Gave you all a headache, didn't I? Sorry, just needed those theories out of my system.
Anyway, look, I know you probably want more action, but I think interactions are good and important so let me have them in a few more chapters and then we can continue with all the drama. Plus have in mind this past chps take place in the same day. Starting with Faith showing up at Giles' place.
Without further ado...
Enjoy
Chapter 44
Buffy and Willow were walking home coming from campus after walking Tara to her dorm just after leaving the Magic Box.
The girls had been making small talk and it was obvious they were a little uncomfortable.
"I hate this." Willow said.
"What?" Buffy asked.
"This." The redhead motioned between them. "Us. This weirdness between us."
Buffy sighed. "Yeah… me too."
"I mean, I miss you, you know? I know I haven't been the best of friends but well, you haven't been available much."
"I know. I'm sorry."
"I know this year has been hard on you but, you're my friend Buffy, I love you, I don't wanna make weird small talk and beat around the bush. I want us to talk, and share and do what best friend's do."
Buffy turned her head towards her and grabbed the wiccans hand. "I'd like that too."
Willow smiled before her expression got serious again.
"I know Faith is a big part of your life. And well I'm not my best when it comes to her. I think we can agree my worst kinda comes out when she's around but… I'll try to get along with her. I know she means a lot to you and she always has so… I'll be more supportive of her, okay?"
"Thanks Will." Buffy hugged her. "That means a lot to me."
"I know. Plus, I've seen how changed Faith is. I know she's different now but, I'm still not going to forgive her for what she did, nor pretend I understand why or that I like her or anything. Maybe I'll be able to someday, but right now, wounds are still fresh and I know I need to let go of the past and move on, but trying to kill us all is not something you easily forget let alone forgive. I'm willing to give her a second, third chance or whatever, but I'm not promising it'll be all flowers and rainbows between the two of us. I mean, it's not like the feeling is not mutual."
"I know. She'll appreciate it."
"I'm not doing this for her. I'm doing this for you."
"I know Will, thanks."
"I know in the past whenever you wanted to talk about Faith I closed myself up and well, wasn't very willing to listen cuz frankly, there was a time were the only thing that came out of your mouth was 'Faith' and well that kinda made me jealous yunno? You stopped hanging out with us and were always 'Faith this, Faith that,' but it's okay. I understand that being a slayer is something only a slayer can understand and I get that now. I mean, I know what it feels like to be connected to someone. Tara, aside from my love for her, she understands what magic is and what it feels like to be a wiccan and I'm guessing is the same with you guys."
"Yes, it is. I'm sorry Will. I know I have been pushing you guys away, or at least I used to but now well everything is getting as normal as it could get and I'm actually in good spirits when there is not a weird spell trying to get me to kill you all." She smiled at the wiccan who returned the gesture. "Although at the beginning I didn't want to admit it, Faith's timing was a blessing. I didn't like her being back and getting to be in Sunnydale as a free woman but, having her around helping with the slaying kinda takes a lot of weight off my shoulders. That way I can get to spend more time with Dawn, with you guys, although I know I haven't done that just yet, I will. I'm just… kinda enjoying my time with Faith before we have 'the talk' and everything gets a little crazy.
This thing between us is new but at the same time familiar yunno? When she first came to Sunnydale and we sort of became friends, yeah, we got a long, but not like this. We were always pushing the other one away and well we're not teenagers anymore. It's time to act like adults and time for us to face each other and… else. And I like what we have now, I like to be more relaxed around her and in turn have her relax around me. Not fighting or being defensive all the time."
Willow laughed. "It's funny that you didn't like her at all and then we did, I did, and when you started liking her, I didn't. And now look at you, everything she's done, all that has happened between you and you're hanging out with her as if nothing happened." The wiccan stopped and faced her friend. "You really have a big heart Buff."
"What can I say? I have all the love in the world." They laughed and after a while Buffy spoke. "Yes… I kinda didn't like her."
"You thought she was gonna take everything from you."
"It seemed that way to me."
"She wasn't – she isn't so bad."
"If you put her murder-y phase to the side, you'll notice she's a nice person Will. And she's really sorry for what she did. It was a matter of events that lead to all the craziness."
"I suppose."
"Will… weird question and you have all the right to hit me but… did you like me like that sometime?"
"Like you as in…?"
"Well you know, as in a Tara kind of way."
Willow blushed. "No! No never. No, ew! You're my friend. Plus you're totally not my type."
"Okay. Ow. Offensive."
"Hahaha. I'm sorry, I didn't mean 'ew' but you're like a sister to me Buff and that would be weird and disturbing to like you that way. Don't get me wrong, you're all kinds of pretty and stuff but… no. Nuh-uh."
Buffy frowned. "Why aren't I your type? I'm pretty. Nice. Pretty. I'm everyone's type!"
"Egocentric much?" Willow joked.
