"That's two attacks in four days Giles," Buffy said angrily. "There must be some reason behind them?"
Buffy sat behind her desk, hands clenched together in front of her. Giles was sitting in one of the chairs in front of her, the other chair was occupied by Faith and Dawn who was sitting in Faith's lap, her head on Faith's shoulder, her injured arm in a sling and Faith's arms wrapped protectively around her waist, both Giles and Buffy were trying hard to ignore Dawn's position.
"Yeah come on G-man you and your Watcher pals must have come up with something else," Faith added.
"Well besides the obvious, destabilising the Council, we haven't come up with anything," Giles said, troubled by this fact. He removed his glasses and began to clean them. "Killing you both would achieve that aim successfully and killing Dawn what with her…" Giles hesitated. "Relationships with the both of you would achieve a similar aim, as for anything else there are no signs or portents or any indication of anything untoward.
"There are no signs of the First gathering an army like it did last time, there are no prophecies that relate to the current situation that we can tell and other Bringer attacks are few and far between with no pattern that we can discern," Giles sighed clearly frustrated. "So in conclusion we know bugger all."
The three girls stared, surprised at Giles' uncharacteristic outburst, he replaced his glasses and noticed everyone looking at him strangely. "Sorry I've been up all night for the past few days I haven't got much sleep recently," he apologised.
"Go and get some now Giles you look ready to drop we can handle everything for a while," Buffy noticed how tired her former Watcher looked. "And that's an order," she added.
Giles gave her a wan smile. "As you wish Buffy, my bed does look rather inviting right now," he got up slowly. "I'll update you if I find out anything," he nodded goodbye to Dawn who smiled back, before he left the room.
Buffy turned to Faith and Dawn, hoping her sister would move into the seat Giles had just vacated, Dawn however settled herself more comfortably in Faith's lap.
Buffy tried to will her hands to unclench themselves, unsuccessfully. "You're sure the First didn't say anything that might help, any hints as to what it's up to?" she asked her sister.
Dawn shook her head. "No it was acting like you, well up until it came to the slicing me into little pieces and mounting them on a wall bit, you usually give me some kind of warning before threatening me like that."
Buffy refused to rise to her sister's baiting. "I suppose we're back to square one then," she said sighing unhappily.
"So what do we do now?" Dawn asked her sister.
"I think in light of the latest attack you shouldn't be alone at any time Dawnie, after you finish school come directly here, if I'm working late or patrolling I want you to spend the night at a friend's house preferably one of the slayers."
"You could come stay at mine," Faith offered without thinking.
Dawn gave her a big smile. "Thanks I think that's a great idea."
'I don't,' Buffy thought. "I don't know Dawn, Faith is probably going to be pretty busy."
"Why?" Faith asked her.
"Yes why?" Dawn shot her sister a dark look.
"Well you know, training and stuff…" Buffy's voice trailed off as she saw the look on Dawn's face.
"I usually have that finished before dark B," Faith didn't notice the tension between the Summers sisters. "After all most of the newbies have to be home by then and I'm not taking them out patrolling yet."
"Right I suppose you're not so busy then," Buffy said reluctantly.
"So that's settled," Dawn said brightly. "I'll stay at Faith's if you're not home."
Buffy thought quickly trying to raise another objection, besides the obvious not wanting Dawn spending the night with Faith alone, especially considering that double bed in Faith's apartment. "Well you know just in case Faith is busy-"
"She won't be," Dawn interrupted her voice hard.
Now Faith noticed the gathering tension. "If that's everything B I should probably be getting back to my place," she stood up placing Dawn on her feet.
"I'll come with," Dawn slipped her hand into Faith's.
"Actually Dawn I have a few things to finish here and then we can go home," Buffy said quickly.
Dawn opened her mouth to argue.
"Sounds like a plan B," Faith cut in before Dawn could say anything. "See you later baby," she pecked Dawn on the cheek and left.
"Now look what you've done," Dawn hissed at her sister and hurried after Faith before Buffy could reply.
"Faith," Dawn called out managing to reach Faith before she got into the lift. "I'm sorry about that back there, that was just Buffy being Buffy, she can be a bit overprotective of me at times," she explained hoping Faith wasn't too upset.
"I've noticed," Faith said wryly. "Don't worry about it I'm used to it, 'specially from B, but I think she's right you and her need to spend some time together, talk about things."
