Faith
"It doesn't seem great that demons are using guns now," B says as Tara drives us back to the house.
It takes me a minute to figure out what she's talking about.
"It wasn't a demon." I wish I didn't admit that. I wasn't planning on keeping it a secret, but I'm not ready to deal with the fallout from what I did.
"Who shot you then?" The way Tara is looking at me is freaking me out.
"I'm not really sure."
"What happened to whoever shot you?" B asks, and now I'm panicking. Everything I planned to do is falling about, and I don't know how to save it.
"He's dead." I swallow hard and try not to spiral out. I was just defending myself, and I had every right to kill that piece of shit.
B frowns as she looks at me, and I close my eyes. I just know she's gonna be super pissed and start yelling at me. I'm about to lose everything just because I decided to stop a human from committing a crime.
I'm surprised when I feel her hand on my cheek. "Are you OK?"
"Yeah, I mean - I probably shouldn't have gotten involved. But he was hurting people, and I had to do something. I don't even really remember what happened. I just reacted."
"Do you think the police are going to come after you?" Tara asked, and my heart sank even further.
"I dunno. Maybe." Fuck. I didn't even think about the police. I killed a human - of course, they're gonna come after me.
"Hey - it was self-defense. Right?" B is holding my face again. "We'll make sure the council takes care of it."
I nod and try to shake off the guilt I'm feeling. It blows my mind that they're instantly supporting me. I know I did the right thing, but they weren't there. Still, they trust me without question.
I barely even remember everything that happened. I just remember the asshole pointing a gun at me as I rushed at him. Why the fuck did I think it was a good idea to chase after some kid robbing a museum?
When we get home, I let B help me inside. I'm not really hurting anymore, but I don't mind leaning on her. I know she needs my comfort just as much as I need hers.
We're all kinda standing awkwardly inside, and I can tell how much B wants to ask me more about what happened. She's been giving me all these side glances and opening and closing her mouth like she's not sure she wants to ask.
"Can you help me upstairs?" My question worked to distract her.
She scoops me up, bridal style, and I can't stop myself from laughing.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing, B. It's just good to be home." I'm sure she doesn't believe that, but she doesn't say anything.
"How does your stomach feel?" She sets me down on the bed and lifts up my shirt. "There isn't even a scar."
"It just aches a little. I'm sure it will be totally fine soon."
She raises an eyebrow like she doesn't believe me. She knows how I deal with pain and probably thinks it hurts worse than it does.
"Forget about that for now, B. Come here." I hold out my hand and pull her close so we're both lying down. Her face is resting on my chest, and I've wrapped my arms around her.
"What happened today?" I can tell she's still upset, and I really don't want her to be. "Where were you when you got shot?"
"I was on my way to pick you up when I saw a guy running away from the museum carrying something. I thought I'd just be able to knock the asshole out and be on my way. Believe me - I really wish I didn't chase after him."
I can feel her frowning. Her mouth opens and closes a few times, but she doesn't ask whatever she wants to ask. I'm pretty sure I know what she's trying to make sense of.
The museum is no where near a place I should have been today. I had this plan - I was going to take her back to that hotel Giles hooked us up with on her birthday. I booked the whole weekend - so we could still go. But I don't want to risk waiting another minute.
"We've been through so much together, B."
"We have." She agrees but sounds a little nervous.
I shift, so I can see her face. Her eyes are full of tears. "I love you, B. More than anything. Every morning when I wake up next to you, I think about how amazing you are and how happy I am that we met that day in LA."
She's smiling now but still seems kinda skittish.
"What's wrong?" I think maybe I should just plow through - I know she'll be happy when I get it all out. But I can't stand seeing her upset.
"Nothing is wrong. I feel the same way." She moves up to kiss me, and I let her until she starts sliding her hand under my shirt. I don't want a replay of the dance, so I don't stop her. But I do shift a little, so she has to pull back from the kiss.
"I had this whole plan." I start before she can kiss me again. I reach under the pillow where I stashed the little box earlier. "I was going to pick you up after class and take you back to that sweet hotel we stayed at for your birthday."
