Title: LEARN THEIR NAMES.

Author: RogueVulcan

Summary: During the episode "Empty Places". This is what I felt should of happened in that confrontational scene where Buffy is kicked out.

Disclaimer: Spoiler for BtVS episode Empty Place and Touched. Oh! And I don't own anything, Buffy is not mine and so forth... To the story!

Previously:

Faith followed her senses, the tingle getting stronger the closer she got. Her feet had led her to a bedroom where Buffy laid curled up on the large double bed. Faith stood hesitantly in the door.

'Are you just going to stand there?' Buffy spoke without turning to look at her.

Learn Their Names Cont...

'I don't know. What kind of incentive are you going to give me to move?' Faith asked with a slight smirk, her soft brown eyes expressing her flirtatious humor.

Buffy rolled her shoulders to partially face her, a wry smile gracing her lips as one finely shaped eyebrow arched.

'Depends,' she stated then rolled more fully to face Faith, 'on whether you like pleasure or pain more.'

'Is there an Option C: All of the above?' Faith's smirk turned into an all-out grin as she walked into the room. Buffy couldn't help but chuckle.

'Yep, that's my Faith.' Buffy stated. She looked down for a moment, the smile still present.

Faith's expression quirked momentarily, My Faith?, she thought.

'I walked right into that one, didn't I?' Buffy continued, locking her gaze with Faith's. A warmth of the moment spread through them as they continued to stare at one another. Faith realized that subconsciously she had been searching for Buffy since she had left the house.

'Where's Spike?' Faith abruptly asked.

'Gone' was all she said. Faith looked at her hoping she would elaborate. There was a long silence, and then Buffy sighed.

'We had a slight argument. He was angry that I had given up.' Buffy started fiddling with the quilt cover on the bed. 'Unfortunately he had a point. That's the maddening thing about him.' She smiled slightly then looked back up at Faith.

'What's got you so down?' Buffy asked with intuition. Faith shrugged with a heavy sigh, causing Buffy to pat the space next to her on the bed for Faith to sit.

'I don't know if I can do it, B.' Faith, who had previously been staring at the ground, looked up to gazing sincerely into Buffy's blue eyes. 'I have never been responsible for anyone before. What if I fail?' Faith's voice had raised in volume slightly from the nervous quiver her voice.

'It doesn't matter if you fail, just so long as you lead them with the best intentions and with all that you are.' Buffy stated simply. She looked away to thinking about it for a moment; a confused expression crossed her face. 'That is if you want advice from someone who people clearly don't trust to lead them'

'I trust you, B' Faith stated seriously.

'And a houseful of people who don't.' Buffy locked gazes with Faith once more. 'Thanks, Faith. That means a lot to me.' A somber silence then settled in the room. Buffy suddenly decided to break the melancholy atmosphere. 'Have a little Faith in yourself.' Buffy quipped with a smile.

'Hardy, har, har.' Faith responded sarcastically but her face lit up with a smile. They shared a moment of humor.

'We have discovered knowledge about a hidden arsenal of weapons that The First has been building'

'I still can't help but feel that the vineyard is the key.' Buffy said with conviction.

'I know you do, B, and I believe in your instinct. You should check it out, while I'll look into the arsenal.'

'Be careful Faith.'

'You too,' she responded. Both girls got lost in the depth of emotion in the other's eyes. Slowly their heads began to lean in towards each other, both caught up in the moment. The sudden crash of Faith's wooden stake as it rolled out of her pocket and fell to the hardwood floor broke the spell. Both girls sat up straight again as they stared at the stake in mater-of-fact manner. They both acknowledged that something was stirring between them and that the other felt it as well.

'It paid me a visit.' Faith stated. Buffy looked at her questioningly.

'The First' Faith swallowed. 'It looked like the Mayor.' Buffy just nodded, hoping Faith would continue, but the silence dragged out.

'It knows how important you are. It's just finally acknowledged it.' Buffy said.

More silence stretched out.

'What did it say to you?' Buffy asked knowingly.

'This and that. You won't win yadda, yadda, yadda, I will rule the world yadda, yadda, yadda. You know the same old bull-shitting posturing crap that evil always does before the fight.' She explained hoping that Buffy would accept that. Buffy waited for more. Faith reluctantly continued, 'and a bunch of other stuff about me.'

'Don't worry about it, it is just trying to get your goat.' Buffy soothed.

'Yeah, but he had a ring of truth to it.' Faith said

'What did he say?' She asked.

'It told me that you still think of me as a killer. That you always would'

'You are a slayer' Buffy stated simply.

'Same diff.' Faith replied looking down at the toe of her boots wiggling idly.

'No, its not.' Buffy said with steel in her voice. 'It is something I had to learn myself as well a little while ago.' Buffy felt there was more to what it said to Faith then she had told. 'What else did it say?' She coaxed.

Faith looking into Buffy's eyes hesitantly, the fear she couldn't disguise in her expression.

'That I am looking for approval...your love' Faith waited anxiously for Buffy's response. Buffy took a moment to look deep into Faith's eyes.

'You already have it.'

They both smiled at each other, and then gradually leaned in to meet each others lips.

The End

Well that's it. I am sorry I didn't update faster but University tends to get in the way. I have finally completed my fan fiction study on Buffy/Faith slash fiction and that was the last of my university study. Hurray!!! I am now out and about look for a job, so hopefully I can get some work on a film set (I studied film by the way) to support my internet habit of fan fiction reading, and salutations to all you writers out there! You make my life more enjoyable.