"Like you and me?"
"That would be one of them," Faith nodded. "And anyway with that arm of yours we couldn't get up to anything fun anyway," she added grinning wickedly.
Dawn grinned back. "We could, you would just have to promise to be gentle."
"And I will be," Faith promised, kissing Dawn gently on the lips. "But not tonight."
"Do you not want to spend time with me?" Dawn asked uncertainly.
"Of course I do baby," Faith pulled her in for a cuddle surprising them both. "But like I said you and B need to talk about things, so wait for her and then go home together and talk yeah."
"OK," Dawn hugged her back with only one arm, enjoying the feel of Faith's body close to hers. "I'll talk to her."
"Good," Faith pulled away slightly and looked Dawn in the eyes. "And make her promise not to injure me in some way, you know 'accidentally'"
The lift chimed and the doors opened.
"I'll try," Dawn let go of Faith reluctantly. "I guess you should be going."
"Yeah I probably should," Faith walked slowly into the lift and then turned around quickly, giving Dawn a long, deep kiss before slipping back inside the lift just as the doors closed.
Dawn smiled happily and went back up the corridor to Buffy's office, almost skipping as she walked.
Buffy sat at her desk deep in thought, Dawn had ducked back in to her office and told her that she'd wait but she better not take too long and then left again, Buffy could tell her little sister was still pissed at her.
This Dawn and Faith thing was a whole new level of weirdness for her, even with all the stuff she had had to deal with above the Hellmouth in Sunnydale, it had come out of nowhere with no warning, one minute they couldn't stand each other the next they were lusting after each other, she really didn't understand it at all.
She wished she had someone to talk to about this but she simply didn't, Giles would probably mutter some English thing about Americans, Xander if he was here would probably stare off into the distance lost in some lesbian fantasy world and there was no Spike, no Angel, no boyfriend full-stop.
It was at times like this that she truly missed Willow, she wanted to talk to her best friend about this and not just because she was gay and might understand this situation better but because she was her best friend and Buffy needed her to talk to.
'It has been a while since I called her,' Buffy thought. 'Maybe she can help me to somehow understand what's going on or possibly detect any magical stuff around Dawn.' Buffy wasn't letting go of the idea that some kind of spell was involved.
Buffy dialled the long international number to reach Brazil, it was only when she put the phone up to her ear and heard the dial tone that she remembered about the time difference.
'Let's see it's early evening here so it would be early afternoon there, should be OK.'
"Hello?" Willow sounded out of breath as she answered.
"Hi Will, it's Buffy."
Willow's voice abruptly brightened. "Buffy hey how are you?"
"I'm good Will, how are you and Kennedy?"
"We're great, Brazil is so beautiful Buffy you should come over and visit and bring Dawnie too she'd love it."
"Maybe I will," Willow still sounded suspiciously out of breath.
"I wasn't interrupting anything was I?" Buffy asked, trying to be delicate.
"Interrupting?" Willow paused. "No, Kennedy and I were…training the girls, that is the new slayers."
"Training the girls, is that what you call it these days?" Buffy couldn't resist teasing.
"No," Buffy could almost hear Willow blush down the phone. "We were training the new slayers, well Kennedy was training them I was watching, anything else is in your dirty slayer mind."
"Uh huh, enjoyed watching all those fit young women jump around and get all sweaty did we?"
"OK can we stop this now," Willow sounded exasperated. "Did you just call me up to tease me?"
"Partly," Buffy chose not to mention that watching others train didn't explain why Willow was out of breath. "Actually I needed to ask you some questions."
"Why is the world ending," Willow said jokingly. "It isn't ending is it?" she checked.
"Not that I'm aware of, although the First is back so it's a possibility."
"The First's back, so those Bringer attacks the newbies have been reporting were true," Willow became serious. "What's it been up to?"
"Up to now, trying to kill me, Dawn and Faith."
"Faith?" Willow was surprised. "What's she doing there?"
"So far causing me no end of trouble," Buffy said darkly. "Actually that's something else I wanted to talk to you about."
"Faith?"
Buffy sighed deeply. "More Faith and Dawn."
"Why what's Faith done to Dawn," Willow became concerned. "She hasn't hurt her has she?"
"Depends how you define hurt," Buffy said petulantly. "Faith and Dawn are apparently now a couple."
