If it were possible the dark Slayer's face paled even further as the vampire held the mug out to her. The coppery smell that infiltrated her nostrils that would have usually made her stomach turn made her mouth salivate and she felt tears prick the back of her eyes. This was all happening too fast, she would die and she would truly become evil like they always said she would.
"What!" Buffy said watching as Faith's already pale face seemed to pale even further.
"I knew as soon as she said the food tasted like sand," Spike said sadly.
"But she's not a vampire, she's still alive!" Buffy said looking frantically from Spike to Faith.
"But I will be," Faith said her voice wavering.
"I told you already that I wouldn't let that happen," Buffy said to her softly.
"You can't stop it B! I can already feel it happening," Faith yelled trying to push herself off the bed, "My heart hurts every time that it beats and I can feel the poison moving around my body and soon I'm going to be of them and I'm going to be dangerous. You should just kill me now, before I have the chance to hurt anyone," Faith choked tears spilling down her cheeks.
"No Faith I won't, I couldn't do that," Buffy said her heart breaking for the girl in front of her. Faith was trying desperately to hide herself from them but with her arms and legs chained it made it almost impossible for her to move and this only made her cry even more.
Sensing that she wouldn't want him seeing her like this Spike quietly placed the mug on the night stand and slipped out of the room. Buffy moved so she was holding both of Faith's hands in her own and shook them to get the other girl's attention.
"I'm not going to let anything happen to you," she said running her thumb over the back of Faith's hand, "And you're not going to give up either, you're going to fight this every step of the way because I won't lose you, I can't lose you."
Faith seemed stunned by her revelation and the two stared at each other in silence as the dark Slayer's tears continued to trickle down her cheeks. She wasn't sure who made the first move but soon their lips were crashing together and they became lost in each other.
As a first kiss it wasn't soft or romantic, it was desperate and full of passion that had been denied for so long. Buffy couldn't believe she had waited so long because kissing Faith seemed to make her world stop and turn at the same time. Her hands wound their way into Faith's hair pulling them closer and she felt her whole body respond as Faith moaned into her mouth. She pulled back reluctantly when air became an issue and giggled when Faith scowled at not being able to move her hands.
The dark Slayer's face was flushed and with their close proximity Buffy could feel the other girl's heart pounding in her chest, reassuring her that Faith was still very much alive.
"I have been waiting to do that for so long," Faith murmured as Buffy tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
"Deep down I think I have too," Buffy said softly, "I'm just sorry it took me so long to realise it."
"Don't be sorry B," Faith said her eyes watering, "If I hadn't been such an ass in the beginning then maybe none of it ever would have happened."
"I was the ass, I was so preoccupied with myself I didn't realise that you needed help. I could have saved you so much pain if I'd just admitted back then that I love you."
"You-you love me?" Faith asked her voice trembling.
"If you'll let me," Buffy said cupping Faith's cheek.
"I-I don't know what to say. No one has ever, I've never, I don't know how..."
"Sshh it's okay," Buffy said lowering herself onto the bed and pulling Faith to her so the brunette's head rested on her shoulder, "You don't have to say it, just know that I do."
"I do too," Faith said burying her face in the crook of Buffy's neck as much as her chains would allow.
Buffy held her as she cried her own tears joining as she cried for what she had found and what she could lose.
"Don't think I've ever cried as much as I have lately," Faith sniffed once her tears had subsided.
"Even bad ass Slayers have to cry once in awhile," Buffy shrugged tightening her arms around the younger girl.
They lay together in silence and although she knew she should've been going to talk to Giles about Faith's new 'no food' development her body just felt so right with Faith's wrapped around her. It was well past midnight and just as her eyes had all but drooped closed a grumbling from Faith's stomach caused them to snap back open.
"Sorry," the other Slayer muttered.
"You haven't had anything to eat yet, I'm so sorry I forgot," Buffy said reluctantly pulling away.
