They wrote their own vows, very touching really. Unfortunately, I don't remember them word for word, sorry. But you know the drill, I love you…I want to be with you forever…Good times and bad. The best part was when it was over. The coven began to chant softly and the two girls began to hover a foot over the ground, still kissing each other. They part and look around as soft music fills the room. Instead of walking down the isle together, they float on their own cloud. It was really beautiful. You should see the pictures sometime.
Imagine my surprise when I turn to collect leave and see Faith across the room. I didn't even know she was coming. I figured she might but then I didn't see her. Apparently she snuck in just as the wedding started. That wasn't what surprised me though. The surprise came in a pair of arms, wrapped around her waist. Her own arms resting on them as she leaned back into the embrace. She looked comfortable there, I'd never seen her touching someone as intimate as that in public. Faith isn't exactly the snuggle kind of girl I am.
She turns her face up and kisses him softly under the chin. He smiles at her and she looks out over the room. I grab my purse as her eyes hit me, trying to make it seem like I haven't noticed her. I don't know if she caught me looking or not. I just made a beeline for the door and headed towards the reception.
I drove back to the hotel, the reception being held in one of the ballrooms. I was happy for her, really. I want her to be happy, but I just wasn't expecting it so fast. Yeah, its been a year but for her to be in a relationship with someone else didn't make sense. Faith was always 'get some get gone' girl and now she's all snuggles and warm fuzzies in public? That's when brilliance hit me. At least I thought I was brilliant at the time. It's all for show.
Ego much? Yeah, I know but I can't help it sometimes. She was supposed to be so hot for me last year she wanted to start a relationship and now she's just as hot about someone else? Didn't make sense to me. If I'm still thinking about her she has to still be thinking about me. Right?
Let her play her game. I won't let it bother me. She can have her fun and I'll just have some of my own. Since it'd be suicide to call her on my little theory. She'd chew me a new one before she'd admit I'm right. Instead I start to hatch a plan of my own…
I'm one of the first to arrive back at the hotel so I head up to my room to freshen up. Not Angel's hotel though. Did I mention we've relocated? Oops, must have slipped my mind. Remember that uncomfortable feeling I was getting around him? Well, it just got worse when the others started feeling it. Something was going on with him and he wasn't talking about it. It all started when he took over that law firm. We tried to reach out to him but he blew us off. One night we all got together and decided it was best to leave LA. We were launching a whole new front and we needed to keep a clear head. Being around whatever was dragging Angel down wasn't good for us. So we left.
That's how we ended up in Europe. The coven was already in England, as well as most of the texts that Giles located. I stayed in London with them for a while but we soon learned that we needed to spread out a little. So I volunteered to move to Paris and start up a headquarter there too.
But right now I'm back in London. That's where everyone but Dawn and Andrew live. This hotel is a historical landmark. It's been standing over a hundred years. So it's a little run down but it just adds to it's charm. I reapply my make up, touching up a rough spot here and there. Being the oldest slayer ever does wonders for the complexion. I can't believe how worn out my face looks sometimes, I'm not that old am I?
I hear music start somewhere downstairs and assume that means just about everyone is here. I breeze down the stairs and into the ballroom, greeted by the happy couple. I pull Wills into a hug. "You two were beautiful. The ceremony was beautiful. Everything is just…'
"Beautiful." Willow finishes for me, a silly grin on her face as she looks at Kennedy. I give Kennedy a quick hug, things being easier between us since we took the First down.
"I'm happy for you," I say to her, smiling and squeezing her arm a little.
She nods her head and puts an arm around Willow. "Thanks, now go party while we greet the last few stragglers."
I turn and walk into the ballroom, finding my seat in between Dawn and Xander, neither of whom are at the table. I glance around, looking at a surprising amount of people I don't know and then Xander catches my eye, coming back to the table with a few drinks in his hands. He sets them down, placing one in front of me, one in front of Dawn's seat and sipping his own. "Thought you might be a little parched from all the crying and whatnot that goes on at these things."
He laughed nervously and sat down. I think he was a little uncomfortable being here. He hadn't been at a wedding since he left Anya at the alter. She's still a sore spot for the boy but he's doing better each day. He even went out on a date last week, which reminds me… "Xander, how'd it go with Claire?"