There was a long silence on the other end. "I'm sorry Buffy I think there might be something wrong with the line did you say Faith and Dawn are a couple?"
"That's exactly what I said."
"Oh," Willow was shocked into silence for a moment. "Couple as in kissing and stuff?" she checked that she hadn't misunderstood.
"Kissing and touching and other stuff that is really starting to freak me out," Buffy said dismayed. "I need some help dealing with this Will."
"Help how?" Willow tried to be supportive.
"Could you check if there's any magic involved from over there?"
"Not really, I'd need to be in the same room to do that sort of spell not a different country," said Willow. "There are some spells I could try, but I wouldn't be holding my breath about the results."
"Well try anything you can," Buffy said, disappointed. "I don't suppose you could give me some advice then."
"Advice about Faith and Dawn?"
"Yeah, I simply don't understand what's going on, they didn't like each other when they met in Sunnydale last year and now suddenly they're all over each other," Buffy said a little desperately. "And Dawnie's never mentioned liking girls, at least not like that and I suppose I'm having trouble dealing."
"Well until I met Tara I didn't really think about girls in that way either and I was older then Dawn is now."
"I guess, it's just taken me completely by surprise."
"Maybe it's not that surprising," Willow said slowly.
"What do you mean," demanded Buffy. "Have you seen something, did Faith and Dawn do something before, did Faith try something-"
"Buffy," Willow cried interrupting her friend's rant early before Buffy really got going. "You're jumping to conclusions as always, I didn't see anything."
"Then what did you mean?" Buffy said, subdued slightly by Willow's voice.
"I meant…Kennedy and I had a bet, when she first met Faith Kennedy thought she was at least bi and I thought she was kidding herself."
"So you laid a bet on it?" Buffy asked surprised.
"Well it was only five bucks," Willow said defensively. "Which I suppose I owe her now," she added annoyed.
"Why would she think that?"
"I don't know, something about the way Faith acted or her body language or something," Willow explained. "Guess it has to do with the gaydar thingy, she seems to be way better at that then I am."
"I suppose there was always something about her," Buffy thought back over Faith's previous behaviour.
"You mean once you got past the homicidal façade, yeah."
"And now she's dating my sister," Buffy said blackly.
"Well it could be worse Dawnie could be dating a vampire."
"No that would be better because then I could stake the vampire if it got out of line."
"True," said Willow. "Can't really do that with Faith."
"Not legally anyway," Buffy agreed.
Willow took a deep breath. "You know how I said it wasn't that surprising that Dawnie and Faith got together?" she was a little uncertain about Buffy's reaction to what she was going to say next.
"Yeah?"
"I didn't just say that because of Faith."
There was a long silence as Buffy digested this information. "Why has Dawn talked to you about this?" she asked, upset that her sister wouldn't have talked to her first.
"No she hasn't," Willow said hesitantly, trying to gauge Buffy's reaction over the phone.
"Well what then?" Buffy asked, confused.
"You remember when Faith first came to Sunnydale five years ago and Dawn followed her around a lot?"
"Yeah," Buffy tried to keep a hold of herself as all sorts of bad scenarios involving Faith and her then thirteen-year-old sister ran through her mind.
"At the time I thought it was hero worship like everyone else but afterwards I talked about it with Tara and certainly after what you've just told me…" Willow paused.
"Yes," Buffy became impatient for Willow to finish.
"I think Dawnie might have been crushing on her," Willow finished with a rush; she waited nervously for Buffy's reaction.
Buffy frowned. "Crushing on her, Willow she was thirteen."
Willow breathed a silent sigh of relief that Buffy hadn't blown her top, yet. "And you didn't have crushes when you were thirteen?"
"On boys yeah."
"So why couldn't Dawn have a crush on Faith, she had a crush on Xander around the same time."
"But Xander's a boy," Buffy said still having difficulty in getting her head around the idea of Dawn liking another girl.
"And who's Dawn with now?" Willow tried to help Buffy understand.
"I guess," Buffy agreed reluctantly. "So you think it goes back that far?"
"Maybe, it's only a theory of mine I could be wrong."
"I suppose that puts an end to the it being a spell theory," Buffy muttered.
"It would be kind of hard to maintain a spell like that for five years."
"Then again technically Dawn wasn't around five years ago so those memories could be part of the spell," Buffy said hopefully.
