Part Four

United States - 1936 (for those who've forgotten....lol)

Entering the clearing, the young man pushed open the cemetery gates and walked along the path toward his mother's grave. When he reached the headstone, he found his sister kneeling there as she had done every evening since their mother's death.

She didn't react.

"Okay Faith, that's enough." Angel sadly lifted his sister to her feet.

"Get your meat hooks off me!" Faith struggled to get loose.

Shaking her, Angel raised his voice, "You need to snap out of it; do you hear me?" He gently released her. "Avoiding everyone and playing hooky from school, none of that will bring mom back."

Faith's features darkened as she turned away. "You don't get it."

"No but I'm trying... Faith, talk to me."

"It's my fault mom died," the brunette lowered her eyes.

"How do you suppose?"

"Well, I--I've," Faith ducked her head in shame. "Committed unnatural acts," she mumbled the last part.

Arching an eyebrow, Angel spoke. "I don't know exactly what acts you're referring to, but I do know that mom had the cough before a certain pretty little blond moved in down the road."

Faith kicked at the dirt. "Knew you wouldn't listen!"

"Now hang on. You're taking church and things the preachers say, way too literal. Frankly sis, some of it's absolute rubbish." Angel eased his arm around the teenager's shoulder and guided her from the grave sight. "We live and die by our own hands, Faithy. The lord isn't in the business of killing folks."

Sullenly the pair trudged home. When they passed the Summers' property, Faith gazed longingly toward the house.

"Go on already," Angel encouraged, happy to see his sister's grateful smile before she raced off. He lingered for a moment, telling himself that it was the right thing. Buffy loved Faith, and Harry would have to move on.

..........

A clinking sound awoke the blond from a restless sleep. Rolling over, she laid still and stared up at the ceiling. Another night with no rest, she thought dejectedly.

It had been over two months since Faith's mother had passed, and just as long since their friendship had ended. For whatever reason, after the funeral that day Faith would have nothing to do with her. Buffy squeezed her eyes shut trying to block out the memory of her beloved friend pushing her away and telling her to "make tracks", "they were through".

Broken hearted, she came home to find Harry waiting.

The exact opposite was true with him. As much as Faith worked to avoid her, Harry had worked to be with her. And a lot of Harry was like a little bit of Faith or so Buffy told herself. At least she hadn't lost both her best friends in one day.

Sadly, she twirled the ring on her finger. It was Harry's gift for her sixteenth birthday. He held off giving it to her until he could ask, would she be his best girl? Two months ago the answer would have been no, but now without Faith there seemed little reason to refuse. She loved him almost as much. Or rather, as much as she could love anyone who wasn't the wise-cracking, brunette bad girl that everyone lovingly referred to as Faithy.

Sighing ruefully, she wondered if Faith knew or cared. More depressed than ever, the green-eyed beauty climbed from her bed intent on pulling the shades.

The night was one with a full moon and the brightness was streaming in. It's probably what awoke her, she decided. That and the wind. After all, what else would keep causing the window frame to rattle so annoyingly?

While reaching for the string, Buffy spied some movement in the yard. She froze and stared in disbelief. Faith was below, searching the ground. Buffy squinted, watching as the girl picked up rocks.

Delighted, she unlatched the sill and pushed open the window in a hurry, but not before the brunette could toss another pebble. Buffy barely had time to step aside, allowing the stone to zip past and knock a picture frame to the floor. The breaking glass made both girls cringe. It seemed so loud.

Glancing back out, Buffy had to stifle a giggle as her friend tried to keep her curses quiet.

With one last shuffling of her feet, Faith embarrassedly began stammering an apology. She didn't know what had made her be such a louse, but Angel had set her straight, she explained.

"And if you could ever forgive me--"

Buffy's sudden fervent gesturing halted the brunette. She wanted Faith to come up.

Peering around, the teenager looked for a tree that would reach the third floor.

"No." Buffy nervously waved Faith to stay. She'd go down and sneak her in, but Faith wouldn't wait.

Before Buffy could get to the front door, she'd made it to the top of the closest tree and leapt to the roof.

The thud of her landing was luckily muffled by leafs.

"Whacky," Buffy muttered under her breath as she watched from the porch. Quickly, she turned and rushed back up the stairs.

"Hiya," Faith whispered as the blonde bounded into the room.

"Don't hiya me! I told you to wait. What if you fell?!"

"Shhh, don't blow your wig. It was a cinch. I made it easy." Faith grinned charmingly. Holding out her arms, she added, "see...not a scratch."

Buffy's lip twitched as she struggled to remain cross. "Well just the same, I wish you'd listen for once."

With a widening smile, Faith drew near. "Yeah?"

"Yeah," the blond murmured as she gazed at her friend. "Do you know how much I've missed you?" Her voice cracked slightly, "every minute of every day."

"Likewise, doll," Faith whispered, swallowing hard as Buffy took her hand and led her to the bed.

..........

To Be Continued (if you want)