A special thanks to Retz whose wonderful insights helped me immensely. :)
Previously in Chutes & Ladders...
"I thought you were aware…" Wesley responded, startled. "Of course it's hardly ever been employed because slayers usually do not become aware of the Cruciamentum. But there have been cases--"
"Of what?"
The young councilman smiled grimly. "If the slayer doesn't fall in line, she will be eliminated. The council cannot afford to have rogue slayers running about."
Part 2, Chapter 2
The girl ran until her legs felt numb and then she ran some more. Her tangled red hair flew behind her and her face was marred by a series of shallow cuts she'd obtained while running through the whipping tree branches. Ahead there was a break in the trees and she forced herself to run faster, cutting through it and practically diving into the forest cover on the other side. Throwing herself behind the nearest tree, she crouched down. The dress shoes she'd been wearing had been lost somewhere during the chase and her bloody feet left small prints in the moist earth. A dry leaf cracked somewhere close by and she almost screamed, clapping her hands desperately against her mouth to keep from emitting any noise. Her glittering eyes darted frantically around, trying to catch a glimpse of her pursuer. Another cracking sound, closer this time. Terrified, she leapt to her feet and tore through the forest, the sounds of pursuit growing closer and closer.
----
Faith sat comfortably atop a tombstone, her booted feet kicking out a tuneless rhythm against the rough stone. Four days had passed and against her better judgment she was still in Sunnydale. She'd planned to leave, really she had. But the problem was a certain slayer who kept showing up at her motel night and night, a smile on her face and a stake in her hand. Buffy's eyes were tired and sometimes red-rimmed but she never brought it up and neither did Faith. The brunette knew what the problem was though: Giles. Buffy hadn't spoken to him since the night of Faith's birthday.
Some little ugly part of her was pleased about that. She hadn't expected the blonde slayer to cut her watcher off so completely. But Buffy has surprised her there. Every night since, the two had been out together, kicking ass on their terms. No watchers needed. It was everything Faith had been hoping for when she came to Sunnydale two months earlier. Stilling her bouncing feet, Faith frowned into the rapidly darkening cemetery. They'd agreed to meet at sunset in Cyprus Wood cemetery to start patrol. Well sunset had come and gone and she was still biding her time sitting on a grave marker. Irritated, she resumed kicking the tombstone. She'd give Buffy five more minutes and then—abruptly, she froze. Something was running toward her. Fast. Without jumping down, Faith tensed her muscles, ready to pounce.
Ahead to her right, a figure was sprinting from the forest, barefoot and clearly running out of steam. She spotted Faith when she was 50 yards off and froze, glancing behind her desperately. Buffy soared from the trees, the moonlight glinting off her loose blonde hair. Her pace was restrained. It was obvious to Faith she hadn't really been trying to catch the still figure standing between the two slayers. Realizing her quarry had stopped, the blonde slayer slowed to a halt as well. "Sorry I'm late!" She called cheerfully.
The brunette chuckled and jumped lazily from the tombstone, moving toward the two of them. "Aww," She replied with a predatory smile. "You brought me a present?"
"Kind of a belated birthday gift." Buffy confirmed, her eyes dancing mischievously.
"Thanks," The taller girl grinned back, watching as the redhead trapped between them inched skittishly back and forth, trying to find an escape route.
Suddenly, the small girl darted to the right, attempting to run between them and get back to the tree line. Faith was in front of her almost instantly, blocking her escape.
"Leaving without saying goodbye?" Buffy remarked as she and Faith fell into a tight circle, moving around the girl. "Vampires have no manners."
The little redhead let out a shrill growl, her face transforming into her demonic visage. She charged directly at Faith, intent on bowling her over. The brunette sidestepped and threw a rigid arm out, clothes lining the fleeing vamp.
She flipped over Faith's arm and landed hard. She recovered swiftly, rolling to the side to avoid the boot sailing toward her head. The vampire jumped to her feet, her teeth bared. The slayer waited, muscles coiled, reflexes poised for action. Her inner dialogue was rapidly devolving as her instincts took over. Come on, bitch, let's go. Hit me. Take a shot. ComeoncomeoncomeonCOMEon. HIT ME.
The vamp's punch was wild but connected. Hard. Yeah. Faith smiled in satisfaction as heat exploded from the point of impact on her stomach. The slayer let the momentum of the punch redistribute her weight. She counted 1, 2, and then her side kick was crunching into the vampire's face. The redhead cried out and staggered backward.
Faith straightened up, plowed forward, smashed her right elbow into the vamp's nose. The creature howled and lashed out with an open palm toward Faith's face.
The slayer caught her hand and shoved backward. Her body thrilled from the action, heart racing joyously in her chest.
The vampire stumbled, regained her footing, darted forward to tackle the slayer. Faith anticipated the move and jumped upward, kicking off the vampire's thigh. Her knee drove into the demon's neck. The vamp went down hard, hands clutching her crushed throat.