"They could," agreed Willow. "But for someone to do a spell like that would take an awfully large amount of power, it would probably take more then one person."
"Like those monks who created Dawn in the first place."
"Like them, but I doubt they could've done it, it would've taken all their power just to create Dawn and her memories-"
"You mean like memories of crushing on Faith," interrupted Buffy.
"I guess but why would they, I mean Dawn was already being protected by one slayer."
"Maybe Faith was a back-up, in case I failed," Buffy suggested.
"She wouldn't have been much of a back-up she was in jail what was she going to do, and anyway if you failed the world would have gone poof, not really much point in having a back-up if that happens," Willow said, unconvinced.
"Well they were probably pretty desperate and there wasn't exactly a surplus of champions who could've taken on Glory by themselves."
"I don't know Buffy," Willow felt there was something not quite right with the monk theory. "If they wanted a champion as back-up for Dawn protection Angel would've been a far better candidate and it's not like Faith could've closed the portal like you did."
"No-one else could have done that Will, except maybe for mom…" Buffy's voice trailed off into silence.
"Buffy you are avoiding the fact it could be natural, Dawn could like Faith without magical intervention," Willow said gently.
Buffy sighed heavily. "I know but it's easier for me to get my head around if it's magical in some way."
"I know Buff," Willow said sympathetically. "Give it time it'll get easier, I mean you got used to me and Tara eventually."
"Yes but Tara wasn't an escaped convict who had done time for murder and incidentally tried to kill me, and you aren't my kid sister who I promised my mom to protect and look after, which I would think involved protecting her from dating escaped convicts who had done time for murder."
Willow waited until she was sure Buffy had finished her speech. "Glad you got that out of your system?" she asked.
"Yes I feel better, cleansed even."
"Happy I could help, I'm like a human Betty Ford clinic," Willow said proudly.
"Thanks Will," Buffy said dryly.
"Oh I didn't mean you were an alcoholic or anything," Willow quickly tried to cover. "'Cause you're not, you always drink a moderate amount of alcohol and you're always responsible."
"And now I sound like I'm…well Giles."
"No I didn't mean that…" Willow managed to stop herself. "If I say anything else I'm just going to dig myself in deeper aren't I?"
"Probably."
"Think I'll bail out now then."
"That may be the safest decision," Buffy had to smile.
"Right. So. The First," Willow changed the subject in a hurry. "Do we know what the reasons are behind the attacks?"
"So far the only suggestion is to weaken and destabilise the Council, but I think the attack on Dawn was something else, no offence to my sister but she isn't exactly a vital cog in the Council machinery and she isn't a slayer either…"
"So what would be the point?" Willow finished Buffy's sentence.
"Exactly," Buffy said emphatically. "Giles said something about Dawn's relationships with me and…Faith making her a target but I'm just not buying that."
"You think it's something else," Willow noticed Buffy's hesitation in saying Faith's name.
"Yes I do, think you could be research girl on this, if you're not too busy training the girls that is," Buffy grinned.
"I could do that, the research thing," Willow ignored Buffy's last comment. "What do you want me to research though, there isn't much on the First anywhere."
"Anything that seems relevant, prophecies, portents, books on the First or the slayers, the ravings of loony people which really aren't that much different from prophecies…and anything to do with the key."
"The key?" Willow was surprised. "You think the First was after that?"
"Killing Dawn wouldn't give the First the key, but it's the only other thing about Dawn that I can think of that would make her a target, pretty slim I know but we don't have much else to go on."
"Right," said Willow. "You realise this could take me awhile Buffy, that's a large amount of research to do."
"Get back to me if you have anything, and I do mean anything no matter how small, the First coming after me I expect and can deal with but attacking Dawn is going too far," said Buffy firmly.
"Gotcha, guess I call you back when I have something."
"I hope you'd call me back sooner then that."
"Of course I will Buffy, bye."
"See you later Will."
Buffy hung up the phone feeling better now then she had in awhile and went off to find her sister.
The ride home had been conducted in an awkward silence that neither Summers sister had been inclined to break, as they both entered the apartment however, Buffy finally worked up the courage to speak.
"Dawn," she blurted out.
"Yeah," her sister half-turned towards her.
"Um…I wanted to say that…although I may not understand why you want to be with Faith I respect your decision to do so," Buffy said rather formally.
