"What are you thinking?" He asked, his breath tickling the fine hairs by
her ear.
"My crazy half, or my sane half?" she asked, teasing.
"Both."
"I'm wondering how long it'll take before the students realize their teacher's getting a little extra-curricular hanky panky. And I'm also wondering if there's more between Faith and Wood and their one night stand back in Sunnydale that meets the eye."
"Multi tasking. Tsk, tsk."
"I'm not! Well, not exactly. They both are related in that they're both have to do with sex."
"And I thought only Xander's thoughts revolved around sex."
"Well, so did I, until you showed up. Now all I can think about is your muscular chest, your tight abs, your-" She ran her fingers lightly over each part she named. He stopped her before she got too far. Instead, he kissed her fingers. "I was a good girl until you showed up." She pouted.
"What can I do to change that?"
"Nothing. You are not going anywhere, and that's final."
"Fine." He kissed her.
~ * ~
"Robin!"
"Faith. Hey, sorry I wasn't here to greet you when you first arrived. I had to visit my mom's watcher."
"I understand. If only I could see my first watcher again.."
"Hey, what happened to the bad girl I knew?"
"She went back to jail. The break out helped my reputation, after I got out of solitary confinement. It wasn't so bad, I got to sleep. But yeah, the bad girl you knew grew up. Into a bad woman."
"Faith, tell me if I'm way off base, but I'd like to continue surprising you. I don't want to end up being the quickie between incarcerations, that you brag about at night."
"You should know I'm not the type to brag. Too much." She teased him. "You might just get your wish. But if you ever pull another stunt like that again-" He laughed at her outraged look. She cracked a smile, which made him laugh more. "You're ok, I guess."
"You just don't like me because I understand you, Faith."
"Uh-huh. Doubtful. There's no way that after one night, no matter how..that you'd understand me. People have made that mistake in the past. Trust me, it didn't bode well for them. Now, go away, I have things I have to do!"
"1 p.m. Meet me in my room. I promise I'll surprise you." He gave her a secretive smile, then walked away.
She shook her head. "Horny black guys. Momma warned me." She sighed, getting back to her raking.
But when she was let into his room, she was delighted to find that he had planned a picnic lunch.
The shades were pulled, and a blanket was set on the floor, all the furniture was against the walls. An old wicker basket was on the blanket, and candles were arranged on the floor, and on the fire place mantel.
She looked around, her awe showing on her face. Nobody had ever done anything like this for her.
He stepped beside her, closing the door. "Surprise." He smiled, and kissed her cheek. He then went to sit on the blanket, and started unpacking things. She stood there, with one hand on her cheek. "What are you waiting for?"
"I-I Don't know what's expected of me." She said softly. She had no idea what had made her tell the truth.
"Well, you're expected to sit down, and eat." He said, totally serious, but there was a glint in his eyes.
"Is that all? I can do that." She plopped down beside him.
"I had a feeling you could." He smiled at her. "Grape?"
"What?" she leaned back, and saw another scene. Sunny. Trees, Mayor Wilkins.
She shook her head, her hair flying about and looked at Robin, a haunted look in her eyes.
"Faith? What's wrong?"
"Just a case of de ja vu." She blew it off. "so, what have ya got?" she opened the basket.
"Faith." She looked at him. "do you want to talk about it? You checked out for a minute there."
She opened her mouth to blow him off once more, but then stopped herself. She licked her lips, and looked at him, and he saw the fear in his eyes. But he also saw the yearning for someone to listen.
"I won't make fun of you, Faith, and I won't tell anyone else. Scout's honor." She nodded, and for the next hour and a half, she told him everything; her absentee father, her abusive mother; the drugs, the fights ant school; standing up for herself and killing her mother; the foster homes; her watcher; Kakistos; the running; ending up in Sunnydale. The deputy Mayor, Angel's help, his betrayal; the Mayor, Graduation.
She opened up to him as she had never done before; she actually cried when the memories were sad, she shook with fear and anger.