Buffy rewarded this move with enthusiastic applause. As always, the older slayer in action was a sight to behold. Her dark hair flew around her, shining in the moonlight. Her body contorted in almost inhuman ways as she ducked and wove around her opponent. Every move was an extension of the last, like a magnificently violent ballet. Faith allowed herself a little grandstanding and curtsied sloppily at Buffy. Still grinning, she began to circle the fallen vampire, waiting for her to climb back to her feet. The redhead did so, glaring at Faith warily.
"C'mon." Faith made a come hither motion with her defensively positioned hand and perked an eyebrow. "That all you got?" The dark slayer tilted her head to the left, calling back to her counter part. "Think this present's a dud, B."
Taking advantage of her opponent's distraction, the vamp raced forward, lashing out with a flurry of punches that hit Faith's raised forearms and face.
Pain. Searing. Hot. Throbbing in her arms. She pivoted out of the vamp's range. The next punch hit her shoulder and then she was behind the vamp. Bitch hits hard.
Gritting her throbbing teeth, she rammed her elbow down on the center of the vampire's back. The girl folded backward, her shoulders rotating toward the source of the pain. Faith smiled while driving her forearm into the girl's prone neck.
The demon crumpled and Faith leapt on her, smashing a fist into her exposed face. Left, slam, right, crunch, breathe. Her pulse throbbed. Breath quickened. Clit twitched. Faith's fingers knotted in the vamp's hair and she yanked upward. She drove the vamp's head down into the earth.
The vampire groaned and the slayer reached for her stake.
The redhead veered up, slamming her skull into Faith's chin. The slayer fell backward, dropping her stake. Both opponents scrambled up, looking for openings in each other's defenses. Buffy moved a few paces backward and settled cross legged on the ground, leaning back on a tombstone to take in the show.
Around and around Faith and the vampire circled. The slayer spit a thin trail of blood and glared in irritation. Tired of waiting, she executed a sharp crescent kick, skewing the vampire sideways.
Without hesitation, Faith kicked the vampire's legs from under her.
A crunch sounded as the vamp landed on her arm. Enraged, she grabbed Faith's ankle and flipped upward, knocking the slayer on her ass.
The vamp climbed astride Faith, her small hands latching onto the slayer's throat. Faith brought the heel of her hand up, snapping the vampire's chin back.
The redhead fell backward and Faith threw her right leg over the vampire, her boot connecting with the side of the vamp's head. The dazed vamp rolled and got to her feet, trying again to make a run for it.
Buffy climbed to her feet in alarm and stepped closer, but Faith was standing up instantly. She kicked the fleeing vampire in the back.
The small demon fell forward almost into Buffy, her arms outstretched in front of her. Buffy easily caught one arm and flung her back around toward Faith.
Faith rolled onto her back and tucked her feet up so they met the demon's abdomen. The redhead sailed over Faith's body. The vampire was stunned and hesitated a moment too long before trying to roll to her feet. Buffy's stake met the vampire's unbeating heart and the redhead exploded.
Dusting off her top, Buffy pocketed her stake and extended a hand to help her fellow slayer up. "Dud?" She asked as she hauled Faith to her feet.
"Eh," The dark slayer shrugged. "She wasn't that bad." She shook some leaves from her hair. "Hey."
"Hey." Buffy said. The blonde's smile was strained. The two fell into silence as they started patrolling the cemetery.
"So, what's up?" Faith asked, after a while.
The blonde shrugged, eyes scanning their surroundings. "Not much. What's up with you?"
Hopping easily over a large fallen tree branch, the dark slayer shrugged and stuffed her hands in her pockets. "Nada." She glanced at the other girl uneasily. "You okay, B?"
"Five by five."
Faith glanced over to see Buffy's sly smile. "Sounds kinda weird when you say it."
"Sounds weird when you say it too." The blonde said dryly.
"You talk to Giles?" Faith asked abruptly.
Buffy stilled momentarily but then continued walking along. "No."
"He called you?"
"No."
"You called him?"
"No. Why would I?"
Faith paused and Buffy was forced to stop too. "He's your watcher, B. You don't gotta stop talking to him on my account."
Buffy considered this for a moment, looking out into the shadows of the cemetery. "I know I don't." She replied.
"So," Faith asked with forced casualness. "You gonna talk to him? Bet the council's freaking out about their #1 going all Lone Ranger."
"I'm not going Lone Ranger. I've got you."
"Yeah." Faith agreed then paused. "Wait, you're saying I'm Tonto?"
"What's wrong with Tonto?"
Faith started to reply but Buffy raised a warning palm and jerked her head to the right. The brunette spotted the vampire walking at a leisurely pace toward two oblivious teenagers out for a stroll. Faith smiled and nodded. As one, they turned and darted toward their new prey.
-----
"Walk you home?" Faith offered, after they'd made a good patrol of the town.
