoulders. This alone terrified the shit out of her. She didn't want to fall back into habits that had done nothing but make her life even worse, even darker. The way she had been, had made it that much easier for her to walk down that dark path. But even knowing this, she still felt herself becoming increasingly introverted and remote. It was almost like she was watching all of it from outside of herself and was helpless to stop or change any of it, just like when she was kid. For the first time in a year, the weight on her shoulders felt far too heavy to carry and the burden she carried wasn't one she thought she could share with anyone, not even with Buffy.

She felt as if she had painted herself into a corner that she could never get out of. There was no way that she could ever leave Buffy, no way she would let her go, no way in hell that she would ever share her and she didn't know if she could ever forgive Buffy if she had already or if she ever did cheat on her. With a weary sigh, she jumped up to her feet and without even so much as a goodbye she tore off after Lilith and Clotho, who had already left. She completely missed Buffy's bewildered, hurt look at her actions as she ran out of the training barn without a word, a touch or a smile goodbye.

Mars didn't miss it though, and when Buffy turned to look at him it took all of his willpower not to hit her upside her head and knock some sense into her. He stood up, intending to walk away without a word himself, after only a few steps he stopped and turned around to look at her.

"Maybe if you stop acting like a goddamn babbling, brainless, stereotypical, blonde twit, you might get a clue!" He growled then stormed out of the training room leaving Buffy all alone.

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"So are you two enjoying your stay here?" Clotho asked Faith quietly as they rode along one of the many trails around the lake.

"Yeah." Faith grunted and then went right back to her internal battle.

"Faith?" Clotho waited for Faith to look at her before she continued, "Can um... well can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, can't promise I'll answer it though." Faith shrugged her shoulders but there was a little bit of her trademark lopsided-cocky grin playing around the corners of her mouth.

"Fair enough. Well, I mean it's pretty obvious that you have a thing for giving people nicknames. It's your way of showing affection or that you like them. I thought Spike was going to strut like a peacock when you finally gave him a nickname the day when we got the antido... oh shit..." Clotho trailed off and bit her lip. The last thing she wanted to do was bring up bad memories. Her mouth had gotten ahead of her brain; she could have slapped herself for her stupidity.

"It's okay Kiddo," Faith smirked both at Clotho's mortified look and the memory of Spike's surprised, embarrassed, happy look the day she had dubbed him Soul-boy Junior. "Ask your question. You've got me curious now."

"Sorry I didn't mean to bring any..."

"It's okay really," Faith said again, waving away Clotho's apology.

"Ask already Clo!" Lilith interjected her own two-cents, her own curiosity piqued.

"All right! As I was saying, you've given everyone nicknames. Some people a few different ones. But with everyone you mostly use them when you're teasing them otherwise you use their names." Clotho was starting to think that Buffy's nonstop babbling was contagious, so were Faith and Lilith for that matter. "Um everyone except Buffy that is. You almost always, exclusively call her 'B' and I've noticed that no one but you calls her that. As a matter of fact I don't think I've ever heard you call her Buffy, until today that is."

"Clo is there a question in there somewhere?" Lilith finally asked in exasperation.

"I was starting to wonder that too, Gran." Faith chuckled and both Immortals smiled at her.

"I guess my question is why do you call Buffy, 'B'?" Clotho looked expectantly at Faith. Her motive for asking the question wasn't just simple curiosity, but more of a way to get Faith to remember the 'Soul' connection between Buffy and herself. To remember why it was that she had given Buffy a nickname barely seconds after they had met. Make her realize, why it was, that everyone understood, respected that the affectionate nickname she had for her soul-mate was exclusively for her use only. Hoping to get Faith to remember what she had always known and to expose those voices from her past for what they were and send them back to where they belonged. Clotho already knew the answer to her question. She had seen it in the Tapestry of Life long ago when they first brought the Dark Slayer to them in her dreams.

Faith settled into the soothing rhythm of Obsidian's slow gait. Her eyes slid closed and without thought she found the thread that connected her to her mate. It shone brighter than the others that connected them.

It was beautiful, ethereal, luminous, special, just like her mate and...

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Stunned by Mars' parting shot at her, Buffy didn't move from her spot on the floor for a few minutes after he left. What the hell had she done? Why the hell had he said that to her? Why the hell had Faith left without so much as a look?

She got up to her feet and chased after Mars, by the time she had made it out of the training barn he was nowhere in sight. She ran over to his cottage and banged on the door but got no answer. She knew she had been babbling a lot lately thanks to her nerves, but was she really that bad? If Mars had been irked enough by her recent behavior to say something to her then she was sure the other Immortals had noticed her behavior too. And if the Immortals noticed and were irritated, god only knew how Faith felt.

Over the last few days, she had noticed that Faith had been a little remote. In her own anxiety and fear, she hadn't pressed Faith about it, or for that matter even asked her about it. She had just let it slide. This was supposed to be a special time for them, she had made plans and all she was doing was fucking up. She really needed to talk to someone about this, especially after what happened with both Mars and Faith.

Her first thought was to run to Faith and talk with her but she was reluctant to do that. Afraid that she would finally succumb to the pressure from her own insecurities, fears, from the last few weeks and just blurt everything out. And that was the last thing she wanted to do.

She couldn't leave and go talk to Willow, since Faith would notice that she was gone. Nor could she talk to Clotho and Lilith since they were with Faith. The only other person she felt comfortable talking about stuff like this was Lily. But she was hesitant to bother her, she had been taking up a good amount of the Green Mother's time lately. She didn't want to impose anymore then she already had been. That and there was a part of her that knew this was a discussion she should be having with Faith and not with someone else. She slowly made her way over to Lily's cottage, the past few weeks playing through her mind, her mental kicks to her own ass hastening her steps.

She found Lily behind her cottage, tending to her garden.

"Hi," Buffy waved awkwardly.

"Hey Buffy. What are you doing here? Did we forget something?" Lily asked standing up and wiping the dirt on her hands on her jeans.

"No. No... Ah do you have a few minutes?" Buffy hesitated to ask.

"Sure. Come and sit down. Would you like something cold to drink?"

"No... ah thanks." Buffy sat down stiffly, gnawing at her bottom lip. She started nervously picking at her jeans.

Lily sat down opposite Buffy; she had been expecting her. She already had a visit from Mars and she had been getting a virtual mental play by play from Clotho on what was happening with Faith. She decided to let Buffy tell her what happened then she was going to lead Buffy back to the same memory that Clotho was leading Faith to.

"So what's up?" Lily smiled at Buffy.

"We were training at Mars'..." Buffy began then told Lily everything that happened. When she finished her tale, she looked up at Lily, who looked back at her with compassionate eyes. "Have I really been that bad lately?" she questioned softly.

"In a word," Lily started then paused, "Yes."

Buffy groaned she knew Lily was right. "I've made a mess of things haven't I?"

"Yes and no," Lily replied softly with a slight shrug.

"Don't you people ever give a straight answer?" Buffy snarled, then instantly regretted it and gave Lily an apologetic smile.

Lily laughed softly at the question; she couldn't even begin to tell Buffy how many times she had asked one of the other Immortals the same question herself. No one seemed to realize that most of the rules the Immortals had that applied to their dealings with the other dimensions inhabitants, also applied to them dealing with each other. "Yes and no," Lily smirked then outright laughed at the surprised look on Buffy's face.

"Figures," Buffy chuckled for a second before her face turned sad and fearful again. "I don't... I just can't seem to stop myself from acting this way. I'm nervous, what if... What if she..." Buffy trailed off, afraid to say aloud her biggest fear.

"You don't really believe that will happen, do you Buffy?" Lily asked, already knowing what Buffy's fears and concerns were. She had spent quite a bit of time with the Light Slayer over the last few weeks. She knew all of Buffy's plans and she knew where the nerves, the fears and insecurities were coming from. They were normal for the most part, but given the history between the two Slayers and their individual pasts, she also understood how all of it had been blown out of proportion and quickly spun out of control for both of them.

"I guess a part of me does and, I don't know what to believe anymore." Buffy whispered a little ashamed of her own doubts, her own fears.

She dropped her head into her hands, covering her face, her shoulders slumping. She was making a mess out of things, she knew it but it was almost as if she couldn't stop herself. It was almost as if she were testing Faith's love for her in a way, in a very odd, fucked-up way. At the same time, it was almost as if she doubted herself as well. Some part of her knew it was wrong, knew the truth, but after all that had happened in both their lives she couldn't help but think that the other shoe was going to drop. It always seemed to when things were good, when she was happy, when they were happy and in some subconscious way, it was as if she was trying to make it happen, just so she, they, didn't have to keep waiting for it. So that they could get past it and breathe again, at least for a little while, until the next shoe dropped. Because as far as she could remember, since she had been called that was exactly what had happened each time her life had taken a turn towards happiness, towards the good.

"What does your 'Slayer Connection' tell you? What does your 'Soul-Thread' tell you?" Lily waited patiently for Buffy to lift her head and look at her. She gave her a smile of encouragement when Buffy finally did.

"That I'm being stupid. That I should know better. That it's me Faith wants to be with, forever. That she loves me." She didn't break her eye lock with Lily as she spoke and the love she felt for the Dark Slayer was in every word she spoke, in the depths of her eyes, in the soft smile that appeared when she said her very soul's name.

"And you know this because of your Slayer bond or your Soul bond?"

"What? They're the same thing." Buffy gave Lily a puzzled look.

She knew she and Faith were connected, they always had been. They could sense each other from the get go. It had expanded since they became lovers, in so many ways, that Buffy couldn't count or name them, but it had always been there. Some of the changes in their bond she was aware of and some she wasn't, it was innate, natural now, but neither she nor Faith ever took it for granted. They both immediately felt it when the other consciously blocked it and when they sent emotions, images, feelings to the other.

"Actually, they are now, but at first they weren't. But you know that, deep down inside you both know that." Lily told her quietly, perhaps Atropos hadn't explained to either Slayer clearly enough that the connection the Slayer's shared was in and of itself very unique. "You can if you concentrate, if you follow your Soul-Thread see that they weren't at first." Buffy's face grew even more puzzled and Lily decided that now was the time to send her down the same memory lane as Faith. "Buffy, when was the first time you felt the Soul-Thread Bond with Faith?"

"Right after the first time we made love at the Mansion in front of the fireplace." Buffy answered quickly, with certainty as she turned a pretty shade of pink.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course I am!" Buffy snapped. But was that true? Was that really the first time she felt that connection? Something tickled the edges of her consciousness as she thought about their Slayer connection and Soul connection being separate. Then she remembered their first night at the cottage, how she had followed that single thread, the one that Atropos had told them was different, was their Soul-Thread. The connection between them that could never be severed, not even in death. Her eyes grew wide in surprise, then slowly slid closed as she searched for and found the thread that shone brighter than the others that connected them.

It was beautiful, ethereal, luminous, special, just like her mate and...

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Faith let their Soul-Thread carry her back to the past, she whispered, "I felt her before I ever saw her, before..."

"... I even knew she was a she, I felt her..." Buffy whispered as she let their Soul-Thread carry her back to the past.

In their mind's eye both Slayers saw and remembered the very first time they had felt the connection, the recognition of one soul for its mate. Remembered the first time they had felt the other who would come to be a part of themselves in ways neither Slayer could ever have begun to imagine.

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She was in the Bronze dancing with a reject seventies Disco Dan vamp who thought he was all that. She was using her Bad Girl looks and charm hoping to lure him outside where she could stake him. They had just begun dancing to their second song, when what she thought at the time was her Slayer senses go off on high. But it was different then the tingly cramps she got when a vamp or some other big bad was around. There was nothing threatening about it, in fact, it felt good, very good, as if every part of her was being called by something and in a weird, sort of unreal way it felt familiar.

She covertly glanced around the Bronze, moving to the music and turning so she could look at everyone. She didn't see anything, or anyone out of the ordinary and though she wasn't conscious of it, her eyes drifted back time and again to one corner, to one person. Her mind might not have known what it was seeking but her soul did. By the end of the third song, she was beginning to think that maybe she had too much beer and was imagining things. She smiled and nodded yes to the Disco Vamp when he suggested they go outside for some fresh air.

With a last look around and an unconscious look back at the table and the blonde in the corner, she left the dance floor.

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Something was different, she felt it the second she walked into the Bronze. The tingly cramps that told her a vamp or vamps were there started instantly, but there was something else underneath them. Something that felt incredibly good, felt right. Something akin to a siren's call, that beckoned, searched out and called to all of her, something that was somehow, surprisingly familiar. Her eyes searched out the source of this feeling, unconsciously her soul unerringly found the source, but all she found with her eyes were Willow and Oz making out, and Xander and Cordy dancing. Even so, she couldn't stop the earsplitting grin from forming on her face as she made her way over to the bar to get drinks.

She grabbed the drinks and pushed her way through the crowd over to their regular table and couch, the large grin still gracing her face. With the wonderful, exhilarating feeling still humming under her skin, she chatted with Willow and Oz, until Scott showed up. She fumbled through a conversation with him, her thoughts still centered on where these feelings were coming from, her eyes, her soul unconsciously returning time and again to the raven-haired beauty on the dance floor.

Scott finally left after she politely declined to dance with him. Then Willow started asking the tough questions and she was saved by Cordy of all people. Her eyes once more sought out the raven-haired woman on the dance floor thanks to Cordy's comments. She watched the wild beauty and the seventies reject and realized as they walked off the dance floor then outside that he was a vamp.

She followed them, the adrenaline, the rush, the power, the Slayer in her coming to the surface and pushing out the other, newer feelings.

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She felt the Slayer in her wakening, drowning out everything else. She loved Slaying with a passion, loved the rush of power through her veins, felt joy in the freedom of knowing she was doing something right, something good! She saw the blonde from the bar approaching, stake in hand and knew this was the Buffy her first watcher had told her so much about. She grabbed Disco Vamp by the neck, pushed him away, turned slightly and elbow jabbed him in his ugly game face. She twirled and jumped up onto the crate next to her. Disco Vamp struggled to regain his balance and barely took a step towards her before she jumped into the air. Loving the tightening of her thigh muscles, the feel of slicing through the air, the moment of no gravity. She executed a perfect spinning roundhouse, catching Disco Vamp in the face sending him flying, a large cat-that-ate-the-canary smile sensually lighting up her face.

"S'okay, I got it. You're, uh, Buffy, right?" She rasped out, taking in Buffy with a flick of her eyes. She was grabbed by the shoulders by Disco Vamp before Buffy had a chance to answer her. She slammed her head backwards, head butting him at the same time reaching up and grabbing his arm. "I'm Faith," she smiled at Buffy then pulled Disco Vamp by his arm, swinging him around and slamming him face first into the chain-linked fence.

"I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say we've got a new Slayer in town."

Faith's smile turned into a cocky-lopsided grin at the punked-out dude's comment. Still smiling lopsidedly, she turned her attention back to Disco Vamp. She kneed him in the lower back, ducking as Disco Vamp spun around and tried to backhand her. She threw a hard punch to his gut, then one up at his face. She pulled out all the stops hoping to impress the legendary Buffy. She followed her punches up with a high sidekick to the side of Disco Vamp's face, then picked him up off his feet by the neck and tossed him down to the ground.

Buffy watched Faith a little bit awed by her. Awed by how elegantly she moved, the lean muscles that rippled, flexed as she kicked and punched the vamp. Admiring unconsciously the sensuous feline grace that seemed to be a part of Faith, a little surprised too, by the joy she could see in the raven-haired Slayer's face as she did what Faith would later tell her they were built for. While she stood there and watched Faith, she felt a familiar lowdown tickle start. And when she felt it, she pushed the feeling, the thoughts away that it was Faith herself that was causing the tickle and instead blamed it on the adrenaline rush that always came when she thought about or was actually Slaying.

"Can I borrow that?" Faith asked, slightly flirtatiously pointing at the stake. She didn't wait for an answer from Buffy she just took the stake.

In the blink of an eye, Faith turned, ducked the punch Disco Vamp threw at her, grabbed him by the shoulder, spun him around and back into the fence, raised the stake and slammed it into Disco Vamp with an almost savage joy. Then she casually turned back towards Buffy, took a few steps and handed the stake back to a openmouthed Buffy.

"Thanks, B. Couldn't a done it without ya'," she husked, then gave Buffy another cocky-lopsided grin and walked past her heading towards the entrance to the Bronze.

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"First time I saw her outside I called her Buffy. Somehow, that didn't feel right, you know? After I staked the vamp, I called her B and that felt right. I knew her, but I didn't. A part of me knew her, had always known her. And, well Buffy, she belonged to everyone else. But, somehow, I don't know how, I just knew that 'B', B belonged to me, just me. Not belonged, like I owned her, but that 'Buffy' was who the world saw and interacted with and 'B,' she was someone, still with all the Buffy parts, but someone different, sort of, but not... that she, that B was more things to just me... a... a... side that only I would ever get to know, to see. That with me... that she was... that we were, are, just simply more together. And..." Faith hesitated; gnawing her lip in thought, there was something else there. "Did that make sense?"

"Yes, perfectly, but there's something else too, isn't there?" Lilith asked softly.

"Yeah. Outside too, I felt her before I saw her, but it was all mixed up with the Slayer feelings and later when we realized we could sense each other we just thought it was a Slayer thing. But it wasn't completely that, was it?" She looked at the two Immortals who just nodded no at her. "It was this Soul-Thread thing that Atropos told us about, wasn't it?" Faith paused then answered her own question, "That's what I felt in the club before I even saw her, before..."

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"...I even knew she was a Slayer. Before I even knew there was a Slayer connection, a connection I never felt with Kendra. It was our Soul-Thread that opened the door to the Slayer connection too, wasn't it? That's why I never sensed Kendra like that. Right?" Buffy asked; amazed by what she had just realized. A little bit regretful that they hadn't realized it sooner, realized it years ago so they might never have gone down that first road. In her heart of hearts though she knew, it had been her that refused to see it, her that had been scared of what it was that she refused to admit, what it was that her soul knew and recognized in her Dark Slayer.

"Yes and no," Lily gave Buffy an impish grin.

"You've got to be kidding me with that answer," Buffy moaned, returning Lily's grin.

"In time, you would have shared a Slayer connection with Kendra had she not died. Just like warriors of old anticipated and knew how those they had fought with side-by-side for years would react, would fight. Only with you and Kendra, it would have been more of a... um... almost an ESP type thing when you were Slaying. The mystical energy that makes you both Slayers is connected and eventually, would have been able to, in a sense, almost talk to each other. With Faith though, there was already a connection between the two of you, between your souls, so it opened the doorway for your connection as Slayers instantly."

"So why then, if we're soul-mates, if we..."

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"...are connected that way, meant to be together; why did all that other fucked-up shit happen between us?" Faith growled angrily, her face sad.

They had arrived back at the stables; the Immortals dismounted and let their horses into the fenced-in pasture. They waited for Faith to dismount and do the same. They walked over to the small picnic table and beckoned Faith to join them.

"Well, are you going to answer me?" Snarling at the Immortals, she sat down opposite them.

Clotho looked at Lilith, she wasn't sure if she could explain this right. Given that she was one of the Fates it fell to her to explain, especially since there was the misconception that the 'Fates' controlled the Life-Thread's destinies, their choices, which in fact, they didn't.

Lilith gave her mate a soft smile and gently clasped her hand with her own, "Explain it to her how you explained it to me, when I asked you the same question."

"Every Life-Thread within the Tapestry of Life has a soul-mate or another Life-Thread that completes them if you will. Though completes isn't the right word, it implies that you are less than whole on your own. Which you aren't. Rather you and your soul-mate are just simply more together. Do you understand?"

Faith smirked at Clotho, all her anger having left her. Being angry wouldn't help a damn thing and she realized belatedly that for some reason knowing that from the first second she had been in Buffy's presence they had recognized each other, squelched her anger. They had been connected, their souls had known each other, even if consciously they hadn't and it sent those damn voices scurrying back to wherever they had come from. She felt relaxed, at peace, secure again in her relationship with Buffy, in her place in Buffy's life and Buffy's in hers.

"Believe it or not I do. And it's not something you can really explain with words, it's just something you know, you feel."

"Right," Clotho smiled and squeezed Lilith's hand. "And you know that despite the mythology that surrounds us, The Fates, the Tapestry, we don't control your, well, fate, destinies, or your choices." Clotho paused then continued after Faith nodded at her, "Just because each Life-Thread, which, by the way, includes the Life-Threads that belong to Immortals, mortals, demons, all Life-Threads that exist within the Tapestry of Life... What I'm trying to say is, just because each Life-Thread has a soul-mate that doesn't mean that each soul-mate will..."

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"...find each other or even end up together. The Fates can't force it or make it happen. Of course, one of the paths a Life-Thread can take will lead them to their mate. But each choice a Life-Thread makes during the course of its road through the Tapestry can change that path. What happened between you and Faith was of your own making, of your own choices. Maybe you both were too young, not ready, in the right place at the wrong time. I don't know. All I know is, that sometimes things happen for a reason." Lily paused and stared intently at Buffy trying to gauge if she understood what she was saying.

"Go on." She understood what Lily was telling her and surprisingly enough she felt relaxed for the first time in weeks. Felt at peace, secure in her relationship, secure in the plans that she had made for them. Secure in her place in Faith's life and Faith in hers.

"What I do know, as I am sure you know, is that your soul, as well as Faith's, knew the instant you two were in the same room together that you belonged to each other, belonged together. It has been many eons since I've seen a bond as strong, as sure as the one you share with Faith. It is amazing in and of itself that you two have managed to rise above your pasts and find each other. Amazing and inspiring the depth of love you share after all that has come to pass between you and that has happen to you both, alone and together. And know this...

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"...I can still count after all these eons the number of soul-mates who after finding each other and the love they share, who have ever walked away from that love, walked away from their mate. And I can count even fewer, who have ever, after finding that love, strayed to another's arms. That's not to say that yours and Buffy's relationship is going to be perfect. Who would want perfection anyway, how boring would that be? You two will fight, yell, scream and love with a passion that transcends time, space and even your own deaths. There might even be doubts, misinterpreted actions, suspicions. But I know this, I see it every time I am in the room with the two of you, that no one exists in the room for Buffy but you, just like no one exists in the room for you but Buffy. Even Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, couldn't tempt Buffy from your side, not now, not even when you're old, tired and gray." Clotho leaned into her mate, hoping that Faith understood what she was trying to tell her. Her words had come from the heart, from her own personal experience with what Faith and Buffy were going through.

"Listen to her Faith; understand and know what she is telling you. She speaks the truth, just like she spoke the truth to me many moons ago when I doubted our bond. Listen to your heart and soul, let it speak to you, look within yourself and find that moment when you knew that Buffy was your soul-mate, when you knew..."

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"...Faith was in love with you. Close your eyes and see it..." Lily encouraged softly.

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Buffy closed her eyes and listened to her heart, to her soul, her head falling gently down to her chest.

Faith closed her eyes and listened to her heart, to her soul, her head falling gently down to her chest.

Both Slayers' heads snapped up at the same moment, their eyes growing wide with surprise.

"The first time I looked into Faith's eyes, I knew..."

"...that we were meant to be together. Knew that I was hopelessly head-over-heels in love with B..."

"...I just couldn't deal with it. Being in love with another woman, feeling that attraction. I thought Angel was my soul-mate. And, well, love at first sight, I just thought that it..."

"...was something that only happened in those gothic romance novels, not in real life, especially not in my life. But it was right there staring me in the face. Right there when I looked in B's eyes and I..."

"...knew it. Deep down inside I always knew that it was with Faith I was meant to be. It was why she had the ability to hurt me..."

"...as deeply as she could, even before we became lovers," they both finished together.

Both Slayers gazes turned inward, they could feel each other, could sense that they both had been led down the same path and right now all either of them wanted was to be with the other.

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She made it back to the cottage in record time. She had just pushed open the front door when she felt her mate. She turned around slowly and unerringly her eyes immediately went to the spot in the grove of trees from where less than a few seconds later her mate emerged.

Time stood still as they stared at each other from across the expanse of the front yard. If it were possible, the space between them would have been filled with rainbow colored arcs of energy as what they felt for each other flowed from one Slayer to the other.

A leisurely sensuous smile slowly spread across her mate's face. Her eyes traveled upward from that lush mouth and the enticing little cleft in the pouty bottom lip to her mate's ultra-expressive eyes. They glinted with an almost dangerous, feral light. They were startling emerald and glowed with an intensity that took her breath away. They raked possessively over her with a passion that made her shudder as if it were an actual physical caress.

She knew that look, knew that light in her mate's eyes. It was the primal, untamed side that both of them had lurking just beneath the surface. It was the wild side of her mate; it was her, the pure essence of her mate. The side that loved her, with a vitality, strength, profoundness that was all consuming and breathtaking in its abandonment of any and all boundaries. Normally when this side of either of them came to the surface it brought out the same side in the other, but this time, for some reason, the primal side within herself, was content to give up control to its mate. As if it knew, her mate needed to reclaim her, needed reaffirmation of all that was between them. And a part of her was thrilled by the power and even the possessiveness she felt coming off her Dark Slayer in waves.