Somewhere during her narrative, she had pretty much climbed into his lap. He held her, stroking her hair gently, listening. She stayed there in his lap after falling silent for a few moments. Then her senses, honed by living on the streets and from prison, screamed at her to run.
"I've got to go!" she rushed, jumping from him lap.
"Wait! Faith!" He called, but she was gone.
She ran down the stairs and out through the kitchen, off the deck, across the back yard, and into the woods behind the house. Once she thought she was far enough away, she sat under a tree.
She then curled herself up into a ball, her head resting on her knees, knees up to her chest.
~ * ~
"Buffy?" He knocked on her door.
"Com in!" she called.
"I need you're help."
"What's wrong?" she pulled her chair away form her desk.
"Faith. Just listen. She put a big trust in me and opened up. About everything, early childhood, up until now. And then she just bolted. She's out in the woods, somewhere. And I know you tow aren't friends, but you have something in common."
"So you want me to talk to her?"
"Yes."
She sighed. "You know you're asking a whole lot from me, right?" he nodded. "She's in the woods?"
"Yes."
She picked up her cell phone, looked at it, then put it back down. "If I'm not back in a half hour.." She looked for something to say, "wait longer, I guess. If I'm not back in an hour, begin to worry. If I'm not back in two hours, send Angel after us. He knows how to find me."
"Ok." He didn't have to ask questions.
"Ok, let's do this." She locked her door, then left.
She found Faith huddled under a tree. She didn't want to sneak up on her and startle her, so she didn't do anything to hide her approach. She stepped on a twig, which snapped, and Faith jumped. But, upon seeing Buffy, she put her head back on her knees.
"What do you want?" her words were muffled.
"I heard you might need some one to talk to."
"I already did to much of that, B."
"Look, F, I know we've never been good friends, and I know I'm partially to blame, and so are you, but we do have things in common, and I might understand, if you tell me."
"No, we didn't get along, did we?"
"I tried to, Faith, I did. But whenever I tried to reach out to you, there was a wall. A wall even my slayerness couldn't break. And maybe that was the feeling you got too. I'll be the first to admit, I was having a rough time, and there were certain topics I didn't want to talk about."
"I told him everything, Buffy. From my mom, to Wilkins."
"So, what's the big deal?"
"How long have you known me, Buffy? 7 years now? How much do you know about my family?"
"Nothing."
"I've known Robin for, well, three years, but two weeks, and one awesome night. And he knows everything, from my absentee dad, to my abusive mom."
"Once again, why is that a bad thing? Angel knows everything about me. He knows every scare, every thought. Well, most of my thoughts."
"I opened up to him!" She looked at Buffy, eyes wide, the fear showing plainly. "And.." Her voice dropped to bearly above a whisper. "I think I'm starting to care, Buffy." Her voice was childlike. Buffy had never seen her like this. "As I told him everything..he held me in his arms, and stroked my hair. In my life, I've done some very intimate things, but I always kept myself detached. Not caring. But, just talking to him, it was the most intimate thing I have ever done. And that scares me.
"My whole life, I've been taught to use them and loose them. And now...I don't want to loose him, I don't think I can. I think I.. I think I love him, Buffy. I've..I can't. I can't do this. I'm so confused." She placed her head on her knees once more.
"Buffy was at a loss for words. She knew more about Faith in this half hour, than she had learned in all those months in Sunnydale. She awkwardly placed a hand on Faith's back. She flinched, but allowed to contact.
"Faith, I know it's hard, with everything you've been throughout o learn to trust people. I've had my own issues-"
"How would you know?!" she retorted.
"I haven't exactly had the best love life. Angel was a vampire. One moment of happiness, and buh-bye soul. Riley was a commando, who was insecure and ended up getting his ya ya's by letting vampires bite him. And Spike..he didn't even have a soul when we were together, but I didn't care. I was afraid to love him, afraid to let myself be loved. I didn't think I deserved to be happy."
"I guess it's a slayer thing." Faith sighed in defeat.
"Yeah, but we still deserve happiness! I think I've found mine, and you can still find yours. You can turn you life around, still Faith. You're young. Robin is a nice guy. He knows what you are, and most of all, he likes you. You were the first one he sought out when he came back. He was worried sick when you ran out. He still is."
