Bree Gets Some Visitors

The next morning, Bree was woken to the sound of someone knocking on her door. She had slept in much later than anticipated due to the amount of alcohol she had consumed the night before after coming to terms with what she had been about to do.

"Andrew! Danielle! Can one of you get the door?" she shouted from her room, still slightly hungover. She immediately bolted out of bed when she heard Faith's voice. Pulling on some clothes quickly, she hurried downstairs where Andrew and Faith were engaged in small talk.

"Thank you, Andrew. You can leave us now,' she smiled at her troubled son. He nodded to her bitterly before going up to his room.

"Wow, what was that about? You could cut the tension in this room with a knife,' Faith exclaimed.

"My relationship with my son is...well it's complicated to say the least,' Bree sighed.

Faith nodded in understanding. "Trust me, I know what it's like to have a difficult relationship with the fam. Can I come in?"

Bree gave Faith an awkward smile before stepping aside to let her in.

"Can I get you anything, Faith?"

"Nah I'm good, thanks."

Faith settled down on Bree's couch as Bree sat awkwardly opposite her. She then sat there, waiting expectantly for Faith to start talking.

"Bree, I wanted to apologise for how I acted last night. I was rude and abrupt so yeah...I'm sorry," Faith said, her words coming out in a rush. She wasn't much good at apologies. Bree smiled affectionately as she noted Faith's obvious discomfort.

"It's fine, Faith. You were obviously going through something and I chose the worst possible moment to drop by. I have to say, I was a little shocked to see Buffy at your house after everything you told me about your relationship.'

Faith nodded slowly. "Yeah well she is gonna be staying with me for a little while so our 'relationship' had better improve at some point."

Bree couldn't help but notice the bitterness in Faith's voice but she could see that Faith didn't want to be pushed. Faith suddenly looked up with a look in her eye that Bree was only to familiar with.

"So, um, what were you doing at my house with wine at that time of night, anyway?" Faith quirked, one of her eyebrows raised flirtatiously. Bree suddenly felt the room get very hot and she looked down into her lap, her face turning a similar shade to her hair. Looking up again, she smiled like nothing was wrong.

"It was nothing. Really. I just thought that maybe a girly night in couldn't have harmed either of us," she continued to say.

Faith gave her a knowing grin. "Maybe we should rearrange that...girly night in,' she said, her voice husky and suggestive.

Bree swallowed deeply before shaking her head. "You know, come to think of it, I am pretty busy for a while so I don't know if that will be possible," she said, having somehow lost the courage she had had only the night before. Something, maybe disappointment or hurt flashed in Faith's eyes before Faith got up and headed for the door. "I should probably be going."

Bree stood up and waved her off. She sighed as she watched Faith leave. For some reason unfathomable to Bree, she still desired the brunette with an overpowering lust. She kicked herself as she realised that she had probably just missed her chance.

Buffy had been watching from Faith's window scathingly as Faith had gone over to Bree's. Despite what Faith had told her, Buffy couldn't help but think that there was something going on there. She noticed that Faith was giving Bree that 'look' she got when she wanted someone. It was the look that, all those years ago, she had received herself. Hell, if it hadn't been for Faith going off the deep end or trying to steal her boyfriends it probably would have worked at some point. Buffy knew that it was only a matter of time before Bree fell for Faith, however straight or conservative her morals were. Buffy also worried that Faith was telling Bree stuff she shouldn't be and decided that it was time for her to make an intervention. The next chance she got, she would go and pay Bree a visit.

Bree was just bringing her shopping in from the car when she had another visitor.

"Hey, Bree. Can I talk to you for a second?" Buffy said coming up her driveway. Bree wearily looked her up and down before nodding whilst still struggling with her shopping bags.

"Let me help you with those," Buffy said taking a few bags out of Bree's hands as if they were light as a feather. Bree thanked her and led her inside. Dumping the bags on the kitchen counter, Bree turned to face Buffy. "So, what can I help you with?"

Buffy dumped her bags and said carefully, "I wanted to talk about Faith."

Bree felt her stomach sink as she prepared herself for the onslaught that was about to ensue.

"Maybe we should sit down. Would you like some tea?"

"Please," said Buffy as she sat down at Bree's counter.

Bree made herself busy by making the tea. "So, what about Faith?"

Buffy sighed, before deciding to go right into it. She could make sure Bree knew the facts whilst at the same time find out what Faith has told her. "Well I just think there are a few things you should know. You two seem quite close and I don't want you to get hurt."

"Buffy, Faith already told me about her...troubled past. I appreciate what you're trying to do but there really is no need," Bree said, setting the cup of tea in front of Buffy. Buffy raised her eyebrows, now very concerned. "What'd she tell you?" Buffy asked, preparing for the worst.

"I don't know if it is right for us to be discussing Faith in such detail, especially when she told me in confidence," Bree said, now very weary of a persistent Buffy.

"Bree, this is really important. I need to know what Faith has told you. I guarantee that, whatever it is, I already know and that you can trust me."

Bree was torn. Part of her felt she should remain loyal to Faith and keep what she knew to herself but the other part reacted to Buffy's urgency. Buffy had played a key part in Faith's life and Bree felt that there must be a reason for Buffy's inquisition.

"Also, just for the record, I'm not wearing a wire or anything to try and pin Faith or whatever. This is just...personal. I need to know." Buffy seemed so honest with her intentions that Bree thought that maybe she should enlighten her. Sighing, she said, "okay I'll tell you but Faith can't ever know of this. She told me that she went through a couple of dark years and killed some people. She also said that she hurt you quite a lot and that you're relationship was...shaky at best. She told me about going to prison and escaping to help your friend...Angel I think his name was, and then to help you. I don't know what with and she was vague in lots of areas but that is pretty much what i know."

Buffy listened to Bree, astounded at how much Faith had opened up to her and also relieved that she didn't know about the slayer part. One question still nagged in her mind. "Why then, would you want to be friends with her after hearing all of that?" she asked with genuine curiosity.

"Because, Buffy, I believe she is a different person now and deserves to be treated that way. Why do you want to live with her?" Bree shot back.

Buffy was stumped. She couldn't tell Bree the truth but she also didn't want to lie. Instead, she settled for, "It's complicated."

Bree nodded. "Isn't it always?"