Chapter 12: Popping like Warm Champagne

A/N: Wow, a lot of people reviewed! Thank you so much, keep it up! Sorry it took me a few days to get the next chapter up, but I saw the finale last night so I was kinda too upset to write...

Now to respond to the reviews...

wolf116- It may be a while before we have serious Spuffy lovin'! Planning on lots of Buffy and Spike interacting though, just not with the lovin'... yet!

Mistified- I decided Angel doesn't know about Spike and Buffy. Haven't seen any allusions to his knowing this on the show, so I'm sticking with that. Besides, it's funnier that way.

Tobert- Sorry if my chapters are a little short. They're pretty much just however long they turn out to be (if that makes sense). Besides, shorter chapters means faster updates, which is of the good... right?

LoganAlpha30- I never really thought about putting Wesley in here. I don't know his character that well. I didn't even know there was a Faith/Wesley -ship! I haven't been watching Angel that long, musta missed it.

Shawthang- I know the last coupla chapters have been mostly talk, this one is, too. Should be some action coming up, but it's a little hard for me to say. I have the overall plot worked out, but don't have any specifics for this section. But since a lot of this fic centers around the character's interactions and feelings for one another, there might be more talk than you'd like. Hehe, but since you said pretty please' I'll see what I can do ;o)

Thank you so so so much, those of you who reviewed! And to those of you who didn't, well... tsk tsk!

********************** Summary: ***************************

Chapter 1: Sunrise: Buffy rescues Spike. It's sunrise, so he'll have to remain there for the day. As she leaves the cave and heads home, Buffy ponders life without Spike.

Chapter 2: Home Sweet Home: Buffy returns to her home only to be attacked by the Potentials. Somehow, the First, in Buffy's form, has convinced them that the real Buffy is the First in corporeal form. Buffy is, naturally, upset that the Potentials and her friends could believe that. The First leaves after a bit of taunting.

Chapter 3: Wheatabix, Blood and a Blanket: Buffy searches for these things (plus a first aid-kit) so she can go help Spike. She talks with Xander, who tells her that Willow was called to LA. As she leaves, she tells him that Spike is a good man, and that he should try and realize this.

Chapter 4: Nightmares and Memories: Buffy returns to the cave, bag o' supplies in hand, to find Spike having a nightmare, and nearly hurting himself in his thrashing about. She wakes him. Despite his protests, she bandages him and gives him blood.
Inadvertently, her thoughts lead her to Willow's Let my will be done spell' (Something Blue). She (finally!) realizes that Willow's spell was only that she and Spike should marry, not that they should be in love. Unfortunately, she says some of this out loud and Spike hears her.

Chapter 5: Rain Check : Buffy tells Spike she doesn't know what her feelings are for him exactly, and asks for a rain check on the heavy, serious stuff till after they defeat the First. He agrees. Buffy fills him in on what's been going on while he's been gone. They then fall asleep, side by side (Awww! ;o)

Chapter 6: A Long Talk in a Damp Cave: Basically, a big long talk between Buffy and Spike about forgiveness. She says that she needs his forgiveness for what she did to him last year, which of course surprises him. Buffy admits that he did some good things even when soulless, like taking care of Dawn. By now it's sundown, so they set out for home.

Chapter 7: Coming Home: Buffy and Spike head home. Halfway there, Spike asks Buffy if she really thinks he can be a better man. She replies that he already is a better man. They arrive home, unexpectedly finding Riley sitting in Buffy's living room.

Chapter 8: Leading to a Talk: Spike accuses Buffy of not telling him about Riley, then realizes she really didn't know. Xander offers to help Spike (gasp!). Dawn, Anya, and Andrew leave Riley and Buffy to talk.

Chapter 9: Catching up with the Ex: Riley informs Buffy that Spike's chip may not be working, so he needs to be staked. She refuses, informing Riley that Spike has a soul. Riley goes to stake Spike. Spike figures out that Sam was turned and Riley had to kill her. Then the three hear Xander scream.