"It's fine I don't want to eat it anyway," Faith said trying to prevent Buffy from getting off the bed but failing miserably with her shackled limbs, "Ya know B if we tell people you came onto me while I was locked up in chains they might get the wrong idea about you."
"Shut up," Buffy said hitting her shoulder playfully, "And you have to eat, you have to keep your strength up if we're going to fight this thing."
"I hate that it smells so good," Faith said looking away.
"I know," Buffy said hopping off the bed and grabbing the mug.
"Where are you going?" Faith asked.
"Angel and Spike say it tastes better when it's warm," Buffy said, "I'll be quick," she promised hurrying from the room.
The house was quiet and Buffy was surprised to see all the lights off in the living room. She could make out the numerous sleeping bags spread out over the floor and checked quickly that the Potentials were settled before heading to the kitchen. Xander and Giles were in there talking quietly over steaming cups of tea and they both looked up as she entered.
"Buffy I didn't think you were still up," Giles said as she headed over to the microwave.
"I'm just heating this up for Faith," she said punching in the time and turning back to face them, "Did Spike talk to you?"
"He told us what was going on yes," Giles nodding taking a sip of his tea.
"I wish we had some sort of timeline," she sighed rubbing her tired eyes.
"We are working on it, but in the mean time you should head back up to bed, get some rest while you can," Giles said heading back out into the dining room where his books were spread out over the table.
"Something happened didn't it," Xander said waggling his eyebrows after the older man had left.
"No! Of course not...how could you?" she blushed as the microwave beeped.
"You have happy eyes," Xander said, "And happy eyes equal major kissage. Am I right?"
"You could be," Buffy said pulling out the mug of steaming red liquid.
"I'm happy for you," he said kissing her on the cheek, "Oh and tell Faith if she hurts you she'll have to answer to me," he said winking and flexing his muscles.
"She will be truly terrified I'm sure," Buffy said chuckling, "Thanks Xan, for being okay with it."
"Are you kidding/" I'd be okay with anything if it made you happy. Now get on up to your girl while we try and figure out how to save her life."
Faith had managed to wriggle her way up into a sitting position by the time Buffy returned and her stomach growled as the smell from the mug in the blonde's hand reached her nostrils.
"I don't want you to have to watch me drink this," she said as Buffy sat on the bed next to her.
"You don't have to be embarrassed," Buffy said stroking the side of her face, "Besides I kinda have to help you drink it with the chains still being on and all."
"Right," Faith muttered, "I-it's just it makes me feel sick at the thought of drinking it but at the same time I can feel my body craving it."
"I won't think any less of you," Buffy promised.
"I know but it feels wrong but right at the same time, like my brain is saying no but my body is screaming yes."
"I will love you if you drink blood, water or cherry cola which for the record I think is evil and disgusting," Buffy said holding the mug up to Faith's lips.
Faith looked at her with complete amazement overcoming her features. No one, not even the Mayor had said anything like that to her before. She felt the warm liquid touch her lips and drank it down eagerly never taking her eyes off the woman who looked back at her that made all the pain in her body seem to melt away. She had always loved Buffy she had just never thought anything could ever happen between them. It felt so surreal and yet so incredibly wonderful to know that Buffy loved her back.
"Wasn't so bad was it?" Buffy asked when she was done.
Faith shook her head as she licked her lips. Her stomach felt full and it made her feel warm and snuggly even with the dull ache in her chest. Drinking the blood made her feel less human but when Buffy lay down next to her and wrapped her arms around her waist it seemed to fill the void that drinking the blood had made.
"I love you," Buffy whispered as she stroked the younger girl's hair.
"I do too B," Faith whispered back hating that she couldn't actually form the words but hoping that Buffy knew how badly she wanted to say them.
"Let's get some sleep huh, something tells me tomorrow is going to be a big day," Buffy said leaning over and switching off the bedside lamp.
"'Kay," Faith murmured already feeling the pull of sleep as her eyes drooped closed.
"Somebody will be giving me answers tomorrow," the blonde whispered dropping a kiss to the sleeping girl's forehead before finally allowing her own eyes to drift shut.