The Path To Redemption
Chapter 19
Author: twin who likes to travel
Rating: R/NC-17
Summary: The gang celebrates Dawn's eighteenth birthday. Dawn and Faith go all the way and have a conversation about their relationship. They also bring up the current social status of two other members of the Scooby gang.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Reviews: I would like them. Constructive criticism is ok.
Author's notes: While I was trying to decide which slow song for Dawn and Faith to dance to, "Lucky" by Bif Naked popped into my head. For those who might not know that song, it was the one Parker and Buffy danced to at the party in "The Harsh Light Of Day" from the fourth season. This is the FINAL chapter. It ends around five minutes before the events of Our Love and includes more references to that story and She Saved The Best For Last. There is also a reference to "Faith, Hope, and Trick". I hope that you liked this story as much or at least almost as much as the first four in this saga. If you didn't, I'm sorry; but I tried to make it that you would. rampantjake, thanks for reviewing this and adding it to your list of favorite stories. Ray2230, thanks for the review, but I'm not sure what you meant by it inspires you to get to work. Does that mean you are getting ready to write a story yourself? Of course Buffy's a little jealous. I said so twice in that chapter. I'm happy that you're loving it.
Tuesday, June 22nd; Dawn's eighteenth birthday, a local club in Rome, Italy
Dawn was having a great birthday so far. She liked the clothes and jewelry she got, but Faith's present still had her reeling. The slayer had gotten another tattoo, this time on her left arm. The slayer had told her it was a sign of her devotion to the teenager. It was a nice scene with the sun beginning to rise up over water to symbolize the meaning of Dawn's name. Both of their initials were even along the edge of the smiling sun. Dawn commented about how it was the cutest thing she had seen when it was done. Even though she expected to hear that from her girlfriend, Faith still frowned a little when Dawn said it. Everyone saw how a smile from the birthday girl helped change the frown into a smirk. Dawn decided that she was ready to take it all the way with Faith that night. She just had to wait until the right time to tell her.
After the traditional cake and presents, the Scoobies, Faith, and a few newbie slayers went to the same club, which had become a favorite of theirs. The entire group had a few drinks before Faith and Dawn went to the dance floor. Their friends were surprised when the first song they danced to had been a slow one. The moment Dawn felt herself up against the brunette, she noticed something, almost gasped, and looked Faith in the eyes. Faith simply smirked at her before they began to dance. As the couple clung to each other in a loving way, Buffy and Willow thought back to those same types of moments they had with their exes. It almost brought tears to their eyes. That was until Buffy recognized the song and groaned. When Willow became curious, Buffy explained where she had heard it before. After the song was over and the pace of the music picked up, Faith and Dawn chose to torture their friends.
They rubbed up against each other every chance they got. The brief period of time the girls were facing each other, they took a few seconds to grope the other's butt and shared a kiss where their lips barely touched and lasted only for a moment. They glimpsed over at their friends, who were watching in shock with Xander's mouth being open the most. Faith then spun the younger girl around so that Dawn's back was to her. Faith held Dawn as close as she could by the hips as she nuzzled the right side of Dawn's neck. Dawn ran the fingers on her right hand through Faith's hair. She moved away a little as it started to really get to her in an impure way, especially after she was reminded that Faith wasn't wearing a bra this time. She attempted to stay just far enough away that she wasn't touching Faith, only to be brought back up against the slayer. This time, Faith chose to pull the other girl's shirt out of her pants, so she could put them on the skin underneath it. Dawn gasped when Faith placed her hands on the skin above Dawn's hips. She gulped at hearing slight growling coming from Faith while fingertips on the slayer's right hand found their way to Dawn's stomach.
"Faith, I'm READY now," Dawn whispered as the song ended, and they started strolling to where their friends had finally stopped gaping at them.
"Ready? As in ready to leave the club, or READY ready?"
"Both."
"Your place or mine?"
"Definitely yours."
"Wicked."
The couple then said some quick goodbyes before almost racing out of the club.