Chapter 10: Old Friends: Angel appears, with Xander explaining that last he heard, he was Angelus. Faith and a mystery boy (Connor) show up. Lots of confusion as to whether or not people are to be trusted. An insane Riley fights Spike till Buffy rescues him. Spike looks at Angel, says he has a soul. Angel realizes Spike has a soul. Angel vouches for Faith's trustworthiness. Buffy calls a Scooby meeting.

Chapter 11: Scooby Snacks: Willow returns. At the Scooby meeting, General Buffy concludes that, thanks to the extra muscle, they can branch out, send some people over to Xander's. Angel says he's not staying. Buffy decides that Xander will take Riley, Faith, Anya, and Andrew, plus some SIT's. Angel takes Spike upstairs, while Buffy and Faith go outside to talk.

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Buffy leaned against a support on the porch while Faith sprawled on the stairs.

Seeing that Faith didn't seem inclined to speak up first, Buffy said, So, what did you want to talk to me about?

Faith took a deep breath. Look, B- err, Buffy- I know words can't make up for all that I did. But ya gotta know I've really changed. And I am incredibly sorry for what I did. I know there's nothing I can say that will replace the lives I've taken, and I know I don't deserve to be forgiven... But I'm here to help, as much as I can.

To Faith's surprise, Buffy gave a little laugh. At Faith's questioning glance, Buffy said, It's just that Spike said a similar thing about not deserving to be forgiven. And I may as well tell you the same thing I told him. People aren't forgiven because they deserve to be, but because they need to be. Giles once told me that, after I had to kill Angel.

Faith thought about that for a moment. Still... doesn't change the fact that I killed someone. I'm a murderer... I just wanted to say that I know that I can't be one of the gang, and that's cool, I just wanted to let you know I'll do whatever I can.

Buffy chuckled wryly. As far as being a murderer goes, you're hardly alone. Let's see... obviously, Spike and Angel. And Willow-

Faith cut her off. Wait, the computer-geek-turned-lesbian-Wicca is a murderer?

Oh yeah, you didn't hear about the whole Warren thing and trying to end the world?

Nope, jail gossip tended towards slightly different topics.

Right, well, I'll tell you about it some other time if you want. Xander actually ended up averting that apocalypse with a yellow crayon.

Faith gave Buffy a really weird look.

Buffy continued. Anyway, so there's those three. And Anya. And Giles even confessed to having killed a human, though the human he killed lived in the same body as a god who wanted to destroy the world, so, extenuating circumstances there. Hmm... well, Xander cast that dumb singing and dancing spell, which caused some deaths, though he didn't intend that. Oh, and Andrew's a murderer, though he's not really one of the gang.

Faith was staring at her, speechless. She was rarely shocked, but this was an exception.

Faith said slowly. Guess I'm really not alone... Thanks B.

Anytime, F, Buffy said teasingly.

They both remained silent for a moment, reflecting.

Hey B, let's ditch this serious shit and go kick some demon ass.

Buffy paused, thinking. We probably should take some Potentials for training... nah, screw that! It's Slayer girls' night out.

Out loud, she responded, Sounds good. Lemme just go tell someone what's up, so they don't freak when we turn up missing.

***

Almost as soon as the two had stepped into the cemetery, they saw seven vamps headed towards them.

Faith rubbed her hands in anticipation as she waited for the vamps. Man, I can't wait for a good fight.

Good to have you back, Faith.

By now, the vampires were upon them. Despite how long it'd been, Faith and Buffy still fought well together. Faith took on four, Buffy the other three.

Faith was a whirlwind of action. She fought with an evil grin of glee on her face, punches and kicks flying.

Finally, both Buffy and Faith were faced with one vamp. As Faith toyed with hers, loath to let her first real fight in a long time end, she said, So B, what's with you and the bleached blonde?

What -ow- do you mean?

Oh, I don't know, Faith panted, dodging a blow. Thought I saw some sparkage. Maybe I'm -urgh!- seeing things.

Buffy chose not to answer Faith's question, dusting her vamp and sitting back to watch Faith. What about you and Angel?