Now she's sitting all the way up. I don't think she can tell what's in my hand, though.
Suddenly, I'm kinda nervous. It never occurred to me that she might say no - but what if she does? What if she's pissed at me for almost getting killed today?
"Faith?" She nudges me, and I realize I froze up.
"Sorry - getting a little nervous."
"You can tell me anything, Faith. No matter what, I will always be here for you. I will always love you." She gives me a sweet but short kiss.
"It's not something I want to tell you... it's something I want to ask." I flip open the box and draw her attention to it. I really hope she likes this ring. It took forever to find the right one.
"Faith." She looks down at the ring and then back at me. "It's gorgeous."
I'm grinning like an idiot now, but I can't help it. She hasn't reached for it or said yes, maybe because I forgot to actually ask her.
"So... will you marry me, B?"
Her eyes widened like she somehow didn't understand what I was going to ask. When never really talked about marriage or anything. She always tears up in those cheesy movies she loves, so I assumed she'd be into it.
But what if she isn't, and I'm making a total ass of myself?
Buffy
Oh. My. God.
I can't believe she's asking me to marry her! This explains so much of her weird behavior lately and why Tara grabbed my hands when I came home yesterday.
"B?"
"Yes! Of course, I will." I practically throw myself at her and kiss her with everything that I have. It takes me a minute to realize she's squirming away, and I almost get offended, but then I realize what she's doing.
She slides the ring on, and I hold my hand out to admire it. It's so perfect. The longer I look at it - the more familiar it seems. I jump off the bed and run to my mom's old jewelry box.
My mother's ring is sitting right where I left it, and I hold them up to compare. They're not exactly the same. The style is similar, but mine is a little more 'me.' I don't even know how to explain it.
"You always said how much you liked her wedding ring." Faith is standing next to me with her arms around my waist and her chin resting on my shoulder. "It took me a while to find the same style with something extra to it."
"It's perfect, Faith. Truly."
She slides her fingers between mine and holds both our hands up. "I had it spelled. That's where I was today."
"Spelled?"
She nods and presses a kiss to my neck. "At first, I wanted to do something so it wouldn't get broken when you were slaying."
"At first?"
"When I asked Tara about it - she suggested I contact this coven of witches a couple of hours away. They added a few more features."
It's starting to make me a little nervous about how evasive she's being with her answers. Though, I can't imagine what could be bad about what she had them do.
"Check this out." She releases her hold around my waist and takes a few steps back. Before I can protest, I feel a warm pulsing coming from the ring and shooting right to my core.
"Woah - what was that?"
"Pretty cool, right? I linked it up with my thumb ring - but we can have it changed to something else later. I just have to rub it, and it will let you feel what I feel."
"I can do it back?" She nods, and I rub my thumb over the band and think about how much I love her.
Her eyes practically roll into the back of her head.
"Too much?" I ask with a grin moving to wrap my arms around her waist.
"You're never too much, B."
"How are you feeling?" I bite my lip as I ask.
"No pain at all." She smacks her stomach as proof - as if she'd react even if that did hurt. "For real, B. I'm all healed up."
"I better be extra gentle with you - just in case," I say, and she groans.
"C'mon, B. I'm fine." She whips her shirt off, and I gasp for more than the usual reason. "Something wrong?"
"Tara... she must have..."
Faith looks down at her torso in confusion. "Holy shit." Faith runs her fingers over her unmarred skin in amazement. Tracing all the areas that used to be riddled with scars of various shapes and sizes. "I can't believe... Did you ask her to do this?"
I can't tell what she wants the answer to be. We only sort of discussed her scars once, and I don't really know how she felt about them. With how she's reacting to them being gone, I think they were a more significant issue than either of us realized.
"I didn't. I only asked her to save you. Maybe it was just a side effect?"
"Maybe." Faith concedes and grins before pulling my shirt off and rolling on top of me.
"Hey!" I protest before she lays her body on top of mine.
"Don't worry, B. I don't plan on being careful with you at all."
