BPOV.
Faith and I are laying across her couch. She has a really nice home. We were watching the Emperor's New Groove with Dawn and Max but that's over and their playing some kind of game right now. They are such big kids. I turn to look at Faith, who I'm using as a pillow. But she doesn't seem to mind. She's looking at the back of Max's head but feels my eyes on her so she looks at me. She offers me a small smile. Everything ok? I think. She smiles sadly and shakes her head. I must look confused cos she motions toward her bedroom. I follow.
"What's wrong?" I ask out loud. She sighs sitting on the bed.
"I dunno what's gonna happen to him. I'm not sendin him to live with family but I'm not old enough to like get legal custody of him or anything like that." she says. I sit beside her and she automatically rests her head on my shoulder. "What am I gonna do B?" she asks.
"I don't know, but you'll figure it out. And i- I'll help. If you want." I say. She raises her head to look at me and smiles.
"Thanks." she says. Then she kisses me on the cheek and gets up. "Stop that poutin B." she says. How did she know I was pouting. She wasn't even lookin at me! "Maternal instinct." Pfft.
"What are you doing anyway?" I ask. She's rummaging through the closet.
"Lookin for my...ow! Favorite shirt." she says. oh. "Ah ha!" she says. She's holding up a...Nine Inch Nails shirt.
"That's your favorite shirt?" I ask. She nods.
"Yeah. The shirt I gave birth in. Still has her scent in on it." she says. She looks at it. She misses her daughter so much. "Yeah I do." she says. "Sorry." she mutters.
"Its ok." I tell her. She looks at the shirt a little longer before kneeling in front of me. She lays her head against my lap with the shirt under it hugging me around my waist. "Are you still going to stay once you find her?" I ask. She nods.
"Usually I sleep wearing this shirt. But tonight I wanna do s-s-somethin different. I w-w-want you to wear it w-while I hold you. I-if that's ok." she says. She looks scared. Like I'm going to say no.
"Are you sure?" I ask. She nods.
"It'll be like two of my favorite people in the world are right here." she says. I can't help but kiss her. I nod when we break apart.
"Yeah. Its ok." I say. She gives me a smile. She hands me the shirt and I go change while she goes to try to convince Max and Dawn to go to bed before one am. I hear him whining and he's going to win. I can hear it now.
"2!" he yells.
"1!" she yells.
"1:30!" they'll be arguing for a while. About 15 minutes later she finally groans.
"Just make sure you can stay awake in school tomorrow!" she yells. It gets quiet.
"Where?!" he asks.
"School! The place where they teach ya how to count." she says. Then he starts whining over time and I can hear the pout in his voice.
"Faith..." he whines out.
"No. I don't wanna hear it. You start tomorrow plain and simple. But look at the bright side." she says.
"Since I'm suffering eight hours a day I'll get an allowance?" he asks hopefully.
"No." she says plainly. "You and Dawn are in all the same classes." she says. I hear them whoop and he thanks her. "Now goodnight." she says. She walks back into the room and smiles at me.
"Comfy?" she asks.
"Yep." I say. I'm already laying in her bed which is mega comfy. She shakes her head smiling at me. She moves over to her dresser to grab some pajamas and then looks at me.
"Be back." she says before going over to her...mirror? She runs her hand straight down and holy shit! The mirror just moved and there's a bathroom right behind it. I know my eyes are bugging out and she just looks at me. I'm so pissed! "Why?" she asks. Don't why me missy. You could have told me there was a bathroom in here. I think crossing my arms over my chest. She smiles sheepishly. "Sorry." she mutters before walking into the bathroom. Shortly after I hear the shower turn on so I decide to lay back and relax a little.
FPOV.
Not too sure what came over me earlier. I just... I really wanted B to wear that shirt. I dunno. Maybe that's my way of showin her how much she actually means since I can't think'a the words or nothin like that. But if today wasn't fucked. I mean I don't even know what I'm gonna do bout Max. Don't know if I'll be able to wait a few months before I'm old enough to become his legal guardian or what. And how am I gonna take care of two kids. I'm not even all the way sure I'll be able to do good with Megan. I'm not worried about finances. As you can see that's the farthest thing from my mind. I'm worried about what a whole bunch of other parents worry about. She's been with strangers for over two years and I don't know what she's been through. Will she be able to tell me? Will she understand what she's tellin me? Will I understand her? I mean she's only three and I haven't met many three year olds who make a lot of sense. I have to start workin over time I know that much. Her birthday is in a month and I want her home by then. I don't care what I have to do I'll do it. Even if I have to sell Buffy. Ok so maybe I won't go that far but I'll do almost anything. I get outta the shower and outta my thoughts and dry off. I get dressed in my shorts and wife beater and make my way back to the room. Buffy's layin across the bed but I know she isn't sleep even though her eyes are closed. She's relaxin. Clearin her mind. She's doin a good job too cus I'm not pickin up on nothin.
"Alright small fry, scoot on over." I say. She smiles a little at her new nickname. And slides over to what's usually my side of the bed. But I'll let her take it tonight. We lay there side by side not sayin nothin until I roll and look at her. "You ok?" I ask. Somethin's botherin her but I can't tell what.
"What are we going to do now?" she asks. I think about it.
"Sleep. We'll figure everythin out in the morning." I say. She turns on her side so we're face to face now.
