Faith

Faith awoke with a stabbing pain in her chest. An unrelenting sadness was assaulting her. She knew where it was coming from and ran into Buffy's room. Finding Buffy curled in a ball on top of the covers.

"B? What happened?" She had a good idea of what had happened. There's only one thing that could cause Buffy this much pain.

"Angel left."

Faith moved to sit on the bed, unsure what to do. "I'm sorry. I don't know how he could do that to you." I knew this was going to happen, but it seems too soon. I thought maybe things would be better for them this time.

Faith had been living with the Summers' for a month now. She took up the slack of slaying, giving Buffy time to focus on school and her relationship with Angel. She had believed that things were going well between them, even if they couldn't actually be together.

"No. I sent him away. It was too hard having him here. We have no future. I needed to be free of him."

Faith didn't know exactly what had happened between them originally, she only knew that he was still there for Graduation and that Buffy had said that he left her.

Then why are you so sad? Faith wanted to ask but didn't. "I'm still sorry, I know how much you love him."

Buffy rolled over onto her back, staring at the ceiling. "I guess. It's complicated."

"It'll take time, but it will be ok." Faith offers and places a hand on Buffy's leg. Buffy looked down at the contact and smiled a little.

"I know it will. Thanks for coming in here."

"Of course, I'm always here for you. Anything you need." Faith stands up from the bed to leave.

"Could you stay with me? I don't want to be alone tonight."

Faith looked around nervously. She was afraid of what this could mean, when Angel was here she didn't have to think about any of the romantic feelings either slayer might have for the other. Now she had a feeling that things were going to change, and she was terrified. She had accepted that they belonged together in the future, but things seemed easier then. Now there would be so much more pressure, so many more things to get in the way. So many more mistakes that Faith could make. As much as she desired Buffy's love, she needed their friendship more.

"You said anything I need," Buffy said quietly.

Faith nodded and moved slowly to the bed. Buffy hadn't yet changed out of her street clothes, but Faith was in a tank top and shorts. She slid under the covers while Buffy got up to change. Faith closed her eyes and waited, only opening them when she felt the bed move as Buffy climbed under the covers. Buffy curled into her side, resting her forehead on Faith's shoulder. Her arms and legs tucked close to her body. Faith did her best to relax. She was supposed to be comforting Buffy, not freaking out about what this all meant. Buffy sighed a little and turned away, putting distance between them. "Good night, Faith."

Faith hesitated for a moment and rolled towards Buffy, sliding closer and wrapping her arm around her shoulder. Buffy sighed again, this time snuggling closer to Faith.

"Good night, B." It didn't take Buffy very long to fall asleep, but Faith laid awake for an hour. She could feel Buffy's sadness, but also the amplification of their slayer connection. There was electricity everywhere they contacted, and she knew Buffy could feel it too.

A few days later, Buffy, Faith, and Willow are in Willow's room. They're getting ready to head out for a night at the Bronze. Buffy and Willow are talking about something, but Faith isn't paying attention. She had been trying to be friendly with Willow, but it hadn't been easy at all. Faith couldn't not see dark Willow every time she looked at her, the image of her fury burned into Faith's memory.

"Why the fuck do you have this?" Faith whispered as she pulled a book off the shelf. Buffy and Willow hadn't noticed, hadn't stopped their chattering.

"Why the fuck do you have this?!" This time she turned to them and yelled, shaking the book at Willow.

"What? It's just a book." Willow mewled and lunged for it, and Faith pulled it out of her reach.

"It's not just a book, and you know it! Why do you have it!?" Faith is yelling at Willow, shaking the book in her hand.

"I.. just found it... Giles.." Willow stammered and backed away from the furious dark slayer.

"Giles let you have this? I don't think so. I'm taking it." She turned to storm out of the room. Before she could reach it, the book disappeared from her hands. She turned furiously to attack Willow, but Buffy put herself between them.

"Willow? Give her the book."

"No! It's mine!" Willow clutched the book to her chest, her face contorted in anger.