"Really," Dawn said cautiously. "You mean it?" she thought Buffy seemed genuine.
"Cross my heart," Buffy said firmly. "I won't get in the way or stop you being with her, although you could stop being so touchy-feely with her in front of me, it's a lot disturbing."
"Only if I can stay overnight at Faith's," Dawn said, testing the limits of this new understanding.
Buffy fought down the urge to punch something, preferably Faith. "OK by me but only if you promise to be careful."
"Why it's not like Faith is going to get me pregnant," Dawn rolled her eyes.
"That's not exactly what I meant Dawnie."
"So what do you mean?" Dawn asked, puzzled.
"I mean don't let her push you into anything you don't want or aren't ready for," Buffy tried to sound as reasonable as possible considering she was talking about her little sister having sex. With Faith.
"It's not like I'm a virgin Buffy."
Buffy visibly flinched. "I really did not want to be reminded about the Paolo incident, and although you might not be a…" Buffy couldn't quite bring herself to say it. "Might not…be…pure you are still young and there's a lot of stuff you haven't experienced and I don't want Faith forcing you into stuff you're not ready for."
"What like whips and chains?" Dawn couldn't resist.
Buffy quickly tried to get rid of the disturbing mental image that popped into her head. "With the number of times you've been captured and chained up by bad guys I would have thought chains wouldn't have been your thing."
"They're not I wanted to see if I could make your eyes change colour again."
Buffy sighed. "Fine, I'm glad you find my concern so entertaining."
"Beats reality television," Dawn giggled.
'I've fought hundreds of very evil things over the past few years and yet only my little sister can aggravate me quite like this,' Buffy thought, pursing her lips. "Promise me you won't do anything you don't want," she said
"I promise," Dawn said firmly. "If you promise me you won't interfere with me and Faith and you won't hurt her 'accidentally '," she said making air quotation marks.
"I promise," Buffy said solemnly.
"Good."
"So we're OK then?" Buffy checked.
"I don't know," Dawn pretended to think hard. "I could do with some ice cream, you know to help me heal," she clutched at her injured shoulder in pretend pain.
"You know if you eat so much ice cream Dawnie you'll grow fat," Buffy teased, shaking her head at her little sister as she walked over to the fridge.
Dawn sat at the table waiting for Buffy to get the ice cream. "Maybe Faith could help me work it off."
Buffy span around with her mouth open ready to argue.
"You promised," Dawn said in an accusing tone. "And anyway I meant helping me train and stuff."
"You so did not," said Buffy. "But I promised so no comment from me."
"Good because I could use a helping hand with my flexibility," Dawn watched her sister's reaction closely.
Buffy tensed as she got the ice cream out of the fridge and tried to will herself calm. "How long are you going to keep this up?" she brought the ice cream over, along with two spoons.
"Until it stops being fun," Dawn scooped out a big spoonful.
Buffy sighed. "Great so now I'm a figure of fun."
"You always were, that's what big sisters are for."
"While little sisters are obviously there to make big sisters lives that little bit harder."
"And to stand around looking really cute," Dawn paused and looked directly at her sister. "But seriously you don't need to worry so much about me I'm old enough to take care of myself, just have a little faith in me."
Buffy looked at her sharply. "Now you're starting to sound like Faith," Dawn looked confused. "She said something similar, about having a little faith," Buffy explained.
"Well
she's right you should, she's different now Buffy she's
good."
"She may be one of the good guys now Dawn but she's
still Faith, there are some things that are simply her-"
"And I can deal with them," interrupted Dawn. "I can take care of myself I'm a Summers woman remember."
"Yes you are, guess I have to get used to you being all grown-up."
"You do," Dawn nodded.
A much more comfortable silence fell, helped immensely by large amounts of ice cream.
The training room was filled with the sound of fists hitting the heavy punching bag hanging in the corner as Faith tried to work off some nervous energy and some sexual tension. Dawn had been spending the night regularly at her place over the past couple of weeks, the First's reappearance had everyone working overtime especially Buffy, but they hadn't got much past second base mainly because of Dawn's injury, and it was seriously starting to wind her up.
'At least Buffy seems to have gotten used to it," she thought, hitting the bag harder. 'Or at least she's stopped looking at me as if I'm the anti-Christ and is looking at me with the usual resentment instead.'