Around twenty minutes later, Faith's bedroom
The cab driver had sped most of the way at Faith's encouragement, which included lifting up her shirt and flashing him. She quickly paid the guy, scooped Dawn up in her arms, and raced up the stairs to her apartment. After they were sure the door was locked and their shoes and boots were off, Dawn ran back to the bedroom with Faith hot on her trail. Faith was rewarded with a very heated kiss and her back being used to close the bedroom door after she entered the room. As arms wrapped around her, Faith hands went straight for Dawn's butt. A loud moan was heard as Faith squeezed it. Then Faith broke the hold, which made Dawn break the kiss.
"Faith, why did you…," Dawn said before being interrupted by Faith's hands immediately unbuttoning and unzipping her pants. Dawn smiled and suggested to the very eager woman in front of her, "Faith, let me h…."
Before she could even finish that statement, Faith was pulling down the pants. Dawn gulped as her underwear had started coming down along with them. Faith paused briefly when her girlfriend grabbed onto the sides of the underwear. Faith then began pulling up the shirt just as fast while the pants fell to the floor. In less than a minute, Dawn was standing there in only underwear. The brunette noticed it was the most revealing she had ever seen Dawn wear. She could tell the birthday girl meant business with the clasp being in front of the bra this time. When she caught the stare Dawn was giving her, Faith lifted her arms so that Dawn could remove her shirt. Dawn nearly gawked in awe at the bare chest in front of her as she unbuckled Faith's belt, unbuttoned the pants, and unzipped them to discover that the bra wasn't the only thing Faith had decided not to wear tonight.
"You were pretty sure of yourself when you got dressed earlier, huh?"
"Yeah; and apparently, I wasn't the only one either."
"What do you mean?" Dawn asked with a blush that grew by the second.
"I've never seen you wear underwear that revealing before and never a front clasp bra," Faith explained before peering down at Dawn's hands, which still had a hold on her pants, "Well, what are you waiting for, D?"
"What do you…," Dawn began to question before being advised to look down and added when she did, "Oh, right."
Dawn slowly pulled down the slayer's pants. As they started to fall, Dawn placed her hands on Faith's hips. At the sound of them hitting the floor, the couple took a step away from each other so Faith could step out of the pants and kick them over to where her shirt was on the floor. When Faith saw that her girlfriend was ogling her again, she surprised her by picking her up and tossing her onto the bed. She laughed as Dawn landed on her back with a small yelp. Faith joined her but teased her by crawling toward her like a predator about ready to devour their prey before spreading the girl's legs farther apart from each other. Dawn smiled as the teasing continued with Faith slowly unhooking the bra to expose Dawn's chest and pushing it off her shoulders.
The exact moment after Dawn tossed it away, her back was pushed to the bed by the powerful woman above her. Dawn couldn't stop the moans at the feeling of hands caressing her bare chest and stomach. She gasped as hands were replaced by soft lips. While Faith's mouth and tongue focused on Dawn's chest, her hands had a hold on Dawn's upper thighs. At the feeling of Faith's hands, mouth, and tongue on her, the birthday girl's hands moved to Faith's dark hair. Faith held back laughs and smirks at what had turned into shrieks from the other girl. Dawn whimpered at the loss of their touching after the slayer used her hands to put Dawn's hands back on the bed beside her head. The younger woman got a little worried when the brunette just gazed at her.
"Don't stop now, Faith."
"I'm not. I…"
"You're what?"
"Just watch," Faith ordered and smirked while Dawn gasped at Faith's hands placing both of her legs over Faith's left shoulder to make removing the last of her underwear even easier.
"You can rip them off if you want to."
"Not a chance, D. I like how you look in them. Next time, I promise."
"I can even help you if…," Dawn offered as she reached for the sides of her underwear
"Don't," Faith commanded as she grabbed Dawn's hands and laid them on the bed.