"Well," he blushes a little and takes a sip of his drink. "Actually I think it went pretty well. I took her out to dinner, we caught a play downtown and then went for a walk on the beach."
I smiled at him. "That sounds like a pretty romantic date."
"I have my moments," he smirks at me and I'm happy for him. "We're going out again tomorrow night. Any ideas?"
I'm distracted by the site of my sister coming into the room, Faith trailing behind her with a duffle bag and pausing outside the door. She taps Dawn on the shoulder and she turns to look at her. I can't hear what they're saying. Slayer hearing doesn't help when you're sitting near a speaker playing music. I see Dawn nod her head and give Faith a quick hug, then she turns back and heads towards us. Faith doesn't even look around as she picks up the bag and turns, walking back into the lobby.
"Thanks for the drink Xander," Dawn says as she takes her seat, picking up the glass. "Hey Buffy, great party huh?"
"She quit talking about two minutes ago Dawnie. Something, or someone has caught her attention." He tells my sister, which snaps me out of my trance.
"Sorry Xander, did you say something?"
He laughed softly. "I asked if you had any ideas for the second date."
"Oh." I pondered this for a while, not sure what there really was to do around here. Then I remembered I lived here before, I should know. It seems like another life to me though. Then I remember one night. "I've got just the place to take her. Pack up a couple blankets and fix a picnic. Bring a radio and some romantic music."
"I've got some cds you can use Xander, all girly music perfect for the occasion," Dawn piped in. I glance curiously at her. "What, I may not been really there but I remember you telling me about it."
I nod at her and look back to Xander. "I have just the spot, I'll draw you up a map later and give it to you in the morning. It'll be perfect I promise."
Xander smiles at me and gives my hand a squeeze, "Thanks Buffy, I appreciate this." And I can tell that he does. He's finally getting a little happiness in his life.
"Ooo. She's over there Xander, go ask her to dance." Dawn beams as she points to a table across the room. He doesn't have to be told twice, getting up and walking over to her table. I watch them speak for a minute. She shyly looks around and nods, giving her hand to him and letting him lead her onto the floor. They look cute together.
Why is she hear and not sitting with us you might ask? Well, she's a slayer. One of the newbies that pop out of, well everywhere. This is Xander we're talking about, he's always had a thing for slayers.
As soon as they're dancing Dawn turns in her chair, looking at me. "Did you see her?"
I don't have to ask who do I? Dawn and I have grown really close this last year. She's grown up a lot and we don't bicker nearly as much as we used to. In fact, next to Willow she's my best friend. She doesn't know what went on between Faith and I that night but she knows that her leaving upset me. "Yeah I saw her."
"What'd she say?" Dawn looked at me curiously.
"No talking. Just saw her briefly at the wedding and then just now when you were talking to her." I lifted my glass to my mouth but learned it was already empty. Hmm… didn't realize I did that.
"Oh." Dawn looked almost more upset than I was.
"What? Is there something I should know?"
She looked up at me quickly and shook her head. "No, not really I guess. I just hoped you two would talk. I know how much you miss her and your friendship is too important to let slip away."
"I'm not the one who's letting it." That came out a little more bitter than I meant. Probably because its not entirely true. She gave me a chance and I blew it. But she wasn't being fair was she. She threw me a curve ball and then expected me to hit a home run in front of everyone?
Dawn looked at me and narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, but you aren't exactly doing much to try to stop it."
I'm about to snap at her when I realize she's right. I sigh and sit back, not sure what to say.
"She's living in Paris." Dawn adds quietly.
"Really?" I can't help but sound shocked. Of all the places I'd expect her to be, my town was the last one. I can normally sense when she's around. I get this warm tingle up and down my spine. Slayer sense and all. Although now that I think about it, I didn't feel it at the church either. And I didn't feel it when she was in LA with us. I haven't felt it since that night. I'll have to ask Willow if her spell could have messed with the link.
That's when it dawned on me. The link was there, but wasn't as strong. I'm always surrounded by slayers now. I've just gotten used to that tingle because it's always there now. Great!
"Yeah, but not forever you know. Said she's going back to the states at the end of the month."
I motion to a waiter to bring us another round and look at her. "What's she doing here?"