She pulled in a shaky breath, as her mate took long strides towards her. Fluidly, gracefully those long, well-muscled legs carried her mate to her. Her hips swaying enticingly, her bearing erect, proud, noble, as she moved ever closer. Her own heart beat quicker in anticipation, in awaking, in thrall of her mate and of who they were together. She realized in a way that she was being courted in a ritual, a dance that was as old as time itself.

She stood perfectly still, holding her breath as she waited for her mate to claim her, again.

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She felt her the second she stepped into the woods that surrounded the cottage they shared. Felt her as she moved quickly with feline grace towards the object of her desire. Towards the one person who made her feel alive, loved, special, cherished, beautiful, in a way no one ever had or ever could in her life. She felt her mate stop as she moved closer to the edge of the tree line towards the clearing into their front yard. Her eyes already fixed on the spot where she knew her mate would be standing waiting for her.

She stepped out into the clearing and paused. Her breath catching in her chest as her eyes devoured her mate. She could feel the energy in the air flowing between them. There was so much silently conveyed between them as their eyes locked, searched and held the other's. More said between them in the silence then mere words could ever explain, hope to describe, or even convey.

She felt a fierce possessiveness come over her and her wild side, the essence of all that she was rose up to the surface as she slowly let her eyes roam over her mate. A need thrummed under her skin to reclaim the beauty that was her mate, it was almost overwhelming it was so acute. It compelled her to move forward towards the object of all her hopes, dreams, desires, wants, needs and love. To reestablish the bond that was between them, to reclaim all that had and was there for the asking, there for both of them. To validate once again that all this wasn't just a dream. That this was her life, her dreams made a reality, no matter what those child-like voices of her past had tried to tell her. For she had finally realized what, who those voices were and with that knowledge, the child-like voices had lost, for now, their power over her.

She wasn't stupid, she knew they would rear their grotesque heads time and again throughout her life, but she was ready for them now. The scars from her past may stay with her forever but she would fight them with everything she was and next time she would reach out her hand and ask for help in defeating them yet again. Because down to the very heart of herself, she knew now without a shred of doubt, that her destiny, her life, her heart and soul was forever connected with the woman standing in front of her waiting. Waiting for her, just her. Without a reservation, she knew they were the Chosen Ones, not just to fight against the supernatural evils of the world, but the Chosen of each other and that was something that was meant to be and would be for all time.

She moved forward with the true gracefulness, sensuousness of the black panther she was so often compared to. Moved towards her destiny, knowing that she would never be alone again, never have to walk down the path of life without her mate by her side. Knowing that, even should they be separated by death that the spirit of the other would always be by their side, until the survivor joined them in the afterlife.

She moved towards her future without a second of hesitation. Her heart filled with love and her soul reaching out with invisible arms for its mate.

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She pulled her Light Slayer tightly into her steely embrace, her arms strong but gentle as they held her. Her mouth came down almost brutally in a possessive, demanding, forceful kiss. She was staking her claim, now and forever. Giving to her mate all that she was, asking for and receiving back in that unbelievably hot, wet kiss all that her mate was in return.

She lifted her mate without breaking the kiss, walked forward the few steps, nudged the door open further with her foot, entered the cottage then kicked the door closed behind her. She stopped just inside the entryway and inch by torturous inch, slid her mate down the length of her body until her feet once more touched upon the ground. She broke the kiss long enough to mumble the words that would ensure their privacy and keep any unwanted guests from showing up uninvited. She wanted no interruptions; no distractions, no animals, Furball and his mate were already with Lilith and Clotho. She wanted the world to consist of just them for a time. Wanted to take full advantage of the carefree, evil-free, responsibility-free time that they were granted while within this domain.

Her kisses became lighter and she nibbled on her mate's bottom lip, flicking her tongue out occasionally to soothe the quick sharp bites. She nibbled her way over to the corner of that soft mouth beneath hers, then trailed light kisses across a high cheekbone, stopping on her way to her destination to inhale deeply the clean, fresh smell of her Light Slayer's hair. She nuzzled for a few brief seconds then continued along her meandering path, 'til she reached a delicate ear. She lightly ran her tongue along the shell, then rested her cheek against her blonde-haired lover's.

"I want you," she rasped deeply with a slight tremor in her voice. She began to guide her mate backwards, hands on her hips steering her deeper into the room. "I want to taste every inch of you. I want to hear you moan my name. I want to hear you let go as I give you what only I can give to you." She slipped her hands up and under the back of her mate's shirt, sliding them upwards taking the shirt with her as she continued to speak and moving them both deeper into the room. "I want to feel you moving underneath me. I want to bite that soft spot right above your hip that makes you buck into me, into my mouth."

She stopped at the edge of the bed, stepped back and lifted the shirt up and over her Chosen's head, tossing it to the floor. Her fingertips lightly brushed down from shoulders to small pert breasts, sweeping around hard nipples, down over a six-pack stomach to run from each hip under the waistband of jeans, finally to meet at the buttons that held them closed. "I want to feel you pulse around me when I'm deep inside of you."

She locked her eyes with amber-gold, passion-filled eyes. "You're so beautiful," she smiled at the shudder her husky voice elicited. She dropped down to her knees, her fingers opened the first button, then her mouth worshiped the smooth skin exposed to her for long minutes. One by one, she opened the buttons, repeating her actions until a continuous moaning floated to her from above and her shoulders were gripped in a tight hold.

Reaching down she pulled off first one boot and sock, then the other. She slid her hands up the outside of deceptively well-muscled hard thighs. Her fingertips trailed inward, then peeled back each side of the jeans, her hands slid inside over a flat stomach, to slim hips. She dragged her nails along the silkily smooth skin leaving five trails of fire on each leg as she slid her mate's jeans and silk thong down. She gently lifted one foot out of the pool of clothes, then the other. For a brief minute, she rested her cheek up against her mate's inner thigh.

"I want to take you to a place you've never been before..." she whispered as she rubbed her cheek on the softest skin she had ever known. Her hands smoothed up the back of tensed thighs, over a firmly rounded ass, to the base of her lover's spine. She glided her hands up further as she followed, rising from her knees, sliding tightly along her Light Slayer's body. Teasing her with sharp nips, light licks, tender kisses on her way. "...and then take you there again and again."

She once again locked their eyes, the feral, primal, possessive light in them even stronger than before. She saw an answering light in her mate's eyes and though there were no words spoken, she felt it as her mate gave up all control to her again. She leaned down, brushing her lips across the lush, full ones beneath hers, a low growling-purr rumbling in her chest. She teased, with soft, then hard kisses, whispering to her heart and soul in her husky voice between kisses. "I want to make you scream for release. I want to make you moan, growl and pant from my touch, from my kisses. I want to feel you claw at my back and thrash against me." She broke their gaze and bit quickly, reverently at her mark on her mate's pulse point. Then she lifted her head, once again capturing those amber-gold eyes with her own.

"I want to fuck you like there is no tomorrow. Hard, fast, rough, with my mouth, with my fingers, with everything I am." She growled out huskily, fiercely. If her mate was surprised or put off by her crude words, it didn't show, in fact, if anything they excited her by the low growl she gave as an answer. "Then I want to make slow, tender, gentle love with you. I want to hold you close, watch you as you come. You're so damn beautiful when you come."

She gently ran her hand down the side of her Light Slayer's face. A soft, loving smile graced her beautiful face as she lost herself for long seconds in her mate's eyes. Everything she felt was in her touch, showed on her face and glowed from her eyes with a light that came directly from her soul. "I want to kiss you until we can't breathe. I want to worship all of you. I just want you... forever and ever... just you, B, that's all I'll ever want..."

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She had started trembling from the second her Dark Slayer had pulled her into her arms. Her eyes slammed shut as that lush, soft mouth came down on hers both hard and tenderly at the same time. She melted into those steely but gentle arms, her blood singing through her veins. She felt flushed, hot, weak, strong, loved and cherished all at once.

The breath was kissed right out of her, she barely noticed as she was lifted and carried inside. But she more than noticed as she was slowly, tauntingly slid down the length of that long, hard, softly curved, sumptuous body. Her hands tangled into thick, wavy raven hair, pulling her lover's mouth into hers harder. She opened her own mouth and drew in that knowing velvet tongue. She pulled it deeper into her, letting her own tongue come out to play with her mate's. She chased it back to its owner's mouth and her whole body jumped when she felt the light sucking.

She moaned into the warm, wet cavern of her lover's mouth. She gasped for air desperately as her mate broke the kiss just long enough to mumble out the privacy incantation. Her trembling grew stronger; her knees grew weak, as she was urged to move backwards by the slight pressure of strong hands upon her hips.

She was unable to draw an even breath by the time they reached the bed. Unable to form a coherent thought, speak a word. Her body shuddered, arched into her lover's touch, aching for more. Her Dark Slayer's words rolling over her like liquid fire, making her catch her breath; forget how to move, to speak. Her body, mind, heart, the very essence of her, her soul reacting to them in a way that was wholly unexpected, exciting and new. All of her was in thrall to this side of her Dark lover that she had never before seen.

The raven-haired beauty was like a force of nature itself. Her touch electric, gentle, rough, commanding, loving, tender and it sent her into a whirlwind of desire, of passion, of need and of simply want. She wanted to be taken by her Dark Slayer, wanted to be fucked, be made-love to and with her soul-mate. She wanted, needed this reaffirmation. Wanted again, to claim and be claimed by this passionate beauty that loved her and she loved with a strength, a devotion, a primal intensity that 'The Creator' couldn't have stopped or destroyed.

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Mentally she shook herself out of her immobile, mute stupor as her Dark lover stepped back from her. Her body shuddered in the wake of those once chocolate-eyes raking down the length of her body and growing a deeper, darker emerald as her mate's carnal desire rose closer to the surface. She reached out a hand, her fingertips touching lightly under her Dark Slayer's chin and lifting with the slightest pressure rose up that beautiful face to hers once more. The eyes that stared into her touched her very soul in a way that no one before ever had and in a way she knew that no one else ever would. For once, she wished she had paid attention in her English classes and remembered some of the pretty words the poets had used to describe moments such as these. Instead, she just spoke from her heart.

"The word love is inadequate to describe, express what it is that I feel for you. I don't think there is a word that can, all I can hope is that you can feel inside what it is that I feel for you. That you can feel how it expands, grows, and becomes more with every passing second. When I was younger, I used to dream, wish that one day I would find my true love, my soul-mate, the person with whom I would just be more. I had gotten to a point in my life where I no longer believed that it would happen, at least not for me. But I was wrong and I can never tell you how overjoyed I am that I was. Because you Fai, you are that dream, that wish come true. I love you Faith and I will throughout time."

This time it was she, who gathered her Slayer tightly into a tender but steely embrace. She leaned up, her mouth capturing her Dark Slayer's in but a whisper of a kiss. Everything she was, everything she felt was in that whispered kiss, it was all the words and more that couldn't express the depth of what lay within her soul for her raven-haired mate. When their kiss ended, she watched in awe as that wide-eyed innocent look of amazement crossed her Dark Slayer's face. There was something that made her feel so humble when she saw that look cross that beautiful face and fill those dark-doe eyes. It touched something deep inside of her in a way that nothing ever had.

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She melted, her insides quaking with the power of the words her Light Slayer had spoken so softly to her. They filled her, lifted her, caressed her and held her with their warmth, their devotion, their passion. She was grateful for the warm strong arms that held her so closely, so safely, because when that sweet, ripe mouth brushed so delicately, so tenderly and much too briefly against her own, her knees gave out. That whisper of a kiss imparted more tenderness, more love, simply just more of everything to the Dark Slayer then any touch, any words ever could have.

It was for her a kiss that touched her very soul. As she stared into pools of amber-gold, she realized and saw the truth in her mate's eyes. For her Light Slayer, it too was a kiss that touched her very soul. The deep purr rumbled out of her chest at the smile that lit up her mate's eyes. She felt hands roaming up her back then down to cup her ass and the rumbling purr turned into a growl of desire. The part of herself that she had always kept in check, unless her Light Slayer had let it out first, forced its way back to the surface again. This was the first time she had ever taken the lead and brought this primal, possessive side out on her own. It also was the first time that either of them had just given over complete control to the other without being asked or fighting for dominance. When her mate had given over control to her when they first returned from Glory's hell it was different, she wasn't sure how, it just felt different. She stopped dwelling on it and just let herself feel, just let herself totally go.

Those strong hands kneading her ass made her desire, her needs, her wants, fiercely known again. They slid up from her ass, tugging her shirt out from her pants then under to teasingly stroke her lower back. She arched into her golden Slayer, burying her head into her lover's neck, catching the soft skin between her teeth and nipping it. She smiled around the sweet skin in her mouth when she felt short fingernails dig into her back and the almost silent whimper that accompanied them. She ran her nails down the length of each muscled arm, reaching around to her own back and grasping those smaller hands firmly with her own. She pulled them off and out from around her. She slid her hands back up over silky skin, then gently pushed when she reached her lover's shoulders, smiling at the confused look her lover gave her when she landed upon the bed.

"I want you..." she said again as she pulled her own shirt the rest of the way out of her pants.

She skimmed her fingertips along the waistband of her leather pants, deftly unbuttoning her top button. Her right hand trailed up under her shirt, along her flat stomach, over her ribcage, up the slope of her right breast and slowly began to circle her erect nipple. Her eyes stayed locked on her mate perched on the edge of the bed open-mouthed. Her left hand moved from her waistband and followed the same path that her right had just taken. She watched her Light Slayer's eyes flicking back and forth between her circling fingers on each breast, then up to capture the Dark Slayer's own eyes, then back again. With one fluid movement, she crossed her hands under her shirt lowering them, grabbed the hem of her shirt, lifted and pulled it over her head. She then tossed it casually onto the pile of clothes already on the floor.

She ran her fingers through her hair, a low growling-purr giving voice to her pleasure. She untangled one hand from her hair and followed the slash of one high-cheekbone down to her mouth. Keeping her eyes locked on her wide-eyed lover, she traced her index figure over her own lush mouth. She stroked along the little cleft on her bottom lip that her Light Slayer loved to trace with the tip of her tongue, a sultry smile peeking out around the corners of her mouth. The tip of her tongue came out to entice her finger into her mouth. She slowly sucked her finger into her mouth; leaving her mouth open just wide enough so her mate could see what she was doing to her finger with her tongue.

With one last swirl of her tongue around her finger, she let it slip from her mouth. She began to talk again, her voice a low sultry purr, "I love the warm wet heat of your tongue as you trace random patterns over my skin." She blazed a wet trail over her bottom lip, her chin, down the column of her throat, between the valley of her breasts, then up and under, 'til she started to circle an tease her own nipple again. Her other hand dusted down over her stomach to deftly unbutton the rest of her buttons. She toed off her boots, keeping her eyes locked on her mate, reveling in her reaction.

"Love it when you nibble and suck at the sensitive spot behind my ear. Love that you're the only one who has ever found it. The feel of your nails as you delicately scrape them around my nipples." She mimicked her words as she spoke. "And god, the feel of your hands on my body, both callused and soft, at the same time... touching me, loving me, driving me insane with need, with want of you."

Her other hand kept itself busy learning the valleys, plains, hills of her stomach, chest, hips and thighs. Her head fell forward, her hair creating a curtain around her face a low moan escaping her parted lips as she dipped in to feel her own wetness briefly before shimmying her leather pants down her legs. She stepped out of the pool of her pants, kicking them away from her. She took a step forward, moving closer to her lover perched on the bed. She pinched the nipple she had been teasing with her fingers, rolling it, tugging it.

"Oh Jesus, what you do to me! Just the thought of you makes me wet, makes me burn. I swear you could make me cum with just a single look... touch... kiss..." She rolled her head forward and forced her eyes open. She brought her other hand up to caress her neglected breast. She continued to knead, to tease, to tweak her own nipples. But in her mind's eye, it was her Light Slayer who was touching her in all the right ways, all the right places. She smiled and wantonly licked her lips when she saw her golden-haired Slayer's nostrils flair.

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Her eyes were riveted on her Dark Slayer. She was becoming quickly overwhelmed by the lust, the desire, the need, the want. Yet still she sat motionless, not speaking, just staring. Some hidden instinct telling her it was the right thing to do. Something letting her know that this was what her lover, her mate needed from her right now.

She recognized this part of her lover inside of herself. This dominant side that was a part of both of them. How could it not be? They were hunters, predators, warriors; it was part of what made them Slayers. The need to be the 'Alpha' in their relationship, not just with each other, but sometimes in all their relationships. She laughed silently to herself at the thought. As funny as the thought was though, she knew it was true. There was something that was primal, animalistic that lived within them, was an innate part of them. It was both dominant and submissive. Needing to claim, conquer and be claimed and conquered as well. They were both possessive, dominant, protective, controlling, it was part of the role of being Slayers, a part of them. But it was tiring always having to make the decisions, be in control day after day, month after month, year after year. Always having that weight upon their shoulders. There were times when they just yearned to be possessed, submissive, protected, dominated. Both were sides of their inner selves on every level and they both wanted an equal. Not only in a Slaying partner but in a mate as well, they had found that equal in each other and both knew they would never find it with anyone else. They balanced each other in a way that no one else ever could, ever had.

She knew without being told that the Dark Slayer had kept this possessive, rough, dominant side to her personality hidden, in check. That was, until she herself, coaxed this part of her Dark lover out, when the need within herself to let this part loose became too much to resist. Only this time, there had been no coaxing. As she watched her beautiful, sensual, seductive mate, she understood that her Dark Slayer had finally started to feel comfortable, at home, safe in her own skin. Safe with her own needs, wants, desires, passions and the primal, feral parts of what made her, her, and she would do everything within her power to help her soul-mate continue to grow, to learn, to trust, to keep that feeling of safety intact.

She was pulled out of her reverie as her lover's words, the sound of her moans, the sight of her touching herself made the fire burning in her blood turn into lava. Her need to touch, to taste, to hold her Dark Slayer became an instant obsession and she reached out with both hands...

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"No..." The Dark Slayer growled and captured the hands reaching for her. Her smile almost a leer at the confused look she was given. "Scoot up the bed," her words, tone, a heated command and nowhere near a request.

Without a word or the slightest hesitation, she scooted up the bed, leaned against the brass headboard pulling her knees up to her chest. She wrapped her arms around her legs and looked questioningly at the Dark Slayer, who just gave her a wolfish smile. Her mouth began to water as her raven-haired mate crawled up onto the bottom of the bed. Rising up to her hands and knees the Dark Slayer moved towards her with catlike grace as she glided up the length of the bed, as if she truly were stalking prey. All the muscles in the Dark Slayer's body undulating under her skin, sleek, defined, sensual, fluid like rippling water. Her Dark Lover reminding her of the documentary they had watched about panthers mating rituals. A searing flame of desire shot through her making her actually tremble with its force.

She let out a deep, throaty moan as her ankles were grasped; her legs pulled free of her arms and spread wide. As the callus pads of fingers trailed up the inside of her legs. As that hard, yet soft body, slithered up between her spread thighs, that generous mouth, nipping, licking, sucking, along the way. As thick, wavy hair tickled along her thighs, stomach, breasts and a moan of pure need poured out thickly from her before that full mouth captured her own again. She started to wrap her arms around that hot body lying on top of her only to have them caught by the wrists, pulled up over her head and held imprisoned by one strong hand.

Leaning up on one elbow, while languidly grinding her pelvic against her mate, a feral smiled formed on the Dark Slayer's face at the look of lust that was staring back at her.

"No touching. If you do I'll stop," she paused to gaze into her mate's passion-filled eyes to let her know she was serious. "Or just maybe if you can't control yourself..." she purred seductively, then gave her mate a decidedly wicked, down-right fucking evil half-grin, "I'll be forced to restrain you to ensure that you keep your hands to yourself..."

The Dark Slayer blinked in surprise when a shiver of arousal shot through her at her own words. It had just never occurred to her that this type of play would arouse her. Her mind spun with images and then confusion set in when she realized that the images weren't just of her mate being restrained and at her mercy but of herself being in the same position. Could she after all that had happened ever put herself in the position where she gave someone absolute control over her?

She had never asserted this side of her personality in the bedroom with her soul-mate. She had alwaysasserted it with all the others that had come before her, but it had never been because it aroused her, it had always been to guarantee that she had the power, the control in the bedroom and not the other way around. This need to be in control, be dominant, she knew the reasons why she had always been that way, only this time it was different. She wanted, needed to possess and be possessed, to take and be taken, she wanted to know her mate trusted her to that extreme and she needed to know that she trusted her mate to the same extreme. Needed to know implicitly that her soul-mate knew she would always be safe with her, that never would she take advantage, hurt her, no matter what, no matter the situation, ever. And she knew that someday her soul-mate would need, want the same thing from her.

Love and trust were two different things she knew that now. You could love someone and still not trust them. It was for her the hardest thing to give and it was something she never thought anyone would give to her. But these last few weeks had proven to her that she still didn't trust, at least not fully, all that was between them. That her past still had some hold over her and probably always would. It would be with her forever and she would fight this war for the rest of her life, but she knew if she could find that trust, the wars, the battles, would become shorter, less fierce, less overwhelming each time they were fought.

And here in the bedroom, where she had always been the most vulnerable was the hardest place for her to not only give her trust, but to ask for it. It wasn't just about her giving up control, being at the mercy of another - even to her Light Slayer - it was also about asking for the same thing in return. It was here that all her nightmares, anger, rage, hate, dark side, had come to life and were likely to come to life again making her lose her control in the worst possible way. It was here too, that the voices of her past had the strongest hold over her. And she knew as she stared right into the soul of her mate, that her Light Slayer knew this too.

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Her body surprised her when it shuddered in excitement at the thought of being restrained and at her Dark Slayer's mercy. It surprised her again as she shivered in pleasure at the thought of doing the same to her mate. She couldn't help wonder though, if after all her mate had been through, if she could ever trust anyone enough to ever put herself at the complete and total mercy of another, let herself be vulnerable to that extent and still feel safe and loved, even with her.

For a brief second she saw that haunted look flash in her lover's eyes. She knew what that look meant, even though no words were said. They weren't necessary, everything her Dark Slayer was thinking, feeling was filtering to her through their bond.

She didn't even have to think about her answer to the silent questions that were being asked of her by those clear, glowing emerald eyes. There was no hesitation, there was just absolute trust. Unequivocally, beyond the shadow of any doubts, beyond question, absolute complete trust, absolute faith, as ironic as it may be, in her mate, in what they were together, who and what they meant to each other. Whatever fears, doubts, insecurities she had been wrestling with the last few weeks were shredded, turned to dust and dispersed as if a strong gust of air had come and carried them away.

For the longest time, the Dark Slayer, searched, sought answers in the amber-gold eyes of her Light Slayer. And like her mate, she too, felt it all through their bond, both the questions and the answers that she sought. She felt the trust flood into her softly, reverently through their Soul-Thread. The soft, loving smile gracing her lover's face gave her the answers, the truth to not only the questions she was asking but for those silently being asked of her.

The Dark Slayer's eyes became the darkest, deepest emerald the first of the Chosen had ever seen. The feral, possessive look replaced by one of deeply felt love and the smile that graced her mate's face was simply beautiful. She fell into those eyes feeling connected to her Dark Slayer in every way and her heart beat triple time at the look, the smile and the words she knew would fall from that beautiful mouth even before they were spoken. She knew her lover needed to speak them aloud even though they both knew what the other was already feeling, thinking, seeing.

"Yes, I could with you. Only with you... I trust you without question, without any hesitation, or reservations and I know absolutely, that with you I'll always be safe and loved." She let go of the wrists she held captive, sat up and back onto her calves between her lover's supple thighs. Leisurely her eyes raked over every inch of the sensual, petite body in front of her. Slowly the look in her eyes changed back to the feral, hungry look from before, but still filled with infinite tenderness and love.

She slowly lowered herself back down to her lover, gathering her into her arms, rolling them to their sides. Luxuriating like a contented cat in the feel of her mate's arm as they gathered her just as closely, as tightly. Gently they pulled each other even closer into a healing embrace. They stayed that way quietly for a minute, an hour, a day, just wallowing in the warmth, the comfort of their embrace. Their own fears, insecurities, doubts floated away for now, hopefully forever. They fell into the currents of emotions each let flow, their bond expanding to enclose them spiritually within its invisible embrace. Their souls entwining to dance delicately with its mate, singing a song of wonder, of joy, that would put a heavenly choir to shame.

It felt as if they hadn't touched each other in a small eternity. They didn't want to move and so they didn't. Both of their thoughts wandering back with amazement to what the Immortals had so skillfully made them realize. They were, (especially the Dark Slayer), awed by the power of their connection, the far-reaching depths of the love they shared. They were both jaded, world-weary, tired in their own way. Having in some ways in the dark recesses of their own hearts given up on actually sharing this kind of love with anyone, even with each other. And neither would ever be able to express with words how euphoric they were that they both were wrong.