Faith threw her opponent against a tree, where he was impaled through the heart by a branch, and turned to dust. she exclaimed at the effect. Oh, right, me and Angel... hey, you first!

Buffy sat on a gravestone, sighing. It's a long story. But right now, we're just friends. Your turn.

Same. Just friends. But I dunno, I think there's a possibility for more... Though the whole no-sex' thing would be a problem... ya know, maybe I just feel attached to him cause he's, like, the only person who never gave up on me. Faith, too, moved to sit on a gravestone, facing her fellow Slayer.

Buffy looked down at this, ashamed. Faith correctly interrupted this gesture, and said, You tried you're damnedest to help me, B, I'm not blamin' ya.

Yeah, that whole sticking a knife in your gut was really for your own good, Buffy quipped.

I didn't really give ya much of a choice... Anyway, back to the boys... this may sound kinda dumb, but do ya think there's something about vampires that slayers are attracted to? Or maybe you and I just have serious mental issues. Faith tried to lighten the tone of things with that last comment. She wasn't good at handling the serious shit,' as she'd put it. But she really wanted to talk about this stuff, and Buffy was the only one who might understand.

Well, I'd have to say a definite yes to the mental issues... But as to the first thing, I don't know... I tried the whole normal boy' thing with Riley, and we all know how that turned out.

Well, no, I don't know exactly... by the way, that's one of those things I wanted to apologize for.

Stealing my body?

Yeah, that. And sleepin' with your boyfriend.

Buffy shrugged. I'm long past that, Faith. I know that was the you of the past. No more body-switching type stuff now.

A sudden thought occurred to Faith, and she giggled. I talked to Spike that night.



Yeah. This might make you kinda mad, but his facial expressions were pretty damn funny.

Ok, I'll bite... uh, not literally. So what did you say?

Amongst some other stuff, I said, I could ride you at a gallop until your legs buckled and your eyes rolled up. I've got muscles you've never even dreamed of. I could squeeze you until you pop like warm champagne and you'd beg me to hurt you just a little bit more.' Something along those lines.

Buffy burst out laughing. I'd pay to see his face after that!

You're... not mad?

Well, a little, but it's damn funny.

Faith looked at her, surprised.

Buffy shrugged. Well, I guess it's especially funny cause... umm... She flushed bright red. That kinda... happened...

B! You slept with Spike! No way! Faith squealed. I always knew Buffy had her dark side. So, this was post-souling, I assume.

Buffy shook her head. No, this was back when he was soulless. Chipped, but soulless... see, I died.

Faith just nodded. When you hear a statement like that and don't flinch, you know you're in Sunnydale, she reflected.

Buffy thought to herself, Why am I telling her this? I don't want her to know... Another voice in her mind spoke up. Because maybe she's the only person who can possibly understand how you're feeling.

Buffy took a deep breath, and continued. So, Willow brought me back, cause I died by mystical causes, and she thought I might've been trapped in some sort of hell dimension. Only, I wasn't. I was ... she swallowed. Even now, it was hard to think about.

I was in heaven, Buffy finished quietly. And then I was ripped out of there, and everything was so hard here. When they first brought me back, I thought I was in hell. So, anyway, I turned to Spike for comfort... it... well, he made me feel alive. He was the only one who could, then.

Faith bit her lip, thinking. She had to admit, she was honored Buffy had told her all this, but wasn't certain how to respond.

Well, we're far from normal, so that would kinda explain why the normal boy, and normal relationship' thing didn't work. Faith paused, figuring out what she wanted to say. We're different, B. Maybe we just need guys who are different, too. And vampires sure as hell classify as different. And I can see why you woulda turned to Spike for comfort. He's pretty damn hot, Faith smirked

Buffy giggled, feeling like a normal girl, gossiping about a hot guy. Yeah, I guess he is.

The serious mood quickly fell upon them once again. The two Slayers sat silently for a few minutes, alone with their reflections.


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A/N: Hoped you guys liked this chapter! I know there's lots of talk, with little action, but like I said earlier, I decided there's a lotta stuff between the characters that needs to be dealt with.

Review!