"It's not yours! Give it to me!" Faith was reaching around Buffy attempting to grab it.

"Willow, please. Let her have the book. There must be a reason why she doesn't want you to have it." Buffy voice is soft and pleading.

Willow slowly started to calm, dropping her hands and the book to the floor. Faith scooped it up and ran out of the room.

Faith ran as fast as she could. The book clutched tightly in her hands. Once she was a few blocks away, she stopped. Now, what the hell am I going to do? If I give this to Giles, what's going to stop her from taking it again? And how do I explain what it even is?

She looked down at the book, tracing the symbol on the cover. She didn't know what it meant. She only knew it had to do with the ceremony Willow had been trying to perform. Based on Willow's reaction, it seemed like she did the right thing in taking it away. Having no choice, she headed to Giles'. She would need some way to convince him to destroy it or at least keep it away from Willow.

"Faith? I didn't expect to see you tonight. Is everything ok?"

"Yeah, I just found this, and I thought you should have it." She entered his apartment and stood awkwardly in the living room.

Giles accepts the book, and Faith can see that he recognizes it. "You found this?"

"Yeah."

Giles glares down at her disapprovingly, and she feels herself shrinking under his gaze. "Ok, well, thank you."

"Wait... can you destroy it... or at least keep it locked up somewhere?"

"What do you know about this book?"

"Not much, only that it's dangerous."

"Did you take it from Willow?"

Faith's first instinct is to lie. She doesn't want to have to explain anything about the book. Somehow she nods instead.

"Does she does something in the future that might be dangerous with this?"

Faith shrugs, "I don't know exactly. I just recognized that symbol, and I didn't think it would be good for her to have it."

"Faith, I might be able to help if I knew more of what happened. I know I was never really your watcher, but I do care about you, and I would like to help you if I can. You don't have to do this alone."

Faith honestly didn't know what happened or what information might help prevent Willow from destroying the world. But she had begun to see Giles as an ally and thought he might be able to help keep an eye on Willow. "I don't know what happened. But... it might not be a terrible idea to keep a closer eye on what she's doing with magic."

"She doesn't seem to take to kindly to my interference with her magicks."

"No, I guess that's true. I'm really not sure what to do, she hates me, and I can't seem to..." Faith frowns, not wanting to reveal too much. She was supposed to come back and stop Willow from destroying the world, how was she supposed to do that if they hated each other?

"Have you spoken to Buffy about any of this?"

"No, I don't want to worry her. Willow is her best friend. I just want to make sure nothing bad happens." Faith clenched her fists and looked down at her feet.

"What about this witch you've mentioned. Might she help?"

Faith flopped herself onto the couch. I just wanted him to take the damn book! Now he already knows way too much! "I haven't found her yet."

"You can trust me not to tell anyone. I hope you know that by now. I am on your side."

She sat forward and stared into his eyes, trying to decide. If she could tell someone, then maybe it wouldn't be her burden anymore. Maybe she wouldn't have to worry. Somehow that didn't feel right. They sent her back. She was the one who was supposed to fix this. "Can you just take care of the book? If I think of something that might help, I'll let you know."

His look is disappointed, but he nods, "I'll take care of it."

"Thanks, G. I'm going to head out."

Buffy

It's the day of the Prom. Hellhounds had attacked Xander and Cordelia earlier in the day. The rest of the scoobies and the watchers were reviewing the tape of the incident and had identified the likely culprit of the attack. Buffy starts to tune out their chatter. She stares at the entrance to the library as she can sense Faith is getting closer.

"Earth to Buffy?" Xander snaps his fingers in front of her face.

"What? Huh?" She replies once she regains awareness of where she is.

"I guess Faith will be here soon." Willow rolls her eyes and scoffs. Buffy bristled at the comment. She hated that Faith and Willow couldn't get along. But she couldn't figure out how to fix it. Faith would never defend herself. She would usually just leave whenever Willow's biting comments became too harsh. Buffy was half-tempted to lock them together so they could work out their differences, but she had a very real feeling only one of them would walk away from that.

