The Path To Redemption
Chapter 13
Author: twin who likes to travel
Rating: PG-13
Summary: This is the second half of the Scoobies celebrating the holiday season together.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Reviews: I would like them. Constructive criticism is ok.
Author's notes: Konga, thanks for reviewing so quickly. I'm glad you liked the make out time between Dawn and Faith, but I'm also sorry if the description wasn't enough for you. I don't plan on describing it again. Hopefully, descriptions for any future moments like that will be good enough for you. EN666, I want to thank you for reviewing so quickly as well. I'm glad you're loving it so far. I hope it stays that way until the end. kmt513, thanks for adding my story to your alert list. Maybe you could leave a review before it's over.
Dawn was leaning in for a second kiss when Faith stopped her. She explained that it was because she heard the water be shut off, so that it could be a matter of minutes before Buffy came out. She didn't want to risk the blonde catching them and freaking out. Dawn backed off and sighed after she heard the bathroom door open three minutes later. The older Summers questioned them on who was next while she stood there in a bra and pants. Faith informed her that she was, got out from under the covers, and strolled to the bathroom in just a tank top and boxer shorts. The brunette then told Buffy it was safe to come in if she needed to dry her hair because she couldn't be seen behind the shower curtain.
Faith and Buffy talked about various things while Faith showered and Buffy dried her hair. Buffy stopped and closed her eyes for a few seconds because Faith had finished before she was done and wanted to get out. Faith quickly wrapped a towel around herself and left the room. She let Buffy know she was leaving by lightly smacking the blonde on her butt. The yelp got Dawn to run to the bathroom door. She got there in enough time to see Buffy glaring at Faith and Faith marching to Dawn's bedroom. After the bathroom was vacated by Buffy, Dawn closed the door, stripped down, and got in the shower. She was happy that Faith had kept her promise by the fact that her entire shower was in warm water.
Around ten minutes later, the Summers' kitchen
Dawn was finishing up when Faith knocked on the door and asked if she could come in to dry her hair. Dawn quickly wrapped a towel around herself and dashed to her bedroom so she wouldn't suffer the same fate as Buffy. But it didn't stop her from blushing at the whistle she got from the slayer. After Faith was done, she headed to the family room. She grabbed the sunglasses she had laid down on the end table and put them on before sitting down at the kitchen table. The bright light was bothering her due to the slight hangover that she had.
"Who's that playing right now?"
"That's The Smashing Pumpkins singing, 'Christmastime'. Do you like it?"
"It's alright."
"I'm glad you like it. We weren't sure if you would. Want something to drink, preferably non alcoholic?" Buffy giggled as she guessed that other slayer liked the song by the growing smirk.
"Yeah, what do ya have?"
"We've got orange juice, coffee, or water."
"I'll have both juice and coffee."
When Faith didn't budge from her seat, Buffy questioned, "Would you like me to get that for you?"
"If ya don't mind."
"Ok, just no smacking me on the butt."
"No promises, B."
Buffy ignored that and poured both for her. She gently set the glass of juice and coffee mug down in front of the brunette. She couldn't tell what the girl was looking at behind the sunglasses but noticed the trademark smirk was still on her face and assumed the girl was trying to peek down Buffy's blouse. Faith heard her step back and laughed.
"I ain't tryin' to look down your shirt, B, if that's what you're worried about. Besides, I still remember from my birthday what ya got under those clothes. I just like the song even though I normally don't care for holiday music. And I don't need to take off these sunglasses to know that your cute face is probably blushing right now," Faith insisted before guzzling down the juice and began on the coffee.
"It is not," Buffy lied.
"Is she lyin', D?"
"How did you know I was there?" Dawn lightly shrieked.
"I might be a little hung over, but that doesn't mean my slayer hearin' takes a break. So am I right, is B blushing?"
"Yeah, she is."
"I knew it."
"Could you take them off for a minute, and tell us if we look alright before they get here?" Dawn pleaded softly.
"Sure, if ya can tell me what time it is."
"It's around 8:45 AM. Now take them off."
Faith slowly removed them, studied both Summers girls and smirked.
"Well?" Dawn added when Faith hadn't said a word.
"Ya both look really good. I mean beautiful," Faith answered as she put the sunglasses back on.
"How beautiful?" they asked at the same time.
"That maybe I should have kicked it with ya two to by now. Of course that would mean that B would have had to manage to stay awake first."
