A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys! They are so helpful to the story!

The Missing Half

Chapter 17 – Make My Heart Attack

(Faith's POV)

Buffy shrieks in surprise as Cordy shot her with an icy blast from the hose. A loud BANG comes from the second floor of the Hyperion followed by an "Oh shit!" said in Dawn's voice.

Water drips from Buffy's clothes and the three of us: B, Cordy, and me run inside and see what all the commotion is about. We sprint up the stairs to Dawn's room and throw her door open.

She's not in there. Me and B share a worried glance and go to search our rooms for signs of the Pipsqueak. Buffy flings her door open and looks around her room while I open the door to mine.

I brace myself as a dozen of bad scenarios race through my mind. Little D lying in a pool of blood, dead for various reasons. She could be kidnapped, hurt. She could be in the hands of some evil thing that wants to get to the slayers. She could be...she could be…right in front of me, apparently unharmed.

You have got to be kidding me. The little twit is picking herself off the floor in the middle of the room, our new weapon in her hands, the wardrobe on its side next to her.

"Ok Bitesize, would you like to explain exactly why a freaking LOUD ass noise just came from this room?"

Dawn glances at our weapon, then around the room guilty. "Well, umm…it's funny actually--"

"No it's not." Buffy says appearing in the doorway. She folds her arms across her chest and shoots Dawn the ultimate death glare. "Explain. Now." And she did, thus begins a babble fest.

"I walked into Faith's room so I could see if she had a top that fit match my new purse but I walked in here unknowing that she keeps the place a complete pigsty--"

"Hey now! This place is so not a pigsty. Hello! Only been here a day or so…I am not the Queen of Disarray!"

"Ya whatever…so I walk in here and see that cool weapon thingy sitting on her nightstand. I started to umm...play with it? Ya, swinging it around and such…stop laughing Faith!"

"I'm sorry kiddo but you just inserted an assortment of hilarious images in my head. Please don't let the sounds of my cracking up stop you. Go on."

"Ok! So I was playing with the sword weapon, whatever the heck you guys are calling it and I turned around tripped on Faith's stupid jeans. They were caught on the wardrobe and I kinda ended up bringing the cheap hunk of wood down with me."

Cordy hears this and argues, "Cheap? These things are not cheap…not the best but urggh!" She's agitated now. "Idiot child," she mumbles.

B and I share a look and immediately start to chuckle. A chuckle that soon turns into roaring laughter. Dawn and Cordy join in. This is really too much to handle. Dawn's tangled up in my clothes, the furniture is not where it should be, I'm standing there in a wet sports bra and Daisy Duke shorts. B's soaking in her clothes, and Cordy's not wearing much of anything.

Angel and Gunn are behind us, probably wondering what the Hell is going on. We all stand there, still laughing.

Angel and Gunn just shake their heads and walk off. I hear Gunn say, "Different species those women," as he struts down the hall. A few minutes later, our laughter turns into soft giggles and finally dissipates into nothing. We just stand there with smiling at each other.

I look at B and she locks her eyes with mine. I get the sudden urge to hold her right then, so I wrap my arms around her and squeeze tightly. Cordy turns to Little D and motions for her to exit my room. "Show me your purse," I hear C say as the two walk to Dawn's room.

I'm alone with B now and we walk over to my bed and sit. B's got the biggest shit-eating grin on her face right now. Like she's thinking about something devilish. She leans in and kisses me deeply.

(Buffy's POV)

So this is my second heart attack today. The first one came when I heard the BANG and then Dawn cursing. If something had happened to her…

The one I'm having now is for an entirely different reason. My lips are locked with Faith's and it is making my heart go completely crazy. She makes me feel so…incredible. Like a super woman who doesn't just have slayer powers, but someone who makes a difference in the world to someone special. My Faith.

We break apart and Faith strokes the side of my face, huskily whispering, "Hello."

"Hey to you too," I say back.

Faith clears her throat. "So B, did ya have fun shopping with Dawn?"

"Yeah it wasn't too bad. You'd think after the show that she just put on, the stores we went to would have been in complete disorder when she was done in them, but her klutzoid feet didn't attack her until now. I had fun, seeing the city and shopping around."

"Cool. Did you find anything that you liked?"

"Uh-huh! A cute little tank top and new jeans, a few work out T's and stuff…" I trail off. I just remembered one of my other purchases. For Faith. "Hey Faith? I'm gunna go sort out my purchases, I'll be back in little while."

"Alright B. I need to shower and change anyways. See ya in a bit." I walk out of her room and close her door behind me. I walk briskly to my room and shut the door. I go to my bags of purchases and grab my object of desire.