"Her and Zach are back packing through Europe. She takes off to pick up a slayer if we need her too but they're on vacation. They got to go back though because her business is about to open."
"Business?" I can't help but be surprised. Faith never was one to hold down a job.
Dawn shrugged and took her drink as the waiter handed me mine. "They're opening some kind of club or something. She didn't go into much detail."
"Zach's her business partner?" I question, trying to hide the emotion behind it. He must be the guy I saw holding her earlier.
"Yeah, and roommate." She lets this sink in for a minute. Roommate isn't so bad, it doesn't imply anything more. "But with the kiss I saw earlier I'm guessing there is some pleasure going on too."
My face falls before I even realize it. They are together! I realize Dawn is staring at me and I recover as best I can. "That's good. Good for her."
Dawn shakes her head at me and sighs, sitting back. "I can't believe I didn't see it before."
"See what before?" Willow asks as she takes Xander's seat. He's still out dancing with Claire, I haven't seen him smile like that in years.
Before I can stop her Dawn opens her big mouth. "Buffy's got a crush on Faith."
Willow bursts into a little fit of giggles. If I wasn't trying to hide the fact that Dawn was right I probably would have thought it was cute. "Well, duh!"
Okay. That wasn't the response I was looking for. "Excuse me?"
Willow collects herself and looks at me. "I've seen the way you look at her Buffy. It's no biggie. Crushes are normal."
The way she's just blowing it off makes me feel better. She's right. People get crushes all the time. I'll just move on and that'll be that.
Nothing is ever as easy as that though. I won't bore you with all the details of the reception. I caught Willow's garter and Xander caught Kennedy's. We all had lots to drink, too much cake and woke up with belly aches. All in all, good times were had.
We returned to Paris a couple days later. I tried to forget that Faith was somewhere in town. If I dwelled on it I might go looking for her. And when I found her, I'd have to say something. And I didn't know what to say.
So I did the next best thing. Threw myself at the Immortal. Don't judge me. I just didn't know what else to do. For me, fucking vampires was normal. Go figure.
We'd been seeing each other off and on for a while but when I got back from London I put more into it. He started hanging out at the apartment. We spent some time with Dawn and Andrew so they wouldn't be weirded out with him around. They were both cool with it, although Dawn always gave me a look like she knew what I was doing.
We'd spend our nights club hopping. We'd have a few drinks, start dancing and when a song came on we didn't like we'd leave and start again someplace else. He is really quite charming and he spoiled me rotten. It was easy to lose myself to him and just have fun. It felt good.
One of these nights Angel and Spike showed up. Yeah that's right, Spike is alive and kicking. Well, undead and kicking. I knew but since he made no more to come to me I let him be. He seemed to be finding his own way and I didn't wanna bring up past shit to screw with that. I fucked his head up enough as it is. Then suddenly they are in Paris. I had no idea, thankfully. I don't know what would have happened if I realized they were there. From what I hear the watched me, took care of business and left. Come to think of it I do remember a little bar brawl that night but the Immortal was quick to keep me distracted. Maybe he was worried I'd leave with them.
He knew all about my past with them. It was sort of a camp fire tale amongst the demon world. I'm infamous around them. Sort of a calendar girl. They all wonder which of them I'll bed next. Fortunately, not many of them are around that I'd even consider bedding.
When I came in the next morning Andrew filled me in. I was a little pissed they didn't say hi but in the end I was grateful. Its better this way. Andrew was pretty cool about it. Well, he's been pretty cool in general since we moved here. He actually seems to have grown up, although he can be as annoying as ever. He has made himself sort of invaluable and I'm glad he's around. He's almost like a second Xander. But don't tell him I said that.
The Immortal had to leave that night so I was left with a day of nothing to do. Dawn was busy with some friends of hers. They were going sky diving. She's turned into the little adrenaline junkie. I didn't like it at first but I realized that life is short. She could die anytime she fights with us so who am I to take away the joy she's found.
I took a shower, got dressed and decided to just bum around town for the day. I do this sometimes, even though I've lived here a year. It's just so nice to walk around town, it's beautiful here. I've even gotten into the habit of checking out the museums and old churches. Who knew I'd find fun in the places I hated as a child.