Willow behaved completely different when Faith wasn't around, but she would harden as soon as the other slayer was even mentioned. It was tearing Buffy apart that they couldn't all be friends.

A few moments later, the younger slayer pushes the doors to the library open.

"Faith? What do you know about these hellhounds?" Willow shouts at her as soon as she's visible.

"Nice to see you too, Red. Now, what the hell are you talking about?" Faith responds, walking up to the table.

Xander points to the television monitor, "Hell beasts attacking kids, tell us what you know."

"I have no idea. I wasn't around for this." Faith only shrugs, her hands stuffed into her pockets.

"Yeah right," Willow rolls her eyes and scoffs. "Even if that were true, wouldn't we have told you about it after we figured it out?"

"Like you told me about all the other shit I missed? Like you told me about the council's 18th birthday present for B?" Faith was furious and moving towards Willow with her fists clenched. Buffy didn't know what to do. "You know what? Fuck this." Faith turned and stormed out of the library.

Buffy knew she was just waiting outside, that she hadn't run off. "What the hell is the matter with you guys? Do you honestly think she'd keep something from us that would help? I thought we'd figured it out all anyway."

"We know she has information she isn't sharing." Wesley chimes in, Buffy glares at him, and he looks away nervously. She only kept a somewhat civil relationship with him to keep the council away from Faith.

"Yeah, Willow only asked if she knew anything," Xander adds. Buffy had no idea why Xander seemed so upset with Faith lately. Initially, he seemed to really like her, but ever since Finch things had changed. Now he was almost as cold to her as Willow was.

"Yeah, I just asked, and she flipped out on me. I get how you much you like having another slayer around. But it's not fair that you always take her side." Willow scowled and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I don't always take her side! I'm not taking any sides. I thought we were all on the same side anyway!" Buffy was shouting and waving her arms in frustration.

Neither Willow nor Xander seemed convinced, Buffy held hope that someone else would point out how absurd they were being. But neither watcher, Cordelia nor Oz seemed interested in participating in the feud.

Buffy sighed and turned away from her friends. She couldn't explain to them how much Faith meant to her. She didn't even understand it herself.

"Why didn't she help when you could read minds?" Xander jumps in again.

"Yeah, she ran off as soon as she found out. Didn't try to help at all. Ahe must be hiding something!" Willow chimed in, way too excited to have more ammo to attack Faith with.

It's true that Faith and bolted as soon as Buffy told her about being able to read minds, but what they didn't know was that Buffy told her to go. Her friends had wanted her to use it to trick Faith and find out all the things that she wouldn't tell them. Buffy didn't even consider it for a second. She wouldn't violate Faith's trust that way.

Buffy turned to look at them. She was so confused, hurt, and angry, but she had no idea how to fix any of it. She just needed to get away from them. "Giles, you said these things like to eat brains, right? I'll track that down." Without another word, she exited the library, walking briskly through the hallway. Faith followed closely behind.

"You shouldn't fight with your friends over me. I'm not worth all that. It's not like they're wrong."

Buffy stopped and shoved Faith up against the locker, holding her there and staring into her eyes. Faith made no move to defend herself or fight back.

"Shut up." She was sick of everyone, including Faith telling her that Faith was garbage. Buffy knew that she was worth it. She just needed everyone else to figure it out too. Faith gave her patented grin and nodded. Buffy rolled her eyes and released her grip on Faith and started walking again. "Let's go kill these hell beasties and get ready for Prom."

"Prom?"

"Yeah, you're taking me to prom. Homecoming didn't work out, so this is your chance to make it up to me."

"You're saying slayer-fest was my fault somehow?"

"Isn't everything your fault? Why wouldn't that be too?" She said it as a joke but could tell Faith took her seriously. Their friendship had become a little confusing for Buffy. She always felt better when the other slayer was around, but she didn't quite understand how self-deprecating Faith had become. She was always so confident before, always seemed to say what was on her mind no matter who it might upset. She missed their playful banter and was trying to find ways to get it back.