A brand new Lite-Brite for Faith.

I open the package up and sort out the colors. Then, I begin my project.

(Faith's POV)

I peel of my makeshift bathing suit and run the water for the shower. When it gets to a tolerable temperature. I climb in and let the water run over me, savoring the massage of the droplets.

Today has been a weird day. The nightmare. Walking home from the beach where I spent the night with my new girlfriend. Actually having fun with Queen C. The mysterious BANG and the laughter that followed the story behind it.

Days like this, it's definitely the life. No major slaying, just being with the people I love.

God bless these second chances.

(Buffy's POV)

I finished making my "art" and exited my room. I walked down the hall and heard the shower still running in Faith's room. I silently pushed open the door and snuck into her room. I set the Lite-Brite and a small red rose on her bed, and leave.

(Faith's POV)

Ahh that felt good. I feel all clean now. I step out of the shower and put on some clean clothes. I wrap my hair up with a towel and walk out of the bathroom.

I start to pick up the various clothes tossed around my room and bed when something catches my eye.

Oh my God.

On my bed, it's sitting there. A Lite-Brite. All made up to spell those words out. In careful block letters, Buffy has arranged the colored pegs to spell four special words out.

I love you Faith.

Sitting next to the message is a small red rose, tiny but beautiful. I scoop the rose up and breathe its scent in deeply. Buffy. Is. Perfect.

This small action makes me want to cry. I get up from my seat and walk quickly to her room. When I get there I knock softly on the door then push it open. Buffy's standing at the window, looking out at the view. She turns around when she hears me come in and I immediately run up and kiss her. Long and deep. I scoop her up in my arms and move our bodies to the bed. There we lay, kissing passionately.

I breathe into her ear. "I got your message B, I love you."

I'm whispering in he ear, telling her how much she means to me, and then we're holding each other again. Together, we lay on her bed, content in each other's arms.

I don't know how life got so good for me. How this all happened. I'm just glad it did.

…………………

A few hors later, B and I walk downstairs and announce that we are going home. We already packed our stuff and Dawn's.

Cordy looks up at us, sadness creeping into the corners of her eyes. "So soon? Can't you stay a little longer?"

"Sorry C, we're needed back home, we still got us a baddy to beat. But it was good. Fun. Thanks." Cordy comes up and gives each of us a hug. Then Angel does the same.

He nods at me and B, "Take care you guys. If you need anything, just call."

"Sure thing big guy. Thanks for giving us a place to stay and helping us get our weapon." I say gratefully.

We finish our good-byes and then we're off. I'm driving again, Dawn's in the back, already zoned out. I look to my right and see that B is also sleeping. Her breath is fogging the window up in short bursts and her eyebrows are creased, like she's deep in dreamland.

Sure wish I could follow her there, but I gotta get us home, and normally falling asleep at the wheel is not the best way to get there.

…………………..

A couple hours later and we pass the Sunnydale welcoming sign. It feels good to be home, even if home happens to be above the mouth of hell.

We pull into B's driveway and I slowly nudge her awake. She blinks slowly, stretches and sighs. She catches my weary eyes and squeezes my hand. "Thanks for driving Faith. If that were me behind the wheel, its safe to say that we'd be very pretty roadkill."

"No problem-o B, anytime you need me, I'm your wheels."

We unpack the car and drag our bodies into her house. Aaah it feels so good. Cozy and warm. I walk into Buffy's room to drop off a few of her bags. I'm so tired, after the last few days and then that long drive. I climb into her bed and snuggle under her covers. As soon as I get comfortable, I'm fast asleep.

(Buffy's POV)

Dawn and I are grabbing a snack in the kitchen. It feels great to be home. I know where everything is, no more opening the refrigerator in the kitchen and finding packets of blood.

I turn to Dawn who's chewing on an apple. "So, are you positive you're ok with me and Faith?" I'm really nervous about what everyone is going to think when they find out.

"Yeah Buffy of course! It's great knowing there's some extra muscle under this roof, and Faith's amazing. I really don't mind at all."

"Good, cuz I have a feeling some of our fellow Scoobies are going to be doing some minding. A lot of it in fact. So much minding that their brains might explode."

"Buffy? Eew." Dawn says. Ok so that was a little gross.

"Thanks Dawn, for being so cool about this, you're not always the little twerp you're made out to be," I tease.

"Grrr Buffy, you better go upstairs now or I'm gunna do something rash."

"Goodnight Dawn, don't stay up too late." I say as I walk up the stairs to my room. I walk in and the image that greets me makes my heart puddle. My Faith is all curled into a ball under my covers. I change into my PJ's and climb in next to her, savoring the warmth of her body.