Buffy playfully narrowed her eyes at her. "I don't lie."
The wiccan laughed. "No, Ms Summers, you are not this Rosenberg's type."
"Why?"
"I don't know. I just don't like you that way. Never thought of you that way either. And… you're bossy."
"I'm not bossy!"
"Oh, yes, yes you are." She smiled. "So why the question?"
"Faith. I mean you liked her and then you didn't. And you hated whenever I brought her up. And then you were gay. Well a year later you were gay."
"Look I got jealous but it was because I thought you wanted her as your best friend and good ol' Willow was going to be back to hanging out with the beady eyed guy and it was never going to be the same cuz Faith was just too cool and… we were not."
"Aw, Will, it never was like that."
"I know. I'm the best there is in best friend's material." The wiccan smiled cheekily.
"Huh. Best friend's material has a name and it's Buffy Summers."
Willow smiled and they hugged each other fondly. "God, haven't done that in a while."
"I know. I just noticed how much I've needed it." Buffy said turning her head and placing a peck on the Wiccan's neck. "Promise we won't strangers anymore?"
"Promise." Willow tightened her hold on her friend and released a happy sigh before letting go of her. "So… to quote a favorite person of yours… 'we five by five?'" Willow said and did a horrible Bostonian accent.
Buffy laughed. "Yes. We five by five."
"She'll kill us if she hears us saying that."
"Probably."
"What on earth does it mean anyway?"
"I have no idea."
Buffy opened the door to their place finishing a conversation with Willow and came into the threshold, closing the door after her friend passed the doorway and turned to the living room where she heard voices coming from.
"God… that feels soo good."She heard her sister say in pleasure.
"You like that huh?"
Buffy's heart starting beating as fast as it could when she heard the husky voice of her counterpart with her brain putting the interactions together, causing a surge of uneasiness to run through her body.
She practically ran into the living room.
"What- where are you going Buff?" Willow asked following.
"What the hell-!" She stopped death in her tracks with a rushing Willow colliding with her back.
Faith and Dawn stopped what they were doing and cocked their heads at the blonde's attitude.
"What's up B? Where's the fire?"
"Oh! I uh… uh thought I heard a… uh scream."
"You heard wrong luv."
And then there was Spike.
Dawn, the brunette slayer and Spike were sitting on the floor and playing what she guessed was poker.
Buffy and Willow then noticed how Dawn had a necklace that they never seen before on her and a sweater that was the younger slayer's; Faith was wearing Spike's duster and the bleached vamp had a hat that belonged to her sister on his head.
"Hey guys, having fun?" Willow asked rubbing her sore shoulder that collided with a sudden wall named Buffy.
"Hey Will."
"Willow."
"What's up Red?"
"What's with the…" Buffy motioned to their attires
"I won Spike's coat." Faith said proudly modeling it.
"And you bet your ass I'm going to get it back." The vampire grumbled.
"Sorry bleached boy, this coat is mine now. Say goodbye to it cuz you're never wearing it again."
"We'll see about that slayer."
"I won Faith's cross. Her sweater. Spike's Zippo. Almost got Faith's. Their money. As you can see, I'm winning."
Both vamp and slayer snickered. "No, you're not."
"I totally am."
Buffy moved around them and sat with Willow on the couch. She took a much closer look to the sweater her sister was wearing.
"Hey, that's my hoodie!"
"No it is not."
"Yes it is."
Faith shook her head. "Sorry to break it down to you blondie, but that's my hoodie. Oh, and so is the one you're wearing. One that you've stolen from me and now I have to win it back. To Dawn." She grumbled the last part.
Buffy smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, well it was in my closet. It's been temporally mine for a while."
"Well that's about to change." Dawn said.
"You bet it is." Faith said. "Don't go thinking it'll be yours Squirt, cuz this baby is coming back to momma."
Everybody rolled their eyes at her which obviously didn't bother Faith at all.
"When you guys are done there, Spike could you take over patrol tonight?"
The vamp took a while to answer analyzing his chances at winning this hand.
"Sure." He looked up. "Are you feeling okay, luv?"
"Yeah, just a little tired. Try to patrol the sewers and caves."
"Okay."
"I'll go with you." Faith said.
"Uh-uh. You're still recovering. Thought we agreed you wouldn't patrol tonight."
"But B, I'm feeling so much better."
All of Faith's bravado was shattered with that sentence and the slayer glared at everybody daring them to say anything.
"It is better if you don't. All the things Giles had you drink today and the spells we did might make you dizzy and will probably make you blackout if there's too much action or you exert your body to much." Willow said. "Again."
Faith stared at her for a while and reluctantly nodded. "Okay, I won't patrol tonight."
Buffy raised her eyebrows and gaped. "How come you listen to her and not me?"
"Hey, I've seen Willow's resolve face and it's not a pretty thing to look at. I know what it can do so I better stay put."
