AN: Thank you to everyone who left a review. I plan on really getting into this fic and I guess all you writers know how much easier it is to do that when you get some feedback! And I appreciate constructive criticism too – any ideas and thoughts are always appreciated. And just to clear up a question that was asked – it was Buffy working in the bar at the beginning, Faith was looking for Buffy but ran out. So it's Buffy's apartment they go back to and hence it's Faith that would need to find a place to stay. Hope that cleared it up!
Enjoy……(I hope) ……
Chapter 4 – Ironic Chance
Previously……..
"How's your head feeling?" she asked, nodding towards it.
"A lot better thanks. That sleep really helped. And speaking of………." Buffy trailed off.
"Yeah, must be about 5 by now. I should probably go and get my car, get checked into a motel" Faith said, stifling a yawn.
"Just stay" Buffy said quietly.
"You want me to stay?" Faith asked, turning her head to look at the sky again.
"Yeah, I do. Come inside" Buffy swung her leg over the frame and went back inside.
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"Did you sleep alright?" Buffy asked, taking a sip of her coffee.
"I guess so" Faith replied, her eyes following a passing rollerblader.
They were sitting outside a beachfront café where they'd come for breakfast on Buffy's suggestion. Faith was now growing impatient to hear some answers but knew that Buffy was deliberately procrastinating.
"So are we gonna do this or what? Cos I didn't come here for tea" Faith said, a slight edge to her voice.
"It's coffee, not tea" Buffy replied.
"Whatever. Don't be fucking trite Buffy, I really ain't in the mood"
"God things do change. You're saying things like "trite"" Buffy said, smiling slightly.
This however, did not raise a smile from the dark haired girl, who instead fixed her counterpart with a steely glare. Sighing, Buffy pushed her sunglasses back onto her head, carefully avoiding her stitches, and sat back in her chair. A feeling of mild dread descended on her.
"I think I'll start with the easier stuff for now. You know, to get the ball rolling."
Faith simply nodded, indicating for Buffy to continue.
"Ok, so…….this is where I live…….obviously. I've been living here for about six months, which is pretty much the longest I've stayed in the one place since I left LA. You saw last night where I work. It's nothing amazing but the tips can be good and it suits me to work at night. I'm sure you can relate."
Faith smiled at this, giving Buffy some encouragement to go on.
"So I work, I swim in the sea, I eat when I have to and I sleep when my brain lets me. That's my life. Simple because that's the way I want it."
"And slaying? Does that fit into this simple lifestyle that defies what you are?" asked Faith, her voice laced with derision.
Casting her eyes to the table, Buffy hesitated in her response, "There's two other slayers in town…….they seem to be handling things"
Faith snorted, "Oh give me a break B. You are the slayer, it's about who you are, not how much you are or aren't needed in the fight".
"No Faith" Buffy responded tersely, "That's the whole point, I am not the slayer anymore, I'm just one of many"
"So what, you've just turned your back on your calling? On what you were built for? On everything you've, we've worked for?" Faith shot back, incredulous that this girl in front of her was the same Buffy Summers that defeated the First Evil and saved the world time and time again.
Buffy looked up at Faith, "You don't think I deserve a break, a normal life? I think I've paid my dues and I'm damn well entitled to pass the baton if that's what I want"
The conversation had quickly changed to a subject that was making Buffy increasingly agitated and as she reached for her coffee she knocked over the glass sugar dispenser, sending it crashing to the ground.
"Damn", she mumbled, bending down to pick up the larger shards of glass.
"If I really believed that's what you wanted, that you were happy right now….then I wouldn't be here B. If you can tell me that all the decisions you've made over these past few years have been the right ones, and have led you to a life you truly want….then I'll walk away from here right now" Faith offered, looking Buffy straight in the eye.
Buffy was suddenly so struck by how much Faith had grown up and matured since she had last seen her. She had changed a lot when she'd turned up in Sunnydale after her stint in jail, but the change in her now was even more apparent. She seemed so grounded and mellow, without a trace of the false bravado from her younger years. That cocky teenager had all but disappeared and been replaced with a really exceptional young woman. But then she always was exceptional, Buffy thought to herself. As Buffy mused over these changes she let her eyes roam over her fellow slayer and noted the physical differences too. She wouldn't have thought it would be possible but Faith had become even more beautiful. The bone structure of her face was more defined and she exuded a sort of effortless elegance. And her body…….well it looked to Buffy like she was in the best physical condition she'd ever seen her in, to say the least. She realised she was now blatantly staring at the girl and was dragged from her stupor by Faith saying her name.
"B? Earth to B? Have I lost you?"
"Sorry, I just kinda zoned out there" Buffy replied, shaking her head slightly to clear her thoughts "And no, you haven't lost me Faith. I think you've found me"
At this, she reached out and took Faith's hand, but only for a moment, because suddenly everything felt very strange and overwhelming. Faith could feel her withdrawing, the shift in her demeanour almost palpable.
"B?" she said softly.
Buffy did not look at her.