"Sure." Buffy agreed. Sunnydale was oddly devoid of things going bump in the night and they were finished pretty early. Christmas lights twinkled merrily from the homes they passed and Buffy reached out for the other slayer's hand.
Faith let her take it and gave the blonde's hand a hesitant squeeze. "So, B, look. About Giles--"
"Faith." Buffy interrupted. "We don't need to talk about this, okay?"
"Yeah." The brunette rolled her eyes. "Okay."
The blonde frowned. "I just mean… I'm not ready yet… To think about talking to him."
"I'm pissed too. But B, you don't gotta stop talking to him. He did it to me. Not you."
"I know." Buffy drifted closer so their inner arms pressed together. "I'm not saying I don't ever wanna talk to Giles. I just can't even process this right now." She glanced at Faith. "Anyway, even though it wasn't me the council decided to test, don't you think I care that they did that to you?"
Faith shrugged uncomfortably.
Confused, the blonde frowned. "Well, I do. We're friends. Of course I care."
"Friends." Faith nodded and pursed her lips.
Buffy stopped walking, forcing Faith to stop. Was friends the wrong thing to say? Did Faith think of them as a couple? Sure, they'd been making out all over Sunnydale… but sometimes they hung out and they didn't even kiss. So really, if they were more then friends who randomly kissed sometimes, how was she supposed to know? Faith needs to stop being cryptic girl and let me know what's going on. Deciding to play it cautious and let Faith spell it out if the brunette was thinking of them in terms of coupliness, Buffy looked at the other slayer. "Yeah, friends. What's with you? You're being so weird."
"Nothing."
"Faith, come on."
The dark slayer sighed and tugged on Buffy's hand so she'd start walking again. "Just don't want you cutting off G for me. I'm not worth it."
Surprised, Buffy glanced over. "You are to me."
Faith didn't reply but a few seconds later, she squeezed the other slayer's fingers and shot her a small smile. "Guess this is goodnight."
They were standing in front of her house now, and Buffy turned so the two girls were facing each other. "So hey," She said. "Christmas is next week and… I was thinking you could spend it here. If you want to."
Taken aback, Faith blinked. "I dunno, B. That's a family thing, ain't it?"
"Well, yeah, but we want you to come."
"I dunno…"
"Come on." Buffy cajoled.
"Okay," The brunette exhaled. "Sure."
"Really?" Buffy squeaked. "Great! We can make cookies and you can help us decorate the tree, oh and every year Xander does the Snoopy dance from Charlie Brown's Christmas and--"
"You're really into Christmas, huh?"
Blushing, Buffy laughed. "Yeah, I guess so."
"It's cute." Faith murmured, sidling a little closer to the other slayer. "You're cute when you get all excited like that."
"You know it's not wise to make fun of someone who can kick your ass." The smaller slayer warned, but she was smiling.
"Can think of things I'd rather do to your ass than kick it." The brunette's mouth was inches from Buffy's.
"You have such a dirty mind."
"It's a gift."
"The gift that keeps on giving." Buffy said dryly.
Smirking, Faith leaned close enough that their lips were almost touching. "Night, B." She whispered, and then turned to go.
"Night, Faith." Buffy stuttered. She watched for a few moments until Faith disappeared up the block, then walked into her darkened house.
----
Faith sighed noisily as she traversed the path back home. Home. She thought, chortling to herself. A rat trap motel with a nineteen inch television. Literally on top of the mouth of hell. The only reason she was still in this craphole was that she couldn't seem to bring herself to tell Buffy she was going to leave. She could imagine already the disappointment on the other girl's face. The cute little line between her eyebrows, the way her lips would part slightly as if begging to be kissed. Buffy would probably try to talk her out of going too. And if she was being honest with herself, which she rarely was, Faith knew she didn't really want to leave as long as the blonde slayer still wanted her here.
And, shocking though it was, it seemed like the other girl did. The dark slayer stepped up her pace as she thought back over the last few nights. Buffy against the wall of the Bronze, her fingers twisting into Faith's hair roughly. Her little hand in Faith's as they walked home at night after patrol. The way the blonde's face flushed when Faith had caught her checking her out. Buffy's cotton candy lip gloss lingering on her lips for hours. The way her eyes fluttered shut as Faith leaned in to kiss her. The little quirk of her lips after they broke apart. Fuck. She was starting to get wet just thinking about it. She was usually hungry and horny after some slaying, but it was getting to the point that solo action just wasn't cutting it anymore.
Shaking her head, Faith decided to jog the rest of the way home. Maybe she'd burn off some of the tension flowing through her body. But even the increased pace couldn't distract her from the only thing she ever seemed to think about. What had Buffy meant when she'd called them friends? Was she trying to let Faith know that she only considered them friends? B was affectionate, but she didn't make out with her other friends, as far as Faith knew, so this was definitely not friendly behavior. Then again, Buffy vacillated between nervousness and confidence with touching or kissing her fellow slayer. So what did that mean?
