A/N: Sorry it's been so long between updates. I'm back at uni and I'm determined to be committed and do all my work this semester so I'm hitting the books hard. Hope you enjoy.
There is that feeling when you haven't gotten a full night's sleep where you feel kind of dirty and nothing but a nice hot shower can make you feel almost human again. That was how Buffy felt now as the morning sunshine filtered in through her curtains and bathed them in a warm glow. She had been awake for several hours now having been woken several times during the night by the nightmares that had plagued the younger Slayer currently burrowed against her side. Obviously exhausted Faith had never really truly awoken by her nightmares; looking around groggily she had clung tightly to the blonde who had whispered soothing words till she drifted off again.
Now the blonde's eyes felt gritty and she wanted nothing more than to scrub her hands against them to somehow alleviate the tiredness that seemed to come from deep within. Only she couldn't move her arms because they were trapped underneath Faith's body who slept on the bright sunshine doing nothing to disturb her. Buffy contemplated disentangling herself gently from around the sleeping girl and go downstairs and join the rest of the household but she was sure that all Faith's fears about abandonment would come rushing back and send her even further away from whatever semblance of safety she had found in the older Slayer's arms.
She took a good look at the girl in her arms, it appeared that some of Faith's Slayer healing was coming back as the cuts and bruises on her face had faded quite a bit from the night before. She assumed that whoever it was that had been casting the spell on Faith had had to have been an occupant or staff member at the prison as her healing was now coming back. A soft knock came from her door and she cringed, looking down to see if it had disturbed the other Slayer. When she was convinced it hadn't she gently rolled Faith off of her, the young Slayer mumbling her protest and then padded over to her bedroom door opening it to reveal Willow on the other side.
"Morning," the redhead said brightly.
"Morning," Buffy replied raising her eyebrow at her friend's overly sunny disposition.
"How did you sleep?" Willow asked craning her neck to try and see not too subtly around Buffy and into her bedroom.
"Not so good. You got a crick in your neck Will? You're stretching like a madwoman," Buffy smirked.
"What? Oh yeah you know bad pillows, very sore neck in the morning. So how did things go last night really?" Willow asked.
Buffy sighed as she looked back into her room. Faith had turned so her back was facing them and Buffy had to strain her ears to make sure the dark Slayer's breathing was still slow and deep before she answered her friend.
"She had nightmares but I don't know if that's normal for her or if it's a side effect of whatever this thing is," Buffy said running a hand through her hair, "She's at the end of her rope though, she's had enough so the sooner we can figure this out the better."
"Agreed. So was it weird, ya know being all snugly with her?" Willow asked.
"Not really," Buffy shrugged taking another look over her shoulder, "I didn't really think all that much about it, she was kind of upset so it was more like how can I make her feel better."
"So Buffy snuggles all 'round," Willow grinned cheekily, "The cure to all your scary haunting problems."
"Shut up," Buffy said sneaking another glance to make sure the other Slayer was still asleep.
"So are you two going to come down for breakfast anytime soon? I had to practically put a hex on the Potentials so they wouldn't eat all of the food Andrew cooked," Willow said.
"Sure, I ah, guess I'll have to wake her. Are they all down there still?" Buffy asked.
"Most of them went out with Anya and Andrew to the grocery store to stock up. Apparently Anya thinks the owner of the store is an ex demon and she thinks that they will be able to strike some sort of deal with him," Willow shrugged, "They'll probably be arrested for speaking the crazy but hey, maybe they will keep Andrew in jail."
"We can only hope," Buffy smiled.
"Okay, well I'll go back down and make sure your food is still there and I guess see you down there," Willow said giving Buffy a quick smile.
Buffy closed her door softly before turning back and walking slowly back over to her bed. Sitting in a similar position that she had last night she realised she had never really seen Faith look as calm or relaxed then she did asleep, the innocence that splayed across her features betrayed her as Buffy knew she had lost most of it a long time ago. It was almost difficult for her to reach over and shake the younger girl's shoulder knowing she would remove her from whatever peaceful place she was currently in.
Faith' s eyes flew open the second time Buffy shook her shoulder and the former rogue had scooted away from her on the bed even before she was even fully aware of her surroundings.