Two months later
"I don't see an invite for Red here." Faith says as she's organizing the envelopes. We decided to go all out and have a full-on fantasy wedding.
I would never have guessed that a big wedding was something she would have wanted. I was completely ready to do something simple at home, but she said we would only do this once, and she wanted the "full experience" - whatever that means.
I thought she was doing it because she thought it was what I wanted. But she has gotten way into the planning and is taking it very seriously. I never imagined how complicated wedding planning could be. I also never imagined there could be so many shades of white.
Sometimes I get a little annoyed with all the choices, but I see how happy it's making her and that all goes away.
I wish we knew more people or that either of us had families to invite. We only collectively know about twenty people, and at least half of those are demons.
"I mentioned it to her, and she won't be able to make it." I try not to have too strong of a reaction to this. I don't want her to press too hard.
She raises an eyebrow. "Are you sure? We can pay for her flight or whatever."
I don't know how to answer without fully explaining. "It sounded like she just was too busy. It's really not that big of a deal to me - we barely talk anymore."
She gives me a weird look, and I'm not sure why. I can't remember the last time I even mentioned Willow to her.
"Really, it's fine. Everyone I care about being there will be there." I slide into her lap and wrap my arms lightly over her shoulders. "OK?"
"OK." She agrees, and I hope she means it. I haven't even spoken to Willow since Tara told me what happened, and the last thing I want to do is see her.
"Good. Now - are you done with all this planning?" I don't give her a chance to answer before kissing her neck.
Six months later - 3 weeks before the wedding
I'm walking out of my last final exam when my phone rings. I answer it without thinking.
"Buffy."
"Willow?" I am completely taken off guard. I had forgotten all about Willow and mostly hoped I would never hear from her again.
"Congratulations on your engagement." I know she doesn't mean it, but I try not to let on that I don't believe her.
"Thank you." I take a deep breath and try to sort my feelings out. I haven't even thought about Willow for months. The last thing I expected was to have to talk to her.
"I'm calling to let you know that I won't be able to make it to the wedding." I should have realized Faith would invite her even though I said it wasn't an issue.
"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that." I'm not sorry at all, and I try not to sound too relieved. I also try not to be annoyed that she waited until the last minute to RSVP. The wedding is only a few weeks away.
"Are you?" She huffs. "You didn't even tell me you were engaged. Was it even you that invited me?"
Her indignation is sparking rage in me. It takes all my self-control not to yell at her. She can't know that Tara told me what really happened.
"I'm so sorry. I know that's not fair." Her apology sounds sincere, but I really don't even care. I just want this call to be over. "Tara told you, didn't she."
"Tara didn't tell me anything. I've just been busy, and I didn't think you'd be able to come."
"It's OK if she told you. I should never have done what I did, and I hope to have a chance to apologize to you and Faith."
"Don't you dare talk to Faith about this."
"But... I know what I did was wrong... I want..." She sounds completely shocked - like she expected me to just forgive her instantly and welcome her back into my life.
"I don't care what you want. This isn't about you. You say you know what you did was wrong, but I'm not sure I believe you. What you did is beyond comprehension, and I will not lose Faith because you have no control over yourself."
"Why would..."
"Shut up." Faith is walking towards me, and I have to end this conversation before she gets close enough to hear or see how upset I am. "Do not call me again, and even if Faith contacts you - do not talk to her."
"But..."
"No! I'm serious. Do not talk to her. I will call you again when I'm ready." I should have said if. As of now, I have no intention of ever voluntarily speaking to her again.
"OK." Willow's voice is small and blubbery.
I disconnect the call and try to compose myself. I know it's a mistake to keep this from Faith. She's going to find out someday, and it will be so much worse that I hid it from her.
"Everything all right?" Faith asks. I should have known she'd immediately be able to tell something was bothering me.
"That final just kicked my ass." I wrap my arms around her, and she kisses me.
I hate that we have this Willow thing hanging over us. I'm going to try explaining it to Tara. I won't pressure her, but I do think Faith needs to know.
She would hate that her friend was hurting, and she didn't even know about it. It has to be weighing on Tara to keep this secret from Faith, too.