Dawn stood silently in the doorway watching her slayer work out; she always enjoyed watching Faith train. The way she moved so fluidly, with such grace and power always sent a little thrill through her body, plus the way all that punching and dodging made various parts of Faith's body bounce and jiggle in an interesting manner made it even more enjoyable and the way the sweat made her clothes cling to her body so provocatively and…
'Whoa calm down there Dawn, get a hold of yourself,' she thought leaning against the frame of the door without thinking.
Faith looked around hurriedly as a cry of pain echoed around the empty room, she saw Dawn standing in the doorway rubbing her injured arm.
"You OK baby?" she asked concerned, as she rushed over stripping the tape off her hands.
"Yeah I just bumped it against the door, clumsy of me I know," Dawn rubbed her sore shoulder.
Faith slipped her arms around Dawn's slim waist. "Do you want me to kiss it better?" she said softly in Dawn's ear.
Dawn relaxed into her embrace. "Could be fun," she murmured wrapping her arms around Faith's shoulders.
Faith began to nuzzle at the nape of Dawn's neck, lightly grazing her lips across the teen's soft skin before realising that both of Dawn's arms were resting on her shoulders. "You're not wearing your sling?" Faith asked surprised.
"Doctor took it off today said I was almost healed," Dawn said proudly.
"Wow that's great news baby," Faith tightened her hug.
"Mmmm," Dawn enjoyed the cuddle. "Although it is still a little tender at times."
"Yeah I noticed," Faith loosened her grip on Dawn's waist. "Sorry I'm not exactly at my best at the moment, you know all hot and sweaty," she became self-conscious about her current state.
Dawn snuggled closer. "I like you all hot and sweaty, it's kinda sexy."
"Sexy huh?" Faith grinned.
Dawn took a deep breath. "I was hoping maybe I could try to get you all hot and sweaty, tonight," Dawn nervously checked Faith's reaction.
Faith swallowed, hard. "Really, tonight?" Faith tried to act casual.
"Uh huh, I was thinking I could come over tonight, Buffy's going to be working late so…" Dawn's voice trailed off suggestively.
"So you need somewhere to stay," Faith said, her voice husky.
"So can I come over?"
'Come over what I wonder?' Faith thought. "Um sure yeah come over," she said preoccupied by that thought.
"Are you sure because I don't have to," Dawn bit her lip, Faith didn't exactly appear as thrilled about the idea as Dawn had hoped.
Faith came back from the fantasy she had been having. "No I'm sure, completely sure, I want you to come over. Tonight."
"OK so I'll see you around nineish, I have a few things to finish first," Dawn said, a little reassured.
"Cool I'll see you then," Faith gently kissed Dawn on the lips; Dawn turned and left smiling happily. Faith finished unwrapping the tape off her hands as she thought about tonight, she needed to get a few things ready but first she didn't care how much Dawn liked her hot and sweaty, she needed a shower.
Faith checked herself in the mirror, smoothing down her dress nervously, she was wearing the red dress she had bought recently, after all she had told Dawn she would wear it on special occasions and if she had guessed Dawn's intentions right tonight was definitely supposed to be special.
Faith checked herself over again, make-up perfect, dress perfect, underwear none. 'Perfect,' Faith thought as she turned around to check her butt in the mirror. 'Hopefully this blows D's mind.'
Faith had thought about taking Dawn's advice about the double-sided tape, but had decided against it, she wanted to see the expression on Dawn's face when she saw her in this dress, besides Dawn would be the only one to see her in the dress tonight and if things went right, see her out of the dress tonight as well.
She had also decided against wearing anything else, literally anything else, barefoot she was wearing nothing but the dress, it would cut down on undressing time later even if it was a little cold.
'Dawn should be able to deal with that tonight,' Faith thought, with a grin. 'Both the undressing and the keeping me warm bit.'
Faith brushed her fingers through her hair and checked herself over yet again. She couldn't remember being this nervous before sex, mainly because before sex for her had usually been a spur of the moment thing. She was with a guy, a bed or a table or a floor was handy and it happened, like the first time with Robin. This was different and not just because it was her first time with a girl and with Dawn but because she had time to prepare for it and was finding she probably preferred the spur of a moment way better, less chance to get nervous and think about all that could go wrong, before, during and after.