Dawn sighed and let Faith get a hold of the underwear. Faith had gotten it about two inches past Dawn's butt before suddenly stopping. Dawn became confused and attempted to talk. Faith silently advised not to and moved Dawn's right leg so her legs were draped over both of the slayer's shoulders. Dawn unexpectedly began to giggle as the brunette leaned down and proceeded to use her teeth to slowly pull it off the rest of the way. Faith stopped for the second time as they reached the younger girl's knees and arched an eyebrow at her.
"I'm sorry, Faith, I'll…"
"Don't be."
"Then why did you stop again?"
"Because I wasn't expecting you to do that for some reason, but I think it's cute though. If ya wanna giggle, ya can. It's five by five, D."
"Thanks," Dawn said with a grateful smile at hearing her girlfriend talking that way.
After they had officially become a couple, Faith saved her old way of speaking for when the two were alone. The giggling continued while Faith was still working on the item of clothing. As Dawn's legs were lifted off of the slayer's shoulders by the ankles, she shifted her feet a little to make it even easier for her underwear to be taken off. The younger Summers almost let out another shriek as Faith let go of her ankles, yanked off the underwear, and caught the ankles again all in less than ten seconds. Then she was carefully lowered back down onto the bed.
"You're…," the brunette got out before being interrupted.
"I'm what?"
"You're beautiful."
"Really?" Dawn murmured before blushing, which got brighter as Faith's smirk grew every second.
"Yes."
"You're beautiful too."
"I already knew that, but thanks for saying it."
Before Faith could say another word, Dawn gave her a surprise of her own and flipped the other girl onto her back. As soon as Faith's back was on the bed, Dawn kissed her all over her face and switched to the neck while her hands ran through Faith's hair.
"Slow down, girlfriend. We have plenty of time. I want you to enjoy every second," Faith instructed as she rolled the girl onto her back again.
"I will. It's just that I've wanted to be ready for so long. I'm sorry I made you wait so long."
"Once again, don't be."
"I also want to make sure you're happy and it's special for both of us."
"I'm with you. That's all I need to make it special. Don't you know that by now?"
"Yes."
"Then let me make love to you."
Both became silent at how Faith had used the words "make love", not "have sex". Faith almost blushed at the heartwarming smile coming from Dawn. The slayer started to kiss her on the lips as the fingers on her right hand traveled down from the waist and entered her girlfriend slowly. Dawn, who had remained still until then, wrapped her legs around her girlfriend again and got her hands on the girl's back. Faith ignored the slight pain of Dawn's fingernails clawing into her back and legs around her butt as her fingers thoroughly explored inside the girl below her. After she was finished, she gently pulled them out. Dawn gaped as Faith seductively licked off almost every finger that had been inside the younger Summers. When the brunette put the remaining finger in front of Dawn's mouth and quietly encouraged her to open her mouth, Dawn kept her mouth shut and shook her head. Faith gave her a disappointed glance before licking it clean.
'Faith, don't st…," Dawn began to beg as she was instructed to release the hold her legs had on Faith.
"Sshh," Faith replied before her lips left a trail of kisses on Dawn's body from her chest down to the waist before going down her right leg.
She teasingly worked her way back up the same leg, kissing the inner part this time. Just as Dawn thought Faith was going to enter her again, Faith surprised her and did the same thing to her left leg. She chuckled a little as she switched from one leg to the other. She didn't let the frown she got from Dawn, who had sat up enough to get a good gaze of the slayer, bother her. She pushed her until Dawn landed on her back for the third time. She then entered the girl's body again with an even more eager tongue as her hands squeezed the soft skin of Dawn's butt. Dawn shrieked and moaned in ecstasy as her body rose and fell back onto the bed repeatedly. Her left hand gripped the bed sheet as the right ran through dark hair and held Faith's head in its current location as long as she could. Faith blocked out the second feeling of slight pain as legs wrapped around her yet again and feet kicked her back. Dawn let out a final shriek as Faith finished.
"Damn, D, I didn't think you could get that worked up and shriek that loud or often," Faith complimented as she lay on top of the girl again with her head on Dawn's chest.
"It's all because of you. That was…beyond amazing. I c-can o-only h-hope I c-can b-be as g-good."
