Title: My Brown Eyed Girl
Summary: "For once in my life, I won't let sorrow hurt me, Not like it's hurt me before" Buffy/Faith.
A/N: This is my first Buffy fic; I thought it would be Spuffy, but after reading some good Buffy/Faith fiction…well, they're my new shippy favourites! This is set six months after the finale, and I know that Angel et al would be there in LA, but it was on a channel I couldn't get so… *g* I just didn't write them! And Anya's alive…(well, I couldn't leave her dead! What would I do with poor Xander?)
*
The sun rose in the warm morning, the light beaming into Buffy's bedroom on the top floor of the house that she was renting. The place was roomy enough, and Dawn seemed to like it, especially her new school which, happily, didn't have a Hellmouth underneath it.
She slammed her alarm that had woken her with its irritating ringing, and tried to resist the urge to throw it against the wall. She swung her legs out of bed and rested her head in her hands. Her counselling job at the local high school was harder than Sunnydale…and a lot more depressing. But at least she had something good to look forward to when she came home.
Most nights she, Dawn and Faith would watch a B-movie on television crunching on popcorn and joking about the corny lines. Originally after Sunnydale went kaput, Faith had wanted to venture out on her own like many of the other Potentials did, buying apartments together all over the country and returning to their families. But as Xander moved to a suburb with Anya, announcing that they were "having another try at this marriage schtick", Giles working at a local antique bookstore and Willow studying at the college nearby living with Kennedy who worked as a fitness instructor, Faith hadn't wanted to venture that far away.
It had taken her a lot to ask whether she could stick around, Buffy knew that. She'd approached it in her casual way, asking if she wouldn't mind her "tagging along with you and Peanut." Dawn at that time frowned with indignation at the nickname, but Buffy was secretly thrilled that Faith planned to hang around. And six months later, she hadn't made any plans to leave. Buffy hoped that she never would. The three of them had got into their own little routine, still relishing the ability to jump in the shower whenever they liked without five Potentials banging on the door.
Buffy pulled open her curtains, the light flooding her room. She walked over to the door and opened it to see Faith and Dawn perching in the bathroom together as Dawn brushed her hair talking about the latest developments with the attempt to buy the house they were currently renting. "Morning." She announced sleepily and Faith looked over with a affectionate smile that gave Buffy a tingling down her spine. "You two look way too energetic this early in the morning."
Dawn shrugged, "Maybe if you went to bed at a decent time then maybe you'd feel more energetic-ish." She stopped, "Oh my God, I've turned into you…I have to go and make myself a teenager again…" She said leaving the bathroom with a grimace. Faith stood up from the edge of the bath where she had been sitting.
"I shouldn't have stayed up talking with you last night…" She apologised, tucking a strand of her brunette hair behind her shoulder "Kinda forgot you had one of those inconvenient jobs to go to…"
Buffy took a quick look in the mirror and groaned at her reflection and then turned back to Faith, "It wasn't as if I was trying to get out if it." She rationalised and smiled, touching Faith's bare arm. She didn't know why, she just did. It was like an impulse and a shot of warmth flooded through her at the contact. "It was fun…y'know to not always have Dawn buzzing around." Faith smiled, almost self consciously until they heard Dawn shouting.
"Hey!" She yelled indignantly, "I'm not that bad!"
Faith shook her head in amusement, but seemed quite shocked, but pleased by their contact earlier before Buffy's hand shot away from her arm. "What time you having lunch today?" She asked, "I think I can get make time in my busy schedule for you…"
Buffy nodded, "About one?" She suggested and Faith nodded and slowly walked out of the bathroom, almost reluctant to leave Buffy's company. Great, now she wouldn't be able to concentrate until the time came that Faith would stick her gorgeous head round the door of her office armed with a impish grin and two chocolate muffins.
*
Faith wandered around the house, checking her watch every five minutes. It still wasn't time for her to leave for the high school yet to pick Buffy up for their date. Faith stopped in her tracks; she really was becoming loved up with her once arch enemy. She wasn't sure if "loved up" was the right word seeing as though Buffy had no interest in her whatsoever and in Faith's opinion, that would never change as much as she wanted it to. But "loved up" was how she was feeling. Of course, that would change one day. When Buffy brought home some guy she met, and they'd get married and have kids. And all the while Faith would be in the background, wishing that Buffy could see that it was her who really loved the Slayer.