A knock at the door made her jump, after yet another check in the mirror, she hurried over. Letting out a deep breath she opened the door to reveal Dawn in a small tight purple strap-top that bared her belly and a short black skirt that barely reached mid-thigh.
'Wonder if she left home dressed like that,' Faith thought impressed. 'Because I seriously doubt Buffy would have let her out had she seen her or at least not without a blanket or something wrapped around her.'
"Hi…" Dawn managed to say before she realised what Faith was wearing, her eyes widened as her voice trailed off.
Faith grinned; all the time she had spent stressing about things had definitely been worth it, Dawn's reaction was exactly what she had been aiming for. "Hey there baby," she said huskily leaning against the frame of the door, posing sultrily.
"Um hey," Dawn's voice had that cute little hitch in it that Faith knew meant she was admiring the view, although the way Dawn was staring made that rather obvious.
"You coming in?" Faith drawled still grinning; she took Dawn's hand and gently guided her in.
"Yeah I will," Dawn was still distracted by the dress; by the time she tore her eyes off Faith's body she was already inside. "Oh I already am," Dawn wasn't really sure when that happened.
Faith closed the door and turned around slowly. "So what do you want to do tonight?" she asked innocently. "We could watch TV?"
"Probably only bad reality shows or soccer on," Dawn's eyes were drawn to Faith as she sauntered slowly past her.
"They really do love their soccer over here don't they?" Faith asked, enjoying using the conversation to draw things out and build the tension. She regained Dawn's hand and softly tugged her towards the bedroom.
"Uh huh," was all Dawn could manage to say, mesmerised by Faith's slow sexy movements and that dress, it was like she was being stalked by some wild, beautiful animal.
Faith halted in the doorway of her bedroom, drawing Dawn closer. "So no TV then, can you think of anything else we could do?" she said softly, Faith knew what Dawn wanted, she wanted it too but she also wanted to hear Dawn say it.
Dawn licked her lips nervously. "We could um…" she said hesitantly, she could feel the heat radiating off Faith's skin as she was drawn close, Faith's warm breath tickling against her own skin. "We could…"
"Yes?" Faith whispered her big beautiful brown eyes commanding.
"We could…you know," Dawn nodded towards the bed.
"No I don't know," Faith said lightly, shaking her head in mock confusion.
"Wecouldhavesex," Dawn finished all at once.
Faith rewarded her with a stunning smile. "That sounds perfect D," she backed into the bedroom, taking Dawn with her.
Faith lay spent next to Dawn, her breathing gently slowing and a fine sheen of sweat cooling on her skin. "Wow you're really something Dawn."
"You did…feel something then?" Dawn asked uncertainly.
"Sure I did, I'm sure the neighbours are thinking we're sexual athletes or something," Faith said as her body wound down from it's high; she rolled onto her side laying her hand across Dawn's belly. "So how was it for you, your first time and all?" she asked awkwardly, not quite sure what to say or if she should say anything.
"For my first time with a girl it was great, better then my actual first time."
"What do you mean, you weren't a virgin?" Faith asked both disappointed and jealous.
"Come on Faith I'm eighteen, you really didn't expect me to still be a virgin did you?" Dawn laughed and then saw the expression on Faith's face. "You did, didn't you?"
"Well yeah I kinda did," Faith shifted uncomfortably. "So if I wasn't who was?" she asked curious.
"Boy named Paolo, he goes to my school here."
"So you have ridden an Italian stallion then," Faith grinned
Dawn rolled her eyes. "Yes I have and did you have to put it so vulgarly?"
"Part of the whole Faith package D," Faith grinned wider. "So what happened to this Paolo guy?"
"After the 'incident' we broke up, well he broke up with me."
"The incident?"
"Paolo and I were in my bedroom getting…intimate," Dawn blushed. "When Buffy walked in on us."
Faith burst out laughing. "I can just imagine the look on B's face when she saw you two."
"I'm glad you find it so amusing," Dawn said indignantly. "It wasn't funny at the time."
Faith subsided under Dawn's look. "So how far along were you?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Trying to set the scene in my mind," Faith said still chuckling.
"We were just about to get started, so we were both naked," Dawn sighed. "Buffy was horrified, threw Paolo out, still naked and clutching his clothes, into the street and sat me down to have a 'talk' which involved me sitting down listening to Buffy shout at me about being so irresponsible."