Willow smiled proudly. Yes, her resolve face was one to be feared.
"I have a pretty strong resolve face too."
Faith scrunched up her face. "Nah." She said and then winked at her causing the blonde to blush and her sister to roll her eyes at Buffy's obvious infatuation.
She's so gay for Faith.
Dawn turned and shared a weird look with Willow before a smile broke on their faces and they laughed.
Dawn was pretty sure they shared the same thought.
Willow and Buffy watched the very focused slayer and vamp trying to beat good ol' smirking Dawn.
They made nice small talk and would turn every once in a while at a frustrated groan or a mumbled expletive.
Clearly, Dawn was winning.
"I regret the day I ever taught you how to play." Spike said putting down his hand.
"I did warn you, I'm a fast learner." She turned to Faith. "C'mon. Admit I'm the winner and I might give you your cross back."
Faith glared at her. "Never."
"Then you shall never get it back."
Faith narrowed her eyes and, "I see your- my cross, and raise you my favorite leathers."
Buffy and Willow gasped, and Dawn struggled to maintain her poker face.
"C'mon Fai, I don't think you wanna do that."
"Yeah, I don't wanna hear your whining when you lose them." Dawn goaded.
"Oh, trust me B, this hand is mine baby."
"You're bluffing."
"Nop. Let's see them."
They stared defiantly at each other some more before Dawn showed her cards.
Faith let out a loud 'Woo!' when she defeated Dawn for the first time in a long while with a royal flush.
Dawn slanted her eyes at her. "This is not over slayer."
"Whatever Sunshine, meet the winner!"
"Oh, we're not over yet, I still have stuff to bet."
"Well, it has been… entertaining." Spike said getting up. "But I'll have to go."
"You just don't wanna loose anymore." Dawn smirked.
"I don't have anything else to bet pet."
"Sure you do."
He turned to Faith and extended his hand expectantly.
"What?" Faith frowned.
"C'mon. Hand it."
"Oh, what? You talking 'bout this?" Faith ruffled the coat.
"Yeah, now hand it to me."
"Sorry dude. Won this fair and square."
"Oh c'mon. Are you serious?" Spike whined.
"Yeah."
"Bloody hell! Just hand the sodding thing over!"
"Nuh-uh."
"Fine! Be that way. Tomorrow we'll play some more and I'll win my coat back." He bent down and took Faith's Zippo. "And I'm talking this with me."
"Won't be yours for long."
"Right back at ya." Spike said turning around, heading for the door, missing the weight of the duster on his body and the way the wind made it move dramatically.
The females laughed at the brooding vamp.
Faith took off the coat and stood up, offering a hand to Dawn and pulling her up.
"Thanks."
The brunette winked back in response making Dawn smile goofily.
"Weren't you supposed to be resting?" Buffy asked breaking the moment between them. Intentionally.
Dawn rolled her eyes when she heard the jealousy tone in her sister's voice.
Is she jealous of me? Really?
"You have it bad." She mumbled.
Buffy frowned, Willow stifled a laugh and Faith shrugged her shoulders.
"Anyway, I did rest B. Woke up about an hour ago."
"You didn't sleep anything. We were gone for three hours tops."
"I slept during the movie. Plus, I feel rested. Whatever Tara put on that tea made me sleep like a baby."
"Totally agree. You were even drooling." Dawn said poking the slayer.
"I did not."
"Ew, you drooled on my pillow?"
"Hey B, you have no right to get mad. You drooled my pillow remember."
"No I didn't. I didn't even use a pillow."
"That's right. Then what did you use as a pillow?" Faith said raising her eyebrows.
OH!
"I didn't drool on you!" She said mortified.
I molest her and then I go and drool on her? Seriously, what's wrong with me?
"Relax B. Just kidding."
"You do tend to drool." Dawn pointed out not helping matters.
"Whatever. Everybody drools. It's not like I drool all the time. You drool." She pointed her finger at Dawn.
"Not all the time, unlike you. You even drool awake."
"Drooling matters aside… I think I'm gonna go. Leave you girls to it." Faith said gathering her stuff.
"You can stay. The night is still young... we can watch another movie or something. Oh, oh! There's UNO we can play UNO. Or well there are a bunch of games." Willow rambled.
Faith cocked her head to the side deciphering the message she was sure Willow tried to deliver.
"Oh that's alright Re-Willow. I've been here all day, you guys prolly want me out of your skin already."
"No, stay. No problema." Willow said.
"'kay, I'll go get some beers then, and soda for the kid." She said and pinched one Dawn's cheeks winning a really nasty glare which did not seem to faze her at all. "Anything else from the store?"
"Gummy bears." Dawn said.
"A'ight." Faith put on her hoodie and draped an arm over the blonde slayer. "C'mon girlfriend, let's go."
"Wait. I've got all your money, how are you going to pay?"
"Didn't bet everything princess."
"Cheat."
