A/N: I finally updated! Sorry it took so long...as before, school has been horribly time consuming, add that to sports and my family, and I have a small amount of time to write. Thanks for the reviews! They are really helpful and greatly appreciated!
The Missing Half
Chapter 25 – Captain Cardboard
(Buffy's POV)
No. This isn't real. It can't be.
"What the Hell are you doing here!" I scream at Riley as I run to Faith. I shove Riley off of my girlfriend.
She's bleeding.
"You asshole!" I yell again and swing my fist around catching him full in the jaw, sending him to the floor. "Can't you see she's hurt? She doesn't need you wailing on her too!" I sneak a glance at Faith who's carefully pulling herself to her feet.
"It's alright B. I deserved that," Faith said quietly. My mind flipped back to when we switched bodies and when I found out that Riley had slept with Faith in my body.
I look Faith in the eyes, determined to let her know that I'm over that part of our past.
"Faith, it's ok. You don't deserve it. Remember? That's in the past, you aren't that same person anymore," I smile slowly. "Besides, I don't blame you for wanting to take my body for a little test-drive."
Faith's sad face lights up at my comment and her eyes get that adorable twinkle in them. "Damn B, you found me out."
Riley suddenly clears his throat from his spot on the floor. He stands up and regains his composure. "Buffy? Do you want to explain something to me? Like why this murdering psychopath is standing in your living room? And better yet, why you're defending her?"
"None of your business Riley. I suggest you get back to your new life and leave ours alone."
"Jealous Buffy? Of the life I shared with someone who wasn't you? Someone who could make me feel like the man I always knew I was but you wouldn't let me be?"
"Shut up," I grit out through clenched teeth. "Shut up and leave before I send you face first into the pavement outside."
"Ooh Buffy quick with the threats I see. Is your whore teaching you to be more like her? Are you going to slit my throat now? Gut me like a fish?"
I can't believe what he's saying…this isn't the Riley I knew.
"Riley," I begin, "What is wrong with you? What happened? Why are you saying these things?"
A look of anger flashes across his dull eyes. "What's wrong with me? What's wrong with ME? I'm not the one sleeping with a stupid skank! You know, I come back here after fighting evil in the jungle, acting like the hero I thought you wanted and find you with her! I come back here after going through hell hoping I could win you back, hoping that we could be together again. But no, that dumb bitch has to get in the way!"
Riley stalks out of the house angrily and slams the door shut loudly behind him. I stand there, my mouth hanging open in shock, unable to comprehend that this Riley was the same Riley I knew only a short while ago.
"B? Are you…are you ok?" Faith limps up behind me and wraps her arms around my waist. Her embrace instantly relaxes me.
"Yeah Faith I'm fine. I just can't believe that bastard would say those things. I'm sorry that he spoke about you that way."
"It's alright B, I can take a few dirty words thrown my way. Next time I see him though, I'm washing his mouth out with soap."
I chuckle softly and turn to face Faith. I take the sleeve of my nightshirt and gently wipe away the blood from under her nose.
"Are you ok baby?" I ask.
"Five by five B"
(Faith's POV)
Alright, so I'm pissed. But I'm not gunna let B see that. The things Riley said hurt. Seeing him brought my past flying back to me in full Technicolor. How I tried to steal B's life. But I gotta be strong. Cuz his little visit obviously shook B up more than she's letting on as well.
I kiss B softly on the lips, hoping to silence her problems for a little bit.
It works. B grabs the back of my head and pulls me closer to her, into her lips.
I'm really getting into it when I hear clapping from the bottom of the stairs.
"Nice show ladies. You should sell that on the Internet," Dawn pipes up from her seat on the last step.
"Oh you little twerp," B yells and chases her sister. Dawn squeals and races up the stairs, B hot on her heels.
I chuckle softly and make my way up the stairs as fast as I can to join the fight.
Once upstairs I see B and Dawn in the middle of a tickle war on Dawn's bed. I quickly walk to my room and grab a camera from my nightstand and then make my way back to Dawn's room.
I stand in the doorway, snapping a few pictures of the Summers sisters.
I enter the fray carefully, ducking under a flying hand and moving swiftly away from a flailing foot. Dawn giggles as B successfully holds her down with one hand and tickles her with the other. I reach out with my uninjured hand and grab B's foot and yank her off Dawn's squirming body, then proceed to pin both her wrists down under my body.
"Get her D!" I shout. Dawn obeys and leaps onto B's prone body. She goes on to stroke her finger up and down B's foot, eliciting a high pitched shriek from my girl's mouth. Looks like we found her ticklish spot.
Knowing that B and me might not be able to sleep for a little bit longer, I go to my room to prepare a little show for the Summers' sisters, leaving Dawn to handle the shrieking slayer situation that is my Buffy.
(Buffy's POV)
"Oh GOD! I SURRENDER!" I yell shrilly at my evil little sister.
