Chapter Five

Buffy was having that dream again. The one where she was being especially intimate with another someone of the fairer sex. The last time she'd had the dream, she still hadn't been able to figure out who it was. This time, she knew it was Faith.

Buffy felt Faith's lips on hers, kissing her as gently as possible. She wasn't even sure if it was considered a kiss. Good thing this was a dream, then.

Buffy bolted up in bed at the sound of the morning wake-up bell. Her heart was beating unusually fast. She'd been surprised by the bell, and her dream had worked her up a bit. She could still feel her dream-Faith's lips.

She climbed down the ladder just as Willow was shoving her feet into the black boots at her feet. She quickly hugged Buffy good morning then leaned across the gap between their bed and Tara and Cordy's bed to give Tara a sweet morning kiss. Buffy watched a little enviously -- she wished she and Faith could do that. She shook her head to get rid of that thought.

Cordy climbed down the ladder and put on her boots while Willow and Tara were still kissing. She smiled at Buffy before crossing the room and pulling Kennedy into a passionate kiss.

Buffy grabbed her collared shirt and pulled it on. It was a Saturday and after breakfast, the students were allowed to do whatever they wanted. She headed for the dining hall and piled her tray with food. She was starving, having skipped dinner with Cordy and Kennedy last night.

"Summers, hey."

Buffy looked up and smiled at Faith. Faith smiled back and sat down beside her. She set her tray down, and they started to eat in a comfortable silence.

After about ten minutes, Buffy felt a weird tingling sensation on her leg. She continued eating as if she hadn't felt it, but glanced down and saw Faith lightly caressing her leg.

Faith must've felt Buffy's gaze because she stopped moving her fingers and simply laid her hand on the younger girl's thigh. Buffy covered Faith's hand with her own.

"Hey," she said quietly, squeezing Faith's hand.

They looked up at the same time and their eyes locked.

"Hey," Faith said back, just as quietly. "B, are we still gonna talk later?"

Buffy nodded.

"Absolutely," she whispered. "We'll go someplace private, okay?"

"Sounds five by five," Faith said. "But we better hurry up and eat!"

Buffy grinned and released Faith's hand, which disappeared from Buffy's thigh, and they both dug into their food.

Buffy led Faith to the on-campus house, and Faith kept complaining and asking where they were going. Buffy knew she should be irritated at the constant nagging but she actually thought it was cute.

"We're here," she said, stopping in front of the house.

"This...is the Commandant's house," Faith said. "We can't go in there."

"Sure we can," Buffy said. "Mom's out of town, and Giles is still at his office, probably reading some old, boring book. C'mon."

"So, the Commandant's your step-dad."

"Yep. Where did you think I disappeared to on weekends? I'm not allowed off campus without an escort. This is on-campus and I have a key so we're safe."

"Oh-kay," Faith sighed, reluctantly allowing Buffy to lead her into the house and up to her bedroom.

"Why's your mom out of town?" Faith asked.

Buffy lay back on her big double bed and smiled to herself. She liked having a big bed at the house when she spent the week on a bunk that looked as if it would collapse at any moment. But she saw that Faith was uncomfortable.

"Faith, relax," Buffy said. "Come sit with me, and I'll answer all your questions."

Faith sighed and joined Buffy on the bed.

"Can I brush your hair?" Buffy asked the brunette.

"Sure."

Buffy smiled happily and grabbed a brush off her bedside table. She started running the brush and her own fingers through Faith's dark locks. She ended up discarding the brush to gently finger-comb Faith's hair. She liked it and she was pretty sure from how relaxed Faith seemed that her captain liked it too.

"So, tell me why your mom's outta town," Faith said.

"Well, we're from L.A., as you know. She and some other lady co-own a gallery and they have a big exhibit coming in so Mom went in to help oversee things."

"And what about your dad?"

"Virtually non-existent. Haven't seen or heard from him since they divorced when I was fourteen and I chose to stay with Mom. I don't think I want to hear from him anyway. He cheated on my mom with his secretary."

"Oh. I'm sorry," Faith said quietly.

"It's okay," Buffy said. "I got over it a long time ago."