"Well, let's find out. I'm ready when you are," Faith confided as she instantly got on her back again.
"You don't have to ask me twice."
"That's good."
Dawn prevented Faith from kissing her, knowing what was still on her lips and possibly in her mouth. Dawn pleaded that the older girl make a brief trip to the bathroom and gargle. Faith relented and got out of bed but left with a seductive strut. Dawn pounced on her and did everything that Faith had done to her as soon as Faith was on her back again. Dawn was proud of herself that she had made Faith make the same noises she had made. She was crawling her way up brunette's body so they could be face to face. The younger Summers was caught by surprise at being brought into another kiss. Shortly after it had started, Faith had put her tongue in Dawn's mouth, knowing what had still been on Dawn's lips. When they checked the clock, they saw that at least half an hour had passed by. They also spotted the sweat covering their exposed bodies.
"I guess we should take a shower," Faith suggested as she got off the bed.
"A shower?"
"Yeah."
"You mean as in one, not two? That we share?"
"Yes," Faith affirmed as she reached the door and turned around to see Dawn sitting up and clutching the sheet to the front of her body, "Something wrong, D? After what happened for at least the last half hour, you shouldn't feel the need to hide anything. Besides, we're alone, remember?"
"You're right again," Dawn conceded as she got up, strolled over to Faith, and grabbed the outstretched hand.
"Will you stay the rest of the night?" Faith inquired.
"If you really want me to."
"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't."
"Faith?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you think I would look good with a tattoo?"
"Is this because of the one I got?"
"Maybe, so what do you think? I'm thinking maybe of a cross or a heart with our initials on it and it would be…"
"The only person I want putting marks on you is me."
"So then that's a no?"
"That's right."
They walked hand in hand into the bathroom and closed the door. Before Faith could even turn on the water, she heard Dawn break down into tears.
"Whoa. What's wrong, D?" Faith questioned as she hugged the crying girl hiding her face in her hands, "Tell me what I did wrong so I can apologize."
"It's not you, it's me," Dawn answered after Faith stepped back and pulled the teenager's hands away.
"What about you?" Faith responded as she brushed a few stray hairs away from the teenager's face.
"Never mind. It's stupid, and I feel even worse now that I'm crying and worrying you."
"If it's making you cry, it's not stupid, ok? And as girlfriends, it's our job to worry about the other, understand?" Faith insisted as she hugged her girlfriend.
"Yeah."
"Then talk to me so I can make it better."
"You promise to be completely honest?" Dawn mumbled as she broke the hug and peeked up at the other girl.
"I have been since we went on that first date, so why would I stop now?"
Faith shared the smile that Dawn let out at that hearing that.
"W-Was I g-good? I mean as good as the others you've been with in that way."
"You thought I was faking it, don't you?"
"Maybe. By the way, I'm sorry for leaving those red marks on your back from the clawing and kicking."
"D, none of them can compare to what we did. It was just sex with the others. With you, I felt our love the entire time. As for the other thing, don't worry about it, ok?"
"Ok. I wasn't sure how would I compare to all the people you've been with in that way."
"There will never be anyone else for me. It's me and you until the day we die. I wouldn't have gotten this tattoo otherwise."
Faith smirked as both eyed the tattoo on her left arm. She sighed happily as Dawn placed a quick, soft kiss on the sun part of it and talked when they were eye to eye again.
"It's like that song you wanted me to hear the day we were unpacking my stuff and setting up everything in this sweet apartment."
"Which song was that?" Dawn challenged as she pretended to not know what Faith was talking about.
Faith knew what she was doing and decided to humor her.
"You know the one that started with me not getting enough when people keep telling me I'll never fall in love and keep retreating or whatever. Then something about a four leaf clover and taking all worry out of my mind."
"Maybe. What else do you remember?"
"Something about you having the only key to my heart and being able to stop me from falling apart."
"Uh huh. Is that all you can remember?"
"No, there was something about releasing myself from misery. That your love was the only thing that was going to set me free. That's all I can remember. Oh, that and you thought it should be our song because it kind of fit with us."