Faith thought that over in silence. Buffy let her think, lost in her own thoughts. They sat there in silence for who knows long.
Then they heard a branch snap, and they jerked out of their reveries.
"Hi." Angel walked out of the trees.
"What happened to Mr. Stealthy?" Buffy teased. "Wait, it's been two hours already?"
"No.." he said sheepishly. "I was worried you guys didn't have enough to talk about, and would start beating the shit out of each other."
"Why would we ever do that?" Faith asked, feigning shock. "Oh, thanks, B. Now, I have a guy to go talk to."
"No prob."
"You know, you're sorta like that annoying older sister I never had. And now that-" Angel, behind Buffy, shook his head franticly, he knew where that thought led, and he hadn't told Buffy about his help in Faith's release yet. "we've talked, it seems much more so." She finished lamely. "thanks."
"Once again, no prob." Faith passed them by and started towards the house.
"What was that about?" Angel asked.
Buffy smiled at him. "we have an understanding."
"Oo. that came back to bite me."
"Yes, it did."
~ * ~
She knocked on his door.
"Come in."
"Hi." Faith stuck her head in the door. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for running off. The first thing I ever learned was emotion was weakness. And hurt them before they hurt you." She stepped inside and closed the door. "And another one was don't get attached. But I'm afraid it's too late for that. And that's why I ran. Those months in solitary confinement, you were what got me by. And now I'm afraid I've pushed you away. " she fought hard not to cry. She'd love him, but there was no way she was crying.
"No, you haven't, Faith. If anything, you've reeled me in, made me lo-" he saw the fear in her eyes. Fear of commitment. "like you more." He covered. He motioned her over, and kissed her tenderly. Once the kiss was over, she pulled back.
"I-I have to be getting back." She whispered.
"I'll drive you." He whispered back.
"Thanks."
~ * ~
He kissed her before she got out of his car.
"I've missed you." He whispered.
"Don't stop." She smiled, touching his cheek, before getting out and walking towards the building that was her new home.
"My crazy half, or my sane half?" she asked, teasing.
"Both."
"I'm wondering how long it'll take before the students realize their teacher's getting a little extra-curricular hanky panky. And I'm also wondering if there's more between Faith and Wood and their one night stand back in Sunnydale that meets the eye."
"Multi tasking. Tsk, tsk."
"I'm not! Well, not exactly. They both are related in that they're both have to do with sex."
"And I thought only Xander's thoughts revolved around sex."
"Well, so did I, until you showed up. Now all I can think about is your muscular chest, your tight abs, your-" She ran her fingers lightly over each part she named. He stopped her before she got too far. Instead, he kissed her fingers. "I was a good girl until you showed up." She pouted.
"What can I do to change that?"
"Nothing. You are not going anywhere, and that's final."
"Fine." He kissed her.
~ * ~
"Robin!"
"Faith. Hey, sorry I wasn't here to greet you when you first arrived. I had to visit my mom's watcher."
"I understand. If only I could see my first watcher again.."
"Hey, what happened to the bad girl I knew?"
"She went back to jail. The break out helped my reputation, after I got out of solitary confinement. It wasn't so bad, I got to sleep. But yeah, the bad girl you knew grew up. Into a bad woman."
"Faith, tell me if I'm way off base, but I'd like to continue surprising you. I don't want to end up being the quickie between incarcerations, that you brag about at night."
"You should know I'm not the type to brag. Too much." She teased him. "You might just get your wish. But if you ever pull another stunt like that again-" He laughed at her outraged look. She cracked a smile, which made him laugh more. "You're ok, I guess."
"You just don't like me because I understand you, Faith."
"Uh-huh. Doubtful. There's no way that after one night, no matter how..that you'd understand me. People have made that mistake in the past. Trust me, it didn't bode well for them. Now, go away, I have things I have to do!"
"1 p.m. Meet me in my room. I promise I'll surprise you." He gave her a secretive smile, then walked away.
She shook her head. "Horny black guys. Momma warned me." She sighed, getting back to her raking.