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She had no idea how long they stayed that way before the hands holding her so tenderly and gently stroking her back had turned sensual. Nor did she know at what point she had been rolled once again onto her back and told in no uncertain terms not to touch, to just relax and enjoy. Her hands were lifted over her head yet again, encouraged to wrap around the brass posts of the headboard as that hard, magnificent body began to move over hers once more. As a knowledgeable tongue, mouth, fingers, teeth, tortured, teased, touched with a speed, an agility that only another Slayer could possess. Her Dark Slayer seemed to be everywhere and nowhere all at once.

She hung onto the headboard for dear life, white-knuckled as her body twisted, arched, shook with a need so great she was sure she would die from it. Incoherent words, moans forced themselves out of her throat, deep, husky. She pushed herself harder into the fingers caressing deeply inside her, wanting her Dark Slayer even deeper within her. The moans of her lover vibrating through her as she licked, circled, sucked, even nipped around her swollen, wanting core.

Her whole body came up off the bed as that warm, wet mouth finally latched onto her throbbing need. Strangled sobs of pleasure that sounded almost like anguished cries of pain, keened loudly out of her. She tried to buck up for a second time, wanting more, only to find that her hips were being held still by one firm arm across her stomach. She shouted her displeasure at being held down, but still maintained her white-knuckle grip on the headboard. There was no way in hell that she would risk her raven-haired lover stopping now, not when she was so close. Then she felt that pouty mouth engulf her fully, a tongue flicking rapidly across her overheated bundle of nerves and with a gentle bite of blunt teeth, she lost it.

Even that supernaturally strong arm was unable to keep her from arching up off the bed. She was cumming so hard, so fiercely and seemingly forever that she was sure that she would splinter into a million pieces and they would be finding parts of her scattered throughout the dimensions. Her body jerking erratically against that wondrous mouth and fingers, that stayed with her as she thrashed on the bed, her insides convulsing over and over again. Something that sounded like her mate's name and the name of every deity she had ever known came out in a garbled shout to the heavens. Her shouts, growing louder as she felt herself start to cum again even harder than the first time. This time too, for another eternity.

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It felt like a full day had passed before the furious, explosive seizures of her climax had slowed and ebbed into small earthquake-like aftershocks. Another day passed before her body relaxed, her muscles loosening enough for her to fall back to the bed in a sweaty, sated, face-splitting-smiling, boneless Slayer heap. When she eventually managed to free her hands from their death grip on the brass headboard, she grabbed the pillows next to her head. She pulled them under her and propped herself up so she could look down at her Dark Slayer who was now resting her chin on her hands right above her pubic hair. An arched eyebrow and a smug, cocky-lopsided grin greeted her when she opened her eyes.

"I see someone is rather pleased with themselves." She rasped out and if she hadn't felt her mouth move she would have wondered who had just spoken, her voice was so deep, so husky.

Her answer was a lazy smile and a pink tongue running over lips that glistened with her own essence, accompanied by a low growling purr.

"Fai, that was..."

"...just an appetizer, B." Faith purred out, licked her lips again and leered at Buffy. She wasn't even close to being done with her yet!

"Appetizer?!" Buffy squeaked. She had already cum harder and longer than she ever had before in her entire life, she didn't think she was capable of anything else right now, including moving or reciprocating. "I don't think.. I... uh... ah..." Buffy tried, then gave up when Faith started to place wet kisses along her stomach then bit her right above her hip, which caused her - like it always did - to buck with pleasure. Her eyes grew wide with surprise as a shudder of desire moved under her skin straight down to her core at the sound of the low half growl, half purr coming from Faith.

"Mmmmm... you taste so good B," Faith mumbled against Buffy's skin. She pulled herself up the length of Buffy's body, her mouth crashing down onto Buffy's. She poured all her desire into the kiss. It was wanton, wet, hot, demanding and very, very persuasive. She wrenched her mouth away when she felt Buffy move to hold her. "Uh-uh, B, 'member no touching."

"But... but... but that's not fair," Buffy whined, she really wanted, needed to touch Faith. "I wanna touch you Fai... need to..." Buffy pouted and started to reach up to pull Faith down closer to her regardless of what Faith said.

A wolfish smile sneaking across her face, she sat up quickly straddling Buffy's waist, hovering over her on her knees. She wagged her finger at Buffy, purring out playfully, "Bad B. Either play by the rules or I won't play anymore..." Her gaze turned sultry and her purring grew huskier, "And I really want to play with you some more. So behave!"

With an over-exaggerated pout, Buffy dramatically flung her arms out wide in mock surrender, "'K!" She said sulkily, her eyes became slits and she looked at Faith slyly, her voice coming out in a throaty purr, "Just remember S.O., paybacks are a bitch."

"I'm counting on it Giz!" Faith purred back, her hands dropped down to her own thighs and began to skip random patterns over them. "But right now, the only bitch here, is me." She smirked, "Hmmmm, now what was it I said I wanted to do again?" She looked down thoughtfully at Buffy, her one hand coming up to stroke her own throat with the backs of her fingers and then brush up to trace her mouth, then back down again. The stroking, slow, teasing, languid. She smirked again as she saw Buffy's tongue come out to wet her dry lips.

She trailed her other hand down her thigh then up the inside of it, just stopping shy of her own throbbing core. She lowered herself slightly, letting her moist curls brush teasingly against Buffy's stomach. She started to rock leisurely, letting her fingers trail those last few inches into her own wetness, the backs of them grazing across Buffy's stomach, letting her know exactly what she was doing.

Buffy's eyes flew down Faith's body when she felt the back of Faith's fingers brush against her stomach. Her mouth became as dry as the Sahara Desert and a squeak escaped her at the sight that greeted her wide, unblinking eyes. After of few seconds of watching Faith touch herself with wide-eyed wonder, she squinted thoughtfully. Her mouth forming her own smirk when she realized that while Faith had told her she couldn't touch, she hadn't said she couldn't move. She arched her lower back, lifting her hips and her stomach up, forcing Faith's fingers to press harder into herself. She trapped them there and circled her hips, arching up forcefully into Faith with a triumph-growling laugh at having found a way around the rules. A growling moan was the answer to her laugh.

Faith's head fell back, the low moan turning to a hissing-snarl of hunger as her fingers slid through her own slick, hot folds. She couldn't help the smile from forming though at Buffy's ingenuity. She wasn't exactly breaking the rules, now was she?

She rolled her head forward, "B..." she growled, smiling again at the shudder her voice always caused in Buffy. She waited patiently, biting her bottom lip to keep from moaning again, until Buffy looked up at her. Her free hand cupped her own breast and she pinched her nipple hard, this time she wasn't able to quite stifle her groan. With a smirk, she sat down none too lightly on Buffy's stomach, forcing her back into the bed. Quickly before Buffy could react, she slid her wetness over Buffy's stomach, then over her breasts, snuggling her knees into Buffy's armpits. She circled her hips smearing her wetness over Buffy's chest, loving the surprised, lust-filled look that came over Buffy's face, then she once again rose up to her knees. She hovered over Buffy's chest and gave her a stern look, daring her to figure out a way to break the rules again without technically really breaking them.

Buffy completely forgot about trying to get around the rules when she felt Faith's scorching hot core leave a wet trail up her body. Her mouth dropped open when Faith rose to her knees above her and she just gawked at the sexy, sensual, exotic goddess that she had the honor, the pleasure of calling her mate. Mine, mine, mine, all mine echoed with delight through her head. She saw the smirk on Faith's face and the lust-addled part of her brain fueled by the many fantasies her overactive libido had where Faith was concerned, in similar positions, doing just what she was doing, decided to concede defeat gracefully and just let this play out. She quirked an eyebrow at her mate then tucked her hands under her head conceding her surrender again, only this time there wasn't anything remotely mocking about it.

Faith raised her own eyebrow questionably at Buffy's actions, a little surprised she had given up so easily. Where was the fun in that? She was kind of hoping that Buffy would get a little creative with her breasts and nipples. Then she remembered their conversation right after their adventure in the woods the day they arrived and the answer to why became obvious. Who was she to deny Buffy one of her fantasies? As she stared at her golden-haired lover her hand continued almost absentmindedly exploring her wet, aching folds, while the other continued to play with her erect nipples alternating between them. She smiled amused as she watched Buffy try to look everywhere at once.

"That day in the woods, when you were touching yourself, it turned me on so much I thought I was going to implode." Her voice came out lower, huskier then she had ever heard it before. "It made me so wet I could feel myself dripping down the insides of my thighs. God I couldn't wait to get my hands on you." Part of her couldn't believe that she was doing this. For all of her sexual experience she had never - not even once - ever done this in front of someone. And the words that seemed to be flowing out of her mouth so easily since they had entered the cottage were surprising her as well. But she loved the effect they seemed to be having on her Light Slayer, so she stopped trying to analyze everything and just let herself go with it. She felt a sense of safety, confidence and freedom in a way she had never experienced before, not even with Buffy.

"Then when I saw you slip your fingers inside of yourself, B... I was sure I was having one of those dreams again." A moan interrupted her words as her fingers brushed against her over sensitive clit. "Was it me you were pretending, wishing was touching you B and I ah... Chri..." Her words dwindled off into a guttural moan as she delved lower and slipped her own fingers into her aching core. She started a slow rhythm, knowing that she wouldn't last long. She was already close to cumming, had been from the moment she had touched Buffy. She had almost plummeted over the edge with Buffy when she had felt Buffy cumming so hard through their bond, on her tongue and her fingers. She indulged herself for long minutes, her thumb circling up to tease her clit, then switching to the heel of her hand, then back to her thumb. The fingers of her other hand torturing her nipples with hard, rough touches.

"I have to wonder..." She gasped, her hand moving faster, "If seeing me touch myself, knowing that it's you I'm dreaming of, wishing was touching me. Knowing that it's you, the thought of you and you alone, that makes me feel this way, makes me so fucking wet, so hot, so ready to explode..." She let go of her breast and fell forward planting her hand beside Buffy's head. Her hair falling softy down around her face and Buffy's creating a shield around them both.

Faith's fast and shallow breath hotly caressed Buffy's face as she fell forward. Her own breathing was harsh and labored. She clenched her thighs tightly together trying to relieve some of the aching, pounding need in her own core. Her eyes flickered back and forth between the pleasure writing itself across Faith's face and Faith's hand moving, touching, teasing herself. A part of her paid avid attention to how Faith was touching herself, learning even more about how the Dark Slayer liked to be touched and filing it away for later. She had fantasized about this and the fantasy had excited her, but she had never thought though, that actually seeing it would excite her this much. She burned with the need to touch Faith, anywhere, anyhow. But she didn't move, this was the Dark Slayer's erotic dance to lead and she would respect that even if it killed her.

"Does it... does it make you feel the same way it made me feel B when I watched you touching yourself? Does it B?" She hadn't a clue how she managed to get that out coherently. She began moving her hand faster, her fingers plunging in deeper, her internal muscles clutching at them.

"Is it me you think of when you touch yourself?" She bent down further, her mouth crashing hungrily onto Buffy's, sucking Buffy's tongue into her mouth, growling into the kiss, trying to devour her. She pulled away and reared back teetering on the edge of release, amazed by the intense pleasure gathering in the pit of her stomach and branching out everywhere.

"Tell me B, does it make you feel that way? Am I the one you think of?"

Buffy stared in awe at the beautiful, exotic, sensual picture Faith made. Stunned by the power of the feelings that were stirred inside of her by the need she heard in the Dark Slayer's voice for her to be the one Buffy thought of.

"Oh god, watching you makes me feel the same way. I want to touch you, want you to touch me too, so badly it hurts. I ache with it. And it's always you, only ever you Faith, that I think of, dream of. There can never be, never will be anyone but you, Faith." Buffy was awed again, when amidst all of it, that wide-eyed look of innocent amazement shone in Faith's eyes at her words.

Her legs were trembling, she wasn't sure if they could support her any longer. She delved in deeply one last time, staying there, her thumb rubbing her clit forcefully, rapidly.

"Gonna cum..." Faith rasped hoarsely, as she fell slightly backwards down onto Buffy's stomach again, forcing her fingers in deeper. "...for you..."

Her free hand reached out behind her settling next to her calf, she gripped the sheets desperately as she leaned her full weight back. Praying her arm would support her as she rocked and ground down into her fingers deep inside of her own throbbing warmth. Her hips started a circling motion down onto Buffy's hard as a rock stomach, small whimpers came from the back of her throat, that were echoed by the pants and moans coming from her Light Slayer as she watched her. Her back arched tautly like an over-strung bow, raising her up off Buffy.

"B!GODB..." her hips started pumping wildly into her own hand, fingers as she lost all control and shamelessly abandoned herself to pure lust. Her head snapped back whipping her hair against her back and her body tightened, held still for that timeless minute until she fell over the edge into unadulterated ecstasy.

"OHGODI'MCUMMINGB!" With a guttural shout, her body convulsed, she doubled over from the ferocity of it and fell forward into Buffy's waiting arms. She shook helplessly against Buffy, her hips still pounding into her hand, Buffy's stomach as she shattered into a million pieces of pure pleasure, while being held safely within Buffy's loving arms until the storm finally passed.

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She curled up into Buffy, purring contently from the soothing hands stroking along her back. It wasn't long before she felt the heat of a blush start at the very tips of her toes and run like wildfire up her body to the very top of her head. She hid her face in Buffy's neck, sure that the ear resting against Buffy's shoulder was going to brand her, it was so damn hot from blushing. It was ridiculous to be blushing now, but then again if she had been aware of anything else but her own hands upon her body and Buffy watching her as she 'performed' for her, she would bet her last dollar that she had been blushing the whole time then too. She suddenly felt inordinately shy, embarrassed, awkward, insecure and a teeny-tiny part of her mind was shouting at her that after what she had just done in front of Buffy had proved once again that she really was nothing but a, 'First-class-grade-A-white-trash-whore.'

Buffy held Faith tenderly, a million and one thoughts going through her mind. She was amazed, a little bit awed and stunned. She smiled, loving this side that Faith had finally shown her and her smile spread from ear to ear because she knew that Faith was far from done. Her mind was in a tizzy just imagining what was to come next and from the thought of someday turning the tables on the Dark Slayer and letting this side of herself out to play. She almost chuckled when she felt the heat of Faith's blush against her skin. She too wondered if the ear pressing into her would brand her, it was so hot. She stifled the chuckle when she felt the emotions that were spinning through Faith's mind flow to her in an echo, especially the last one. No way, there was no fucking way that she was going to let the past come up and bite Faith on the ass now.

"B, I ah... that... what just happened, that was..."

"...let me guess Fai, just another appetizer." Buffy said, thinking that it might be better to ignore the emotions that were wreaking havoc with the Dark Slayer's mind. Acknowledging them might just give them more power. Might give them the doorway to come through full force and make it seem like she actually gave them some sort of credence, some sort of nod that she believed them too. She wasn't sure if it was the right thing to do or not, but her gut told her that if Faith didn't bring them into the conversation she shouldn't either. So she went with her instincts, so far they hadn't steered her wrong. "And Fai, that had to be the hottest, most erotic, breathtakingly beautiful sights I've ever seen. Thank you."

"For what?" Faith lifted her head from its hiding place in Buffy neck, finding the courage from somewhere inside to look into Buffy's eyes.

"For just being you. For making one of my fantasies a reality." Buffy's breath caught in her chest when Faith gave her that wide-eyed almost disbelieving look of awe and innocence.

Faith stared into Buffy's eyes for the longest time, that little voice in her head struggling to be heard, to be believed instead of the love that blazed from Buffy's eyes. This time though Faith wasn't listening to it, this time she was listening to her heart, her soul and believing the truth that she saw with her own eyes. With a whimper of defeat the voice retreated, returning to its dark home inside of Faith. Only this time it found the scar on Faith's soul it had called home since its birth had grown just a little bit smaller and a little bit brighter.

"Maybe someday you'll return the favor for me, B." She gave Buffy a wolfish smile.

"Mmmm, I think that's a favor I'll be more than happy to return, S.O." It came out a scratchy purr filled with promise. Her soothing touch upon Faith's back turned teasing, her nails raking lightly down its length. She smiled almost smugly as Faith's spine arched in the wake of her nails.

"Not as happy as me," Faith told her impishly, then moaned as Buffy's nails retraced their path up her spine.

"We'll see about that, Fai..." Buffy stretched her neck, leaned up and nipped at Faith's mate-mark. Her own gasp quickly followed Faith's as she felt an echoed shadow-bite on her own mate-mark. "But not right now. 'Cause right now, if I remember correctly someone said something earlier about wantin' to fu..."

The hungry, hot-blooded, growling-hiss that spilled out of Faith and cut off the rest of what Buffy was saying surprised both Slayers. Her eyes turned an even deeper emerald; they narrowed to mere slits and glowed with an animalist thirst. Her voice rumbled out of her chest in a fiery rolling purr as she told Buffy, "Did I say wanted? My mistake, I should have said, I'm gonna fuck you like there is no tomorrow. And that B... is a promise."

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Once again without any idea of how it happened she found herself flat on her back, gripping with every ounce of Slayer strength she possessed the brass headboard white-knuckled. Her bottom lip caught painfully between her teeth as she tried not to break the three simple rules Faith had given her and that she had agreed to follow. It was either follow them or Faith would stop and that was the very last thing she wanted. She had been so smug, so down-right arrogant when she agreed to the rules and that smugness, arrogance was coming back to bite her on the ass hard and right now she would have kicked her own butt if that wouldn't have broken one of the rules.

'Oh God! How the fuck could I have been so stupid? I fell right into her trap and she knew I would!' she wondered and the smart-ass side of her personality decided to remind her exactly how.

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"Okay B," Faith told her while raising her hands once more over her head, "there are just three simple rules you have to follow or I'll stop." She paused for a few minutes to feast on Buffy's neck, as she helped her to wrap her hands around the posts on the headboard. "And you have to agree to all three or it's no deal. 'K?"

'How bad can they be?' Buffy thought to herself. "Okay Faith, let's hear 'em."

"One, no touching me... " Faith wiggled her eyebrows, "...or yourself..." she paused to give Buffy a quick kiss, "...that is until I say you can and only where and how I say you can..."

"No problem Faith, been there, done that already..." Buffy smirked, her eyes devouring the Dark Slayer. She found she was loving this dominant, possessive, commanding side of Faith and lord, she couldn't wait for the day she got to turn the tables on her Dark mate.

"So you have," Faith scooted down Buffy's body a little. "Two, no movin' at all..." She dipped her head down and caught one of Buffy's nipples with her teeth, laving it delicately with her tongue. There was nothing wrong with giving Buffy a little incentive. She lifted her head and gave Buffy a tiny smirk, "...that is until I say you can."

"I can do that Fai," She snicker then almost broke the rule immediately when Faith lowered her head again and attacked one of her nipples like a starving woman.

"Sure about that B?" Faith asked, then attacked the nipple she had neglected while she waited for Buffy to answer her. When she finally got a moaned yes from Buffy, she lifted her head again. This time the smirk was much bigger that she gave Buffy, "Third, you can't cum..." She trailed her hand down; dipping in lightly to the warm wetness she knew was waiting for her between Buffy's legs. Her fingers traced teasingly almost imperceptibly through Buffy's slickness. "...until I say you can."

Faith moved her hand away from Buffy's core; she placed her hands on either side of Buffy's chest and lifted herself up. She stared down at her very aroused mate, she wasn't playing fair, she knew that. Buffy had already been acutely aroused from before when Faith had pleasured herself in front of her. Now she was going to do one of the two things she knew Buffy couldn't resist to ensure Buffy would agree to the rules. Buffy couldn't resist her, nor could she ever resist a challenge that Faith threw out to her.

"Think you're up to the challenge, B?" She purred seductively, enticingly and daringly. She had to stop herself from chuckling when she saw the predictable glint of determination not to lose shine in Buffy's eyes.

"You bet your sweet ass I am Fai... I can handle anything you can dream up." Buffy purred back just as seductively, a smug smile gracing her face. A wicked gleam in her eyes that let Faith know, that payback were definitely going to be a bitch. A bitch named, Buffy, 'B', 'Gizmo' Summers.

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So now, here she was having almost broken the first two rules within the first five minutes. She had no clue how much time had gone by when she bent one of the brass posts in her hands. Right now, all she knew was she had spent the last five minutes painting mental images in her head of Giles, Luc, Wesley, Gunn, the Master and anyone or anything else that would be like an ice-cold shower to her over-stimulated, over-aroused, screaming-in-need body! Those images were the last thing she wanted to think about or see in her mind's eye. But if she even thought about Faith, or Faith's hands, her lips, her tongue, her fingers, her teeth or what she was doing with them, without a shred of doubt she was going to break the last rule. Hell, who was she kidding? She would end up breaking all three of them!

Buffy let out a whimper of such misery when the Dark Slayer once again only lightly, quickly flicked her tongue across her engorged nub, then veered away to travel over her hipbone that Faith actually felt guilty for a second and decided to take pity on her at least for a little while. She honestly didn't know how Buffy was managing to lay still, she had been teasing, torturing the living shit out of her. Her kisses, her touches, even her bites a little rougher, harder, then normal, but eliciting one of the most passionate responses she had ever gotten from Buffy. Faith felt it scorching its way to her through their bond so she had no doubt about what her impassioned love play was doing to Buffy.

She had been avoiding for the most part the more 'known', the obvious, hotspots on Buffy's body. Instead, she had explored, seeking out the lesser-known ones. She had traversed almost every square inch of the soft, yet hard body underneath her. She was pretty sure Buffy was going to go off on her when she saw how many 'love bites' she had left behind. She hadn't been able to control herself though. The need to claim, to mark Buffy as hers, was almost a living thing, breathing beneath her skin. She couldn't get enough of the whimpers, the sighs, the moans Buffy was gifting her with. Nor could she get enough of the feel of Buffy's skin beneath her hands, on her body or of the taste of Buffy in her mouth, upon her tongue.

She slithered up Buffy's body, resting herself between her Light Slayer's legs then shuddered along with her as she snuggled her hips down. She propped herself up on her elbows, looking down into eyes filled with lust, love and determination. She took possession of Buffy's mouth in a kiss that was brutal, fierce, completely carnal, and left them both dazed in its wake. She pressed her hips down into Buffy's, making them both whimper.

She nuzzled her mouth next to Buffy's ear, breathing softly into it, "You want to move, don't you?"

"Yes," Buffy hissed from between clenched teeth.

She moved her mouth down to her mate-mark, sucking on it, tasting it with her tongue. "You want to touch me, don't you?"

"Yes," she hissed for a second time from between clenched teeth.

She nibbled her way up Buffy's neck, over her chin, stopping to murmur against her mouth, "You want to cum too, don't you?" Faith lifted her head to stare down at Buffy a wicked gleam in her eyes. She waited for Buffy to answer, but it seemed she was going to wait in vain. "Tell me," she demanded, one elegant eyebrow lifting royally, letting a little bit more of this dominant side of herself out.

Her first reaction was to yell 'YES'so loud everyone within the Immortals' domain would hear her. Instead, she just glared up at Faith defiantly, playing Faith's game and loving every last second of it.

She moved slightly, supporting her weight on one elbow and lifted herself just enough to whisper a hand down over Buffy's chest, her stomach. She moved her hand a little lower playing idly with the soft, short, curly hairs that covered Buffy's sex. "I know you do. I can smell you." She trailed a lone finger down and around the side of Buffy's twitching clit. "I feel how wet, how hot, how ready you are." That lone finger moved up and back to play with soft curls. Faith eyes narrowed as something that sounded a lot like, 'Bitch!' hissed out from between Buffy's clenched teeth.

"So tell me B..." she purred, cajoled, with just a hint of a promise in her tone, but underneath it was still a command, "...do you want to cum?"

That lone finger slid down again, hovering right over her quivering nub and Buffy felt like she was ready to jump right out of her skin. Her mind conjuring up all the wickedly evil, tortuously delightful things she was going to do to her Dark Slayer when she got the chance to turn the tables. And turn the tables she would! She stared up into those hungry, possessive eyes with a hunger all her own. A hunger she knew only her Dark Slayer could quench.

"Yes..." She let the word roll off her tongue seductively, enticingly and a little bit demandingly.

She let her other fingers join the lone one that was hovering near Buffy's nub. She slid them down and cupped Buffy's sex, shuddering at the heat, the wetness she found waiting for her. She pressed gently against the inflamed flesh and expected Buffy to jerk but she surprised her yet again when the only thing that moved were Buffy's kiss-swollen lips when they softly moaned her name.

"You're being so good... Tell me... which of the three do you want the most, B?"

"I don't just want... I 'need' to touch you. I always, will always, 'need' to touch you more than anything else, Faith." Buffy answered softly, without even the slightest hesitation or needing a moment to think about her answer. She always needed to touch her dark mate and she would, for all time, need to touch her more than anything else.