God she was depressing herself.
Faith rubbed her forehead with a tired hand. She felt like such a wimp. Being love struck was for girls who hadn't experienced the things she had. Normal girls fell in love. She didn't. Or maybe she did want to be normal…who knew?
Out of excitement and terminal boredom, she walked over to a table in the corner of the living room, proudly displaying various family photos. There were the regular photos of Hank and Joyce standing together with mini Buffy and Dawn, smiles on their faces, unaware of the traumas to face them. There was one of Anya having a piggyback from Xander, both smiling into the camera happily. Willow and Kennedy made their appearances in a sweet photo of the pair of them at a picnic a few months ago, asleep together after eating too many strawberries.
But one of the framed photos took Faith's eye. It was new, put there in the last few days. Of that she was sure. The frame was intricate, silver roses bleeding silver tears circled the photo. It almost killed her seeing it. It was of she and Buffy, totally unaware of the camera catching the emotions evident on their faces. She couldn't picture the exact time or place, but the style resembled the pictures that Peanut had been taking for some project. They were standing, looking at each other, talking animatedly about something. Buffy had her hands gesturing wildly with a smile on her face. Faith looked at her own figure in the photo, she stood with a wide grin, one of her hands placed on her hip. Her expression was warmer than she'd ever known it to be, and her eyes held all the love in the world for Buffy.
She wondered if anyone could see. Could anyone spot what she felt from the way she would touch her tenderly, the way she'd laugh extra loudly at her jokes, the way that she would lay down her life for her? Could anyone read between the lines and see that she wasn't feeling friendly love…but full-on, world changing love?
It was in that moment, that Faith knew she had it bad. And it wasn't going away soon.
*
Buffy tapped her pencil impatiently on the desk. Her last student before lunch had just left in a far better mood than she'd turned up with, which made Buffy feel extra pleased about her upcoming date with Faith in…she checked the clock on the wall…ten minutes.
Damn, she had to stop calling it a date. It really wasn't. Really, really wasn't. Was it? Faith had seemed suitably coy, and she herself had spent the whole day thinking about Faith whilst trying to concentrate on the kids sitting in front of her.
She'd never thought of herself like that before until Faith reappeared before their confrontation with the First. She just looked so….goddamn good. She was pretty sure she wasn't going to feel like this about the whole female gender, just Faith. She wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing.
She hadn't accepted one date since they'd left Sunnydale and even Willow had started to ask some questions. There hadn't been a lack of suitors as her mom would have called them, but as she sat with a bored smile listening to their inane jokes, none of them were in the same league as Faith…their faces weren't as cute, their bodies weren't as sexy, their attitude not so defiant and they didn't make her knees turn to jelly like one word from *her* did.
Before she could muse on her Faith crush any further, the object of her affection walked through the door wearing low cut jeans and a vintage tee shirt that she recognised as her own. She was soooo going to let Faith keep that; Buffy knew she'd appreciate the shirt more when she saw Faith stretching, showing a toned part of her midriff. Yep, definitely letting her keep that one.
"How ya doing?" She asked in her familiar Boston drawl, "Bored outta your skull yet?"
Buffy smiled, taking a quick glance round the office to make sure no-one else was there to hear her traitorous words, "Yep…" She affirmed, grabbing her bag from underneath the desk and walked towards Faith who was standing at the threshold of the door. "So what do you fancy? Burgers or liquid lunch?"
Faith raised her eyebrows, "Didn't know you were in the habit of getting drunk on the job B…" and Buffy scowled good naturedly.
"Coffee." She corrected her. "Coffee. Which do you fancy?" She asked walking out of the office and Faith followed gaining some appreciative looks from the adolescent boys. Inside she laughed, if only they knew the thoughts she was having about their guidance counsellor. "Faith?" Buffy asked, noticing her friend had drifted off into a daydream.
"Uh, coffee." She affirmed. "I had way too much to eat this morning." She grimaced, "We may have to go to the grocery store."
Buffy just smiled, not caring that she'd have to spend more time with Faith; as if *that* was a chore. "We'll go after lunch and you can take it home with you. That all right with you?"
