Note: OK, sappy, fluff chapter coming up. I had to do at least one of those. Just tell me what you think. Are they moving too fast in their relationship? Maybe, maybe not. Only time will tell. Remember, italics are their thoughts to each other.

Quote of the chapter:

"Well, then, yes. In fact I am. Here to watch. Girls. I mean Buffy and Faith, in specific." --- Wesley, "Consequences"

Chapter Eight – Play Time

"Time to watch the baby slayers play?" Faith asked Wesley as they headed out of their room. They had ate and rested for a while, calming both of them. One of the girls had brought Faith some of her clothes from Cleveland, so now instead of the putrid soldier green, she had on her cropped top and sweats. Wesley would be able to touch her skin without anyone seeing.

"If you don't stop that, we'll have to go back to the room again," Faith mentioned to him as they made their way to the gym.

"And you make jokes about me, love."

"We really should talk about that nickname, because you say it like it's true."

"I've never lied to you, have I?"

"Not that I can remember. Always told me like it is."

They stopped just outside the gym doors.

"Then it must be true."

"Then say it."

Faith was challenging him to say those three little words. Words that no one had ever said to him. Why should he be the first?

He walked through the doors into the gym. All the slayers were working out, sparring.

"You didn't answer my question," she called to him.

Wesley ignored her, watching the slayers. So much power in one room. His watcher instincts kicked in. "They're very . . . ."

"Raw. Untested. Some of them at least. Been getting a workout though. Hellmouth in Cleveland's been buzzing with activity."

"Who's your best?" Wesley asked as he touched her back.

"Shannon, the tall girl over there with the ponytail. Cari, the really young-looking one with the pigtails. Brianna, if she can concentrate long enough."

Brianna was flirting with Riley, who seemed to enjoy it. What was it about slayers with this guy, Wesley thought. Although she was quite well endowed.

"Don't finish that thought," Faith called to him as she walked over to the two flirting.

"Hello, Bri, Riley. Why the hell aren't you working out?"

"Odd number of girls."

"Now they're even. Let's go."

Faith led the girl out onto a mat while Wesley made his way to Riley. He loved to watch Faith move when she trained or fought. Whereas Buffy had been all grace, Faith had been all power at first. Now since Faith had matured, she'd added her own kind of grace and style to the fight.

"She's good," Riley told Wesley as they watched.

"The new girl? Needs a lot of help on her kicks."

"No, Faith. She told you what happened in Sunnydale?"

"Yes, she did. She takes full responsibility for it. How were you to know?"

"Well Buffy thought that I should have known. But here's what I don't understand."

"What is that?"

"You two, as a couple. Just strikes me as strange. You aren't alike at all."

"More the same than you know. It's complicated."

"You can say that again. Just remember to tell her that you love her every day. Messed up on that royally."

"With Buffy?"

"No, my wife." Wesley saw no ring on the man's finger.

With that advice, Riley walked away. He hadn't known that the man had been married. After being with someone like Buffy, no wonder his marriage failed. Faith? It would be quite difficult to go on after her. But should he tell her that he really did love her?

And he watched Faith go down on a kick she normally would have dodged on an average day. She didn't get up.

"Oh God, Faith," Wesley yelled as he ran to her.

"I didn't kick her that hard," Brianna informed him.

Faith's eyes were open, staring at the ceiling.

"Faith, love, are you alright?"

"Ya know, you always pick the dumbest times to speak you mind." Bloody hell, she was listening. To him while fighting. "Kind of hard not to. Big emotion flittin' around in that huge brain."

"Yes. There is that." Wesley stood.

"Don't you run from me again. Besides, help me up, big guy."

The gym was almost quiet while they watched the byplay between the two.

Say it again.

You caught me at an inopportune moment.

Just say it you dumbass.

That I love you more than anything.

God, you are so sappy. Thank God you didn't share that trait with me.

The storage room? Remember?

OK, a little sappy. Only with my love. Don't tell anyone about the sappiness. Everyone's looking at us.

"I know, darling. Would you like to spar?"

"Feel some of that aggression kicking in?"

"Yes. I do believe I do."

Xander and Giles had been watching and evaluating some of the girls.

"You just want to show off," Faith chided him.

"And if I want to?"

"Hey, I was bored too." Faith circled him, ready to go.

"Don't drop your right."

"I'm fine."

"You haven't said it either." Faith threw a punch, but Wesley dodged successfully.

"Yeah, but you only said it in here." Faith pointed to her brain.

"I didn't think it was for public consumption." Wesley snapped a quick kick that Faith knocked away.

"You will say it out loud, won't you?" Another series, but nothing connected.

"Ah, Giles? He doesn't have any pads on. She'll hurt him," Xander pointed out.

"No, she won't hurt him, Xander."

"This isn't working, love. Guess I'll just have to show you." He knew Faith wanted to take him down, but he wanted everyone to know that he was no pushover.

Faith poured it on, not holding back too much.

"Mr. Giles, I don't have to spar with him, do I?" one of the girls asked. They had an audience.

"No. He might hurt you, Sarah."

"Where did he learn to do that?" Xander asked.

"Oh, if you only knew," Giles responded.

"Ready to say it?" Faith inquired.

"Make me."

"Come on, watcher. I can take it."

"He's a watcher?" Brianna looked at Giles.

"Faith's, actually."

"How come ours aren't that cute?"

"Figures Faith would get him."

"That's not fair."

The girls were not happy with Faith. Wesley had finally had enough. It had been a long, grueling, emotional day.

"Flip me so we can get this over with," he taunted Faith and she complied.

"See, finally. I knew Faith could take him."

"Xander, he told her to," Giles pointed out to the young man.

"Say it." Faith had pinned him to the mat.

"I can't deal with the audience."

"Everybody out. Now."

The girls grumbled a little, but they were all tired too. They left without too much fuss.

"They're gone. Gym's empty."

"And if I don't say it, you'll hurt me?"

"You are so bad," Faith responded, grinning.

It was now or never. He guessed that taking the chance wouldn't kill him. Might injure him if he didn't though.

"I love you, Faith," he said, screaming at the top of his lungs.

"Maybe you should scream a little louder. The next county didn't hear you."

Wesley smiled up at her, since she still pinned him to the floor. Once he became himself again, he'd never be able to pin her. So his words would have to do that. It was when she leaned down that shocked him.

"I love you too, Wesley," she whispered in his ear.

Xander had stopped out in the hallway after hearing the declaration. "Giles, what in hell has been going on around here? Are we in bizarro world? Did I just hear that right?"

"Apparently so." Giles smiled. "Let's go."

"What? And not listen in?"

"Xander."

"OK, OK. Let's go. Probably scarred those baby slayers for life though. Giles Jr. in love with Psycho slayer. There's got to be a story."

"Yes. And thank goodness neither one just heard you say that."

TBC