"And he dumped you over this?"
"Buffy scared him off, she went a little over the top," Dawn saw Faith's look. "OK she went a lot over the top, even I was scared of her at the time and I know Buffy would never hurt me so I can't really blame him."
"I don't mind, it worked out good for me," said Faith. "If that didn't happen you might still be with him and not with me."
"Mmmm…maybe," Dawn shrugged as she climbed off the bed.
"Where are you going?" Faith asked lazily.
"Bathroom," Dawn leaned over to kiss her before walking towards the bathroom door. Faith watched that tight ass walking away from her and couldn't help herself; she reached over quickly and slapped Dawn lightly across her butt.
Dawn spun around. "Faith!" she squealed.
Faith lay back on the bed with a self-satisfied expression on her face. "What?" she asked innocently.
"Don't," Dawn shook her head and stalked off to the bathroom.
Faith chuckled to herself and glanced idly around the room before a movement at the corner of her eye caught her attention, she sat up and stared intently at the spot she thought it had come from before sitting back shaking her head.
'Come on Faith who else is going to be in the room?' she chided herself. 'You've been slaying too long it's made you jumpy.'
She turned down the sheets and slipped into bed, the bathroom door opened and Dawn quickly ran out to join her under the sheets snuggling up to Faith's naked body.
"You OK baby?" Faith asked.
"Cold," Dawn tried to snuggle closer, which was physically impossible. "And did you have to leave a hickey on my neck?"
"Have to leave my mark," Faith protested. "Have to let people know your mine keep away the opposition, anyway you can talk it'll take days for the scratches on my back to heal."
"You're a slayer, it'll take minutes if they haven't healed already," Dawn said dryly. "Are we going to put anything on?"
"I prefer sleeping in the nude," Faith hugged Dawn close, relishing in the feel of Dawn's naked body against her own. "Don't you?"
"I never have, slept nude," Dawn stroked her hand across Faith's skin, her head resting on Faith's shoulder. "But I'm enjoying it so far."
"So I took your virginity in someway then?"
"I guess you did," Dawn giggled as she moved her head off Faith's shoulder and onto her soft breasts they made fantastic pillows.
Two figures stood watching the two women asleep in the bed, the women's bodies entwined with each other as well as the sheets. The two figures were dressed in grey robes the hoods up, covering their heads as well as their faces, which were lost inside the deep shadows cast by the hoods.
The robes reached down to the floor, the bottom floating a few millimetres above it, covering the entire body from head to toe while the sleeves were tucked into each other making it impossible to distinguish anything about the figures or tell them apart, indeed the only way to tell anything about the figures was the shape of the robes which suggested they were human, or at least humanoid.
Even if either of the two women were awake it was unlikely that either of them could have discerned the figures, the robed figures would have made sure of that.
"The spell was successful, the prophecy nears fulfilment," figure number one said monotonously, it was impossible to tell anything from the voice it had no accent, no inflection and left no indication as to the age or sex of the figure.
"It does. All things are in alignment," figure number two replied its voice was similar to number one but slightly deeper indicating either greater age or possibly sex.
"We should ready ourselves for the final phase," number one said.
The second paused before answering. "We do not concur."
"For what reason?" there was no inflection to indicate the statement was a question, only the words themselves gave any indication.
"It is too soon, the slayer and the key are not ready."
"If we wait too long the First will try to destroy them and invalidate the prophecy, it has done so before," the warning delivered in the same flat monotonous voice.
"Yes it will try, however we are certain they can take care of themselves they have proved it to be so before, the alignment occurs once every year we can afford to wait, the slayer and the key will be better prepared for their responsibilities then."
"I think this is a bad idea, the First will harm them and cause the prophecy to become redundant," a hint of anger crept into number one's voice.
"We must trust in the balance it will-" number two stopped suddenly. "Did we just use a personal pronoun?' a questioning tone entered it's voice.
If a featureless grey robe could possibly looked panicked number one did. "No I didn't…I mean we didn't…I," it paused. "Oh bugger," it said before it popped out of existence to be replaced by an exact copy indistinguishable from number one.
"We must trust in the balance it will guide and protect," number two continued as if nothing had happened.
"We concur," number three said.
"Until next year then," number two said as the two figures faded out of existence, leaving the two young women sleeping together peacefully unaware anything had happened.
To be continued………….