Faith shrugged, "You'll only be cutting into my busy schedule of doing nothing…"
*
They were standing in the confectionery aisle, playfully arguing about what flavour of chocolate to buy until Faith threw both in with a smile, "I'm sure Dawnie won't mind…"
Buffy grinned, "She's going to be real pissed that you said her name and she wasn't here to see it…"
Faith pushed the trolley further down the aisle, "She loves it really." She said, picking up some chips and looking at them. But really she was musing about the lunch they'd had together. They'd spent a whole hour chatting about nothing in particular; the state of the house and whether they were going to get Mr Karifakis to repair the leak in Buffy's bedroom; when Anya and Xander were going to set their wedding and if Anya would insist of inviting her demon "family" and debating the merits of allowing Dawn to watch Friends repeats all weekend.
All in all it had been the best non-date that Faith had ever had. Now standing in the supermarket, pushing around a trolley full of unhealthy foods that she knew were bad for her, she desperately wanted to kiss Buffy.
Buffy walked up to Faith, slinging her arm casually over Faith's shoulders, whispering quietly in her ear, "How about we get some pizza tonight?" The words tickled on the hairs of her neck. Buffy couldn't possibly know what she was doing to her…
*What on Earth am I thinking?* Buffy thought, as she whispered sexily into Faith's ear. *She'd probably run a mile if she knew what I wanted to do to her…* Yet Buffy couldn't stop. It was like her inhibitions had been let loose, and she just wanted to be true to herself. And if being true to herself meant wanting to make out with Faith, then so be it, she thought with a grin.
Faith just about managed to regain her composure before replying in her usual confident voice, "Why not? Maybe we could invite the others over…" She suggested. Slowly the Scoobies had begun to accept Faith especially with the development of her relationship with Buffy, they'd all learnt to like her. And Anya and Faith had hit off particularly well bonding in their initial uncomfortable-ness with the gang.
"Sure…pizza, video and the Scoobies…" Buffy decided, her arm falling down Faith's back lingering on the small of her waist for a second longer than she should have done, "Sounds pretty good to me."
*
"Y'know I really don't get this…" Anya said after slipping a kernel of popcorn into her mouth and the entire room groaned. "What?"
Dawn who was sitting on the floor, leaning against the couch that Anya was sitting on laughed, "You always get confused by movies…can't you just watch one without asking everyone about it?"
Anya frowned indignantly, "Xander, I don't do that do I?" She said, leaning her head against her fiancée's whose lap she was currently sitting on, both covered by a rug.
"I think I should remain objective…" He said, kissing Anya on the cheek and concentrated on the film.
Instead Anya turned to Faith who was sitting on the opposite couch, next to Buffy with a rug covering them too, "Faith, you don't think I get confused do you?" She asked and Faith shook head.
"I'm with the Xan-Man on this one." She said still looking at the television, "Best to remain impartial. I'm sure Giles wouldn't mind answering your questions though…" She said referring to the ex-Librarian who was searching their kitchen for something that wasn't either alcoholic or soda. Faith sneaked a glance at Buffy who was sitting closest to the TV set and she could see her smirk. As the playful argument continued between the others, Faith leaned over to Buffy, "You havin' a good time?"
Buffy shivered inadvertently, "Yeah…" She said recovering slightly from the impact of her breath running down her back "I like having everyone here." She looked over to Kennedy and Willow who were sitting on bean bags and she just caught the suspicious glance that Willow gave her, probably in relation to Faith but she ignored it for the time being. She wasn't sure of her own feelings let alone able to explain them to someone else.
Buffy wondered what her mom would have thought about these feelings she was having for Faith Probably would have disliked the fact that it was Faith, but supported her anyway. Then she would've tried to set her up with some "nice young girl" she met at the supermarket checkout. Would've been bad luck for her though.
The only girl she wanted was sitting right next to her.
As the movie carried on, interspersed with comments from Anya, giggles from Dawn and the occasional disgruntled sigh of Giles at having to watch a teen movie at his age, Faith and Buffy moved closer and closer together on the couch until Buffy's head was practically leaning on Faith's shoulder.
Neither would be sure of how it happened, but somehow, their hands got tangled up together on Faith's thigh and stayed that way until the end of the film, regretfully moving apart. Neither of them said anything, but Buffy was pretty sure she could feel Faith's intense gaze on her body and she'd found herself staring at Faith, as they did the washing up, even more than usual. And if their hands happened to touch as they passed the soapy plates over, well, these things happen.