The wedding
I can't believe the day is finally here!
For so many reasons, I never expected to be wearing a wedding dress and getting ready to walk down the aisle.
I have no doubts that Faith is the woman I want to marry and spend the rest of my life with.
Things did get a little scary when Tara finally told everything that Willow did. Faith was hurt that we didn't tell her, but she understood how ashamed Tara was, and they worked through it.
I still can't imagine why Willow did what she did. After we get back from the honeymoon, Faith wants to help Tara confront her. I'm not too excited about that, but I understand it might help Tara heal. We both want to see Tara happy and find love again.
The wedding march music is my cue that it's time to go. I give myself one last look in the mirror and enter the hallway. I see Faith standing on the other side of the entry, and she looks so insanely amazing that I freeze.
"B?" She looks a little freaked out, which is the last thing I want her to feel right now.
"You look incredible."
Her grin melts my heart. "Well yeah, of course, I do." She spins around so I can see the full outfit. It makes me want to ditch the ceremony and pull her into one of these rooms. She reaches for my hand and kisses it. "But I only look about half as incredible as you."
"I love you, Faith."
"I love you, too." She tugs me toward the entry. "Now, c'mon. Let's get this going."
"Oh my god!" I gasp as I turn the corner and see the crowd of people standing. For a moment, I worry that I'm in the wrong place. But Faith is standing right next to me with her arm looped through mine, and she's encouraging me to keep walking.
I look out at the crowd and realize that I recognize some of these faces, and it sinks in what Faith has done.
It's almost like the entire town of Sunnydale is here. Countless people whose lives we saved and the people who love them. They're all here to watch us get married, and I can't even believe it.
"How did you...?" I whisper, but she shushes me with a kiss. I love that we decided to walk down the aisle together, and it's even more perfect now that everyone we've saved is here to support us.
"I barely did anything. Once people found out about our engagement - everyone wanted to come and show you how important you are."
"How important we are." I correct her, and she shrugs as if she hasn't been part of as much, if not more, life-saving than I have.
"You ready?" I nod, and we walk down the aisle side by side. I can't even explain how it feels to see the smiling faces of so many lives we've saved.
There's one face missing, but I imagine my mother is watching us from wherever she is, and she's happy for us.
The honeymoon
Faith is standing in the doorway in what can barely be called a bathing suit. Faith's clothes have always been sexy, but since Tara removed all her scars - it's gotten to a whole new level. If she could, she'd be naked all the time.
"Are you coming, or what?"
I might be drooling as I look her over. Everything about her is just so insanely alluring.
"Hey! I'm a married woman now - you shouldn't be leering at me like that." She says, but then turns a little and arches her back.
"Maybe we should stay in," I suggest and cross the room, but don't touch her. I want to draw things out a little bit longer. We've only just arrived in the room, and I know that once we get started - I won't want to stop until it's time to leave.
She purses her lips and juts out a hip. "I don't know, B. Whatever will we do in the room?"
Instead of answering her, I rub my ring and pulse her with lust. Faith is always horny, so it barely seems to phase her. The only indication that she felt anything was her pupils dilating.
I dodge around her and exit our little bungalow. "You're right - nothing to do in the room. Let's go swimming!" I run towards the water because I know she will chase me.
She catches up just as I'm a few feet in, scoops me up, and carries me further into the ocean.
She tries to toss me into the water, but I hold on, and we both end up tumbling in together.
I pretend like I'm trying to swim away, but she grabs me and pulls my body against hers.
I never ever could have imagined being this happy.
I remember as I lay in the puddle the Master drowned me in all those years ago. I felt my life slipping away, and my life flashed before my eyes. Up to that point, it had been a frivolous and almost pointless life.
I realized I was always waiting for the next thing to happen. I wasn't living or enjoying the moment I was in. Once I met Faith, I realized I didn't have to live that way anymore.
Now here I am, in the arms of someone who knows me better than I know myself. Someone who sees right through me and loves what she sees.
I don't know how much time we'll have together, but I do know we'll spend every minute of it loving each other.