This got the blonde to blush a second time, but Dawn frowned a little.
"Cheer up, D. We both know B's not that way. That thing with Satsu was only a one time thing."
"Neither is Dawn," Buffy cut in.
"Of course she isn't," Faith muttered; but the moment Buffy took her eyes off her, the brunette pulled down her sunglasses and arched an eyebrow at Dawn, who instantly blushed.
Faith quickly pushed them back up when she saw Buffy starting to turn around to face her. Faith finished her coffee a moment later.
"Hey, I thought you were trying to talk more correctly," the youngest quizzed.
"As soon as the hangover's gone, I will."
The trio was watching Scrooged when they heard the doorbell ring. After a brief stare over who was going to get off the couch, Buffy gave in and got to the door as it rang for a second time. Dawn followed her with Faith getting up but staying where she stood. As soon as the blonde opened the door, she was met by her friends. The group had stayed at a local hotel after hanging out with the sisters and Faith the previous night.
"Merry Christmas, Buffster and Dawnster," Xander stated as he hugged both sisters.
"You too," Dawn told him.
"Happy holidays, Xander," Buffy replied and motioned to the redhead in the hope that he would get the clue to say a certain something to her best friend.
"Happy Chanukkah, Will," the other three Scoobies said at the same time to the redhead as they shared a group hug.
"Thank you, Happy holidays to you too."
When they broke the hold and turned to face the three people behind them, they found Giles, Olivia, and Vi smiling.
"Happy holidays, Giles, Olivia, and Vi."
"Happy holidays," Dawn echoed her sister while standing beside her.
"Happy holidays, to the both of you," the three of them greeted in unison before all of them entered the apartment.
When Dawn realized the brunette was still by the couch, she indicated for the other girl to join them. Faith shuffled up to them uneasily and stopped when she was beside the teenager. Vi broke the awkward silence by being the first to confront Faith. Faith was both happy and slightly stunned when the other redhead hugged her without any signs of discomfort. Dawn seemed to be the only one to sense how Faith was truly feeling at that moment. The youngest fought the urge to shed a tear. From what she could tell, Faith was trying hard to show she wasn't affected by the sentiment as much as she really was. The others appeared to buy it. The group was surprised again as she hugged the redheaded slayer back. Then the brunette shared ones with the witch and Giles. Since she had never met Olivia, she only shook her hand. Faith finished it off with giving Xander a light jab in his right arm and laughed a little. This brought out more smiles among the group.
"Happy holidays, Faith," the rest of the guests directed to the brunette.
"Right back at you."
"I hope you're all hungry, we made a big breakfast for everyone like we promised," Buffy reminded them.
"How's the hangover, Faith?"
"It disappeared around half an hour ago, Red."
"That's good."
"Yeah," Faith sighed as Buffy turned the holiday music back on with a few versions of Adam Sandler's "The Chanukkah Song" thrown into the mix, making the witch smile.
After eating until their stomachs were full, they got caught up on each others' lives. During their talk, the rest of them mentioned the collage on the wall and a few sketches that were there as well. Buffy explained that Dawn had really gotten into art and was the one who drew them. Dawn almost blushed at all of the compliments. To get the topic off of her, Dawn brought up that Faith had made the collage that they had just seen and the one in her bedroom. When they requested to see it, the teenager rushed back to her room, took the frame off the wall, and rejoined them in the family room. After everyone had gotten a look at it, Faith got some compliments as well. They made her promise to make a few more. After excusing herself to go to the bathroom, the sisters and Willow grilled Giles, Xander, and Vi.
"So how's Faith been since we left?" Buffy began.
"Why are you asking us, you talk to her as much as we do?" Xander exclaimed as his girlfriend nodded along.
"Because we only talk to her, you actually see her. Maybe she puts on an act while on the phone. Something she might not be able to do so well in person."
"She seems ok, Buffy."
"What do you mean she seems ok?" both Summers challenged.
"What Vi means is that she mostly stays in a good mood, gets along with almost every newbie that comes through the door, and even jokes around when she wants to. She kidded around with us about the two of us getting together and about her never falling in love."
"What? You still make jokes about that?" Dawn growled as she raised her voice a little.
"What's the big, Dawnster? She's ok with it since she laughed about it with us."
"It's not funny; it's mean. Just because she laughs about it, it doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt a little inside each time she hears it. You're ALL going to back off on doing that again."
"You've said it yourself."