To say the Dark Slayer was surprised by her mate's answer would have been the understatement of the century. There had been such longing burning in Buffy's voice it shook the Dark Slayer down to her soul. Though a part of her believed that Buffy needed her, loved her, wanted her in the same passionate, all-consuming way that Faith needed her, another part of her just refused to believe it was true. With Buffy's passionate declaration, another one of those hidden scars upon the Dark Slayer's soul became just a tiny bit smaller and lighter.

"I 'need' you to touch me too, B." She wrapped her arms around Buffy, pulling her with her as she sat up.

She twisted around with Buffy straddling her and propped herself up against the headboard. She raised her knees up and gently leaned Buffy against them. She moved forward and gave Buffy a soft, gentle, passionate kiss. "Touch me B..." she mumbled into the kiss. Buffy's arms came around and hugged her so tightly they forced all the air right out of her lungs.

She hugged Faith for long minutes, relishing the feel of her in her arms. Finally breaking the embrace her hands roamed over every inch of Faith's silky-soft flesh she could reach. Her fingertips burned from the heat of Faith's skin, they tingled from it, sending flash-fires up her arms, down her torso creating a bonfire within her. Her whole body quaked when Faith's hot mouth surround one of her throbbing nipples, her hand reaching up to tease the other. She began to rock herself against Faith's hard stomach, whimpering low. She tangled her hands into Faith's hair dragging her mouth back up to hers. This time it was she who took the Dark Slayer's mouth captive in a purely carnal kiss. Her tongue forced its way in, conquering, tasting, exploring, teasing, the warm cavern of Faith's mouth.

Faith pulled back from the kiss growling, lowering her legs until they were only slightly bent. She put her hands on Buffy's hips and slid her away from her stomach. She growled again when Buffy's hands latched onto her breasts, her fingers pulling on her nipples, the nails scraping none too gently around them. One hand slid from Buffy's hip, down to the inside of her thigh, then up to touch the wetness that she had created. The other hand trailed up to return the same arousing torture to Buffy's breasts that Buffy was treating hers to.

"B..." she husked, and then waited for Buffy to look at her. When Buffy finally raised her eyes, Faith slowly slid into her. The sound that Buffy made when she entered her almost made Faith lose control and climax. She glided her fingers into Buffy as slowly and as deeply as she could. "I love the way you feel... so tight, so hot... I could stay here forever."

"I could let you stay forever," Buffy chuckled wickedly, then shrieked when, with a smirk on her face and a chuckle of her own, Faith flicked her clit. "Not funny Fai..."

"Wasn't meant to be..." Faith purred, then let the hand on Buffy's breast drift down to join the other. She circled around Buffy's nub as she started to leisurely glide in and out of her with her other hand. "Was meant to make you hotter, wetter... Did it, B?"

All Buffy could manage was a grunt. She planted her feet on the bed, using Faith's inclined legs to support her as she lowered and raised herself into, onto Faith's hands. She kept her eyes locked with her Dark Slayer's as the knot of pleasure gathered forcefully deep inside of her.

"I love watching you... You're so beautiful when you're like this..." She watched Buffy with something akin to awe, it humbled her and astounded her still, that it was her that made 'her' Light Slayer feel this way. "So beautiful when you cum..."

That voice, that deep, raspy, husky voice thundered through Buffy's veins like liquid fire. It ignited the final fuse inside of her and a moan tore out of her as those magnificent, knowing hands sped up the tempo of the erotic dance her Dark Slayer was leading her on. She surged up violently as the knot of pleasure unleashed itself within her with an earth shattering force.

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When she finally came back to reality, she found herself face down on the bed, the Dark Slayer resting fully on top of her, nibbling on the nape of her neck and still deeply inside of her. Stunned she moaned low when she realized that she was just as, if not more, aroused then she was before she came. She had to be dreaming, it just wasn't possible. Or was it?

Vaguely she remembered Faith lowering her to the bed, turning her over. Somehow, Faith had managed to remain deep within her, only gentling her touch, changing the thrusting to a delicate caress.

"Welcome back, B..."

"Tha..." Buffy clutched at the bed sheets, ripping them before she could stop herself. She pushed back into Faith's hand when those talented fingers found her g-spot. Something she had always thought was a crock of shit until Faith. "...OHChristFaith!"

"Like that B?" Faith asked then rubbed against Buffy's g-spot again just to make sure she knew what she was asking.

"YES!" Buffy screeched then shredded the sheets a little more, still in total denial that Faith had her feeling this way again.

"Want more?" Faith decided to make a meal out of the nape of Buffy's neck while she waited for her to answer. She got something that sounded like a 'yes' when she plunged into Buffy a little quicker adding a twist for the hell of it. She chose to take the second sound that erupted from Buffy as a 'yes' too. "Good, 'cause I would hate to break my promise to you."

Buffy was almost afraid to ask. "Promise?" She stumbled over the word a little, then moaned as Faith rubbed herself against her back like a cat.

"Yeah, promise..." Faith murmured, reluctantly removing her fingers from their warm, wet home. She slid her hands under Buffy, grasping onto her shoulders from behind. She pulled herself along Buffy's back, purring like a crazed jungle cat the whole time. She lowered her mouth next to Buffy's ear, still purring, "You know... the promise I made earlier that I was going to fuck you like there was no tomorrow. Rough, hard, fast... That I'm going to take you to a place that you've never been before, then take you there again and again..."

"Oh god, you're trying to kill me..." Buffy uttered the words without thought and without the slightest fear that Faith would take them the wrong way.

Faith heard the words and not for a second, nay, a millisecond did she misunderstand them. In fact both Slayers, never even gave a second thought to them. It was a silent testament to how hard they had worked, struggled to put their hurtful past with each other behind them and an affirmation that they truly had.

"Kill you... no..." Faith smiled wickedly, the possessive feral glint flashing in her eyes. Her wild side coming back out to play, hearing an answer from its mate in Buffy, who wanted to play too. "...gonna make you cum hard and fast and long, over and over again..." she purred, slowly, softly like she was tasting it.

"And B..."

"Yeah..."

"All the rules from before..."

"Yeah..."

"They still apply..."

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The sheets were nothing more than tatters. The headboard was bent out of shape. And the first of the Chosen One's was nothing but a mindless, babbling, lava pool of lust, desire, passion and outright blatant need. On her hands and knees, she watched dazed the sweat dripping off her body onto what was left of the sheets. The Dark Slayer had kissed, sucked, bitten, chewed, licked, touched, scraped, even scratched a little, every single piece of flesh on her body. She had even crawled under her at one point, chuckling evilly that she didn't want the front of her mate's body to feel neglected.

If she had been capable of speaking in any language known to man, she would have been begging by now. Her dark mate hadn't let her move - other than how she moved her - or touch her, once. In all of her life, she had never felt the need to touch someone as much as she needed to touch her Dark Slayer as she did right now. She shuddered when she felt her lover move to kneel behind her. Her whole body trembled when she felt her mate lean over her, her breasts burning holes into her back, strong hands gripping her thighs moving her legs further apart. A ragged sob forced its way out of her when she felt the river of wetness that was her Dark Slayer's desire for her coat her ass.

She swore she was having mini-orgasms when her mate's hands came around her and cupped her breasts. Her Dark Slayer's fingers relentlessly teased, stroked, pulled, pinched, flicked her nipples into heart-stopping, white-hot points of rapture. A shiver ran its fingers down her spine as her mate rocked into her, her teeth nipping her earlobe, her breath, hot and heavy caressing her neck.

Her Dark Slayer had led her to the edge time and again, giving her just a peek at what lay on the other side before pulling her back each time swiftly, without mercy, leaving her breathless and begging to be taken there again. And the Light Slayer knew, even if she reached down to end this torture herself that she couldn't, wouldn't be able to cum right now unless her soul-mate told her to. Her Dark Slayer had promised to take her to a place she had never been before and undeniably this was a place she had never been before, ever. A place, she already knew, she wanted to visit again and a place she wanted to bring her Dark Slayer someday too.

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She couldn't get enough of her, couldn't seem to stop herself from needing to touch her, to taste her. The overwhelming need to mark the Light Slayer as hers was back and it would not be denied. Nothing in her life had ever prepared her for this possessiveness, this primal desire to claim, to take, to protect, to conquer and be claimed, taken, protected and conquered in return. And she knew from their bond that her Light Slayer felt the same way and it made her feel complete, unbroken in a wholly incredibly new way.

She clutched the shaking body of her Light Slayer beneath her tighter. All of this was so new it scared her a little, but not enough to stop her. She held on tightly letting her lover support her weight as she shook helplessly with her own need. Her hips rocked steadily into her mate's ass, her wetness leaving slick trails, her clit twitching, begging for a harder, firmer touch. She finally managed to get herself under control again, she eased up off her golden-haired lover slightly, then smiled at the moan of disappointment that she let slip. One hand moved to grasp her Light Slayer's shoulder from underneath and behind. The other hand dusted down over her side, then over her back to her ass. She kneaded the tense muscles, traced feather-light patterns over its firmness.

"Tell me what you want." She demanded hoarsely, her mouth brushing against her Light Slayer's ear.

"Inside..." she mumbled, "Inside... want you inside me..." Long, gifted fingers suddenly plunged into her forcefully then stilled. Her head snapped back, her long damp hair whipping her Dark Slayer on the shoulder and upper back. An actual howl ripped out of her throat as a small quake sparked through her giving her a preview of what would befall her when her Dark Slayer fulfilled her promise.

Her hips jerked uncontrollably into her Light Slayer when her hair lashed her with its wet, silken caress. "Tell me what you want," she demanded again. A moan was her answer, but this time it wasn't good enough. "Tell me..." Her command was rough, harsh in her desire.

Her befuddled mind tried to form the words. She knew what she wanted; she wanted her Dark Slayer to fulfill the rest of her promise. She wanted to be fucked like there was no tomorrow. Hard, fast, rough, she wanted to lose every last bit of control and she wanted her Dark Slayer to lose her own as well.

"Want you to..." She stopped gasping as another slightly larger quake ripped through her. She panted trying to gather her thoughts again, make her tongue speak recognizable words. "...keep your promise. Want... you... to... fuck... me..." A small part of herself stood off open-mouthed in disbelief. She never in her life had ever said those words to anyone. That small part of herself got over its disbelief quickly as her Dark Slayer's roar of triumph, lust and hunger fell upon her like a physical caress.

The Dark Slayer started to fuck her, alternating between hard, fast, rough and slowly and deeply, tearing away every last semblance of control she had. This wasn't the first time they had ever touched each other like this, nor would it be the last. But it was only a way they could ever touch, be with each other, it would have been too hard, too rough for anyone other than another Slayer. And she loved that, loved that it was something that only she could give to her Dark Slayer and that her Dark Slayer could only give to her. The snarl from her Dark Slayer told her without words she felt the same way.

She moved her arm down to circle her Light Slayer's waist. She moved easily, intimately in the pulsating heat of her mate. She leaned into her further, licking her skin, taking small bites, loving the smell, the taste of her desire and of her sweat. "Move with me..."

She didn't need to be told twice, she pushed back so hard into her mate she almost knocked them both over. "More... fill me... oh god Fai... need more..." she demanded as she met each thrust with equal force, contracting her internal muscles to hold those long fingers inside of her for just a second longer.

She just hissed, giving her Light Slayer what she asked for. Her thumb dipping occasionally into the hot wetness of her mate's desire, then trailing up to venture where neither of them had ever ventured before. "So wet for me, so hot for me, so tight..." She latched onto her mate's shoulder blade, sucking with a vengeance then purring with satisfaction when she saw the mark that would, despite their Slayer healing, remain for a few days. "Love being so deep inside of you... love how you feel... you make me so hot, so wet, so goddamn crazy with need, crazy for you..." She latched onto her mate's other shoulder blade, leaving an identical mark.

Her head dropped down, her damp hair falling, shrouding her face. Every cell in her body screamed for release. Everything she was, screamed even louder for her mate. "Faith..."

"Are you ready to cum for me?" She leaned heavily onto her Light Slayer. The arm around her mate's waist slid down, her fingers began to torture, to tease, to taunt the overextended, engorged nub she found there begging for her touch. Her other arm, her fingers plunging tirelessly, deeply, unerringly hitting her Light Slayer's sweet spot each time. The sweat was rolling off her back, her own hips pumped in time, rocking hard into each backward thrust of her Light Slayer.

"Yes... want... to... cum... for... you..." She panted out, lifting her head and turning it as far as she could so she could see her Dark Slayer's eyes. "...just... for... you... Faith..."

Time stopped for a moment for them as their eyes locked. They might have been acting, rutting like animals in heat, but underlying it all was the deep-rooted respect, protectiveness and love they felt for each other. And this, despite what roles they might be playing at, was the heart, the soul, of all they were together.

The Dark Slayer moved forward and kissed her Light Slayer with infinite care, tenderness and love. Sealing the promises they had made to each other almost a year ago at the waterfall.

Time started again as their kiss grew more passionate, more demanding, more carnal and now it was time for the Dark Slayer to deliver on a promise she had made a little bit after she had carried her Light Slayer into the cottage.

"Cum for me, B..." she whispered against full, soft lips.

At those whispered words it gathered, building, making all her muscles lock down, her breath stop, then explode from her when she felt those fingers drive into her again and another drift up to enter her where no one ever had before. She slammed back into her Dark Slayer, rising up, lifting both of them. A scream of unbridled ecstasy shaking the very rafters as one after another shockwave tore through her, never-ending, the next starting before the last had finished and still her Dark Slayer moved deeply within her, taking her to that place over and over again.

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She woke to dark-chocolate, loving eyes staring down at her. She smiled up adoringly at her mate.

"That was..."

"...don't even think about saying an appetizer, Faith!" She teased gently, chuckling at the innocent look Faith tried to give her.

"No Giz that was the main course." She planted a soft kiss on already kiss-swollen lips.

"Ummmm hmmmm..." Buffy murmured, not quite believing her.

"I was more thinkin' it was time for dessert..." Faith gave her a little leer and puppy-dog eyes.

"Faith I don't think I could... hell, I don't think I'll be able to for another week at least..."

"Not even for me?" Faith purred seductively, then pulled one of Buffy's own tricks on her and started writing 'F loves B' on her chest repeatedly.

In total disbelief, she once again felt a shudder of desire ripple through her. "Ummm... maybe... but only once... and only for you..." She chuckled, not quite believing she actually agreed.

"Good, 'cause I still have one more promise to keep."

"What promise is that?"

"To make slow, tender, gentle love with you, B."

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She felt even the slightest movement of Buffy underneath her, heard each hitch of her breath, catching even the smallest of nuances in her expression. Felt the heat of her skin whispering against her own, the hot wash of Buffy's breath against her face and neck, heard the murmured words of love, need, passion, watched as the pleasure transform her face. It was magnificent. It was breathtaking and it awed and humbled her. The beauty that was Buffy captivated her; she caught her mouth in a tender, breath-stealing kiss. Both gentle and giving as she pulled Buffy even closer to her and she rocked to her lover's need, giving her everything she was. It was in the intimacy of her worshipping touch, in every kiss, in every brush of their skin.

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The feel of Faith moving above her was exquisite, but it wasn't nearly as exquisite as the love that stared back at her in those soft doe-eyes. Nothing escaped her attention, not the softest of sighs, the slightest jump of a muscle under her adoring hands, not the sweet, musky taste of Faith's skin on her tongue and lips. Nor the bliss writing itself across Faith's face, it was glorious, it took her breath away and it awed and humbled her. The beauty that was Faith enthralled her and every part of her cried out, celebrated when Faith kissed her with such tenderness, with so much love that it melted her soul. Everything she was, everything she felt was in each of her touches, each of her kisses, in the very pores of her flesh that whispered so intimately against her soul-mate, Faith.

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"Mine..." she whispered in awe against her mate-mark.

"Yours..." was whispered back just as softly, with just as much awe.

She bit down daintily, reverently on her mark upon her mate. The flesh beneath her teeth yielded, opened, and welcomed her as if it had a mind of its own. A part of her realizing she hadn't bitten hard enough to break the skin, yet still there was the taste of blood in her mouth, on her lips, only it was sweet, instead of coppery and bitter, making her own blood sing in return. She lifted her head, joining their mouths in a gentle caress accepting the promise, the oath that her mate just made to her.

"Mine..." was whispered in awe against her mate-mark to her after their kiss ended.

"Yours..." she whispered back just as softly in awe.

She felt her mate's teeth on her mate-mark biting down just as softly, just as reverently as she had. Then her own flesh yielded, opened, welcomed, her mate in return, as if it too, had a mind of its own. Her mate lifted her head and she tasted her own blood, just as sweet as her mate's, as her mate joined their mouths in another gentle caress and the promise, the oath that she had made to her mate was accepted in return.

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The Dark Slayer whispered to her mate how beautiful she was, how much she loved her, needed her in between kisses. Her heart stopped beating as Buffy's head arched back, her eyes opening and locking with her own, sharing her pleasure, telling of her love. Faith fell into those expressive eyes. She heard Buffy gasp her name as a soul-searing climax claimed her, and the beautiful sight her eyes beheld swept Faith away...

...And then Buffy felt her own heart stop as she brought 'her Faith' to the same plateau carrying her away in the same soul-searing climax. And she too fell into the expressive eyes of her mate and was swept away by the beautiful sight her eyes beheld.

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She slowly eased her lover down from her devastating climax, pulling Buffy tightly into her embrace. Holding her trembling body securely within her loving, strong arms as Buffy buried her face into her chest and clung to her. Faith clung just as tightly to Buffy, burying her face into Buffy's soft hair and neck. Her heart was thundering, pounding against her ribs and she waited for it to explode. From out of nowhere the fears, the insecurities, the huge mistake she had almost made, the relief, the love, everything, nothing, all of it, all at once crashed down on her, taking her emotions on a rollercoaster ride at incredibly impossible speeds, leaving her feeling exposed, vulnerable, raw.

All of it began to pour out of her against her will, the tears falling softly from beneath her tightly closed lids. She didn't know what she would do if she ever lost Buffy, she just knew she wouldn't survive. And she clung to Buffy who was her touchstone, her soul, her lifeblood, her air and her light in the darkness that she had lived in for most of her life.

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Buffy hung onto Faith's trembling body tightly. She was reeling from all that had transpired between them today. Reeling from the knowledge that she had almost pushed Faith away from her over the last few weeks, when her only goal had been to bring them even closer together. She felt Faith's trembling cease then start again almost immediately and at first, she thought she was laughing, that was until she felt the hot wash of Faith's tears bathing her neck.

"Faith? Baby... what's wrong?" Buffy ran her hands soothingly over Faith's hair, her back, her shoulders. "Faith, please baby, tell me what's wrong." She pulled the Dark Slayer closer to her, holding her tightly. She felt acutely how exposed, vulnerable, raw her Dark Slayer felt, as a whirlwind of other emotions, images, almost all the Dark Slayer was feeling, had been feeling, thinking about over the last few weeks sped to her in an echo and her arms tightened instinctively. "It's okay baby... Everything is going to be okay... Let it out, let it all out..." she cooed lovingly.

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She clung to Buffy like she was her lifeline and in some ways she was right now. She felt almost nauseous from the rollercoaster ride her emotions were taking her on. Everything, not just the last few weeks was flashing through her mind. From the very first time her mother had hit her, to accidentally staking Allan Finch, to trying to claw the blood off her hands, to finding love with Buffy, to being in Glory's hell, to their night at the waterfall, to earlier today. The voices in her head were screaming, scratching, clawing, all trying to be heard. From her mother's to Johnny's, to the scared, abused, small child that lived inside of her, to the voice that had always been 'her', to Angel's, to Buffy's, everyone she had ever known, all of them, all at once and she just wanted them all to SHUT THE FUCK UP!

And surprisingly enough they did and when they did, the rollercoaster ride her emotions had been on came to a screeching stop. She snuggled in deeper to Buffy, loosening her death hold, her tears slowing and then finally stopping.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to ruin everything." She mumbled jaggedly into Buffy's neck.

"You didn't ruin anything baby... You couldn't..." Buffy softly told her, "Are you ready to talk about it?"

Faith just shook her head no against Buffy's neck. She needed a few minutes to try to process all of it. Make some semblance out of it, figure out what the hell just happened.

"Okay... that's okay... I'll be right here ready, you know when you're ready. I'll be ready to listen, when you're ready... To talk and I'll... Did umm... that make sense?"

Faith didn't have to look to know that Buffy's face had that cute scrunched up look she got when she was confused. "Yeah B, it did..." she half chuckled and while she was still feeling vulnerable, exposed, raw, being held by Buffy right now made her feel peaceful, sheltered and protected too. She wanted to keep that feeling so she whispered softly, "Just hold me for a while..."

"Always... always Fai..."

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She rested against Buffy trying to gather her thoughts together now that the carnival ride in her head had stopped. Talking about her feelings, asking for help, expressing her fears still didn't come easily for her. She wondered if it ever would. She was tired of always being a hairsbreadth away from losing everything she worked so hard to achieve, of always being a fraction of an inch away from losing the life she had struggled, suffered untold pain to build before she opened her mouth or reached out. She was tired of the part of herself that lived in fear and let that fear control her. And she was tired of always fighting for everyone else but herself, of always putting everyone else's needs, wants, dreams, all of it, above her own. There was nothing that said at times she couldn't come first or at least what she wanted, needed for herself couldn't be equal with those she loved.

All the years of feeling worthless, second best, no good, hating herself and a host of other emotions that pushed, helped her to drag herself down into the gutter and turn herself into exactly what she had been told she was her whole life were over. She had no intention of living up or down as it were to 'their' expectations of her anymore, the only person's expectations she was going to live up to from now on were her own.

She had been allowing herself to fall into old habits, had been following that downward spiral again, listening to those subtle sly voices from her past, instead of listening to the voice in her head that was 'her' and listening to her heart and soul. And that was going to end right here, right now, she could still feel them, the voices of her past in there waiting for their chance and she knew if she remained silent they would get that chance. She was still a little confused, still worried, still felt raw, exposed and vulnerable, but she wasn't going to let that stop her.

She sat up, gently detangling herself from Buffy. She reached out and pulled Buffy up until she sat facing her. She almost started to cry again, when Buffy reached out and softly, tenderly brushed the wet tracks of her tears from her face.

"Over the last few weeks I've felt like I was losing you B. At first, I thought it was kinda cute, you babbling all the time and just thought you were feeling stressed out. Since you always babble when you're stressed, like you did during finals. The first week or so it didn't really bother me – bother me – in a bad way - that we weren't spending a lot of time together, I just figured you were busy with the dojo and other stuff. I mean, I know we can't be together twenty-four hours a day like we are here but... As the days went on, I realized that you were avoiding me and not just being alone or in the same room with me, but avoiding actually talking to me about anything. I walked into a room and you practically ran out of it. If I asked you a question about us or started to talk about things we've planned together, you either found a reason to not talk then or started babbling about everything but that and never answering me. And you started looking at me in this sad, worried sort of way. And I couldn't quite figure out what it meant." She stopped and gnawed on her bottom lip in frustration, none of this was coming out right.

"I could feel all different types of things from you through our bond. Fear, confusion, sadness and I didn't have a clue where it was coming from. I just knew that you were hiding something from me and that you were afraid. I should have said something then but I didn't. I started to get scared, worried and I pulled away. And... and it just kept getting worse, my stomach was in constant knots and these thoughts I didn't want to be having about us, about our relationship started to creep in. I was terrified of what you were going to tell me and ashamed of what I was beginning to think. By the time the day arrived for us to leave to come here, I thought you were going to leave me, I thought that even though you still loved me, what we had just wasn't enough or right for you. I could feel you pulling away from me and not just physically, but inside too. But I pushed it down that day, I tried to ignore it, I tried not to let the fear own me. I wanted to believe that you would come to me, tell me what was going on, I wanted to trust what I knew in my heart, my soul about you, about us and not what my head was trying to tell me." She stopped again and ran a trembling hand through her hair thinking how odd it was to be having this conversation right now. Most people would have had this conversation prior to spending the last few hours fucking and making love, more passionately, more intensely then they ever had before, not after.

Would they ever do things in any remotely normal way?

"I thought I had beaten them back too B. I mean it seemed like it, it seemed like things were a little more normal when we got back to the cottage. But then we went to the barbeque at Lily's and it was there again. The fear, the doubt, the insecurities and it got all confusing. I started to blame myself; convince myself that it was me. That somehow I was pushing you away, doing something wrong, forcing you to not want to be with me. Thinking I wasn't good enough, wondering why you'd ever want to be with someone like me. It was baffling, I couldn't figure out how it was I knew you loved me, were in love with me and at the same time, I was having these thoughts, these feelings and I overloaded. And I put it all on my shoulders, it was all my fault, it was me that was pushing you into doing something that I couldn't even bear to think about. I had fucked up again, I wasn't good enough, just like I always had been and I felt like I was betraying you, betraying us and all we are together." She took a shaky breath, she wasn't done yet, she had yet to admit to Buffy what she had thought was going on between her and Lily. She was ashamed of those thoughts and she dropped her eyes from Buffy's.