"But.." Faith was almost whining, and Buffy started to laugh.

"I'm so just kidding." Buffy stuck her tongue and lightly shoved the younger slayer. This time Faith smiled back.

Buffy linked her arm with Faith's and continued out of the school.

"What happened with Xander? I thought he liked you?"

Faith paled and tried to pull away from Buffy, but Buffy kept her close. "I uh… that night after we were fighting that weird sisterhood cult… I missed out on a kill.. and he was there...soo.."

"You slept with him?"

Faith nodded, and Buffy ached at the shame she saw. In her mind, Buffy had separated Faith into two people, the one from before and the one from after. She somehow didn't hold the after Faith responsible for the before Faith's actions. She felt a ripple of anger and jealousy at the idea of the after Faith sleeping with Xander, but knowing that it was the before Faith, she only felt bad for Xander.

"Have you talked to him about it?"

"No…"

"Maybe you should. He's probably just feeling used."

"He knew what he was getting into." Faith shrugged.

"Still, I don't think it can make things any worse."

"No, probably not. Ok… I'll try."

"Is that why Willow is so upset with you too?"

"What!? I would never have sex with Willow!"

Buffy bursts out laughing, "no, I mean because you slept with Xander."

"Oh.. right. I don't know if she knows. I think she's still pissed about the thing with the book."

Faith

They had tracked down and killed the hellhounds and retreated into the girl's locker room to change. Faith looked down at herself and frowned. She felt ridiculous. She was wearing the same dress she had worn to homecoming and was waiting for Buffy to come out so they could head to the prom.

Faith wonders at how she didn't even try to argue with Buffy about coming to this dance together. Who am I kidding? I can't deny her anything, and I think she knows it. Faith smiles a little at the thought. Even though she was wrapped around Buffy's little finger, Buffy didn't take advantage. Faith even occasionally got her way when they disagreed.

"You look really nice." Buffy smiles as she comes out of the stall. Faith's breath catches once she sees her. She wanted to make a joke, say something flirty. She had it all planned out, but the vision of Buffy made her forget her plan.

"You too, B." She whispers, her voice is a lot huskier than she wants it to be. Buffy smiles, which fills Faith with happiness.

"Let's go." The slayers link arms as they head to the high school gym.

Faith braces herself as they enter, spotting Willow, Oz, Xander, and Anya. Faith pulls Buffy towards her friends, "what are you doing? I don't want to go over there." Buffy whines a little and tries to pull away.

"They're your friends. You should be with them." Faith insists.

"I just can't take any more of the fighting. I don't know why it has to be so hard." Buffy frowned but stopped trying to pull away.

"I'll play nice, I promise." She gives Buffy a playful tap on the arm.

"It's not you playing nice that I'm worried about."

"They just don't understand, I can see why. They know I know things that I'm not telling. You can see why that'd bother them." What I don't get is why it doesn't bother you.

Faith has been increasingly confused by how nice Buffy has been to her. She still has no idea why Buffy always defended her to her friends.

Willow and Oz break off before the slayers can reach the group. "Go talk with Willow. I'm going to hang with Xander for a bit." Buffy pouts a little but nods her agreement.

Faith takes a deep breath and heads towards Xander. "Hey, Xan, Anya."

"He's mine, and you can't have him. Just because you're a slayer, don't think I won't fight you." She had learned about Anya and the insane alternate reality about a month ago when vampire Willow had been called into their world by accident. She hadn't spent much time with the ex-demon and had no idea that she and Xander were now dating.

Faith looks Xander up and down, and bites her lip, "Maybe we could share, I'm pretty sure he can handle us both." She winks at Xander, and he smiles back.

"No! I do not want to share!" Anya takes a step towards Faith, waggling her finger threateningly in Faith's face.

Faith chuckles and backs away, "Ok ok, don't hurt me. He's too much for me to handle anyway. He's all yours."