"Yeah, I was one of the first who did. I apologized to her later," Dawn concluded as she got up and paced toward the bathroom in her search for their guest.
"What's wrong with her?" Willow inquired after the younger Summers disappeared.
"I think…I think Dawn might be crushing on her a bit. She said she wasn't when I brought it up as we were coming back from our vacation," Buffy revealed when she was pretty sure that her sister couldn't hear her.
"What makes you think that?" Xander prodded.
"Lately, when she and I talk about Faith, she gets so defensive. And then there's what just happened."
"What are you saying, Buff, that Dawn and Faith secretly have a more intimate relationship? That they might have…you know…had sex?"
"I wouldn't go that far, Will. They haven't been alone together long enough for that to happen, but I'm sure they have at least kissed a few times. I think I even saw a trace of a hickey on the lower right side of her neck when we were cooking earlier."
"I'm sure it's nothing."
"But what if it isn't? What if you are onto something?" Xander cut in.
"Yeah," the other redhead interrupted.
"I don't know. I mean I wouldn't have a problem if she's bisexual or…," the blonde declared.
"Gay?" her best friend finished for her.
"Yeah, it's just that it might be Faith. I don't know what to think about that."
"Honestly, Buffy, it wouldn't be a bad thing if it was her," Vi announced confidently and kept going when they all gave her a sign to explain her statement, "I haven't known her as long as the rest of you have, but she does a good job ordering the newbies around. Just picture what you and Dawn saw when you came back happening on a daily basis. There were times they were overconfident and wanted to revolt, but she'd find a way to knock them off their imaginary pedestals. She never held a grudge after it. It was pretty amazing actually, and she backed me up when they got out of line around me. She also seems to honestly care about Dawn."
"Anything you care to add, Giles?" Buffy encouraged her mentor as she instantly thought of Faith possibly listening due to the slayer hearing and made sure to play it cool.
"Only that after you two moved, she seemed to lose a little bit of that zest in her life."
"Huh?" all three Scoobies mumbled.
"I'm talking about the happiness of all of you giving her a second chance at friendship. I can see that she wants it. It's almost like a craving to her. To have what she may have never had before coming to Sunnydale. That we all are at least a little bit at fault for what happened back then."
"What about the jokes we've made about her never falling in love?"
"I do say that most of that was uncalled for."
"Most?"
"Yes, I believe that Willow was slightly justified for saying after her…uh...break-up, even though I can understand Faith's side of the story. I am proud of both Willow and Faith for apologizing to each other the next morning."
When Giles was done, they realized it had been awhile since Dawn left. Buffy was tempted to check on her sister to the point where she actually stood up. However, she didn't stop Willow when the redhead had pushed her back down to her seat.
At the same time, beside the bathroom door
"Faith, can I come in?'
"Why, do you need to use the bathroom?"
"No, to talk to you."
"Ok, come in."
Dawn closed the door and began the rest of their conversation.
"So how much did you hear?"
"Everything before you came in here and what they are saying right now," Faith whispered.
"What are they saying, and why are you whispering?"
"If I can hear them, even though they're talking softly, then B and Vi can probably hear us. So maybe you should too."
Dawn listened as Faith quoted each of them and spoke while Faith washed her hands. Faith turned to face her and leaned back against the sink.
"I don't believe it anymore that you'll never fall in love. You will find the right guy."
"What if it's not a guy? What if it's a girl I end up with?" Faith whispered into Dawn's left ear after pulling the other girl a lot closer.
"What are you saying?"
"What I'm trying to say is that I kind of like kissing you, no matter what the situation is."
"So if I kissed you now…"
"I wouldn't stop you."
"Let's test that theory, ok?"
Dawn leaned in while hands were placed on her hips and put hers on the brunette's shoulders when Faith tightened the grip on her. They kissed until they were both out of breath.
"Nice," Dawn determined.
"Ditto," Faith murmured before Dawn began to tug at the sides of Faith's shirt by the waistband of the pants.
When it wouldn't budge, she quickly moved to the front of them, unbuckled the belt, and unbuttoned them.
"What are you doing?" Faith nearly gasped as the zipper was pulled down just as rapidly.
"Since you gave me a hickey, I thought I'd give you one. Take off your shirt."
"Dawn."
"Not all of the way if you don't want to. Just enough to pull your arms out of the sleeves. I don't want to stretch out your shirt."