"I'm sorry about Riley." she says. I shake my head.
"Not your fault he's a whiny bitch so don't apologize for him." I say. She brings her hand up to my face tracing my jawline before leanin in and kissin me real quick like.
"Ok." she whispers. I lean close to her, so close I can feel her breath on my lips and I kiss her cheek quickly.
"Night." tease!! she screams in her mind. I smile and turn off the lamp on my side and she does the same.
"Night Faith." she says. I just pull her closer to me so I'm spoonin her. I feel her tense up.
"You uncomfortable?" I ask. She shakes her head.
"Uncomfortable isn't the word." she says. oh...poor thing. I just pull her closer and give her a squeeze.
"In time B. In time." I say to her hair. We're quiet for a few more minutes.
"Faith?"
"Yeah?" I respond.
"How did you get pregnant?" she asks. The one question nobody knows the answer to.
"Another story for another day." I say. She nods her head.
"Ok." she says. I know what's comin next. Not cus she's thinkin it but cus its like a natural impulse to ask I guess.
"No he aint involved in no way, shape, form, or fashion nor will he be." I say before she asks. She just nods again and snuggles back into me lacing our fingers together. Right before I fall asleep I hear her whisper she loves me. I have to smile a little. I love her too.
Dream: (faith pov.)
dammit. I'm getting sick and tired of these damn dreams hurtin. I mean who falls outta the...wouldn't call it the sky but who the fuck does that. And lands on their ass Every time.
"Faith?" I hear max.
"Yeah kiddo." I respond.
"Ya gotta stop fallin on ya ass. Its getting ridiculous." he says.
"Thank you little brother for that amazing commentary." I say sarcastically.
"Where the fuck is we?" he asks. Oh dad woulda hated his grammar.
"Dunno." I say. We hear a loud crash and we both turn at the same time.
"Hey Faith." I hear. What the fuck?! Where did she come from.
"Whatcha doin here." I ask. She smiles at me shakin her head.
"Always worried about the wrong thing Faith. Never what you should be concerned about." she says. ok.
"Alright. What should I be concerned about Red?" I ask. Don't ask me how willow got in my dream cus I don't know.
"This." she says flicking her wrist and I see a door open with my daughter in it.
"What the fuck is goin on?" I growl out. I can feel the tension rollin off Max. he's tryin not to snap.
"Y'see, I heard through the grapevine you're keepin this little girl from her father. Don't you think he deserves to know his daughter?" she asks.
"No." I say.
"Are you sure? Because nobody should be kept from their child. He doesn't even know she exists does he?" she asks.
"N-No." I say.
"Look, I'll make this easy on you. Do this little spell with me and give up your slayer powers and he never finds out, don't do it and I tell him and he gets custody." she says.
"Why do you want my slayer power?" I ask her.
"Because if you give it up, Buffy will be the only slayer. Everybody knows she's the true slayer anyway. You were a mistake. In more ways than one I hear." she says
"Shut up." max says.
"Why? She was the result of a broken condom. Your parents never really wanted her. The only reason they kept you is so they wouldn't have to work." she says.
"T-that's not true." I say tryin to contain my composure.
"Yes it is Faith. Come on how many times did your mother tell you she hated you. Wished you'd die. The way you ruined her life? You should be ashamed. I know she was." willow says. Ok I know it aint the real her but I aint gonna be able to look at the real her now. Not without rememberin this.
"M-mommy?" I hear from the corner. I look up and see my precious little girl.
"If you're in love with Buffy just tell her." Max says. Willow scoffs.
"Please. She loves this slut. But I think its only because she's a slayer. She's just confused. She's mistaking the slayer bond for love. No slayer powers, no slayer bond, no love." she concludes.
"What makes you think she'll love you?" max asks. I try to move but I can't. This is shit. My dream and I can't move.
"Because I'm the best friend. She'll realize she loves me and that'll be that. Its so natural to love your best friend." she says. "I mean do you really think she loves you? Come on Faith, I know you're not stupid. She goes from loving you to hating you then back to loving you like that? What sense does it make?" she asks. I close my eyes and take a deep breath.
"S-" she cuts me off.
"Call a meeting in the morning. I'll talk to you there." she says. "Oh and Faith?" she calls.
"What?" I answer.
"She's closer than you think." she says. Then she's gone.
"I'm gonna fuckin kill her. Plain-" max starts.
"Max-"
" and simple. I'll rip-"
"Max-"
"Her fuckin throat out. No I'll-"
"Max!"
"Stab her with a pencil. Then-"
"Justin!" he stops then. Yeah I used your first name. Probably the first time he's heard it since he was five.
"Huh?" he ask. I can tell he's pissed but I am too. So he aint gonna push it.
"That wasn't willow." I say. He gives me a look. Yeah I'm tryin to convince myself it was my insecurities about B playin on me.
"Really?" he asks.
"Really. I mean, she wouldn't be that low would she?" I ask. He sighs.
"And how the hell could she find out who Megan's dad is. Nobody knows that shit but you and me." he says.
"And Riley." I say right before I wake up.
B wakes up with me. I bolt upright.
"What's wrong?" she asks. I shake my head.
"Nothin. Go back to sleep." I say. Now the question is how does Riley know?
So here's a sort of short update. I've decided to merge the idea of more fuffy time with the occasional appearance of the beefstick. So review people. Please?