"Oh no. You're not going to get off that easily!" Dawn yells. Did I mention that she's an evil little girl?
"AHH DAWN! You are so going to get it when I get out of here!"
"Ooh I'm so scared…what are you going to do…stake me?"
"Something like that," I mutter. I hate this feeling…I'm being trapped by a teenager! With no supernatural powers to speak of!
Being tickled sucks…the laughing is splitting my sides and tears are appearing at the corners of my eyes…yet it's not my idea of funny. And to think it was my girlfriend's fault I got in this position…oh they are both going to get it later.
So it's been a full five minutes of me shrieking and Dawn laughing like the devil she is when a welcoming distraction finally comes.
Faith walks in, dressed in a pair of leather pants, my old cheerleading top, and a big black top hat. This is honestly the last thing I ever expected to see in my life. After seeing this, I think I could just die right now and go to Heaven. My life is complete and I can sincerely say that demons aside, this is the strangest thing I have ever seen.
Faith comes into view and puts a CD into Dawn's stereo. The music starts up, loud and clear and Faith begins to sing. It seems that this is one of those kareoke CD's, the only person I hear singing is Faith.
"Well a-1, 2, 3 Take my hand and come with me because you look so fine that I really wanna make you mine."
Faith struts around the room doing a cute little dance. She's tapping her boots on the floor and spinning around in circles.
"4, 5, 6 C'mon and get your kicks now you don't need the money with a face like that, do ya honey."
Faith throws her hat into mine and Dawn's face and runs her hand through her hair seductively.
"Big black boots long brown hair she's so sweet with her get-back stare!"
Faith's really into it now, dancing as hard as her injured body will let her.
Finally she stops in front of me and grabs my hand with hers.
"I said, are you gonna be my girl?"
She looks up into my eyes with her twinkling brown puppy dog orbs and I reach down and pull her up onto the bed carefully. The music is still playing in the background but I find myself lost in those eyes. Those goddamn eyes that get me every time.
"Of course Fai baby, your girl forever and always," I say sincerely, never ceasing to stare into her eyes. Faith reaches up and plants a big wet kiss on my lips then gets up to go change her clothes. Dawn switches the music off and turns to face me on the bed.
"She makes you happy doesn't she?" Dawn asks. The answer to the question is obvious, but the way Dawn asks it tells me she's looking for more than just a yes or no answer.
"More than anyone else ever has, besides you and mom. She lights up my day with a brightness that has the power to light up the entire world. She has this way of making me smile when I feel like all else is lost. When she went missing, I was so scared, because if she stayed gone, my life would be far from complete. As sappy as it sounds Dawn, I love her, and anything that gets in our way better get used to seeing my fist in their face."
Dawn grabs my hand with hers and runs her finger over my knuckle.
"Good. It's about time you got what you deserve."
(Faith's POV)
I walk back into Dawn's room, dressed in my nightclothes. I hope the two sisters enjoyed my little show. After Riley's guest appearance I felt the need to shed a little happiness on our little family.
Whoa. Did I just think that? Our family? Well I guess they are…my family. Besides the LA gang, they're all that I've got.
I step softly up to Dawn's bed and crawl under the covers, careful not to interrupt the little sister moment going on at the foot of the bed. B makes her way to where I'm laying and lifts the covers up and over her body as well. She snuggles close to my body tucks one side of the covers around me.
Dawn gently climbs in the other side of her bed and wraps the covers tightly around her body as well.
The three of us lie in Dawn's bed. I stare up at the ceiling for a few minutes, once again thanking the higher powers that I was given a second chance as great as this.
I hear Dawn sighing softly as she reaches over and turns the lamp off.
Two slayers and a teenaged girl. Two legendary fighters and a young girl making her own mark on the world.
"I love you guys," I say softly as I fall into a deep undisturbed sleep.
(Dawn's POV)
Oh man what time is it? A quick glance at the clock tells me it's a little past three in the morning.
Leave it to my bladder to wake me up at the odd hours of the morning.
I carefully remove my body from under Buffy's arm and sneak off to the bathroom.
Once my business is done, I walk back to my room. I notice something sitting on my dresser. It's the camera faith has been carrying around for a little while now, snapping pictures when she thinks we don't notice, capturing us at our unexpected moments.
I think it's cute.
I glance at Buffy and Faith sleeping together in my bed, their arms wrapped around each other protectively. I raise the camera and take a quick shot of the two cuddles lovingly into each other, then place the camera back on my dresser.
I climb back into my bed and fall back to sleep within seconds.
(Faith's POV)
That was the best night of sleep I've gotten in awhile. After the whole kidnapping incident, it felt great to wake up in my girlfriend's arms and actually know who she was.
I stretch, roll over, and give B a kiss on her forehead. I sneak out of the bed and nimbly creep downstairs. I put a cup of coffee on and walk outside to get the newspaper.