"Ok," Faith consented but took it completely off, making the younger girl smile at her, "But ya better make it quick."
Faith couldn't hold back a very light gasp at the feeling of soft hands touching her skin just above her hips. Dawn's hands stayed there as she bit hard enough to leave a mark. Faith bit her own hand to prevent herself from making a sound. Ten seconds later, Dawn stopped back to check it out and was pleased to see a dark red mark on the shoulder in front of her.
"Nice job, D," Faith commented as she inspected it as well, "Can I put my shirt back on now? They're probably going to be knocking on the door in less than a minute."
"Sure," Dawn agreed and smiled as Faith reached for the shirt that was lying on the counter behind her, "Faith."
"Yeah?"
"We're just friends with some kissing benefits, right?"
"So you're not crushing on me?" the slayer chuckled.
"What?" Dawn mouthed silently.
"I heard B say that she thinks you're crushing on me."
"You didn't tell me she said that."
"I know. I thought I'd save that to the end. So?"
"I'm not crushing on you. I was just defending you like a best friend should." Quit lying to yourself, Summers. You are because she's good now.
"I'm your best friend?"
"Possibly," Dawn voiced before Faith smirked at her, "Ok, you are. Happy now?"
"Yeah, I never really had a best friend," the brunette confessed as she hugged the girl in front of her while her shirt was still off.
At the feeling of Dawn's hands touching the back of Faith's bra, they broke the embrace and Dawn took a few steps back.
"So then I'm your best friend with kissing benefits, and you're not in love or falling in love with me?"
"Yes to the best friend with the kissing part. No to the love part." LIAR!
While they left the bathroom, Faith held back a smile at what she had been able to hide from Dawn for a long time. From the very first kiss back at the mall in CA and every one after that, Faith had never felt more alive than when she kissed the younger Summers. It both surprised and scared her. She almost feared the day when everyone would find out. Meanwhile, Dawn was hiding how much she liked her hands on Faith's skin.
Many hours later
When the duo returned, the group exchanged gifts. They were nothing too expensive. Just small ones to show they cared. After that was done, they went to see how well the city was decorated for the holidays. They spent the rest of their time together watching holiday movies. At the end the second one, they decided that they should start heading back home. They had all booked flights early to get good seats and so Willow wouldn't be burdened with teleporting them back. Faith thought she noticed something by how sadly Dawn had opened the door. The Scoobies and Giles couldn't stop themselves from shedding a few tears as they hugged each other. Faith, Vi, and Olivia smiled at the sweetness of it all. Then Vi and Olivia said goodbye to the sisters and Willow. The younger ones were able to not say anything at the sight of Olivia giving Giles a soft peck on the lips. Faith shook Olivia's hand and hugged Willow. That only left her to say goodbye to Buffy and Dawn. She made sure the younger Summers was where she needed to be for what she was going to do. They gasped as Faith leaned in and softly kissed Dawn before hugging her. To throw them off the main reason why she did it, she did the same to the blonde. She stepped back and smirked at all of the shocked expressions.
"WHY DID YOU DO THAT?" Buffy accidentally yelled while Dawn could only blush.
"I guess I'm kind of a sucker for tradition these days."
"Huh?" they all asserted.
Faith casually pointed to the ceiling above the sisters. The rest spotted the mistletoe and groaned that they had forgotten about it. Before leaving, the Scoobies, Vi, and Faith promised to meet up again for Buffy's birthday. It was coming up very soon. After she was sure Buffy was asleep later that night, Dawn sat down on her bed and almost cried as she decided to do a few more sketches. She wished she had defended her best friend a lot more before that day and her last birthday. Maybe things would have been better, and she'd be with the woman she was falling for now if she had. Meanwhile, Faith was thinking about how close she came to letting Dawn do more to her and trying to do the same. She could picture both pants falling to the floor and soft hands roaming over her upper body as she completely unbuttoned the other girl's shirt. She snapped out of it when the thought of almost everyone catching them as Dawn's shirt fell off her shoulders popped into her head. She could even guess the reactions from everybody else before she was able to close the bathroom door: Dawn would hide behind her, Giles would immediately take off his glasses to clean them, Willow would be stunned into silence; Vi would become quiet, too, but be happy for Faith; Xander would most likely be speechless and gawking at them while his imagination ran wild, and Buffy would want to hit her for trying to seduce Dawn. She also knew that she might have made a bad joke about Buffy just being jealous of her little sister.