Take a Number
Part 3
Disclaimer: I still own absolutely nothing but the plot.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I'm worried," Giles said, looking up from the book he had been reading. Althenea turned her head to look at him.
"About what?"
"Faith. Willow. I'm not sure," he took off his glasses and squeezed the bridge of his nose, attempting to relieve the pressure that had been forming.
"Are you regretting bringing Faith here?" She brushed some of her black hair away from her face and regarded him. Giles had always been firm in his views. He would never carry out a plan unless he was completely convinced it would work. This kind of unease was unlike him. At least, as long as she'd known him she had never seen him act this way. And she had known him…well, long enough.
"No. Yes. Maybe," he sighed and pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket and started to clean his glasses, "It's more I'm not sure of how the two might be…interacting." Althenea smiled to herself. So that was it.
"You're worried that Willow will have feelings for Faith that Faith will not reciprocate?"
"Exactly," Giles smiled. It was nice not having to explain himself all the time. Althenea always seemed able to pick up on what he meant with minimal explanation.
"You can't worry, Giles. Whatever happens, it's what the Goddess, the God, or your Powers That Be have in mind."
"Yes, I-I suppose it is."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Willow sat in the middle of the room, meditating silently. Faith sat in a chair off to the side, watching her. Willow slowly opened one eye and shot Faith a smile. Faith winked at her and she closed her eye, smile still firmly in place. Faith felt a warmth bubbling up and her own smile dimmed. What was up with this?
Willow had never seemed like anyone important to her. And now, suddenly, she was spending her days thinking about her. What she said. 'We're a lot alike.' It was crazy…or was it? 'We want to belong.' Wasn't that completely true? Hadn't her need for affection and her longing for acceptance sent her as far as the dark side of the force? Just like Willow. When what she viewed as her key to what she needed was destroyed, she had…well, 'done a Faith'.
This is insane, a voice argued, you're nothing like her. She is loved and she does belong. But…another voice piped up…she can't see it. She doesn't see what everyone else does. Faith sighed and put her head in her hands, rubbing her temples. Arguing with herself. Not the best of signs. But somehow it was true. Willow obviously didn't see herself as Faith saw her. Apparently she had, in her mind's eye, remained the self-defacing girl she was in high school.
Do people see me differently? She wondered. She always thought she knew. But now…maybe she didn't. And it was all because of Willow. She was suddenly feeling warm thinking about her. No! the first voice shouted silently, it's not what you're thinking! You care for her, the second voice chimed sagely, and not just as a friend.
Faith's eyes widened at that thought. Now that was insane! It couldn't be true! Never…her boyfriends. She had had so many boyfriends…you never were able to make a connection with a man, her second voice pointed out slyly. And she never had. She had never truly felt connected to anyone besides the Mayor. But he was like a father…never a lover. Never connected…but now she might be connected to Willow. As if my life isn't messed up enough, she thought, free from any voices, I'm a Slayer, a convict, and now I think I'm sorta gay.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"She was only my second relationship," Willow said as they strolled along a wooded path.
"Oh?"
"Before Tara, I never even considered that I might be gay or anything. Even when I met her, that wasn't how I thought. I just…I knew that I loved her. That she was…well 'she', never even registered. All that mattered was that I cared."
"Oh." Faith looked away, feeling very uncomfortable. That sounded suspiciously like her feelings. Except she had definitely done a lot registering.
"Thanks, Faith." Willow grabbed her hand again and Faith felt the warm, tingling sensation spreading up her arm, "It's been so great being able to talk to you and…I know you would never judge me. And, I want you to know that I'm sorry for judging you."
"No problem," Faith said, slipping her hand away. Willow didn't appear to have noticed. She just continued on her way. I'm going to have to get used to those little outbursts of affection. Wait….affection? Did she really think Willow felt affection for her?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next chapter will be the last one...I'll give you fair warning, it's a short one. Please review!