"Don't you agree?"
"I guess so. I'm not really big on being one that lets the relationship be defined by one song. But if it makes you happy, it makes me happy. Are we good now?"
"Yes," Dawn divulged with a smile.
"Great, because as much as I love being naked with you, staying all sweaty isn't. One thing I must say though is that you have a lot of stamina for a girl who's not a slayer."
Dawn instantly remembered that throughout this entire conversation they had been completely naked, making her blush.
"Well, the monks made part of me from Buffy's DNA, so we share the same bloodline," Dawn explained before blushing a second time.
Faith spun around and turned on the shower. She made sure the water was warm enough for both of them. She stepped in first and held Dawn's hand carefully as the younger girl got in.
"Oh by the way, the song is 'Let My Love Open The Door' by Pete Townshend."
"I'll try to remember that from now on."
"Please do," Dawn requested as Faith smirked.
What Dawn didn't know was that even though it had been almost a month, Faith still remembered everything about the song: the artist, the title, every lyric, even how often the chorus was repeated. She would never tell Dawn that it would forever be her favorite song. If ever asked by Dawn what her favorite song was, she would reply with "Patience" by Guns 'n' Roses because it was the first song she heard after getting back to Scotland from their first date. They took turns with the shampoo. After helping each other by washing the other's back, Dawn lightly kissed where her fingernails and feet had come into contact with Faith's back, who decided to hide most of what she was feeling until the right moment. Dawn observed as the older girl washed the rest of her own body. Then she was handed the body wash so she could do the same thing. However, Faith did more than just watch her. As Dawn started at her shoulders and worked her way down her body, the slayer got behind her and pressed her body up against her. Dawn gasped at the sensation of skin on skin. She was rendered temporarily speechless as Faith placed her right hand on Dawn's and used it to help guide the sponge over the younger girl's chest and stomach in small circles.
As this was going on, Faith's left hand gently gripped Dawn's left hip. Dawn gulped when soft lips began touching the right side of her neck and the shoulder as well. She almost shivered at the warm breath as Faith suggested with a whisper that they do it in the shower when Dawn was finished. Now, it was the brunette's turn to hear that the other wanted to wait until the next time. She carefully stepped away and turned at the sound of a sigh. The older girl couldn't hide the expression of disappointment. She was comforted with a light kiss and almost broke it as her hands weren't stopped from touching the butt of the younger Summers. The kiss and touch ended three seconds later with the request that Faith let her finish washing up. Faith gazed with love at the body in front of her. After they were both finished, Faith stepped out first. She grabbed a towel when Dawn got out. Then the older girl surprised her again.
Instead of handing her the towel or wrapping one around her, she decided to dry Dawn off with it. Dawn smiled and did as ordered whenever she was told to move a certain way. When Faith was finished, Dawn stared at her. The slayer began to seductively dry herself off with the same towel. They glanced at each other as the other dried their hair. Before Faith could say another word, Dawn leaned in and kissed her softly on the lips again. The kiss was broken momentarily when Faith picked her up. Dawn immediately wrapped her legs and arms around Faith before starting to kiss her passionately. Faith was caressing the younger girl's back with her right hand and the left rested on her butt as they exited the bathroom. During the trip back to the bedroom, Faith's right hand suddenly moved down to her butt as well, Dawn was the one to break the kiss this time as the feeling of two hands gently squeezing her butt got her to moan even louder. After Dawn noticed how close they were to the bed, she quit kissing her. Faith groaned as her girlfriend let go of the hold on her and got back onto her feet.
"Wanna have sex one more time before we go to sleep?" Faith offered with a huge smirk.
"Again, really?" Dawn nearly laughed. What a sex addict.
"Yeah, so?" She's probably thinking I'm a sex addict, but I don't really care.
"As much as I would like to, I need to get some sleep." I can't believe I'm in love with a sex addict.
"Well, then it could just be me who…"
"No, Faith. And before you say anything, I think I know you well enough to know that you won't be satisfied with just that. First thing in the morning, I promise. And we can do it anywhere but…."
