Hey sorry it's been so long since I updated this story, I've had serious writer's block, but the worst seems to be over now. Thanks to those of you who reveiwed, I appreciate the support.

Finally, congratulations to any A Level students that got results today, hope you all did better than me! (If i stopped reading fan fic I might actually get round to revision...)

Chapter 4:Later That Night

Sunlight pushed its way into the room in uneven strips, forcing Wesley to wake up. It took him all of twelve seconds to realise that he was alone. The bed sheets were ruffled, but cold, so he knew she had left some time ago. He got out of bed and stumbled into the living room. There wasn't a single sign that she had even been there, even the coffee cups they had used last night were gone from the table. Resigning himself to the fact that she rally wasn't here, he headed back to his bedroom, noticing as he passed, that she had left the borrowed sweat pants on the back of the arm chair, but his shirt seemed to be missing.

Earlier that night.

They had kissed. Hearts racing, breathless, they had pulled apart. Now standing, merely inches apart, he could feel Faith's hot breath against his face, and with her had shakily placed on his chest, she could feel his thumping heart.

They seemed to be frozen, neither sure what to do next.

"What are we doing here Wes?" she whispered, raising her head to look at him, letting her hands rest easily on his shoulders, when his were tenderly stoking her waist under the loose shirt, movements that neither noticed or opposed in anyway.

"I don't know. We could spend all night thinking about it and still not find the answer." His voice was husky with longing and it made her melt into his arms.

"Then let's stop thinking."

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Some time later Faith awoke feeling unusually warm and safe. As she became more awake, she realized it was because there was a warm body next to her, and an arm thrown across her waist. Then she really was awake, and she could very clearly remember the events that put them both here now. She knew as soon as he woke up Wes would regret it; it would be best for everyone involved if they just pretended it never happened. So she very carefully slid out from under his arm, holding her breath until she was completely off the bed. He didn't stir. Her clothes were still on the living room floor where she had dropped them the night before, so with one last regretful look at Wesley, she left the room.

Out of the bedroom, and out of temptations way, she could think a little clearer. She rescued her clothes from the floor and quickly dressed, before she got rid of the coffee cups – no sense in leaving him any reminders of such a stupid mistake. That done, she was back in the living room, stuck on what to do next. She looked around the room helplessly, anyone watching this from the outside may have been inclined to think that Faith, the jaded, dark slayer didn't really want to leave, but right now, she was so convinced that sleeping with her former Watcher was something that should never have happened that would leave. She placed the clothe she leant her on the back of his chair and headed for the door, but, almost on impulse, she grabbed the shirt and put it on over her tank top, then bolted for the door, closing it soundlessly behind her.

When it had finally sunk in that she had left, Wes wasted no time in berating himself for how things had turned out. He wished he had just put his libido on hold and actually talked to her! But then, he realized, she probably wouldn't have let him. He imagined that trying to get someone as defensive and volatile as Faith to talk about her feelings would be like getting blood from a stone.

Conceded to the fact that he was never going to get back to sleep now, he dressed and headed for the office, not that it was wholly unusual for him to be in his office at five am, at least he could find something productive to do with the insomnia that only the raven haired slayer could induce.

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Back inside the Hyperion hotel, Faith could see Angel sitting behind his old desk, looking just as lost as she felt. He didn't even notice she was in the office until she was practically in front of him.

"Faith," he looked up distractedly, "Um, Andrew said you wouldn't be long. I was worried."

"Yeah, looks like it," sarcasm edged into her voice and her eyebrows rose in question. Her mentor sighed, defeated and sunk his hands.

"I'm sorry. Buffy and I, we had a...an altercation," he began, seemingly not even noticing when Faith sat down, she was glad to focus on his problems as she ignored her own. "I just don't know what to do now. So much has changed for both of us, especially in these last few weeks, is it even possible to go back to how things were between us before? Errrh!" the pencil he was gripping crumbled under the force of his frustrations. With a deep, steadying breath he remembered that Faith was in the room, and offered her a bashful smile in way of an apology. "Sorry, you don't need to hear all this. Have you any idea what you're gonna do now that the apocalypse is over?"

"I've still got some shit I need to work out ya know, so I'll probably hang around till everyone else knows what there're doing."

"Yeah that's a good idea. The principal guy was asking where you were, he looked kinda...tense." As soon as he said that Faith figured it was time she left before their conversation got any deeper.

"I should go and see if he's awake then." She rose from the chair and headed for the door.

"You might wanna take Wesley's shirt off before you see him."

Faith froze with her hand on the door handle. How could she have forgotten she was wearing it?

"Just be careful, Faith."

She looked across at him, silently thanking him for not pushing her to talk about it. In all fairness, she should have known that Angel would figure it out, she should have gone straight upstairs without stopping, hell, she just shouldn't have slept with Wes in the first place.

But she did, and now she was going to have to deal with the fallout.

But not right now. Was it really avoidance if you postpone talking to your pissed off-confused-potential boyfriend to check on a friend who had a fight with her undead-confused-potential boyfriend? Faith didn't think so.

So when she saw light creeping out from under Buffy's door, she knocked softly, entering when she heard her sister slayer give permission, prison had, if anything given her a whole new respect for privacy.

"Hey B, how's it goin?" The blond gave her a big, but completely fake grin before answering.

"Great! I'm just, you know, looking forward to retiring!"

"Uh huh," Faith was not convinced, "sure. Only I just saw Soulboy downstairs, and he seemed pretty upset about something." Buffy visibly deflated onto the bed.

"Nothing's ever easy between the two of us."

'Well duh, you kill his kind on a nightly basis, plus you were just recently knocking boots with a certain bleached blonde that Angel hated." Despite the bluntness of the words the were spoken sympathetically.

"I loved Spike, Faith, he didn't believe that, but I did. But with Angel everything is just so ..."

"Intense?"

"Oh yeah, it's defiantly intense." Her hazel eyes met Faith's brown, asking for help without saying a word, Faith sat down next to her on the bed but kept quiet. They sat in silence for quite awhile before Buffy began to fidget.

"Isn't this the part where you're supposed to say something to make me feel better?"

"Shhh, I'm trying to think of something classy and inspirational. It takes time." Buffy looked at Faith incredulously for a moment before the two burst into a fit of much needed laughter. Buffy was suddenly realizing how much she had missed Faith when she switched sides.

"Okay, listen, I've got something," Faith breathed, trying to stop the laughter. "The way I see it, you two were always trying to put your relationship before the fight, and you always ended up getting kicked in the balls for it. But things have changed, it's not just your fight now B, there's nothing to stop the two of you being together except you own stubbornness. Well, and that little 'happiness clause', but I'm sure you'll find a way around that in time. Good thing's come to those who wait, right?"

"Wow. That...actually made sense." She stated, Faith's words still working through her head.

"Don't worry, it's not a sign of the apocalypse or anything," she laughed.

"Thanks Faith." She replied seriously, and took a deep cleansing breath. "So, you and Robin, huh? Is he what you've being waiting for?" her question was entirely teasing, but she noticed Faith tense up, "can I help? I owe you now..."

"He's a great guy and all, but..."

"He's not your prince charming."

Faith smiled a little sadly, confirming Buffy's statement.

"You should tell him. And, you know you will meet you prince, Faith, just when you do remember not to run from it. I've spent a long time running from love, trust me."

Faith smiled a thanks, "You should go tell Fang how you really feel before you lose your nerve." And so Buffy headed downstairs, but not before giving Faith a bone crunching hug.

More soon I hope, let me know if anyone is actually still reading this...