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Buffy reached out and grasped both of Faith's hands with her own. It was amazing how they could share this deep bond, share their feelings, see images of what the other was thinking and yet still be both so insecure as to doubt what was there. She had those same thoughts, feeling, had been going through something very similar over the last few weeks as Faith, though for different reasons. She took her own shaky breath realizing how very close they had come to pushing each other away, but thanks to the Immortals, they hadn't. She couldn't help wonder how they had gotten to that point in the first place. She let go of one of Faith's hands. She reached up, tucked a stray piece of hair behind Faith's ear, then gently cupped her face, her thumb brushing softly against her cheekbone. A small sigh of relief escaped her when Faith leaned into her touch and slowly raised her eyes back up to her own.

Their eyes locked, Faith's words echoing through both their minds and in that brief second they shared a sort of epiphany, it wasn't on any real conscious level, it was just simply an innate knowing. Not only about themselves, but about each other. Earlier today they both had an inkling, a beginning, a start at understanding what had happened, not only right now, but the last few weeks, over the last year and what they had been deluding themselves into thinking.

And they drifted together into that space, into that place they shared because of their bond. Only this was the first time they had ever gone there while completely awake and not while they were meditating, like they had when Glory had them. Here in this place between waking and sleeping they could see, feel each other and hear without actual words what the other was saying and thinking. It was a concept that neither could grasp in a tangible way, it just simply was.

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They had been naïve to think that a year was enough time to heal all the wounds they had both suffered, more so for Faith, than Buffy. After all that had happened to Faith in her short lifetime, they realized that a very small part of Faith would always carry the fear of being rejected, of not being good enough, worthy enough to be loved, deserving of being abused, and of being once more left broken and all alone.

And Buffy was old enough, despite her age and even wise enough to realize now, that the lessons taught during childhood are the hardest ones to overcome. Realized just now in this in-between place, how naïve that belief had been to think that one year filled with love, happiness and so much more, could change, fade, eliminate all the years of abuse, pain and mental torture that Faith had endured.

And Faith in her desperation, in her need to put the past behind her as quickly as possible, as far as possible away from her and move on, had convinced herself, made herself believe that they were dead, they were gone, that they had become unlearned. It wasn't until today and right now in this in-between place, she realized just how naïve that belief had been.

Childhood lessons are the ones that shape a person, who they became, how they not only see themselves but how others see them. They are lessons carried throughout a person's lifetime. And Faith had been taught the same lessons over and over again during her childhood and then yet again in Glory's hell. Taught, she was no good, was disgusting, worthless, unlovable, trash, a whore, a plaything, taught them cruelly, harshly, callously, sadistically with brutal words, blows and in other ways that neither of them could bear to think about. But the images, the lessons came to them anyway. She had been taught those lessons... and taught them... and taught them... time after time, until she believed them, until she became them, until they had become constant whispers in her ears, in her head, and until they had become permanent scars etched upon her soul.

Scars they both foolishly thought had faded away into nothing. Scars, they both now realized might fade, but might also never fade completely away. Not even with the most tender loving care, not even with years filled with love and laughter. They were scars, memories, lessons etched in the deepest, remotest part of Faith's soul and they might always own a piece of her soul. They would rear their hideous heads from time to time, perhaps in a nightmare or a chill down the spine or an ingrained flinch from a known loving hand or an irrational reaction to a seemly perfectly normal situation. And rear their heads they had, over the last few weeks.

And they both knew they should have seen it, they should have felt it, but they hadn't. In their foolishness, in their need to heal, they had thought they had laid the last of those fears to rest.

But they knew better now and the knowing could only make them stronger, wiser.

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And Buffy 'knew' it wasn't a burden, nor a chore this knowledge, it was a blessing that only strengthened her love for Faith even more. A blessing that would open her eyes just that much wider, allow her to see things that she had failed to notice before. She would gladly spend every day; every minute if need be, of her life reassuring, proving with actions and words to her Dark Slayer, her soul-mate that she was none of those thing. Show her instead all the beautiful things she was and show her that she was very loved and that Buffy loved her, unconditionally, the good, the bad, all of her and would throughout eternity. That she would do everything and anything within her power to help Faith keep the scars and the fears that lived inside of her, might live there for the rest of her life, at bay.

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And Faith 'knew' that she had been afraid to admit that the scars, the hurt, even the fear was there still, not always, but sometimes. Afraid perhaps because she might be seen as weak, if she had a nightmare, or a flashback – daymare, or flinched in fear from a loving touch or that for no reason at all she couldn't bear the thought of being touched by anyone. As if there were a timetable on how long it took to heal from the things that had been inflicted, forced upon her and she had long since passed the expiration date.

Faith 'knew' just how stupid that was. Another 'knowing' came to her, it was never others who saw her as weak, it was only herself who saw her that way. In one of those rare moments of clarity she saw exactly how strong inside she really was, finally getting a glimpse of the inner strength that others saw and that had helped her survive all that had happened to her. It empowered her and in doing so it took away a little of the power her fears held. Admitting to it, to her fears, didn't make her weak, it made her human. As she drifted in this in-between place she 'KNEW'that she wasn't alone, that she never would be and if she needed to she could always turn to Buffy and Buffy would do everything in her power to help her keep those fears at bay. And that too, just made her stronger and made her love Buffy even more.

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There were common scars that they both shared now too and not just the ones they shared because of what had happened to them in Glory's hell. It seemed for both of them happiness wasn't in the cards. Seemed as if when they found it, it was always taken away. As if being Slayers meant there could be no true, no real happiness or love, no real life. The Watchers Council had tried many times to make them see that, tried many times to keep them isolated from the rest of the world. There was always something to disrupt the happiness, to pull it away, to change it into something else. So many secrets came with being a Slayer, secrets that, it seemed, when revealed, made other's turn away. And it had happened to them, time and time again.

Yet, together they had found that happiness, that love, with the only other person in the world who could understand them completely, another Slayer. And they clung to that with determination, with their sheer inner strength of will and the love they had for each other. Managing in the face of what would have destroyed others, in the bowels of Glory's hell to find an even greater respect, trust and love for each other. They had categorically beaten the odds hands down, they had defied everything the Watchers Council had tried to teach, to tell them and they both knew it was why they were still alive and did what no Slayer before them had ever done. They had lived longer, had a family, friends and had found love, happiness, joy and so much more.

But still and all, they both had come to accept there would always be a teeny-tiny part of themselves that would be listening for the other shoe to fall.

And while accepting that small facet of their lives as Slayers wasn't the problem, they 'knew' that they were allowing that jaded view of life to affect them as a couple. Forcing in a way to make the other shoe fall, creating problems where there was none, closing themselves off from each other instead of reaching for the other and admitting to their fears. Perhaps it was because of all that had happened to them, between them, perhaps because for so long they never believed that they could have all they had. But the time for perhaps and the time for disbelief had long since passed and belonged firmly in the past.

And yes, they both 'knew' they would still be listening for that other shoe to fall, but from now on it would be 'the Slayers' listening, not Faith and Buffy.

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In those brief flashing seconds within the in-between place, they absorbed, processed and felt what the other had thought and felt. And 'knew' that just knowing all of it didn't solve the problems, didn't make them suddenly disappear, didn't mean that from time to time they both might slip back into old habits and it didn't mean that the healing process had magically completed itself. There wasn't any time limit on healing and some scars they both now 'knew' might never heal completely. But what this 'knowing' did do was make them aware. They both 'knew' now, that silence gave power to those hidden fears, scars and that speaking aloud about all of them, bringing them out into the open, into the light would take away a little more power from those hidden fears and scars.

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"Since we've been here these feelings, thoughts grew, gained control and I started... started..." Faith kept her eyes locked with Buffy's. Something had passed between them in the seconds between her stopping then starting to speak again. There was a clarity in her mind about the thoughts and feelings she had been having over the last few weeks and more acutely since they had been here. While she didn't want to tell Buffy what she had been thinking happened or might happen, she 'knew' she had to speak even those fears aloud.

"I started to feel, or rather, I felt unworthy of you, of my life, our life together. And, over the last few days here, those little voices kept reminding me of how much time you were and had been spending with Lily over the last few weeks. I got jealous of how easy it was for you to be with her and how you seemed to be avoiding me even more, pulling away, turning to her instead of me. And I... I thought you were trying to spare my feelings, not hurt me and trying to find a way to tell me you didn't want to be lovers anymore. That it wasn't me you wanted butLilyandIthoughtyouandshethatyouwereorhadalreadybeentogether." Faith rushed out the last few words, took a quick deep breath and started again. "I was angry, scared, jealous, and I shut down and pulled away. I thought I had lost you, believed that I deserved it and it wasn't until this afternoon that Lilith and Clotho made me realize how wrong I was. How I was letting my old insecurities, those fucking voices from my past cloud what I knew was true."

"I'm sorry... I never meant to make you feel that way." Buffy whispered softly. She had royally fucked up and caused a lot of needless pain for both of them. "I was too caught up in my own insecurities, my own fears. I was acting like, as Mars told me so succinctly, 'a goddamn babbling, brainless, stereotypical, blonde twit'." She paused when Faith gave her a little smile at Mars' description of her. She gave a small smile in return.

She felt responsible for all that happened, for making Faith feel once again all those things she had while she was growing up. She had been so caught up in her own little world full of ridiculously stupid insecurities and fears she hadn't noticed what it was doing to Faith, to them. She should have known better, everyone but Faith had known what she was planning and if she had been truly making a mistake or any of her fears, insecurities had a just reason one of them would have told her. Instead, they had all encouraged her, tried to tell her that she was being silly. Not one of them would have stood idly by and let her set herself up to be hurt or rejected. She had let her past relationships, the fallout from them, dictate, impose themselves on her relationship with Faith.

She brushed her thumb along Faith's cheek one last time and then got up off the bed. She started pacing back and forth, watching Faith out of the corner of her eye as she moved to sit on the edge of the bed.

"It's funny you know - not in a ha-ha funny way - how we both were feeling the same thing only for different reasons. Granted you would have never even begun to feel that way if I hadn't been acting like such an ass. I never meant any of this to happen, I let my own past make me feel insecure, fearful, not that you didn't love me but that you would reject me, leave me. Like Angel, like Riley, like Giles, like my Mom. I guess in a way we both, at least a little bit, are slaves to our pasts. Conditioned by what has happened to us." Her voice was soft, reflective and she too realized that something had passed between them earlier. There was a clarity in her mind about her actions, reactions from over the last few weeks. And just like Faith, she knew she had to speak them aloud, after what happened or almost happened, Faith deserved that, they both deserved it.

"And you're right; I was avoiding you, hiding something from you. But not for the reasons you thought. I should have come and talked to you, told you what I was feeling, instead I let my own little voices control my actions. It hurts me that I made you feel that way about yourself again; I never want you to feel that way ever again. And what was making me act so secretive, so nervous, so fearful was supposed to show you just how much I do love you, believe in you, trust in you, in us and instead it just did the opposite." She stopped pacing and moved to stand in front of Faith.

"I would never, not ever – Hell! The thought never even crossed my fucking mind! - Cheat on you!" Her voice rose in volume, slightly indignant, slightly angry, but full of love. She was angry with herself and she was angry at Faith for even thinking she would cheat on her. She had never cheated on anyone in her life and she could have if she had wanted to, but she never had and never would. But she understood why or where Faith's thoughts had come from and so she let that anger die a quick death. Though she tried to stop it, she felt one of her babbling episodes sneaking up behind her.

"I love you, you are everything to me. Why would I want anyone else? My world begins and ends with you Faith. Why would I need anyone else, when I have you? Why the fuck would I even think about cheating on you or actually be cheating on you when all I've been trying to do is figure out how the fuck to ask you to marry me?! And being terrified you would laugh at me or say no or who the hell knows what..." When her brain finally caught up with her fast moving, babbling mouth she snapped it shut so hard her jaw actually hurt.

Goddamn it! She couldn't believe, especially after all that had happened in the last few weeks, that she just blew it all to friggin' hell! Then she went off into one of Faith's own famous tirades. Mumbling to herself, pacing and throwing her hands around like a lunatic.

"Oh that was just beautiful Summers! All that planning, all that anguish, all those days of stomach cramps, babbling like an idiot, acting like a dip-shit! Making Faith feel like shit, hurting her and for what?! So that you could just babble your stupid head off and fucking blow it! Gonna get the fucking genius award, I am! Real romantic I am... Idiot, stupid ass I am, oh Christ. I just fucked everything up!" She stopped suddenly, twirled around and pointed her finger at Faith. "Just stay there, don't move, don't say a word I'll be right back!" She turned around again and ran at full Slayer speed to the front door, stopped abruptly and almost slammed into it, turned around yet again and yelled, "AND FORGET EVERYTHING I JUST SAID!" Then she spun on her heels and ran right out the front door buck-naked.

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Faith couldn't have moved or spoken if she tried. She was in shock, in a big way. She was positive she had just imagined the whole day. She had to be dreaming. She didn't even blink when Buffy ran out the front door in all her naked wonder. She heard Buffy talking outside but none of it registered, all she kept hearing were Buffy's words from seconds before. She was still rooted to her spot on the bed, eyes wide, unblinking, gape-mouthed like a fish out of water when Buffy came tearing back into the cottage, Dusk and Cinder hot on her heels with the ever present stuffed panthers hanging out of their mouths.

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Buffy skidded to a halt in front of Faith, dropped down to one knee and flipped open the box in her right hand with her thumb. She clasped their left hands, gulped a few times to push down the boulder in the middle of her throat, then tried to get her erratic breathing and her thundering heart under control. Wishing the whole time there was something she could do about the zillion butterflies that had taken up residence in her stomach too.

"I wish I had a pretty speech planned or a poem memorized but I don't. I'm not much better at expressing what it is that I feel inside than you are and so I'm going to take my own advice for once and just say what's in my heart. I've said it before. I love you doesn't even come close, is inadequate to express what it is that I feel for you. All I have to give you is what I feel for you in my heart. We balance each other... we just fit together. Like two jigsaw puzzles that are separate, whole puzzles by themselves, but together are a bigger picture, are just simply more whole when side-by-side, when connected together. All I know is that with you I am just simply more.

"You've always told me I was the light in the darkness that was your life and what I don't think you know or realize is that you are that same light for me. Without you in my life, Faith, there would be no light, only darkness. When I close my eyes at night, it's always of you I dream, of us. When I see myself years from now, it is always with you by my side, as my equal, my lover, my best friend, my wife, my partner, my spouse. I want to spend the rest of my life with you, by your side, as your equal, your lover, your best friend, your wife, your partner, your spouse. Will you marry me; join with me, hand-fast, whatever you want to call it? Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and allowing me to become yours, Faith?"

She kept her eyes locked with Faith's as she waited for her to answer. As the seconds ticked by, she could feel each and every single drop of sweat slowly, tortuously dripping down the nape of her neck. The butterflies in her stomach kept right on multiplying like sex-crazed bunnies. Her left hand grew cold and clammy and she felt herself starting to panic when Faith still didn't answer her and just stared at her not even blinking. After what felt like a few eternities, she caught a glimpse of movement out of the corners of her eyes. She moved her head just slightly so she could see what Faith was doing and she broke out into an ear-splitting grin at what she saw.

"Faith... baby..." She said gently and waited for some sort of recognition to reach Faith's eyes. "Baby you can stop pinching yourself, you're awake, you're not dreaming." After blinking a few times, Faith gave Buffy a look of such soul-searing love that Buffy forgot her own name. "So will you Faith?"

'Yes...' Faith mouthed silently, still dazed, still pinching herself, not yet quite convinced she wasn't dreaming, that was until Buffy decided to pinch her once to prove she wasn't dreaming. The pinch broke her out of her act-like-a-silent-marble-statue mode and she launched herself at Buffy, raining kisses all over Buffy's face between ecstatically whispered yeses as they tumbled back onto the floor.

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Buffy rolled them over after returning Faith's kisses with just as much enthusiasm for a few minutes. She sat up pulling Faith with her; once again, she knelt on one knee. She knew it was corny, but she could care less. Her brows furrowed when she realized she had lost the ring-box during their kissing session. She jumped when she felt a cold wet nose poke her side. She looked over and saw Dusk sitting next to her holding the ring-box delicately between his teeth grinning at her. She took the ring out of the box, whispered her thanks to him, and turned back to Faith.

She lifted up the madly grinning Faith's left hand with her right. She slipped the simple, but eloquent black Leacann Celtic knotwork ring onto Faith's ring finger. The design of the ring while plain, was powerful in its own way, it was simply two strands intricately woven together giving the appearance of being only one unbroken strand, but in fact, was actually two separate, but equal strands, like the Slayers' themselves, one but two. The ring was also one of the traditional Celtic wedding bands. Only this particular ring and its mate, which Buffy didn't have, were special.

"The two strands woven together symbolize eternal love and or faith." Buffy smiled at the irony, a smile that Faith quickly returned. "Only this ring and its mate are special. When I told Lilith and Clotho that I was going to ask you to join with me, they not only suggested a store to go to, but also came with me to pick out a ring. I picked out a silver Leacann ring, something about the design called to me, but when I told the little old woman that owned the shop I wanted it, she wouldn't sell it to me. Instead, she told me that she would specially make the ring for me to give to you, herself. She said our rings wouldn't be made out of silver and then refused to tell me anything else, which I didn't like and I um... kinda freaked on her a little. Demanding that she tell me what kind of game she was playing and stamping my foot like a two-year-old insisting that the rings be made from silver like 'I' wanted and not out of whatever it was that 'she' wanted.

"But the old woman didn't say anything she just gave me this knowing smile as if she had some kind of secret knowledge. Then she shooed the two Immortals - who were finding the whole thing funny - and me out of the shop. She shouted after us to come back in a week to pick up the ring. Had I not been so nervous, pissed and stressed out, I probably would have figured out right then that there was a reason that Lilith and Clotho took me to that shop, but I didn't. It wasn't until after they dragged me outside that they told me the old woman was a Wicca of the highest order, a sort of seer, and that they had their rings made there too. Then they told me the symbolism of the rings and why they would be custom-made for us and what it was that made them special. Do you like it? Do you like the ring, Faith?"

Faith smiled up at Buffy, it fit perfectly, but then she knew that it would. So perfect in fact, it was almost as if the Wicca had made it right on her finger. The second Buffy had slipped it on her, it had felt, just simply put, right. Had felt familiar, like it had always been there, was meant to be there. As if it was connected to her, but not just to her, but to Buffy too. "I like B. I like it a lot, more than a lot." She gave Buffy a toothy grin; she jumped up from the floor startling Buffy, mumbling under her breath, "Damn witches, they're too sneaky for their own good."

"Faith?" Buffy looked at her confused, wondering what the comment meant and where she was going.

"Stay right here. I'll be right back, I'm thirsty, I'll get you something too, 'K. Why don't you get up off the floor and back on the bed?" She smirked at Buffy, "Hmmm... maybe the chaise lounge would be better, considering what someone did to the bed..."

"Smart ass!" Buffy yelled after Faith's sexy, retreating back.

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"Tell me why the rings are special B." Faith said, distracting Buffy before she noticed she had only brought back one glass of sun-tea instead of two. She sat down next to Buffy on the chaise lounge and snuggled up close.

"Well, they're modeled after the Leacann Celtic wedding band. But unlike the original the ring isn't made from silver, which is obvious, as you can see, since your ring is black and mine is supposed to be white. Sort of like the yin and yang. Both rings were made from some kind of precious metal that's magical and we are supposed to wear our rings before we join. The reason you get the black ring and I get the white are probably not why you think, I know it wasn't what I thought. The black ring symbolizes inner strength, courage, empowerment and pure love. All the things you have, the things that enabled you to survive all you did, the things that make you who you are. The white ring symbolizes serenity, nurturing, inner peace and pure love. All things they said I learned from my Mom, my family, my friends, things that I now possess and make up who I am.

"Lilith and Clotho told me what each of those rings symbolize are things we've learned from each other and have given to each other. That each ring will absorb a part of our essence while we wear it before we're joined. The woven strands are a physical symbol, representation of our soul-thread, of us. The night before the ceremony, we give the rings to Atropos for safekeeping. On the day we join, the rings are placed in our left hands, then we clasp our hands and they are bound together with the cord we make. After the cord is removed, when we open our joined hands instead of a black ring and a white ring, each ring will have one black strand and one white strand woven together, making them a physical, spiritual representation of us, of our souls, which are woven together, separate, but one."

"So where is the white ring, your ring B?" Faith questioned a twinkle in her eyes.

"Um... well, they said you have to get it for me."

"Hmmmm well, I think I can manage that." Faith rasped. She leaned down, capturing Buffy's mouth in a kiss that spoke of promises, trust and never-ending love. When their kissed ended, she whispered softly, "Don't open your eyes. Keep them closed for me B. Please." She gently picked up Buffy's left hand with her right. "I love you B," she whispered huskily, tenderly as she slipped the white Leacann Celtic knotwork ring on Buffy's finger.

Buffy's eyes shot open and she looked down at her hand stunned. Like Faith, she had instantly felt like the ring belonged there, was meant to be there, felt familiar and was somehow connected not just to her, but to Faith as well. "How did you... how did you know?"

"I didn't. I got this a few weeks ago, it's your anniversary present. I asked Red and Blondie where I should go to find a ring and they told me to ask Lilith and Clotho, so I did. They took me to this obscure little jewelry shop in a small town about two hours away from Sunnydale. It was strange; I walked into the store and right over to the ring, almost as if it were calling to me. The black one was right next to the white one in the display case. Me being me, I liked the black one, but... but it was the white one I wanted, that felt right to get for you. At least now, I know why those two were snickering like three-year-olds. Not to mention how the witches acted after I showed it to them when I picked it up a week later. I guess the old woman at the shop either knew, 'cause she was a witch or the Immortals told her I was coming, in either case I'm guessing she made the white ring when she made my black one. And even more I'm going to take a leap of 'faith' and say the black one on my finger was the one in the case that day next to the white one that's on your finger now." Faith paused, took a deep breath, smiled softly, "The day I went there and picked out the ring... I... I... I was getting it B, hoping I would find the courage to ask you to marry me when I finally gave it to you."

"You would have found the courage; I know you would have Faith. Just like I know I would have said yes. For me that would have been, no it was and is the only answer."

They leaned towards each other at the same time their hearts filled with something that went beyond just simply love. Their mouths met softly, with the utmost care, they kissed tenderly, sharing their breath, sharing their souls and at peace within themselves and with each other.

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...Ain't it crazy ~ For a moment there I just gave up trying ~ But now I see ~ You can let the light in ~ You can begin again ~ Ain't it crazy ~ I lay me down in this sweet perfection ~ I am a witness to my resurrection...

...Heal me lift me ~ Take me to the waterside ~ Drop me in let me swim ~ Let everyone know I'll be coming home again...

...Make no mistake ~ I'm wide-awake ~ Ain't it crazy...
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They stayed cuddling on the chaise lounge relishing the giddy feeling that was running under their skins. Faith resting on top of Buffy, her face nestled in her neck, one of her favorite places, Buffy's arms around her, stroking her back, tickling along her sides. She had one arm tucked underneath Buffy's shoulder, her fingertips traced their own delicate pattern on the nape of Buffy's neck, stopping every once in a while to rub silken strands of golden hair between her fingertips. Her other hand took its own lightly tickling route over the contours of her Light Slayer's body. The giddy feeling started to turn into an entirely different type of feeling and she decided since she was already there that she would taste the sweetness of Buffy's neck.

She got rudely distracted from her suckling when Buffy's chin clipped her on the top of the head. Then was clipped again when Buffy turned her head and then yet again. "B," she mumbled, "what are you doin'?"

"Lookin'"

"For what?" Faith asked then went back to her taste test of Buffy's neck.

"The other shoe... It usually drops about right now..." Buffy chuckled, then wondered if she had just jinxed them. No, not possible, nothing could ruin this for them, she wouldn't let it happened!

"D.n't .orr. I'. go.n. g.t an .n...ible .il..w." Faith mumbled unintelligible refusing to give up the sweet flesh she was currently suckling.

"Don't or I go and get Ann I be... what?"

"H.h? Wha. .r. ..u . .bou.?" Faith asked still refusing to give up the sweet flesh she was adoring with her mouth.

"Me?" Buffy said and then started giggling when Faith once again mumbled something that came out half-assed backwards. "What are you talking about?"

Faith reluctantly lifted her head, smirking at the huge hickey she had made with her suckling. Buffy was going to kick her ass when she saw the number of 'little gifts' she had left, especially when she realized that even with their Slayer healing most of them weren't going to fade away too fast.

"I said, don't worry I'm gonna get an invisible pillow." Faith told Buffy matter-of-factly.