Faith reached her block and slowed to a normal walk. She sighed. It was anybody's guess what was going on with the two of them. The cracked concrete lot of the Motor Inn loomed nearly empty in front of her and she cut across the expanse, heading toward her room. A newer model red Chrysler sat parked nearby, looking out of place among the peeling dusty gray exterior of the Motor Inn. Faith's eyes narrowed as she stepped closer to the wall, skirting the lot carefully. The car was so glaringly out of place that she was immediately on guard. It was only when she got close enough to read the license plate that she relaxed. Walking up beside the car, she tapped none too gently on the driver's side window. The occupant jumped, splashing some amber liquid from the bottle she was clutching. Opening the door, she stepped out.
"'Queen C?'" Faith deadpanned, as the two stood staring at one another.
Cordelia shrugged belligerently and clutched the bottle of liquor tighter in her hand. "Not anymore." She muttered.
"Huh?"
"Look, can I come in?" The taller girl asked abruptly.
"Uh, yeah." Faith goggled at her as though they'd never met. "I'm over here." She offered, and led the way to her room.
"You gonna tell me what you're doing here, Cordelia?" Faith asked at length, after they'd entered the room and been seated for a few minutes.
The cheerleader looked around at the general state of disarray Faith was living in and wrinkled her nose. Taking a long swig from the bottle of Southern Comfort, she held it out to Faith. The slayer accepted it and took a long pull, watching the other girl. Finally, Cordelia sighed. "The IRS is investigating my father." She laughed acidly. "For tax evasion. We're going to lose everything."
Faith frowned. "So what, you wanted to see how the other half lives before you gotta do it?"
"No." Cordy glared. After a moment she lowered her eyes and sucked her lips into a thin line. "I didn't have anywhere to go."
Faith said nothing, understanding exactly how it felt to have no one to turn to. She took another long drink of the bottle and handed it back to Cordelia. "You wanna watch TV?"
"…Yeah."
"Cool."
----
Buffy's room looked like it had been made into a nest by a Nordstrom demon. Clothing was strewn across the bed, piled on the floor, falling from open dresser drawers, and even thrown haphazardly over the bedside lamp. Currently Buffy was seated on the floor in front of her closet, pulling on pair after pair of shoes. She liked dressing up for the holidays and this year was no exception. With Faith and the gang arriving any minute for Christmas Eve festivities, Buffy had precious few moments left to choose the perfect shoes to complete her outfit. She'd already curled her hair and arranged it carefully behind her head. She'd chosen dark jeans and a red silk tank top so she wouldn't look like she was trying too hard. Simple silver studs nestled in her ear lobes and her neck was bare. She hadn't consciously chosen to stop wearing Angel's cross, but somehow it had lain forgotten in the bottom of her jewelry box for the last few weeks.
"Buffy!" Her mother's voice echoed up the stairs. "Faith is here!"
Shit. The slayer grabbed a pair of bright red pumps and jammed her feet carelessly into them, scrambling upright. Looking around her room in dismay, she started scooping clothing up and dumping it into the closet, in drawers, and kicking it under the bed.
"Buffy?" Joyce called again.
"Coming, Mom!" She shouted back, giving the room one more hasty glance. It would have to do. Buffy bounced down the steps to where her mother and Faith were standing awkwardly in the foyer. "Hey!" Buffy greeted with a festive grin. "Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas, B." Faith replied dutifully before having the wind knocked out of her as Buffy captured her in a bone crushing hug. Wrapping her arms loosely around the clingy slayer, Faith perked an eyebrow at Mrs. Summers.
"She's always like this at the holidays." Joyce whispered conspiratorially. "I'm going to go finish getting these snacks ready. You girls relax."
"Thanks, Mom." The blonde slayer said, and then turned back to Faith. "Take your coat?"
The brunette shrugged off her light jacket, revealing a conservative button down blouse. Of course, it was paired with a tight black mini skirt and black stockings tucked into her usual heavy boots, so even the lack of cleavage didn't detract from Faith's signature style.
"You look good." The blonde's eyes twinkled as she looked the other slayer up and down.
Faith grinned and slid her hand up and down the blonde's bare arm. "You too."
Flushing, Buffy captured Faith's hand and stepped away. She tugged the brunette, walking backwards, into the living room. Purposely, she stopped in the middle of the room and pulled Faith the rest of the way toward her, until they were standing toe to toe.
"Looks like you got a little mistletoe hanging there, B." Faith raised her eyes above them. "Xander gonna be getting lucky tonight?"
"Very funny." Buffy growled, licking her lips. "I won't be kissing Xander."
"Willow?" Faith asked in mock shock.
"Faith? Shut up." Buffy muttered, and tilted her lips up to Faith's before the other girl could say anything else.