*
Their guests had gone home, Anya yawning impatiently at the door as Xander said goodbye and Giles cited an early start at the bookshop to leave an hour after the film had finished, just as the girls started discussing who was cuter; Orlando Bloom or Elijah Wood? Kennedy and Willow remained silent during most of the conversation, sometimes adding their opinions on their acting ability. And Faith merely added, "I could think of better," with a sly look in Buffy's direction that Buffy caught and almost blushed at.
Kennedy and Willow left a few hours later, driving home in their new car that they'd bought with Kennedy's wages and a loan…she might be a Slayer but who wanted to walk everywhere? Dawn, Faith and Buffy stood in their kitchen, talking inanely before they went to bed. Faith checked the locks on the doors and pulled the curtains as Dawn trudged upstairs.
Buffy stood uncomfortably at the sink, filling and then re-filling her glass of water, carefully watching Faith's movements. She was about to say something when she heard Dawn shout from upstairs, "Buffy! Faith! You better come up here!"
They both looked at each other with quizzical glances and raced upstairs wondering what the hell was up there. Dawn stood at the entrance to Buffy's bedroom on the top floor, "What?" Buffy asked and Dawn pointed silently to the sodden bedclothes and wet floor.
"Oh…" Faith said, biting her lip. "Maybe we should have got onto Mr Karifakis earlier about that leak…"
"Ya think?" Dawn said sarcastically watching the water drops slide off Buffy's sidetable and onto the floor. "What should we do?" She asked her sister.
"Um…some buckets? We can call Mr Karifakis as soon as we wake up. I don't think he'd appreciate a call at this time though…" She looked at her watch reading "12:45". She really didn't fancy sleeping on the couch tonight.
Dawn went downstairs, fetching some buckets as Buffy inspected her room. Most of her stuff had been spared the trauma, but there were a few stuffed toys that she was going to have to get washed. "Where you gonna sleep tonight B?" Faith asked as she tried to match the drips with buckets.
Buffy looked hopefully towards Dawn who was surveying the damage. "Oh no…" She said instantly and held up her hands when Buffy was about to protest. "You steal all the covers and you snore like crazy!"
"Hey, I do not snore…" Buffy started. "And I don't want to sleep on the couch." She'd fallen asleep on it once before and it hurt like hell in the morning, her back twisted into all sorts of unnatural positions.
"Why don't you share with Faith? She's got an enormous bed…" Dawn suggested and Faith's head flicked up.
Buffy wasn't sure whether she could resist the temptation for a whole night in Faith's company. Especially in those cute pyjamas she wore. "I'm not sure if Faith wants me to…"
"It's OK…" Faith answered, wondering if she replied too quickly. "You can stay in my room if you want…"
*
Buffy sat on the edge of the bed as Faith pulled back the covers and smiled uncomfortably towards her friend. This was going to be absolute torture… "Left or right?"
"Not bothered." Buffy replied, hoping she didn't sound too offhand. Faith slipped inside the covers, and Buffy joined her lying right on the edge of the bed. Faith looked down at her lap sadly thinking that Buffy obviously wasn't interested in her like she'd hoped.
They both laid down in bed, turning off the lights with only the moonlight for illumination. Buffy heard Faith's rhythmic breathing feeling comfortable and relaxed on hearing it. Faith could feel Buffy's warmth, her energy floating through the bed. She subconsciously edged closer and closer like she did earlier that evening whilst watching the film. She was suddenly aware of Buffy mimicking her actions and they were both minutely moving closer to each other. Neither Faith nor Buffy knew what it meant, but analysing the situation wasn't on their minds at that moment.
Before they both knew it, their heads were touching. Faith rolled her head over to the right to be confronted with not her friends cheek, but her face too. Impulsively Buffy leaned forward, pressing her lips against Faith's slowly and gently. This was too important to get wrong.
Faith couldn't believe what Buffy was doing. Could it really be true? Did Buffy want her? Did she see an animal, a murdering beast who deserved nothing but hate? Or did she see someone who was desperate for affection and who'd fell in love for the first time in her life?
She wanted to know the answer, but she wasn't going to stop the havoc that Buffy was wreaking on her body.
It would wait until morning.
*
Comments welcome! Next chapter should be up soon!