"I'll take - What the hell are you talking about? – for five-hundred Alec..." Buffy gave Faith her best humor-me look.

"Ha – ha, B. You're real funny. Well, you said you were waitin' for the other shoe to fall, it seems like we are always waitin' on it. You know?"

"Aaaahhhh – haaaa." Buffy said slowly.

"See, the way I figure it is, if I have this invisible pillow, I can carry it with me all the time and the next time that fuckin' other shoe starts to fall, I can put the invisible pillow under it and then that damn shoe will never hit the ground. And if it never hits the ground, well, then the shit can't hit the fan." She gave Buffy a sheepish-lopsided-half-cocky grin, "So what do you think, B?"

"I think you're beautiful, wonderful and I want one of those invisible pillows too." She leaned up and gave Faith a soft, tender kiss. Her hands gently cupped her face, her thumbs lightly brushing along the faint tear tracks that still remained. "And now that we don't have to worry about that other shoe, I think we should celebrate being engaged."

"'K, sounds good to me. So what do you want to do to celebrate, B?"

The wicked, downright evil grin that Buffy gave Faith left her without a single, solitary doubt as to exactly how Buffy wanted them to celebrate their engagement.

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She was sleeping like the dead when the scream sadistically ripped her out of her much needed slumber. She bolted upright, her stomach in the back of her throat, her heart trying to hammer its way out of her chest in fear. She scrambled on her hands and knees across the bed. Her body already covered in cold sweat, every inch of her filled with dread. A second shriek filled the air just as she was pushing off from the bed intending to vault over the edge. She only succeeded in flying face first into the hard, cold, wooden floor, thanks to her legs and feet being impossibly tangled up and trapped in both the sheets and comforter. With a savage growl, she stretched a hand out behind her trying to reach the tangled mess around her legs. That was how Buffy found her.

The second screech died on her lips as she felt a wave of terror wash over her in an echo. She turned and charged out of the bathroom, thinking that Faith was having a nightmare. She stopped dead in her tracks at the sight of her mate hanging off the edge of the bed by her feet. Like a panther snared in a hunter's net, her Dark Slayer was hissing fiercely, swatting at the sheets as if she had claws and could shred them.

"You okay?" They both rushed out, realizing at the same time they had misread each other.

"I'm okay, but you don't look so okay."

Faith looked up at Buffy sheepishly from her undignified position, "Um... I'm okay, though I think I might have popped my boobs when I hit the floor."

Buffy moved a step or two closer, the relief and the amusement she was feeling making for a very odd mix. "Now that would be a cryin' shame. I would miss them dearly." Buffy leered, an impish grin playing around the corners of her mouth. She had some payback to dole out and she figured now was as good a time as any to start.

Faith just snorted at Buffy's answer not seeing the evil twinkle in her eyes. "Think maybe you could stop worrying 'bout my boobs long enough to help me out B?"

She made herself a little more comfortable by propping her upper body up on her forearms and resting her forehead against her hands. She tried to kick her feet and legs loose again, but they were hopelessly tangled up and trapped. She chuckled at herself, it was totally ridiculous that she couldn't free herself, she had gotten out of a lot worse; things much tougher than mere cotton and feather down.

"How did you end up on the floor Faith?" Buffy squatted down next to Faith's shoulder. She began idly to trace her nails along one of Faith's flexed biceps.

"Your shrieking woke me up and I um... panickedandtriedtojumpoutofthebedtocomeandhelpyou." Faith mumbled out quickly, embarrassed now. She risked a peek up at Buffy and at the same time noticed all the 'little gifts' that still adorned her body and knew three things. One, after three days Buffy had finally gotten a good look at herself in the full-length mirror in the bathroom, thus the shrieks. Two, it was payback time and three she was in deep shit. "I um... I didn't... er...I..." The soft touch of Buffy's index finger against her mouth silenced her fumbling words.

"How romantic! My own Knightress in Shiny - albeit slightly battered - Armor. At a moment's notice ready to leap to my defense, ready to rescue me, keep me safe. Something you've done time and time again. And it makes me love you even more." She gave Faith a silly, quirky smile, her words she knew where corny, sappy, goofy, even slightly mocking, but she meant them. Faith had saved, defended, come to her rescue and certainly had kept her safe on more than one occasion.

Faith stared up at Buffy, knowing despite how sentimental, silly, sarcastic her words sounded, she meant them. It made her inordinately shy; she dropped her eyes, cursing silently at the blush creeping up her neck and face. "You think maybe you could untangle me sometime today B?" She asked gruffly trying to cover up what she was feeling, but she knew Buffy wouldn't buy it for a minute, nor would it get her out of payback time.

"All in due time my ever graceful warrior." Buffy smirked, letting her fingers trace down the length of Faith's spine. A chuckle escaped her at how odd this was, though her evil mind was busy planning how she could take advantage of Faith's awkward though somewhat erotic position. "Seems as though I've been neglecting you over the last few days... I mean you've given me so many 'little presents,' while I, on the other hand, have given you only a few."

"Yeah, well, you don't have to worry 'bout it B. I mean it's oka..."

"Oh no, Faith! I never want you to feel like I'm neglecting you." Buffy insisted huskily, mischievously. She leaned down and started to nibble along Faith's shoulder, smiling as she felt the shudder ripple under Faith's skin.

"Um... maybe you should help me out here first B?" Faith asked hopefully, her body already responding to Buffy's touch, her voice, her teeth. Hell... just Buffy herself!

"Nah, you're fine just where you are Faith."

"Ya sure? 'Cause you know B... you can't reach any of the good parts with me this way." Faith smirked, thinking to herself that Buffy would have to help her now.

"Really, is that a fact?" Buffy let her lone index finger whisper down Faith's spine and she kept going until it slid into her mate's wet pool of desire. Her mouth left a warm moist trail as it followed the path of her finger, her teeth biting down lightly on the hollow at the base of Faith's spine. It was a spot on Faith's body that Buffy knew drove her crazy with desire and got her instantly, intensely aroused.

Faith arched like a cat. She didn't know what it was about that small spot on her lower back, but when it was touched it drove her insane with need and made her fully, painfully aroused. It was almost like a direct link to her clit. Whenever Buffy spent more than a few seconds lavishing it with attention, it propelled her right to the edge of release, hotly, heavily and quickly. And that single finger teasing her certainly wasn't doing anything to pull her back from it.

Faith lost it as Buffy alternated between sucking and biting at the spot, while her lone finger relentlessly teased and tormented her throbbing center. Within minutes she came, fast, fiercely and extremely hard, the floor muffling her surprised yell. Her body was still pulsing with the orgasm when she felt, rather than saw, Buffy climb up onto the bed behind her. Before she even had a second to catch her breath, Buffy had untangled the bedding from around her legs and was pulling her up onto the bed. Her insides trembled when Buffy slid up the length of her back, finally coming to rest with her mouth pressed close to her ear. Buffy's breasts burned into her back, making her writhe with pleasure. The intimate pressure of Buffy's outer thighs against her inner thighs slowly spread her legs wide.

"I want you..." Buffy growled throatily into Faith's ear, throwing Faith's words from a few days ago back at her. She let her tongue tickle the shell of Faith's ear, then find that ultra-sensitive spot behind it, knowing that it too, had the same effect on Faith as the one on her lower back. "Oh, and before I forget, Faith..."

"Yeah..." Faith managed to get out, her whole being focused on Buffy's hot body on her and the fact that she was completely, utterly, painfully aroused again.

"Those rules from the other day, well..."

Faith groaned low and long, Buffy's words from a few days ago coming back to haunt her. 'Just remember S.O., paybacks are a bitch.'

"...they apply to you now..." Buffy finished huskily.

...And Faith knew that her payback was going to be at the hands and in the form of one petite, sexy, sensual 'bitch' named, B.

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"Not a single, solitary word? A peep? Anything? A request for food, water?"

"What about the word 'NO' don't you understand Mars?" Lilith answered heatedly.

"Are you sure they're all right?" Mars persisted worriedly, but that didn't stop him from secretly enjoying getting Lilith's goat.

"Considering that Atropos didn't have to cut either of their Life-Threads... I'm gonna go with YES!" The sarcasm dripped from every one of Lilith's words.

"Well, why can't Clotho check the Tapestry? You know just to make sure they're okay and see if they're still planning on coming tonight. After all, it's been three days since anyone has seen or heard from either of them." Mars demanded as he started pacing.

"I doubt after all that's happened, all the fallout from Buffy's plans that she, that they wouldn't show tonight. As for using the Tapestry to 'check' on them, has it not occurred to you how much of an invasion of their privacy that would be, Mars?" Clotho said as she came through the backdoor to Mars' house having heard the tail end of his conversation with Lilith. "...'sides we can't." Clotho mumbled as she walked further into the room, allowing the rest of the Immortals to make their way in.

"Oh please... don't even try that, 'You can't interfere or break the rules' bullshit. You've gone way past the point of that hypocrisy." Mars huffed; he wasn't worried the Slayers were hurt or anything along those lines. He just wanted to make sure that 'they', them together, as a couple were all right. Especially after what had been happening between them the past few weeks and the way they had left his training barn three days ago.

"That 'Mother-Hen' look is really working for you, oh Fusspot Incarnate of War..." Luc snickered as he walked in behind Clotho. He managed to avoid the playful punch Mars threw at him, but not the swat to the back of his head his spouse gave him as she came into the house behind him. "Owww!"

"Serves you right, oh Wimpy Incarnate of Evil..." Mars smirked, bowing his head at Atropos who also had a smirk gracing her face. "Now..." he snarled, "...can one of you please go check the Tapestry?!"

"No, we can't," began Atropos only to be cut off by Mars.

"WHY THE HELL NOT?!"

"If you would stop interrupting we could tell you! So BE QUIET AND LISTEN!" Lachesis shouted back as she came through the door, then smiled at the surprised expression on all the Immortals' faces. She very rarely lost her temper or raised her voice. Most of them could still count on two hands the times that she had over the eons.

She waited for everyone to settle down and find seats before she began. "It seems that while we can still see the Slayers' Life Threads within the Tapestry, we can no longer actually read them. Nor can we actually see outside influences or other Threads that touch upon them until after the event has occurred. I still weave their threads but have no memory of what it is that I have woven when the interaction is between just the two of them, actually none of us can. Their privacy is shrouded completely. We think this happened gradually over time and the last clear memory I have of weaving their threads is the day before Rais attacked them. We all know of the bond the Slayers share, their Soul-Thread, Lilith and Clotho, Luc and Atropos, Willow and Tara, as well as me andSpi..I oh yo..."

"You owe me five gold pieces." Mars held out his hand to Luc for payment, cutting off Lachesis mid-sentence.

"Nope doesn't count, we didn't catch them and that was the deal." Luc told him with a triumph smile.

"Does too!"

"Does not!"

"TOO! TOO! TOO!"

"OWWW!" Both men yelled when Atropos swatted them both hard on the back of the head.

"Actually, you each owe me five gold pieces. As I recall I bet you both that 'Ma'," Zane smirked from the doorway, at his use of Faith's nickname for Lachesis, "...would slip before either of you caught her and Spike together." He finished with a smug look.

Mars and Luc looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders, while Lachesis fumed at all three of them.

"He's right Candy-man."

"Yes, I believe he is Scamp."

"I... I... I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU MADE A BET ABOUT MY LOVE LIFE!" Lachesis screeched like a fishwife.

"Well, can you blame us? We've been waiting years for you to actually get one, 'MA'!" Luc told Lachesis calmly, which earned him another swat on the back of the head from his wife.

"Hit him again, only this time harder!" Lachesis told her sister with narrowed, fire-spitting eyes.

Atropos arched an eyebrow and did as her sister asked then swatted Mars on principle alone. "Now be good both of you and let Lachesis finish. And no one is getting any gold pieces either." She directed her last remark at Zane.

"As I was saying, the Slayers share a Soul-Thread. Those of you that have found your soul-mate's know what that means, even those of you that haven't understand the basic principle of it. But there are other types of bonds, like the bond I share with my sisters. It isn't to the extent that soul-mates share, but I can sense them, their moods, when they are in danger etc. It is a family bond, sort of like what mortal twins describe they share. Ask yourselves this, that night when Rais attacked the Slayers, how did we know to go help them? In fact, it was you Mars, who faded there in time to save Faith's life. How did you know?"

"I felt it, felt a foreboding chill. I just knew that Faith, that they both were in trouble and I didn't question it." Mars answered softly.

"And Mars wasn't the only one, we all felt it, he just felt it sooner. His connection was deeper at that point then any of ours, because in his heart, in his soul, Faith is his daughter. The Slayers and their family have over time, become our family and in turn, have turned us, all the Immortals into a true family. Something if we're honest with ourselves, we never truly were. Not even my sisters and I. Now we're all connected through this bond, a thread that links us to each other as family. We believe that bond was solidified became fully alive, if you will, the night Rais attacked. And since that night not only can we no longer see the Life-Threads of the Slayers, or remember what has been added or woven into their paths, we also can't see our own or any of the rest of our rather large family's Life-Threads.

"As far as we can tell it in no way hinders any of us from performing our duties. Our destinies, our fates, if you will pardon the pun, are forever linked with that of our family. In our effort to offer support, to help the Slayers we have become what the Creator has always wanted us to be, a true family. This connection, this bond we have with our family members runs more deeply than is technically 'normal' because each of us is aware of it and empowered with supernatural gifts. We believe, my sisters and I, by what is written in the 'Living Scroll' that this was the Creator's intent all along. What is written, or will be written in the 'Living Scroll' and 'Dead Scroll' that Rais spoke of, how they impacts all of us is something, however, that we have no theories about."

Every eye in the room turned to look at Crow and his father after Lachesis finished speaking. They in turn looked at each other and Crow inclined his head to his father, pleading with his eyes for him to answer.

"I'll be damned if I know." Chris answered with a perplexed look on his face, which changed to a slightly angry one when they all looked at him in disbelief. "HEY! They're my family too and I would tell you if I knew."

They all just stared at each other for a few minutes. Privately each of them thought to themselves whatever the fall-out, whatever the repercussions, or what might happen because of both scrolls, they wouldn't give up any of it, if it meant going back to the way they were before and losing their family. Together, as a family they could deal with whatever was thrown at them, both scrolls be damned!

"So Mars..." Lilith began with a small mocking jeer, "...after all that, you are no closer to knowing if they're actually going to come..."

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"B... I... I can't... Oh fuck..." Faith rambled in a strangled voice. "I... B... I can't stop cu..." Her whole body arched off the bed yet again, lifting not only herself but Buffy up as well.

She struggled to keep her eyes open, locked with Buffy's, sharing with her everything she was feeling, baring her very soul. For the first time in her life she had truly given up every ounce of control, had turned over all her power to another. Not just to anyone, but to her Light Slayer. She had laid herself bare, vulnerable, at the mercy of her soul-mate. She had held nothing back, not her desires, her wants, her needs. For the first time in her life, she had given voice to a part of herself that she had never let surface. She had in essence gifted the very soul of herself to Buffy.

Buffy had accepted that gift with humility, gracefulness and awe. She had carefully and slowly taken Faith to a place she had never allowed herself or allowed anyone else to take her to. Buffy had made love not to just her body but to her soul as well. For the first time ever she had placed, given her complete, total trust to someone else. On a conscious level she trusted not only Buffy, but her family as well and while she wanted to believe that she trusted them completely, she knew now, in truth, she didn't or rather hadn't. There had always been a part of herself that had stood off watching, a silent sentinel that was always completely aware of her surroundings, what was happening, alert, waiting, no matter what the situation or circumstances and most especially in the 'bedroom', a place, a time when she was her most vulnerable.

Something though had changed for her over the last few days. Maybe in part it was due to the unknowing 'epiphany' she and Buffy had shared. Whatever it was, she knew one thing now. Today there had been no silent sentinel watching and waiting for what it had thought was inevitable. Today that silent sentinel had finally given up its lifetime vigil, and both it and she had placed complete trust in Buffy and Buffy had not broken or abused that trust once.

After a few centuries and too many climaxes tumbling over and on top of each other to count, she sank back into the bed gratefully. She clung to Buffy tightly as her body trembled, quaked with aftershocks. She was both exhausted and filled with energy at the same time. She experienced again the feeling of being whole, complete, unbroken, only this time she knew these feelings, this sense of finally being one with all the parts of herself, both on a conscious and unconscious level would never go away. And for the first time in her life she felt like she was in total, absolute control of herself and her life. She knew the scars, the fears were still there, but she also knew, felt, that today, that in the past three days, not only she, but Buffy as well, had truly set their feet down on the long, hard, maybe even painful road towards total healing.

Damn, if it wasn't a completely euphoric feeling!

She lifted her head when she felt the smile forming on Buffy's face, which rested against her stomach. She peered down the length of her body at Buffy who was sprawled on top of her; the smile gracing her face was beatific. Apparently, she wasn't the only one who was feeling a little euphoric. Whether Buffy had felt, understood, this new sense of self that Faith was feeling she didn't know. Faith, for the most part, wasn't aware of it in the here and now. This new sense of self, wholeness had, like the 'epiphany' had, just become an innate part of her. She just knew that right now, right here, she felt better than she ever had in her whole life.

"What?" she asked, but inherently she already knew what was causing Buffy's smile.

"I... I... I..." Buffy tried, at a loss for words, "I don't know, I just feel happy, serene, whole."

"I know what you mean, B." Faith smiled at Buffy, before letting her head flop back down onto the pillow, what was left of it anyway.

Buffy squirmed up Faith's body and planted a soft kiss on her mouth. She could feel the sense of peace that Faith was feeling; it was ringing loud and clear in an echo. It was something she had never felt from Faith before or at least not this depth of peace and it was something she herself had rarely ever felt. She too though, was feeling that same sense of peace, of oneness with all of the parts that made up who she was. She didn't question it, she just innately knew that for both of them all the little fissures, the cracks, the splits of the different parts of themselves they had tried to compartmentalize, keep separate had finally become one. All of her, all of Faith, for once and for always were in harmony with each other.

A small snort of laughter snuck out of her when it seeped into her brain that Faith's hair was littered with pillow feathers, in fact, there were pillow feathers all over the bed. Another snort of laughter escaped her when Faith's eyebrow rose in question at her seemly out of nowhere laughter. She tried to stifle the belly laugh that was creeping its way out of her but was unable to suppress it; she burst out laughing, small tears leaking from the corners of her eyes.

"What?" Faith asked which only seemed to make Buffy laugh harder. "What's so damn funny B?"

Instead of answering, Buffy propped herself up on Faith's chest and deftly plucked a few feathers from Faith's hair. She waved them in front of Faith's face and started laughing harder as a look akin to horror crossed Faith's face. "You killed the pillow." Buffy managed between bouts of laughter.

"Not my fault, it's yours the pillow is dead." Faith told Buffy, trying to keep her own amusement under wraps.

"Mine?"

"Yes B, yours and those stupid dumb-ass rules."

"Those stupid dumb-ass rules are yours Fai, or did you forget?" Buffy reminded Faith and smirked at the stubborn look on her Dark mate's face. "And you could have broken them anytime you wanted to anyway." Buffy's smirk grew a little bigger at Faith's garbled reply. "What was that Fai? I couldn't quite understand you."

"I said... you didn't break 'em, so I couldn't either." Faith huffed, then mumbled under her breath, "'Sides if I had broken them you would've stopped and I sooooo didn't want you to stop."

"Believe me; I didn't want to stop either." Buffy paused and ran the tip of her tongue over her lips, "And I'm thinkin' the payoff for not breaking them was pretty damn good, if I do say so myself."

"Ego much B? Gonna have to buy you all new, bigger hats to fit that ego of yours in." Faith murmured, cursing silently when she felt the blush crawling up her neck and face. This blushing bullshit sucked.

"Well deserved if you ask me, considering that a certain Dark Slayer I happen to know told me she couldn't stop coming, disproving the rumor that multiple orgasms was just a myth." Buffy teased, loving the blush that had written its way across Faith's face and neck. It was so at odds with the sensual, sultry woman that was her Dark Slayer and it was just so goddamn endearing.

"Oh really B? If I remember correctly, it was that same certain Dark Slayer who disproved or rather quite thoroughly showed," Faith wiggled her eyebrows at Buffy a large shit-eating grin on her face. "... a certain Light Slayer personally, quite thoroughly, more than once might I add, that multiples weren't a myth and thus had already disproved that rumor." Faith teased right back, her voice low and sultry. This time, it was she who smirked at the blush that crept its way across her Light Slayer's neck and face.

"True, true. I must give credit where credit is due." Buffy leaned down and caught Faith's lower lip between her teeth and ran her tongue along the sexy little cleft in it. "I just wanted to return the favor Fai..." She whispered against Faith's mouth before capturing it in a purely carnal kiss.

xxxxxxxxxx

They both were boneless, but finally sated lumps on the bed. Faith was flat on her back, a shit-eating grin on her face. She started to laugh softly.

"What?" Buffy asked, too lazy and too comfortable to lift her head from her pillow, which currently was Faith's right breast.

"I was just thinkin', that the Energizer Bunny ain't got nothin' on us Giz."

"You're so bad..." Buffy said, poking Faith in the side, eliciting a soft grunt from her, which sent her into her own fit of laughter.

"What?" Faith asked this time.

"That noise."

"What noise B?"

Buffy poked Faith in the side again, eliciting another soft grunt from her. "That noise," then Buffy did a fair imitation of the grunting noise Faith made, only hers was a little deeper and longer. "You made that same grunting noise each time you came. It reminded me of the first time you were in Sunnydale and you used to make that grunting noise when we were patrolling and you staked a vamp or talked about sex - which was almost all the time, matter of fact, that's one thing about you that hasn't changed. And I remembered my comment to you one night, 'Again with the grunting! I'm not comfortable with the grunting!' Thing is, I'm way comfortable with it now, in fact, I think it's kinda sexy."

"Sexy eh?" Faith purred huskily and then burst out giggling; effectively killing the whole sensual air she was going for.

Buffy lifted her head at the joyful sound of Faith's laughter. Her breath caught at the look of pure delight and innocence that just lit up Faith's face. It should have been odd to see that look on Faith's face considering they had spent the better part of the last three days making love and 'fucking' like sex-crazed bunnies in heat and on Viagra. But somehow it wasn't. Somehow it seemed right, was right. And Buffy was grateful that for Faith the act of making love and even when they 'fucked' made Faith feel this way, hell she was grateful that Faith could feel this way at all after all that had happened to her.

"OH SHIT!" Buffy yelled after catching a glimpse at the clock and seeing what time it was. She jumped off the bed, grabbed Faith's arm and all but dragged her from the bed with her. "Come on! We're gonna be late, real late."

"Late? For what?" Faith asked following Buffy towards the bathroom on very wobbly legs.

"Mars', we're supposed to be there in an hour! Shit!"

"I don't wanna go. Why can't we just stay here, B?" Faith whined.

"'Cause we promised, that's why."

"Right and I suppose it doesn't have anything to do with the fact that Mars is doing an Angeline Jolie movie marathon for you tonight. Now, would it, B?"

"No it wouldn't. What's it matter anyway what he's showing? You jealous Faith?"

"Jealous. Hell no B! Please! She doesn't even come close to me on her best day!" Faith spat out, feeling a little bit insecure, which she knew was ridiculous as well as a little bit jealous of Buffy's fascination with Jolie.

Buffy stopped dragging Faith towards the bathroom and turned around feeling Faith's insecurity in an echo. She reached up and gently stroked the side of Faith's face, her thumb brushing along her cheekbone. Her heart fluttered when Faith leaned into her touch, "You're right she doesn't. You're the sexiest, hottest, luscious, most mouthwatering woman I've ever known. No one could hold a candle to you Faith, not her and not anyone, in any universe." Buffy told her and she meant every word as sappy as they were.

Faith gave Buffy a soft smile of appreciation, then her lips started to twitch at the corners. The twitching grew into a full-blown smile when she heard a bubble of laughter sneak out of Buffy. "Whoa, that rated a plus ten on the corny, mushy scale B."

"Couldn't help myself Fai. Sorry." Buffy laughed.

"Don't apologize," Faith said impishly, "Don't ya know B, that 'Love means never having to say you're sorry'?"

"Oh my God, tell me I just didn't hear you say that!" Buffy sputtered, not quite believing that Faith had just quoted from 'Love Story' the all-time sappiest, corniest movie in the history of the world!

"Why? What's wrong with what I said?" Faith asked feigning innocence, batting her eyelashes rapidly like a butterfly on speed at Buffy.

"Please tell me you're kidding... and you know I think you just broke the plus twenty on the corny, mushy scale Faith." Buffy told her, then swatted her on the butt. "Now get moving you big old mush ball of mine!"