"No, Faith it's okay it's just me Buffy," Buffy said reaching a hand out and grabbing the dark Slayer's arm to prevent her from falling off the other side of the bed.
"B," Faith said looking at the very corporeal hand that held onto her own arm, reassuring her that the girl in front of her was very much real.
"In my all too not to stunning morning glory," Buffy smiled, "Willow said that food is starting to be not of the plenty so she suggested we should get down there before we have to go out and hunt for our breakfast."
"You want to go and slay the cereal?" Faith asked her eyes sparkling.
"Was that a joke? Did you make a joke pre noon because I seem to remember that being a rare occurrence back in the day," Buffy smirked.
"Full of surprises B," Faith said obviously relaxing into the playful banter.
"You're looking better this morning," Buffy said indicating the nearly faded bruises and cuts.
Mentioning her injuries seemed to put a dampener on whatever calm had settled over the brunette and her shoulders immediately tensed and her eyes fell to her lap. Buffy inwardly cursed herself for her mistake and rubbed a thumb gently over the soft skin of Faith's arm which she still had a grip on.
"Breakfast," she said again hoping the mention of food would spark a reaction from the Slayer known for her bottomless pit of a stomach.
Faith allowed herself to be led down the stairs her head still bowed but her hand gripping Buffy's hand just as tight as the blonde had her own. Willow smiled a greeting at the pair as they came in offering them a friendly "Good morning" before going back to heating up two plates piled high with bacon and eggs. Gently pushing Faith down on one of the bar stools Buffy went to go and give the witch a hand when she felt the hand held within her own grasp hers impossibly tighter as she tried to move away. Throwing a glance to Faith she could see the brunette Slayer was staring intently at the benchtop not acknowledging the way she was clinging to Buffy like a lifeline. The two Slayers seemed to be having a conversation without words their eyes reflecting in one another, Faith's betraying her desperate need for security and Buffy's radiating a calm she hoped she could transpire to the former rogue.
Jumping when a voice spoke from the doorway the three in the room looked over in surprise at the person who had interrupted them. Kennedy stood with her hands on her hips looking over the scene in the kitchen with a critical eye.
"She doesn't look so dangerous," the brazen young woman stated coming further into the room and giving Faith a once over, noting the white knuckled grasp the former rogue had on her blonde counterparts hand.
If Buffy's eyes had been lasers the cocky brunette would have been burnt to smithereens by now, the murderous look being shot her way doing nothing to deter the Potentials confidence.
"I'm Kennedy," she said sticking her hand out for the dark Slayer to shake.
Faith gave Buffy a desperate look before sticking a shaking hand out to the Potential who shook her hand vehemently.
"So any ghost men in the room right now?" Kennedy asked sitting herself down on the stool next to the dark Slayer and grabbing a piece of bacon off the plate Willow had just placed in front Faith.
Willow joined Buffy this time in shooting daggers at the young Potential who stared at Faith ignoring the looks being shot her way. Faith visibly flinched at the question her breathing audibly quickening as her eyes darted from the brunette sitting next to her and the other two occupants of the room.
"N-no," she said shrinking away from Kennedy and moving so her shoulder was resting against Buffy where the blonde Slayer stood next to her.
"Kennedy," Buffy said her voice relaying the anger she was obviously feeling, "I think you should go."
"I don't have to, I have every right to be here and see our new house guest. If she's crazy I think we should get a say if she stays here or not," Kennedy said.
"Kennedy," Willow warned shooting a glance Buffy's way where the blonde Slayer was visibly restraining herself from throwing herself at the arrogant Potential, "I think you should leave," the witch said keeping her voice level, her eyes showing the younger girl that she meant it.
Shrugging her shoulders the Potential got off the barstool and gave Faith another look over before following Willow's instructions, obviously valuing whatever it was that their relationship currently was.
"Sorry," Willow said softly watching as Buffy pulled her hand from Faith's a placed a comforting arm around the younger girl's shoulders. She could feel Faith trembling under her arm as she leaned into the blonde girl's touch.
"I-I'm not crazy am I?" Faith said her voice wavering as she looked up at the blonde Slayer, "B?"
A/N: Reviews please.