I walk walking around the Louvre later that afternoon when I felt that tingle. I'm caught off guard. I haven't really felt it come on in a long time, but I realize I'm in a room of normal people so that must mean a slayer just came in. I wonder who it is and start to look around, searching faces instead of pictures.
She's standing with her back to me. Her long brown hair falling freely across her shoulders. Her hips jut at an angle, one hand resting on her left hip. She's staring at a painting I don't recognize. I stand there, not sure what to do. I could turn and walk about but I know she feels me to. Yet she's not reacting. Maybe she wants me to just turn around. She could have talked to me at the party and didn't. As much as I want to walk over to her I know I should respect her privacy. I turn and take a few steps away, then I hear her voice. "Whatcha think B?"
I turn back and she's looking at me. I take a step towards her and she steps back, letting me see the picture fully. "Like it?"
I walk over and stand in front of the painting, looking at the little sign that tells about it. It's called 'Virgin of the Rocks' by Leonardo Da Vinci. It's a woman sitting on the rocks, surrounded by three children. I'm not sure what it is they're doing but they all look peaceful. "Its beautiful."
She steps forward, standing next to me but not close enough to touch. "Yeah, its my favorite. I come see it everyday."
I'm not sure why she's opening up to me, but I'm glad. It's almost like we're still close. I press my luck. "How come?"
"Its so dark." She takes a breathe, trying to find her words. "They seem at home ya know. It's kind of comforting that you can still be home when you're surrounded by the dark."
We stand their silently for a minute and then she turns, slowly walking out of the room. It takes me a second to realize she's leaving and I turn, catching up to her quickly. "Got a minute?" She shrugs and looks at me, waiting for me to continue.
"Follow me." Without thinking about it I grab her hand and start walking across the museum. She walks with me silently and I lead her to another wall of paintings. I stop us in front of the one I was searching out and she looks at it.
We're silent for a few minutes. I realize I've slipped my fingers between hers and she hasn't pulled away. I find it comforting just standing here with her, quietly. Suddenly she gets a little antsy and I feel her shift her weight. "Why this one?"
I shrug a little and think about why this is my favorite. It's called 'The Tree of Crows' by Caspar David Friedrich. It's a barren tree on the top of a hill over looking a wide, empty landscape. The sun is setting, or rising I suppose, and the colors are a pretty mix of yellow, orange and pink. But where the tree is it's very dark, and there are only a few leaves left. There are some crows flying at the top of the picture. "Its how I feel most of the time. Like I'm standing alone, at the top of the hill, looking at everyone else. I'm used to the darkness, but it doesn't stop me from wanting the light. I just don't think I'll ever find it."
We both grow quiet again, just looking at the painting. I unconsciously squeeze her hand and that's when she takes a step back, letting go. I look at her and she smiles a little. "I gotta go." "Oh." I say softly, not hiding the fact that I don't want her to leave. I smile a little when I notice she's reluctant to leave.
"Yeah, um…" she shuffles her feat a little, taking step away. "Plane to catch and all. Can't be late."
"You leaving town?" I turn and square my body with hers, looking into her eyes. She's leaving now? When we just finally started talking? This can't be happening.
"Gotta go back to the states. Zach's waiting in the car. We just stopped here so I could see the painting once more." She starts walking towards the exit and I follow her.
"Where ya moving to this time?" I ask casually.
"We're flying into New York," she says as we walk outside. A car pulls up a minute later and the horn honks. She smiles and waves to Zach before turning to me. "It was good to see you."
"You can call sometime," I say shyly. I don't want to stop talking to her now. I wish I knew what she was thinking. She walks down a few steps, leaving me near the door.
"We'll see B."
And that's all I get. Next thing I know she's climbing into the passenger seat and leaning over to him, giving him a soft kiss on the cheek as they drive away. Not exactly what I was expecting from our first encounter but it wasn't all unpleasant. At least I know we can be civil with each other.
I started walking back to the apartment. There was a little bounce in my step that wasn't there before. I felt like some of the weight on my shoulders had been lifted. I wasn't sure what was going to happen and at that point I wasn't worried about it. Whatever's to be will be and all.
Since I had nothing to do when I got home I figured I'd fill you in. Thanks for listening. You're always so good at that. But now its late and I want to do a quick patrol before turning in. I've got that itch to kick some ass tonight and it feels good. I'll talk to you later.