The brunette forgot whatever she was going to say and sank into Buffy's embrace. Her hands trailed over the blonde's slight hips and stroked softly when they reached her bare upper back. In her arms, the blonde shuddered, letting her own hands slide under the sides of Faith's shirt so she was touching warm, soft skin.
Faith's lips parted over hers and Buffy felt her heartbeat speeding in her chest. Every nerve ending in her body felt alive all at once. She quietly moaned her disappointment when the brunette pulled her mouth away. But rather than move away, Faith's fingers slid down her spine and her warm mouth flitted across Buffy's collar bone. Thrilled, the blonde grasped the back of her counterpart's neck and turned her head to give Faith better access.
Buffy always smelled good. Faith's sense of smell was pretty keen and she could pick up every new perfume or change in shampoo the other slayer used. But now, with her nose ghosting across the other girl's shoulder, the blonde smelled heavenly. She never wanted to stop touching Buffy. Never wanted to stop laying slow, hot, open mouthed kisses against the girl's exposed neck. Her left hand ran up and down the soft silk of Buffy's blouse, feeling the muscles in the blonde's deceptively slim back moving with her fingers. Taking a chance, Faith let her hand leave the blouse and slide down to cup Buffy's hot little ass. A sharp intake of breath was her reward.
"Faith." The blonde murmured throatily into her ear.
The brunette seized Buffy around the waist with her free hand, squeezing her close, and crushed her mouth back to the other girl's. The smaller girl's arms wound around her shoulders, pulling against her equally as hard. Faith's tongue swept against Buffy's lips the other slayer opened her mouth agreeably.
Buffy felt herself bent back slightly. In the back of her mind she knew her mother could walk back in at any moment and they really needed to wrap this up, but oh, God. All she could concentrate were Faith's strong hand squeezing her ass, and Faith's arm around her, Faith's fingers just barely caressing the side of her breast. The scarcely restrained strength of the other girl's mouth plundering hers. The sound of glass breaking. Wait. What?
Faith's arms released her slowly and they both turned to the doorway to the living room. Xander's and Willow's jaws were hanging open, while Oz stood beside them, his face typically blank.
"Uh," Xander managed. "I'm guessing we're early."
Buffy's cheek flushed bright red. "Guys, uh, I can explain."
Willow still appeared horrified. Oz gave her a supportive upraised corner of his mouth, while Xander's eyes still goggled.
Buffy looked to Faith searchingly before blurting out, "Faith and I, we're together."
"Together." Xander repeated and Buffy focused her attention on him, missing the surprised look on Faith's face.
"Yeah," Buffy began, but stopped abruptly when Willow turned and fled back into the foyer. "Will!" She called, immediately charging after her.
"Oh, hey, kids, I—Buffy, what--" Joyce sputtered out as her daughter rushed past were and she was left in the doorway to the living room with three red faced teens and a tray full of snacks. "What was that about?"
---
"Will! Willow, please stop." Buffy slid her arms into her jacket as she rushed down the front walk after her friend.
Reaching the end of the walkway, Willow turned abruptly. Tears streamed down her pale face. "What?"
"Will," Buffy repeated, reaching for the other girl.
"Don't!" Willow sobbed. "I guess now I know why you've been spending all your time with Faith."
"It's not like that." The slayer let her hands fall to her sides.
"Were you even going to tell me, Buffy?"
"Of course I--"
"I know I'm not as," She hiccupped, "As cool as Faith. I'm not part of this new slayer club you two have formed. But I'm your best friend, Buffy! Or at least I thought I was."
"You are, Will." Reaching out, she rested her hand on Willow's forearm. She was encouraged when the other girl didn't try to shake her off. "I was going to tell you. I just didn't know how."
"Why?" The redhead sniffled, wiping her nose indelicately on her sleeve. "Why did you think you couldn't? I tell you everything."
"I know, Will." Buffy smiled apologetically. "Things only started becoming, uh, different between us last week. I guess I just wanted to know what it was before I told you."
Wiping tears from her face, Willow blinked wearily at her friend. "And what is it?"
"It's…" Buffy smiled gently. "It's good, Will."
"Are you sure about this, Buffy?"
Buffy nodded.
"Okay." Willow sniffled one final time.
The slayer drew a little closer to her friend, grasping Willow's other arm too. "What's really going on, Will? I don't think you're this upset just because I'm dating Faith."
"Well, it is Faith." Off Buffy's exasperated face, Willow dropped her eyes to her shoes. "I'm sorry. I just miss the way it used to be. Before she came. Us and Xander, we used to do everything together."
Squeezing her friend's arms gently, Buffy pulled her into a tight hug. "I know. I'm sorry I've been kind of distracted lately. I miss you too."
"Really?" The redhead asked hopefully.
"Really." The slayer smiled. "Of course I do."
"Okay." Willow released the other girl from their hug.
"We okay?" The blonde asked.
"Yeah." Willow still didn't look like her usual self.
"You sure? You have frowny face."
"I don't have frowny face."
