The Missing Half

Chapter 3- Girl Talk

Buffy assisted Faith through the door to Buffy's house. She sat Faith on the couch and went to the bathroom to get the first aid kit. Buffy silently thanked the gods that Dawn was at her friend's house tonight. She would not have had fun trying to explain Faith to her.

Buffy walked back into the living room where Faith was and sat down no the couch next to her. Buffy was so confused; she didn't understand why all of a sudden she wanted to just make Faith feel better. Maybe it was because she believed her a little bit. Maybe Faith did change. Buffy was amazed when Faith didn't even try to fight back. The old Faith would have welcomed the fight. This Faith just looked scared.

Faith stared at the ground as Buffy sat next to her, then raised her eyes to meet Buffy's stare.

"I guess you want an explanation. B, I've been in prison for 3 months now, and all I ever thought about was what I could do to make you forgive me. Buffy, I am so sorry…" Faith had started crying, but continued. She had to say this. "…I have done nothing but ruin your life. I tried to take away your friends, your family, everything. I know that this one word can't fix everything that happened, but I am sorry. I…I don't expect you to forgive me, but I need you to know that…I'm sorry."

At this point Faith was sobbing into her hands. She winced as she touched the cut on her forehead and continued to cry.

Buffy was at a loss for words. Faith, the cocky, arrogant badass slayer was crying. She was showing weakness and letting her guard down. 'I have to do something,' Buffy thought. 'She really did change.'

So Buffy reached out and took Faith's hands in hers, and said, "Faith. I forgive you. I don't know how, but I believe you've changed. Faith, look at me." Faith lifted her bruised, tearstained face and looked Buffy in her eyes. Buffy continued. "Your eyes tell it all. I don't know if you know this faith, but eyes tell stories all in themselves. They can describe so much about someone. One time, Giles was turned into a demon, and I knew it was him when I looked in his eyes, if I needed any convincing that you changed, I've already seen it. In your eyes. Talk to me Faith."

"B…uffy, when I was in jail, all I could think about was you. Every breath I took in that jail cell was for you. I wanted to change for you . I couldn't live with myself knowing that you hated me. I prayed. I prayed that the time would come that I could make it up to you. All the shit I've done. Buffy I want to make it better."

Buffy reached over and wiped the tears from Faith's cheek. "You can."

With those two words Faith felt a twinge of the happiness she had longed to feel since she turned herself in. The two girls sat in silence for a few minutes before Buffy said, "I'm sorry about this. Hitting you. Let me get you some ice." Buffy left the room and returned a moment later with an ice pack, which she instructed Faith to put on her jaw and lip. Then she set to work wiping up the blood on Faith's forehead. Faith winced at the contact at first, but then felt the warmth Buffy's touch seemed to radiate.

"You can stay here if you'd like, in…in my mom's old room. I'll get you some clothes to sleep in---"

"Thanks B, I'll uh, I'm gunna go upstairs then…Buffy, I'm sorry about your mom. She was a wonderful woman...I never got to thank her for that Christmas." Angel had told Faith about her mother's death on one of his visits.

Buffy nodded and then went to get the clothes. Faith walked upstairs and into Joyce's room. Before she knew what she was doing, she had crawled on the bed and fell asleep.

Buffy walked into her mom's old room and saw Faith asleep on her mother's bed. Buffy sighed and walked to her room, and got ready for bed. She got under the covers and tried to sleep, but she couldn't stop thinking about why she had done what she did. Why she just offered her home to Faith, a criminal and old enemy. She really did believe Faith. She saw the change, and she wasn't going to screw up again. She would have to do some more explaining to Faith in the morning. And Dawn. 'Oh boy, tomorrow, I can hardly wait,' Buffy thought as she finally drifted to sleep.

A/N: Reviews are welcome. This is my first story, so I'd kind of like to know how i am doing...shouldI continue the story?