Summary: "For once in my life, I won't let sorrow hurt me, Not like it's hurt me before" Buffy/Faith.
A/N: This is my first Buffy fic; I thought it would be Spuffy, but after reading some good Buffy/Faith fiction…well, they're my new shippy favourites! This is set six months after the finale, and I know that Angel et al would be there in LA, but it was on a channel I couldn't get so… *g* I just didn't write them! And Anya's alive…(well, I couldn't leave her dead! What would I do with poor Xander?)
*
The sun rose in the warm morning, the light beaming into Buffy's bedroom on the top floor of the house that she was renting. The place was roomy enough, and Dawn seemed to like it, especially her new school which, happily, didn't have a Hellmouth underneath it.
She slammed her alarm that had woken her with its irritating ringing, and tried to resist the urge to throw it against the wall. She swung her legs out of bed and rested her head in her hands. Her counselling job at the local high school was harder than Sunnydale…and a lot more depressing. But at least she had something good to look forward to when she came home.
Most nights she, Dawn and Faith would watch a B-movie on television crunching on popcorn and joking about the corny lines. Originally after Sunnydale went kaput, Faith had wanted to venture out on her own like many of the other Potentials did, buying apartments together all over the country and returning to their families. But as Xander moved to a suburb with Anya, announcing that they were "having another try at this marriage schtick", Giles working at a local antique bookstore and Willow studying at the college nearby living with Kennedy who worked as a fitness instructor, Faith hadn't wanted to venture that far away.
It had taken her a lot to ask whether she could stick around, Buffy knew that. She'd approached it in her casual way, asking if she wouldn't mind her "tagging along with you and Peanut." Dawn at that time frowned with indignation at the nickname, but Buffy was secretly thrilled that Faith planned to hang around. And six months later, she hadn't made any plans to leave. Buffy hoped that she never would. The three of them had got into their own little routine, still relishing the ability to jump in the shower whenever they liked without five Potentials banging on the door.
Buffy pulled open her curtains, the light flooding her room. She walked over to the door and opened it to see Faith and Dawn perching in the bathroom together as Dawn brushed her hair talking about the latest developments with the attempt to buy the house they were currently renting. "Morning." She announced sleepily and Faith looked over with a affectionate smile that gave Buffy a tingling down her spine. "You two look way too energetic this early in the morning."
Dawn shrugged, "Maybe if you went to bed at a decent time then maybe you'd feel more energetic-ish." She stopped, "Oh my God, I've turned into you…I have to go and make myself a teenager again…" She said leaving the bathroom with a grimace. Faith stood up from the edge of the bath where she had been sitting.
"I shouldn't have stayed up talking with you last night…" She apologised, tucking a strand of her brunette hair behind her shoulder "Kinda forgot you had one of those inconvenient jobs to go to…"
Buffy took a quick look in the mirror and groaned at her reflection and then turned back to Faith, "It wasn't as if I was trying to get out if it." She rationalised and smiled, touching Faith's bare arm. She didn't know why, she just did. It was like an impulse and a shot of warmth flooded through her at the contact. "It was fun…y'know to not always have Dawn buzzing around." Faith smiled, almost self consciously until they heard Dawn shouting.
"Hey!" She yelled indignantly, "I'm not that bad!"
Faith shook her head in amusement, but seemed quite shocked, but pleased by their contact earlier before Buffy's hand shot away from her arm. "What time you having lunch today?" She asked, "I think I can get make time in my busy schedule for you…"
Buffy nodded, "About one?" She suggested and Faith nodded and slowly walked out of the bathroom, almost reluctant to leave Buffy's company. Great, now she wouldn't be able to concentrate until the time came that Faith would stick her gorgeous head round the door of her office armed with a impish grin and two chocolate muffins.
*
Faith wandered around the house, checking her watch every five minutes. It still wasn't time for her to leave for the high school yet to pick Buffy up for their date. Faith stopped in her tracks; she really was becoming loved up with her once arch enemy. She wasn't sure if "loved up" was the right word seeing as though Buffy had no interest in her whatsoever and in Faith's opinion, that would never change as much as she wanted it to. But "loved up" was how she was feeling. Of course, that would change one day. When Buffy brought home some guy she met, and they'd get married and have kids. And all the while Faith would be in the background, wishing that Buffy could see that it was her who really loved the Slayer.