When I get outside, the first thing I notice is the lack of snow. It seems to have completely melted overnight. And not only did the snow melt, but it seems Sunnydale is experiencing an extreme heat wave.
Holy crap it's hot out here. I walk quickly to get the newspaper and bring it back into our house. Just that short use of energy has left my body slick with sweat.
This is not going to be as fun as the snow.
I turn the coffee off, no longer in the mood for such a warm treat, and go to the freezer to get some ice gold goodness instead. I reach to the back where it seems B has hidden the chocolate-y yumminess that is chocolate ice cream from a certain kid sister.
Ahhh. Chocolate ice cream for breakfast. I love self-indulgence.
I'm in mid-scoop when I hear B's approaching footsteps. I look down at my bowl of ice cream and smile guiltily.
"Hey Faithy, looks like you're enjoying yourself already this morning," B says sleepily. She goes to the drawer and pulls out a spoon of her own and begins eating directly from the ice cream carton. "Don't mind me, I'm going to do a little enjoying of myself."
And she does, taking generous scoops from the carton.
I can't help myself; I dip my finger in my bowl of ice cream and rub my finger on her cheek, leaving a trail of sweetness on her face.
"Oops," I growl huskily. I lean across the table and kiss B good morning on her lips, then kiss her cheek softly, delighting in the way her skin tastes.
B turns her face so we're kissing on the lips again.
After a few moments of early morning kissing, B pushes her chair away from the table and goes upstairs, explaining that she is desperate need for a shower.
Seconds later, I go up to join her.
………………………
It's about three in the afternoon now. Dawn and Buffy went grocery shopping a little while ago and I'm here all alone.
I sit on the couch, flipping through the channels, searching for something good to watch, but nothing catches my interest.
Lucky for me, the phone rings, giving me something else to do.
I run tot he kitchen to pick it up and am delighted to hear the voice at the other end.
"Hey Fang. How's it hanging?"
"Hey Faith. Glad to hear that you're doing better than a few days ago. Things here have been ok. Cordy cut her hair; Gunn and I killed a newly discovered demon last night. Nasty little twit. How about you?"
"Riley came to visit last night. I think he left though."
"What! He didn't hurt you did he?"
"Well my nose has seen better days, but nothing serious. I got the impression he still doesn't think of me as sugar and spice and everything nice."
"I'm sorry to hear that Faith. Men like Captain Cardboard talk big to compensate for something small…"
"Angel! That has to be the most amusing thing a two and a half-century vampire has ever said. Props to you big brother."
Angel chuckled on the other line. "Well Faith, it was good talking to you, I was just seeing how you were."
"Thanks for calling Angel, good to hear your voice again."
"Bye Faith."
"See ya Fang."
I hang the phone back into its cradle and make my way back to the living room for more channel surfing.
…………………………
Five hours after Soul Boy's call and I'm clearing the dinner table. Dawn, B, and I had just eaten a bowl of gourmet Mac 'n' Cheese. It was way better than the stuff they served in prison.
"So B, Angel called to check in. Apparently him and Gunn killed a demon of non-specific origins last night."
B rolled her eyes while laughing. "That's the story of my life."
"Cordy got a haircut."
"Really? Tell her she should send pictures." I'm enjoying the fact that since our trip to LA B's gotten closer to Cordy and the gang.
"Will do."
"Alright, I'm gunna go upstairs, get ready for patrol."
"I'll follow you up shortly, just gunna finish up these dishes."
"Have I told you that I love you lately?" B asks while grinning.
"Only when I'm doing your chores," I answer.
B kisses me quickly on the cheek then runs upstairs to get changed for patrol.
Halfway through dishes, the doorbell rings.
"Dawnie! Can you get that?" I yell.
"Yeah, yeah I'm going," she responds.
A few moments later I hear Dawn scream.
I drop the dish I'm drying and it falls to the floor with a crash as it breaks into bunches of little pieces.
I dart to the foyer and see that Dawn is safe…
… But Riley's here to visit again. And he brought a gun this time.
I hear B's feet pounding down the stairs as she rushes to the sound of Dawn's scream.
"Dawn? Faith are you ok?" Buffy asks while checking us over for any wounds.
Riley steps out from the shadows. "They are for now, but that can soon change." B's eyes go cartoon-character round when she sees the gun.
"Riley, whatever problems you have with me, they have nothing to do with them. Let them go."
"Dawn can go, but my problems aren't just with you Blondie, Little Miss Faith here seems to be a pretty troublesome person herself."
Riley raises the gun until it's pointed directly at my head.
"As cliché as it sounds Buffy, if I can't have you, I'm gunna make sure no one else does either."
I hear a faint noise from the side door but my focus is still the gun aimed at my face.
I glance at B and back down the barrel of the deadly weapon.
I love you B.
Riley's finger tightened around the trigger and the gun went off.
A/N: I think someone needs to shoot Riley…don't you? Let me know how you all though this chapter was! Thanks!