But when she was let into his room, she was delighted to find that he had planned a picnic lunch.
The shades were pulled, and a blanket was set on the floor, all the furniture was against the walls. An old wicker basket was on the blanket, and candles were arranged on the floor, and on the fire place mantel.
She looked around, her awe showing on her face. Nobody had ever done anything like this for her.
He stepped beside her, closing the door. "Surprise." He smiled, and kissed her cheek. He then went to sit on the blanket, and started unpacking things. She stood there, with one hand on her cheek. "What are you waiting for?"
"I-I Don't know what's expected of me." She said softly. She had no idea what had made her tell the truth.
"Well, you're expected to sit down, and eat." He said, totally serious, but there was a glint in his eyes.
"Is that all? I can do that." She plopped down beside him.
"I had a feeling you could." He smiled at her. "Grape?"
"What?" she leaned back, and saw another scene. Sunny. Trees, Mayor Wilkins.
She shook her head, her hair flying about and looked at Robin, a haunted look in her eyes.
"Faith? What's wrong?"
"Just a case of de ja vu." She blew it off. "so, what have ya got?" she opened the basket.
"Faith." She looked at him. "do you want to talk about it? You checked out for a minute there."
She opened her mouth to blow him off once more, but then stopped herself. She licked her lips, and looked at him, and he saw the fear in his eyes. But he also saw the yearning for someone to listen.
"I won't make fun of you, Faith, and I won't tell anyone else. Scout's honor." She nodded, and for the next hour and a half, she told him everything; her absentee father, her abusive mother; the drugs, the fights ant school; standing up for herself and killing her mother; the foster homes; her watcher; Kakistos; the running; ending up in Sunnydale. The deputy Mayor, Angel's help, his betrayal; the Mayor, Graduation.
She opened up to him as she had never done before; she actually cried when the memories were sad, she shook with fear and anger.
Somewhere during her narrative, she had pretty much climbed into his lap. He held her, stroking her hair gently, listening. She stayed there in his lap after falling silent for a few moments. Then her senses, honed by living on the streets and from prison, screamed at her to run.
"I've got to go!" she rushed, jumping from him lap.
"Wait! Faith!" He called, but she was gone.
She ran down the stairs and out through the kitchen, off the deck, across the back yard, and into the woods behind the house. Once she thought she was far enough away, she sat under a tree.
She then curled herself up into a ball, her head resting on her knees, knees up to her chest.
~ * ~
"Buffy?" He knocked on her door.
"Com in!" she called.
"I need you're help."
"What's wrong?" she pulled her chair away form her desk.
"Faith. Just listen. She put a big trust in me and opened up. About everything, early childhood, up until now. And then she just bolted. She's out in the woods, somewhere. And I know you tow aren't friends, but you have something in common."
"So you want me to talk to her?"
"Yes."
She sighed. "You know you're asking a whole lot from me, right?" he nodded. "She's in the woods?"
"Yes."
She picked up her cell phone, looked at it, then put it back down. "If I'm not back in a half hour.." She looked for something to say, "wait longer, I guess. If I'm not back in an hour, begin to worry. If I'm not back in two hours, send Angel after us. He knows how to find me."
"Ok." He didn't have to ask questions.
"Ok, let's do this." She locked her door, then left.
She found Faith huddled under a tree. She didn't want to sneak up on her and startle her, so she didn't do anything to hide her approach. She stepped on a twig, which snapped, and Faith jumped. But, upon seeing Buffy, she put her head back on her knees.
"What do you want?" her words were muffled.
"I heard you might need some one to talk to."
"I already did to much of that, B."
"Look, F, I know we've never been good friends, and I know I'm partially to blame, and so are you, but we do have things in common, and I might understand, if you tell me."
"No, we didn't get along, did we?"
"I tried to, Faith, I did. But whenever I tried to reach out to you, there was a wall. A wall even my slayerness couldn't break. And maybe that was the feeling you got too. I'll be the first to admit, I was having a rough time, and there were certain topics I didn't want to talk about."
"I told him everything, Buffy. From my mom, to Wilkins."