God she was depressing herself.
Faith rubbed her forehead with a tired hand. She felt like such a wimp. Being love struck was for girls who hadn't experienced the things she had. Normal girls fell in love. She didn't. Or maybe she did want to be normal…who knew?
Out of excitement and terminal boredom, she walked over to a table in the corner of the living room, proudly displaying various family photos. There were the regular photos of Hank and Joyce standing together with mini Buffy and Dawn, smiles on their faces, unaware of the traumas to face them. There was one of Anya having a piggyback from Xander, both smiling into the camera happily. Willow and Kennedy made their appearances in a sweet photo of the pair of them at a picnic a few months ago, asleep together after eating too many strawberries.
But one of the framed photos took Faith's eye. It was new, put there in the last few days. Of that she was sure. The frame was intricate, silver roses bleeding silver tears circled the photo. It almost killed her seeing it. It was of she and Buffy, totally unaware of the camera catching the emotions evident on their faces. She couldn't picture the exact time or place, but the style resembled the pictures that Peanut had been taking for some project. They were standing, looking at each other, talking animatedly about something. Buffy had her hands gesturing wildly with a smile on her face. Faith looked at her own figure in the photo, she stood with a wide grin, one of her hands placed on her hip. Her expression was warmer than she'd ever known it to be, and her eyes held all the love in the world for Buffy.
She wondered if anyone could see. Could anyone spot what she felt from the way she would touch her tenderly, the way she'd laugh extra loudly at her jokes, the way that she would lay down her life for her? Could anyone read between the lines and see that she wasn't feeling friendly love…but full-on, world changing love?
It was in that moment, that Faith knew she had it bad. And it wasn't going away soon.
*
Buffy tapped her pencil impatiently on the desk. Her last student before lunch had just left in a far better mood than she'd turned up with, which made Buffy feel extra pleased about her upcoming date with Faith in…she checked the clock on the wall…ten minutes.
Damn, she had to stop calling it a date. It really wasn't. Really, really wasn't. Was it? Faith had seemed suitably coy, and she herself had spent the whole day thinking about Faith whilst trying to concentrate on the kids sitting in front of her.
She'd never thought of herself like that before until Faith reappeared before their confrontation with the First. She just looked so….goddamn good. She was pretty sure she wasn't going to feel like this about the whole female gender, just Faith. She wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing.
She hadn't accepted one date since they'd left Sunnydale and even Willow had started to ask some questions. There hadn't been a lack of suitors as her mom would have called them, but as she sat with a bored smile listening to their inane jokes, none of them were in the same league as Faith…their faces weren't as cute, their bodies weren't as sexy, their attitude not so defiant and they didn't make her knees turn to jelly like one word from *her* did.
Before she could muse on her Faith crush any further, the object of her affection walked through the door wearing low cut jeans and a vintage tee shirt that she recognised as her own. She was soooo going to let Faith keep that; Buffy knew she'd appreciate the shirt more when she saw Faith stretching, showing a toned part of her midriff. Yep, definitely letting her keep that one.
"How ya doing?" She asked in her familiar Boston drawl, "Bored outta your skull yet?"
Buffy smiled, taking a quick glance round the office to make sure no-one else was there to hear her traitorous words, "Yep…" She affirmed, grabbing her bag from underneath the desk and walked towards Faith who was standing at the threshold of the door. "So what do you fancy? Burgers or liquid lunch?"
Faith raised her eyebrows, "Didn't know you were in the habit of getting drunk on the job B…" and Buffy scowled good naturedly.
"Coffee." She corrected her. "Coffee. Which do you fancy?" She asked walking out of the office and Faith followed gaining some appreciative looks from the adolescent boys. Inside she laughed, if only they knew the thoughts she was having about their guidance counsellor. "Faith?" Buffy asked, noticing her friend had drifted off into a daydream.
"Uh, coffee." She affirmed. "I had way too much to eat this morning." She grimaced, "We may have to go to the grocery store."
Buffy just smiled, not caring that she'd have to spend more time with Faith; as if *that* was a chore. "We'll go after lunch and you can take it home with you. That all right with you?"