Buffy gently removed her fingers from Faith's hair and leaned her head on Faith's firm shoulder. Faith tensed for a moment but her muscles began to relax and they eventually fell back against the pillows together.

"So, Ken told me you two were discussing my history a bit, huh?"

Buffy nodded and smiled sheepishly.

"I wanted to talk to you but it didn't seem like we were on the best of terms at that point in time," Buffy said softly, snuggling closer to the brunette. "Was your dad really in the military?"

"For a while," Faith said, grinning.

"What's with the grin? From what Kennedy said, you and your dad don't get along very well," Buffy said.

"We don't. What did Kennedy tell you about Dad being in the military?"

"Not much. We mostly talked about you, not your parents or her, really."

"Well, I know a lot more about his 'military days' than she does," Faith said. "He was in the military for three years and was kicked out when they found out he was screwin' a guy. He liked to make us think that he'd been all powerful and high up there, but he wasn't. I looked it up."

Buffy grinned. She couldn't help it. Faith sounded so proud of herself for having something on her father.

"That's why he's never liked Kennedy being lez. That's why I'm afraid to say that I'm not all that interested in guys. He doesn't want his entire military-trained family to be gay like him."

"You know, from what I've heard so far, your parents and you and Ken all seem to be fonder of the same sex instead of the opposite sex."

"Well, you don't seem to be goin' for any of the campus hotties yourself, B," Faith teased.

"That's because I've been trying to get close to a certain one. I really like this person, see, but I don't know if they like me back. What do you think?" Buffy asked shyly.

"I think...sh-they definitely feel the same way," Faith said softly, moving closer to the blonde beside her.

Their lips were a mere inch away and their eyes were locked.

"No one's gonna know," Buffy breathed. "If that's what you're worried about."

"I'm not worried," Faith said softly. "C'mere."

Buffy grinned and leaned forward, pressing her lips gently against Faith's. Their kisses were tentative at first but quickly became more passionate as they expressed their feelings for each other physically for the first time.

Buffy saw fireworks. She felt Faith's strong arms around her, holding her tightly, knowing that the other girl would never let go. And the fireworks... They were all pretty colors: blue, red, green, purple...and all the other ones Buffy couldn't think of right at that moment. Kissing Faith...well, not only did it feel good, but...it felt right. This relationship, this being together...it was right.

"God... That was amazing," Buffy whispered, as Faith pulled away. "You were amazing."

"You were pretty awesome yourself, Summers," Faith said, smiling. "First time kissing another girl?"

Buffy nodded and closed her eyes as Faith pushed a lock of her hair back from her face. She felt Faith kiss her nose and giggled at the tickling sensation.

"Can you stay here for the weekend?" Buffy asked. "I don't think Giles will mind."

"I don't know, B. Stayin' in the Commandant's house while I'm bein' all lovey-like with his step-daughter...?"

"Please. I don't want you to leave," Buffy whispered. "He'll doesn't have to know that we're...what we are. Not right now. What are we, by the way?"

"I don't know. Are we together?"

"I want us to be. Can we be girlfriends then?"

"I'd like that," Faith said. They shared a smile. "So lemme get this straight. We're together as girlfriends, and...we're kind of a secret right?"

Buffy hesitated at this. Most of her wanted to scream this to the rooftops. She was with Faith, someone she'd been entranced by the moment they met.

"I guess."

"Thanks, B. Yeah, I'll stay here the weekend."

Buffy squealed happily and gave Faith a big kiss. Faith chuckled and kissed her back.

"I'm gonna take care of you, Buffy," she said softly. "Promise."

"I'll take care of you too," Buffy said. "I want to make sure you're always safe."

"All right. Well, now that you've worked me up, what do you say we head over to the gym and go swimming, hm?"

Buffy nodded. She knew they had swimsuits at the gym, and she was eager to spend any time she could with Faith.

"Let's go." Faith got up and pulled Buffy up with her.

As they walked to the gym, Buffy realized that it was going to take a lot of work to keep this relationship going. But she knew it would be well worth it in the end.

The End.

Continued in "Together Through It All"...