"You do. It's like Frownville, population: Willow."
Smiling in spite of herself, Willow nodded. "Before we came over, something kind of weird happened with Oz."
"What happened?"
"Uh," The witch flushed. "I kind of tried to… seduce him."
"What!" Buffy shrieked.
"It was unsuccessful." Willow confessed in a voice barely above a whisper.
"Well, what did he say?"
"He said he wasn't ready."
Buffy was confused. "Well, Will, if he's not ready, you can't make him."
"I know. It's not that… It's just that, well, Oz isn't a virgin. So if he's not ready, he's just not ready to do it with me."
"Willow," Buffy began sternly. "I know I don't know Oz as well as you do, but I've seen the way he looks at you. He loves you. He probably just wants it to be special between you."
"I hope so."
"I'm sure that's it."
"Thanks, Buffy." Willow smiled her first real smile since they'd begun their conversation.
"Ahem, am I interrupting?"
"Uh, no." Replied Willow nervously, as she and Buffy both turned to find Giles standing nearby. "I'll be inside." The redhead said quietly, leaving the slayer and her watcher standing awkwardly on the sidewalk.
"What are you doing here, Giles?" Buffy pushed her hands deep in her pockets.
"You haven't been by the library." Giles responded. His words hung in the air between them for several long seconds before he continued speaking. "I was hoping we could talk."
"What do you want to talk about?"
"Buffy," The watcher faltered for a moment. "I'd just like you to know how truly, incredibly sorry I am for the ordeal that the council and I were responsible for."
The slayer nodded. "Okay."
Giles drifted a little closer to her, extending his hand as if to touch her. "Might you find it in your heart to forgive me?"
Pulling her arms tighter to her body to ward off Giles's gesture, Buffy took a deep breath. "I want to... I'm just not sure how to yet."
Disappointed, he nodded. "I understand."
"I don't understand how you could do this to Faith."
The librarian hesitated for a long moment before he began speaking. "You have to understand, Buffy, that being a watcher is a calling, similar to yours. My continued employment by the council demands that I remain loyal to them and I uphold their decisions. I tried my utmost to sway them from their decision to put Faith through the cruciamentum, but they were quite firm and it was my duty to carry out the task."
"But we're talking about Faith's life!" She practically shouted.
"I know that, Buffy."
"Do you? Because we're supposed to be the good guys. And being willing to sacrifice someone's life, especially for some stupid test some watchers made up a thousand years ago? Giles, that's insane."
"It's completely barbaric. I agree with you. But my hands were tied."
The slayer gazed up at him sadly. "Well, now mine are. I don't know how I can trust you again after this."
Nodding, Giles, turned away in defeat. "I understand."
"Can you tell me one thing? Honestly?" Buffy asked and her voice was suddenly choked.
"Of course. What is it?" The watcher turned to face her again.
"I need to know… If my birthday was before Faith's, would you have done the same thing?"
He exhaled slowly. "The only reason I care about maintaining a position with the council is so that I can remain in Sunnydale as your watcher… If your cruciamentum had come up first, I wouldn't have allowed it to happen. You're my slayer and as long as I am able, I will do everything in my power to protect you."
Buffy sniffled slightly and looked away. "The council makes you swear to protect the slayer?"
"No," Giles murmured gently, looking at her with tenderness plain in his expression. "They don't."
"Oh." The slayer's eyes were shining with unshed tears. In spite of herself, she felt her anger start to subside.
"I truly am sorry, Buffy."
"I know." She said. "But I'm not the one who needs to hear this."
Giles nodded agreeably. "I intend to speak with Faith."
"Good."
They looked at one another for a moment before Giles awkwardly shuffled his hands, reaching in his pocket for a small box. He held it out uncertainly to her. "Merry Christmas, Buffy."
The slayer gingerly accepted the box. "What is it?"
Smiling faintly, the librarian gestured for her to open it. Buffy peeled the paper back to reveal the box. Sliding it open, she unearthed a pair of antique sterling hair combs, created in intricate patterns of entwining knots, wrapped around tiny pearls.
Giles pulled his glasses off and began to clean them with a handkerchief he took from his inside jacket pocket. "I know they're rather old-fashioned. I just thought with the holidays… you might have use for them."
"They're beautiful." Buffy breathed, pulling them gently from the box and tucking them in her upswept hair. "Thank you."
"You're welcome." Giles beamed. "They belonged to my grandmother. My father didn't have any daughters so he passed them on to me to give to mine someday."
"Don't you want to keep them in case you have kids?"
"No," He assured her. "I can't think of anyone more fitting to give them to."
"Thank you." Buffy repeated, quietly taken aback.
"Of course." Giles said, placing his glasses back and tucking his handkerchief away. "I should be going. I don't want to keep you from your friends."
The slayer nodded sadly. "Yeah."
"Will you stop by the library?" Giles asked cautiously. "Perhaps next week?"
"Sure." She agreed.