"So, what's the big deal?"
"How long have you known me, Buffy? 7 years now? How much do you know about my family?"
"Nothing."
"I've known Robin for, well, three years, but two weeks, and one awesome night. And he knows everything, from my absentee dad, to my abusive mom."
"Once again, why is that a bad thing? Angel knows everything about me. He knows every scare, every thought. Well, most of my thoughts."
"I opened up to him!" She looked at Buffy, eyes wide, the fear showing plainly. "And.." Her voice dropped to bearly above a whisper. "I think I'm starting to care, Buffy." Her voice was childlike. Buffy had never seen her like this. "As I told him everything..he held me in his arms, and stroked my hair. In my life, I've done some very intimate things, but I always kept myself detached. Not caring. But, just talking to him, it was the most intimate thing I have ever done. And that scares me.
"My whole life, I've been taught to use them and loose them. And now...I don't want to loose him, I don't think I can. I think I.. I think I love him, Buffy. I've..I can't. I can't do this. I'm so confused." She placed her head on her knees once more.
"Buffy was at a loss for words. She knew more about Faith in this half hour, than she had learned in all those months in Sunnydale. She awkwardly placed a hand on Faith's back. She flinched, but allowed to contact.
"Faith, I know it's hard, with everything you've been throughout o learn to trust people. I've had my own issues-"
"How would you know?!" she retorted.
"I haven't exactly had the best love life. Angel was a vampire. One moment of happiness, and buh-bye soul. Riley was a commando, who was insecure and ended up getting his ya ya's by letting vampires bite him. And Spike..he didn't even have a soul when we were together, but I didn't care. I was afraid to love him, afraid to let myself be loved. I didn't think I deserved to be happy."
"I guess it's a slayer thing." Faith sighed in defeat.
"Yeah, but we still deserve happiness! I think I've found mine, and you can still find yours. You can turn you life around, still Faith. You're young. Robin is a nice guy. He knows what you are, and most of all, he likes you. You were the first one he sought out when he came back. He was worried sick when you ran out. He still is."
Faith thought that over in silence. Buffy let her think, lost in her own thoughts. They sat there in silence for who knows long.
Then they heard a branch snap, and they jerked out of their reveries.
"Hi." Angel walked out of the trees.
"What happened to Mr. Stealthy?" Buffy teased. "Wait, it's been two hours already?"
"No.." he said sheepishly. "I was worried you guys didn't have enough to talk about, and would start beating the shit out of each other."
"Why would we ever do that?" Faith asked, feigning shock. "Oh, thanks, B. Now, I have a guy to go talk to."
"No prob."
"You know, you're sorta like that annoying older sister I never had. And now that-" Angel, behind Buffy, shook his head franticly, he knew where that thought led, and he hadn't told Buffy about his help in Faith's release yet. "we've talked, it seems much more so." She finished lamely. "thanks."
"Once again, no prob." Faith passed them by and started towards the house.
"What was that about?" Angel asked.
Buffy smiled at him. "we have an understanding."
"Oo. that came back to bite me."
"Yes, it did."
~ * ~
She knocked on his door.
"Come in."
"Hi." Faith stuck her head in the door. "I just wanted to say that I'm sorry for running off. The first thing I ever learned was emotion was weakness. And hurt them before they hurt you." She stepped inside and closed the door. "And another one was don't get attached. But I'm afraid it's too late for that. And that's why I ran. Those months in solitary confinement, you were what got me by. And now I'm afraid I've pushed you away. " she fought hard not to cry. She'd love him, but there was no way she was crying.
"No, you haven't, Faith. If anything, you've reeled me in, made me lo-" he saw the fear in her eyes. Fear of commitment. "like you more." He covered. He motioned her over, and kissed her tenderly. Once the kiss was over, she pulled back.
"I-I have to be getting back." She whispered.
"I'll drive you." He whispered back.
"Thanks."
~ * ~
He kissed her before she got out of his car.
"I've missed you." He whispered.
"Don't stop." She smiled, touching his cheek, before getting out and walking towards the building that was her new home.