Faith shrugged, "You'll only be cutting into my busy schedule of doing nothing…"
*
They were standing in the confectionery aisle, playfully arguing about what flavour of chocolate to buy until Faith threw both in with a smile, "I'm sure Dawnie won't mind…"
Buffy grinned, "She's going to be real pissed that you said her name and she wasn't here to see it…"
Faith pushed the trolley further down the aisle, "She loves it really." She said, picking up some chips and looking at them. But really she was musing about the lunch they'd had together. They'd spent a whole hour chatting about nothing in particular; the state of the house and whether they were going to get Mr Karifakis to repair the leak in Buffy's bedroom; when Anya and Xander were going to set their wedding and if Anya would insist of inviting her demon "family" and debating the merits of allowing Dawn to watch Friends repeats all weekend.
All in all it had been the best non-date that Faith had ever had. Now standing in the supermarket, pushing around a trolley full of unhealthy foods that she knew were bad for her, she desperately wanted to kiss Buffy.
Buffy walked up to Faith, slinging her arm casually over Faith's shoulders, whispering quietly in her ear, "How about we get some pizza tonight?" The words tickled on the hairs of her neck. Buffy couldn't possibly know what she was doing to her…
*What on Earth am I thinking?* Buffy thought, as she whispered sexily into Faith's ear. *She'd probably run a mile if she knew what I wanted to do to her…* Yet Buffy couldn't stop. It was like her inhibitions had been let loose, and she just wanted to be true to herself. And if being true to herself meant wanting to make out with Faith, then so be it, she thought with a grin.
Faith just about managed to regain her composure before replying in her usual confident voice, "Why not? Maybe we could invite the others over…" She suggested. Slowly the Scoobies had begun to accept Faith especially with the development of her relationship with Buffy, they'd all learnt to like her. And Anya and Faith had hit off particularly well bonding in their initial uncomfortable-ness with the gang.
"Sure…pizza, video and the Scoobies…" Buffy decided, her arm falling down Faith's back lingering on the small of her waist for a second longer than she should have done, "Sounds pretty good to me."
*
"Y'know I really don't get this…" Anya said after slipping a kernel of popcorn into her mouth and the entire room groaned. "What?"
Dawn who was sitting on the floor, leaning against the couch that Anya was sitting on laughed, "You always get confused by movies…can't you just watch one without asking everyone about it?"
Anya frowned indignantly, "Xander, I don't do that do I?" She said, leaning her head against her fiancée's whose lap she was currently sitting on, both covered by a rug.
"I think I should remain objective…" He said, kissing Anya on the cheek and concentrated on the film.
Instead Anya turned to Faith who was sitting on the opposite couch, next to Buffy with a rug covering them too, "Faith, you don't think I get confused do you?" She asked and Faith shook head.
"I'm with the Xan-Man on this one." She said still looking at the television, "Best to remain impartial. I'm sure Giles wouldn't mind answering your questions though…" She said referring to the ex-Librarian who was searching their kitchen for something that wasn't either alcoholic or soda. Faith sneaked a glance at Buffy who was sitting closest to the TV set and she could see her smirk. As the playful argument continued between the others, Faith leaned over to Buffy, "You havin' a good time?"
Buffy shivered inadvertently, "Yeah…" She said recovering slightly from the impact of her breath running down her back "I like having everyone here." She looked over to Kennedy and Willow who were sitting on bean bags and she just caught the suspicious glance that Willow gave her, probably in relation to Faith but she ignored it for the time being. She wasn't sure of her own feelings let alone able to explain them to someone else.
Buffy wondered what her mom would have thought about these feelings she was having for Faith Probably would have disliked the fact that it was Faith, but supported her anyway. Then she would've tried to set her up with some "nice young girl" she met at the supermarket checkout. Would've been bad luck for her though.
The only girl she wanted was sitting right next to her.
As the movie carried on, interspersed with comments from Anya, giggles from Dawn and the occasional disgruntled sigh of Giles at having to watch a teen movie at his age, Faith and Buffy moved closer and closer together on the couch until Buffy's head was practically leaning on Faith's shoulder.
Neither would be sure of how it happened, but somehow, their hands got tangled up together on Faith's thigh and stayed that way until the end of the film, regretfully moving apart. Neither of them said anything, but Buffy was pretty sure she could feel Faith's intense gaze on her body and she'd found herself staring at Faith, as they did the washing up, even more than usual. And if their hands happened to touch as they passed the soapy plates over, well, these things happen.
