CHAPTER TEN: CONNECTIONS

After dinner, the two Slayers made their way into Club Helix, both of them unconsciously scanning the crowds for any dangerous threats.  With both Slayers satisfied that the area was vampire free, they moved onto the dance floor, ignoring any and all offers from men asking them to dance.

As they began to dance, Faith was aware of how much energy the last few days had sapped from her. Normally she would have been pounding the floor by now and using hips, hands, everything, to cajole and persuade her partner to come closer. She knew though, that it wasn't just a lack of energy that created restraint in her – for the first time, Faith was a little nervous and a little afraid of how to handle the person that stood in front of her.

Buffy tried to appear calm and casual as they danced, not sure of how much she should trust her feelings towards Faith. She doubted whether her feelings were authentic or if she was just misreading what was simply a sister-Slayer connection. Buffy also knew she'd be leaving soon, as she'd achieved her objective of preventing Faith's death during the Cruciamentum. So there was no reason to stay…right?

She reached out and nervously put one gentle hand on Faith's right hip, guiding her body closer. She saw Faith's face react, and then her hasty attempt to cover her raw shock. However the dark-haired Slayer didn't back away, but allowed Buffy to pull her closer and leave her hand resting on her hip as they swayed with the mid-tempo beat.

Faith felt her heart speed up. Soon she was sure it would break ranks and burst from her chest because there was no way humanly possible that it could keep beating that fast without doing damage. When Buffy had pulled her to her in that one graceful motion she knew her face had announced her amazement. What Buffy hadn't seen was the small smile that followed it.

Soon Faith worked up the courage to slide one arm around Buffy's waist. She could feel her breath coming in staccato gasps as she did so, not sure how she should touch her, not sure if she could touch her without losing her composure. She could feel her shoulders trembling and was sure Buffy would be able to feel those little shivers passing through her body.

Buffy noticed the little rivers of shock passing through Faith's body. She almost giggled to think this was the same girl that who had mercilessly reeled in boys just three nights ago.

The two girls may as well have been alone on the floor. They simply swayed, arms around each other, body to body, for two hours. Neither girl noticed the time passing. Their warm foreheads dipped to meet and press against each other, and both girls closed their eyes, savouring the transient present.

Buffy eventually opened her eyes and reached one finger up to stroke a lock of Faith's dark wavy hair from her eyes. She let her hand rest on Faith's cheek, enjoying the smoothness of her skin. Never had she felt more in tune with another person than in this moment with Faith. They breathed the same breath, both absorbed in the reality of the other.

Nothing more needed saying. There was an understanding between them now, and Buffy was comfortable in the knowledge that it would extend far beyond that night.

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Very short, interlude thingy.  Enjoy!  Thanks heaps for the reviews!!

S&K