"B" she tried again, "Please look at me"
Buffy raised her eyes very slowly to meet hers and what Faith saw there almost made her reach over and take her in her arms. Her beautiful, soft, pure girl was in pain. So much pain was shining out from those green eyes. This answered Faith's question from before; Buffy was most definitely not happy, but all the reasons why, Faith was yet to find out.
"Let's go find a quiet spot on the beach" Faith said, throwing a twenty on the table as she stood.
As they walked near the shore, both slayers were quiet, listening to the sound of the surf and the gulls overhead. A little further along, Faith took Buffy's hand and led them up the beach slightly where she placed her jacket on the sand for them to sit on.
Turning to face her, Faith began, "Ok, so here's the thing. I'm not gonna push you to talk to me or say anything you don't wanna say cos I know you must have your reasons. I mean, yeah…..two years of reasons. But at the same time this is hard for me. I'm really angry with you"
At this Buffy's face flushed and she looked away.
"But not in the way that I want to fight B" Faith continued, squeezing Buffy's hands slightly. "You have to understand though…..I haven't heard a word from you for two years. You leaving was so fucking confusing for me cos as far as I was concerned we were getting on better than we ever had. The only reason I knew you were dead or alive was through Dawnie"
"Did she tell you I was here?" Buffy interjected.
Faith let go of Buffy's hand to take a cigarette from the box in her jacket pocket.
"No, don't worry B, your little sis was loyal to you to the very last" she responded, lighting the cigarette and taking a long draw on it. "She only ever let me know you were ok and I never asked any more of her"
Buffy was gazing at the profile of Faith's mouth as she exhaled.
"Oh" she managed, "So how did you find me then?"
Faith let out a small laugh, "Bizarrely enough by chance. After trekking around this entire country for all this time, it's pure fucking luck in the end that brought me into that club last night"
"Or maybe not" Buffy said.
"Yeah well I can't believe in anything but luck and chance anymore Buffy, cos I can't believe that fate would've put me through all this"
Buffy was so taken aback by Faith's honest tack that she found herself lost for words. She could only stare at the brunette as she kept her gaze fixed on the waves in front of them.
"I was ready to give up last night" Faith continued, "I decided I was never gonna find you and that maybe I wasn't meant to. So I went into that club with the sole intention of getting wasted before I headed back to LA"
Buffy laughed at this, breaking the tension slightly.
Faith laughed too, "Yup, I was getting off the Buffy train and going for some R&R…...or probably some J&D" she smirked, "I was getting bored of lookin for your sorry ass anyhow blondie" she finished, punching Buffy playfully on the arm.
Buffy's heart swelled a little at Faith's brighter tone and she felt a little hope.
"So why did you run out of there when you saw me then?" she asked.
"Cos I just about shit my pants" Faith replied, making Buffy smile, "I told you, I had given up, that was it, I was through……and then there you are, standing right in front of me. I dunno, I just panicked and before I knew it I was running away from you like it had been me running all along"
"So you didn't even know I worked there?" Buffy asked, surprised.
"Nope, no idea" Faith replied, "Some detective I make huh?"
Buffy smiled. "It's fairly ironic if you think about it"
"Yeah, ironic chance" said Faith, turning to look into the eyes that she'd dreamt about every night for two years.
"Why did you come here Faith? I know you're angry with me. I can feel it brimming inside of you. I keep thinking you're going to explode and start pummelling me or something"
At this Faith noticeably blanched. Even though Buffy's tone was light, the thought that the girl ever thought she would want to hurt her ever again pained her.
"Geez B, you think I've lived out of a duffel bag for god knows how long just to come and kick your ass?"
"When have you not lived out of a duffel bag?" Buffy replied, smiling.
"Touche Buff" Faith responded, loving the shine in Buffy's eyes when she smiled, "But seriously, no pummelling approaching. I don't wanna fight ya B"
"What do you want then?" Buffy asked, looking almost afraid as her eyes met Faith's.
"I want to know why you left" Faith replied, her breath catching in her throat.
Without hesitating, Buffy responded, "Because I was in love with you"
Faith couldn't speak. She could barely breathe. Had she just heard that right? Did Buffy actually just say those words to her? Buffy was staring at her. Staring right into her, and she knew she had heard it right. Just as she began to try and say something she was cut off by a yell coming from down the beach.
"Buffy! Hey Buffy!" yelled a woman approaching them and waving.
Faith felt like she was in some sort of dream, she couldn't quite get her head to focus. Then reality came crashing back with the sound of Buffy muttering "Damn" as she watched the woman come nearer.
Buffy stood up and gave a small wave, looking very uncomfortable. Faith could see the girl was extremely attractive. She appeared to be wearing the tiniest cut-off denim shorts that Faith had ever seen, and this only served to accentuate her very long and very tanned legs. Her hair was long, blonde and had that tousled thing going on and this coupled with the flowery bikini top she wore, served to create the whole 'surf-chick-goddess' look.
Faith didn't like her.
"Hey baby, what you doing out here so early?" the woman said as she approached them. Or at least that's what Faith thought she said as all brain-function seemed to cease working as she witnessed Buffy being pulled into a passionate kiss by the stranger.
To be continued…………