"Alright. Goodnight, Buffy."
"Goodnight, Giles. Merry Christmas."
Buffy stood at the end of the walk for a moment, watching as Giles walked to his car which was parked a few yards away. Her heart feeling a little lighter, she hurried back toward the warmth inside.
---
"Goodnight, Xander." Buffy said into her friend's shoulder as she hugged him goodbye. She, Joyce, and Faith crowded in the front door, pulling close together to ward off the cold as they bid their visitors a goodnight.
"Alright, girls." Joyce informed the two young women. "Off to bed. Santa needs to get these presents under the tree so she can get to sleep."
Buffy laughed. "Okay. Goodnight, Mom."
"Night, Buffy." Joyce replied, rubbing her daughter's back affectionately. "Goodnight, Faith."
"Night, Mrs. S."
---
Tucked inside Buffy's bedroom, the two slayers sat down on the bed. "You want your present now?" Buffy asked, still feeling the Christmas cheer.
"Sure." Faith agreed.
"Yay!" Buffy bounced over to her closet and pulled out a carefully wrapped silver and red box. She handed it to Faith and accepted the gift the other slayer handed her.
"It's pretty crappy." The brunette warned, watching as Buffy ripped open the box with abandon.
Looking inside, the blonde slayer laughed out loud. "Oh, Faith, I love him!" She lifted up the gift, turning it around to study it. In essence it was an inexpensive white teddy bear of medium size. The bear had been upgraded so that it was wearing a ripped t-shirt. Two jagged fangs cut from sheet metal protruded from the corners of its upturned generic grin. Felt eyeballs were glued over the teddy's normal eyes, complete with "X"'s that indicated the toy was deceased. The method of death was easily attributable to the tiny wooden stake protruding from its chest. A tag was looped around its furry ankle, proclaiming simply, "B was here."
"Well, I was kinda broke so…"
Buffy grinned. "So you made me the most awesome gift ever."
"I guess so." Faith said, cracking a small smile.
"I shall call him… Fangworth." Buffy shifted around the magazines cluttering her nightstand to give Fangworth a place of honor next to her alarm clock. "Thank you." Gingerly, she pulled the hairpins from her hair and released it so it fell against her shoulders. She smiled, turning back to her counterpart. "Now open yours!"
"Sure." Faith picked up the box and shook it. "Where'd you get those?" She asked casually, tilting her chin toward the pins Buffy was placing in her jewelry box.
The blonde's smile faded. "Giles gave them to me. He stopped by earlier when I was outside with Will."
"Huh."
"Yeah," Buffy fumbled, feeling guilty for some reason. "He seems really sorry."
"He's really sorry?" Faith laughed mirthlessly.
"I think so." The blonde replied defensively.
"Well, that's just great." Putting down the unopened gift, Faith climbed to her feet and started to pace the small space. "The fucking council tries to kill me and they apologize to you."
"I'm sure Giles--"
"Doesn't matter what I do. All anyone cares about is you."
"Faith," Buffy said, taken aback. "That's not true."
"Like hell it ain't, B." Faith was getting angry now, yanking her fingers through her hair roughly and stomping as she paced. "Don't even know why I'm still in this shithole town."
"What? You wanna leave?"
"Why would I stay here? This is your town. Long as I'm here I'm always gonna be the second rate slayer."
"That's not true. We're a team."
"Yeah, and I'm the half the council experiments on." Her glittering brown eyes focused on Buffy's. "You tell me, B, if we're a team how come I'm the one your pal Giles drugged while you were walking around with your powers still fine?"
Hurt and getting angry, Buffy jumped to her feet. "Because you're older than me! God, I'm sorry we didn't both get drugged so we'd be dead now, Faith."
Huffing, Faith rolled her eyes. "Didn't say I wished they did it to you, B. You gonna make this about you too?"
"No!" Buffy cried. "You're trying to make it about me." She crossed her arms defensively across her chest. "What they did to you was awful. And I'm sorry it happened. But none of this is my fault."
"It's not your fault. And nobody tried to kill you so it doesn't matter, is that right? You're just gonna kiss and make up with G."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Buffy grabbed the other girl's arm roughly. "You told me I should talk to Giles! And it matters to me, you know it does."
"And why is that?" Faith ripped her arm from the blonde's grasp. "Ever since I got here you didn't give a crap about me and now you're bringing me home for Christmas?"
"Look," The blonde took a deep breath, trying to calm herself down. "I had my own stuff going on and I'm sorry it sucked when you came, but I thought we were past that now."
"You thought we were 'past that?'"
"Well, we've been, you know…"
"Together?" Faith asked, echoing Buffy's announcement to the Scooby gang earlier.
"Yeah."
"Nice of you to ask me about that before you told the superfriends." Ignoring the surprise and hurt plainly displayed on Buffy's face, Faith continued. "You really only think about yourself, you know that?" She shook her head, chuckling.