*
Their guests had gone home, Anya yawning impatiently at the door as Xander said goodbye and Giles cited an early start at the bookshop to leave an hour after the film had finished, just as the girls started discussing who was cuter; Orlando Bloom or Elijah Wood? Kennedy and Willow remained silent during most of the conversation, sometimes adding their opinions on their acting ability. And Faith merely added, "I could think of better," with a sly look in Buffy's direction that Buffy caught and almost blushed at.
Kennedy and Willow left a few hours later, driving home in their new car that they'd bought with Kennedy's wages and a loan…she might be a Slayer but who wanted to walk everywhere? Dawn, Faith and Buffy stood in their kitchen, talking inanely before they went to bed. Faith checked the locks on the doors and pulled the curtains as Dawn trudged upstairs.
Buffy stood uncomfortably at the sink, filling and then re-filling her glass of water, carefully watching Faith's movements. She was about to say something when she heard Dawn shout from upstairs, "Buffy! Faith! You better come up here!"
They both looked at each other with quizzical glances and raced upstairs wondering what the hell was up there. Dawn stood at the entrance to Buffy's bedroom on the top floor, "What?" Buffy asked and Dawn pointed silently to the sodden bedclothes and wet floor.
"Oh…" Faith said, biting her lip. "Maybe we should have got onto Mr Karifakis earlier about that leak…"
"Ya think?" Dawn said sarcastically watching the water drops slide off Buffy's sidetable and onto the floor. "What should we do?" She asked her sister.
"Um…some buckets? We can call Mr Karifakis as soon as we wake up. I don't think he'd appreciate a call at this time though…" She looked at her watch reading "12:45". She really didn't fancy sleeping on the couch tonight.
Dawn went downstairs, fetching some buckets as Buffy inspected her room. Most of her stuff had been spared the trauma, but there were a few stuffed toys that she was going to have to get washed. "Where you gonna sleep tonight B?" Faith asked as she tried to match the drips with buckets.
Buffy looked hopefully towards Dawn who was surveying the damage. "Oh no…" She said instantly and held up her hands when Buffy was about to protest. "You steal all the covers and you snore like crazy!"
"Hey, I do not snore…" Buffy started. "And I don't want to sleep on the couch." She'd fallen asleep on it once before and it hurt like hell in the morning, her back twisted into all sorts of unnatural positions.
"Why don't you share with Faith? She's got an enormous bed…" Dawn suggested and Faith's head flicked up.
Buffy wasn't sure whether she could resist the temptation for a whole night in Faith's company. Especially in those cute pyjamas she wore. "I'm not sure if Faith wants me to…"
"It's OK…" Faith answered, wondering if she replied too quickly. "You can stay in my room if you want…"
*
Buffy sat on the edge of the bed as Faith pulled back the covers and smiled uncomfortably towards her friend. This was going to be absolute torture… "Left or right?"
"Not bothered." Buffy replied, hoping she didn't sound too offhand. Faith slipped inside the covers, and Buffy joined her lying right on the edge of the bed. Faith looked down at her lap sadly thinking that Buffy obviously wasn't interested in her like she'd hoped.
They both laid down in bed, turning off the lights with only the moonlight for illumination. Buffy heard Faith's rhythmic breathing feeling comfortable and relaxed on hearing it. Faith could feel Buffy's warmth, her energy floating through the bed. She subconsciously edged closer and closer like she did earlier that evening whilst watching the film. She was suddenly aware of Buffy mimicking her actions and they were both minutely moving closer to each other. Neither Faith nor Buffy knew what it meant, but analysing the situation wasn't on their minds at that moment.
Before they both knew it, their heads were touching. Faith rolled her head over to the right to be confronted with not her friends cheek, but her face too. Impulsively Buffy leaned forward, pressing her lips against Faith's slowly and gently. This was too important to get wrong.
Faith couldn't believe what Buffy was doing. Could it really be true? Did Buffy want her? Did she see an animal, a murdering beast who deserved nothing but hate? Or did she see someone who was desperate for affection and who'd fell in love for the first time in her life?
She wanted to know the answer, but she wasn't going to stop the havoc that Buffy was wreaking on her body.
It would wait until morning.
*
Comments welcome! Next chapter should be up soon!