"ANYWHERE?"
"Anywhere but the balcony. I don't want our neighbors watching us plus it's not warm enough out anyway."
"When did you decide to bring out your freaky side?"
"When I got together with a sex addict."
"Wait and see, D. After I'm done with ya tomorrow, you will be just as addicted to sex as me. Oh, we could even include some role playing with costumes."
"Maybe," Dawn claimed with a slightly raised eyebrow, "What do you have in mind?"
"You'll have to wait until tomorrow," Faith stated as she momentarily thought about the ones she had bought during her first day living in Rome, Italy.
She had bought a pleated, plaid skirt to go along with a private schoolgirl idea, a cheerleader uniform, and an old style, white, nurse uniform. She was sure they either girl could fit in them. Dawn gave her a sleepy smile before reaching for her underwear.
"It's just us here, D, and I'm not going to put any on until the morning. So you can go without them if you're up for that. Besides, it will feel better when you eventually wind up on top of me…like last time."
After blushing, Dawn responded, "You said it didn't bother you."
"It didn't. My hand wouldn't have ended up on your butt otherwise."
"Then why did you say that?"
"Just making a point."
"What, that you love being naked with me? You said that before the shower, remember?"
"That I love being with you; us being naked is just a GREAT bonus."
"Well, if you aren't going to, I guess I can leave them off too."
"That's my girl," Faith commented while picking up the covers off the floor and getting into bed, knowing that Dawn was ogling her as she did.
She then put them over her as she lay down on her back and waited patiently for Dawn.
"I like the sound of that," Dawn confessed and continued when Faith arched an eyebrow at her, "I mean the part about being your girl…Not about us not wearing anything to bed…Well, I like that too…I mean who wouldn't like a beautiful girl who wanted to do that…Not that I would do that a lot…Umm…Feel free to stop me at any time."
"Alright," Faith agreed as she lifted up the covers on her left side and winked at her.
Dawn blushed at her as she climbed under the covers and snuggled up beside her girlfriend.
"Faith?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you sleep naked a lot?"
"Define a lot."
"How many times since the time you told us about back in Sunnydale? You know when you saved that church group and the cops arrested both you and the preacher or whatever because you were naked."
"This is the first time since then that I did that."
"Oh," Dawn replied and smiled a little bit before continuing, "Not even with Robin?"
"Nope. Hey, what's up with B?"
"What do you mean?"
"Is she still hooking up with that vampire, demon, or whatever who calls himself 'The Immortal'?"
"I think so. Why do you ask?"
"Because I'm thinking that maybe she should be with someone else."
"Like who?"
"Possibly Red."
"Buffy's not gay like Willow is. Why would you say that?"
"Because they seem to be hanging out together a lot more and are very close when they do."
"Of course they're close. They're best friends. Willow's just going through a rough time right now."
"I get that. I really do. But do best friends really share a bed that often?"
"It's not that often. And they trust each other."
"Like the way we trust each other?"
"Yeah," Dawn affirmed and added at another smirk from the slayer, "What are you trying to say? That if Willow showed any clear signs that she felt that way about Buffy, my sister would be open to the idea of getting together with her?"
"Exactly. I mean it's not unheard of for friends to start feeling that way about each other. I mean look at us. And don't forget that she had that one night stand with Satsu and what I almost got her to do."
"I think you're wrong."
"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not. We'll just have to pay closer attention to know for sure," Faith advised before turning the light off with a clap of her hands, making Dawn laugh.
Once again, a slightly opened, window blind let the moonlight come though and land on their faces.
"Ok," Dawn consented while snuggling up beside her even more.
Dawn used her left index finger to draw an invisible heart around the other girl's belly button under the covers and rested her left arm on that same stomach. Faith reacted to that by kissing Dawn gently on her forehead, slowly grabbing Dawn's left hand with her right, and placing both of them over her heart. Both girls let out a happy sigh at the feeling of skin on skin as they prepared to fall asleep.
The End