"Oh, I'm sorry that I thought the frequent sleepovers and all the kissing meant something. I guess I forgot who I was dealing with." Buffy shot back, blinking at the tears blurring her vision.
"I guess you did." Faith replied calmly and slammed open Buffy's bedroom door. "Merry Christmas, Buffy." She tossed back bitterly and then disappeared down the hall.
Staring unhappily at the open doorway, Buffy sighed. She moved Faith's unopened present onto the floor and lay back on her bed. Pulling her knees up to her chest, she wrapped her arms around them tightly. She blinked hard, determined not to cry over this. If Faith didn't want her, fine. She wasn't about to stick around and be the other slayer's punching bag. None of this was Buffy's fault. And hadn't she saved Faith's ass when she was stubbornly going out slaying even though she couldn't defend herself? Hadn't she searched all over Sunnydale, desperate to find the other slayer? Hadn't she run right into that old hotel to save her?
Gentle movement outside her bedroom window caught her attention and the slayer uncurled her limbs. Incredulously, she pulled the window open and plunged her hand outside. Tiny snowflakes landed in her palm, melting against the heat of her skin. Buffy stood in the open window for several moments, watching as the snow fell and began to coat the yard with a white dusting. Across the street, her neighbors spilled from their front door, turning their faces into the falling snow and laughing. Abruptly, she pulled her arms inside and closed the window. She carelessly pulled off the outfit she'd chosen so painstakingly a few hours before. Leaving it discarded on the floor, she climbed into bed and pulled the covers over her head.
----
Giles adjusted his sweater vest just as the doorbell sounded. Forcing a smile, he opened the door. "Ah, Wesley. Come in."
"Thank you." The younger councilman stepped inside, handing Giles a bottle of brandy with a little ribbon tied around its neck. "A little Christmas gift."
"That's very thoughtful of you." Giles said, accepting the bottle. Turning, he walked into the kitchen. "Can I pour you a glass?"
"Please." Wesley seated himself on one of the bar stools, peering across the kitchen countertop as Giles carefully poured them each a drink. "Oh," He said. "I almost forgot; I've brought your book back."
"Already?" Giles asked, surprised. "I just leant it to you on Wednesday."
"Well, I must say it was fascinating." Wesley accepted the snifter gratefully. "To think that as recently as 10 years ago it was believed that the Thesulac demon was extinct."
Giles shook his head, taking a full sip of his brandy. "This is very good." He jiggled his glass with a ghost of a smile. "Well, it's difficult to prove the existence of something that's incorporeal."
"Quite true."
"It's rumored that a Thesulac is residing in Los Angles actually. A hotel there has had an unusual amount of murder/suicides over recent decades."
"I shudder to think what an unusual amount in that city would be." Wesley remarked, taking a long sip of his beverage.
In spite of himself, Giles chuckled. "Quite right. But spend enough time in California and… no, you'll just long for home all the more."
"I already am. Does it ever rain in this god forsaken place?"
Coming around the hall, Giles motioned for the younger man to join him in the living room. "Hardly ever. But you'll get used to the dry."
"Well, I may not have to if Faith doesn't come around."
Giles pursed his lips and placed his drink carefully on the coffee table, seating himself on the couch. "Actually, now that you mention it, I must admit I had ulterior motives when I invited you round for Christmas Eve."
Wesley raised his eyebrow. "Oh?"
"I am concerned that we may be acting a bit," He groped for the right word, "Hastily, in regard to the Faith situation."
"Rupert," The younger man leaned forward to place his glass down and crossed his legs with forced casualness. "You know as well as I do that this isn't my policy. It's the council's. And you and I have both pledged our allegiance to them."
"Of course." Giles agreed. "I'm merely suggesting that we give the girl a little more time."
Wesley looked uncomfortable. "I'm not sure we can, Rupert. The council will be expecting a full report on my activities here by New Year at the latest."
Giles considered him for a moment. "I have something I'd like you to see." He said, standing and moving to his desk. Pulling his key ring from his pocket, he unlocked his top drawer and peered inside. The watcher hesitated for a moment and then pulled out a slim green folder before closing the drawer. Retaking his seat, he handed the folder to his companion.
"What's this?" Wesley asked, starting to flip it open.
"That," Giles replied quietly, "Is all the information I was able to collect about Faith Lehane."
"I've seen the council's dossier." Wesley informed him with a skeptical note in his voice.
"I think you'll find mine is a little more detailed." The older man picked up his snifter and finished his brandy with a deep swallow.
Wesley closed the folder and smoothed his palm over its face. "Why are you showing this to me?"
"I just think you ought to understand who she is before you make any decisions."
"All I need to know is that she's obstinate and she refuses to maintain her position within the council."
"Please," Giles insisted. "Just read it over before you speak with the council."
"Alright." The young watcher agreed. "I will."
"Thank you." Giles exhaled and clasped his hands together. "More brandy?"