Faith rubbed her stinging buttock, "Hey easy there with the merchandise. Don't you think you've manhandled and abused my luscious, gorgeous, sexy body enough over the last few days you lust-crazed hedonist?" Then Faith took off running for the bathroom, Buffy hot on her heels.

xxxxxxxxxx

Faith had bitched, moaned and complained all through their shower, then while she braided her hair down her back, a la' Jolie in "Tomb Raider", giving Buffy a wicked smirk at her surprised look. Then continued right on babbling her displeasure as she put on her make-up and got dressed, Buffy should have been irritated but she wasn't. How could she be, when she thought it was absolutely adorable?

"You're just so damn cute." Buffy told her when they had almost reached Lilith and Clotho's cottage.

"Am not!" Faith jutted out her bottom lip.

"Are too!"

"Am not B!" Faith's bottom lip jutted out even further, then she stuck her tongue out at Buffy like a two-year-old.

"Are too, ya big baby you!" Buffy teased.

"God B, how many times do I have 'ta tell ya, 'I AM NOT CUTE!'" Faith pouted, stopped mid-stride, grabbed Buffy and turned her around to face her. "I AM fucking A-DOR-A-BLE!"

"Mmmm I'll say you're fucking adorable, so adorable in fact... I could just eat you all up!" Buffy purred, then bit her own bottom lip.

At that moment, Faith wanted nothing more than to catch that full bottom lip with her own teeth. God she was turning into a nymphomaniac! "I'd say you've been doing a pretty good job of that over the past few days B." Faith said low and husky.

"Well, at least we know why we haven't seen or heard from them in three days." Lilith said playfully, startling both Slayers.

Faith spun on her heels to face both Immortals who had managed to come out of the front door of their cottage without either Slayer hearing or seeing them.

"I'm guessing since we haven't 'heard' from them that they remembered to invoke the privacy spell for a change." Clotho grinned impishly at both of the Chosen.

"Thank the Creator for small favors." Lilith laughed, loving the blushes that had made guest-star appearances on both Slayers' faces.

"Looks like they were playing connect-the-hickey-dots again too!" Clotho chimed in between gaffs of laughter.

"ENOUGH ALREADY!" Buffy yelled shocking everyone. She took in a deep breath, she needed this like she needed a hole in her head, she was nervous enough as it was. "Can we just go?"

"Sure Buffy..." Lilith said feeling a little bit guilty for starting the teasing session. With a wave of her hand, she faded all four of them to Mars' mansion.

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They had barely faded into Mars' large backyard before a loud shout of 'SURPRISE!' assaulted their ears making all four jump about a half a foot off the ground.

Faith's first reaction was to cower in terror, memories of other birthdays flashing through her mind at the speed of light, then she heard Buffy's worried, loving whispered, "Happy birthday, baby?" Instead, it was the memories, not her, that cowered in terror then fled all together. She blinked rapidly trying to keep the tears from falling from her eyes as she saw all the smiling, loving faces of her family gathered around her all wishing her a Happy Birthday. She smiled back at them, a softness in her eyes that only Buffy ever had the privilege of seeing before and each person there felt honored that Faith had finally let her true self shine through.

The high-pitched squealing that erupted from Dawn, giving nearly everyone heart attacks, interrupting the hugs and birthday wishes. She practically tackled the two Slayers as she threw herself at them, babbling gibberish. She squeezed them both so tight that a loud whoosh of air forced its way out of them. Willow and Tara looked at each other then back at the Key and the Slayers. Willow heard a whispered, 'Look!', in her mind from Tara and then the two witches quickly let out loud squeals of their own and joined the hug fest, while everyone else looked on both puzzled and amused by the whole thing.

The two Slayers shared a look and then in perfect sync, they dropped to the ground and rolled out and away from the group hug fest. They smiled smugly at each other, they knew what had caused Dawn and the Wicca's squealing and hugging. They just waited to see if everyone else would catch on. They both started laughing when they saw Anya punch Xander, knowing that she had figured it out and they just waited for the scene to play out, they didn't have to wait long.

"OW! What was that for?" Xander yelped rubbing his arm.

"Men! Now, I remember why I agreed to become a Vengeance Demon. It's been over a year Xander and still I'm waiting! How much longer do I have to wait? I bet you they won't make each other wait that long!" Anya huffed, happy for the Slayers, but unhappy with her own situation.

"HUH?" Xander looked around bewildered hoping someone would help him out and the only answer he received was another punch on his arm from Anya. Faith took pity on him and wiggled her ring finger at him. A very large grin streaked across his face, then almost as quickly disappeared when it finally dawned on him what Anya was saying. He turned around and looked at Anya, catching up both her hands with his. He could care less that everyone was standing around waiting with bated breath to hear what he was going to say. All that mattered to him right now was Anya and what she was feeling. If he had learned nothing else over the last year or so, he had learned that he loved her more than life itself and he truly didn't give a shit if everyone knew that or if saying it aloud made him look weak.

"An' I've been waiting for you to give me a date," he said sincerely. "I mean... I didn't want to bring it up after what happe..." He trailed off hoping that she would catch on to what it was he trying to say without bringing up those painful months they all thought the Slayers were dead.

Anya nodded at him to go on letting him know silently that she understood. Her immediate reaction to his first few words were to rail at him, but something in the tone of his voice, his demeanor stopped her. Xander looked down then looked back up at her, the love he felt for her blazed in his eyes, but there was also a little bit of fear there too, which puzzled her.

"And when you never said anything after things had settled back down. I... I well... I was afraid to say anything. Afraid to ask, afraid you might tell me that you changed your mind. And so I didn't say anything, 'cause I would rather have left things the way they were then chance losing you. I love you more than I can ever say and I meant, still mean everything I said to you in the cellar that day. None of that has changed, if anything I love you even more. I'm sorry, I didn't mean for my silence to hurt you, or make you think that I had changed my mind."

Anya just threw her arms around Xander in answer kissing him so fiercely and hotly that even the oldest amongst them blushed, though no one looked away. They did, however, quickly turn away once the kiss ended trying to pretend they hadn't been listening or watching the whole time. They all failed miserably, but neither Xander nor Anya really cared.

"So when? When did you ask, 'cause I know it wasn't when you planned or where 'cause that wasn't supposed to be until after today and I..."

"You're babbling honey." Tara said softly then smiled just as softly at Willow to take the sting out of her words.

Gary started to laugh at how red both Slayers had turned. At the same time both he and Anya held out their hands, looked around at everyone and said, "Pay up!"

"Pay up? Pay up for what? What's that supposed to mean?" Buffy asked apprehensively not really wanting to know and certainly not liking the smug looks on Gary and Anya's faces.

"I'm thinkin' they bet everyone that you would as..."

"...k her while the two of you were fuc..urmph." Anya said cutting off Faith until Xander's hand over her mouth cut her off. But she had managed to get enough out and both Slayers turned even redder.

"HA! The Energizer Slayer Bunnies strike or should I say hum..urmph..." Gary laughed only to be cut off by his mate, James' hand over his mouth.

"Buffy!" Dawn yelled, choosing to ignore both Anya and Gary's comments. "You asked Faith to marry you while you were in bed together? HOW COULD YOU DO THAT TO FAITH, AFTER EVERYTHING? NOT TO MENTION ALL THE BABBLING AND RUDINESS WE HAD TO PUT UP WITH FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS!"

"Hey... I um... well, it..." Buffy sputtered, totally mortified and wishing a hole would open up under her feet and swallow her.

"Gamin, it's okay. It was actually really sweet, cute and very romantic. And what she said to me was just beautiful, the most beautiful thing anyone ever has said to me. I wouldn't want her to change a thing." Faith gushed and then turned even redder. The blush, she was sure now covered every inch of her body. Not only was she the reigning Queen of Blush-ville but she was starting to become the Queen of Corny and Sappy-ville too. She started wishing for that same hole to open up under her feet and swallow her that Buffy was wishing for too.

"All right everyone, they can tell us about it later, after a few dozen or so Jose' shooters." Mars' chuckled deciding to give the Slayers a break. Besides Faith, they, both were his daughters and he really didn't want to hear the details. "Now let's get down to the business at hand celebrating 'm' Inghean's', and for those of you not versed in Gaelic that is... Let start celebrating 'my daughter' Faith's twenty-first birthday... Soooooo," he paused to wiggle his eyebrows at everyone, "...lets PARTY!"

Mars smiled at Faith whose eyes had gone just a little bit wide and a little bit glassy at his calling her his daughter. He had told her before that he thought of her as his own child, but he had never - not really - publicly acknowledged it. Then again, she hadn't seen the ear-splitting toothy grin nor had she heard him mumble in awe that she had called him 'My Father – m' Athair' to all the Immortals that day at Lily's.

xxxxxxxxxx

"Faith..." Buffy called from the bathroom. She was feeling shy and a tad insecure and couldn't find the courage to actually face Faith to ask her question.

"Yeah, B." Faith called back from the bed where currently she was snuggled up with the Huskies, the stuffed panthers of course and two of her other birthday presents. Only these two presents were more for both Slayers rather than just her.

"Um... well... Um... Do you..."

"Spit it out B, I'm getting gray here!"

"Um... well... Do you know when you want to have our Joining Ceremony?" Buffy held her breath while she waited for Faith to answer her.

Faith knew exactly what Buffy was feeling, she had wanted to ask Buffy the same question all day. Normally she would tease her, she loved teasing 'shy' Buffy, but she didn't have the heart or the inclination this time. "Honestly... right this second wouldn't be soon enough for me."

"REALLY?" Buffy squeaked then heaved in a desperately needed breath. She turned and hurriedly made her way out of the bathroom.

"Really B." Faith felt a tidal wave of love wash over her from Buffy.

Buffy came out of the bathroom and stopped dead in her tracks at the sight that greeted her. Faith was leaning back against the now twisted headboard, a few pillows propped up behind her. The sheet was pooled around her waist leaving her bare from her lower stomach up. The two huskies were cuddled up into her left leg, the stuffed panthers cuddled up to them. Lying across her thighs on their backs were Vanilla and Chocolate, the three-week-old black and white, real live, panthers that the Immortals had given them. Faith was lightly scratching their tummies and Buffy could hear the soft contented purring coming from them both, a sound that reminded her of Faith. Next to her on the bed were two empty baby milk bottles. She wished she had come out of the bathroom earlier; she would have loved to seen Faith feeding the two baby panthers. The thought, the image in her mind made her stomach flutter and her heart race. Why that was, she really wasn't sure but it did. She didn't get a chance to dwell on it for long, Faith's soft 'Come here, B.' interrupted her musing.

Buffy hurried over to the bed, she climbed up, careful not to disturb the four sleeping animals, they were all so damn cute. She snuggled into Faith's right side, propping herself up on an elbow so she could see her face while they talked. She glanced once more at the four sleeping animals as well as the stuffed ones and a small chuckle escaped her. At Faith's quizzical look she whispered, "I think we have a motif going on, first the stuffed panthers, then the horses, then the dogs and now these two babies."

"Nah... Ya think?" Faith asked quietly, a silly smile on her face. "Whatever could make you think that B? Just 'cause we have one light and one dark of each... it doesn't mean anything. You're just being silly."

"Yeah, you're right Fai, I'm being silly. Just 'cause we're light and dark and all our animals, both real and stuffed are, it must just be coincidence. And you know what else S.O.?"

"What Giz?"

"This conversation is silly too." They shared a look and both started to laugh softly. They enjoyed these silly times together. It wasn't often they had the luxury of being silly and carefree, so both had quietly agreed to embrace their inner silliness wholeheartedly whenever they had the opportunity.

"So um... I was thinking, with the way time works here and back home that we could have our Joining Ceremony before we left here in um... nine days and it will still be the weekend back home and we'll still have time left here for a short honeymoon... Then maybe during spring break we can use those tickets and the vacation club money you gave me for Christmas to go on a real honeymoon. What do you think, B? I mean you can say no, if it's too fast. You don't..."

"I think that's a wonderful idea, I think you're wonderful and if I thought everyone wouldn't have heart failure I would say let's do it tomorrow... Where did you want to have the Ceremony... 'Cause I... well... I was thinking that the clearing with the waterfall would be a beautiful place to have it."

"You just read my mind, B." Faith leaned down and gently kissed Buffy.

"Okay then, that's settled, we can tell everyone tomorrow at breakfast and maybe they can help us with the actual Ceremony part."

"Sounds like a plan." Faith couldn't stop the huge smile from appearing and it just made her heart beat triple time when Buffy returned it.

She carefully picked up the two sleeping baby panthers from her lap, cradling them like infants in her arms. She rose from the bed, acutely aware of Buffy's watching her. She rocked them gently, cooing to them as they made little mewing noises in protest. She squatted down next to the large basket and placed them within it. Softly she stroked them one last time and whispered a good night. It was with amusement she watched the two huskies get up from the bed, taking their stuffed panthers with them and proceeded to curl up protectively in front of the basket.

"I wish we didn't have to leave them here." Faith rasped softly.

"I know baby, I don't either. But Lily is right, it will be better for them here and she is letting us take Cinder back with us, which I know isn't the same but it will certainly make Furball happy." Buffy whispered back then both she and Faith laughed at Dusk's soft bark of agreement.

"I know, but still B they're just so small, still babies. It would just be nice to have them with us..." Faith said wistfully as she crawled up onto the bed and curled up into Buffy under the covers.

"Do you ever think about..." Buffy trailed off, biting her lip, wondering if she should even ask.

"Think about what, B?"

"Babies, kids. Do you ever think about having kids?" Her eyes searched Faith's and much to her dismay she watched as the steel veil she hadn't seen in a long time crashed down in Faith's eyes.

"No." She shut almost completely down, instantly, without thought. There wasn't any anger in her voice, her demeanor, she just seemed to be hard, cold, and emotionless.

FUCK! FUCK! FUCK! Good one Summers, stupid much? 'Cause I'm sure Faith would want to have kids considering she had such a fucking wonderful childhood. Maybe one of these days you'll learn to think before you speak. Dumb ass Summers! Christ you just asked her to marry you and already you're asking about kids and she still, we both are still healing from everything that's happened to us. STUPID, STUPID, STUPID!

It wasn't that Faith had never thought about it. She had. She had given up on the idea a long time ago though and most of the dreams she had about being a mother had been killed the day she was called to be a Slayer. Whatever lingering dreams she had about having kids had been entirely killed the day that Glory had taken them.

"Faith?" Buffy queried softly.

She shuddered a little at the cold, almost dead look in her heart's eyes and shuddered again at the thought that Faith had been able to re-erect a wall so quickly. Had it only been earlier today that she had thought all of Faith's walls had crumbled to dust for the last time, never to be re-erected? She hadn't really meant anything by her question. She was just curious whether Faith ever thought about having kids she knew she had. It was quite easy, though, for her to imagine a little girl, a baby that looked exactly like Faith. As she continued to gaze intently into Faith's veiled eyes she saw something in them she had missed before... fear. It suddenly became clear to Buffy why Faith was having such a complete and total shut down to her innocent question. She knew that this had to do with Faith's past and not anything to do with them.

"Faith... Fai?" Buffy tried softly again, trying to pull Faith out from behind the steel wall she had erected.

Faith stared sightlessly into Buffy's hazel-gold eyes. Her mind was reeling with memories of her own childhood. She blinked once, twice, as the sound of Buffy's soft scared voice finally penetrated through the barrage of memories assaulting her. She realized suddenly that she had built a new wall and was hiding behind it and it scared her a little, that she had done it so easily, so unconsciously, another knee-jerk reaction from her life before now. She mentally kicked at the wall, trampled it under her feet and obliterated it with a strength that Hercules would have been proud of.

Fuck, if she was ever going to let her past scare her into retreating. Not now! Not again! She recognized this for what it was. It was the same thing, the same voices that had tried so hard to control her over the last few weeks and she wasn't about to give into them again. She was stronger now, stronger than ever in her life and even stronger with Buffy beside her. Buffy knew all there was to know about her, had seen her at her worst, had seen things that no one should ever see and she was still here with her, still loved her. Wanted to Join with her, spend the rest of her life with her and it seemed eternity as well. There was nothing they couldn't work out together, there was nothing that she could tell Buffy that would make her turn away from her. She could talk to Buffy about her own doubts and fears, there wasn't any weakness or shame in that and it was about fucking time that she learned that and remembered it. Even so, she knew for her it was easier said than done, the words she knew wouldn't come to her easily. It was a matter of pride to her that she had always kept her promises, both good and bad, she had made a few to herself in the last few days all of which she was determined to keep.

Buffy heaved an internal sigh of relief when she saw the veil over Faith's eyes lift. What she saw though, so much vulnerability, insecurity, and a little bit of fear in Faith's eyes, made her heart cry for her Dark mate. She wished she could take the question back, she obviously would have never asked it if she knew it would cause this kind of reaction, pain in Faith. Ignoring it though wasn't the answer and as much as Buffy didn't want to spoil the end to their wonderful day, she decided she was going to take the bull by the horns, so to speak, if Faith didn't.

"You okay baby?" She asked Faith quietly, her hand unconsciously reaching up to caress gently the side of Faith's face.

Faith caught Buffy's caressing hand and brought it to her mouth. She gently planted a few soft kisses on the back of it then pulled it down to hold it against her chest, her heart.

"Yeah B. I when... when I was... it's... I didn't... oh fuck!" She huffed, blowing air forcefully out of her mouth, exasperated at her inability to put the words together.

"It's okay Fai... Take your time, I'm not going anywhere. Just let the words come out any way they want." Buffy leaned in towards Faith and placed a soft, almost dainty kiss on her mouth.

The conversation had started innocently enough but somehow, somewhere in the last few minutes it had become extremely important to her. Why? She didn't know why, but it was. She didn't want... or did she? She did and in a moment of clarity, Buffy suddenly understood why it was so important. She wanted to have a full life with Faith and she realized when she closed her eyes and allowed herself to think of a future for them, she had seen them in it with children. Up until she had found her home, her soul-mate in Faith she had pretty much given up on the idea of ever having children, but that had all changed. Maybe not right now, this minute, this year, but definitely if it was what Faith wanted too, in the future. Especially now that she thought about having a future, now that she carried the hope in her heart that she, and Faith, would live a long life together. Now that she resisted the idea that her destiny, that Faith's destiny was to live short lives because they were Slayers. Now after all these years of being a Slayer she had hope in her heart that she would live to see gray hair on her head, liver spots on her hands, and wrinkles on her face. And as she gazed into Faith's eyes she could see, could feel that same hope lived inside of Faith too.

"Okay B, I'll try. When I... I was little I used to pretend what it would be like when I was a Mom. How I would treat my kids, how a Mom, a Dad was supposed to treat their kids. Ya know..." Faith looked at Buffy not really expecting an answer, "...and I used to promise myself at night that when I was a Mom I would never, ever do to my kids what my... what was done to me. Then as I started to get older even though I couldn't seem to stop myself, I could see how I treated other people, could see how in some ways I was becoming like they were. It was almost a relief when I got called, 'cause I figured I would never have to worry about having kid. I didn't think I would live long enough to have them. I'm sure you probably thought the same thing after you got called too. Didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did. I kind of figured I wouldn't live long enough to have kids. And, to be honest, there wasn't anyone I ever really wanted to have them with. But then you came along and you turned my world upside down. In the time we've been together I've started to... no, I 'believe' that we can have all those things. God, just look what we've done so far. We live together, have a pretty normal life, outside of the Slaying. We own a business, I'm already in college and you'll be starting back with me in a few weeks. We're raising Dawn, we have a really big, really nosy family, but they're all good, loving people. I'm not ready to have a baby tomorrow, but I can't lie... if you want to, if it's something you want too, I would love to have kids with you Faith." Buffy continued to stare into Faith's soft eyes, her heart, her soul in her gaze.

"I'm afraid, B..." Faith whispered softly, shamefully.

"What are you afraid of Fai?" Buffy asked just as softly, she gave Faith's hand, which was still holding hers tightly, a little squeeze.

"I'm afraid that I'll end up being just like her, like my Mom. I mean I still lose my temper, get mad, still feel like I want to lash out, hit. I'm just afraid that I'll end up being like them, no matter how hard I try not to be." She dropped her eyes; afraid almost of what it was she would see in Buffy's. Silently she berated herself for being so chicken-shit and just as silently she cursed herself for not believing in herself. In not believing, yet again, in Buffy, in Angel, in all of them. For doubting the fact that they believed in her wholeheartedly, for doubting that she knew she was a different person. She took a deep breath and raised her eyes back up to Buffy's and what she saw in them started to melt away all the doubts she had.

"You could never be like her, like either of them, Faith. Never. I know that, we all know that. You need to let yourself know that too. And if you still have doubts all you have to do is look at Dawn. You've been raising her just as much as I have. In fact if it wasn't for you, I might have pushed her away, alienated her. If ever there were a time you would have raised your hands to her it would have been that day in the training room when she attacked you. Hell you didn't even yell at her. I was the one who yelled, who pushed her and had you not stopped me I would have hurt her. And if you need more proof take a look around at the faces of the all the kids you've helped over the last year at the center. You, Faith, would be a wonderful Mother. You're loving, caring, gentle, smart, funny and all I can say is that when I see you with Dawn, see you with the kids from the center you remind me of my Mom." Buffy kept her eyes locked with Faith's as she spoke and she consciously opened the bond between them, letting the feelings, the emotions, the images flow from her to Faith along with her words.

Faith heard and felt it all. And she believed. "Thank you... and I'm not the only one that's gonna make a wonderful Mom, you are too B. Someday B, someday I'd like to have a little girl or a little boy or maybe even both with you."

"I'd like that too, Fai. I'd like that a lot." Buffy husked softly then rested her head against Faith's chest, listening to her heartbeat. She began to purr deep inside when Faith's arms came round to hold her close and she smiled softly when she heard Faith begin to purr in answer to her wordless call.

They rested quietly against each other, secure and so damn proud of themselves for talking it out, for not giving in or letting Faith's demons from her past win. Eventually, they drifted off to sleep, to dream of a future filled with love, happiness, joy and the beautiful children they someday hoped they would have together.

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...Heal me lift me ~ Take me to the waterside ~ Drop me in let me swim ~ Let everyone know I'll be coming home again...
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The next week was hectic, leaving both Slayers tired but ecstatically happy. The days were filled with making plans for their Joining Ceremony, trying to figure out what to wear, trying to find a ceremony they both liked, and would speak to who they were. Together they worked on the braided cord that would be used to bind them during their Joining Ceremony. They made it from three silk strands that Clotho had lovingly woven for them. Their early evenings were filled with taking care of the two infant panthers, Vanilla and Chocolate and the two puppies, as well as trying to write their vows, which in the end, they decided to not only write but say together. Faith, despite all her protesting that she just wasn't good with words, was the more poetic of the two of them when it came to actually writing down what it was she felt.

Their nights after their 'brood' of black and white animals were settled down were filled with the sounds of lovemaking, passion, lust, joy, love and laughter. They had mutually agreed to practice as much as possible making babies, though Buffy laughing told Faith she was pretty damn sure they didn't have the right equipment for it, but hell they could give it the good-old-college try anyway. Faith's answer was to leeringly tell Buffy, that she could, if Buffy wanted, 'acquire' the right equipment for them, which made Buffy turn the brightest shade of red Faith had ever seen her turn to date. It didn't stop Buffy though from saying, 'Really?' with just enough curiosity that Faith told her once they got home if Buffy wanted they could go 'toy' shopping. Which only made Buffy blush harder, which made Faith start to blush, which in turn made them both break out in fits of giggles.

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They parted reluctantly after the long lingering kiss they had just shared. Neither Slayer was happy that their family was forcing them to follow tradition and spend the night before their Joining Ceremony apart. Buffy was going to be held hostage at the Fates' house, while Faith was going to be held hostage at Mars. And being held hostage was what both were convinced it was!

"This really sucks B."

Faith's bottom lip jutted out in a pout that was both adorable and hot as sin at the same time and Buffy couldn't resist it. She leaned forward and caught Faith's lip between her teeth, her tongue exploring, tracing along the cleft there that fascinated her to no end. The sexy little whimper Faith made in the back of her throat caused Buffy's insides to tighten and she pushed Faith up against the wall, kissing her with everything she had. Hotly, wildly, with overwhelming need.

"I have to touch you now," she mumbled against Faith's soft, delicious lips, eliciting another sexy whimper. She slammed Faith into the wall again then slammed herself into Faith.

Their hands were all over each other in a matter of seconds. It was desperate, furious, frantic, and caused them both to start laughing hysterically at exactly how goddamn silly they were being. But it didn't in any way curb the fever in their blood to touch, to be with each other.

Buffy literally wrenched her mouth away from Faith's. She hastily mumbled out the privacy spell for the fifth time that day. They both nearly jumped out of their skins when Atropos' voice boomed out from nowhere, "OH THE HELL YOU TWO WILL AGAIN!"

They shared a sly grin and this time Faith said the privacy spell and both almost had heart failure when Atropos voice boomed out at them again, from thin air, "YOU'VE GOT FIVE SECONDS BEFORE WE FADE IN THERE SO MAKE YOURSELVES DECENT!"