This is so peaceful, just watching her sleep. I'm not that tired, so sleeping isn't going to come soon anyway.

………………

(Faith's POV)

I'm running down an alleyway, chasing after a couple of vampires. I turn the corner and stake the first thing that moves.

No. Not again. Alan Finch's face stares up at me, confusion spreading across his features.

NO. I killed him. Again.

I blink and his face is replaced by Buffy's. My hand is still holding the stake deep in her heart. Her beautiful eyes look into mine and she hoarsely whispers, "Look at you, all dressed up in big sisters clothes." NO I can't believe what is happening. I try to tell myself that I never did this. This is just a bad dream. But it feels so weird. So real.

She continues to speak. "Won't help you're boy though, or you for that matter."

What? What the Hell does that mean? What –

OUCH! Big freaking ouch! I look at my chest where the pain is blooming from and see an arrow sticking out of my chest. I recognize that arrow. The one I shot Angel with. Shit. The poison. Oh god the pain is incredible.

Not just from my chest but from watching my girlfriend bleed in front of me. What a goddamn nightmare.

It just keeps getting worse too. Cos now Angel is lying all pale and sickly in front of me. Like he was after he was shot by the arrow that was now protruding from my chest. I gotta cure him. I have to give my life for his.

I lean towards Angel and lower my neck to his teeth. He's just about to bite in when B stands up and starts yelling at me.

"Nice try Faith, I know what you want."

B saunters up next to Angel. "I'm evil! I'm bad! I'm evil! Do you hear me? I'm bad! Angel, I'm bad! Angel, please, just do it." She's says to me in a mocking tone. "Sound familiar F? Do you still wanna die?" she asks. Then Angel sinks his fangs into my neck.

(Buffy's POV)

She's getting antsy in her sleep. Must be a bad dream. I reach out to calm her when all of a sudden her eyes shoot open and she screams.

"NO!" She sits up straight, breathing heavily. "B I don't wanna die." Her skin is glistening with sweat.

"Faith! You're ok! Baby, you're fine. You're not in danger. I'm here Faithy, I'm here." I say calmingly trying to make my girl feel better. I don't know what happened, but she's pretty freaked. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Faith shakes her head no. She looks embarrassed and scared at the same time. "Sorry B. Didn't mean to scare ya. Just a bad dream. Sorry, I'll go to my room now." She makes a move to get out of the bed but I grab her arm and she stops.

"No Faith, stay. I think you need something to snuggle with right now." Faith smiles and pulls the covers back up to her chin. She wraps her arms around my waist and I do the same to hers. We lay there entwined and try to rest more. But it's stopped short when a bundle of teenage energy—or in Dawn's case a lack of—runs in with a worried expression on her face.

"Buffy? Faith? Is everything ok? What with the yelling and all…still alive?" Dawn groggily asks.

"Hey Pint-size. We're ok. Bad dream that's all."

"Ok good, cos I don't like the idea of you guys hurt or dead." Dawn turns to leave but Faith calls her back in.

"Dawn? Wanna stay? There's room for more." I guess Faith's dream must have frightened her more than she's letting on.

Dawn looks taken aback, but hastily agrees. "Sure, it's kinda cold tonight anyways, I'm all for body heat…in a non-icky way." Dawn hesitates to climb in. "Buffy, is it ok?"

"Of course Dawn. Climb on in." And she does. The three of us squish together, Faith in the middle. I'm still holding on to her waist and Dawns' moved her body close to Faith's. The three of us lay there, comforted in each other's arms before drifting off into a deep, and hopefully for Faith, dreamless sleep.

………………………

Deep below the earth, the hell beast gave a mighty roar. Still not strong enough to make it up to the earth above him, the demon devised a plan. It needed a conduit. Someone to put his essence into so he could achieve full strength. Someone who knew the sources of power that could bring him to where he wanted to go. Someone who knew the slayers.

The demon stared deeply at a puddle of blood, calling forth the greater powers to help him out. Within seconds, a form materialized in the puddle in front of the hell beast. A figure with platinum blonde hair. The vampire. William the Bloody.

………………………

Spike settled onto his couch in his crypt. He turned to the television and flipped on Passions. Spike watched his show, enjoying what he was seeing, when all of a sudden, a blinding flash of pain surged through his chest. Spike rolled off the couch in agony and screamed up to his ceiling.

His eyes turned a deep black before settling back to their bright blue color. The hell beast clenched the fists of his new body and grinned to himself.

It was time to take back the earth.

A/N: Let me know what you think! It's up to you readers to let me know if you want more!