"Damn right, he's all mine." Anya loops her arm through Xander's and drags him onto the dance floor. Xander gives her a lopsided grin as he's dragged away. She's not sure if they're going to be ok now or not, she should probably say more, but she didn't think she could separate him from Anya without having to fight her.

Faith turns to watch Buffy, she's laughing with Willow. Faith can feel how happy and light Buffy is feeling. Faith smiles and heads towards the punch bowl.

"Hey, I thought you were going to hang out with me?"

"Was just getting some punch. Do you want?"

"Sure. Did you talk to Xander?" Faith hands Buffy a cup and takes a sip of her drink.

"Kinda, that Anya chick is interesting."

"She still seems to be getting a handle, on the whole, being a human thing."

"I like her. She doesn't hold anything back."

"No, I guess she doesn't." Buffy looked out on to the dance floor and frowned.

"Hey? What's the matter?"

"Nothing." Buffy pouted. Even if Faith couldn't feel the sadness from Buffy, it was obvious from her body language.

"That was convincing... do you want to dance? I'm sure anyone you want will dance with you."

Buffy looked at Faith, her eyes looking up at her hopefully. Faith swallowed, knowing who Buffy wanted to dance with. We danced before, friends dance. It'll be ok. It will make her happy. "C' mon let's go join your friends. I'll dance with you. I'm sure that will get some guys to come over and ask you."

"Ok." Buffy smiled and accepted Faith's hand. Before they can make it to the dance floor, they began to announce the class awards. The slayers stand side by side, holding hands until the class protector award is given out. Buffy graciously accepts the award and returns to Faith.

"That's so awesome, B. It's about time someone notices all the ass-kicking you've done." Faith was really impressed that her classmates had given Buffy the award.

"This is yours too." Buffy tried to push the sparkly umbrella into Faith's hands, Faith refused the offering and shook her head.

"No way, it's all you. I'm just the supporting cast." Faith was amazed to find that it didn't bother her even a little to play second to Buffy's first. It had taken her quite a long time to understand the petty jealousy she felt for Buffy's position as first slayer was ridiculous.

Buffy smiled up at Faith. "Will you dance with me now?" Faith was trying to think of an excuse to say no, the music had slowed down significantly since she had first offered to dance. Now they would have to dance close and slow. It would be harder to pretend that it was just innocent friends dancing. "You owe me for homecoming, remember?"

Faith was afraid, but she still couldn't turn Buffy down. "Ok. Just keep your hands to yourself."

"I make no promises!" Buffy grinned, handing the award to Giles before walking with Faith to the edge of the dance floor.

Buffy

Buffy places her hands on Faith's shoulder and feels the tingles of their slayer connection shoot through her. Every time she touches Faith at all she feels it, they've been getting more and more intense every day. Faith still refuses to admit that she feels it too, it's the only thing she still lies to Buffy about. It annoys her that Faith lies about it, but she won't let herself be bothered by that right now. Right now she's getting her perfect high school moment, and she won't let Faith's stubbornness ruin it.

Faith's hands are on her waist, and they are gently swaying together, a healthy distance between them. Buffy knows everyone is staring at them, and she completely doesn't care. As the song went on, Faith began to caress Buffy's waist gently with her thumbs. Buffy did her best not to react, not wanting to draw attention to it. She knew Faith would stop if she did.

By the time the music stopped, there was barely any space between them. Buffy could hear Faith's heart pounding. Her own heart was beating just as hard. She didn't understand what it all meant. She knew something was happening between them though, and whatever it was, it was going to be great.

The slayers slowly backed away from each other, "Thank you, that was..." Buffy couldn't even say what it was. She was confused and scared and knew that Faith was too.

"Yeah." Faith breathed.

"Guess we better go. We're going to find that witch tomorrow, right?" Buffy was nervous about searching out the witch that Faith had told them about, and she couldn't figure out why.

It wasn't that she believed the girl would be dangerous, Faith had said she was a good witch, just that she was going to get into trouble. If Buffy had been ready to admit to what she was feeling, she could have recognized the jealousy in seeing Faith caring about another girl. But she wasn't ready for that at all.