"This sucks big time!" Faith fumed, stamping her foot, "They broke the damn privacy spell. They don't play fair B!"

"You're right we don't," Atropos said appearing from out of thin air behind them. She started to laugh gaily when both Slayers jumped half a foot in the air.

"That was fun can we do it again?" Dawn said then laughed right in the Slayers' faces as they glared at her.

"Not going... wanna stay here with B!" Faith grumbled and gave a pathetic version of 'Willow's Resolve face', which only prompted everyone in the now crowded cottage to burst out laughing.

"Baby, I'm sorry," Buffy said when Faith shot her a look for laughing at her, "...you just can't pull off the whole 'Resolve face'. Stick to what you do best the bad-girl thingy."

"Thanks a lot B..." Faith sulked, crossing her arms over her chest and staring defiantly at everyone gathered in the room. Let them just try to take her if they dared!

"Okay enough of this already. Whether you like it or not you two will not be spending the night together." Atropos stared pointedly at Faith. "Now let me have your rings." She held out her hand and smiled softly as the Slayers grudgingly took them off and handed them to her. "Now say goodnight to each other and please keep it G-Rated there is a minor present after all."

"You're a little late with that warning," Dawn giggled, "...someone should have told them that a long time ago."

Once again, everyone in the room burst out laughing as both Slayers' turned a nice vibrant shade of pink. They decided to ignore everyone and just focus on each other. It was somewhat unsettling how nervous, upset they were about spending the night apart. Both were in complete denial that their overwrought nerves and the unsettling feelings had anything to do with their Joining tomorrow.

"I'm going to miss you tonight. This will be the first night we haven't spent together since... Well... since forever." Buffy whispered softly and they both realized that it had been well over a year since they had spent a night apart.

"Me too B." Faith rasped low. She leaned forward and kissed Buffy softly, delicately. Their lips barely brushed but it was a kiss that touched both their souls.

"Okay time to go," Atropos waved her hand and all present started to fade to their destination for the night.

"This sucks," Faith grumbled for the third time that night, she smiled when she heard Buffy's soft laughter as they faded-out.

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Faith prowled the confines of her room like a caged wild animal. She stopped only occasionally to right the tiny baby black panther who kept tripping over her own four paws as she too prowled with both the Dark Slayer and Dusk who had the stuffed black panther hanging by its ear in his mouth. It was becoming an all too familiar sight. They all burst into laughter when Dusk had shown up scratching at the door, this time though it wasn't the stuffed panther being held gently in his mouth, but Chocolate, who in turn had the stuffed black panther dangling from her mouth by its ear. Even Faith had laughed, then she went right back to her prowling, the animals right behind her imitating her, right down to the soft growls that rumbled out of her chest.

Tara, Lilith, Cordy, Fred, Lachesis and Atropos had given up trying to get her either to sit down or to talk. They had secretly conspired with Willow, Clotho, Dawn, Anya, Lily and Charlotte, Crow's mother, who were keeping Buffy company to cast a sleeping spell so that everyone, most especially the Slayers would get some sleep. They doubted that either Slayer would voluntarily lie down to sleep the night before their Joining. The six in the room with Faith looked at each other wondering if it was too early to cast the sleeping spell on the restless Dark Slayer.

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At exactly the same moment Dusk and Chocolate showed up at Faith's door, Cinder and Vanilla showed up at Buffy's door, which had sent everyone there into belly laughs. Currently the three animals, two living, one stuffed were pacing behind Buffy, who like Faith, hadn't sat down once. She was a nervous wreck, her stomach churning, spinning violently and she was in full-scale nonsense babble mode. With Cinder and Vanilla contributing to the nonsense babbling noise with soft growls, barks, hisses and mews of their own.

By ten that night, the twelve women who were on the 'Night-before-Joining-jitters' watch had decided they had enough. Silently through their bond, Willow and Tara agreed to cast the sleeping spell on the two agitated, panicky Slayers and their animals.

"Oh you guys don't fight fair," both Slayers said at the same time in different rooms, in different homes as they felt the effects of the sleeping spell hit them. Lilith caught Faith, while Clotho caught Buffy before either of them could hit the hardwood floor.

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The morning of their Joining saw two harried, jumpy, panicked, clumsy, profusely sweating, constantly in motion, babbling-like-village-idiots Slayers. Not to mention extremely pissed off at having been sucker punched with the sleeping spell the night before. After the first hour everyone involved in helping the two Slayers get ready wanted to pull their hair out of their heads and have the Wiccans' cast silence and paralyzing spells so they could help the Slayers get ready in a timely manner.

When the time came for them to make their way over to the clearing, Mars and Angel, Giles and Xander, nervously waited impatiently outside of Faith and Buffy's bedroom doors, respectively, for them to finally come out. While inside the bedroom, the two Slayers madly brushed their teeth again having emptied their stomachs for the umpteenth time that morning and hurriedly reapplied their lipstick.

All four men were rendered speechless when the door to their Slayer's bedroom was opened. They were both visions to behold. Dressed in almost identical outfits, Faith's outfit was a deep dark purple that bordered on black, while Buffy's was a light silver-blue-gray. They each wore full length, collarless satin and silk coats that had a single button holding them closed midway down their chests. The sleeves of the coats came down and flowed softly over each of their hands almost to the point of completely covering them. The only difference in their coats was the long slit up the back of Faith's. Underneath each wore silk camisoles with only the slightest hint of lace. Faith had on low-slung silk pants that had the slightest of flares at the bottom, covering her new platform boots, while Buffy had on a low-slung full-length silk skirt, which also covered her new platform boots. Each Slayer wore their hair down; it fell softly, thickly around their faces and shoulders. Each had a single small braid no more than a half inch wide on either side of their faces. Buffy's braids were interwoven with silken threads in the same color as Faith's outfit, while Faith's were interwoven with beads in the color of Buffy's outfit. Both of their outfits were a gift from their family who had decided to surprise them with them the day of their Joining, after hearing that the Slayers were just going to wear something from their closets at home. And amidst all the endless babbling of the Slayers that morning they had both thanked them over and over again.

Each Slayer took an arm offered by both their escorts with trembling hands and made their way out into the beautiful, bright clear day.

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They approached the clearing from opposite sides to the sound of a single bagpiper playing Amazing Grace. Faith astride Obsidian and flanked by the large black steeds that Angel and Mars rode as they were escorted into the clearing by half of Mars' royal guard. Buffy entered the clearing riding Sol sidesaddle, flanked by the smaller white mares that Xander and Giles rode and the other half of Mars' royal guard.

Their eyes locked as they saw each other from across the clearing. They were oblivious to Lily asking each person as they moved to join and form the horseshoe shaped circle that would surround them during the ceremony, 'How do you enter this circle?' Nor did they hear each answer, 'In perfect Love and Trust.' A million and one images filtered through their minds as their escorts helped them to the ground on wobbly legs. They made their way slowly towards each other and stopped when they stood in front of Lily, The Green Mother, who was performing the Joining Ceremony for them. They turned around to face their escorts, tears gathering in their eyes as at the same time Mars and Angel leaned in to kiss opposite cheeks on Faith, while Xander and Giles did the same to Buffy. They turned around to face one another again, they smiled softly at the other and all nervousness fled leaving in its place just simple joy and love. They clasped hands and turned together to face Lily who gave them a gentle smile.

Lily bid those that were acting as the physical representation of the four elements to enter within the circle to take their places, "Let the four directions be honored that power and radiance might enter our circle for the good of all beings." She asked each group as they entered, "How do you enter this circle?" to which each in turn answered, "In perfect Love and Trust."

She then clasped the already joined hands of the Slayers with one of her own and turned them towards the East, dropping their hands after the turn was complete.

"Spirits of the East, whose element is Air, give blessings to Faith and Buffy who are about to be Joined." Lily spoke quietly to Luc, Atropos and Wesley who were the representatives of Air. She continued in the same quiet voice and none there doubted that they stood in the presence of The Green Mother. "Guardians of the Watchtower of the East, I invoke thee of old and call upon thee to witness this rite. Stand guard upon this quarter that no power of malign intent may pass. Hail, Element of Air! Primordial spring of knowledge and inspiration. Cast your breath across this circle and cleanse it. Be here now!"

"I am Air," Atropos, Luc and Wesley spoke in complete harmony then continued, "...Within my domain you may find knowledge, enlightenment, and inspiration. With the first, you may find the answers to the questions of your hearts. With the second, you may drive the shadows from your souls. With the third, you may create that which only two souls enjoined can give life to. With the three combined - there is no obstacle that you cannot surmount together. I gift you with these from my Realm."

Once again, Lily grasped the joined Slayers' hands, this time she turned them towards the South. Again she spoke, this time to Clotho, Lilith and Cordelia. "Spirits of the South, whose element is Fire, give blessings to Faith and Buffy who are about to be Joined. Guardians of the Watchtower of the South, I invoke thee of old, I call thee to witness this rite and guard this circle. Hail Element of Fire! I invoke thee and call to thee, Great One of the Day, Giver of Life, send forth your beautiful fire and cleanse this circle. Be here now!"

As the three before them had, Clotho, Lilith and Cordelia spoke in complete harmony, "Spirits of the South whose element is fire, Give your blessings to Faith and Buffy who are about to be Joined. Passion should warm your hearts, Light that shall guide you in the darkest of times, Love that shall burn in your hearts till the end of time, and the greatest of these is perfect Love and perfect Trust. Let these be burned in your hearts forever."

The Slayers let Lily turn them towards the West and Anya, Lachesis and Spike, who much to their eternal amusement was a nervous wreck. They each gave him an encouraging smile, which he gratefully acknowledged.

"Spirits of the West, whose element is Water, give blessings to Faith and Buffy who are about to be Joined. Mighty art thou, Guardians of the West. Paladins of the Gates of the Dreaming Islands, From Avalon, Arthur's Heart's-Ease, From Tir Na Og, the Land of the Young Princes of the Summer Country, Masters of Healing I call to thee from the heart of this circle...May thy Watchtowers ward us in our workings this day!"

As the others had, the representatives of the Water Element spoke in harmony. "Queen of Life, thou who restore Waste Lands, Blessed Mistress of the West, I call to Thee, entreat Thee to watch over this couple, Mother and Cradle of Life, from which we came in ancient days, Mystery of life-in-death We Remember Thee. Pure spirit, Wielder of the Force of Ages, Thou Well of storms, Thou who looked ever upon the open face of new stars before the earth was born from your cool waters of lake and stream, I call to Thee, entreat Thee, Guide this pair from cathedrals of coral and thrones of pearl to this circle we call Thee."

This time Lily turned the Slayers to the North and towards one of the most important people in both their lives. The smile that Dawn greeted them with made their breath catch and their hearts thump wildly. They broke their locked eyes with their little sister to smile at Willow and Tara who flanked her.

"Spirits of the North, whose element is Earth, give blessings to Faith and Buffy who are about to be Joined. I call to the Guardians of the Watchtower of the North. I call to you spirit of the Earth, make your presence felt in this circle and witness this rite. May your eternal strength guard this circle and your everlasting stability cleanse all present."

Their voices almost musical, Willow, Tara and Dawn spoke in harmony, "I call from the spirits of the North, the Element of Earth with this blessing to Faith and Buffy on this day of your Joining. May you be blessed with a love that stays strong as the day it was born. In your eternal walk together, remember to look down to the Earth for the stability that will go hand in hand with the strength of your bond for each other. The strength of your bond to each other will provide the stability to overcome all obstacles."

For the final time Lily clasped the Slayers joined hands and turned them back towards the stone altar and the waterfall, which was its magnificent backdrop. "In case you were wondering since I am Mother Nature, the Earth, you truly do have my blessing." She told them softly, mischievously, with utter sincerity for their ears only as she turned them.

"May the harmony of our circle be complete," Lily softly intoned, as her gaze fell upon all those gathered then back to rest upon the Slayers. "We stand upon this Holy Earth and in the Face of Heaven to witness the Sacred Joining between Faith and Buffy. Just as we come together as family and friends, so we ask for the Greater Powers to be present here within our Circle. May this Sacred Union be filled with their Holy Presence. By the honor bestowed on me by Faith and Buffy to perform this wonderful event and by the power vested me by the Creator, I invoke within this circle the power of Love to be present in this Sacred Place. And in doing so is Love declared. By the power vested in me, I invoke the Bright Flame to be present in this Sacred Place. In doing so is Peace declared. In the name of the Ancestors whose Traditions we honor, in the name of those who gave us Life. May we all unite in Love."

Lily then bid the Slayers to turn and face each other. She turned around and picked up the two rings they had gifted each other with and the cord they had loving braided together. She could feel the love that flowed from all three in her hands. The braid had been created from one red, one black and one white silk thread. The three colors a representation of the Fates, the Maiden, the Mother, the Crone and jointly their meanings were, spiritual purity, truth, peace, serenity, devotion, will, strength, courage, health, vigor, passion, empowerment, wisdom, vision, success and pure love.

She turned around to face the Slayers again, they dropped their clasped hands and each held out their left hand. She placed Buffy's ring in Faith's hand and Faith's in Buffy's. Then she encouraged them to join their left hands, she started to bind their hands together in a lovers knot as she spoke, "I tie this Lovers Knot so that you walk your path as one, in light, in love, in respect and in gentleness. Is this your desire?"

"Yes." The Chosen Two answered together.

Lily slipped their hands from the knot. Once their hands were free, both Slayers allowed the rings to fall into her open palm. She handed Buffy back the knot while she spoke, "Within this sacred circle you have now been joined in the physical and the spiritual...keep this knot always as a visual symbol of your bond for each other."

She bowed her head holding both rings within her own clasped hands she blessed them so quietly that even the Slayers could not hear what she was saying. When she was finished, she lifted her head and smiled at them, she placed Buffy's ring in Faith's right hand and Faith's in Buffy's right. "All things in Nature are circular - night becomes day, day becomes night and night becomes day again. The moon waxes and wanes and waxes again. There is Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and then the Spring returns. These things are part of the Great Mysteries. Faith and Buffy, as you exchange your symbols of these Great Mysteries of Life, please say the vows which you have written."

The Chosen Two continued to stare at each other for long seconds after Lily finished speaking. Together, they slid the rings made of two strands, now each with one black and one white strand, but appearing as if they were a single woven strand onto the other's ring finger. Each encircled the rings and the other's hand with their own. Buffy mouthed to Faith, 'Ready?' and Faith silently mouthed back, 'I love you', to which Buffy silently mouthed back, 'Love you too, S.O.'

As those gathered listened to the vows spoken by each until they spoke the last few lines as one, they were amazed to realize how easily they flowed, how it just sounded right that one Slayer spoke the beginning of the shared sentiment and other Slayer finished it until they spoke the final few lines together as one.

She stared deeply into the eyes of her heart, her soul, then began...

"I don't have all the pretty words..."

"I am not a poet..."

"I am just me..."

"And you are just you..."

"I only know what I feel..."

"What you make me feel..."

"I only know that the sound of..."

"Your voice fills me..."

"I only know that you are the spark..."

"The fire in my heart..."

"I only know you are the peace that soothes..."

"And comforts my tattered soul..."

"The touch of your hand both calms..."

"And excites me..."

"The love I see in your eyes claims..."

"And captures my soul..."

"With you I see the world through the eyes of a child..."

"Bright, shiny, innocent, full of laughter, joy, love and so beautiful..."

"With you by my side and I by your side..."

"I've found my place in life..."

"And the miracle that is life..."

"And the miracle that is love..."

"With you I've found..."

"A place I can call home..."

They smiled softly at each other before they continued in harmony as one,

"I am both your light and your dark...
Together we are balance...
We are separate, yet we are united,
We are two, individual, whole, yet we are one,
Together we are just simply more.
I am your and you are my...
Complement."
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...Heal me lift me ~ Take me to the other side ~ Amazing grace ~ Has touched my face ~ And the sweet sound doesn't lie...
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She stirred waking slowly, a gentle smile already gracing her face. Something almost forgotten stirred inside of her, something she hadn't felt in a long time. She knew what it was, just like she knew without opening her eyes the light coming in softly through the window would be that dark-azure that herald the coming of a new day. For the first time since that morning outside of the Magic Box the day of their fateful meeting with Glory, she had the urge to watch the sunrise and to listen to its voice as it brought forth the new day.

She glanced down, her smile growing wider seeing their clasped hands and the rings upon their fingers. She had almost been afraid to go to sleep last night after they had made-love far sweeter, passionately, tenderly then they ever had before. Afraid when she woke that it would all be a dream, afraid like she had been that first time she had spent the night with 'her' Light Slayer. But the fear had receded quickly, for in her heart, in her soul she finally believed that her life, this love they shared wasn't a dream. It was real and it always would be real, it would last throughout both their lifetimes and even beyond.

Like she had that morning in the pre-dawn so long ago, she silently thanked whomever it was that was in charge for giving her a lifetime filled with waking to the beautiful woman in her arms.

The 'Get some, get gone' girl knew, without having to think about it, she was exactly with who and where she was supposed to be.

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The same stirring that woke her soul-mate woke her too. She didn't need to open her eyes to know that her soul-mate was already awake. She could feel her so clearly through their bond and she too thanked whoever was in charge for giving her a second chance to make a life, to find this love with 'her' Dark Slayer. All her dreams, all her mate's dreams, all the things they had dreamed of for themselves when they had been held captive were all beginning to come true one by one.

She opened her eyes and smiled just as her mate had at their clasped hands and the rings that were the physical and spiritual representation of them.

The first of the Chosen Two knew, without having to think about it, she was exactly with who and where she was supposed to be.

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Without needing to speak, they both rose from the bed and donned the silk robes that had been another part of their Joining gifts from their family. They quietly made their way through Mars' Mansion and let themselves out into the pre-dawn. They walked hand in hand down to lake and sat down upon the thick, lush grass by the shoreline. Faith leaned back against one of the large oak trees, pulling Buffy back into her, folding her into her embrace. They remained silent, quiet, secure, at peace, safe, loved, warm in each other's arms.

Eyes turned up towards the sky they waited for the sun to rise.

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Neither was sure what woke them, something had and without knowing why both Mars and Giles rose from their separate beds. Neither was surprised when they saw the other in the upstairs hallway, together they made their way downstairs and outside. They both stopped just a step outside the door, quietly drinking in the sight of the two Slayers, whom both men thought of as their daughters by the edge of the lake. Just as silently they began to turn to go back inside and allow them their privacy when Faith's soft voice was carried to them on the morning breeze, "Come 'Athair's' join us."

They made their way slowly over to them; they sat down on either side of them. Both smiled as Buffy reached out and give each of their hands a gentle squeeze.

Like the Slayers, they too turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

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For the first time, since they had been spending their nights together Cordelia woke before Angel. She had a vision while she slept; only it was more like a premonition. She ran her hand down the side of 'her' Vampire-with-a-soul's face and knew that even that light touch would wake him. He stared at her with half-opened eyes and without a word, he rose from the bed bringing her up with him.

They moved quietly through the slumbering house and neither was surprised when they saw the four figures sitting down by the lake.

They joined those already sitting upon the plush grass, making themselves comfortable and they too turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

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He woke alone, yet he knew that in reality he was not alone. His knew that one day his time would come and he too would wake beside his soul-mate. He rose from the bed, brushing the hair from his face. He pulled on his black robe and opened the door to his room. He padded silently down the hallway, down the stairs and outside. He hesitated briefly once outside until the Slayers turned towards him and waved for him to join them.

With a smile on his face, Zane walked towards them.

He sat down next to Mars, turned his eyes up towards the sky, and waited for the sun to rise.

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Lily whispered a hand softly down the chest of the man beside her, waking him. He fumbled blindly for his glasses. With a lilting laugh, she handed them to him. Wesley blinked owlishly at the woman smiling above him, who with an impish grin planted a quick kiss upon his mouth and got up off the bed. He had no idea where she was leading him but he would follow her anywhere.

Like those before them, they quietly made their way outside, while he was surprised to see those gathered by the lake, she was not.

Silently they joined the group and with eyes turned up towards the sky, they waited for the sun to rise.

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Dawn woke to find herself half on top of Crow in Mars' game room where they both had fallen asleep. She felt a stirring and with a wide ear-splitting grin, she knew what it was. She gently brushed the tangled mess of hair off Crow's forehead and felt another stirring inside of her that she instinctively knew was the beginnings of love.

Crow blinked sleepily at the young girl hovering over him with the huge smile. His heart thumped hard in his chest and he felt lightheaded as he looked into the eyes of the young woman who he hoped someday would do him the honor of becoming his spouse. He smiled back up at her and he sat up bringing her with him, holding her close for a few minutes. Hand in hand they made their way towards the door, they both smiled when they saw his parents, Christopher and Charlotte waiting for them.

The four of them made their way down to the lake. Dawn leaning over to kiss both Slayers on their cheeks before joining Crow and his family.

She snuggled into Crow's arms; they shared a brief loving smile with each other and his parents, then all four turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

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Both Wicca's eyes opened at the same time. Blue gazing into green, both filled with a timeless love. They shared a knowing smile, both feeling the Slayers and the others already awake. They rose together, pulling on their big fluffy robes and arms wrapped around each other they made their way outside to join the others.

Leaning into each other, they turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

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He struggled, yanked himself out of sleep. He knew, just knew, the others, the Slayers, were outside in the pre-dawn. He sat up abruptly, after a hundred or so years of running from the sunrise it wasn't quite in his vampire nature to be suddenly running towards it. He turned his head to look into the twinkling eyes of his soul-mate, Lachesis, still a little bit surprised after the last few months to see her there next to him.

She grinned at Spike, 'her William', when she saw the surprise in his eyes and the love he still tried to hide. Not yet to the point where he had completely let all his walls drop in her presences. He didn't need to tell her where they were going and she gladly followed him out into the pre-dawn. They sat down comfortably side-by-side, leaning into each other.

They turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

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Clotho woke Lilith with a kiss that made her toes curl. She deftly dodged the arms that came round to pull her down onto her mate. She laughed at the pout Lilith gave her and tossed her robe to her. Quickly, silently they made their way outside.

Then they too sat upon the grass, turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

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It was the slight change in his breathing that woke Anya, she snuggled for a second longer in Xander's arms which held her to him closely, tightly, lovingly. Finally, she lifted her head from his chest and opened her eyes. The love he felt for her just shone from him and it made her heart ache with joy.

Together they got up and holding hands, they made their way outside to the others. Xander sat down and then Anya joined him, laying on her back her head in his lap.

Together they turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

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James' woke his mate with a poke to his side. Gary's eyes shot open and he was greeted by the impish smirk of his lover. He was puzzled at being woken until he realized what time it was and with a poke and an impish grin of his own, he jumped from the bed.

They chased each other playfully down the stairs and out of the house. They slowed down to a walk when they saw the others sitting peacefully by the lake.

Sedately they joined them and then they too, turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

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Fred and Gunn had woken when they heard the playful running of Gary and James. They stayed resting against each other for a short time, then without a word they rose from the bed. Each silently giving thanks for having found the other. Holding hands, they ventured out to join the others.

Smiling at all in turn and cuddling into each other upon the grass, they turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

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She felt his gaze upon her and she opened her eyes carefully. In a way, it still came as a surprise to see him there with her after all they had been through over the eons. He smiled that lopsided-grin at her and she gave her own version of it in return. He rose from the bed and reached a hand out to help her rise. He helped her into her robe and cradling her hand within his own he led her outside.

As they walked towards the others, Faith turned her head towards them. Atropos nodded towards the Dark Slayer confirming the silent question Faith was asking. Faith gave her a smirk, then turned her eyes back up towards the sky, knowing when they returned home to the Mansion that the Tapestry the Fates had given them the past Christmas would have come to life showing them all here, watching the sunrise on the day after her and Buffy's Joining.

Luc sat down pulling Atropos into his lap and they turned their eyes up towards the sky and waited for the sun to rise.

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In silence, the ragtag family - both of blood and of the heart - of two Slayers, a Seer, a Key, four Witches, a Watcher, two Vampires with souls, three Humans, an Ex-Watcher, an Ex-Vengeance Demon, all the Incarnates, one with an Immortal spouse from the time of the Garden of Eden and another with a human spouse; all with eyes turned up towards the sky, sat in the stillness of the pre-dawn, waiting for the sun to rise and bring to them the promises of the new day, with hope in their hearts that today would be better than yesterday...

...and all gathered heard for the first time the whispered pledge of the new day to fulfill those hopes, those promises for untold tomorrows...

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...Heal me lift me ~ Take me to the other side ~ I'll take what I've earned ~ These lessons I've learned ~ I'm ready for the ride ~ Heal me lift me ~ Take me and my soul will fly ~ My battered heart will make a new start ~ Let everyone know ~ I'll be coming home again ~ Heal me lift me ~ Take me to the waterside ~ Drop me in ~ Come on and watch me swim ~ Let everyone know ~ I'll be coming home again...
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